Abstract: A non-destructive test apparatus for obtaining advance warning of impending mechanical failure by the detection and analysis of ultrasonic frequency signals which are generated internally by the equipment being tested. The detector apparatus of the present invention receives and displays in audible and/or visual form a primary carrier frequency which indicates wearing surfaces and which is characteristic of an incipient mechanical malfunction. The detector apparatus is further capable of recording signals received for subsequent evaluation and use by maintenance personnel as part of an integrated planned maintenance program.

Abstract: A foldable vehicle is adapted to be transported in its own container on the back of a motor home, yacht, or the like, or for storage or shipping. The storage container is hingably attached to a motor vehicle, or the like, and has lifting cylinders for swinging the container from a first horizontal loading position to a second vertical storage position. The container is designed to receive a specially designed collapsible vehicle and has means to attach the vehicle to the floor of the container when in a horizontal loading position, and for latching the container with the collapsed vehicle therein to the rear of the motor home in its vertical storage position.

Abstract: A contoured welding rod forms a stringer bead to couple the adjacent bevelled end surfaces of an aligned pair of metal pipes or metal sheets. The welding rod is fabricated from an uncoated alloy metal and has an upper section which includes symmetrical side surfaces inclined at an angle equal to the angle of inclination of the bevelled end surfaces of the pipes or sheets. The rod also includes a lower section which is coupled to the lower portion of the upper section and is dimensioned to penetrate through the gap between the adjacent bevelled end surfaces of the pipes or sheets. During the welding operation the upper section of the rod joins the bevelled surfaces of the pipes or sheets, while the lower section of the rod joins the surfaces of the pipes or sheets on the opposite side of the gap between the pipes or sheets.

Abstract: A rod holder device useful in combination with a plural section fishing rod for holding at least one of the rod sections in substantially parallel relation to the main body of the fishing rod. The device is primarily useful for storing and transporting a plural section fishing rod in its taken apart condition, and is preferably integrally mounted on the fishing rod handle. The rod holder device comprises a receiver body movably attached to the fishing rod as by a pivot pin, and the receiver body is movable between first and second positions defining a closed and opened condition, respectively. A receiver aperture is formed in the receiver body and is operatively disposed when the device is in its second position. The receiver aperture is dimensioned and configured to receive, preferably, the male end of a rod section therein.

Abstract: A display mount for calendars and the like having a glass tube thermometer attached thereon with inherent protection from breakage of the glass tube. The thermometer element is attached to the face of the mount and a thick pad, such as a calendar is affixed to the mount face with a straight edge of the pad aligned essentially parallel to and immediately adjacent the glass tube of the thermometer. In one implementation, the mount includes a carboard back panel and a cardboard face panel with a well formed by a window cutout therein. The thermometer is attached to the back panel in the well with the glass tube aligned with one window cutout edge. The pad is affixed adjacent that edge and the glass tube. Protection against breakage when mailing or shipping the display mount is thus provided without additional carboard or other protective material, resulting in lower manufacturing and mailing costs.

Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is effectively removed from potable water by the combined action of first chlorinating the water and then passing the chlorinated water through a bed of activated carbon. Chlorine is added in large doses to potable water containing dissolved hydrogen sulfide to convert substantially 90% of the hydrogen sulfide to sulfates. The chlorinated water containing residual hydrogen sulfide is then passed through a bed of activated carbon. Chemisorbed nascent oxygen in conjunction with the activated carbon catalytically affect breakdown of the remaining sulfide compounds into elemental sulfur.

Abstract: A solar heating panel apparatus has a supporting base with a plurality of elongated heat exchanger members mounted to the base. Each heat exchanger is operatively connected to one end of an adjacent heat exchanger to provide a continuous path through the heat exchangers from a fluid input to a fluid output. Each heat exchanger has a hollow center core having a passageway running spirally around the center core and uses the center core as one wall of the spiralling passageway. The fluid flows through the spiralling passageway, and may flow through the center core, although the center core may also be used to enclose heating elements so that the solar panel can be used without benefit of a conventional hot water heater.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing cam walk in an automotive engine of the type including engine block with a cam shaft having one end extending from the block and coupled to the engine's crank shaft by a timing chain includes a timing chain cover fastened to the engine block and covering the cam shaft and the timing chain, with a thrust pin coupled between the cover and extending axial with the cam shaft. A low friction thrust button is adjustable fixed to the thrust pin, so as to permit adjustment of the dimension between the extremity of the cam shaft and the low friction bearing means, thereby reducing "cam walk" during high performance operation of the engine.The assembly may include a metal spacer interposed between the cover and the block.

Abstract: A telescoping vehicle body has a covered base frame having a telescoping frame telescoping thereover allowing the body to be lowered for travel. A lifting winch is attached to the base frame and has one or more cables connected thereto, which are connected through a plurality of rollers located on the base frame to the base frame. The cables also pass under rollers attached to the telescoping frame, so that pulling the cable taut will lift the telescoping frame, while loosening the cable will allow the telescoping frame to lower itself. Guides are provided for guiding and stabilizing the telescoping frame during raising and lowering.

Abstract: An apparatus for chlorinating water of a swimming pool. The device includes a main unit that is inserted into a cannister containing water; the main unit including a perforated barrel with a membrane therearound. The barrel containing salt and a gas collection dome fitted on top of the barrel, having a perforated downward shroud containing anode elements connected by wiring to an exterior electric power source; the anode elements extending into the salt and water, and a gas discharge outlet line extending from the dome.

Abstract: A system for converting the mechanical energy in the wave motion of a body of water into electrical energy. A frame is fixed with respect to the wave motion of the water. A flotation element is buoyantly supported by the water and constrained to follow only the vertical component of the wave motion. The motion of the flotation element is transferred to an electrical generating device which includes a device for producing electromagnetic flux and electrical coils. The motion of the flotation element causes relative motion between the flux-producing device and the electrical coils thereby generating an electromotive force. A positioning subsystem is provided for moving the electrical generating device relative to the flotation element when the average depth of the body of water changes so as to maintain a symmetrical relative motion between the flux-producing device and the electrical coils.

Abstract: A tool for trimming grass and roots from around sprinkler installations includes a shaft with a pair of outwardly extending struts and a cutting member formed of a generally circular plate fixed to the struts, the lower extremity of the plate forming a cutting blade. A plurality of trimming blades is removably fixed to the inner periphery of the angular plate approximately one inch from the bottom of the cutting blade, and extends away from the inner periphery of the plate so as to permit use of the trimming blades when the area around the sprinkler is overgrown with roots, but further permitting removal of the trimming blade when an annular cut around the sprinkler installation is sufficient to remove the undesirable growth.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprises an electronic control circuit which measures engine performance and generates an electrical output signal to control engine performance and includes a fuel pump for periodically transmitting pressurized pulses of fuel through a conduit to a fuel injector valve. A fuel injector valve is coupled to the electronic control circuit and to the conduit through which pressurized pulses of fuel are transmitted to convert the electrical signal into mechanical displacements between an open and a closed position to inject measured amounts of pressurized fuel into a cylinder of the engine at predetermined variable time intervals which are independent of the arrival or termination of the pressurized pulses of fuel at the fuel injector valve. Engine speed, injected fuel quantity, timing and other functions are electronically controlled by controlling the timing and duration of the opening and closing of the fuel injector valve.

Abstract: A plurality of cutting teeth are disposed at intervals in a complete circle around the periphery of a flexible cutting element. A frame is coupled to the cutting element to receive and guide the cutting element. Means is coupled to the cutting element and to the frame to impart an oscillatory motion to the cutting element to enable the oscillating teeth of the cutting element to cut a selected material. A simplified version of the present invention includes first and second handles coupled to opposite ends of the flexible cutting element to enable an operator to impart an oscillatory motion to the cutting element.

Abstract: An underwater vision device includes first and second lens elements which are maintained in alignment with the eyes of a wearer by a frame. Each lens element includes first and second lens groups. Each lens group includes a first solid transparent lens, a second solid transparent lens and a compressible seal which secures the first and second lenses together and forms a sealed air chamber between the two lenses. A spacer couples the first and second lens groups together and forms a chamber between the two lens groups. This chamber fills with water when the underwater vision device is submerged. The optical parameters of the underwater vision device can be varied so that neutral magnification is provided when the device is not submerged in water, but strong magnification is provided when the device is submerged. If so constructed the underwater vision device permits a wearer to see normally below the surface of a body of water, eliminating the need for a face mask.

Abstract: A fire extinguishing system is automatically actuated in response to flames from a fire on the upper surface of a stove having a vent hood. A pressurized fire extinguisher includes a lever actuated valve spring biased to the open position and contains a supply of fire extinguishing material. A discharge manifold extends between the valve of the fire extinguisher and a plurality of nozzles which are positioned within the vent hood to distribute the fire extinguishing material over the upper surface of the stove when the valve is released into the open position. A fusible link secures a strut which maintains the valve in a closed position. A fuse extends from an area above the upper surface of the stove to a capsule of gun powder which surrounds the fusible link. A fire in the stove top area ignites the exposed end of the fuse which controllably transfers fire to the capsule of gun powder.

Abstract: The heating system of the present invention includes a compressor for compressing and heating refrigerant. The pressurized, heated refrigerant is passed through a first heat exchanger which is coupled to a container of water. A pump circulates water from the container through the first heat exchanger to transfer heat from the refrigerant through the heat exchanger to the water. This heat exchange process cools and condenses the refrigerent from a gas to a liquid as the water is heated. The liquified refrigerant is transferred to a coaxial earth tap which includes an inner passageway for transferring the refrigerant from the upper end to the lower end of the earth tap and a restrictor positioned at the lower end of the tap for vaporizing the refrigerant.

Abstract: A fluid-solid mixing and dispensing apparatus primarily intended for use in the application of pesticide dust. The apparatus comprises a blower and a removable, disposable pesticide dust cartridge attachable to the blower in fluid-communicating relation to at least a portion of the blower's fluid flow stream. A volume control is provided so as to regulate the quantity of fluid flowing through the cartridge, thereby regulating the quantity of pesticide dust actually dispensed.

Abstract: An adjustable clamp for holding a workpiece wherein the clamp is characterized by a pair of fixed, opposing jaws and a first clamping member movably disposed on one of said jaws. The adjustable clamp further comprises a second clamping member movably attached to a clamp positioning bar formed on the body of the adjustable clamp whereby the second clamping member may be selectively positioned in first and second clamping positions with respect to a normal plane between the jaws. A second embodiment for the adjustable clamp is disclosed comprising a third clamping member operatively mounted on the other jaw in substantially opposing relation to the first clamping member, whereby a workpiece may be centered between the two jaws.