Abstract: Control apparatus for a length determining machine having a length determining assembly and a removal assembly, the control apparatus comprising a length control portion controlling the operation of the length determining assembly of the length determining machine, a removal control portion controlling the operation of the removal assembly of the length determining machine, and an interlock portion to prevent the operation of the length control portion during the operation of the removal control portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring power from the battery of a service vehicle to the battery of a second vehicle, wherein the negative battery terminal of the service vehicle is connected to the frame of the service vehicle, which utilizes a spring-loaded reel for storing the jumper cables in the service vehicle and where one of the cables is permanently connected to the frame of the service vehicle and the other cable is permanently connected to the positive terminal of the battery in the service vehicle. The reel is preferably positioned in the rear of the service vehicle, whereby the vehicles may be aligned with the traffic when the apparatus is being utilized to start a stalled vehicle.

Abstract: An improved speedometer cable housing release and removal tool for disconnecting a speedometer cable housing from the speedometer head of an automobile or the like. The tool has an elongated curved body portion or handle with a linear portion at one end of the handle and extends to form a combination fulcrum-guide that is disposed generally in a plane perpendicular to the handle. The combination fulcrum-guide has a bending radius along a cable housing receiving groove permitting the tool to straddle the speedometer cable housing, thereby permitting the speedometer cable housing to serve as a finder for the tool. A depressing arm is connected to and proceeds from the combination fulcrum-guide generally parallel to an axis extensive through the linear portion of the handle. The depressing arm is of adequate length to reach a release trigger which is attached to the speedometer cable housing.

Abstract: An improved material transfer mechanism comprising a selectively variable speed hydraulic power assembly having an output connected to and powering a material conveyor. A double acting hydraulic ram positions a swash plate control lever that determines the rotational speed of the output shaft, and a hydraulic porting valve assembly is disposed to actuate the hydraulic ram, the hydraulic porting valve assembly comprising a pivotally supported valve body having an internally disposed fluid control means, the fluid control means being variably displaced in the valve body by the actuation of a pressure controlling mechanism for the purpose of selectively determining and establishing fluid communication of a source of hydraulic pressure fluid to alternate ends of the hydraulic ram with the hydraulic porting valve assembly to selectively control the hydraulic ram.

Abstract: An improved communication apparatus for communicating between a first object and a second object wherein the first object includes apparatus for generating and transmitting a transmit signal and the second object includes apparatus for receiving the transmit signal and providing an emitted signal in response thereto, the emitted signal having a frequency coherently related to the frequency of the received transmit signal. The second object also includes an apparatus for encoding an identifying code having a unique code format wherein the beginning and the end of the code format are identifiable, the first object including apparatus for receiving the encoded emitted signal, identifying the code format encoded therein and determining the received emitted signal represents a valid code format.

Abstract: A method and assembly for air conditioning a motor home vehicle or the like employing a heat transfer medium and cooling both the front passenger area and the rear living area using a single compressor source. The assembly having a compressor driven either by the vehicle's engine or a compressor driven by an electric drive motor, a first and second condenser mounted on the roof of the vehicle, a first, second and third evaporator mounted to a first, second and third blower, the first evaporator and first blower mounted under the dash of the vehicle and the second and third evaporators and second and third blowers mounted on the roof of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved prosthetic dentistry method and an improved dental prosthetic device wherein the prosthetic device includes an implant disposable in a fresh extraction site or a surgically produced extraction site as the patient conditions dictate, and a crown removably attachable to the implant. The implant has a configuration shaped to encourage hard tissue and bone ingrowth into and through portions of the implant for increasing the mechanical interlock between the implant and the existing alveolar bone. In practice, the implant is inserted into the socket opening formed at the extraction site and, after a healing period sufficient to assure the required mechanical interlock, the crown is secured to the implant, thereby providing a free-standing dental prosthetic device which does not require the adjacent teeth for support purposes. The crown would preferably be attached immediately in those instances involving the replacement of anterior teeth.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for repairing indentions in a rigid skin, the apparatus comprising frame means supportingly holding backup means positioned to rest on a portion of the skin in close proximity to the indention, chuck means slidingly supported by the frame means to grippingly hold and movably position a dent engaging member contacting the indented portion of the skin. Retract means move the chuck means in a direction to pull the dented skin towards the backup means. In the preferred embodiment, the backup means comprise an apertured base plate contoured to matingly match the contour of the rigid skin in close proximity to the indention, a portion of the dentengaging member clearingly extending through the aperture.

Abstract: An improved stop attachment removably connectable to a hinge assembly for adjustably limiting the degree of angular movement of a hinge assembly, the stop attachment including a housing assembly and a stop sleeve. The stop sleeve is movable with respect to the housing assembly for selectively positioning a first and a second stop surface formed on the stop sleeve with respect to a first and a second stop surface, respectively, formed on the housing assembly. In each selectively adjusted position of the stop sleeve and the housing assembly, at least one of the first stop surfaces of the stop sleeve and the housing assembly engages a first hinge leaf of the hinge assembly and at least one of the second stop surfaces of the stop sleeve and the housing assembly engages a second hinge leaf of the hinge assembly thereby selectively and adjustingly limiting the degree of angular movement of the first and the second hinge leaves.

Abstract: An improved self-supporting nesting cart comprising a rigid end frame and a swivel end frame spatially positioned by back frame means supporting at least one folding shelf disposed between the rigid end frame and the swivel end frame, the cart having a use profile and a nesting profile. In the nesting profile, the shelf is positioned in a folded-in position and the swivel end frame is positioned in a folded position. Selectively engageable latching means retain the shelf in the folded-in position and the swivel end frame in the folded position when the cart is in the nesting profile. Catch means interconnect adjacent carts while nesting, and tow bar means permit single or plural cart transporting.

Abstract: A standing valve for use in a tubing string, the standing valve having a bored mandrel, a packing element with the lower end thereof sealingly connected around the mandrel, a bored valve body slidably retained on the upper end of the mandrel so as to be slidable in one direction to wedge the upper end of the packing element into sealing arrangement with the tubing string, and a valve slidably retained in the valve body to open and close the bore therethrough.

Abstract: A slipform paving apparatus having a variable width frame assembly supported upon independently adjustable and steerable leg and track assemblies that are positionable in a paving profile or in a travelling profile. A detachable steering cable feedback and follower assembly interconnects a track assembly on one side to the respective track assembly on the other side, providing potential single side steering control. Road building implements include in sequence and in close proximity a traversing paddle assembly, a height adjustable vibrator assembly, a variable height strike-off assembly, a vibrated grout screed assembly, a profile pan assembly, and a float pan assembly cooperating with retractable slipforming means to form a finished concrete road lane upon a substrate. The implements are modularly designed so as to be capable of being parted and increased in road width building capability by the interdisposition of extension attachments between sections of each implement.

Abstract: A submersible pump having a volume chamber with a volute wall integrally formed with and extending internally to a hermetically sealed housing. A fixed bearing is pressed in the interior wall of the volume chamber and is so established to determine the axial alignment of a drive shaft passing therethrough. The drive shaft is also supported by a self-aligning bearing disposed within the housing. An impeller, disposed within the volume chamber, is connected to the drive shaft. A drive motor enclosed in the housing rotates the drive shaft and the impeller, the motor being surrounded by a coolant fluid therein. Inlet and outlet ports are provided to complete the pump. As the impeller is rotated to pump a process fluid, the coolant fluid in the housing serves to lubricate the bearings and to effect heat transfer from the motor and bearings through the walls of the volume chamber to the process fluid.

Abstract: A live well valve apparatus having a valve body forming a ball member compartment and a stab joint conduit with flowthrough communication therebetween. A ball member is disposed in the ball compartment and positionable in moving clearance and in sealing engagement with a valve seat disposed between the ball member compartment and the stab joint conduit. A wedge means is provided to selectively force the ball member in sealing engagement with the valve seat, the wedge assembly in the preferred embodiment being an actuator bar slidingly supported on the valve body in opposingly aligned bar supporting grooves, the actuator bar having a clearance end and a wedge end.

Abstract: A cable safety apparatus for use in a cable feeding system, comprising a pulley rotatably mounted on a frame, the pulley supporting the cable in a manner to provide a back pressure thereon. A locking member is slidably connected to the frame with a spring interposed therebetween, and the apparatus is suspended to a non-moving support structure by attaching the support end of the locking member to an external structure. The locking member and spring form a spring assembly that has locking engagement with a pivotable cutter blade that is biased to be in cutting engagement with the cable when the spring assembly is moved into clearing relationship with the cutter blade.

Abstract: A particle having superior bonding properties comprising crystalline portions connected together by a bonding material. The bonding material is relieved at the surface of the particle to provide capillaries extending into the particle between adjacent crystals. This results in the fusing material having a terminal surface recessed from the surface of the particle. The particle, when added to an elastomeric material, achieves superior mechanical, chemical and vacumatic bond strength as the elastomeric material is anchored to the particles by occupation of the capillaries, achieving increased bonding area.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for opening and closing door members and the like such as elevator doors and garage doors, for example, wherein the driver rotatingly drives a driver shaft coupled to a driven shaft via a ball drive assembly, the ball drive assembly not only coupling the driver and the driven shafts so the driven shaft is rotated at a reduced rate of speed, but also cooperating to provide a portion of a torque control for sensing obstructions in the door member path of travel and automatically stopping or reversing the opening or the closing of the door member. The ball drive assembly has a relatively low moment of inertia, which facilitates faster stopping of the door member travel, and the internal friction of the ball drive assembly is greater than a pulley-belt type of coupling, for example, thereby increasing the amount of force required to move the door member from a stopped position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved uni-directional meter prover apparatus which includes a prover barrel having first and second ends, a piston disposed within the barrel which is propelled through the barrel by the flow of liquid therethrough, means for detecting the passage of the piston and comparing the volume of liquid displaced thereby with the volume of liquid measured by a meter being proved and means for transferring the piston from the second end of the prover barrel to the first end thereof. By the present invention, the first end of the prover barrel is positioned below the second end thereof and a piston transfer conduit is connected between the first and second ends of the prover barrel. First and second valve means are disposed within the transfer conduit for preventing liquid communication between the first and second ends of the prover barrel and for selectively retaining the piston therein.

Abstract: A storage rack for accumulating and temporarily storing papers, such as old newspapers, wherein the rack is constructed of wire or rods.

Abstract: A convertible platform and shelf apparatus for a van like vehicle having a compartment comprising a frame strut assembly connected to the inside walls of the compartment and a plurality of utility shelf assemblies that have a plurality of hinged together planar members selectively positionable in rigid coplanar relationship. The shelf assemblies are detachably connectable to the frame strut assembly to form utility areas usable as tables, beds, storage areas or for personnel back support. Retractable leg assemblies are provided for partial support when the shelf assemblies are used as tables. Also provided is a platform assembly that selectively folds into a reversable facing seat or into an elevated platform to serve as a bed or the like.