Abstract: A rotor for an adjustable low loss capacitor having a hollow cylindrical stator with an internally threaded bushing at one end, an axially adjoining insulative cylindrical body, a conductive end member and concentric radially spaced conductive tubes inside said insulative cylindrical body, comprises a rotatable cylindrical screw body having externally threaded portions for engaging internal threading of the bushing. The threaded portions are axially separated by an unthreaded intermediate portion of reduced diameter formed with three slots whose inner edges define an equilateral triangle axially of the screw body. The slots define three resilient springy webs each extending 120.degree. circumferentially of the screw body. Corners of each web are disposed in registration with the other two webs axially of the screw body. The intermediate portion is deformed slightly to misalign the two threaded portions of the screw body.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for use with a catheter, is made of a plurality of insulated wires. The wires are bound together in a bundle by fine insulated wire for almost their entire lengths. At one end of the bundle are free wire ends of different lengths on which are electrically conductive ferrules. The ferrules are spaced apart axially when aligned with the bundle inside the catheter. The wires are made of springy material so that the free wire ends separate widely outside the catheter. Other cylindrical ferrules are mounted in axially spaced position on bared portions of the other end of the bundle, and encircle all the wires, but each ferrule is in direct electrical contact with only one of the wires.

Abstract: A device for erasing visible recorded signals from a recording medium such as an elongated tape, sheet or web having oriented magnetic components. The carriage carries one or a plurality of rotatable magnets which rotate in a plane parallel to the recording medium. The magnets may be supported by pulleys on which is entrained an endless belt. The pulleys may be operatively coupled by a gear train to a rack gear on a frame so that the magnets rotate when the pulleys are driven and the carriage is moved along the frame. Alternatively, the pulleys may be coupled to a motor which drives the magnets. Spaced or contiguous paths are traversed by magnetic fields maintained by the rotating magnets. The recording medium may be drawn underneath the carriage which is stationary, or the recording medium may be stationary and the carriage moved along the recording medium, or the recording medium and carriage may be moved simultaneously.

Abstract: A fitting assembly for guiding and retaining a probe in a catheter, comprises a generally cylindrical housing in which is a tubular body through which a probe can pass. Inside one end of the housing is a tubular resilient gasket which bears on one end of the tubular body. An internally threaded cap is engaged on a threaded nipple at one end of the housing and is movable axially upon rotation to compress the gasket and hold the probe in place. An internal projection in the cap engages on an annular shoulder on the housing to keep the cap from being detached from the assembly. A nipple at the other end of the tubular body engages a threaded fitting at one end of the catheter. An adapter coupling is provided having an internally threaded end engageable on the threaded fitting at the end of the tubular body, and having an internally threaded other end in which is engageable an externally threaded fitting of a catheter provided with such a fitting.

Abstract: Apparatus for sterilizing laboratory and hospital glassware, liquids, instruments, garments and the like comprising a sterilizer enclosure having a steam jacket surrounding the same, a source of steam and means, connected in parallel, to supply steam to said jacket at one of two predetermined pressures, means for interconnecting said jacket and said interior of said sterilizer, and means responsive to a predetermined temperature setting for the interior of the sterilizer to selectively initiate and discontinue the supply of steam to said jacket in response to the temperature in said sterilizer.

Abstract: A fluid drain or injection tube for insertion into a teat of an animal's udder has an elongated body with closed and open opposite ends, and with an axial bore terminating at the open end. The body has a first cylindrical section terminating in a blunt, rounded tip to facilitate entry into the teat. Elongated slots in this section communicate with the bore to pass fluid into and out of the bore. The body has an intermediate section of enlarged diameter formed with oppositely tapered portion for engaging in a passage in the teat. A radial annular flange serves as a stop element to limit insertion of the tube into the teat. A second cylindrical section of enlarged diameter at the open end of the tube receives a plug connected by a flexible strap with the tube. A tapered portion of the bore at the intermediate section frictionally grips the tapered tip of a medicament applicator inserted into the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for sterilizing laboratory and hospital glassware, liquids, instruments, garments, contaminated animal wastes and bedding and the like, utilizing a sterilizer enclosure having a steam jacket surrounding the same and a vertically movable front door closure, wherein the door is vertically slideable in a track and is substantially restrained from outward movement by restraining means only at its upper and lower end, and including expandable seal members surrounding the sterilizer opening and opposite the door. The seal comprises two discrete segments, an inflatable member for displacing the sealing member against the door in sealing relationship therewith, and a sealing member. The construction is designed for maximum safety and ease of operation at minimum cost.

Abstract: A writing guide for writing letters and words in a transverse line on a sheet mounted on the flat surface of a baseboard, includes a rectangular frame movable along a detent rod carried by the baseboard. The frame is rotatable around the rod to enable the sheet to be placed on and removed from the baseboard. The frame has two rigid spaced rails joined by rigid end plates. A flexible string has two laterally movable sections disposed between and parallel to the rails to define a space for writing transversely along the sheet. The string may be connected in electric circuit with an electrically operable sounding device, power supply, and metal tip of a writing implement, to sound an alarm when the tip of the writing implement contacts one of the string sections.

Abstract: A retractable wheel assembly for an article of luggage has a housing formed with side and end walls, closed top and open bottom. The housing fits into an opening in a side of the luggage and has a peripheral flange for attachment to the luggage. The housing has a well in which is a fork supporting a rotatable wheel. The fork is rotatable on a stationary pin and is movable laterally on the pin. A coil spring on the pin biases the fork against an abutment in the well so the fork and wheel are held retracted in the well. A catch cooperates with the spring in holding the fork and wheel retracted. When the catch is disengaged the fork can be rotated on the pin to an outward position where the coil spring moves the fork laterally into engagement with a flat, U-shaped bracket at the bottom of the housing. There the fork is held extended until moved manually laterally against the bias of the spring to disengage the fork from the bracket, so that the fork and wheel can be rotated into the well.

Abstract: An improved capacitor assembly has a rectangular top and bottom electrodes secured to a ceramic block having flat top and bottom faces. Opposite end and side edges of the block and electrodes are beveled and curved and corners of the assembly are rounded. This provides a rugged and more reliable capacitor structure in which abrupt metal-to-ceramic surfaces are eliminated. Any tendency of electrodes to separate from the ceramic block due to mechanical or thermal shocks are minimized. The capacitor may be embodied in a hybrid electronic circuit, a microstrip conductor-capacitor assembly, or the like.

Abstract: A clipboard with improved sheet holding means includes an elastic band stretched across a flat, rigid board and having opposite ends secured near opposite corners of the board. On the band are spaced solid beads having bores through which the band extends. The beads may be adjustably positioned along the band or their positions may be fixed. Underneath each of the beads is a friction pad or friction surface. A single sheet of a pile of sheet material may be held between the beads and the friction pads. The beads may be shaped and the bores are located so that the beads and band cam upwardly when a sheet is being pulled away from the pile under the elastic band. The beads can be a cubical with rounded edges, ellipsoidal with bores extending across the shorter diameters, or spherical with bores eccentrically located.

Abstract: A rectangular window frame defined by four frame members, has two spline members supported by a pair of laterally spaced frame members. The spline members are formed with blade portions arranged to retain a sash in the window frame. One on both of the spline members are longitudinally slidable in a tubular frame portion against a spring bias and each is normally retained at one end in a socket formed in an adjacent frame member. The spring bias is provided by a coil spring in the tubular frame portion bearing against the other end of the spline member. When the spline member is disengaged from the pocket it is rotatable out of the way to permit the sash to be installed in or removed from the window frame. The blade portion of each longitudinally slidable spline member may be formed with an aperture or slot to receive a tool for longitudinally sliding the spline member to disengage it from the retaining socket.

Abstract: A device for automatically timing and recording the sedimentation rate of fluid samples contained in cylindrical, transparent test tubes includes a generally rectangular rack having flat vertical walls formed with cylindrical bores for receiving the test tubes, and vertical channels at outer sides of the walls for receiving photographic strips. A lamp inside the rack shines through test tubes to the strips to record the amount of sedimentation of the fluid. The walls of the rack may be transparent for passing light therethrough or may be provided with slits at inner sides thereof for communicating with the bores. The bores communicate with the channels via other slits formed at outer sides of the bores. A rectangular housing may be fitted over the rack to exclude ambient light.