Abstract: This runaway halyard preventer has a relatively small, elongated stop body that has one of its ends pivotally attached to the mast below the halyard pulley, while its other end is cantilevered. The stop body includes a walled passageway, located near the pivoted end, through which the halyard is passed. Whenever the halyard is under tension, the force it exerts on the stop body readily moves the stop body to a first position in which the halyard is able to run freely through the stop body in either direction. However, whenever the halyard is not under tension, a slight biasing force moves the pivoted stop body to a second position in which its passageway walls create sufficient frictional resistance to prevent movement of the halyard in either direction. Preferably, the weight of the cantilever end provides appropriate force for biasing the pivoted stop body toward its second position.

Abstract: A bracket holding an instrument in a latched position is hand releasable by a single hand gripping the sides of the instrument while moving a finger engageable surface to release a latch that is pivoted on the bracket. The latch is biased into a latched position, and the instrument is preferably biased out of a latched position so that the instrument does not rattle when latched and releases to the hand gripping it when the latch is unlatched.

Abstract: A bracket for a hand holdable instrument has a pull release latch with gripper surfaces arranged alongside the instrument so that a grip on the gripper surfaces can first release the latch and then slide into engagement with the unlatched instrument for pulling it away from the bracket. This lets a hand reaching for the instrument straddle the instrument, pull on the grippers to release the latch, and slide smoothly into engagement with the instrument for pulling the instrument in the same direction away from the bracket.

Abstract: A promotional card insert is used in combination with beverage bottle holders and beverage bottles to create a promotional card insert display system. The bottle holder preferably holds two rows of bottles about their mid-sections so that the bottles of one row are in contact with the bottles of the other row. The holder can have an integral handle on its periphery. The insert has text and/or graphics printed on its surfaces, is placed between the bottles from above, and is held in place by the compressive force of the bottles. By virtue of its placement in the pack and the location of the holder, the card is visible between the necks of the bottles, whether in individual packs or stacks of packs. The insert can be a single-panel card or can be made using multiple folded panels. The insert can also include promotional gifts or prizes, such as bumper stickers, static-cling display devices, and posters, either placed inside the insert or formed as part of the card.

Abstract: A window balance system for a tilt sash uses a pair of constant force curl springs having curled convolutions carried by sash shoes and free end regions mounted in sash shoe channels above the region of travel of the shoes. The recurl tendency of the springs imparts a lift to the curled spring convolutions, and the shoes transmit the lift to the sash. The springs recurl into the convolutions as the shoes rise and uncurl from the shoes into the shoe channels when the shoes move downward, and neither movement requires the springs to slide frictionally within the shoe channels. Each shoe is preferably formed of two identical halves that are assembled to trap the curl spring along with a cam that locks the shoe when the sash tilts.

Abstract: A fire alarm for an electric panel cabinet mounts a temperature sensor to monitor the internal cabinet temperature and sound an alarm if the inside of the cabinet becomes too hot. The alarm device preferably has an auxiliary battery power supply in case overheating within the cabinet causes a power failure. The alarm can be mounted remotely from the panel cabinet or directly, preferably by a threaded conduit nipple secured to an alarm enclosure box and mounted within a knockout opening in the panel wall.

Abstract: A microlithographic projection imager has an illuminator system that is adjustable for the uniformity of spatial intensity of the illumination delivered to the wafer plane. This uniformity adjustment can compensate for factors tending to deviate the illumination from uniformity. The uniformity adjusting member is preferably refractive and axially movable next to a pupil of the illuminator.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for recovering metallic silver from solutions containing silver ions by reducing silver ions and oxidizing an element in the electromotive series above silver, such as iron. The apparatus provides plug flow of solution into the reaction media and thereby eliminates the principal cause of channelling and premature failure of the media. A distribution chamber distributes solution uniformly to a porous pad of tangled threads or fibers ahead of the media. This ensures a planar flow front of solution as it enters and passes through the media. In a preferred embodiment, the pad is resilient and is supported by a highly open grating. By eliminating the flow and pressure imbalances or gradients at the entry to the media which are inherent in previous apparatus designs, the invention prevents or greatly retards the onset of channelling or plugging of the media.

Abstract: The illumination of a photolithographic projection imager is given a variable annular intensity profile by using diverging and counter diverging elements that are movable relative to each other in the illumination path. An upstream element diverges the illumination into an annular configuration, the radius of which is set by the distance downstream to the counter diverging element. Convex and concave conical surfaces on the movable elements can accomplish this.

Abstract: A beam for a bridge crane or conveyor system is extruded from an aluminum alloy in a configuration that disposes thickened regions at four corners of the beam. One pair of these is along opposite edges of a top flange, and another pair is at opposite lower corners of a bottom channel. The thickened regions are formed with alignment pin dowel grooves that can receive dowel pins for aligning butt joints between beams. The thickened regions also contribute to the strength-to-weight ratio of the beam.

Abstract: Increased friction is generated in a parallel-axis gear differential by wedges 66 having respective bearing surfaces 68 and 70 for rotationally supporting outside diameter surfaces of a pair of planet gears 38 and 40. The wedges 66 react to bearing loads within a differential housing 10 by urging the planet gears 38 and 40 toward a condition of zero backlash with a pair of side gears 34 and 36.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine is disclosed in several embodiments as a pump, as a motor, and as a combination pump/motor. The machine's fixed cylinders are positioned circumferentially to a drive shaft, the pistons being driven by, or acting against, a split swash-plate which is supported primarily by the same main bearing in which the drive shaft rotates. The inclination of the split swash-plate is adjusted by an axially-movable servo mechanism which is also arranged circumferentially to the drive shaft. Preferred embodiments include, among other features, (i) various gimballed-yoke supports for the non-rotating portion of the swash-plate, (ii) various designs for a rotating valve-plate, and (iii) a radial valve system. The unique arrangement of elements provides a machine that is remarkably compact and lightweight, being (a) significantly smaller than commercially-available machines having similar horsepower ratings and (b) operable hydrodynamically (i.e., at constant horsepower) at reduced speeds.

Abstract: A parallel-axis gear differential (10) has planet gear pairs (46) separated by pivotable toggles (56). A leading member (48) of each planet gear pair (46) is angularly advanced in a forward drive direction (38) with respect to a following member (50) of each planet gear pair (46). First bearing surfaces (60) of the toggles (56) support the leading planet gears (48), and second bearing surfaces (62) support the following planet gears (50). Pivot axes (58) of the toggles (56) are positioned closer to one or the other bearing surfaces (60 or 62) to control force transmissions between the planet gear members (48 and 50).

Abstract: Front and rear lenses of a composite eyeglass lens are laminated together by holding the front lens in an X, Y adjustable stage on a laminating axis, holding the rear lens in a predetermined position relative to the laminating axis, and moving the two lenses together on the laminating axis to spread an adhesive between them. The rear lens holder is rotatable around the laminating axis and has three pressure feet arranged in a triangle for pressing the rear lens uniformly against the front lens in a process that can be observed by the operator. Then, the adhesive between the pressed-together lenses is cured by UV radiation directed through the front lens before the lenses are removed from the laminator.

Abstract: A traction control system combines engine output power limiting with a single point brake for controlling wheel slip. The brake is preferably connected to the engine to reduce torque requirements and avoid drive line shock. One friction member of the preferred brake is coupled to the engine block, and another friction member member is coupled together with a drive pulley to the engine output shaft. An electromagnetic actuator moves the two friction members into engagement with each other within a hollow interior of the drive pulley.

Abstract: A mounting seat for an optical element is decoupled from a surrounding annulus that fixes the mount in place in an optical system. The annulus can be one of a plurality of annuli that are interconnected to surround and enclose a coaxial array of optical elements. The decoupling is accomplished by three flexible fingers extending inward from the annulus to a seat for the optical element, which can be mounted either directly on the flexible fingers or on a concentric seating ring supported by the fingers. The flexible elements can be formed integrally with an annulus by cutting slots in its inner perimeter. The flexible elements are structured relative to the lens elements they support so that natural frequencies of vibration of the lens elements are higher than the frequencies of external vibration.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced resin wall of a collapsible shipping container large enough and strong enough for shipping about 300 gallons of liquid is made by compression molding a laminate formed of a glass fiber mat sandwiched between resin webs. This material is arranged in a central region of a compression mold cavity for a wall of the container so that the flow of material during compression molding runs laterally from a central region to side edge regions of the molded wall. Horizontal corrugations extend in the same direction as the lateral flow of material and are not intersected by any transverse ribs so that the flow along the horizontal corrugations is not deviated from the lateral direction. This laterally orients the fibers and optimizes the strength of the wall in the horizontal direction, which is important for bulk shipping requirements.

Abstract: A diffuser for dispersing gas bubbles into a liquid is formed of gas permeable material having a high surface tension at an interface with the liquid and a low surface tension in a region inward from the interface. The upstream region with the low surface tension resists liquid backflow, and the high surface tension of the interface keeps the bubbles small as they depart from the diffuser and enter the liquid.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for shifting a positive variable drive transmission includes a series of indexing mechanisms 90 through 95 for indexing a series of overrunning clutches between to two limit positions. A selector valve 150 controlled by a computer 162 directs flows of pressurized fluid to the indexing mechanisms 90 through 95. A motor 152 indexes a shear plate 172 of the selector valve 150 to predetermined positions for shifting the transmission.