Abstract: A dry solder reflow process, in which metal surface oxides are removed from the solder surface by abstraction of the oxygen from the metal oxide by atomic hydrogen, the atomic hydrogen being created within an intense microwave frequency plasma of a gas containing hydrogen.

Abstract: A boat hitch for latching or hitching the bow of a boat to a boat trailer to provide efficient and safe withdrawal of a boat from the water and hitching the boat to the trailer to enhance the safety factor in towing a boat and trailer over the highway. The boat hitch includes a pivotal latch structure mounted on the forward end portion of a boat trailer which is associated with a cam-type keeper on the bow of the boat in which the keeper includes a curved cam ramp extending from a shallow forward end to a rearward end having greater depth and a keeper surface generally extending vertically at the rearward end of the cam ramp. The latch includes a pivotal pawl that is locked in a vertical position in engagement with the keeper surface when the boat is locked on the trailer with the pawl being manually released and pivoted to a generally rearwardly extending horizontal position for releasing the boat to enable it to move off the trailer when launching the boat into a body of water.

Abstract: A deflectable vehicle bumper has a central frame member attachable to a front of a vehicle, and a pair of laterally extending wing members for protruding beyond the side of the vehicle, each wing member being substantially coplanar with the central frame member and attached thereto. Each wing member comprises a rigid plate having an inner end portion overlapping and detachably secured to the central frame member, and each plate has a vertical line of weakness constituting a fracture line outside the inner end portion, the fracture line ensuring that the plate fractures when a predetermined rearward force is applied thereto. A strip of resilient material is sandwiched between the overlapping plate and central frame member, the strip of resilient material being attached to the plate on each side of the fracture line.

Abstract: A shin guard which provides desired characteristics of smallness of size and lightness in weight, while affording the necessary protection to the shins and knees of users when worn under their pants. The shin guard includes an elongated shin protector section which is strapped around the shin of the user and which tapers outwardly from the shin to encircle the front portion of the leg below the kneecap so as to provide protection for the user. A knee protector section is pivotably mounted to the uppermost portion of the shin protector section.

Abstract: A compound of formula (I) ##STR1## in which: X denotes hydrogen, a halogen, a trifluoromethyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy group;R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 alkyl group, a C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 cycloalkyl group or a cycloalkylmethyl group in which the cycloalkyl moiety has from 3 to 5 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 denotes hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group;R.sub.3 denotes hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, an optionally substituted phenylalkyl group or a pyridylalkyl group;or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 denote, together with the nitrogen to which they are attached, a pyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, morpholinyl, perhydrothiazinyl, piperazinyl or 4-methylpiperazinyl ring; andAr denotes a phenyl group, optionally having from one to three substituents, each of which is, independently, a halogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: The invention refers to a slide-gate shut-off device made of refractory material, of the type having a fixed holed refractory plate (30), a sliding holed refractory plate (40) and underneath the latter solidly joined to it (50), above the fixed refractory plate (30) a fixed refractory sleeve (20), also known as the internal pouring appliance, around which a pouring-appliance holder (11-12) is arranged.According to the invention, these refractory plates (30, 40) are holed in the center and have a double symmetry; furthermore, said internal pouring appliance (20) becomes gradually thinner towards the top, and at its lower base has a radial thickness approximately double that of the lower sliding refractory sleeve (50), known as the external pouring appliance, the radial thickness of which is approximately equal to the radius R of the casting holes in the refractory plates (30, 40).

Abstract: Lipophilic quaternary ammonium salicylate, characterized in that it corresponds to the formula: ##STR1## in which: (i) R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be identical or different, denote an alkyl or alkylcycloalkyl radical, optionally substituted or interrupted;(ii) R.sub.3 and/or R.sub.4 denote(s) a group:R.sub.8 [OC.sub.2 H.sub.3 R.sub.7 ].sub.n [OCH.sub.2 CHOH--CH.sub.2 ].sub.pin which 0.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.4 and p denotes 0 or 1; R.sub.8 denotes H or an alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcycloalkyl or alkylaryl radical;(iii) R.sub.4 denotes an alkylphenyl radical;(iv), (v) R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can form a saturated or unsaturated aromatic or non-aromatic heterocycle;(vi) R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 form polycyclic derivatives with the nitrogen atoms; R.sub.5 denotes a group corresponding to the formula: ##STR2## in which n is an integer varying between 0 and 10.

Abstract: An improved system bus structure for versatile use in various digital computer architecture configurations, particularly those of mini-supercomputers, and, designed to support high speed, high reliability, parallel processing of bi-directional signal transfers in a multi-port and multiple central processor unit (CPU) communication environment as between system bus units or devices. The system bus structure may be sized for a compact encasement and may carry as many as 129 simultaneous signals to and from various units connected to it. The system bus structure includes enabling structure for a centralized arbitration system, a centralized clock and synchronized transfer system, a centralized transfer monitor, a centralized parity error assessor and signalling system including transfer termination, and, a memory/inter-system inhibit system.

Abstract: A luminance signal/color signal separation circuit includes a band-pass filter for picking up a color signal from a composite image signal; a delay circuit for sequentially delaying by one line the color signal picked up by the band-pass filter and obtaining three past, present and future line information; a first operation circuit for outputting a signal which takes a value having a larger absolute value when the past and future line information have the same sign, and takes an algebraic sum of the past and future line information when the past and future line information have different signs; a second operation circuit for outputting a signal which takes a value having a smaller absolute value when the output from the first operation circuit and the present line information have the same sign, and takes a reference value when the output from the first operation circuit and the present line information have different signs; and a third operation circuit for obtaining a color signal by subtracting the output

Abstract: A sheet thickness measuring apparatus for measuring the thickness of a sheet comprises a metallic backup surface for supporting the sheet, a magnetic field utilization sensor arranged above the said metallic backup surface for measuring a distance up to the metallic backup surface in a non-contact form, an optical sensor arranged above the metallic backup surface for measuring a distance up to the metallic backup surface or a top surface of the sheet supported on the metallic backup surface in a non-contact form, and means for computing the thickness of the sheet on the basis of the distance measured by the magnetic field utilization sensor and the distance measured by the optical sensor.

Abstract: An elongated plastic body is provided including first and second ends. The first end includes an enlarged head thereon provided with a recess therein opening outwardly generally along a radius of the longitudinal axis of the body and the other end of the body includes endwise outwardly projecting elongated collet fingers defining a recess therebetween in which to receive the outer end of a cork bottle, the inner surfaces of the collet fingers being provided with a plurality of projections for increasing the frictional grip of the collet fingers on an associated cork end and the recess being of a size and depth to receive the free end of the thumb of a hand encircling the body.

Abstract: To permit round and sharp-edged bars to be forged down to the smallest sizes on a long forging machine without the need for tool changes, swivelling steering levers (30) with guide rams (29) carrying tools (31) are actuated at the ram ends when the steering levers (30) are in a freely movable state and the rams (29) are positively locked inside the steering levers. When the steering levers (30) are locked to the machine frame (6) and the rams (29) are guided linearly, material preforged to rounds may be finish-forged to sharp-edged bars, in which case the pairs of oppositely positioned ram-end tools (31) function as two free forging presses arranged on different vertical planes. Each tool (31) is mounted on a plate (36) movable transversely with respect to the direction of movement of ram (29) by piston and cylinder units (32, 33, 34) on the end of the ram.

Abstract: Phenyloxypropanolamine derivatives in the form of racemates or enantiometers, of formula (I) ##STR1## in which R is H or CH3, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

Abstract: A sheet discriminating apparatus including a light emitter for emitting light onto a sheet being transported, a light receiver for detecting an amount of light transmitted through the sheet and a sheet discriminator for discriminating a specified kind of the sheet from others and/or abnormal feed of sheets based upon the amount of light transmitted through the sheet detected by the light receiver, the sheet discriminator including an average value calculator for calculating an average value of the amount of light transmitted through the sheet detected by the light receiver at a predetermined time intervals, a reference data calculator for calculating and storing a reference data based upon the average value of the amount of light transmitted through a preceding sheet to the sheet to be discriminated stored in the average value calculator, and an average data comparator for comparing the average value of the amount of light transmitted through the sheet calculated in the average value calculator with the refer

Abstract: An optical seeker comprises a rotor (16) mounted on a bearing sleeve (42) to pivot about a pivot point (26) and to rotate about an axis of rotation (28). The rotor (16) carries an imaging system having a concave mirror (50) and a secondary mirror (52). The optical axis of concave mirror (50) and secondary mirror (52) form an angle with the axis of rotation (28). A sunshade (54) is connected to the rotor (16). The bearing sleeve (42) carries an optical element (56). An axle portion (58) is provided on the element (56), on which axle portion the secondary mirror (52) is mounted. The secondary mirror (52) is connected to the sunshade (54) through a stepping-up planetary gear having internal toothing (72), planet wheel (76) and external toothing (78). The planet wheel (76) is mounted on a carrier (74) connected with the axle portion (58).

Abstract: An apparatus for forming voids in concrete which includes baseplates secured to a wood supporting deck or form for a concrete floor by a plurality of removable screws and a removalbe sleeve attached to each baseplate and having a height generally equal to the thickness of the floor with the upper end of the sleeve being accessible and observable when concrete is poured. After the baseplates have been secured in place, various subsequent work procedures may be carried out without the workers encountering obstructions that would exist if upwardly projecting cavity forming members were attached to the wood deck. A sleeve is then attached to each baseplate immediately prior to pouring concrete. After the concrete has been poured and set, the sleeves are detached from the baseplates and removed. The wood deck can then be stripped from the bottom of the concrete floor and the baseplates removed for reuse.

Abstract: An electrically resistive track suitable for use as a heating element consists of a thick film including a base metal constituent and a glass constituent. The thick film has in the temperature range of from 20.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) less than 0.0050 per degree C. Suitable metal constituents include tungsten, molybdenum, a mixture of nickel and tungsten and a mixture of nickel and chromium.

Abstract: A stiff card game playing panel is provided and a plurality of stiff members are wrapped with adhesive coated decorative sheets having free end portions adhesively secured to the panel in positions relative to each other and in conjunction with spacing strips in order to form a plurality of card receiving pockets on the card playing panel. Thus formed, each packet is completely seamless. This is important because even a butted joint interferes with the insertion of a playing card.

Abstract: A mobile tank for decontamination of waste or ground water contains multiple cells for biological treatment and clarification of the water. Systems are provided for aerating the treatment cells and for recycling activated bacteria from the clarifier cell to the primary treatment cell.