Abstract: A device primarily for use by silversmiths and hobbyists for crimping a relatively thin strip of metal for jewelry creations and crafts. A pair of discs each have a centrally mounted pinion gear extending outwardly from a flat face of the disc. The gears are received within an annular collar having an elliptical cross-sectional configuration which houses the gears in meshing relationship and separates the discs. A pair of aligned holes is formed in the collar for receiving and discharging a strip of metal which is fed between the meshing gears and crimped when the discs are manually rotated. The collar is adjustable to regulate the crimp depth by varying the elongation of the collar by mechanically pressure squeezing the same.

Abstract: A blackout blind is movably mounted within a periscope of an armor vehicle for covering the eyepiece viewing opening when not in use to prevent interior light from being emitted through the periscope and revealing the location of the vehicle. A transparent block of plastic is mounted within a protective housing which extends through an opening in the vehicle armor. A viewing opening is formed in the housing portion located within the vehicle for observing an exterior field of view. A sheet metal guide is mounted within the housing between the plastic block and housing walls and is formed with a pair of channels which extend along the edges of the viewing opening. A blackout blind is slidably mounted and retained within the channels and between the block and housing walls, and is movable across the viewing opening of the housing between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An interlocking building block construction comprising an overlapping masonry block having opposite sides, stepped opposite upper and lower longitudinal faces, and stepped opposite vertical end faces. A plurality of spaced tapered recesses with flat bottom surfaces are located on the upper longitudinal face, and a plurality of correspondingly shaped lugs are formed in the lower longitudinal face. There are two enlarged rectangular openings extending entirely through the block located in the central area of the upper and lower faces between the vertical end faces. A plurality of small apertures are formed in and adjacent to the lugs for receiving pins for interlocking adjacent blocks. Header blocks, pilaster blocks, partition blocks and filler blocks are provided for interlocking assembly with the interlocking building blocks to build walls of a building without the use of grout or cement.

Abstract: A bank window frame structure wherein bullet-proof glass is installed from the outside of a bank building wall in which the frame is located, and the glass is clamped in the frame in a weather-proof manner with a sealed joint all around by clamping means accessible only at the inside of the building wall. All sill, head and side frame members are composed of cut lengths of formed channel-shaped, sheet metal, base and support members secured together in box-like cross-sectional arrangement. The glass is installed from the outside of the frame, with sealing gasket means around its perimeter, and is retained by a formed sheet metal retaining channel member which compresses the sealing gasket means to provide the weather-proofed joint. The clamping screw means for the retaining channel is accessible only at the inside of the frame.

Abstract: A skid for slidably supporting and moving heavy objects. The skid has an elongated load bearing strip of hard fiber-board material with a strip of cushioning material bonded to the top surface of the load bearing strip. A strip of flexible tape-like material having pressure sensitive adhesive on the top surface is bonded to the top surface of the cushioning material. The top adhesive surface of this material is adapted to secure the skid to the bottom portion of an object. The bottom surface of the load bearing strip is covered with a hard, smooth glossy surface when the object is adapted to rest on a floor having a soft covering. Alternatively, the bottom surface is covered with a moisture resistant, static-free, wax impregnated, matted fiber fabric when the object is adapted to rest on a floor having a hard covering or finish. The load bearing strip also may be formed with a plurality of transversely extending grooves to facilitate separation of the skid into a plurality of smaller skid-like sections.

Abstract: A suction cleaner nozzle has main and edge cleaning secondary nozzle openings oriented at right angles to one another. An auxiliary passage connects the secondary nozzle with a zone of high suction in the suction source for the main nozzle. Valve means in the auxiliary passage may be moved selectively to open or closed position. A clean-out door is provided for the auxiliary passage.

Abstract: A one-piece tubular walled spun sheet metal pulley having a V-shaped pulley groove formed by a single V-groove wall and a partial double fold V-groove wall. An integral tubular pulley mounting flange wall extends axially from the double flange wall located intermediate the crests and valley of the V-groove forming walls in cross section.

Abstract: In an on-line banking system including a central computer and at least one remote terminal, a method of an apparatus for verifying that a holder of an identification card is authorized to complete a transaction at the terminal is disclosed. Account number data are machine read from the card, scrambled, and then compared to secret alphanumeric data, keyboard entered by the card holder at the terminal. The secret alphanumeric data are converted to a digital signal, and the signal is converted into first and second signal portions. The first signal portion is compared to the scrambled account number data. If the comparison is positive, the second signal portion, along with keyboard-entered transaction data and account number data, is transmitted to the central computer.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch construction having an outer driven member and an inner driving rotor assembly. The rotor assembly has a pair of spaced, radially extending, side plates mounted in fixed positions on a driving shaft, and a core fixed to the shaft between the side plates. The core is provided with diametrically opposite surfaces engaging and supporting associated pairs of clutch shoes when the shoes are in retracted position. A release plate is slidably mounted between each pair of clutch shoes, and the release plates and clutch shoes are retained in retracted position on the core by pairs of clamping balls. The balls are located mainly within holes formed in each pair of clutch shoes and portions of the balls project partially into openings formed in the side plates. Each pair of balls frictionally clamps a release plate therebetween when the clutch is in disengaged position.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch construction having an outer driven member with an axially extending coupling surface, and an inner driving rotor assembly. The rotor assembly has a pair of spaced radial side plates mounted in fixed positions on a driving shaft, and a pair of hubs fixed on the shaft between the side plates. The hubs have a plurality of radially extending projections which form slots between each pair of axially aligned projections. The projections have surfaces engaging and supporting associated pairs of clutch shoes when the shoes are in retracted position. A detent plate is fixed between each pair of clutch shoes for movement with the shoes, and has a projecting surface which extends below the clutch shoes and into a respective slot between the hub projections when the shoes are in retracted position. Spring biased detent cups are located within holes formed in the hub projections and project into axially aligned holes formed in the projecting surfaces of the detent plates.

Abstract: A method of making a dynamically balanced integral clutch housing and bearing assembly from a flat sheet metal disc by a roller spinning tool. A bearing and the metal disc is mounted on rotating die means between headstock and tailstock die form assemblies of a spinning machine. The spinning tool presses the disc against an end of the bearing to provide a bottom web wall of a cup-shaped bearing housing. The spinning tool then moves in a series of passes along the bearing outer race and along the headstock die form thereby rolling, forming and ironing rotating outer metal portions of the disc against the bearing and die, and forming an annular circumferential flange wall of the bearing housing which terminates in an annular shoulder. The bearing is telescopically mounted and retained within the bearing housing by the side and web walls and retaining shoulder.

Abstract: A mechanism for mounting within a firebox of an existing fireplace to control the opening and closing of a pivotally mounted flue damper plate. A vertically extending connecting rod is connected at its upper end to the damper plate. An L-shaped control rod is eccentrically connected to the lower end of the connecting rod adjacent the rear of the firebox for vertically moving the connecting rod upon rotation of the control rod. The control rod is rotatably mounted on and extends beneath a usual fuel holding grate supported on the floor of the firebox. The front end of the control rod extends upwardly in front of and above the grate when the damper is in closed position obstructing placement of fuel on the grate and lighting of a fire therein and providing a visual indication that the damper plate is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle brake having a pair of brake shoes moveably mounted and arranged in end-to-end relationship on a fixed backing plate. A pair of levers is pivotally mounted on the backing plate. The levers have thrust transmitting portions which are interposed between a pair of opposed brake shoe ends and a hydraulic service brake actuator for moving the brake shoes into engagement with the brake drum. The levers also have swinging end portions which pivot inwardly in opposite directions upon outward movement of the thrust transmitting portions. The lever thrust portions have concavely curved camming surfaces which slidably engage complementary convexly curved brake shoe end surface for transmitting the hydraulic actuator force to the brake shoes. A mechanically actuated parking brake mechanism is mounted on the backing plate and is operatively connected to the lever swing end portions by a pair of links.

Abstract: A self-propelled car and load-conveying container on the car travel along a track system having horizontal and vertical track runs with bends or curves between such runs, and having inside and outside corner bends or curves between horizontal track runs . The track system also has switches to connect the system between various stations at various locations on the same or different building floors. The track is generally channel-shaped with spaced rail heads at the extremities of the channel legs. The channel web always has vertical orientation for the horizontal and vertical track runs and bends. The track is formed in sections, and the rail heads have replaceable wear strips. The track sections and wear strips have staggered, non-registering joints. Car travel control strips are mounted at desired locations on the track. Spring-pressed, rounded-groove guide wheels support the car on the track. Car movement control brushes are mounted on the car engageable with the control strips.

Abstract: A verification method and system for determining whether a holder of a card is authorized to complete a transaction through an on-line terminal of an institution in a network of cooperating institutions, such as banks. The method and system are also useable in such applications as accessing a security data file in a computer, entering a security area, completing a point of sale transaction and operating on-line automated tellers in banks. In the preferred embodiment, the card contains information including first data identifying the institution holding an account of an authorized card holder and second data identifying the account. The first and second data are machine read from the card and a secret number, derived from the data but known only to the authorized holder of the card, is keyboard entered by the card holder. The first data are used to address a read only memory having random characters stored therein.

Abstract: A loading bar is mounted on a leaf spring of a racing vehicle rear axle suspension system to increase traction on the vehicle tires during acceleration. Strut tube and strap members are mounted in a spaced relationship on the vehicle leaf spring rearwardly and adjacent to the vehicle axle by a pair of U-bolts and reinforcing plates. The tube and strap members extend rearwardly from the axle and are joined at their extended ends by a wheel bracket and a strut tube adjusting channel. The strut tube extends in an upwardly angled direction between the adjusting channel and axle, with the strap member being generally parallel with respect to the ground or racetrack. A wheel or roller is mounted on the wheel bracket and is spaced above the ground when in static condition. The loading bar is readily adjustable on the leaf spring to change the traction aiding effect thereof.

Abstract: A mechanically actuated parking brake having a pair of brake shoes movably mounted and arranged in end-to-end relationship on a fixed backing plate. A pair of levers is pivotally mounted on the backing plate. The levers are interposed between a pair of opposed brake shoe ends and a hydraulic actuator for moving the brake shoe into engagement with the brake drum upon actuation of the vehicle service brake. The branch legs of a Y-shaped cable extend between the swinging ends of the levers with the main cable leg extending about a pulley and connected to a windup reel. The windup reel is rotatably mounted on one end of a brake actuating handle, with the other end of the handle being connected to a parking brake actuating pedal or lever. Application of the vehicle parking brake rotates the windup reel upon rotation of the handle which tensions the cable and draws the lever ends inwardly and expands the brake shoes outwardly into engagement with the brake drum.

Abstract: A bolt anchor construction for attaching metal plates to the roof of a mine tunnel. An expansion shell having a plurality of spaced metal fingers extending from a collar is telescopically mounted on a bolt. A camming plug is threadably mounted on one end of the bolt and is located within and engageable with the spaced fingers. A series of coined teeth is formed in the outer surface of each finger. The camming plug is mounted within the spaced finger ends by a generally U-shaped bail and is movably retained therein to compensate for various size holes. The ends of the bail are secured to the collar. The camming plug forces the fingers outwardly upon rotation of the bolt whereupon the teeth bite into the rock surrounding the drilled hole to attach the plates to the mine roof. Vertical movement of the fingers with respect to each other is prevented by closing the shell collar by the overlapping of tabs formed on the collar ends.The fingers and collar are stamped from flat sheet metal in a progressive die.

Abstract: Mechanism for operating a rotary cash drawer provided in an automatic banking unit. The cash drawer is movable between "home", "open", and "dump" positions for receiving paper money at the "home" position to be delivered at the "open" position, for accepting deposits in the "open" position, and for dumping at the "dump" position deposits, or money left in the drawer and not removed at the "open" position. The operating mechanism includes a simplified rotor movement control cam, a cooperating pair of solenoids, and a reversing drive motor. These control movement of the rotary cash drawer between the various positions, lock the rotary cash drawer in "home" position, and prevent retrograde rotor movement at certain times during the cycle of drawer operation.

Abstract: A self-adjusting brake having a pair of brake shoes movably mounted and arranged in end-to-end relationship on a fixed backing plate. A pair of levers is pivotally mounted on the backing plate. The levers are interposed between a pair of opposed brake shoes and a hydraulic actuator for moving the brake shoes into engagement with the brake drum. A brake gap adjuster extends between and separates the other opposed ends of the brake shoes. The adjuster includes a rod having a threaded end engaged within a threaded bore of a first hollow sleeve, and a smooth end rotatably mounted within a smooth bore of a second hollow sleeve. A driving washer having camming surfaces is spring biased into meshed engagement with complementary camming surfaces of a driven washer which is fixedly mounted on the adjuster rod. The driving washer is rotatably mounted on the adjuster rod and is operatively connected to one of the brake levers through a bellcrank lever and rigid connecting rod.