Abstract: A projectile for a darting gun, comprising a front head housing a front ignition plunger arranged for axial rearward movement when the tip of the projectile strikes a target, the ignition plunger communicating with a rearwardly extending striker means which in an uninfluenced position of the ignition plunger terminates at a first predetermined distance from an ignition time delay element, the ignition time element when triggered by the striker means being arranged to fire a detonator which in turn detonates a main charge arranged in a tubular body attached to the rear of the front head, a safeguarding means which can be influenced by an outer mechanical force, the safeguarding means in a first position holding the ignition time delay element at a second predetermined distance from the detonator, and in a second position allowing the ignition time delay element to travel the second predetermined distance so as to be brought in close enough communication with the detonator for the detonation thereof when said p

Abstract: A hearth having an air supply through the bottom, a metal dish arranged at a predetermined height above the bottom and defining an area for preheating combustion air which then flows upwardly around the contour of the dish to form a curtain of preheated air. A belt may be provided surrounding the dish which defines an air inlet slot. The method comprises introducing combustion air into the hearth in the form of a continuous stream to form a continuous ascending air curtain laterally surrounding glowing embers in the hearth. Water or water vapor may be introduced into a zone having a temperauture high enough to decompose the water molecules, thereby locally activating combustion.

Abstract: Decorative laminate having improved resistance against marring, abrasion, staining and crocking, and method for the preparation thereof, the laminate comprising a substrate and a decorative sheet, the decorative sheet having on the exposed surface a layer consisting essentially of a thermoset resin, substantially fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, fumed amorphous silica, and particulate abrasive material having a hardness higher than that of silica. Abrasion resistance greater than 3000 cycles (NEMA Wear) by the NEMA test LD 3-3.01 is obtained in combination with improved mar resistance.

Abstract: An improved gas and odor absorbing unit. The unit comprises a container having a bed of particulate odor and gas absorbing material therein constituting a molecular sieve. A tubular passage extends through the container and bed and is provided with a perforated peripheral wall adjacent the bed. The bed is fully enclosed except at the perforated tube wall. Air containing moisture, gases and odors is directed through the tubular passage. The molecular sieve bed has an affinity for gases and odors and an affinity for moisture as well. By directing the air through the tubular passage, rather than directly through the bed itself, more of the gases and odord and less moisture will be absorbed by the bed, increasing the working life of the bed. This effect may be further improved if the tubular passage is provided with diffuser material such as baffles, polyester, or fiberglass to slow down and disperse the air passing therethrough.

Abstract: There is provided a low-noise switching power supply for producing a regulated output voltage from an unregulated supply. The power supply includes a main transformer having first, second and third legs. A primary winding associated with a first leg produces an alternating magnetic flux in the core. A load winding associated with a second leg produces the output voltage from the power supply. A control winding is associated with the third leg. The regulated output voltage is compared to a reference voltage and used to operate a control circuit which alternately short circuits the control winding so as to vary the reluctance pass in the transformer and maintain the output voltage at a substantially constant predetermined value. A feedback circuit including a coupling transformer connects the primary coil to the switching circuit to improve regulation and provide a "soft start" capability.

Abstract: A method for obtaining an electrical earth connection device wherein a metal plate having a threaded seat is provided with a screw having a flanged head which is tightened against the plate, whereupon the assembly so formed is affixed to a vehicle body and the vehicle body together with the connection device is painted in a painting bath, whereupon the screw is loosened to receive a cable terminal.

Abstract: A buried conduit consisting, in transverse cross-section, of a lower component (2) and a covering upper component (1) which bears on the upper part of the side walls (22) of the lower component (2) by means of lengthwise bearing members (3). According to the invention, the upper component (1) forms an arched vault made so as to have sufficient flexibility to distort slightly under the effect of the forces to which it is subjected, and the lower component (2) is made so as to resist, without distortion, the forces transmitted by the ground and by the upper component (1), both components being fixed to each other along the lengthwise bearing members (3) and the latter consisting of socket joints, so as to permit the bearing parts of the distortable upper component to pivot without sliding relative to the undistortable lower component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing methane by hydrolysis of aluminum carbide, the aluminum carbide being formed by reduction of aluminum hydroxide/aluminum oxide with carbon derived from low grade coal in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of at least 1250.degree. C. The hydrolysis of aluminum carbide in the presence of an acid catalyst forms aluminum hydroxide and methane, and the aluminum hydroxide, along with admixed impurities, is returned to the reducing step.

Abstract: In order to lessen the operator's fatigue and improve his actions in accuracy, there is provided an apparatus of the present invention for compensating a stop position of a bucket of a loader. By the use of the apparatus, it is possible to automatically compensate the stop position of the bucket so as to keep the bucket substantially horizontal even when the engine speed varies. The apparatus of the present invention is provided with: a detecting element (67 or 67') for detecting the extending/retracting speed of a bucket cylinder unit (27) of the loader; and a controller (51) in which a necessary time lag (Bi) is established on the basis of a signal issued from the detecting element, and after collapse of a period of such time lag, a relay (66) for energizing a leveler solenoid (46) is turned on and kept "on" until a limit switch (33) for limiting the extension of the bucket cylinder unit (27) is turned off.

Abstract: An apparatus for reforming an end shell includes a stationary tooling assembly having a reform punch for engaging an interior surface of the central wall portion of the end shell. A reciprocating tooling assembly includes spring-loaded pressure pad complimentary to the reform punch for engagin the exterior surface of the central wall portion. A reform ring, mounted circumferentially about the pressure pad, includes an annular nose for fully engaging and supporting the exterior surface of the frustoconical wall portion of the end shell. At the bottom of the reforming stroke, the central wall portion is simultaneously supported by the reform punch and the pressure pad.

Abstract: Improvements in the guide body and nail feed mechanism of a nail driving tool, using wire collated nails, to eliminate the formation of loose pieces of collating wire and the trapping thereof under the heads of driven nails to form flags. The tool has a driver, a magazine containing a coil of nails joined together in spaced relationship by collating wires welded to each nail, a guide body providing a drive track for the driver and the nails, and a feed pawl which advances and retracts in guideways in the guide body and has fingers engaging nails of the coil to locate the forwardmost nail thereof in the drive track. As the forwardmost nail of the coil is driven into a workpiece the collating wires break near the forwardmost nail leaving forwardly extending wire segments on the next succeeding nail. The drive track is provided with windows positioned to receive the wire segments of the forwardmost nail and bend them upwardly along the nail shank as the nail is driven.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid, shelf-stable ready-to-use baker's wash for coating bakery products such as rolls, bread and pie crusts. The wash can be applied either before or after baking to provide a shine to the bakery product. The present invention also relates to a preservative composition which may be used in the inventive bakery wash or otherwise to control both fungal and bacterial growth. The preservative composition contains a mixture of methyl-and propylparabens, wherein the ratio of the percent by weight of the methylparaben to that of the propylparaben is at least 1.25 to 1.

Abstract: A press for forming cans from a metallic sheet includes a first work station having a blanking and drawing punch for cutting a blank from the sheet and drawing a cup from the blank. A second work station includes a redrawing punch for redrawing the cup to a smaller diameter to form a can. The redrawing punch travels through an opening formed in the sheet when the blank is cut from the sheet and acts in concert with the blanking and drawing punch. When the redrawing operation is complete, the redrawing punch reciprocates out of the opening in the sheet, as does the blanking and drawing punch, so that the sheet can advance to the next station. Other subsequent work stations act in concert with the blanking and drawing punch and redrawing punch by passing through openings formed in the sheet when a blank is punched at the first work station.

Abstract: A method of preparing a composition capable of inhibiting platelet aggregation in mammalian blood induced by adenosine diphosphate or arachidonic acid, which comprises forming an aqueous extract of dried and powdered seeds of the plant Paullinia cupana (guarana), centrifuging the solution and filtering the supernatant. A fraction of this aqueous extract obtained by thin-layer chromatographic fractionation on silica gel plates, which is free of salicylic acid, xanthines and nicotinic acid, is capable of deaggregating platelet aggregations in mammalian blood induced by adenosine diphosphate or arachidonic acid as well as inhibiting platelet aggregation. This fraction is eluted with ethanol, and centrifuged to removed gel. The supernatant may be dried and reconstituted with distilled water.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a pair of opposed pistons in a block has a piston connected to a respective crankshaft. A gear train synchronizes the speed and relative angular relationship between the crankshafts. A timing actuator, connected to and engaged with either of the crankshafts, permits continuous selective adjustment of the headspace between the pistons by varying parameters such as intake and exhaust port timing and air flow through the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides 5-arylalkyl-4-alkoxy-2(5H)-furanones of the formula: ##STR1## wherein the oxygen atoms on C-5 and C-.alpha., relative to one another, are in the threo-position, with the exclusion of those compounds of the formula (I) wherein R.sup.2 is H or CH.sub.3 when n=0 or 2, R.sup.o =H, R.sup.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sup.3 =H and R.sup.4 =H.The present invention also provides processes for their preparation, as well as new 3-alkoxy-5-(subst.)-phenyl-2(E), 4(E)-pentadienoates as reactive intermediates for the preparation of the new furanone derivatives.The new furanone derivatives of the threo series are active as anticonvulsives/anti-epileptics. Therefore, the present invention also provides medicaments which contain these new furanone derivatives, as well as known furanones, the anticonvulsive/anti-epileptic effectiveness of which has been found for the first time.

Abstract: An improved flywheel for an electromechanical tool such as a nailer or stapler. The tool is provided with a blade-like driver which is frictionally moved through a working stroke by an electrically driven flywheel, the driver being squeezed between the flywheel and a support element such as a counterrotating flywheel, a low inertia roller, or the like. The flywheel has a peripheral working surface with parallel edges. The working surface of the flywheel makes a line contact with the driver during the driving stroke. The flywheel is provided with at least one groove formed in and extending along its working surface. Throughout its length the groove is angularly related to the parallel edges of the flywheel working surface so that the groove traverses the line contact between the driver and the flywheel during each working stroke. This more efficiently prevents build-up of foreign material on the driver and flywheel and produces less and more uniform wear of the driver and flywheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing novel 4-[1-oxoalkyl]-2,5-oxazolidinediones, (4-1 OOD), and their use in a stereoselective method of producing beta-lactam-containing compounds which include several biologically active compounds such as the well-known families of penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics. The method of the present invention involves generally the reaction of the above-described 4-[1-oxoalkyl]-2,5-oxazolidinediones so produced with a thiol amine having a geometry amenable to forming the precursor of the desired beta-lactam-containing compound or, in one scheme, forming the beta-lactam-containing compound itself directly. This is done either by direct reaction of the 4-1 OOD with a thiol amine (which by one pathway proceeds directly to the beta-lactam-containing compound) or by first converting the 4-1 OOD to its 2-[1-oxoalkyl]-2-amino acid form before its reaction with the thiol amine; and then forming the beta lactam by action of cyanogen).