Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for oil spill recovery and more particularly, concerns a catamaran style sea-going vessel capable of lifting an oil spill or slick from the surface of the sea water, separating the oil from the sea water and storing the recovered oil temporarily for transfer to a larger vessel or storage facility. The apparatus utilizes a pair of contra-rotating drums for oil pick-up, the oil being directed to come into contact with the outer surface of the drums by a deflector extending between the hulls of the vessel.

Abstract: A machine for producing wooden molding includes a base, a table floating on said base for supporting a wooden workpiece for travel beneath a cylindrical cutter head, rollers mounted in a frame on the table for moving a workpiece across the table beneath the cutter head, a vertically movable mast mounted on the base, and an arm carrying the cutter head pivotally connected to the mast for rotation around a horizontal axis, whereby the height and inclination of the cutter head relative to the workpiece can readily be changed.

Abstract: A photodegradable and fully biodegradable plastic material, which can be molded using conventional molding techniques and which has good physical and mechanical properties includes a blend of polyisoprene and polycaprolactone resins. The material biodegrades in soil and sea water environments. All blend ingredients are completely decomposed by microorganisms. Polyisoprene is a natural polymer present in a large variety of plant species or is man made. Polycaprolactone is a synthetic polymer resin known to be decomposed by microorganisms. The plastic material has thermoplastic properties which permits processing of the material using conventional plastic working techniques. The presence of C.sub.1 -C.sub.15 saturated fatty acids and organic peroxide compatibilizers improve the properties of the blend, especially when large quantities of polyisoprenes are used which allows the production of high quality blown films.

Abstract: An assembly for housing electrical outlets includes a junction box for mounting in a recess in a wall or floor, a ring for mounting on the open top or outer end of the box, at least one pair of opposed recesses in the ring for receiving an electrical outlet, a cover plate for covering the area of the ring containing the outlet, and a face plate for surrounding the cover plate and limiting access thereto. The cover plate, face plate and the mounting ring have snap in locking systems. Notches in the mounting ring permit disengagement of the cover plate locking system using a lever. The notches are normally covered by the face plate. The assembly is easy to install, and discourages tampering.

Abstract: Attempts to achieve fidelity of sound produced by speaker systems has led to often large, relatively complicated and expensive speaker cabinets, particularly for reproducing sound in the lower acoustic frequencies. A simple solution to the problem is a speaker assembly including a housing divided by a partition into a speaker chamber containing a speaker and a sound outlet chamber. The sound outlet chamber contains a sound outlet box remote from an opening in the partition connecting the speaker chamber to the sound outlet chamber. A sound outlet tube extends through the box and one wall of the housing. The interior of the box and at least a portion of the area around the box are filled with sand or another solid material for eliminating vibration or at least reducing vibration to a minimum.

Abstract: Energy absorbing bolsters for vehicle doors are usually formed of non-recyclable foam plastic and/or metal. A relatively simple bolster, which can be formed of recyclable plastic, includes a hollow body with a hole therein for equalizing interior and exterior pressure, and permitting limited flexing of the body, and reinforcing ribs on the outer and side walls of the body, so that the latter can be relatively thin walled.

Abstract: In general, mobile agricultural sprinkler machines can be used on smooth terrain only or under conditions permitting travel in a straight line. The apparatus of the present invention is a high pressure, self-propelled, mobile sprinkler which can take a circuitous route over rough terrain. Moreover, the apparatus of the present invention includes several safety features which reduce the likelihood of equipment damage. The safety features include an automatic drive stopping system which halts the sprinkler at a predetermined location. Also provided is a drive shutoff which is engaged if the hose of the apparatus become tangled. The invention also includes a brake for slowing the apparatus as it becomes lighter to prevent the apparatus lurching forward, thereby avoiding the problems of hose tangles and uneven water distribution.

Abstract: While the most popular currently available compact disc carriers are structurally simple, they are lacking in several areas. Such carriers are often difficult to open, they are fragile and thus easily broken, and they are usually stored vertically on edge so that the labels on the spines are difficult to read, and provide no indication of whether a disc is present in the carrier. A compact disc carrier, which deals with these shortcomings, includes a sleeve-like container defined by a top wall, side walls and tracks at the bottom ends of the side walls; and a tray defined by a bottom wall slidable in the tracks, a first pair of ledges on posts at the rear of the tray for supporting the rear edge of a disc, and a second pair of ledges on spring arms near the front of the tray for supporting the front edge of the disc.

Abstract: Sometimes when attempting to remove the draft key from an E-type railway car coupler, it is difficult to connect the key pulling device to the key without disconnecting the trainline. A simple key pulling device which solves this problem includes a pair of parallel hydraulic cylinders, a yoke interconnecting one end of the cylinders, piston rods extending out of such one end of the cylinders, a socket in the yoke, and separate jaws for removable mounting in the socket and for connecting the pulling device to a key, whereby the jaws can be independently mounted on the head of a key and then connected to the yoke, extension of the piston rods against the coupler causing outward movement of the cylinders, yoke and jaws to pull the key from the coupler.

Abstract: Locks for security grills used on doors or windows tend to be structurally complicated, and consequently expensive to produce and/or install. A relatively simple lock assembly for use with a security grill includes a box for mounting on one edge of a grill, a slot in one side of the box for opposing the frame of the door or window when the grill is closed, a plate for mounting on the outside of the frame in opposition to the box, whereby the plate completely covers the slot when the grill is closed, a bolt extending through the plate for rotatable mounting in the frame in alignment with the slot, an ear on the outer end of the bolt for insertion through the slot into the box when the grill is moved to the closed position, and a handle on the inner end of the bolt for rotating the latter between a release position in which the ear can be inserted into or removed from the box via the slot and a locked position in which the ear is retained by a projection in the box.

Abstract: Portable, heavy duty jacks used in the railway, mining and construction industries are expensive units including a motor, a pump, a working fluid reservoir and a hydraulic cylinder, all mounted on a wheeled carriage. The jacks are moved to a use location and often left in one position for a lengthy period of time. Thus, it is often necessary to stock a large number of expensive units. A simple solution to the problem involves a single power module including a carriage, a motor, a pump and a fluid reservoir, and separate lift modules including a hydraulic cylinder. A lift module is releasably connected to the power module for moving the module to a use location, where the hydraulic cylinder is actuated to raise a load. The two modules are then disconnected, another lift module is attached to the power module, and the resulting unit is moved to another use location.

Abstract: Hydraulic systems for bicycles or other small land vehicles include a master or control cylinder actuated by the brake lever, and a slave cylinder connected to the master cylinder by a hydraulic fluid line. The slave cylinder carries a piston, and the slave cylinder or piston is connected to the callipers for applying the brakes. With repeated use, the lever becomes loose or develops play. A solution to the problem provided by this invention incudes an adjustment screw in the slave cylinder for quickly and easily adjusting the position of the piston in the slave cylinder, so that in the rest position, the fluid pressure on the lever maintains the latter in a fixed position. An eccentric cam can also be mounted on the lever for adjusting the rest position of the lever with respect to a piston in the master cylinder to achieve the same effect.

Abstract: The looped free ends of venetian or vertical blinds are typically housed in somewhat complicated control or security structures. A simple security device for limiting access to the looped ends of blind cords includes an elongated, rectangular housing for mounting at one end of a blind assembly, at least one counterweight slidably mounted in the housing for vertical movement therein, and a recess in the counterweight for receiving the looped bottom end of a blind cord, so that the end of the cord remains in the housing.

Abstract: A splicing device includes a bracket for mounting on a sealing machine frame, a shaft rotatably mounted on the bracket, the bracket carrying a spindle on each end thereof for a roll of tape, a first handle and brake on one end of the shaft for releasably locking the arm in one position, and a second handle on the other end of the shaft for rotating the shaft and arm, a wiper roller and a separation roller mounted on the frame. A first roll of tape is dispensed from one spindle to a taping head, and a second, fresh roll of tape is on the other spindle. When the first roll of tape is almost completely dispensed, the brake is released and the arm rotated to contact the second roll of tape with the adhesive surface of the first roll.

Abstract: In general, in-line roller skates include a plurality of rollers or wheels mounted in a support on the bottom of a pair of boots. Because of friction between the wheels and the ground, such roller skates do not operate as smoothly as ice skates. The difference is quite noticeable during turning. The problem of smooth turning on in-line skates is solved by a wheel assembly including a pair of end wheels with tapered peripheries, and a pair of intermediate wheels at least the rearmost of which defines a pivot wheel. The pivot wheel is less tapered than the end wheels, i.e. in cross section the outer periphery of the pivot wheel defines a semicircle. When the wheel assembly is used on a pair of skates, during turning, only the pivot wheel and possibly the other intermediate wheel contacts the ground. Thus, friction is reduced, and the result more closely resembles the feel of ice skates.