Abstract: Apparatus for rotating a heavy object about its longitudinal axis consisting of an I-beam having a number of openings along its length and a pair of units for revolving endless cords for supporting the heavy object. The units are attached to the I-beam by pins inserted through the openings and are lifted by a crane together with said I-beam. Further, means are provided to prevent slip of the cord at the pulleys and disengagement of the cord from the pulleys when the cords slacken.

Abstract: A stratified charge, internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a piston reciprocally disposed within the cylinder, a head secured over the cylinder, a chamber in the head above the cylinder, an air pocket adjacent the chamber and extending radially beyond the projected boundaries of the cylinder, a fuel injection system supplying fuel to the chamber by means of a fuel nozzle in the chamber which projects a stream of fuel through the chamber and into the air pocket, and ignition means positioned within the chamber and within the trajectory of the injected fuel to initiate combustion of the fuel.In operation, the initial portion of the fuel injected through the chamber is ignited by the ignition means so that a flame front propagates through the chamber.

Abstract: A shingle gage is provided for aligning a second row of shingles to a first, lower row of shingles fixed to a roof or like structure so that the shingle rows are parallel to and spaced from each other. The shingle gage includes a first member having a first alignment surface which abuts against one longitudinal edge of the fixed row of shingles. A second member is attached to the first member of the shingle gage and includes a second alignment surface adapted to abut against one longitudinal edge of the second row of shingles. The first and second alignment surfaces are parallel to each other so that, with an abutting engagement obtained between the respective alignment surfaces and the first and second row of shingles, the second shingle row is aligned parallel to the first row of shingles and then secured to the roof. In addition, the second member is adjustably attached to the first member so that the spacing between the alignment surfaces is adjustable.

Abstract: In a breathing apparatus having a pressurized tank of a breathable gas, pressure reducing means attached to the outlet of said tank, a pressure gauge line attached to said pressure reducing means, and a breathing tube, the improvement comprising a quick connect-disconnect fluid coupling fluidly connected to said pressure gauge line. The fluid coupling is adapted for attachment to a like fluid coupling on a second pressure gauge line so that upon attachment, two users can simultaneously utilize a single tank of pressurized air.

Abstract: A transponder-responder system is provided which comprises a home station and at least one remote station. A transmitter at the home station periodically generates interrogation pulses by means of a directional sweep antenna across a search area. Each remote station includes a receiver and transmitter. Upon receipt of an interrogation pulse by the remote station receiver and while enabled, the remote station transmitter transmits a digitally encoded response signal which is received by a receiver at the home station. Upon receipt of the response signal by the home station receiver, timing circuitry at the home station determines the distance between the home and remote station by measuring the elapsed time between the transmission of the last interrogation pulse and the receipt of the response signal. Additionally, the home station includes circuitry which determines the rotational position of the sweep antenna and circuitry which decodes the response signal.

Abstract: An electrically operated valve in which the valve operating means is controlled in its opening movement by a piezoelectric element. The expansion or contraction of the piezoelectric element provides a lift force to the valve operating means while, preferably, a hydraulic or mechanical amplification stage is included to provide an exceedingly rapid mode of operation. The valve is particularly advantageous to control the multiple and discrete injections of fuel into an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A cutting tool holder for supporting a cutting bar is provided in which the radial distance between the axis of the cutting tool holder and the cutting edge of the cutting bar is adjustable. The cutting tool holder comprises a hub member having a tubular bushing rotatably mounted in an axial bore at the outwardly extending axial end of the hub member. The inner bore of the bushing is eccentric with respect to the axis of the hub member. The cutting bar is secured to a bar holder having a shank which is received in the eccentric bore. A circular drive plate is fastened across the inner end of the bar holder and prohibits both axial and rotational movement, but permits a radial movement of the bar holder within the eccentric bore. A first tubular and cylindrical bearing sleeve, constructed of a compressible material, is disposed between the bushing and the hub member.

Abstract: A cardiac monitor comprises a transducer worn on the body and adapted to produce an electrical pulse in response to each heart beat of the wearer. The transducer output is fed into a rate logic circuit which generates a heart beat rate signal representative of the pulse rate of the wearer and the rate signal is stored in a temporary memory which is continuously and periodically updated. The output from the temporary heart beat memory is fed into the multiplexer so that both the wearer's pulse rate and the elapsed time of the stop watch may be alternatively displayed on the common display means by manually activating the multiplexer. In the preferred form of the invention, a pair of separated pulse rate values are preset by the user and are then stored in the cardiac monitor so that an indicator is activated when the pulse rate exceeds one of the rate values or drops below the other rate value.

Abstract: An air cleaner is provided for use with an engine turbocharger having a housing with an inlet and compressor means contained within the housing. The air cleaner is operatively positioned between the air inlet and the compressor means of the turbocharger and comprises an annulus contained within and spaced from the turbocharger housing so that the annulus defines a semitoroidal fluid passageway between the air inlet and the compressor means of the turbocharger. An annular opening is formed around the outer periphery of the toroidal fluid passageway adjacent its outlet and the annular opening is fluidly coupled with an exhaust system. As an air and solid particle mixture from the air inlet of the turbocharger flows through the semitoroidal fluid passageway, the solid particles migrate to the outer periphery of the passageway due to centrifugal force and, thus, flow through the annular opening and to the exhaust system so that only filtered air is supplied to the turbocharger compressor means.

Abstract: For use in conjunction with an aquarium having a layer of gravel, aggregate, or the like along its bottom, a device for removing the aggregate from the aquarium, cleaning the aggregate, and thereafter returning the aggregate to the aquarium. The device comprises a housing having an upper and a lower chamber with the upper chamber open to the lower chamber. A hinged closure lid sealingly covers and forms the bottom wall of the lower housing chamber. A fluid outlet from the upper chamber is coupled to the intake line of an aquarium pump while a tube is coupled at one end to an inlet in the upper chamber and is open at its other end to the aggregate in the aquarium. A sieve is operatively disposed between the inlet and outlet in the upper housing chamber so that aggregate drawn up through the tube and into the upper chamber by the pump is retained within the chamber while the filtrate is drawn through the sieve and out through the fluid outlet.

Abstract: A cutting device particularly adapted for cutting plastic tubing is provided and includes a first and second elongated handle member. The handle members are pivotally secured together at one end so that the handle members are movable relative to each other between an open and closed position. Semicircular and facing recesses are formed along the inner side of the handle members which correspond in shape to the outer periphery of the plastic tubing which is to be cut. Thus, with the plastic tubing between the handle members the handle members are moved to their closed position which clampingly engages the plastic tubing between the semicircular recesses. A cutting blade is pivotally secured to one of the handle members so that the cutting blade can be moved across the handle members to cut the plastic tubing.

Abstract: A clevis is formed from two pieces, a shank and a U-member. The proximal end of the shank is inserted through a hole in the U-member and said end is rolled outwardly to form a flange which prevents distal movement of the shank.

Abstract: The power loss developed in a semiconductor switch during turning on the current flowing from a DC source through a main inductor is reduced by connecting in series between the switch and the main inductor the series combination of a diode and a further inductor, with the diode being poled to pass current from the switch to the main inductor. The parallel combination of a further capacitor and a further diode is connected between a tapping on said further inductor and the junction of said series combination with the semiconductor switch. To reduce the power loss during turning-off of the current, there is connected between the junction of the semiconductor switch and the inductor two paralleled series combinations of diode and capacitor with the elements in opposite order in the branches and the diodes poled in the same direction, the junctions of the capacitors and diodes in the two series combinations being connected through a series diode-inductor combination.

Abstract: A combined carton and supporting pallet therefor in which the carton is formed from a sheet of cardboard or like foldable sheet material and has four walls, which, in use, are upright and have flaps at their upper and lower edges, the flaps being foldable inwardly on erection of the carton to form respectively the top and bottom surfaces of the carton. The pallet is formed from a base and a floor hinged to the base along one edge thereof and foldable to lie flat on top of the base. The base and the floor are formed from a sheet of cardboard or like foldable sheet material and each have the same plan form as the carton, when erected.

Abstract: A tap-driving chuck, having a driven shaft and a driving sleeve spaced co-axially from the shaft to provide an annular space closed at one end by an annular flange extending from the sleeve. Several circumferentially-spaced balls are positioned in the annular space and are urged by a spring into shallow depressions formed in the annular flange. The balls are each located in slots in a circumferential edge of a flange on the shaft. A driving torque applied to the sleeve is transmitted by the balls to the shaft only while the balls are urged by the spring into the depressions. The balls are lifted against the spring force out of the depressions when the torque being transmitted reaches an upper limiting value, the sleeve then turning idly past the balls.

Abstract: A valve actuator is provided for use with a valve having an actuator shaft the rotation of which actuates the valve. The valve actuator comprises a housing having a worm gear rotatably mounted in the housing and wherein the worm gear includes a shaft portion extending externally of the housing so that a handle may be secured thereto. A segmented gear having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the worm gear axis, is also rotatably mounted within the housing and is positioned to mesh with the worm gear so that rotation of the worm gear produces a like rotation of the segmented gear. The segmented gear includes means for securing the actuator shaft thereto and an indicator is secured to the segmented gear and is visible exteriorly of the housing to indicate the rotational position of the segmented gear to thereby indicate the degree of opening of the valve. In addition, preferably adjustable stop members are provided in the housing to limit the rotational travel of the segmented gear.