Abstract: An agricultural irrigation machine of the hose-drum type in which a hose through which water is passed leads from a drum on which the hose is wound to an irrigation trolley or sledge carrying a nozzle or water-gun. The hose-drum is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis on a turret which can be turned about a vertical axis, whereby the hose-drum can be oriented in the direction of the unwound part of the hose. The hose-drum is driven in the hose-rewinding sense while water is flowing through the hose to the irrigation trolley or sledge. The hose-drum rests in a cradle of rollers and is driven in the hose-rewinding sense by a sprocket wheel engaging a captive chain wrapped around a peripheral channel on a flange of the drum.

Abstract: A screw cap remover having an elongated handle, a first semicircular jaw secured to a first end of the handle, and a second semicircular jaw axially slidable along the handle. A tubular sleeve slides along the elongated handle and has the second jaw secured at a first end thereof. The second end of the sleeve is adapted to abut against a rotatable cam member, the rotation of which axially displaces the tubular member and thus, the second jaw, toward the first jaw. The rotatable cam member is adapted to be positioned at several discrete positions along the elongated handle and the jaws are detachably secured to the handle so that jaws of a size corresponding to the size of the screw cap can be easily installed or replaced.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for heating a continuing series of articles, such as canned or bottled potable goods, to substantially room temperature in order to prevent condensation from forming on the containers. The apparatus comprises an elongated housing having an interior housing chamber and open on each longitudinal end. An endless conveyor transports the articles from one open end of the housing and to the other end of the housing along a substantially horizontal plane. An elongated trough is disposed under the conveyor and is partially filled with heating water so that the articles are partially submerged in the water as they are transported through the housing. A recirculation system is also provided for continuously reheating the heating water.

Abstract: A fuel control system is provided for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine having a source of fuel and means for supplying the fuel from the fuel source and to the engine at variable flow rates. The fuel control method of the present invention is particularly suited for a reciprocating piston aircraft engine and is designed to minimize brake specific fuel consumption of the engine during operation at constant engine rotational speed and load but is capable of supplying additional fuel to the engine during transient operation, for example during an acceleration phase. In brief, when the engine is operating under constant engine rotational speed and load, an engine parameter, such as the exhaust gas temperature, which is correlated to the brake specific fuel consumption for the engine is iteratively sensed and compared to the previously determined value for this parameter.

Abstract: A rain gutter system including plastic rain gutters mounted in place either by a hanger fastened directly to a vertically extending fascia board or by a metal strap which snaps onto the hanger and is mounted to the roof when there is no fascia board or when the fascia board is not vertical.

Abstract: A locking cover for a pipe connection having an inner member with a radial sealing flange detachably locked with an overlapping outer cap by means of a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism comprises engaging projections, extending radially inward from the wall of the cap, which in turn includes a guide surface directed inward as well as a connecting surface to engage the sealing flange. The connecting surface is bent in a convex or arcuate shape from the radial inner end of the guide surface to the wall of the cap. Thus, the sealing flange lies with its edge on the connecting surface. In this way the outer cap can spring loose when force of a given magnitude is exerted upon the inner member without breaking the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A combination lock and a length of steel cable of chain connected with the ends of said lock is disclosed. The lock comprises a bolt inserted in a casing having a shaft unrotatably disposed therein. Adjacent to one end of the shaft, a knob is mounted. Three step wheels, each having a peripheral recess, are also loosely mounted on the shaft. The step wheels are provided with a projection or projections on one or both sides for transmitting the movements of the knob. Adjacent to the first step wheel which is farthest from the knob, a retaining wheel is mounted on the shaft. The retaining wheel is provided with a recess at its periphery and a projection at one side. The projection is inserted in either one of five recesses provided at one side of the first step wheel whereby five different code numbers will be obtained without changing the step wheels. A click mechanism is arranged between the shaft and the knob.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustion chamber in which the primary air inlets in a peripheral wall of the combustion chamber are defined by open-ended tubes extending inwardly from the peripheral wall by a substantial distance into the combustion chamber and having their inner, that is their outlet, ends facing in an upstream direction within the combustion chamber, whereby each of the tubes will introduce a stream of air with at least a component of motion in the upstream direction along or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber, thereby to effect recirculation of fuel, air and combustion gases within the combustion chamber. Similar air inlet tubes may be provided for introducing secondary and tertiary air into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel mixture control system is provided for use with an engine having a fuel supply and an intake air supply connected to the engine wherein the fuel and air mix to provide a combustible fuel/air mixture for the combustion engine. A fuel flow sensor is connected to the fuel supply line for the engine while an air flow sensor is similarly connected to the air intake of the engine and the outputs from the sensors are fed to a proportionator which provides an output signal representative of the instant fuel/air ratio for the engine and this output is coupled to one input of a differential amplifier. The other input of the differential amplifier is connected to a fuel/air ratio reference so that the output from the differential amplifier is representative of the difference between the reference and the actual fuel/air ratio for the engine. The output fromm the differential amplifier is used to vary the fuel flow to the engine.

Abstract: An alarm system is provided for detecting a seismic tremor and for generating an audio and/or visual alarm signal which varies depending upon the magnitude of the seismic tremor. In the preferred form of the invention, the alarm system comprises a free running oscillator having a pair of terminals the capacitive value across which controls the frequency of the oscillator. A fixed oscillator plate is electrically connected to one terminal while a variable position oscillator plate is electrically connected to the other terminal and has an inertial mass secured to it. A spring positioned between the plates urges the variable position capacitor plate away from the fixed plate but still enables the variable position capacitor plate to move in response to a seismic tremor thus varying the capacitive value between the terminals and the frequency of the oscillator. The output from the oscillator is coupled through a phase locked loop circuit which tracks the oscillator output.

Abstract: A fluid filtering device is provided which is particularly suitable for connection with the suction line of a hydraulic pump. The fluid filtering device comprises an elongated tubular cylindrical housing open at each end and which has at least its lower end submerged in a reservoir of the fluid to be filtered. An elongated filter assembly includes an extension tube and tubular cylindrical filter element detachably coaxially connected at one end to the extension tube. The filter assembly is axially insertable into the housing so that the filter element is positioned below the fluid level of the reservoir. Upon insertion, both axial ends of the filter element sealingly engage the interior walls of the housing while the filter element is spaced radially inwardly from the housing and thus forming an annular outlet chamber. Fluid flows from the bottom housing, through the filter element, to the annular chamber and out through a fluid connector open to the annular chamber.

Abstract: A device provided for loading and unloading a wheelchair into and out from a motor vehicle while the wheelchair is in a folded condition. The device comprises an elongated track which secured to the motor vehicle and preferably laterally across the vehicle in front of the vehicle rear seat. A carriage assembly is longitudinally slidably mounted to the track while a reversible electric motor longitudinally drives the carriage assembly along the track between a retracted and an extended position. With the carriage assembly in its extended position, an elongated wheelchair engaging bar is positioned underneath the wheelchair seat. A second electric motor, upon activation, lifts the wheelchair engaging bar and, in doing so, lifts the wheelchair off from the ground. With the wheelchair in an elevated position, activation of the first motor retracts the carriage assembly with the attached wheelchair into the vehicle for storage during transportation of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A revolving fixture intended to support tools or instruments is described. Said fixture comprises first elements for the connection to a carrying structure, and second elements adapted to lock the said tool or instrument and rotatable relative to the said first elements about a main axis.The main feature of this fixture is to comprise means apt to adjust, in a relatively precise, responsive and stable manner, the position of the said tool or instrument with respect to the said axis, so as to position the tip of the said tool or instrument in such a manner as to make it substantially coincide with a point of the said main axis and thus minimize the deviations of the tip of the tool or instrument from the said main axis during the rotation of the said second elements relative to the said first elements.

Abstract: An integrated string consisting of plural mono-filaments, each of which being fused together with adjacent mono-filaments at the contact points and externally having sharp grooves produced by twisting along its length and internally defining confined spiral bores between the component mono-filaments along its length. The external spiral grooves produced by twisting provide frictional resistance against slipping without deteriorating the specific surface tenacity and the tensile strength of the component synthetic mono-filaments. The internal spiral bores between the component mono-filaments improve the flexibility of the string.

Abstract: A novel casting method is provided which includes a shell mold having a cope and a drag, which abut together along substantially planar mating surfaces and define a casting cavity between the cope and drag. At least one core is positioned within the casting cavity and includes at least one and preferably two crush pads each having a cam surface. As the cope is positioned onto the drag, the cope engages the crush pad cam surfaces and cams the core flatly against the shell mold.

Abstract: Waste materials from the conversion of iron ore to pig iron or steel combine with a reducing metal, such as aluminum or magnesium, and a small portion of a mineral acid to form a reaction mixture which gives a heat output superior to many conventional fuels. The materials are processed in several steps to produce either a shaped or loose composition, a portion of which is then heated to a reaction temperature. Retardants for the reaction may be added.

Abstract: The invented guitarist's foot-rest comprises a tread-board, a pair of crossed legs to support said tread-board and a pair of parallel height regulating plates attached below said tread-board. Each of said height regulating plates is provided with recesses for receiving the rod connecting the upper ends of the free legs and recesses for receiving single or double wire staples attached adjacent to one or both ends of the connecting rod. A guitarist can adjust the height of the foot-rest merely by turning the connecting rod with one hand while sitting in a chair and holding. Further, it is preferable to provide a spring below the tread-board between the height regulating plates. One end of said spring is attached to one end of the tread-board while the other portion extending along said tread-board to prevent the disengagement of the connecting rod from the corresponding recess.

Abstract: A high security receptacle for a key is provided which is attachable to a door or like structure having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The receptacle comprises an elongated cylindrical housing having a length greater than the width of the door and a longitudinally extending cavity formed in the housing and which is open only through one axial end of the housing. The housing is positioned through a like shaped aperture formed through the door so that the open end of the housing faces outwardly from the exterior flush surface of the door while a portion of the housing protrudes radially inwardly from the interior surface of the door. A radially extending flange on the housing is secured to the door and has a surface which flatly abuts against the interior surface of the door and is secured to it by conventional threaded fasteners. A key is positioned within the interior of the cavity and, thereafter, the open end of the cavity is closed by a closure plug.