Abstract: A pack frame for hikers formed primarily of interconnected, hollow, tubular members and including in one embodiment a pivoting connector between a lower hip-engaging portion of the pack frame and an upper shoulder-engaging portion of the pack frame such that the upper and lower portions of the pack frame may pivot with respect to each other about the connector responsive to the motion of a hiker's hips and shoulders. A pack bag is disclosed having a pleated, connecting portion whereby the upper portion of the bag may pivot with respect to the lower portion. Also disclosed is a height-adjustable pack bag adapted to accommodate loads of varying size. A pack frame is also disclosed having segmented, vertically extending, laterally spaced, tubular side members, the segments of each side members being joined together by a flexible joiner member such that the upper portions of the tubular side members may resiliently tilt with respect to the lower portions.

Abstract: An electrical power unit adapted to increase the DC power output of an electrical generating system of the type including a DC storage battery and an alternator which delivers AC voltage to the generating system. The AC voltage is stepped down and rectified to produce a first DC voltage. A voltage regulator having a field output connected to the field winding of the alternator, and an input connected to the battery and the first DC voltage, is operative to control the field winding of the alternator to maintain the first DC voltage at a relatively constant level. The first DC voltage may be applied to the battery to supply power thereto and to any load which may be connected to the battery. Increased power is provided when the regulator forces the alternator to produce AC voltage at a higher than normal voltage. When this higher voltage is stepped down and rectified to provide normal system DC voltage, greater than normal DC power is provided.

Abstract: An electrical energy regulator of the kind including an electrically energizable heater which, when energized, causes deflection of a bi-metal actuator which in turn influences operation of switch means. The switch means controls supply of electrical energy between input and load terminals which are respectively connected, when in use, to a power source and power using means. The switch means includes two heater contacts which must be closed to enable energization of the heater, and two control contacts which must be closed to enable connection of the input and load terminals. The switch means also includes a spring blade which is connected to the input terminal and carries one of the heater contacts and one of the control contacts. The blade is movable between two operative conditions in which the heater contacts are open and closed respectively, and the control contacts are closed and open respectively.

Abstract: An animal estrus detection apparatus adapted to be secured to the rump portion of a first animal, and actuated by a second animal mounting the first and thereby applying a predetermined amount of pressure thereon a depressible pin. The pin's motion is transferred by a linkage mechanism to a release mechanism, which then disengages an outer cover causing it to fall away and deploy an estrus indicating streamer. The release mechanism may include either a pneumatic or an escapement type release timer which is powered by said linkage and which prevents said linkage from powering said release mechanism until a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The release mechanism may also include a counting mechanism which actuates the release arm only after a predetermined number of successive mountings of said first animal. A second, hydraulic timer, actuated when the outer cover is released, measures the time elapsed since the outer cover's release.

Abstract: A method of custom fitting eyeglass frames to the nose of a wearer, which is in part performed by an optician or the like and in part performed by an eyeglass frames laboratory. The optician or the like heats a preferably horseshoe shaped wax wafer until it is moldable, then positions such on the bridge area of the wearer's nose and applies pressure thereto, bending the wafer concavely to conform its shape to that of the bridge of the nose. The eyeglass frames are then situated against the convex surface of the wafer in their normal viewing position and an imprint of the nose bridge portion of the frames is made on the outer surface of the wax wafer. Finally, the wax pattern thus formed is removed from the frames and wearer's nose and cooled to fix its shape, and the outline of eyeglass frames bridge is drawn thereon.

Abstract: Sign standard comprising two oppositely formed front legs interconnected at their upper ends with a rearwardly disposable third leg through the use of an arcuate joiner means. Each of the two front legs includes a minor upper section which is laterally, angularly disposed with respect to a major lower section. The arcuate joiner means is fixedly attached to the upper end portion of the third leg from which leg said joiner means extend laterally in opposite directions and extend through transverse openings provided in the upper portions of the two front legs. The two front legs and the arcuate joiner means cooperate together to permit the sign standard to assume an open position wherein the lower ends of all three legs are spaced apart relative to each other and to assume a closed position wherein the three legs are in closely adjacent, aligned relationship. Furthermore, means are provided for supporting a diamond shaped sign mounted on the two front legs.

Abstract: An improved load scale of the type wherein a platform supporting a vehicle and a load to be weighed has a plurality of load cells disposed under and across each end of the pair of opposed ends and between the platform and a supporting surface. The improvement comprises a plurality of Z-shaped lateral support beams with each beam having an upper flange and a lower flange thereon. The plurality of Z-shaped lateral support beams extend across each end of the pair of opposed ends of the platform between the platform and the plurality of load cells such that the lower flange of the support beam carries the platform and is secured thereto, and the upper flange of the support beam spans the gap between adjacent load cells and rests across the tops thereon.

Abstract: Roller cutters are mounted onto a cutterhead from the rear side of the cutterhead. A load transfer block is insertable between a stator portion of each cutter and a generally forwardly directed load-carrying surface on the cutter-head frame. Loads imposed on the roller cutter during boring are transmitted rearwardly from the stator to the load transfer block, and from the load transfer block to the cutterhead frame.

Abstract: A car wash vacuum cleaner and the method of making same is disclosed. The car wash vacuum cleaner comprises an inner shell means. A plurality of vacuum motors are secured within the inner shell means and adapted to provide a suction means therein. A monolithic concrete outer housing surrounds the inner shell means and encloses the top and bottom thereon. A plurality of door means disposed on the concrete housing provides an opening within the housing and inner shell means to both provide a vent means for the vacuum motor and a means for removing dirt particles or the like from within the inner shell. A suction tube fitting extends through the concrete housing and inner shell and is adapted to attach to a suction tube. Dirt particles or the like are drawn through the tube and tube opening into the inner shell when the motors are energized.

Abstract: The main frame of the cutterhead comprises a plurality of radial spoke beams which are interconnected between a box-like hub structure and an annular box beam by which the cutterhead is mounted for rotation. Cutter mounting wells are defined by and between side wall portions of the radial spoke beams. The mined material passes rearwardly through the cutterhead via openings between adjacent radial spoke beams and open spaces in the cutter mounting wells. Cutter mounts span laterally between the side plate members and laterally brace the radial spoke beams in addition to mounting the cutters. The radial spoke beams curve rearwardly at their outer ends and connect to the annular box beam at a location spaced enough rearwardly from the front portions of the spoke beams that a room is defined within the cutterhead. Roller type cutters are installed onto and removed from the cutterhead frame from the rear side of the cutterhead.

Abstract: An annular, radial flow gas turbine engine and airborne vehicle utilizing same for jet propulsion. The engine comprises counter-rotating rotors and a compressor section with counter-rotating annular rows of intermeshing compressor blades, an annular combustion section common to both rotors wherein the combustion zone is defined by oppositely rotating rotor walls, and a turbine section made up of annular rows of counter-rotating exhaust turbine blades. No stator blades are present in either the compressor or the turbine sections.The craft comprises a central hub on which the engine rotors rotate on thrust bearings, and air bearings maintain rotor tolerances with respect to each other and to nonrotating shell portions above and below the engine rotors. Air inlet guide vanes leading to the compressor section are also housed in the hub portion of the craft.

Abstract: A machine for mechanical tunnel boring, of the rotating cutter head type, comprising a grid rigid with the cutter head, parallel to the theoretical boring surface, provided with a set of void spaces wherefrom the cutting tools slightly project, said void spaces having a size corresponding to the optimum dimensions of the fragment of mined material.

Abstract: An earth digging tool is mounted on the head of a tripod, the legs of which are double-acting hydraulic cylinders. The rear ends of the cylinders are connected to a rotor which is supported in a tunneling shield for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the tunnel. The cylinders are selectively extended and retracted for the purpose of moving the cutting tool forwardly and rearwardly and also up and down and sideways. The entire excavator is rotated for changing the sideways attitude of the digging tool. Universal joints are provided at both ends of each hydraulic cylinder, for substantially isolating them from bending moments and torque. A telescopic torque tube assembly is interconnected between the cutting tool mounting head and a gimbal carried by the rotor. The torque tube carries the bending moments and torque loads and transmits them back to the rotor.

Abstract: A building wall panel having an exterior facing formed from a glass fiber reinforced concrete bonded to a metal wall panel support frame formed from a plurality of vertical members having a plurality of flanges thereon by a layer of glass fiber reinforced concrete overlaying both a portion of the rear surface of the exterior facing and the flange abutting the exterior facing at intervals along the length of each vertical member. A method of forming the building wall panel involves spraying a first layer of slurry, formed from a mixture of concrete and chopped glass fiber strands, on a flat smooth surface between elongate members secured thereto and interconnected to form building wall panel mold. A metal wall panel support frame formed from a plurality of vertical members is placed over the first layer of slurry such that a flange disposed on each vertical member abuts the first layer of slurry.

Abstract: A portable, hand held, air suction and blower unit comprising an air inlet assembly with sequentially arranged nozzle, flexible inlet tube, and diffuser, all detachably connected to the front end of the unit body. The diffuser cooperates with the front end of the body to form a bayonet type joint therebetween. An air inlet passage extends rearwardly from the front end of the body to the tangential fan which is journaled at the rear of the body. The fan is powered by a manually wound flat spiral spring, which spring drives the fan through a gear train. An air outlet passage extends forwardly from the fan to an outlet opening also located at the front of the unit body. A removable, pervious receptacle, with an open forward end, is located in the front portion of the air inlet passage and serves to collect particles or objects which are drawn into the body by the flowing air.

Abstract: A weapons system is described in which an explosive shell, fired from a cannon or other launch device, is precisely guided to a target to ensure a sure hit and kill capability. A shell having no on-board guidance mechanisms or propulsion devices, but having its tail section coated with a material vaporizable by a laser is employed. A laser beam is directed toward a target, and the shell is fired into the beam toward the target. The vaporization of the coating on the tail of the shell by the laser beam generates forces which, due to the aerodynamic design of the shell and the shaping of the energy distribution within the laser beam, maintain the shell in the path defined by the laser beam to guide the shell into contact with the target.

Abstract: The base section of an upstanding, telescoping mast is fixedly anchored in respect to the ground and the top section is vertically adjustable in respect to the base section. A plurality of horizontally disposed swing arms are pivotally supported in spaced vertical alignment along the height of the top section. The radially extending free end of each swing arm is slidably engageable into one end of the message tube of a message holder, in which tube is received a piece of paper on which a message is written. The ends of an arcuate tube are fixedly attached to the opposite end of the message tube to form a closed ring of sufficient diameter to enable an operator, who is passing by on a traveling vehicle, to extend his arm to the ring and pull the message holder free from the swing arm. Spring clips are attached to the free end of a swing arm for both limiting the endwise engagement between the swing arm and the message tube and for resisting rotational movement of the message tube in respect to the swing arm.

Abstract: Cleaning apparatus usable to clean those portions of a tunnel wall or the like which are located behind railing means typically placed along a walkway beside the wall, such as in a freeway tunnel. A guidance carriage engages the railing and is movable therealong. A support carriage, which can be moved along the walkway, carries a plurality of motor driven circular brushes for cleaning these wall portions. Between the guidance carriage and the support carriage are located linear fluid motors urging the carriages in laterally opposite directions, the support carriage in turn urging the brushes into contact with the wall, and the guidance carriage being urged by said motors against the railing which provides horizontal support for the guidance carriage. The railing also provides vertical support for the guidance carriage while the walkway provides vertical support for the support carriage.