Abstract: A collapsible stand including a unitary sheet having a central portion; a pair of wing portions, one joined to each lateral edge of the central portion at a bendable joint; a pair of leg portions, one joined to a bottom edge of each wing portion and extending downwardly below a bottom edge of the central portion; a connecting portion extending upwardly from the central portion and joined thereto at a bendable joint; and a bottom portion joined to an upper edge of the connecting portion at a bendable joint. The bottom portion defines a pair of oppositely directed laterally projecting insert portions; and each of the leg portions defines a receptacle disposed to receive one of the insert portions with the wing portions bent forwardly into positions substantially perpendicular to the central portion, the connecting portion bent downwardly into a position substantially parallel to the central portion, and the bottom portion bent forwardly into a position extending transversely to the central portion.

Abstract: A connector for a helically corrugated conduit and includes a coupling mechanism defining a cavity for receiving an end of a conduit having external corrugations, and a stop surface disposed within the cavity; a hollow fastener threadedly engaged with the connector mechanism and defining an engagement surface; and a collar disposed in the cavity and having internal grooves adapted to engage the external corrugations on the conduit, the collar having an inner end surface for engaging the stop surface and an outer end surface for engaging the engagement surface, and wherein circumferentially spaced apart portions of the collar are split by longitudinally extending slot means. Forcible engagement between the connector mechanism and fastener produces circumferential contraction of the collar along the slot and radially against the outer surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A urinal including a pair of substantially vertical sidewalls having front edges lying in a plane defining an entrance opening of the urinal, and rear edges defining a substantially vertical slot, the pair of sidewalls converging inwardly so as to form a trough for guiding the flow of urine entering the entrance opening in a path transverse to the plane and toward the slot; internal walls defining a vertically oriented channel communicating with the trough via the slot, the internal walls having front edges terminating at the slot and the channel converging to a vertically oriented extremity displaced from the slot in a direction parallel to the plane and a bottom wall joined to bottom edges of the sidewalls and the internal walls and defining a drain opening. The trough and channel guide deposited urine to the shielded extremity of the channel so as to prevent splashback.

Abstract: An electric power generating system including a plurality of individual magnetic field sources each producing a magnetic field in a distinct region; a plurality of electrical conductors each disposed in a different one of regions so as to be linked by flux lines of the magnetic fields therein; a superconductive shield maintained at a temperature sufficient to achieve a superconducting state thereof; and a motive mechanism for producing movement of the superconductive shield with respect to the magnetic field sources such that the superconductive shield sequentially moves through the regions to intercept at least a portion of the magnetic field therein and thereby vary the magnetic flux linked with the conductor therein and thereby produce therein an electromagnetic force.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a liquid reservoir; a humidification mechanism for dispensing liquid contained in the reservoir; and a tank removably mounted on the base and having a bottom wall including a tube projecting into the reservoir and with a lower lip defining a fill opening, and a liquid discharge opening for providing a controlled discharge of liquid so as to maintain a given level of liquid in the reservoir. Also included is a cap engaged with the tube and having a cover portion closing the fill opening, and an annular gripping portion extending outwardly from the cover portion by the lip and upwardly adjacent to an outer wall of the tube so as to define therewith an annular cavity, and wherein the gripping portion defines control means providing liquid communication between a lower portion of the annular cavity and the reservoir.

Abstract: A coaxial connector including an outer conductor having a hollow cylindrical body portion and a plurality of substantially parallel, circumferentially spaced apart spring fingers extending longitudinally from the body portion, each of the fingers having a free end terminating with a radially outwardly projecting latch portion; an inner conductor disposed coaxially within the outer conductor; a cylindrical insulator member disposed between the inner and outer conductors; a hollow cylindrical and electrically conductive bushing surrounding the fingers and at least a section of the body portion, the bushing having an inner surface defining an annular recess receiving the latch portions; and an annular coiled, electrically conductive spring engaged between the body portion and the bushing. The spring fingers facilitate rapid interconnection of the outer conductor and the bushing while the spring provides RFI suppression.

Abstract: An explosion protection system including a container adapted to contain an explosion suppressant under pressure and defining a discharge outlet; a primary storage volume, and an auxiliary storage volume disposed between the discharge outlet and the primary storage volume and communicating therewith; a closure member covering the discharge outlet; an explosive charge disposed in the container adjacent to the closure member and adapted to create explosive forces that rupture the closure member; and a dispersible explosion suppressant retained under pressure in the primary storage volume and having a given degree of compressibility. Also included is an explosive force transmitting agent filling the auxiliary storage volume and having a degree of compressibility less than the given degree.

Abstract: A tool including a shaft having a drive portion, a lateral stop portion, and an intermediate portion straddled by the drive and lateral stop portions, the drive portion being adapted for detachable engagement with a rotary drive; a router blade mechanism retained by the intermediate portion of the shaft and projecting radially outwardly therefrom; a first coupling keying rotation of the shaft to the router blade mechanism so as to form a rotatably engaged unit; a longitudinal stop defining a bearing surface projecting radially outwardly from the router blade mechanism; and a second coupling securing the longitudinal stop to the unit and permitting axial adjustment between the router blade mechanism and the bearing surface.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir; a humidifier unit mounted in an upright orientation on the base over the reservoir and movable to provide access thereto, the humidifier unit retaining an electrically energized humidification means for inducing dispersion of liquid and defining a discharge opening for discharging liquid dispersed by the humidification means; a circuit coupled to the humidification means and including an on-off switch for inducing energization thereof, and an orientation responsive switch for de-energizing the humidification means in response to movement of the humidifier unit to an orientation other than the upright orientation. Unsafe operation is prevented by the orientation responsive switch.

Abstract: An eddy-current braking apparatus including a brake drum; an annular support disposed within the brake drum; a plurality of shafts mounted for rotation on the support and each disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the drum the shafts being spaced apart in an annular array on the support; and a permanent magnet fixed to each of the shafts directly adjacent to the brake drum and each having opposite polarity poles, disposed on opposite sides of the shaft. Also included is a drive mechanism for producing rotation of the shafts between braking positions wherein the magnets produce magnetic circuits including the brake drum and non-braking positions wherein the magnets produce magnetic circuits substantially excluding the brake drum.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system including a brake disk structure defining an annular surface and having an axis; an annular magnet support assembly disposed adjacent to the annular surface in the direction of the axis; a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart pairs of circumferentially spaced apart magnets mounted on the magnet support and circumferentially spaced apart thereon, each pair arranged with like polarities facing the annular surface and the polarities of the pairs of permanent magnets facing the annular surface alternating circumferentially; an annular pole piece support assembly; and a plurality of ferromagnetic pole pieces mounted on the pole piece support assembly and circumferentially spaced apart in positions between the annular surface and the permanent magnets, each pole piece disposed adjacent to a pair of the permanent magnets and having a circumferential length substantially greater than the circumferential length of either of the adjacent pair of permanent magnets.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base enclosure defining a reservoir to be filled with liquid, an opening disposed above the reservoir, and a discharge orifice communicating therewith; a humidification unit mounted on the base, covering the opening and adapted to produce dispersion of liquid retained by the reservoir; the humidification unit being separable from the base along a joint extending around the opening; and a seal mechanism including a channel for receiving liquid disposed to form a seal preventing the passage through the joint of liquid dispersed by the humidification unit. This arrangement provides a vapor seal for power units that expel vapor through a distinct discharge orifice.

Abstract: A hydraulic clamping apparatus for use with injection molding machines and including a first hydraulic actuator having a first cylinder and a first hollow, cup-shaped piston with a closed head portion disposed for reciprocating movement within the first cylinder, and a foot portion axially spaced from said head portion and defining an opening; a second hydraulic actuator having a second piston, a rod extending axially through the opening into the first piston and connected between the first and second pistons, and a second cylinder mounted for reciprocating movement on the second piston and through the opening between a recessed position substantially within the first piston and an extended position substantially outside the first piston; and a clutch operable in the extended position of the second cylinder to produce engagement thereof with the first piston. The overall length of the apparatus is minimized by placement of the second actuator cylinder within the first piston.

Abstract: A humidifier including a base defining a reservoir adapted to retain water to be evaporated and a cavity adapted to receive leakage; an evaporator for inducing evaporation of water retained by the reservoir; a tank removably supported by the base and having a bottom wall defining a discharge opening communicating with the reservoir and an inlet opening communicating with the cavity; and wall means surrounding the inlet opening and extending from the tank into the cavity. Liquid in the cavity produces a seal that prevents undesirable leakage from the inlet opening.

Abstract: A capacitor filter circuit including an input electrode, an output electrode, a ground electrode, a first input capacitor connected between the input electrode and the ground electrode and a second input capacitor connected in parallel with the first input capacitor between the input electrode and the ground electrode. Also included in the circuit is a first output capacitor connected between the output electrode and the ground electrode, a second output capacitor connected in parallel with the first output capacitor between the output electrode and the ground electrode and an inductive means coupled between the input electrode and the output electrode.