Abstract: A ball and socket joint having a ball provided with an integral stud projecting outwardly through an end of the socket, a portion of the peripheral spherical surface of the ball being in swivelling sliding engagement with a corresponding partial spherical bore in the socket, and a generally disk-shaped retainer member holding the ball in assembly in the socket and applying a pre-load bias to the ball urging the bearing spherical surfaces in mutual engagement, the retainer member having an integral or separate spherical recess in swivelling sliding engagement with a portion of the peripheral surface of the ball opposite to the stud. The ball is a full ball or alternatively a partial ball having a substantially hemispherical protuberance of smaller diameter in engagement with the spherical recess in the retainer member.

Abstract: In combination with a conventional laser beam control system for controlling an earth scraping and storing apparatus, such as a box blade for example, for leveling terrain, an improvement detecting when the box blade is full and overflowing is imminent and sensing the level of the box blade relative to the ground. The improvement overrides the functions of the conventional laser beam controls, when desirable, whereby overfilling and bogging down of the box blade is prevented and whereby rough terrain is readily and effectively leveled.

Abstract: A method for compacting articles made of powder material at a constant density, or at a density within a range. An example of apparatus for practicing the method of the invention takes the form of a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly, defining a chamber which is filled with an uncompressible hydraulic fluid, disposed in the coupling between the actuating member of a mechanical press ram and the ram. The hydraulic fluid is pressurized by a compressed compressible fluid, such as air, acting on a large area piston directly coupled to a small area piston disposed in a small diameter cylinder filled with the uncompressible hydraulic fluid and in communication with the chamber, the ratio in the areas of the pistons determining the pressure amplification rate or gain.

Abstract: A unitized modular structure is provided for utilizing the kinetic energy in waves, tides and winds to effect deposits of fluid entrained alluvium. The modular structure is formed of individual modular elements each of which has a sloping rear surface and a generally concave surface along the front thereof. The modular elements are reinforced interiorly, and certain of the elements are provided with integral foot members to position, stabilize and anchor the unitized structure during and after installation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for accurately controlling the dimensions of a workpiece machined by EDM, by developing a linear function of the average value of the delay between the application of voltage pulses and the flow of electrical discharges through the gap between an electrode tool and an electrode workpiece. The function is linear and is an inverse function of the machining gap width to the logarithm of the average delay time. Two measures effected under well-determined machining conditions permit to develop the function with precision under such conditions, and it is thus possible to instantaneously know the real machining gap width by determining only the average value of the triggering delay.

Abstract: A granulator or grinding mill comprising a pair of power driven drums mounted at the bottom of a housing. The first drum is provided on its periphery with a plurality of fingers or pins projecting through slots in an inclined plate hingedly secured to a side of the housing. The fingers or pins break various pieces of articles, such as unfired pottery and ceramic, dumped in the housing on top of the plate, the pieces falling to a lower level being those small enough to pass between consecutive fingers and a crushing plate mounted on the side of the housing. The pieces falling to a lower level are further broken and pulverized by a power driven cylinder provided on its surface with longitudinal bars. The bottom of the housing has an aperture masked by a removable screen of a predetermined mesh, such that only particles capable of passing through the screen and falling in a receptacle are reused, for example for making a slurry for manufacturing ceramic or pottery.

Abstract: In an anvil assembly for powder-compacting press wherein an article is compacted of powder material against the face of the anvil clamped in position over a die cavity filled with powdered material, a reciprocable punch being disposed at the bottom of the die cavity for compacting the powdered material against the anvil face, the anvil is provided with a movable face portion which, during compaction of the powder material, is displaced away from the die cavity, compressing an elastomeric return spring.

Abstract: A power drive unit for driving a utilization mechanism such as, for example, a roadwheel of a light vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, or quadricycle. The utilization mechanism is driven from the output shaft of a prime mover mounted through a controllable clutch and chain drive train. Preferably, the prime mover is an internal combustion engine driven chain saw from which the saw chain and chain bar have beem removed and replaced by an adapter providing a chain and belt drive from the chain saw engine output shaft to a chainwheel coupled to the utilization mechanism, for example, a bicycle conventional chainwheel such as to drive the bicycle rear wheel through the conventional multi-speed hub or multi-speed sprocket cluster, or alternatively, to drive the front wheel of a bicycle through a chainwheel coupled to the front wheel hub, the front wheel hub being preferably a multi-speed hub with internal gears.

Abstract: A valved closure for a container holding plastic or pasty material and having an opening generally in the form of a neck for dispensing the material from the container. The valved closure is permanently or, in the alternative, removably mounted over the neck of the container. The valved closure consists of a hollow housing with a dispensing aperture for placing the interior of the container in communication with the ambient and a rotatable valve body disposed proximate the aperture such as to obturate the aperture in a first position. The valve body has a passageway placing the interior of the housing in communication with the housing aperture by rotation to a second position. The valve body is directly actuatable by means of a lever. The housing dispensing aperture has at least one chamfered side forming a sharp cutting edge for a ribbon of pasty material being dispensed from the container and the periphery of the valve body projects slightly beyond the edges of the dispensing aperture.

Abstract: A die, punch and core rod assembly for a powder compacting press wherein the core rod or rods remain stationary while the punch or punches are reciprocable relative to the die. The invention provides individual longitudinal position adjustment for the core rods by fitting the end of the core rods in a threaded member such as a set screw threading in a bore in the core rod support plate. Alternatively, the invention provides for position adjustment of the core rod support plate by supporting the support plate below the die plate by spacer sleeves having a threaded peripheral portion threading in a bore in the core rod support plate. By combining an adjustable core rod support plate with individually adjustable core rods, the core rods can be adjusted longitudinally relative to each other, and in unison by way of the position adjustment provided for their support plate.

Abstract: A three-stage disposable filter cartridge for filtering a gaseous fluid, especially breathable compressed air, and consisting of a preferably cylindrical housing having at least an inlet and an outlet, the interior of the housing being provided with a plurality of concentrically disposed separate chambers containing different types of filtering media and mutually arranged such that the fluid to be filtered flows sequentially through the individual chambers one after another in a labyrinth-like path. The first chamber contains a filtering medium providing coarse de-humidification of the fluid, the second chamber contains an oil vapor adsorbing medium and the third chamber contains a fine de-humidification medium.

Abstract: A filter comprising a housing in which are disposed a filtering element and a bypass channel establishing direct communication between the inlet and the outlet of the filter. The outlet of the bypass is closed below a predetermined temperature by a thermally operated diaphragm member. When the temperature of the fluid flowing through the filter housing reaches the predetermined temperature, the diaphragm member is deformed such as to open the bypass outlet. The filter has particular applications for installing in the line between a motor vehicle automatic transmission and the transmission fluid cooler, after the transmission has been overhauled or when a rebuilt transmission is installed on the motor vehicle.

Abstract: Integrally sealed vibration dampening ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swivelling relative to a socket member. A split metallic or high strength plastic bearing ring disposed with clearance in a shell has a concave spherical surface portion in swivelling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the shell constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. Normal loads are taken by the resilient rings, and overload and shock load are taken by the bearing ring. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: A placement and retrieval modular barge arrangement for off-shore well drilling equipment comprising at least two separable barge sections having an arrangement for being joined together, each barge section being made of a floatable hull having a deck capable of carrying thereon sections of a blow-out collar or other equipment, the barge having a central opening formed therein for surrounding a well drilling derrick when the barge sections are joined together, each barge section being provided with a radially movable platform arrangement slidably supported in the hull thereof, and an arrangement for actuating the platform arrangement to retract it to the confines of the central opening or extend it therefrom a distance sufficient to support a blow-out collar or other equipment during assembly or disassembly thereof.

Abstract: A golf stance and swing practice device in the form of three elongated flat strips of material such as metal or plastic hingedly and adjustably interconnected. The first strip is disposed generally with its longitudinal axis perpendicular, within a limited range of angles, to the longitudinal axis of the second and third strips. The third strip is mounted on the end of the first strip, and the first strip is mounted pivotably on the second strip at an adjustable distance from the third strip. The third strip provides an indexing arrangement for ball placement and direction of ball flight. The second strip has a scale for foot placement for appropriate stance and the first strip has a scale for providing reach for properly addressing the ball placed above the first strip at a predetermined distance thereof. The indexing arrangement for ball placement relative to the third strip consists of circles and lines disposed on the surface of the third strip.

Abstract: A threading mechanism for threading the electrode wire of a travelling wire EDM apparatus, the end of the electrode wire being passed through a starter hole or aperture in the workpiece prior to effecting a cutting operation in the workpiece, wherein the entrance throat to the wire conveying mechanism adapted to take hold of the wire after passage through the starter aperture is offset laterally relative to the axis of the starter hole such as to laterally displace the wire to engage the wire with a guiding surface and a current feeding surface which are also offset relative to the axis of travel of the wire through the starter aperture.

Abstract: A candlelamp-table includes a table portion having means supporting a horizontal top to which is secured a liquid fuel reservoir. The top carries a removable candlelamp comprising a base; a pair of inner and outer vertical concentrically arranged and axially spaced apart tubular members; an adapter mounted atop both inner and outer tubular members which extend downwardly into said reservoir; a wick disposed in said inner tubular member and said adapter in such a way that a plurality of fuel vaporizing channels are formed therein, said wick extending downward into said reservoir; and a chimney supported on the base and surrounding said tubular members and adapter.

Abstract: In an anvil powder compacting press, wherein the anvil, mounted on a work station positioner arcuately or longitudinally movable over a die plate in which is disposed a die cavity in which powder material is compacted between the face of a punch reciprocably disposed in the die cavity and the face of the anvil, is coarsely positioned over the die cavity by the work station positioner, an anvil indexing and locating mechanism for finely locating the anvil over the die cavity prior to compacting an article. The anvil fine indexing and locating mechanism is in the form of a plunger disposed in the anvil normally retracted and caused to project into a bore in the die plate. The locating plunger or pin is mechanically operated by the clamp clamping the anvil in position over the die cavity, or operated independently from the clamp.

Abstract: A powder compacting press provided with a mechanical toggle mechanism for reciprocating a ram disposed above the die supporting the table of the press, the pivotable support for the ram toggle upper connecting rod being connected to the movable member of a fluid cylinder. Fluid pressure in the cylinder urges the movable member to an extent limited by abutments, thus tending to displace the ram in a direction toward the table. The full force exerted on the ram by the toggle mechanism causes retraction of the fluid cylinder movable member until engagement of a second pair of abutment means cause the full force developed by the toggle mechanism to be exerted on the ram. The same cam is used for actuating the ram irrespective of whether the ram is used for clamping an anvil in position over a die cavity when the press is used in an anvil pressing mode, or for reciprocating upper punches, when the press is used in an opposed punch operating mode.

Abstract: A shoe lasts rack comprises a support member to which are fixed outwardly projecting loops of different sizes to accommodate shoe lasts of different sizes, and associated with each loop is a pin that is outwardly projecting from the supporting member and on which the shoe last rests when placed in the rack.