Abstract: An impact-resistant knife hilt comprising a hollow handle containing a clevis with shear pin connecting the knife blade to the end cap of the knife handle. Such a knife is readily assembled and disassembled by spinning the end cap while the hilt with shear pin reduces the risk of blade breakage upon impact.

Abstract: A reset circuit which monitors the voltage of the power supplied to a microprocessor unit, and produces a low resistance to ground at the reset terminal of the microprocessor whenever the supply voltage changes from a low value to a high value, or from a high value to a low value. It is based upon the combination of two RC circuits of different time constants, such that when the supply voltage is constant, no current flows in these circuits. A transistor is connected to the RC network such that it carries current only when there is a changing voltage of the power supply. If the voltage increases or decreases, a second transistor acting as an electronic switch grounds the reset terminal, and when the voltage becomes constant again, either at a high value or a low value, the switch opens and the reset voltage goes high.

Abstract: A system for providing measurements while drilling a well in which a drill string, made up of standard lengths of drill pipes, some of which may be drill collars, extends from the earth's surface in a borehole, drilling fluid being circulated in the drill string and borehole, the measurements being transmitted to the earth by a pulser which produces, in response to electrical signals from a measuring instrument, pressure pulses in the drilling fluid which are detected and decoded at the earth's surface, the pulser being mounted in a special pulser sub which is of short length and enlarged internal diameter compared to a standard drill pipe and which is threadably secured at each end in the drill string, and an elongated housing supported by the pulser sub, the housing having an outside diameter less than the internal diameter of the drill pipe and being slidably received in drill pipe adjacent the special sub, the elongated housing containing instrumentation or batteries, or both which are connected to the pu

Abstract: A valve formed of a body having a flow passageway therethrough defining an annular valve seat, a valve disc member positioned in the flow passageway movable between a closed and open position, the disc having a peripheral sealing surface which engages the valve seat when the valve is closed and a valve stem axially and rotatably received in stem openings in the valve body, the stem extending within the flow passageway, the valve disc being between the stem and the valve seat and boss portions having slots therein extending from the disc rearward surface to either side of the valve stem, each boss portion having aligned upper and lower slots in parallel planes intersecting the plane of the disc sealing surface at an acute angle, and pin members extending from the stem received in the upper and lower slots so that when the pin member is axially displaced the disc is moved to and away from the seat and when it is moved away from the seat, the disc may be rotated without contacting the sealing ring to open the va

Abstract: An improved butterfly valve in which the body flow passageway receives a pair of seat ring retainers, each retainer having a cylindrical sidewall with planar rearward faces and with planar rearward faces which are at an acute angle to the plane of the rearward end faces, the forward end faces having a groove therein. When the retainers are assembled within the valve body a toroidal seat ring can be received in the groove between the retainers. A disc having a circumferential sealing surface is rotatably supported in the valve body to close against the seat ring.

Abstract: A method of installing a continuous moisture proof essentially disposable film liner within a conventional cargo trailer to protect moisture sensitive cargo during shipment. A polyolefin bag is inflated directly into an empty tractor trailer by attaching the lower edge of the bag opening along the bottom of the doorway of the trailer and blowing a gentle stream of air into the bag as sufficient tension is applied to the upper edge and surface of the bag to direct the air to the rear of the trailer. In this manner, the bag inflates from the rear of the trailer forward, thus pushing the air trapped between the bag and the inside of the trailer out the open doorway without the bag exiting the trailer. Once the bag is properly inflated and in contact with the inside of the trailer, it has been found that it tends to remain in place for sufficient time to load the cargo, even without continued use of the blower.

Abstract: This invention consists of a foot operated trolling motor control assembly that may be either temporarily clamped to, or permanently mounted upon either the fore or aft located boat transom. Rotational steering of the trolling motor is accomplished through the action of a foot operated pedal pivotally driving the lower end of a vertical lever by an interconnecting, horizontal shaft; a spring loaded connecting rod both vertically and horizontally pivoted to the upper end of the vertical lever; and a split collar and horizontal lever assembly clamped upon a vertical, rotatable, trolling motor shaft with the collar's horizontal lever portion attached to the spring loaded connecting rod through both horizontal and vertical pivots at the rod end opposite the vertical lever mounting. Split bushings may be used within the bore of the split collar assembly in order to accommodate various trolling motor shaft diameters.

Abstract: A portable hand held type fishing reel having a motor operably connected with the spool member of the reel for facilitating winding of the fishing line onto the spool without interference with the normal operation of the fishing reel, the motor being operably connected with a switch by a battery pack which may be remotely disposed with respect to the reel, a drive assembly connected with the spool member and selectively operable upon energization of the motor for winding of the line onto the spool, the drive assembly including a pivotal lever having a normal position wherein the drive connection between the motor and spool is disengaged and selectively movable to provide an engaged position between the motor and spool, the lever being particularly designed whereby the driving engagement between the motor and spool is achieved prior to energization of the motor to substantially preclude accidental damage of the engaged driving elements.

Abstract: A vacuum pump attached to the top of an enclosed tank situated above a lower liquid level is utilized sequentially to draw liquid from the lower level into the tank and thereafter drain the tank to a useful purpose including a low head turbine generator, irrigation, storage and other useful purposes.

Abstract: A safety lock for a pivoted door (16) closing an opening in a pressure vessel (10) to prevent the door from being opened when pressure in the vessel is above a selected level. A handle (44) is pivotably supported relative to the opening and movable to a locked position in which the door cannot be opened. A pressure lock housing (50) extends from the pressure containment vessel, the housing having a cylindrical opening therein, the axis of which intersects the plane of pivotation of the handle. A piston member (102) is received in the cylindrical opening (98) and has a portion extending externally of the housing. A tubular member (122) carried by the handle is engaged by the piston member when the handle is in the locked position, and pressure within the containment vessel forces the piston member outwardly to thereby prevent the handle from being moved towards the unlocked position. The piston member is automatically retracted when the pressure in the containment vessel is below a safe level.

Abstract: A seed drill apparatus comprising at least two complementary rotatable seed discs journalled in tandem relation whereby one of the discs is a leading disc and the other of the discs is a trailing disc. The plane of each disc is canted with respect to the direction of travel for the apparatus, with the plane of the leading disc being of an orientation opposed with respect to the orientation of the plane of the trailing disc. The canted position of the seed discs creates a combined plowing and grooving action for the disc as the apparatus moves over the surface of the ground, thus opening and widening an efficient seed receiving groove in the ground regardless of whether or not the ground has been prepared by plowing, or the like.

Abstract: A barrel cooler comprising a cylindrical, open ended, insulated cloth sleeve or jacket that slips over a beer keg or the like to keep the barrel cold. The insulated cloth sleeve is fabricated from a single piece of fabric by folding the fabric in thirds longitudinally with the insulation layer therebetween and then stitching the bottom circumferentially. A plurality of vertically stitched seams displaced equal distance around the sleeve create internal pockets in which are placed plastic bags of frozen water or the like to cool the barrel.

Abstract: An improved connector for coupling a chain to a wire rope or cable such that the resulting connection can be passed over a sheave, pulley, wheel or windlass without applying a bending stress to the wire rope. The connector comprises a hemispherical housing having an opening therethrough that is axially symmetric about the radius that is perpendicular to the planar portion of the hemispherical housing. The opening is adapted to accept and retain a wire rope having a terminal fitting by holding the terminal fitting within the hemispherical housing. A semi-circular member of common radius to the hemispherical housing and adapted to accept and retain a chain is attached to the planar portion of the hemispherical housing. A pair of retaining pins pass through the co-axial openings in the hemispherical housing and the end of the semi-circular member terminating on flat surfaces on opposite sides of the terminal fitting of the wire rope.

Abstract: A bifocal intraocular lens consisting of an inner and outer transparent wall defining a centrally located refractive chamber, in the line of sight, and in fluid communication with a vertically positioned reservoir chamber, out of the line of sight, wherein vent tubes connect the remote edge of the refractive chamber to the vertically positioned reservoir chamber. Such an intraocular lens is highly responsive to changes in the angle of inclination of sight by rapidly transferring a liquid of predetermined refractive index in and out of the refractive chamber, thus creating the bifocal effect.

Abstract: A load binder having a shortened handle with means to receive and interlock with a separate extension member, which is also adaptable to release the load binder.

Abstract: A vertical air-root-pruning container involving a series of vertical air gaps displaced around the sidewall of a container. The air gaps are alternately displaced outwardly or inwardly to air-prune spiral root growth in both the right and left directions or are equipped with deflecting means to make the pruning effect bidirectional. Such a container inhibits spiral growth, promotes root branching, and results in more even root distribution as well as increased root growth in the growing medium.

Abstract: A sanitary customer attended food dispenser for dispensing individual servings of food with desired amount of sauce (e.g. nachos with molten cheese) involving a windowed enclosure containing a carousel of individual food servings and a centrally located heated reservoir of sauce (molten cheese) actuated by an external pump plunger handle. The enclosure is further equipped with a door for withdrawal of the food serving which indexes the carousel through a rotation equivalent to the advancement by the relative position of one food serving for each time the door is opened and then closed.