Abstract: An electronic means for changing the pitch of a musical instrument or the human voice utilizes contra-rotating write and read vectors in the same memory space to translate an input signal waveform configuration into a time repetitive output waveform of controlled periodicity, resulting in a plurality of harmonious pleasing voices or tones or unison voices (or tones) with respect to the tones or voices inputted to the device.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an improved alignment assembly is provided wherein when a threaded fastener is the test specimen, the fastener is gripped by a collet made of two longitudinally split, threaded, and tapered pieces held together with a spring. As a load is applied to the specimen, the two collet pieces are locked together by the tapers, assuring thread alignment. The split collar also preferably has different threads per inch at each end of the collet pieces to adapt to different threads of different specimens. Split collars of different geometry are used to test thin, non-threaded specimens. In a preferred embodiment, a reversible washer in which a first face is used to hold the fastener in place and in alignment in a first test, is also used to test the elongation of the fastener in a separate test, through the use of a second tapered face.

Abstract: The device of the invention consists of a temperature sensitive device embedded in a matrix which provides a useful heat flow pattern. Apparently the device exploits the difference in the thermal conductivities of air versus other media, such as water or slurries, to function. Plastics are the preferred matrix material for most applications. The insulating and non-wettability properties of plastics may contribute to the observed useful properties as well. The chemical resistance of certain plastics can provide additional useful variations. The invention is especially useful as an aid to fishing. The device readily and simply identifies which waters have the best chance of containing fish. Other examples are municipal drinking water tanks, liquid cargo tanks, oil and water wells, etc.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a low in weight, portable, mechanical property testing machine is provided in which no special testing machine foundation is required, and a standard power supply may be used. The applied load to test the specimen is applied by the action of a rod making a single stroke within a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid. The inside diameter of the cylinder is significantly greater than the diameter of the rod. The hydraulic fluid transmitted from the cylinder is substantially ripple free and applies an even load to the specimen being tested through a second fluid cylinder and piston acting therein. The use of valves, as used in the prior art may thus be avoided, thus achieving simplicity of operation. To absorb the shock created by the specimen breaking, a dash pot is provided out board of the second piston as a shock absorber.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a piece of perforated tubing is formed into a series of loops which define a generally truncated shape with at least one large diameter loop at the top and at least one smaller diameter loop located below the top loop. The tubing has sufficient strength and is wound into a contour shape to fit around the root ball of a tree or shrub harvested from a nursery. Ther perforated tubing includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings of a size sufficient to supply water and/or fertilizer to the root ball after the root ball is planted in the ground. Means are provided to maintain the tubing in the truncated shape. In one embodiment this shape comprises a series of specially fixed wound loops. In one embodiment this comprises formed loops with six connection points where the loops contact one another. Means are provided for supplying water and/or fertilizer to the tubing after the root ball has been planted.

Abstract: An improved security hinge is provided in which security control wires pass through only one or two knuckles of a hinge whereby improved structural integrity of the hinge is achieved. Slots are cut through the body of the hinge which extend only part way through the thickness of the body of the hinge, and which are located between fastener openings whereby the integrity of the body of the hinge is not impaired. Furthermore, the security control wires extend through only one or two knuckles of the hinge, leaving one or more knuckles undisturbed, whereby the structural integrity of the knuckle portion of the hinge is not impaired. In an alternative embodiment, a hollow sleeve is formed from hardened steel through which the security control wires pass, whereby even greater structural integrity is achieved.

Abstract: Prestressed concrete railroad ties are formed in molds which are supported by existing track near the area where they are to be installed. Each mold will form a number of ties. Reinforcing strands are located within a plurality of longitudinally spaced molds. Concrete is then poured into the molds and the ties are formed bottoms up in the molds. A group of ties are simultaneously removed from a given mold by a special extractor which first simultaneously clamps the reinforcing strands extending outwardly from a given mold, and then lifts the strands as a group from the mold by a suitable crane. Preferably the center of gravity of ties is spaced from a pivot point which will cause 180.degree. rotation locating the ties in upright position to be loaded on a railway car or other vehicle to take them to the site where they are to be installed.

Abstract: Prestressed concrete railroad ties are formed in molds which are supported by existing track near the area where they are to be installed. Each mold will form a number of ties. Reinforcing strands are located within a plurality of longitudinally spaced molds. Concrete is then poured into the molds and the ties are formed bottoms up in the molds. A group of ties are simultaneously removed from a given mold by a special extractor which first simultaneously clamps the reinforcing strands extending outwardly from a given mold, and then lifts the strands as a group from the mold by a suitable crane. Preferably the center of gravity of ties is spaced from a pivot point which will cause 180.degree. rotation locating the ties in upright position to be loaded on a railway car or other vehicle to take them to the site where they are to be installed.

Abstract: Prestressed concrete railroad ties are formed in molds which are supported by existing track near the area where they are to be installed. Each mold will form a number of ties. Reinforcement strands are located within a plurality of longitudinally spaced molds. Concrete is then poured into the molds and the ties are formed bottoms up in the molds. A group of ties are simulatenously removed from a given mold by a special extractor which first simultaneously clamps the reinforcing strands extending outwardly from a given mold, and then lifts the strands as a group from the mold by a suitable crane. Preferably the center of gravity of ties is spaced from a pivot point which will cause 180.degree. rotation locating the ties in upright position to be loaded on a railway car or other vehicle to take them to the site where they are to be installed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a foam torque transmitting drive member engages and is driven by the spokes of a bicycle, tricycle, or motorcyle, or other rotatable drive member. A rotatable driven member is located adjacent the foam drive member. Drive means extends from the foam drive member to the driven member or the foam driven member is driveably engaged by the drive member. The foam drive member is rotatably mounted upon a fixed bracket and a low friction bearing is provided between the foam member and the bracket. In a preferred embodiment the driven rotatable member is a reflector.

Abstract: In a prestressed concrete cross tie, a layer of steel reinforcements are located at or near the neutral axis of the cross tie section to minimize fatigue stress fluctuations. Deviation from the neutral axis is not great enough to cause stress fluctuations to exceed the endurance limit of the material. Because fatigue failure of prestressed concrete members is principally associated with reinforcement failure, increased fatigue life of the cross tie is achieved.

Abstract: To thoroughly clean, both the inside and outside of pipe and tubing, and both the threaded end and the coupling end of pipe and tubing, for a distance of 18 to 24 inches from end of pipe, a cleaner assembly includes at least one rotating brush that revolves around the outside of the pipe and at least one brush that rotates inside of the pipe. Preferaby one internal brush is provided for the threaded end and two brushes are provided for the coupling end. The second internal brush is larger and cleans the coupling threads as the pipe is moved into and from the cleaner. Cleaning fluid is introduced to the brushing areas, and is reclaimed during the cleaning operation. The cleaner is attached to a raising and lowering device that also accepts a removable spray cover and a pipe seal. The raising and lowering unit is mounted on a stand that contains the fluid collection, fluid cleaning and fluid storage system.

Abstract: A support and lift assembly for welded tank courses is provided outboard of a three ring cage used to internally circumferentially weld adjacent tank courses. The support and lift assembly is used to move the welded tank courses into position for another course to be welded on. A tank course conveyor extends longitudinally outboard of the cage. The conveyor is discontinuous at one or more positions and a scissors support and lift assembly is located at such discontinuous positions. A piston is pivotably connected to one of the arms which extends generally horizontally into a cylinder pivotably connected to the other arm. A roller course support is rotatably mounted at the end of each arm to support welded tank courses. A second piston extends vertically between the base and one of the arms and extends into a second cylinder extending vertically and connected to the other of the base and the arm. A first vertical height limit switch is located on the upper surface of a jack in the center ring.

Abstract: A convertible open top hopper car (10) is assembled by longitudinally aligning a pair of railway car stub sills (12) in an assembly position. Transversely extending shear plates (16) are attached to each stub sill. A transversely extending inclined locating plate (18) is integrally connected to the inner end portion of each stub sill. The locating plate preferably includes a flange portion (22) adapted to receive a desired hopper car bottom (24). The bottom may be a conventional gondola bottom having pivoting doors, a light weight gondola bottom for use in cars which are rotated 180.degree. to unload the lading, or a gondola bottom having rapid discharge doors. The bottom selected for application is preferably first attached at each of its ends to the longitudinally spaced locating plates (18). Then hopper car sides (40) including side sills (42) and side sheets (46) are lowered onto the respective shear plates (16) and are welded to the shear plates.

Abstract: A tank car head shield is generally arcuate and is located outboard of the tank. The shield extends upwardly from the center sill to the top portion of the tank and outwardly to protect the entire tank head. A head shield anchor extends generally horizontally from the shield to a location generally on the horizontal portion of the top of the tank, and circumferentially on either side of the tank and down to the center sill. The head shield anchor is continuous. First connecting means connect the head shield to an outer portion of the anchor outboard of the tank. Second connecting means connect an inner portion of the anchor to the tank. Third connecting means connect the shield and/or anchor to the center sill. In one embodiment the first connecting means comprises an angle welded to the anchor and to the head shield and the second connecting means comprises a pad welded to the anchor and to the tank. The anchor pad may be discontinuous.

Abstract: A control arrangement is provided to control discharges of compressed gas to vessels containing difficult to unload material comprising one or more control valves connected in operative relation to discharge valves operative to discharge compressed gas from an accumulator. The control valves are provided with a time control circuit for controlling the time of discharge of compressed gas from the accumulator(s). This time control circuit may comprise a pneumatic, electro-mechanism and/or electronic timers. The control arrangement may also include an arrangement for applying pressure gas to discharge valves which are in operative relation with accumulator discharge devices which are not being utilized for unloading. Various arrangements for mounting the accumulators, discharge valves, conduits, and discharge devices are illustrated in connection with a railway hopper car. Certain discharge devices mounting arrangements are preferred in unloading certain types of lading.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a handhold (10) is provided including a base handhold member (12) including a first fastening flange portion (16) and a longitudinally extending rod portion (14). The length of the longitudinal portion is sufficient to meet most if not all distances between fasteners utilized on railway cars and other transportation vehicles. A second handhold member (30) includes a base portion (32) having an opening 34 and an upwardly extending flange portion (40). The base portion slidingly receives the rod portion and thus enables adjustment of the distance between the flange portions. The rod portion thus may be cut at the installation site to meet desired length. In one embodiment the distance D.sub.2 of the second flange above or below the rod may be varied by utilizing a selected member having this desired distance. Also different second members may have selected distances D.sub.1 from the vehicle body.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an operating rod attached to a bottom outlet valve passes through a nozzle assembly connected to the tank top. The nozzle assembly includes a hollow cylindrical housing for the operating rod and means to seal the operating rod relative to the tank. The nozzle assembly further includes a sleeve made of a material having a coefficient of friction with metal, particularly steel. The material has sufficient shear strength to withstand loads applied by rotation of the operating rod to the nozzle assembly, and sufficient strength in compression to react bending moments applied to the nozzle assembly resulting from misalignment of the lading valve relative to the nozzle assembly. Preferably also the material is self lubricating to avoid potential failure of the material in the event the assembly is not regularly lubricated.

Abstract: In a railway hopper car the void space previously provided between the slope sheets of adjacent hoppers is eliminated except for a small area in the longitudinal center of the car. Transversely spaced hopper slope sheets extend downwardly to an outlet mounting frame located in the lower portion of the car, and longitudinally spaced transverse slope sheets extend across the car to divide the car into two large unloading compartments. Two large outlets are attached to the mounting frame extending throughout the lower portion of approximately one-half of the car. Each outlet includes outlet side slope sheets which extend inwardly and downwardly from the outlet mounting frame on either side of the car. In addition, a pair of center outlet slope sheets extend downwardly and away from each other. On either side of the car an outlet side slope sheet and an outlet center slope sheet are laterally spaced to define a discharge opening.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a three phase voltage sensor senses the presence of all three phases of the voltage to be applied to a three phase inductance. If all three phases are present, a gate member such as a triac or quadrac remains in the closed positon permitting the voltage to be applied to the three phase inductance. If all three phases are not present, the gate member moves to the open circuit position preventing application of the voltage to the three phase inductance until all phases are supplying voltage. The preferred three phase voltage sensor is at least one optical isolator which senses the presence of all phases in the power supply. Preferably a pair of optical isolators are used in parallel with the voltage across any two of the phases being applied to one of the optical isolators. Preferably the optical isolator contains a photo-resistive material which has low resistance in the presence of light, and a lamp.