Abstract: A hanging planter pot speaker enclosure for stereo or monaural music systems comprising a hollow ceramic housing enclosed on all sides and having openings at the top and bottom. A planter pot is set down into the top opening of the housing, and has a radially outwardly extending flange around its top edge that seats on the marginal edge of the top opening to support the pot, while at the same time forming a seal that closes the top opening. Mounted within the housing below the planter pot is a cone-type speaker that faces downwardly so that sound radiating from the speaker is projected downwardly through the bottom opening. The speaker is sealed to the inner wall of the housing around its entire periphery, so that the space within the housing between the speaker and the pot is entirely sealed. Air contained within this sealed space serves as a pneumatic spring, backing up the speaker cone to improve its response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing extremely fine-grained aluminum sheet in a casting machine having a pair of parallel casting rolls, a pouring tip on the entrance side of the rolls, and means for driving the rolls. Molten aluminum is poured through the tip into the space between the rolls, and the rolls are driven at a speed such that solidification of the metal is completed at a point ahead of the centerline of the rolls, and the frozen metal is then hot-rolled down to the thickness of the roll spacing. During this hot-rolling, the metal is heavily stressed internally by being reduced at least 33% of the thickness at the point of solidification, and this destroys the "as cast" crystal structure and causes complete recrystallization to take place. As compared with conventional roll casters, the present caster has larger-diameter casting rolls, which are driven at a faster speed, and the tip is set back further from the rolls centerline.

Abstract: A wire straightening machine comprising a motor-driven, rotatable hollow shaft with at least three serially arranged dies mounted thereon, having central apertures through which the wire is passed. The outer end dies are fixed with respect to the shaft, with their apertures located on the axis of rotation. The middle die is movable radially between a first position in which its aperture is coaxial with the axis of rotation, and a second position in which the aperture is eccentrically offset with respect to the axis of rotation. The middle die is carried by a block that slides through a transverse slot in the shaft, and the ends of the block have inclined parallel faces that engage inclined guideways on a slotted link, which slides axially along the shaft. An actuating device is connected to the slotted link so that the latter can be shifted axially to move the aperture of the middle die from one position to the other.

Abstract: A take-up frame for pile fabric comprising two suspension frames disposed at the ends of a shaft in accordance with the width of fabric webs to be taken up and provided with hook bands which extend radially and into which the fabric webs are hooked, wherein the suspension frames are constructed of plastics material or the like and are provided with guideways in which hook bands of metal are disposed.

Abstract: The method of surface treatment of wooden panels which comprises drawing off carrier strips or sheets impregnated with hardenable synthetic resin from supply rollers, and laying the strips onto the top and bottom surfaces of the panel. The sheets are attached to the panel along the edges thereof by heat-bonding, using a heated tool which presses the strip to the corner formed by the intersection of the surface of the wooden panel with the perpendicular side edges thereof. The wooden panel, with carrier sheets attached thereto along its edges, is then placed in a heated press, where the sheets are pressed and heat-bonded to the surfaces of the panel.

Abstract: A device for actuating an ejector plunger or the like on the movable carriage of a press, comprising a two-arm lever pivoted on the carriage, one arm of which is operatively connected to the plunger. The other arm has a member that runs on a track extending parallel to the line of travel of the carriage. The track is located on a member that is mounted on a stationary part of the machine and is movable in the direction normal to the line of travel of the carriage. Operating means is connected to the member to move the same periodically in the transverse direction, thereby rocking the two-arm lever and actuating the plunger. During normal operational movement of the carriage, the member on said other arm of the lever moves parallel to the track and is not affected thereby.

Abstract: A method of making a completely closed, thin-walled, hollow article of fusible, or thermoplastic resin (such as polyethylene) without seams or a vent hole, comprising the steps of: rotationally molding the article in a mold heated to a temperature above the fusion point of the resin; and rapidly chilling the molded part from a temperature above the heat distortion point of the resin to a temperature well below the heat distortion point; causing the plastic to stiffen and become rigid before it is collapsed by the partial vacuum inside the part due to contraction of the trapped air as it cools. In one embodiment of the invention, the mold itself is rapidly chilled by cold air or water sprays, causing the molded part to chill rapidly before the air can cool. In another embodiment, the part is removed from the mold and allowed to cool and partially collapse; after which the part is reheated slowly up to a temperature slightly above the heat distortion point.

Abstract: A break-away, snap-on quiver and mounting assembly for use with an archery bow having a central handle section. The quiver includes upper and lower end members joined together by a connecting rod; the upper end member having an inverted cup to receive and shield the pointed ends of the arrows, and the lower end member having spring clips to grip the shafts of the arrows near their feathered ends. Each of the end members has an attachment bracket that cooperates with a mounting bracket on the bow when the brackets are slidably engaged with one another. Spring-loaded detents on the attachment brackets engage sockets on the corresponding mounting bracket to provide a yieldable connection that allows the quiver to break away from the bow if subjected to a separating force of sufficient strength to overcome the detents.

Abstract: A disc brake comprising a caliper housing having axially aligned first and second cylinder bores; a first piston slidable within the first bore and bearing against one of the friction pads; and a second piston slidable within the second bore and having an internally threaded tubular opening into which a clearance adjuster is screwed. The threads of the adjuster are power transmission threads with a helix angle of about 15 degrees, and there is end-wise clearance between the threads sufficient to allow the first piston to move between its retracted and brakes-applied positions. At the end of the adjuster is a head having a conical clutch facing that engages a corresponding conical seat in the bottom of the first piston, so as to exert a powerful rotational clutch action. A spring urges the adjuster toward the bottom of the first piston, and causes the adjuster to unscrew and extent itself whenever there is any clearance between the clutch facing and seat.

Abstract: An axially movable ejector rod has one end abutting against one arm of a pivoted ejector lever. A second arm on the ejector lever has a generally radially extending plane surface that is contacted by a roller carried at the end of a lever arm pivoted on a supporting slide. The roller also rides on a second plane surface on one arm of an intermediate lever, the other arm of which is connected to a link. This link is reciprocated by a rotating cam, causing the intermediate lever to rock and pressing its plane surface against the roller. The roller, in turn, presses against the arm of the ejector lever and causes the latter to rock. As the intermediate lever and ejector lever rock on their respective pivots, the roller rolls along the respective plane surfaces. The supporting slide carrying the lever arm with its roller is movable in the direction to shift the roller along the two plane surfaces.

Abstract: A watercraft comprising a flotation body having at least one seat for a rider, and front and rear tandem skis. The rear ski is flexibly connected to the body by spring supports, and the front ski is steerable by a steering column that passes upwardly through a bushing in the front end of the body. The bushing is pivoted about a transverse axis so that the steering column has limited swinging movement in a vertical longitudinal plane. The bottom end of the steering column is pivotally connected to the front ski near the midpoint thereof, and a resilient strut extends from the forward end of the ski to the steering column just below the bottom end of the bushing. A motor is mounted within the body and has a drive shaft extending downwardly to drive a propeller located below the bottom surface of the skis. The drive shaft is pivoted for fore-and-aft swinging movement, and an adjustable link connects the bottom end of the drive shaft to the top end of the bushing.

Abstract: A wave-powered pneumatic system for producing compressed air to be used for energy storage or power generation, comprising an elongated seawall extending parallel to the shore and at a distance out from the shore, upon which an air-accumulating structure is built. The air-accumulating structure is divided by partitions into a plurality of modules, each consisting of a plurality of stacked air chambers arranged one above the other. Each of the chambers is relatively shallow in the vertical dimension, and each chamber is closed on all sides except the end facing out to sea. A plenum chamber is connected to each of the air chambers by separate ducts having check valves which allow air to flow into the plenum chamber when pressure within the duct exceeds the pressure in the plenum chamber. The plenum chamber is connected to the air storage or power generating means.

Abstract: An inflatable game ball having an outer shell of rubber or rubber-like elastomer, enclosing a hollow interior space, with an internal self-sealing check valve extending through the shell. The check valve is molded of soft rubber and has a pair of thin flanges or lips, arranged side-by-side, with one or more openings that are opened up to allow air to pass freely into the ball when the air pressure on the outside of the valve is greater than the pressure inside the ball. A hand pump is provided, which has a nozzle that inserts into the outside opening of the check valve, and operating the pump causes air to be pumped into the ball to inflate the latter to the desired pressure. The thin flanges of the check valve are closed tightly against one another by the air pressure within the ball, thereby sealing the valve opening to prevent escape of the air.

Abstract: A device for adapting combined brake and turn signal lights on a trailer to independent brake signal and turn signal lights on a towing vehicle has two circuits, one for each side, each circuit having a brake signal switch, such as a transistor, silicon-controlled rectifier or relay connected between the brake signal circuit of the vehicle and the filament of the combined brake and turn signal light on the corresponding side of the trailer. The brake signal switches are selectively actuated by impulses received from the corresponding turn signal flashers on the vehicle, to block the brake signal current to the corresponding signal light on the trailer. In one embodiment of the invention, voltage-sensitive switches (e.g., SCR) are connected to brake switch transistors, and the left-hand and right-hand turn signal circuits on the vehicle are connected through diodes to the corresponding signal lamps on the trailer, and also to their respective switches.

Abstract: A protective surface coating is formed on the surface of a glass object by spraying an aqueous emulsion of a hard wax onto a surface of the object and removing water from the emulsion by the action of heat.

Abstract: A mechanical disc brake comprising a caliper housing having a cylinder bore, with a piston slidably disposed therein which bears at one end against one of the friction pads. Mounted in the outer end of the cylinder bore is an end plate having a screw-threaded bore to receive a power screw. One end of the power screw extends outwardly beyond the end plate and has a lever fixed thereto, which is operated by an air cylinder or other power device. A radially extending head on the inner end of the power screw abuts against a thrust bearing on the end of an adjuster screw that is screw-threaded into the skirt of the piston. A spiral spring is attached at one end to the power screw and at the other end to the adjuster screw, and exerts torque on the adjuster screw tending to rotate the latter in the direction to advance the adjuster screw toward the power screw head whenever there is any axial clearance between the adjuster screw and the power screw. The piston is returned a predetermined small amount (0.010 to 0.

Abstract: A resilient thermally-conductive pressure compensator for use in heating plate presses used to manufacture coated wood panels or boards, comprising a composite sheet consisting of a woven mesh of metal wires embedded in a matrix of a heat conducting elastomeric filler material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for the charging of presses, particularly multiple-opening platen hot moulding presses, having drawing members for flexible transport supports carrying material to be moulded, said transport supports being in a feed basket in front of the press, characterized in that continuously rotating drawing means are provided as drawing members for the transport supports in the press platens.

Abstract: A method of making a seamless, hollow, spherical fishing buoy of thermoset resin, preferably cross-linkable polyolefin, by rotationally molding the same without vent holes or openings in the buoy. A 3-plane, rigid, corner cube radar reflector is mounted inside the spherical buoy, and is oriented to provide maximum return of a radar signal from anywhere on or above the horizon. The reflector is centered within the mold cavity by six spring-loaded standoffs, which are attached to the corners of the reflector. The standoffs are molded of the same resin as the buoy, but are only partially cross-linked. During molding cycle, the cross-linkable resin molding powder melts and spreads uniformly over the inside surface of the mold, at the same time cross-linking. The ends of the partially cross-linked standoffs in contact with the hot mold melt and become part of the plastic shell, and also continue cross-linking with the latter.

Abstract: A method of storing bagasse by piling the bagasse up into a stack on a base structure protected against ground water and having good run-off of surface water. The stack is built up with a substantially horizontal layer structure, wherein each successive layer is piled on only after the preceding layer has completed the phase of most intensive fermentation. The stack is piled up so that it tapers toward the top and forms a ridge, and the top of the stack is covered with a rain-shedding material at the earliest possible time after the top layer has passed its fermentation peak. The rate of fermentation may be controlled by either: (1) de-coring the bagasse before storage; (2) separating the fine material out; (3) slightly pre-drying the bagasse before storage; (4) adding fermentation-controlling or fermentation-inhibiting substances to the bagasse; or (5) providing air ducts in the stack to vent off the moist, damp air.