Abstract: A thermally insulated vessel for cooking, serving, and storing of foods and beverages, particularly adapted for use in microwave cooking units. A double-walled vessel is provided, including an outer container and a removable inner container, both having substantially similar shapes. The inner container is supported by a grooved flange extending outward from its upper rim which rests on the upper rim of the outer container. The inner container and the outer container are separated by a narrow gap, forming an enclosed air cavity. The flange groove and rim are designed to allow air to escape from the cavity to relieve the pressure caused by hot foods or beverages in the vessel, and to resist air and liquid flow into the cavity as the vessel cools. A raised lid is further provided, fitting over the inner container, and having a flat top and a recessed handle, to allow several vessels to be stacked on each other for cooking or storing.

Abstract: A gaseous display panel having a base plate and a face plate is disclosed. A plurality of groups of cathode segments are disposed on the base plate, and a plurality of anodes are disposed on the face plate. Each anode has a plurality of electrically conductive web portions extending across at least one of the cathode segments, the anodes, including the web portions, being deposited onto the face plate simultaneously with the application of a conductive layer used to outline the anode.

Abstract: An improved conveyor system for transporting die-cut blanks from a rotary die cutter to a blank stacking device includes a blank take-up section comprising a spring biased take-up guide which insures that blanks are positively engaged by the conveyor system before they are released by the die cutter. The conveyor system includes a vacuum belt which serves to suspend and transport die-cut blanks while maintaining them in precise registry to a blank stacking device. An improved snubbing device is disclosed which decelerates blanks without damage to the blanks themselves and then causes the decelerated blanks to rebound back toward the die cutter for improved stacking. A ramp structure is disclosed which flexes blanks near the blank release section of the conveyor system such that the trailing edge of transported blanks snap away from the conveyor system, thereby positively disengaging the blanks from the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for making sealed filter units which include a plurality of filter elements. The apparatus includes a lower mold half for supporting a filter element support and a retractable locater member. The retractable locater member includes a reduced cross-sectional notched portion which projects above the lower mold half. When retracted into the lower mold half, the notched portion in conjunction with the upper and lower mold halves forms a cavity along the outer and upper peripheral edges of the filter elements and support. A thermoplastic material is injected into this cavity to capture the filter elements to the filter element support.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a hairdressing device for the styling, nding and drying of hair. The device includes a handle and a round brush. The round brush includes bristle rows, the bristles of which penetrate an outer tube and, through relative rotary movement between the outer tube and an inner tube, are either extended through the outer tube or lowered onto the surface of the inner tube within the outer tube. The handle is provided with a depressable operating key. Depressing the key turns the tubes through a predetermined angle of rotation relative to each other to achieve retraction of the bristles. A restoring spring interconnects the tubes. When the operating key is released the spring returns the tubes to their starting position and extends the bristles. A locking cam on the key prevents inadvertent retraction.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely measuring the period of a wheel signal generated by a transducer in a brake control system includes a clock for generating a periodic clock signal, a first counter for maintaining a count of clock signal cycles, a second counter for maintaining a count of wheel signal cycles, a gate for selectively enabling and disabling the first and second counters at substantially the same phase angle of the wheel signal, and a computer programmed to read the first and second counters, to control the gate to enable the first and second counters for a period of time, and then to read the first and second counters again to arrive at measure of the elapsed time and the number of wheel signal cycles occurring during the measurement period.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus of the type including a platform, a pair of spaced, parallel, substantially vertical guide rails, and a power swivel which is guided along the guide rails is provided with a pair of space support surfaces positioned on the underside of the swivel. In addition, a pair of collapsible pedestals are mounted on the platform, each pedestal positioned under a respective support surface such that the swivel rests on the pedestals when lowered toward the platform. These pedestals are provided with a collapse strength chosen such that the pedestals collapse in a controlled, progressive manner, substantially without damage to the guide rails, in the event the swivel falls from at least a predetermined height. In this way both the platform and any drill string attached to the swivel are protected from excessive loads associated with abrupt deceleration of the swivel, and the incidence of string breakage due to such abrupt deceleration is at least substantially reduced.

Abstract: An improved cross-arm brace for supporting a cross-arm (24) on a utility support pole (23) is described. The brace has two support members (10) which lie along the support pole (23), one on each side of the support pole (23), and between the support pole (23) and the cross-arm (24). The support members (10) are connected to each other by one or more connecting members (11) which cross the pole (23) over that face of the pole (23) on which lies the cross-arm (24). Adjusting mechanisms (12, 14, 15, 16) associated with the connecting members (11) adjust to decrease the spacing between the support members (10) and thus to firmly wedge the support members (10) between the support pole (23) and the cross-arm (24). More than one cross-arm (24) on a support pole (23) can be supported by a single brace. The brace can be used in conjunction with a grid gain.

Abstract: An improved boom for a drill rig is described which includes two rotatably mounted clamps which are rotatable between a side loading position, to facilitate loading and unloading in the horizontal position, and a central position, in which a clamped tubular is aligned with the drilling axis when the boom is in the vertical position. An automatic hydraulic sequencing circuit is provided to automatically rotate the clamps into the side loading position whenever the boom is pivoted with a down-hole tubular positioned in the clamp. In this position, the clamped tubular is aligned with a safety plate mounted on the boom to prevent a clamped tubular from slipping from the clamps. A safety frame is formed between the tower of the drill rig and the vertical boom by a slidable bolt mounted on the tower and an annular receiving member mounted on the boom to receive the end of the bolt. This boom also includes an improved pivoting linkage which facilitates the transport of the rig.

Abstract: A cleaning device for magnetic tape heads comprises a mylar tape on which is deposited a layer of a low-tack adhesive. A dacron fabric is bonded to the mylar tape by the adhesive layer. This dacron tape acts as a mechanical cleaning surface when it is moved across the contact surface of the tape head. The adhesive layer operates both to secure individual strands of the fabric rigidly in place so as to support the strands properly when they are in contact with the tape head, and also to capture and control the movement of magnetic particles dislodged from the tape head by the strands of the fabric. Alternate embodiments provide ridges for defining a pattern of raised projections extending away from an underlying base.

Abstract: Covers for windshields, side windows, and rear windows of automobiles each comprising a covered sheet material resistant to snow, water, ice and sleet of size and shape to overlie the portion of the glass to be protected from accumulations of snow, ice, and sleet when the automobile is left standing outside in stormy and freezing weather, and a band or cord attached to the cover for holding the same in place and adapted to be horizontally disposed outside of the automobile over the area to be protected and having its two ends extending through a door or doors of the automobile with portions of the band or cord pinched between the adjacent door and door frame when said door is closed against said door frame whereby to hold the covers in place with ends of the band fastened in the interior of the automobile whereby when the doors are locked the ends of the holding band are protected against unwanted tampering.

Abstract: An improved shrouded fan assembly (10, 10') is disclosed which forms a labyrinthian seal between a plurality of fan blades (20, 20') and an annular ring (16, 16') mounted to a non-rotating shroud (15, 15') without the use of a rotating annular shroud. The tip of at least one fan blade (20, 20') defines a slot (21, 21') adapted to receive the annular ring (16, 16') to form a labyrinthian seal therewith. The improvement increases fan efficiency by decreasing undesirable air flows in the shroud gap between the shroud (15, 15') and the tips of the fan blades (20, 20').

Abstract: A method and tool (40) for replacing jet pump holddown beams (17) in a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The tool (40) has an inner frame (41) and an outer frame (28). Each frame defines two spaced plates (33 and 30, respectively). Each inner and outer plate has a jaw (34, and 31, respectively), defined therein. The frames (41, 23) are movably nested such that the jaws (34, 31) of adjacent inner (33) and outer (30) plates form two pairs of opposed jaws (31, 34) each sized and positioned to receive and hold one of two protruding members (20) of the holddown beam (17) such that the beam (17) is suspended between the pairs of opposed jaws (31, 34). In removing a beam (17), the beam (17) is first unlocked, then its protruding members (20) are captured by the tool's (40) pairs of opposed jaws (31, 34), and finally the beam (17 ) is disengaged from its keeper (26). In installing a beam (17), this procedure is substantially reversed, care being taken to position the beam (17) properly for engagement of the keeper (26).

Abstract: An emergency escape apparatus includes a gear track mounted vertically on an exterior surface of a building. A carriage is provided with guide rollers which engage a guide track oriented adjacent and parallel to the gear track. A gear wheel is rotatably mounted on the carriage and is maintained in positive engagement with the gear track by the guide rollers. The carriage includes automatic brakes which serve to limit the maximum downward velocity of the carriage, and a boatswain's chair is attached to the carriage to secure one or more persons to the carriage for transport down the outside of the building.

Abstract: A drilling ramp for a mobile drilling rig of the type having a wheeled vehicle and a mast substructure, wherein the substructure includes four legs, two of which serve to mount power hydraulic jacks and two of which serve to mount leg locating sockets. The ramp includes a substantially planar foundation structure adapted to support the drilling rig. Longitudinal guide bars and transverse chocks are mounted on the foundation structure to guide and position wheels of the drilling rig. Two jack locating members are mounted on the foundation structure, each of which defines a respective socket sized and positioned to interlock with respective ones of the two jacks included in the substructure. In addition, two manually operated jack screws are mounted on the foundation structure in alignment with the sockets on the rear legs of the substructure. Once the jacks have been engaged in the sockets of the ramp, the jack screws can be raised in order to provide support for the rear legs of the substructure.

Abstract: An improved body function assistance device is provided wherein a microprocessor controls the response of the device to various external physiological events and internal timer events. The microprocessor is adapted for use with the limited energy supply available from a battery by activating internal logic components of the processor only in response to selected events and to perform an operating routine corresponding to the "wakeup" event. At the end of the operating routine, a new set of wakeup events is selected and the internal logic components are deactivated. A further reduction in the average operating current is obtained by providing a plurality of counting rates to minimize the number of state changes during counting cycles. The microprocessor may be provided with a fixed operating routine or may be provided with the capability of actually introducing program changes in the implanted device.

Abstract: An improved photoelectric incremental measuring apparatus for measuring the relative displacement of two objects is disclosed, the apparatus including a measuring scale and a scanning unit for scanning the scale having a reticle, the scale and reticle each carrying a measuring grid. The scale has at least two nonidentical reference marks, each of which comprises a line group with an irregular line spacing pattern. The reticle has at least two reading fields, each of which comprises a line group with an irregular line spacing pattern that is identical to the line spacing pattern of a selected one of the reference marks. The reading fields occupy such positions on the reticle that each reading field aligns with its corresponding reference mark simultaneously as the scanning unit moves along the scale. Each reading position on the scanning unit is illuminated by a light source, such as a lamp, and the light sources are connected across a common resistor, mounted in series, to a power source.

Abstract: A drill rig having a drill rig mast and a transfer arm is described. The clamps of the transfer arm are resiliently mounted to the transfer arm so as to provide limited axial movement of the clamps and thereby of a clamped down hole tubular. This resilient support for the down hole tubular serves to reduce damage to the threaded ends of the tubular during tubular handling operations. In addition, the clamps of the transfer arm are provided with resilient clamping surfaces which serve to engage the clamped tubular frictionally, without gouging or deeply scratching the surface thereof. A pair of automatic, self-centering, hydraulic tongs is provided for making up and breaking out threaded connections of tubulars having various diameters without manual adjustment of the tongs.

Abstract: A position measuring instrument, of the type including a first component which includes a first electrically conductive sensor conductor and a second component, which includes a second electrically sensor conductor, wherein one of the two components is mounted to move relative to the other component, is provided with an improved connector which comprises at least one insulating member secured to the first component such that the insulating member is substantially prevented from rotating with respect to the first component, at least one electrically conducting contact member, which is secured to the insulating member such that the contact member is substantially prevented from rotating with respect to the first component, is substantially prevented from pulling out of the insulating member, and does not extend substantially beyond the first component, wherein the contact member is electrically connected to the first sensor conductor.

Abstract: A self-centering clamp for drilling tubulars includes first and second transverse guide rods. Two opposed clamping jaws are guided along the first guide rod. These jaws are positioned by two opposed rocker arms, each of which is mounted to a cross brace which slides along the second guide rod. The rocker arms are symmetrically positioned by a link mechanism which also slides along the second guide rod and by a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the two rocker arms. The entire clamp is supported in a frame onto which is mounted the two guide rods. The frame is pivotably mounted to a pipe boom so as to rotate about an axis parallel to the clamped pipe and transverse to the first and second guide rods. In a second embodiment the guide rods are replaced with a plate having guide slots.