Abstract: A merchandise display case is formed with opposed sides defining an open rear face with one or more shelves extending horizontally between and connecting the opposed sides. The display unit is mounted on a window with the open rear face adjacent the window. Suction cups attached to the case support the case on the window and advertising materials are supported on the stems of the suction cups between the case and the window and/or extend laterally from the case to be readily visible from both sides of the window.

Abstract: Foreign particles are removed from the plate cylinder of an offset press by interconnecting two ink form rollers friction driven by the plate roller and/or a vibrating roller to rotate in unison at different surface velocities. The connection between the form rollers maintains a fixed ratio between the surface velocities of the rollers which is other than 1:1 and causes the surface of at least one of the form rollers to wipe the surface of the plate.

Abstract: A clip having parallel edge frames with pockets at each end and connected by transverse beams is used to removeably secure a heat sink to an orthogonal device package by inserting the corners of the device package in the pockets to secure the heat sink between the transverse beams and the surface of the device package.

Abstract: Unauthorized removal of packages from coin-operated vending apparatus is prevented by a gravity operated lock which prevents removal of the ejector from the column of packages in the dispenser. The lock can only be removed from the locking position by movement of the connecting link by which the coin-operated slide moves the ejector to remove packages from the column of packages.

Abstract: Make-up of a pipe section and coupling to form a tubular joint having proper stand-off at proper make-up torque is automatically controlled. The coupling is first rotated onto the pipe section to a hand-tight position and the length of the coupling and the distance from the open end of the coupling to the pin end of the pipe section are measured by a digital measuring device which inputs these measurements to a computer. The number of turns of the coupler required to attain optimum stand-off is calculated by the computer. The pipe section is held stationary and power tongs rotate the coupling further onto the pipe section while the applied torque and the number of turns are measured and provided as inputs to the computer. The computer determines that the made up tubular joint is acceptable or not acceptable during the rotation by determining if the stand-off is within a predetermined make-up stand-off range at the same time that the make-up torque is within a predetermined make-up torque range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing solidified solder balls and for ejecting generally spherical-shaped drops of liquid solder through a controlled atmosphere to impact on a surface to be wetted is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a preload reservoir to hold and maintain solder in a liquid state, an ejection chamber to hold and maintain the solder in a liquid state, a connection between the preload reservoir and the ejection chamber to allow liquid solder in the preload reservoir to be transferred to the ejection chamber while maintaining the oxides in the preload reservoir, a device to pressurize the ejection chamber with an inert gas and an ejection device operatively connected to receive liquid solder from the ejection chamber and to eject generally spherical-shaped drops of liquid solder to a specific location on a surface to be wetted. Structure is included to provide an atmosphere of inert gas between the ejection device and the specific location on a surface to be wetted.

Abstract: Metallic surfaces are soldered together without using flux or solvents. The metallic surfaces are maintained in an atmosphere of inert gas and cleaned with a laser. An ejection device deposits drops of liquid solder on a predetermined one of the metallic surfaces and the metallic surfaces are moved relative to each other so that the solidified solder contacts the other metallic surface. The metallic surfaces and the solidified solder are then heated until the solidified solder reflows and joins the metallic surfaces.

Abstract: An external window for infrared radiation is protected from hostile environments by forming a bulk window of gallium arsenide and depositing a protective layer of silicon on the external surface. A grid-like pattern of conductive lines is formed in the silicon layer to provide a heated de-icer and to act as a shield against longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Power tongs and the back-ups are disclosed which have improved means for gripping pipe and tubular members. Torque is applied and held with minimum damage to the pipe or tubular member. A plurality of gripping assemblies, each consisting of a pivoted jaw having a friction surface, are mounted on a drag ring. Rotational resistance is selectively applied to the drag ring to cause the jaws to make contact with or be released from the pipe prior to any torque being applied to the pipe. Various modifications of the gripping assemblies are disclosed to provide better gripping contact with the pipe.

Abstract: Interfering bosses are provided on the jaw and jaw link forming a pivoting jaw assembly for a power tong or back-up. The bosses are arranged to interfere and prevent over-center rotation of the jaw with respect to the jaw link. The jaw is pivotally mounted on the jaw link with a pin journaled in an aperture which is elongated in the direction of the axis of the bosses so that the jaw can be rotated over-center when desired.

Abstract: An elongated unitary clip apparatus having an S-shaped mid-section connecting end portions which extend in opposite directions from the mid-section is mounted within an aperture in a support base so that one end of the apparatus extends substantially parallel with one face of the support base and the opposite end extends substantially parallel with the opposite face. One end of the clip apparauts is secured in a second aperture in the support base and the opposite end urges an electronic device package into contact with a heat sink.

Abstract: Storage, display and dispensing apparatus for carded product is disclosed. The dispenser has front and back faces and opposite side faces defining a channel adapted to contain carded product in a vertically nested arrangement. An opening is provided in the lower end of the front face which permits only the lowermost product to be removed from the channel.

Abstract: Plant waste products high in cellulose and silica, i.e. rice hulls, are converted into a slurry of water and a silicate cross-linked cellulose polymer by digestion under heat and pressure in the presence of sodium ions and a sulfite. The slurry is treated with conventional foaming agents to form a formed product expanded in volume. The foamed product may be formed into any desired shape or size by extrusion, molding or casting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spring clip fastener for mounting a heat sink and a semiconductor device package to the surface of a circuit board. The fastener includes a spring portion and support members extending from the spring portion for supporting the spring portion above the surface of the circuit board. A shoulder is internally formed in the support members so that the spring portion urges the semiconductor device package against the heat sink. Feet extend from the support members for engaging the surface of the circuit board. The feet are coated with a solder-promoting material.

Abstract: A continuous strip non-shielding and pressure-resistant wrapping material for protecting buried metallic pipe is disclosed. The wrapping material comprises a continuous layer of cold-flowable rubberized bitumen bonded to a substantially non-elastic porous support backing with a release film positioned on the exposed face of the bitumen to protect the bitumen prior to application. When applied to a metallic pipe, the protective bitumen is secured to and held in place by the non-elastic support backing and thus cannot sag away from the pipe. The porous support backing provides potential electric current paths through each pore so that cathodic protection can be effectively utilized to protect against corrosion in even the smallest holiday in the bitumen layer.

Abstract: A zero insertion force burn-in and test socket is disclosed which employs a vertically moving top to open and close contact pins which maintain electrical contact with the leads of a surface-mount electronic device package. The socket has a replaceable tray to adapt the socket to various sizes of packages. Horizontal movement of the contact pins is caused and controlled by vertical movement of the top of the socket device.

Abstract: The height of a liquid level from the bottom of a storage tank or the like is accurately determined by using a probe with dual isolated channels to measure the time for an acoustic signal to travel between fixed submerged points and from a transducer in one of the channels to the surface of the liquid. Elapsed time measurements are converted to liquid volume using predetermined velocity-temperature values to compensate for temperature variations in the tank.

Abstract: A paper guide wheel for printing presses is formed to include an outer surface eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the wheel so as to form an air gap between the outer surface of the wheel and the paper as the paper is drawn thereover during movement through the press. The air gap gradually narrows as the wheel turns, allowing the freshly inked surface of the paper to gently nest against the outer surface at a point removed from the leading edge of the paper. The outer surface has a slightly convex contour in the axial direction to avoid marking of the paper by contact with the axial extremes of the outer surface. Foam material may be provided on the wheel rim to assist in supporting the paper without marking the freshly inked image.

Abstract: Automatic brightness control apparatus for providing real time control of the brightness of various types of displays while also providing ambient light compensation is disclosed which includes a photodiode for providing a current proportional to the ambient light level. Amplifiers, together with a load, change the photodiode current to a control voltage indicating the level of ambient light. The control voltage is provided as a reference input to a voltage comparator. The other input to the voltage comparator is the output of a free running ramp oscillator. The pulse width modulated logic signal comprising the output of the voltage comparator is provided as the input for an output driver whose pulse stream output is used to control the brightness of the designated display. The duty cycle of the pulse stream output varies with the ambient light level.