Abstract: A beam of light is directed at a flow of particulate material discharging from a conveyor in a curved path. The lower part of the light beam is interrupted by the material as it follows the curved path, the shadow profile being sensed to give an indication of the volume of material flowing.

Abstract: A rigid structure is made up of two interengaging layers. One of the layers is of a generally corrugated form and has slots in the crests of the layer on one side. The second layer is made up of a series of laminae with slots in one side which fit into the slots in the first layer at an angle thereto and which lock the structure into a rigid unit.

Abstract: A spherical bearing assembly having an inner race member and an outer race member, the inner surface of the outer race member being a concave spherical surface, the outer surface of the inner member being a complementary convex spherical surface, the inner member including a spool member having double frusto-conical portion disposed on its outer surface and at least three spherical segments, each segment having a double frusto-conical depression on its inner surface complementary to said double frusto-conical portion, said segments disposed on and interlocked with said spool member by the registration of said double-frusto-conical depression on said double frusto-conical portion.

Abstract: A self-aligning bearing assembly comprising an outer member having a concave inner surface and an inner member carried within the outer member and having a convex outer surface generally complementary to the concave inner surface, said inner member being split and selectively and partially collapsible for insertion within said outer member.

Abstract: A system is provided for controlling a motor and rudder of a power boat selectively from either of two remote stations, each of which includes means for producing linear input signals for motor shift and throttle control and for steering control. The system includes a steering input selector mechanism which is capable of transmitting the linear input signal for steering control from one of the stations to the rudder while isolating the signal from the other station. A motor input selector mechanism is capable of transmitting the linear input signals for motor shift and throttle control from one of the stations to the motor while isolating the signals from the other station. The steering and motor input selector mechanism may be actuated to facilitate the selection of one of the stations whenever corresponding linear input signals from the two stations are substantially equal.

Abstract: A ship's steering unit comprising a housing, a cable wheel mounted within the housing, a shaft with a pinion thereon in driving engagement with the cable wheel, and a one-piece body which serves as a bearing support for the shaft, the shaft having a shroud portion providing a member for mounting the unit to a support surface, which when the unit is orientated with its housing lowermost is spaced below the upper region of the shaft and the bearing support therefor.

Abstract: A sequence control circuit makes use of a stepping switch to progress the steps of an automatically controlled apparatus. The switch steps as limit switches operate to conclude each stage of the sequence and proving switches, in series with the limit switches, operate to complete sub-circuits and prove the state of the circuit as satisfactory.

Abstract: A mechanism for opening and closing an angularly movable panel, comprising a drive box for attachment to a fixed frame, the drive box housing a cable wheel rotatable upon translation of a control cable when in operative association therewith, a chaincase having a sprocket operatively connected with a chain located in a casing, the chain being for attachment at one end to an angularly movable panel, rotation of the sprocket effecting translation of the chain into, or out of, the casing in accordance with the sense of sprocket rotation, the chaincase being mountable in any of four different positions on the drive box.

Abstract: A brake of a mining machine arranged for braking contact with an anchored rail arranged along the path of the machine includes a wedge assembly having a brake member which upon contacting the rail is urged by relative movement of the wedge components in the wedge assembly to increase the braking force of the brake equipment on the rail.

Abstract: A joint is made between two lengths of flexible ducting by captivating a flexible resilient ring attached to one end of a length of the ducting between a pair of spaced parallel rings attached to the end of the other length of the ducting. The joint can be made by deforming the flexible ring and passing it into the end of the second length of ducting and then releasing it, when it is in position, so that due to its resilience it assumes its natural shape and is positioned between the pair of rings.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for determining the concentration of sulphur in coal and to apparatus which enables this method to be put into practice. The method involves measuring the intensities of the X-ray fluorescent radiations from iron and sulphur atoms in a sample of coal which has been excited by X-ray radiation. The measures of the intensities are combined mathematically to give an output from which the concentration of sulphur in the coal may be determined. Using the apparatus described the concentration of sulphur in a sample of coal can be determined quickly and accurately by an unskilled worker.

Abstract: A beach cleaner vehicle is drawn across sand. A scraper blade shaves a layer of sand and debris from the sand surface. A continuous conveyor transports the sand and debris over sifter bars within the chassis of the beach cleaner. A foraminous sifter separates debris and permits sand to fall back to the beach. The sifting process is enhanced by a system adapted to vibrate the foraminous sifter during operation of the beach cleaner. Debris is deposited in a trash basket which is hydraulically dumped.

Abstract: A skimming separator for scavenging liquid and solid floating matter from the face of a body of liquid, wherein traction surfaced contiguous cylinders counter-rotate to frictionally convey a contacting layer of liquid and proximate flotage matter thereon directly into a natural floating reservoir formed by the cylinders and the body of liquid below. Within the reservoir, conveyed solid flotage is selectively either entrapped by a guard screen, or, by adjustment of the screen, abraded by the traction surface into a floating liquified slurry for disposal along with the conveyed originally liquid flotage by pump means. In passing through the nip of the contiguous cylinders, the traction surface is regenerated for reuse in the subsequent recirculation cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering control device comprising a shaft for operative attachment to a steering system, said shaft rotatably mounted on a housing, a pinion gear means mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith, said housing including a hub member, with a hole therethrough for rotatable passage of said shaft, an indicator disc rotatably mounted on said hub coaxial with said shaft, an idler gear rotatably mounted on said disc, said pinion gear meshing with and driving said idler gear about a ring gear means outward of and surrounding and meshing with said pinion gear in response to the rotation of said shaft, said idler gear thereby driving said indicator disc.

Abstract: A single lever control for controlling engine, said control having a housing, a throttle actuating arm and a clutch actuating arm operatively connected thereto for rotation only during the first portion of rotation of the throttle actuating arm, said arms adapted for connection to the cores of push-pull cables for opening and closing the throttle and operating the clutch of said engine, the improvement comprising a warm-up auxiliary throttle lever operatively attached to a bracket means slidably mounted on said housing, said bracket means attached to the throttle cable conduit to move the cable conduit relative to said throttle cable core thereby adjusting throttle setting of said engine, interlocking means including an interengaging means carried by said bracket means, said interengaging means when engaging the outer surface of said throttle actuating arm prohibits the movement of said auxiliary throttle lever when said single lever is moved generally away from its neutral position and said interengaging mea

Abstract: A leaky feeder radio transmission system uses twin feeders connected respectively to a transmitter and receiver at a base station. The feeders are connected at intervals by uni-directional amplifiers which, alternately along the lines, are connected for conduction in opposite directions. Filters are positioned in the line between amplifier connection points. A mobile station adjacent to the feeders receives signals at one frequency from the feeders and transmits signals at a second frequency.

Abstract: The invention comprises the production of a cellular material by vulcanizing a mixture containing between 10% and 90% of an ebonite-forming rubber and sufficient vulcanizing agents to form an ebonite with the rubber, not more than 10% of a solid filler preferably in the absence of such filler, and a chemical blowing agent, whereby an ebonite structure is formed, so that, during the vulcanization, the chemical blowing agent decomposes or reacts to produce a gas, the viscosity of the composition during the production of the gas increasing whereby cells are retained in the composition wherein the mixture further contains between 5% and 87% of a bituminous material.

Abstract: An operator mechanism for translating the core of a cable having a casing guiding the core, comprising a cable wheel mounted for rotation inside a housing, the cable wheel being adapted for attachment of the core to a defined region of the periphery thereof so that the core, when so attached, will, at its attached area, be rotatably fast with the peripheral region of the cable wheel, a handle for rotating the cable wheel, the handle being positioned outside the housing and adjacent a forward end face thereof, the handle being capable of operative securement with respect to the cable wheel in any of a plurality of angular orientations relative thereto about the axis thereof.

Abstract: A conveyor chain comprising at least two pivotally connected links, each of said links comprising a flat body portion having a container carrying supporting face, two sets of at least two apertured ears projecting from an integral width of said flat body portion and on opposite sides thereof, said ears being spaced in side by side relation with respect to each other to interfit and align with the apertured ears of an adjoining link on the respective sides thereof, the apertures of said ears on each side of said flat body portion being in alignment, a grooved pin disposed in said aligned apertures of said interfitting ears, at least two of said ears being axially displaced to define an ear gap, said groove on said pin being in alignment with said ear gap, a holding ring means locked on said pin at said groove within said ear gap to hold said grooved pin within said aligned apertures and thereby holding said pivotally connected links in operational position.

Abstract: A spherical bearing assembly having an inner race member and an outer race member, the inner surface of the outer race member being a concave spherical surface, the outer surface of the inner member being a complementary convex spherical surface, the inner member including a spool member and at least three spherical segments interlocked, in an axial direction, on the spool member.