Abstract: Liquid crystal cell using the electrically controlled birefringence effect and processes for the production of the cell and a uniaxial medium or material of negative optical anistropy usable therein.The cell can comprise two crossed rectilinear polarizers, two glass plates provided with transparent electrodes and placed between said polarizers, a liquid crystal layer between the plates and, between a plate and a polarizer, a layer of a negative uniaxial thermoplastic polymer having its extraordinary axis perpendicular to the plates. This layer can be obtained by heating the polymer up to the isotropic state, under a uniform presure on the polarizers, cooling and eliminating the pressure. Application to the production of data display devices.

Abstract: A polymer articular prosthesis having a sliding surface, wherein the latter is constituted by a thin layer of said polymer grafted with tetrafluoro-ethylene.The process for preparing the articular prosthesis comprises coating with a protective varnish the outer surface of a polymer articular prosthesis having a sliding surface, except in the areas constituting this sliding surface irradiating the prosthesis with ionizing rays, contacting the prosthesis with the tetrafluoroethylene vapour for adequate time to bring about tetrafluoroethylene grafting over a limited thickness of the polymer forming the sliding surface and then removing the protective varnish.

Abstract: A housing of a reciprocating gas compressor comprises a partition member separating an upper suction chamber through which gas passes and a lower crankcase chamber in which a crankshaft rotates and which has an oil sump at the bottom. The partition member is imperforate except for sealed openings through which cylinder sleeves and hydraulic fluid lines extend between the chambers. A conduit located on the housing exterior and connected between the chambers performs three functions, namely: enables gas flow in either direction to effect pressure equalization; enables oil to flow by gravity from low points in the upper chamber into the sump; and enables oil mist in the gas flow through the conduit to coalesce on the inner walls of the conduit and flow by gravity into the sump.

Abstract: The armored cable cutter of the invention has an elongated saw carrier on which a circular saw blade is rotatable, hinged to an elongated cable carrier of U-shaped cross-section that defines a laterally opening cable receiving groove. A clamping member on the blade carrier, swingable about a trunnion axis parallel to the blade axis, has cable engaging surface portions disposed along a segment of a spiral about the trunnion axis to be at progressively increasing distances from that axis, the surface portions being configured symmetrically to the blade plane and for straddling engagement with a cable in the carrier groove. The clamping member, when swung into engagement with a cable in the groove, clamps it against one wall of the cable carrier and confines it with its diametral plane coinciding with the blade plane.

Abstract: A hinge consisting of a base, a rotating member mounted to one end of the base through a pair of link arms, the rotating member being supported by a spring in a closed or open condition. The base is formed out of a single piece of sheet metal by bending and shaping so as to have a pair of side plate portions to be fitted over projections of a member on which the hinge is mounted; a connecting plate portion formed integral with, and provided between, the link arm mounting sides of the pair of the side plate portions; and screw support plate portions bent inwardly from the pair of the side plate portions so that they face the projections of the member on which the hinge is mounted, the screw support plate portions being joined together to be shaped like a letter U, the joint part of the screw support plate portions being formed with screw insertion holes.

Abstract: A transferring and sorting apparatus wherein an endless sorting belt is provided in a transfer body moving along a transfer passage, which sorting belt is capable of transferring articles in the direction crossing the direction of movement of the transfer body. This sorting belt is placed over a driving pulley, which is connected via a transmission device to a friction wheel provided below the transfer body. A friction member adapted to be moved toward and away from the friction wheel is provided in predetermined positions on the transfer passage. When the friction member is moved to engage the friction wheel, the turning movement of the friction wheel rolled with the friction member is transmitted to the driving pulley to drive the sorting belt toward one side portion of the transfer passage.

Abstract: A process for producing a self-restoring overcurrent protective device by the grafting method, wherein an organic peroxide is added to colloidal graphite, at least one kind of carbon black selected from among acetylene black, Ketjen black and furnace black having a high structure, and at least one kind of crystalline polyner substance while heating and milling the latter three components, and the heated mixture having a high viscosity is forcibly milled, whereby the organic peroxide is reacted with the polymer substance to give unpaired electrons to the polymer substance to thereby form polymer radicals. Subsequently, the formed polymer radicals are preferentially grafted onto the above-mentioned graphite and carbon black to form a milled mass wherein the grafting products are homogeneously dispersed in the above-mentioned polymer substance. The milled mass is molded into a predetermined shape while it still retains thermoplasticity.

Abstract: A filling machine for repeatedly dispensing predetermined amounts of particulate material comprises a stationary hopper having two spaced-apart spouts; a motor-driven horizontally rotatable upper plate beneath the spouts and having four groups of receiving holes therethrough and a stationary bottom plate beneath the upper plate and having two groups of dispensing holes therethrough. As the upper plate is rotatably driven, the receiving holes align with the spouts, are filled with material, and then align with the dispensing holes through which the material then falls. A sweeper member above the upper plate directs excess material accumulated on the upper plate into emptied receiving holes approaching a spout. A weighted sleeve on each spout slidably engages the upper plate to inhibit material leakage. Each group of receiving holes has a cup plate on the underside of the upper plate with apertures in registery with the receiving holes and slidably engageable with extension tubes from the receiving holes.

Abstract: A receptacle handling machine for the handling of receptacles which are passed through the machine and having a machine frame and at least one receptacle guiding body releasably mounted on the machine frame, the guiding body on its end adjacent the frame is formed with first insertion and stop elements to respectively engage in pairs, in the assembled state, associated second insertion and stop elements of the machine frame. The guiding body is positively held transversely to the direction of insertion and a clamping member is attached to the guiding body or to the machine frame. The guiding body is held either non-positively or positively in the direction of insertion together with the stop elements.

Abstract: A programmable wire stripper is provided for cutting and stripping selectively variable length insulation portions from the end of wire segments presented at a workstation. The stripper includes a base frame mounted in fixed relation to the workstation and a carriage mounted on the base frame for movement toward and away from the workstation by a first drive. A turret is mounted on the carriage for movement relative thereto. The turret has a plurality of individual mounting positions and an insulation cutting mechanism is mounted on the turret at each of the mounting positions for movement between open noncutting and closed cutting positions. A second drive is provided for moving the turret to place any selected mounting position and its associated cutting mechanism at the workstation. A first actuator is provided to effect closing of the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: A method for washing and cooling cottage cheese curds and including the steps of disposing a housing in a horizontal position, admitting a washing and cooling fluid into an upstream end of the housing and discharging it at a downstream end to establish a reservoir of flowing fluid, placing the material into the reservoir adjacent the downstream end, lifting the material in the reservoir transversely to the normal direction of fluid flow, lowering the material in the reservoir at an acute angle relative to the normal direction of fluid flow to more the material in an upstream direction, and repeating the lifting and lowering steps until the material is discharged at the upstream end of the housing.

Abstract: The pavement planer of this invention is carried on the front ends of the twin lift arms of a skid-steer front end loader. It has a drum with radially projecting picks, confined to rotation in a box-like housing that is open at its bottom and is supported at its front center on a heightwise adjustable roller. Secured to the lift arms, spanning the distance between them, is an upright plate-like frame member that rides on a roller on each of its ends. The housing is so connected to the frame member as to be laterally adjustable relative to it and also tiltingly adjustable about a fore-and-aft extending axis. Both of those adjustments are effected by a single hydraulic cylinder jack connected between the housing and the upright frame member. In use, a down load on the lift arms imposes part of the weight of the carrying vehicle onto the pavement planer, to be supported by the three mentioned rollers.

Abstract: A sight for an anti-aircraft gun, which is manually aimed, comprises a ranging unit, a gun-fixed aiming unit and a calculating unit, preferably a computer. The ranging unit comprises means for optical aiming at the target, and devices for determination of the range, the angular rate in elevation and azimuth, and elevation. The devices emit measured value signals to the means for optical aiming at the target, which means is settable in elevation and azimuth in relationship to the firing direction of the anti-aircraft gun. The calculating unit controls, guided by said received signals and information given about the velocity of the fired projectile and the prevailing wind vector, the second optical means in such a way that when the operator aims through same at the target by setting the barrel in elevation and azimuth, the offset and lead angles of the barrel are such that a fired projectile hits the target.

Abstract: A hinge having a base fixed to a piece of furniture and to which a pivotable member attached to a door is joined so that the pivotable member can be turned so as to be opened and closed, the hinge being fixed to a mounting member attached to a body of furniture. A rear screw engaged with the mounting member is inserted into and engaged with a recess in an upper wall of the base with the head of the rear screw positioned above the recess as the base is moved slidingly from the front side on the mounting member so as to be fitted thereon, and the head of a front screw which is engaged with the mounting member is opposed to an opening in the upper wall of the base from the lower side thereof so as to be engaged at least from the upper side with locking members on the base. The mounting member is made longitudinally symmetric, so that the base can be secured to the mounting member in two directions.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a portion of insulation adjacent the ends of wire segments having different gauge conductors for the purpose of stripping the cut portion therefrom.

Abstract: A crucible is disclosed for use in an induction furnace comprising a bottom wall and a circumferential sidewall. The sidewall comprises a plurality of vertically extending wall elements arranged parallel to each other. Each wall element has circumferentially spaced apart transverse faces and a duct means traversing therethrough in open communication between the spaced apart transverse surfaces. The duct means of each wall element are in aligned facing relation with the duct means of adjacent wall elements. An electrically insulating joint is interposed in sealing relation between each of the adjacent wall elements and having duct openings therethrough in open registry with the ducts presented by adjacent wall elements to form at least one channel interconnected between the crucible wall elements to carry a cooling liquid.

Abstract: An angular position sensor for determining the relative angular position of two relatively rotatable ferromagnetic coaxial components, such as a rotor and stator. The components have the same number of regularly distributed teeth and the teeth in one component are separated by an air gap from the teeth in the other component. A plurality of coils are connected in series with each other and are disposed around the teeth in one of the components and correspond in number to the number of associated teeth. An electric excitation signal having a measurable constant electrical characteristic is fed to the plurality of coils from a source. The characteristic is modulatable in response to variations in the magnetic reluctance of the air gap effected by changes in the relative angular position between the two components. Electronic circuitry is connected to coils for measuring the modulation of the characteristics to determine the relative angular position of the components.