Abstract: An automatic swimming pool cleaner of the type driven by water flow, having a housing forming a chamber open at its lower side, pivotable attachment of a hose, and a handle pivotably and detachably secured to the housing, such that the pool cleaner can be used manually or automatically as desired. Various embodiments of the invention include vibratory bristle drive to provide forward motion, directional change, rotational scrubbing, and/or vibratory scrubbing action for dual-use (automatic or manual) and manual cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a terminal block especially suited for rapidly wiring small appliances. The block has an insulating housing holding a plurality of electrically-conductive connectors and in the improvement, at least a first connector is bifurcated to define a pair of jaw-like wire-grasping structures for electrically connecting a pair of wires to one another. The structures are separated by a tongue-like barrier for easy guided insertion of a single wire into each structure. The block is also disclosed in combination with an appliance enclosure having a platform supporting the terminal block. The platform has at least one block retention stud, the terminal block includes at least one surface deformation and the stud and the deformation coactively engage to restrain movement of the block.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a particle sensor having a mirror cavity unobstructed by masks and the like. A light detector is at the mirror secondary focal point and well outside the mirror cavity. A variation includes a beam splitter and a secondary light detector to improve detection of larger particles. A second embodiment includes a pair of elliptical mirrors offset along the light beam. Light reflected by the second mirror represents only changes in laser power and light scattered by gas molecules. The resulting signal is subtracted from that produced by the first mirror to obtain a relatively "clean" signal useful to assay very small particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic breadmaker having a pan which is longer than it is wide. Such pan has a pair of pivot-mounted collapsible kneading members spaced horizontally along the bottom of the pan. Each kneading member is coupled to a separate drive shaft extending up through the pan bottom and both shafts are powered by a motor and drive linkage. For easy attachment to and removal from its drive shaft for washing, each kneading member has a hub which forms a grip member. The new breadmaker facilitates automatic preparation of a loaf of normal configuration, having a curved or "crown-like" risen topside extending along its length.

Abstract: A process for cutting very large solidified pools of metal and metallic structures by flame cutting by means of an improved burning bar is described. The cutting is conducted by a hot flame composed of very hot high pressure oxygen exiting from a burning bar packed with intermingled mild steel and aluminum rods. The hot flame or blast of oxygen melts and mobilizes the molten metal by creating a molten stream and jettisoned molten droplets and oxidized particles.

Abstract: A can crusher is provided with a can feed hopper having an open inlet at the top of the can crusher through which opening a plurality of cans may be inserted one after another to fill the hopper. Sequentially, each can falls by gravity into a crushing compartment where a power-driven ram crushes the can axially to crumple the can's cylindrical wall thereby reducing the can's length to about one-fourth or less of its original length. The crushed can falls by gravity through a discharge chute to be automatically discharged. Each can in the hopper automatically falls in succession into the crushing compartment to be crushed and discharged. To prevent human fingers from being inserted through the hopper inlet or the discharge chute and into the crushing compartment, the guiding chute paths are non-linear and/or tortuous to reduce the length thereof and to block a straight finger insertion into the crushing compartment.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a material handling machine, e.g., a crane, having a control circuit switch and a power limit switch. Disclosed is a new weight assembly having first and second weights. The control switch is maintained at a position by the first weight and the power switch is maintained at a position by the second weight which is positioned above the first weight. The weights are telescoped to one another so that vertical weight alignment is assured as the crane hoist bottom block contacts and lifts the first weight. If the bottom block continues its upward travel past a maximum desired elevation, the first weight (urged by the bottom block) lifts the second weight, permitting the power limit switch to trip and preventing the bottom block from continuing upward. And the new assembly is ideal where the space available for limit switch weights is restricted.

Abstract: A digging bucket has a lip, a lip aperture with a forward surface, a digging component mounted on the lip, and a component retaining device. The device comprises a keeper wedge with protrusions bearing against the component and a wedge member interposed between the forward surface and the component. In the improvement, the keeper wedge has at least one angled face and the wedge member has a pair of angled faces, at least one of which bears against the angled face of the keeper wedge. The wedge member is retained in position by a tension bolt extending through the aperture. Several embodiments are disclosed with wedge members having one or two wedges to urge the keeper wedge (and thus the digging component) rearward tightly against the lip.

Abstract: A lighting fixture has a lamp and a housing for a lamp ballast. In the new fixture for providing bilevel illumination, the housing also contains a control device comprised of a dual capacitor and a "random crossing" relay connected to the capacitor. A single electrical control wire is attached to the relay and extends from the housing to a control module for remotely controlling the level of illumination consumed by the fixture. In a system employing one or more of the new fixtures, the level of illumination provided by each fixture is controlled by applying a signal to the control wire and switching the relay independently of the instantaneous value of the voltage across the relay terminals. A new method for providing two levels of power to the fixtures (and, thus, two levels of illumination) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A digging tooth assembly has a base nose, a replaceable tooth tip mounted on the base nose and a pin securing the tip to the nose. The pin includes a locking head eccentric to the pin and a pad-like resilient member is placed between the head and the tooth tip. The locking head is rotated so that the resilient member is compressed to urge the tooth tip in a direction such that the tip is maintained in a nose-contacting position.

Abstract: A bucket arch, used on dragline buckets, has a pair of side sections and an arch center section disposed therebetween. At least one lug is attached to the arch center section and exerts a force on the center section along a force axis. In the improvement, the center section is angled with respect to the side sections and has an axis generally coincident with the force axis. Such angled center section at least greatly reduces the twisting forces imposed on the arch by the lug. Such center section also greatly reduces the wear or friction on the center section of the arch resulting from the drag chain rubbing thereon during tipping of the bucket.

Abstract: A replaceable bristle ring for removable attachment to a swimming pool cleaner, such bristle ring having bristles secured along it and projecting downwardly to terminate in bristle ends adapted to support the pool cleaner on a surface to be cleaned and means facilitating attachment with respect to the pool cleaner housing. A preponderance of the bristles are preferably inclined along lines which are skew lines with respect to the axis of the ring, such that vibration causes movement of the pool cleaner along a swimming pool bottom surface. A preferred replaceable ring has an annular surface with features for interengagement with another bristle ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a terminal block especially suited for rapidly wiring small appliances. The block has an insulating housing holding a plurality of electrically-conductive connectors and in the improvement, at least a first connector is bifurcated to define a pair of jaw-like wire-grasping structures for electrically connecting a pair of wires to one another. The structures are separated by a tongue-like barrier for easy guided insertion of a single wire into each structure. The block is also disclosed in combination with an appliance enclosure having a platform supporting the terminal block. The platform has at least one block retention stud, the terminal block includes at least one surface deformation and the stud and the deformation coactively engage to restrain movement of the block.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a crane having a main hoist drum and an auxiliary hoist drum for handling a load under normal and emergency (the latter actual or simulated) conditions, respectively. The latter condition involves a main hoist which is inoperative because of a failure or by intent. The auxiliary hoist drum is wrapped with about twice the length of cable as the main drum and can move the load up or down, irrespective of, load position if and when the main hoist becomes inoperative. Also disclosed is a novel method for moving a load. Steps include maintaining one drum in a non-rotating mode and rotating the other drum. An improved crane load block is also disclosed to have "floating sheaves" which help prevent excessive fleet angles.