Abstract: A lawn mower blade clutch-brake mechanism having a driving drum and a driven blade carrier, the carrier having clutch shoes engageable with the inside of the drum and brake drum segments fixed to the shoes and disposed outside the drum for engagement by an encircling brake band which both applies braking drag and mechanically forces the segments inward to disengage the clutch shoes, and including the improvement that the clutch shoes are pivoted to the carrier at their leading ends in the direction of rotation so as to be aggressive and self-energizing, and the segments are pivoted on the same pivots and have trailing ends which are swung outward from a cylindrical position concentric with the axis of rotation when the clutch shoes are engaged so that the segments are first engaged by the brake band at and in the direction of their outward sloping trailing ends.

Abstract: A fuel ignition system for a heating apparatus includes a burner connected to a fuel supply, a valve for regulating the flow of fuel to the burner, an electrode assembly for producing a spark to ignite the fuel at the burner, an ignition system control module having input and output terminals for controlling the operation of the valve and the electrode assembly in response to a temperature-actuated device, the system control module producing output signals to open the valve and activate the electrode assembly for a predetermined time period to ignite the burner and locking in a non-operable mode to close the valve and deactivate the electrode assembly if the burner fails to ignite within the predetermined time period, and an automatic reset control for activating the system control module after a time-delay period.

Abstract: A carrier capable of carrying elongated materials without bending or folding through conventional pneumatic tube systems which include a passageway having a predetermined inner cross-sectional dimension wherein the passageway includes curvatures having a predetermined radius. The carrier has a length greater than the maximum length of standard carriers which are currently used in conventional pneumatic tube systems.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the flow rate of charged particulate coating material between a device for dispensing the coating material and an article, or "target," to be coated by such material to account for factors, such as variations in the profile or contour of the target, or movement of the target transversely to the direction of motion of a conveyor upon which the target is being conveyed past the device or head, which might otherwise cause variations in the thickness of the coating material. The particles migrate in a known manner under the influence of an electrical field toward the target for deposition on the target to coat it at high deposition efficiency. The system continuously monitors the current flow to the target. The system feeds back this current flow related signal to a coating material flow rate servomechanism.

Abstract: A clamp assembly adaptable for retaining workpieces of various sizes and shapes includes an elongated metal bracket provided with a plurality of equally spaced perforations in parallel relationship to each other and two movable members for retaining the workpiece, having fingers for cooperating with the perforations to removably and interchangeably secure the retaining members to the bracket in one of a plurality of opposed spaced relationships. A portion of at least one of the retaining members is adjustable for engaging the workpiece and applying a sufficient force against the workpiece to retain it between the two members. The fingers of each retaining member engage perforations of the bracket in a manner such that the retaining members are locked into position in response to the force being applied to the workpiece by the engaging portion of the retaining members. The retaining members may be elevated by employing one or more elevating blocks which are removably secured to the bracket and to each other.

Abstract: Passive and active devices reduce stored electrostatic charge levels on dielectric surfaces, while at the same time reducing electromagnetic interference due to streamer currents, by means of appropriately applied conductors, use of direct or alternating current power sources, ion flooding, fluid flooding and boundry layer control. In addition, the devices detect the presence, polarity and magnitude of triboelectric charging or stored charges on a dielectric surface for the purpose of signalling or of controlling active charge reduction devices. Moreover, the devices can be used to discourage lightning strikes. The devices can be applied with little if any impairment to optical or radio frequency energy transmission or reception.

Abstract: An assembly for a catalytic converter includes a housing and a catalyst-supporting substrate, or monolith. The housing includes upper and lower halves. One of the housing halves includes an enlarged perimetrally extending lip region. The other housing half includes a perimetrally extending insertion portion for insertion into engagement with the lip region. The housing halves are compression-loaded one within the other to either a predetermined force or a predetermined depth of insertion. This shoebox-like assembly is fabricated by supporting the lower housing half on a perimetrally extending ridge formed in the lower housing half and applying force to a perimetrally extending ridge formed in the upper housing half until the predetermined force has been reached or the insertion portion has reached a predetermined depth of insertion within the lip region. The assembly is compact and utilizes a minimum of space on a vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a wearer's neck against hyperflexion and hyperextension is employed in combination with protective head equipment and includes a pad removably carried by the protective head equipment for engaging a lower surface of a wearer's chin and a strap slidably received by the pad for securing the pad against the lower surface of the wearer's chin, the strap including an adjustable fastener for connection to the protective head equipment. Hyperflexion of the wearer's neck due to forward and downward movement of the wearer's head is limited when the pad is captured between the wearer's chin and chest. A second pad is removably carried by the protective head equipment for engaging the wearer's neck at the base of the wearer's head to protect the wearer against hyperextension of the wearer's neck due to backward movement of the wearer's head.

Abstract: A deadlocking latch bolt in a tubular housing is connected to a tailpiece front cross head having a retainer arm in a radial window in the bolt and a blocker arm abutting the opposite housing side to maintain the connection. A deadlocking tumbler is biased to bolt deadlocking position. An auxiliary bolt, when projected, holds the tumbler in release position, and when retracted relative to the bolt, allows the tumbler to take deadlocking position. A channel-shaped tailpiece cam member engaged for linear movement with the cross head has a cam face presented to move the tumbler to release position when the deadlocked bolt is drawn rearward by the tailpiece. The bolt is movable relative to the tailpiece when thrust rearward so as to be deadlocked against the tumbler before actuating the tailpiece and its cam member, but has no lost motion when pulled rearward by the tailpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling the components of a trophy includes a socket for engaging a nut employed to connect the components, a bidirectional motor coupled to the socket, a clutch mechanism coupling the bidirectional motor to the socket, a spring retained between the motor and the socket to allow axial movement of the socket relative to the motor, and a bracket for adjustably mounting the motor, clutch mechanism, and spring beneath a work surface for supporting the components of the trophy. The socket is biased upward by the spring so that it projects above the working surface. The motor is operable in a first direction to tighten the nut and in a second direction to loosen the nut. The clutch mechanism provides a torque-limited connection between the motor and the socket in the first direction to prevent excessive tightening of the nut and a positive connection in the second direction to loosen the nut.

Abstract: A lawn mower engine having a lightweight top rotor of low polar inertia drives a rotary blade through a clutch-flywheel rotor having sufficient inertia to provide the major flywheel effect for the engine. Clutch faces at the rotor periphery engage a surrounding blade-carrier drum and have a maximum torque arm for positively driving the blade. The faces are preferably on centrifugal shoes which slip at load-reduced speed so as to maintain engine operation, and release at idling speed to allow engine starting with the blade stopped. A brake band or ring about the drum is spring-pressed ON to stop the blade when a deadman control is released. The preferred clutch-flywheel rotor is made of two heavy circular plates (e.g., 1/4".times.6") riveted together against spacer slugs and a shouldered hub. Wide clutch shoes are mounted on such rotor by end tangs and springs between the plates. The top rotor plate substantially closes the top of the drum. Access and hub openings in the two plates provide rotor spacer slugs.

Abstract: A system for the preparation of biological agents can include a vessel in which the biological agents are fermented and in which the fermentation is monitored by a probe detection means. Probe support means are fastened to the wall of the vessel to support the probe detection means with its operative end within the vessel and to provide access from outside the vessel to the output of the probe detection means. The probe support means has a seal-engaging surface at its forwardmost end within the tank. A seal is seated on the probe detection means forwardly of probe support means, and a seal compression member is fastened to the probe support means to compress the seal between the seal-engaging surface of the probe support means, the seal compression means, and the outer surface of the probe detection means to limit the collection of fermentation material to the exposed outer surfaces of the system and permit cleansing and sterilization of the system.

Abstract: A method of preparing water for human consumption by chlorinating water obtained from reservoirs, lakes, or streams, which water contains microorganisms and naturally occurring or pollutant organic precursor substances known to react with chlorine to yield one or more halogenated organic compounds, holding the chlorinated water for a period of time sufficient for the chlorine to react with said precursors to produce halogenated organic compounds, and then removing the halogenated organic compounds from the water by aeration. Such treatment also removes any bromine-containing organic compounds contained in the water and any chlorine derivatives thereof formed in the chlorine treatment.

Abstract: A collapsible frame for supporting a container is manufactured from two loops formed from a single length of wire which are intertwined to form a handle and sprung to form base members which are yieldably urged apart. An inwardly narrowed neck portion is formed intermediate the handle and the base members to provide points of support for the container. A containment loop encompasses the neck portion of the frame and inwardly urges the points of support against the container as it is pushed into position within the containment loop. The base members are capable of being pressed into a planar assembly when the container is removed to allow a plurality of similarly constructed frames to be compactly stacked.

Abstract: An improved and simplified dead bolt rim lock, which provides "classroom function". A dead bolt is fixed on a draw plate slidable in a rim lock case and having a cross slot which extends one way from center and is engaged by a crank pin movable in an 180.degree. arc between front and rear centered positions. The crank pin is on a crank arm carried by a turnknob rotatable in the rim lock case, and its projecting end lies in the path of a cam mounted for rotation in the back plate of the case and connected for operation from a key-actuated cylinder mounted in the outside face of the door. For classroom function, the turnknob has a limited throw and has lost motion relative to the crank arm so as to allow retraction of the bolt by the turnknob but prevent its advancement thereby to locked position.

Abstract: A cylindrical lock structure having a key-removable core in its outer knob, modified to provide a function as for hotel room use in which it is operable from the outside by key operation only and the outside knob sleeve or spindle is locked against bolt-retracting rotation relative to the chassis hub, is rendered immune to forcing from the application of excess torque to the outer knob, by mounting the knob neck rotatably on the knob sleeve and hub structure and by providing a rotative slip fit at the periphery of the face plate which closes the core-passing opening at the outer end ot the knob handle and supports such end from the knob sleeve, so as to allow the knob to rotate freely on the non-rotative knob sleeve and hub, and thereby prevent the application of excess torque to the locked knob sleeve.

Abstract: Automatic finish coating equipment employs a selectively variable low-pressure or "soft" air signal to control pushing of coating material through a feed tube from a coating material source to a coating material atomizing and dispensing device. This "soft air push" method maximizes the finish quality which can be achieved with coating materials having different characteristics, such as viscosities, in any operation in which frequent changes in coating material characteristics are experienced, such as, when frequent changes of coating material color are employed.