Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing flock wherein flock fibers are fed at a controlled rate from a storage hopper through a screen into a propelling air stream. The air stream carries the fibers in a rotationally stabilized flow to an applicator gun where they may be electrostatically charged, and they are propelled by the air stream and deposited on the adhesively coated surface to be coated.

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 spray booth having bottom, top, and back surfaces and a spray gun for depositing spray coating material onto the articles as they are conveyed through the booth. The bottom surface of the spray booth includes a hopper for collecting undeposited coating material and the top surface of the spray booth includes a vent opening. An exhaust fan is coupled to the vent opening for pulling atmosphere from within the spray booth in a first direction through the vent opening. A baffle is positioned between the spray gun and the vent opening for deflecting undeposited coating material and allowing it to fall by gravity into the hopper, and a filter media is positioned between the baffle and vent opening for collecting any remaining undeposited coating material present before being pulled through the vent opening.

Abstract: A combination speed control and transmission forward-reverse control for a lawn tractor, or the like, having an engine including a drive shaft and output pulley, a transmission including a driven input shaft and pulley, and a belt-tensioning, or other similar type clutch. The control includes an actuating lever mounted on the tractor chassis, and control cables extending between the actuating lever and the clutch, and between the actuating lever and the transmission forward-reverse shift linkage. Movement of the actuating lever in the forward direction shifts the transmission linkage to the forward position and releases the clutch to engage the driving and driven pulleys with one another. Further forward motion of the actuating lever causes a greater coupling of the driving and driven pulleys to cause the lawn tractor to move forward faster. Returning of the actuating lever to a neutral position disengages the clutch and moves the transmission shift linkage to neutral.

Abstract: Retracting mechanism for a deadlocking latch bolt comprises a U-shaped frame extension for the latch bolt tube, having parallel side walls joined at the rear by an integral rear wall and held spaced at the front by out-turned tabs engaged in the tube and riveted to its end wall by spring guide pins. A two-piece rotatable retractor is trapped between the side walls with its hub ends rotatable in bushings in such walls, and has a pair of arms axially separated by a central cylindrical section. The latch bolt tailpiece has a wide rear yoke portion formed by spaced parallel side legs which straddle and are guided by such central cylindrical section. One such leg carries a cross pin drivingly engaged in the slots of the retractor arms which swing 80.degree. to retract the tailpiece through a long stroke. The rear yoke has forward stop shoulders which engage a stop face on the latch bolt tube to position the tailpiece for a full retraction stroke.

Abstract: An article of footwear being in the form of a sandle includes a platform, two straps anchored to the platform to secure the platform to a wearer's foot, and an expedient, such as a velcro strip, mounted to the edge of the platform for removably fastening an upper foot covering to the platform to convert the sandal to a shoe and vice versa. The sandal includes a sole, a heel provided on the sole, an arch-engaging loop, an ankle-encircling loop, and one or more toe-receiving loops. The sole, an arch, a wedged heel, and a plurality of channels for movably receiving the straps are formed in a single molded platform to reduce the number of fabrication steps and make the sandle lighter. Each of the loops is anchored to the sole for adjustably securing the sole to a wearer's foot and for adjustably engaging the toe or toes of the wearer's foot. The arch-engaging loop and the toe-receiving loops are formed by a first strap and the ankle-encircling loop is formed by a second strap.

Abstract: A disposable contacting member molded from an optical wave-guiding material includes a socket adapted to hold a light source and a lens for directing light from the source into an orifice or incision. The lens is on the inner side wall of the contacting member, facing away from the wall of the orifice or incision. The lens is of a sufficiently low profile that is does not obstruct access to the orifice or incision.

Abstract: An electron current generator is disclosed which includes a non-electrical heat source, a heat pipe having its first end in thermal relationship with the heat source, and a second end projecting upwardly therefrom and constituting a thermionic emitter enclosed within a chamber containing an alkali metal vapor at a substantially reduced atmospheric pressure. A substantial portion of the chamber wall constitutes a thermionic collector which is cooled by an appropriate cooling means to enhance current generation. A body of liquid metal is disposed between the heat source and heat pipe as a thermal stabilizing agent while a solid state diode is arranged in a forward bias situation in the electrical output of the generator to stabilize the voltage thereby forming a constant voltage current generator.

Abstract: A warning device for a lawn mower having a rotary blade driven from a motor through a centrifugal clutch and normally held stopped by a brake which is released by a deadman control. The warning device comprises a flexible clicker post such as a close-wound helical spring carried by the clutch driver and having a weighted clicker head at its free end which normally stands in the path of a blade-mounting nut or other striker on the clutch-driven part so that the clicker head on the post will be repeatedly struck by the nut or other striker in the event the clutch driver element is stopped while the brake is disengaged and allows the blade to rotate under its own momentum. When the clutch driver is rotating at normal driving speed, centrifugal force bends the flexible arm to carry the clicker head out of striking relation with the striker element on the driven clutch part.

Abstract: A surgical cannula includes a sheath having proximal and distal ends, a member disposed within the sheath and movable longitudinally therein, the movable member having proximal and distal ends, and a surgical instrument operable by movement of the distal end of the movable member with respect to the distal end of the sheath. The cannula further includes an operating assembly comprising a body or handle which slidably receives a slide for movement longitudinally of the body. The body defines a generally cylindrical interior and the slide includes a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart walls having the same general shape as the cross section of the cylinder. The walls are provided with aligned apertures which rotatably receive a stem. The stem includes proximal and distal ends, and the proximal end of the movable member is fixedly attached to the distal end of the stem. The proximal end of the sheath is fixedly attached to the body portion of the handle.

Abstract: A key-removable lock core of the same size as a standard core, to fit standard core receptacles, and having a key plug of improved pull resistance. The core body of figure-8 cross section has a key plug lobe which contains a sleeve having a core retainer lug movable by a control key between a projected core retaining position and a retracted core release position. A key plug having an enlarged rear head is inserted from the rear into the cylindrical bore defined by the sleeve, with the head overlapping the rear of both the sleeve and the key plug lobe of the body. A segment is inserted in a slot traversing the key slot and is trapped therein by the sleeve to form a key stop. The key plug is held in place by a C-shaped retaining ring in a circumferential groove in such plug at the front face of the body, and is trapped in place by a face plate fixed to the body by a blind annular rivet.

Abstract: A projectile deployed cable weapons system for defeating helicopter rotor systems is disclosed. The deployed cable is intended to settle on the target helicopter from above, and damage is inflicted on the main rotor blade or tail rotor blade of the helicopter by sudden stoppage or catastrophic failure of the contacted rotor system.A particularly advantageous assemblage for deploying an amount of cable to defeat helicopter rotor systems is also disclosed. The weapons assemblage includes a first cavity for receiving a projectile, a second cavity containing an amount of cable, and an inelastically deformable snaring means attached to the cable and situated with respect to the first cavity so as to intercept the projectile when projected. Most advantageously the assemblage consists of a field container containing both the projectile and cable as a single operating unit to be attached to the muzzle of a mortar cannon of conventional design.

Abstract: A latchbolt rim lock of simple sturdy construction with smooth effective operation and long life. A die cast case forms guides for a bolt having a head and draw plate, and has U-shaped ribs on its rear wall to define seats for springs biasing the bolt forward, in which the springs are held by a rear flange on the back plate. A rearward boss on the front wall forms a retraction stop for the bolt and contains a headed holdback plunger which is manually movable into a hole in the bolt where it is latched by its head to hold the bolt retracted. The draw plate contains a cam opening which defines opposite cam faces which are engaged by a crank pin to retract the bolt. The cam opening also has a central pin-passing throat which allows cammed retraction of the latchbolt relative to the crank pin, and defines supplemental cam faces for moving the bolt to release the holdback plunger.

Abstract: An accumulating live roller conveyor is power-driven to effect rotation of a plurality of load-carrying rollers and transport loads from roller to roller without gravity assistance and includes apparatus which is specifically designed to permit loads to remain stationary on the load-carrying rollers without interferring with the operation of the conveyor's drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes an endless conveying member having an upper frictional driving pass and a lower return pass for transporting the loads along the load-carrying rollers through friction contact therewith. A drive/take-up assembly section for an accumulating live conveyor system permits the loads to selectively remain stationary in conveyor zones located at the ends of the conveyor which typically include drive/take-up rollers and a drive motor without interferring with the operation of the drive/take-up rollers or the drive motor.

Abstract: A security door system includes an actuator mechanism housed in a box-like, closed housing to minimize the possibility of tampering with the actuator mechanism such as would permit unlawful entry through the door. The actuator mechanism drives one or more, and illustratively two, bolts which extend horizontally across the door. One of the bolts enters a receiver in the jamb along the edge of the door opposite the hinged edge. The other bolt enters a receiver provided in the jamb along the hinged door edge. The security door system further includes a jamb and frame construction in which the jamb and surrounding frame cooperate to provide the bolt receivers. A metal reinforcing plate which is fixed to the frame by long wood screws, or the like, forms a wall of the receiver. This metal walled, deep receiver is less susceptible to damage by tampering, such as by springing the jamb or ramming against the door, than prior art security door systems.

Abstract: Voice amplification apparatus for use by persons whose normal speech processes have been damaged or impaired.The apparatus includes a microphone unit which is electrically connectable to an amplifier unit and means for enabling the unit to be supported solely from the ear of the user and includes a self-supporting sound energy tube connected at one end to the microphone unit and which is so shaped as to present, when in use, a sound energy input end adjacent to the user's mouth.

Abstract: A modular gas cleaner can consist of an elongated box having an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The interior of the elongated box is divided into a plurality of elongated passageways by partitioning means within the box. The internal partitions of the box define a plurality of openings so that gas introduced into the inlet opening of the box must travel the length of each passageway prior to passage out of the outlet opening. Electrodes are located within each passageway and electrically isolated from the box to permit the electrodes to be charged to high voltage. The plurality of electrodes are connected with a high voltage supply to create an electrostatic charging and depositing field within the passageways of the box. The gascleaner drain openings provided in the internal partitions which lead to a collecting tank at the low point of the elongated box.