Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a liquid from a workable mass of material includes a first screw section for transporting the material, a second screw section which applies a force on the material in a direction generally opposite that of the transport direction, and a second screw extruder at or near a liquid extraction location which provides a pinch point on the material. The pinch point substantially eliminates liquid flow countercurrent to the material transport direction.

Abstract: A holder for one end of a bi-pin fluorescent lamp has slots for slidably receiving the pins. The pins abut and then move electrical contacts against spring bias thereon as the received pins move in the slots. After sufficient movement of the pins and contacts, a slide is moved by a spring to block reverse movement of the pins and contacts. Rotation of a lever on the holder reversely moves the slide to permit the contacts to eject the pins from the slots.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing materials within a bore is disclosed to provide separation of the bore-defining elements without any relative movement between surfaces which are in engagement. Such lack of relevant movement precludes generation of frictional forces which may have catastrophic results where materials being processed are volatile or unstable such as explosives.

Abstract: A five or six gallon blow molded plastic water bottle has a regular hexagonal cross-section. The bottle is preferably made of polycarbonate and has a wall thickness of between 0.040 and 0.060 inch. An integral protrusion is formed on one face of the bottle and a depression is formed in a second diametrically opposite face of the bottle. Adjacent bottles may be stacked by inserting the protrusion of one bottle into the depression of an adjacent bottle. With the protrusion and depression of adjacent bottles engaged, the adjacent faces of each bottle contact each other so that the weight of the upper bottle which is borne by the lower bottle is distributed across the face. When the protrusion and depression of adjacent bottles are engaged, the top surface of the protrusion does not engage the bottom surface of the depression, so that indica labels or the like attached to the depression are not defaced or damaged.

Abstract: The endless drive belt is produced by winding a pre-formed load-carrying member comprising a cord embedded in a solid but softenable elastic material along and around a surface of an endless compression member belt also comprising a solid but softenable elastic material, thereby forming layer comprising a plurality of turns, and by simultaneously causing said turns to become intimately bonded to said surface. Said bonding is achieved by applying mutual pressure between said turns and said surface during winding and by selectively softening the surface layers of both said load-carrying member and said endless compression member belt which are to come into contact with each other, just prior to coming into contact with each other. The material of said surface layers is allowed to fuse. Said turns of said load-carrying member are further allowed to be partially impressed in said surface of said endless compression member belt.

Abstract: A bushing assembly for use with an associated torque rod comprises a bar pin, an elastomeric bushing, and an outer sleeve. The bar pin has a middle section which is generally rounded but which features a flat portion between 30% and 40% of the axial length of the middle section. The elastomeric bushing bonded to the bar pin is compressively received within the outer sleeve so that the total height is reduced by approximately 10%. The edges of the outer sleeve are curled inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the assembly.

Abstract: A security seal has a band mounting a protrusion at one end and a housing at the other end. The end of the protrusion may be first passed through apertures in a latch or closure and then may be inserted into, and held by gripping facilities within the housing. The portion of the protrusion extending away from the housing resides in the apertures and prevents operation of the latch or closure absent damage to or disintegration of the seal. Vibratory and oscillatory motion which occurs during shipping or handling of an item bearing the seal can cause the aperture walls to cut or saw through the protrusion, giving a false indication of tampering. A protective shroud is provided which surrounds the protrusion and is interposed between it and the apertures to prevent cutting or sawing of the protrusion.

Abstract: A wrist-worn, real-time-indicating, actual rate of ascent/decent meter includes a non-corrodable, hermetic enclosure with a window. A display, visible through the window, includes numeric rate-related indicia and arrows, both clearly visible against a contrasting backdrop. The contrast may be black on silver. A hysterisis-free transducer in the enclosure produces first signals proportional to the ambient pressure. The first signals are converted to second signals representing depth in the ambient, the latter signals being periodically sampled. Each sample is compared to the previous sample and third rate-of-change-of-depth-with-time signals result from successive comparisons. The third signals are displayed numerically and direction (ascending or descending) is indicated by the arrows. Signal processing is controlled and performed by a microprocessor within the enclosure. Facilities are provided to replace a battery and to turn the meter on and off without affecting the hermeticity of the enclosure.

Abstract: A suture retainer includes a first panel and foldably connected second through fifth panels. When all of the panels are folded, the retainer has the approximate size and shape of the first panel, and the suture is contained within the folded panels. Separator facilities on the first panel prevent suture strands from becoming tangled. The separator may constitute a pleated low friction sheet with the strands contained between the plats, or it may constitute one or more sinuous cuts in the first panel which define tabs for holding the strands. Sutures are withdrawn from a site at one end of the first panel. The second panel is foldably located at the other end of the first panel and maintains suture strands within the boundary of the first panel. The third panel is foldable about a side of the first panel to overly the folded second panel, the separator and the sutures and to complimentarily overly the first panel.

Abstract: A preheater system for waste oil burners utilizes a primary preheater remote from the burner nozzle and a secondary preheater adjacent the burner nozzle. The primary preheater ordinarily provides heat to the waste oil when the burner is operating. The secondary preheater ordinarily maintains the waste oil adjacent the burner nozzle at atomization temperature when the burner is not operating. Flow of waste oil from the primary preheater to the burner nozzle is precluded when the burner is not operating.

Abstract: The distance between the combustion nozzle and the pump of a waste oil heater can be significantly increased by using a positive displacement pump which is proximate to the reservoir and remote from the nozzle, contary to the usual positioning of oil delivery pumps. The pump, which is not pressure regulated, thus pushes oil to the nozzle at a constant flow rate regardless of oil pressure at the nozzle.

Abstract: A housing for an audio or a video tape cassette is disclosed, including a housing body formed by a bottom rectangular panel which is slightly larger than the cassette. The bottom rectangular panel is connected to four depending side wall extending forward and perpendicular to the periphery of the bottom panel to form an enclosure with an access opening at the top of the housing body. A swingable tab is provided in at least one of the side walls proximate to the access opening. The swingable tab provides opening and closing of the enclosure and of the access opening to removably receive and hold the cassette therein. The swingable tab is connected to the side wall by a film hinge having an essentially curved or arcuate connecting portion with a reduced thickness which is substantially less than the thickness of the side wall and of the swingable tab. The swingable tab has a parabolic surface configuration.

Abstract: A vibration damping device of the bushing-type includes a rigid outer housing and a rigid inner member, having a first side and a second side, which is substantially enclosed by the outer housing. A first vibration absorbing resilient body is interposed between the first side of the inner member and the outer housing. The first body is made of an elastomeric material having a first spring rate. A second vibration absorbing resilient body is interposed between the second side of the inner member and the outer housing. The second body is made of an elastomeric material having a second spring rate which is different from the first spring rate such that a deflection of the rigid inner member toward one of the first and second bodies will be resisted more strongly than a deflection of the rigid inner member toward the other of the first and second bodies. A first fluid chamber is defined in the second body and a second fluid chamber is defined between the second body and the outer housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated, multi-module luminescence measuring system. The system can selectively conduct lifetime decay or steady-state measurements of light emitted by a sample which receives exitation light. The system includes: a sample chamber which directs monochromatized, focused excitation light from a selected source at a selected sample and directs any resultant emitted light through a monochromator to either a first gated photodetector or a second regular photodetector. Also present is a reference module with a regular photodetector which may selectively receive a portion of the excitation light. A lifetime decay detector module pulses a selected light source and the gated photodetector so that a converter produces digital signals related to output signals from the photodetector, the digital signals representing the integral of the intensity of the emitted light over a selected time.

Abstract: A funnel of generally U-shaped cross section is provided for use with a container to form an integrated funnel/container package wherein the funnel is designed to fit inside the opening of the container. The funnel and container may be provided with mating fastening means and the funnel may have funnel alignment means for alignment of the funnel on the container.

Abstract: An improved switch for a high-voltage device in which ignition of a power cartridge generates pressure at one end of an insulative piston to move the piston, located in a conductive member, into a passageway in an insulative liner, said piston moving a contact through the passageway and away from the conductive member to break an electrical interconnection between the conductive member and the movable contact,an insulative lip seal located in the bore between the power cartridge and the one end of the piston, the lip seal being movable with the piston and being conformally force-fit into the bore, andmeans limiting movement of the lip seal through the bore so that the lip seal remains in the bore after the switch is open restricting the flow of the ignition products of the power cartridge.

Abstract: An improved switch for a high-voltage device in which ignition of a power cartridge moves an insulative piston located in a conductive member, into a passageway in an insulative liner, said piston moving a contact through the passageway and away from the conductive member to break an electrical interconnection between the conductive member and the movable contact, the switch including an insulative housing,an annular groove formed in the outside of the conductive member;an annular groove formed in the inside of the housing; and a split ring partially residing in both of the grooves when axially aligned, preventing relative axial movement between the conductive member and the housing.

Abstract: An improved switch for a high-voltage device in which ignition of a power cartridge moves an insulative piston located in a conductive member, into a passageway formed in an insulative liner, said piston moving a contact through the passageway and away from the conductive member to break an electrical interconnection between the conductive member and the movable contact and to form a gap therebetween, thereby opening the switch; the bore and the passageway being aligned,the piston being made of a material which is more rigid and less easy to deform than the material of the liner upon the application, at a given rate, of a given load, andthe size of the piston being greater than the size of the passageway.

Abstract: An improved switch in which a contact is moved away from a stationary contact by ignition of a power cartridge. The ignited power cartridge pressurizes a chamber defined by the stationary contact and an insulative trailer mounted to the movable contact to open the switch. The movable contact and its trailer move conformally through a bore of an insulative liner. The trailer and liner are made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which is abrasion-resistant and has high surface lubricity--thereby ensuring free movement of the movable contact and the liner--and which is non-brittle--thereby ensuring that forces applied to the trailer by the power cartridge do not shatter it. An inflexible disc of Lexan or Nylon may reside at the interface of the movable contact and the trailer to obviate extrusion of the trailer about the contact due to the forces applied to the trailer.

Abstract: A matrix print head operates 24 or more print wires to produce high quality characters. The head includes multiple levels, each of which contains common parts. Each level has a cup-shaped magnet frame, the bottom of which mounts poles. Around each pole is a bobbin-wound coil located via a tab on the bobbin which is held in a slot in the side wall of the magnet frame. An armature with a wide base and a narrow finger is associated with each pole. Each base pivots on a bevel edge formed in the side wall of the frame causing the finger to move a print wire. Posts on the bobbin extend through the holes in each armature to locate it on its pivot edge. The side wall of the frame and the armatures are configured so that only those portions capable of effectively contributing to moving the armatures are given substantial mass and size. Return force is applied to the armatures by a tensioned elastomeric band acting between the armature bases and a beveled surface spaced from the armatures.