Abstract: A cupola system for production of gray iron employs otherwise wasted heat to preheat fuel, pig iron, flux and compressed air fed into a melting furnace, by diversion of melting furnace exhaust-gases through a preheating furnace containing feeding conduits for the fuel, pig iron and flux, and for the compressed air; the preheating furnace is laterally inclined downwardly from a point of exhaust to a chimney, to the melting furnace; the diverting means includes a closed, downwardly concave reflecting top over the melting furnace, and the preheating furnace has a concave roof; an important provision of the invention is employment of a maximum number of conventional size and shape tuyeres in a radial array in the melting furnace.

Abstract: A connector to unite rail and post in a railing or the like by means of adjustable frictional engagement within the rail, adjustment being through a plurality of barbs extending from a leg of the connector and bendable toward or away from the leg to adjust fit with the rail; the barbs have free ends oriented toward the middle of the connector, making the connector easier to assemble to the rail than to pull apart from the rail.

Abstract: Firefighting apparatus for rapidly dispersing water spray into a super heated atmosphere with as little effort on the part of the fire fighter as possible includes a nozzle providing a whirling fog cone wide angle discharge coaxial with a conventionally supplied narrow angle forward discharge, by means of water pressure spinning of a rotatable section having angled fog heads; control is by handle which can provide for forward discharge, or combination forward and wide angle fog cone discharge, or can shut off all flow; to provide optimum control with smooth flow a transverse cylindrical shape valve body is decentered relative to the bore of the system and has a tapered passage through it; the invention also gives the fire fighter the option of injecting the apparatus into an involved structure without subjecting himself to any more danger than necessary.

Abstract: An omnidirectional antenna for TV reception and the like has a dielectric semi-circular frame with a central aperture in the diametral portion and a succession of equally spaced notches in the circumferential arc around which a plurality of loops of a continuous length of twin-lead wire are coiled in a substantially random sequence, yielding advantages superior in more than one respect to conventional "rabbit ears" type antenna.

Abstract: High efficiency multi-cellular non-absorbing light weight insulation which has anti-friction flow characteristics for reaching and filling nooks and crannies not fillable by ordinary insulations, and which can be applied by usual methods comprises a plurality of relatively small, evacuated spheres of glass or suitable plastic; means and method for fabrication and evacuation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A screw holder system for manually positioning screws for driving provides a finger-protecting spool-shaped body with coaxial bore having closer to the bottom end than to the top a screw-centering, resilient biasing apparatus; similar bottom-plan and top-plan aspects suit the system for inverted use to hold longer screws; a bushing held by the biasing apparatus adapts the system for holding a different range of screws, with smaller head diameter; a self-levelling device is provided for use either-end-up; an axial extender provision adapts the system for use with longer screws or alternatively with greater screwdriven overlap.

Abstract: An assembly of two sliding portions with respective folding legs comprises a supporting frame deployable on a bed or the like so that infrared radiation may be used from an ordinary electric blanket lifted-away from a sleeper's body, thus freeing the sleeper from body contact with any blanket; the assembly is lightweight and portable and can be set-up for use and folded for storage without any tools, gravitational force being used to hold the subassemblies together.

Abstract: Martial-arts practice apparatus includes an upright panel with a plurality of pneumatically actuable strikers valve-controlled to lash-out toward the user and retract in simulation of weaponless combat; sequence of actuation of the strikers is determinable by a motor driven lobe-roll with adjustable lobes or cams for actuating the striker-control valves, or without this provision, manually by depression of valve actuators in any sequence desired, permitting a colleague of the user to engage in a contest with the user through selective actuation of the strikers; two or more strikers can be actuated to lash out simultaneously.

Abstract: A system for budgeting fuel costs and for emitting an unwarranted-cost alarm based on instantaneous consumption, in a motor vehicle using liquid, gaseous, solid (or with adaptation, electrical) fuel includes an input drive to a counting meter showing accumulation in monetary units of fuel costs, mechanism for compensating speed of counting meter based on engine efficiency and variables of estimated vehicle miles per unit of fuel and on cost of fuel per unit of measure; mechanism is provided for connecting to a vehicle odometer cable to provide input speed in direct relation to vehicle speed along with provision for splicing the odometer cable to the meter drive and to provide cable extension to odometer, provision for re-setting cost indicating meter back to zero and to lock all settings of meter speed selection and reset. Plural modes of use are disclosed.

Abstract: A high speed, portable, rug binding machine in the form of an electric-powered hand-tool carrying and dispensing a roll of binding tape has floor-engaging canted wheels for directing the frame of the machine into a rug as it is rolled along a rug edge to which a binding is stapled by the machine as the operator pulls a trigger causing a solenoid to drive the stapler by way of a power linkage which automatically adjusts for rug and for binding thickness; the machine has adjustment for varying rug-to-binding holding force, prior to stapling, and rug introduction angle; simplicity of mechanism provides compactness and light weight suitable for one-hand manipulation by the operator under all conditions.

Abstract: An improved, easy installation mechanized enclosure system for flatbed trailers and the like has anti-jamming roller bearing inclined ends on a succession of canopy-supporting arcuate members or roof-bows with rollers running in over-and-under tracks; the incline both increases the effective distance between rollers on each end of the arcuate members and loosens installation tolerances and immunizes against damage caused by misalignment of the tracks for the rollers by making it practically impossible for changes in spacing between the tracks to alter smooth operation of the rollers; other advantages of the system, some optional, include provisions for full-bed access for loading and unloading, both power and manual operation, integral lower-roller axles, roof bow tautening arm-braces, snapon/snap off installation of tarpaulin on roof bows, and spring-biased roller latches.

Abstract: An improved anaerobic digestor system for producing methane gas from waste biomass includes closed provisions for continuously feeding the biomass for system digestion, for continuously advancing and stirring the biomass while in the system through a continuum of stages, for continuously collecting gases produced and for continuously expelling spent biomass from the system for use as fertilizer; a second embodiment provides a longer path in a plurality of parallel short length troughs cast in one piece, each trough of which has a corresponding plurality of hemi-cylindrical covers and of end pieces with "U" shaped connections between ends of the tanks so-formed.

Abstract: A vent-wing accessory for either front door of a motor vehicle installs at the front lower corner of a ventless window where it is guidably positionable and is held in place: (a) by fit of a fin downward into the door horizontal glass channel, (b) by fit of an upward axle-extension into the typical door front-frame rearwardly-sloping portion of glass-channel, (c) by forward and upward pressure of inclined portion of a glass window when it is rolled up into contact with a slope of the vent wing accessory, and as a safety, by a line extending from the vent wing accessory and engaging the window roll-up handle in a loop; positive angular positioning of the vent wing accessory is provided in the two-part assembly and alternative embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Filament trimmer structure comprising a screw-free or unitary dual shank, balancing handle, housing and elongate handle portion, the handle portion having a lateral cover plate; the dual shank both protecting in a first tubular part a contained electric lead and through a second tubular part venting air from a chaff-free location at a handle upper portion, downward into the housing.

Abstract: When manually propelled along a joint toward a barrier, as when manually propelled upward along a joint between wall panels this system covers the joint with heat-sealable metallic tape, heating the tape with an electric sole-plate, and by means of locking the tape-feed stops itself, preventing further propulsion, at exactly the right distance from the ceiling so that the tape when plunger-cut using a provision of the system will just extend to the ceiling and no more; cutting the tape releases the system so that it can be advanced by the ceiling to complete laying the terminal or cut end of the tape; this operation applies as well to traversing a ceiling joint or crack and laying tape right up to a wall; special collapsing sensor arm provisions and spool locking provisions co-act to produce the automatic measuring and tape laying; a graduated adjustment provides for calibration of the system.

Abstract: An image-transfer system in which from the original a first tracing is made on transparent sheet material and transferred from the transparent sheet material to a net-like or reticulate material by a second tracing, from which the image is then transferred to a final substrate such as an article of clothing by a third tracing through the net-like material interstices; finally the transferred image on the substrate is completed by retouching; color as well as line can be transferred using this system.

Abstract: Improvement in a series of containers vertically stackable includes said containers inter-sealing in combination to form several compartments, and including top element in the form of a feeding pan downwardly oriented, upper element in the form of an open top container closable by the top element and with a downwardly oriented feeding pan on the bottom, intermediate element of the feeding pans back-to-back, and lower element in the form of an open top container connectable by the intermediate element to the lower element.

Abstract: A guard system for preventing unauthorized entry through sliding patio doors and the like even when the glass is broken, while preserving unobstructed appearance when not in use, includes a set of vertical rods hung from a track secured across the inside top of the patio door to be protected, and extending past it to one side so all rods can be slid out of sight behind a customary patio door curtain, and apparatus holding the rods in spaced parallel relation to bar the patio door to intruders, this apparatus including a horizontal bar across the inside of the patio door midway up and securable at each end by quick attach-detach brackets; the horizontal bar has holes through it for holding the rods in position; a sill track runs across the patio door sill on the inside and prevents the bottom of the rods from being pushed inward; the rods can be pivoted and lifted for insertion into the horizontal bar; alternative modes of deployment are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved ice and snow melting system employing motor vehicle hot exhaust gases includes a stub pipe for bolt-on clamping to the rear of a motor vehicle exhaust pipe in parallel-spaced realtion, in forward direction the stub pipe divides in a "Y" shaped configuration; from each arm of the "Y" a flexible tube leads forward and outward to a portion adjustable to heat a vehicle drive wheel and road surface traction area; for valving hot gases from the motor vehicle exhaust into the system a flexible tube is applied in "U" shape and through frictional fit to connect the rear of the vehicle exhaust pipe with the stub-tube; when not in use the flexible tube may be removed and stored in the trunk of the motor vehicle.