Abstract: Methods and apparatus for folding pliable sheet material wherein the sheet material is wound on a mandrel to form a roll which subsequently is stripped off the mandrel and transferred to a pleating station at which successive creases are formed in the roll to produce a pleated packet. During the winding of the sheet material the latter is adhered to the mandrel by the application of negative air pressure to the material via the mandrel. Following the formation of the roll, the application of negative air pressure is discontinued and positive air pressure is applied to the interior of the roll so as to facilitate stripping of the roll from the mandrel. At the pleating station the roll is creased successively to form a plurality of pleats and the direction in which the creasing proceeds is such as to facilitate the escape of air from the roll as it is pleated.

Abstract: A disposable plunger has a force cup and a handle removably coupled to the force cup. One end of a pliable, waterproof sleeve is sealed to the force cup and is coiled to form an annulus. Following coupling of the handle to the force cup the sleeve may be uncoiled so as to encircle a selected length of the handle. When the force cup and a portion of the handle are immersed in liquid, the sleeve prevents the liquid from contaminating the handle. When the need for the plunger has ended, the handle may be uncoupled from the force cup and the latter discarded together with the sleeve.

Abstract: An adjustable truss for reinforcing a floor supported atop horizontal joists has a beam which underlies the floor and includes reinforcing members having spaced apart limbs which provide space for the accommodation of utility components such as wiring, pipes, and conduits. The support members are removable from the beam so as to enable any selected support to be uncoupled from the beam and recoupled thereto following movement of the support member in such manner as to enable the utility components to be accommodated in the space between the limbs. The support members are rockable in either of two opposite direction so as to enable the beam to be adjusted in such manner as to maintain bearing engagement with the underside of the floor.

Abstract: A field planting device 1 adapted to pass along a ground furrow into which plants are to be sequentially placed during a planting operation, the device including: a plant receiving tube 3 defining at least an upper portion of a tubular internal space 60 adapted to receive and hold in an upright condition a plant 8 to be planted, with a root mass plug 10 of the plant in a lower portion of said space 60 and foliage 9 of the plant in the upper portion of the space, the space being partly defined by rear internal walls 50 on laterally opposing sides of an upright rearwardly facing slot 18, 22 through which slot the plant passes when being ejected during a planting operation; and a plant pusher member 4 actuated by a drive member 12, the pusher member 4 adapted to engage both the foliage and the root mass plug of the plant 8 when the pusher member 5 is moved rearwardly and to eject the plant 8 through the slot 18, 22.

Abstract: An indexable vacuum formed nursery tray and a method of making same, the tray being formed from a sheet of plastic material and including a plurality of rows of vacuum formed cells positioned between at least two spaced rows of indexing apertures formed in the sheet and wherein the thickness of the plastic sheet at least the zones containing the indexing apertures being no less then the minimum thickness of the street of plastic material prior to forming and preferably of a thickness greater than said minimum thickness.

Abstract: A soundboard for use in acoustic musical instruments such as bowed stringed instruments in which the sound radiation takes place by means of resonant bodies. The soundboard has a body constructed as a composite fibre sandwich plate having a favourable ratio of stiffness to mass relative to conventional soundboards made from solid wood or composite which produces an increase in the sound radiation of the musical instrument. The area defined by the soundboard is enlarged relative to the average area of the soundboards of conventional musical instruments of the same type in such a way as to compensate for the characteristic frequency shifts and thus changes in timbre which result from the more favourable ratio of stiffness to mass of the composite fibre sandwich plate relative to the conventional solid wood soundboard.

Abstract: A pallet cover has a top panel and side panels hinged to the top panel for swinging movements from a substantially vertical position depending from the top panel through an arc sufficient to enable each side panel to overlie the top panel. The pallet is provided with supports which enable it to be stacked with one or more other pallets and the cover is notched to accommodate the stacking supports and provide an interlock therewith to ensure retention of the cover on the associated pallet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-regulated apparatus and method for extracting biodegradable and/or strippable constituents from a gaseous stream by the action of biomass which consumes or degrades such substances. Such self-regulation permits the monitoring and optimization of the bioactivity of the system and the overall degree of treatment of the gaseous stream.

Abstract: The presence and concentration of an optically active constituent of a fluid medium is determined in-situ by immersing in the fluid medium a probe constructed to pass plane polarized light through the fluid medium in first and second passes so as to induce an optical rotation to the plane of polarization. The light is analyzed after the second pass in a manner to provide a plurality of light components whose individual intensities are affected by the induced optical rotation. A light intensity ratio is determined for the individual light components and compared to light intensity ratios obtained from like fluid media having known concentrations of the optically active constituent therein to permit determination of the concentration of the optically active constituent.

Abstract: A probe for use in situ analysis of light absorbing fluids wherein light emitted from a source is collimated by a lens and transmitted through a fluid onto and substantially perpendicular to a reflector. Light is reflected by the reflector back through the fluid and focused by the lens onto a reflected light collector for transmission to analyzing apparatus. The length of the path traversed by the emitted and reflected light is adjustable.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for on-line analysis of multiple stream processes wherein each stream has an influent delivered to a treatment zone and an effluent discharged from such zone and wherein both the influent and effluent are analyzed and the analyses compared for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injection molding a metal alloy wherein the alloy is maintained in a thixotropic, semi-solid state in a reciprocating extruder at temperatures above its solidus temperature and below its liquidus temperature in the presence of shearing and then injected as a thixotropic slurry into a mold to form a useful product. Following completion of the injection molding stroke the nozzle of the extruder is sealed by a solidifying a portion of the residue of the alloy remaining in the nozzle.

Abstract: A disposable mixing cell and method for evaluating the thermal hazard due to mixing substances includes a first container adapted for the accommodation of a sample of one substance and a second container in the form of a syringe adapted to accommodate a sample of a second substance. The syringe is operable to discharge the second substance into the substance in the first container and includes a paddle by means of which the two substances may be mixed. The syringe is sealed within the first container, except for the outer end of its operating plunger which is accessible externally of the first container. The mixing cell is placed in a batch type fluid calorimeter which is capable of indicating the thermal reaction resulting from the mixing of the two substances. A gas conduit may be provided to conduct gas evolved from the mixing of the two substances outward of the cell.

Abstract: A fiber optic probe adapted to be immersed in a fluid medium has an opening at one end in which is accommodated an optical window through which light may be transmitted from and to the optical fibers. Seals between the optical element and the probe body are provided to prevent the leakage of fluid past the window into the probe body. One or more resilient biasing springs constantly apply a yieldable, compressive force on the seals regardless of thermal expansion and contraction of any part of the probe.

Abstract: A method of assembling a door and a door assembly comprising an outer door shell and inner door supporting member therefor. The supporting member is hinged at one end to a door frame. The other end of the supporting member is slidably accommodated in and occupies the outer door shell through an aperture in a lateral edge of the door shell. The supporting member can carry a window glass holder, such as a channel strip screwed to the supporting member, and this combination is called a cartridge assembly.

Abstract: The presence and concentration of a light absorbing constituent in a fluid medium is determined in-situ by immersing in such medium a probe having a prism at one end whose refractive index is greater than that of the medium and causing light including a wavelength absorbable by such constituent to traverse an optical path through the prism and undergo successive attenuated total reflections. At each reflection some of the light will be absorbed by the constituent. The intensity of light emerging from the prism is measured at one or more wavelengths, including one absorbable by such constituent. The concentration of the constituent is determined by comparison of the measured intensity with values obtained from like measurements performed on like mediums containing known concentrations of the constituent.

Abstract: A vehicle door and reinforcement assembly therefor comprising a reinforcing beam hinged at one edge to the vehicle and slideably accommodated in a cavity provided within the door. The door and beam are assembled by first hinging the beam to the vehicle and thereafter sliding the door onto the beam. Suitable fasteners secure the door to the beam.