Abstract: A throwing wheel assembly including a wheel and a series of throwing blades mounted in radial channels in the wheel formed with mating dovetail wing portions on the slot sides and a projecting at the base of the blade. A sloping grove in the bottom of each channel engages a projecting ramp feature on the base of the mating blade received therein to cam the blade outwardly and thereby create a tight fit of the dovetail portions and to lock the blades in position.

Abstract: A conveyor for moving hot material at temperatures on this order of 1000° F. or higher along a trough receiving the material has one or more cooling liquid flow vessels extending over but spaced from the outer surface of a trough inner wall to indirectly cause cooling of the inner wall. A heat transfer connection conductively interconnect the vessel and the inner trough wall such as interposed thin webs or plates, or alternatively a mass of conductive beads interposed to controllably transfer heat into the cooling liquid flow vessel. A series of wear plates are clamped to a pushing side of a helical tube of an auger type conveyor, which tube can also receive a flow of cooling liquid. The arrangement of a mass of conductive beads is usable in other applications to provide a non rigid mechanical support of a controlled thermal conductivity.

Abstract: A ladder attachment including an elongated one piece member preferably molded from an elastomeric material and formed with an arcuate cavity on one side sized to approximately correspond to the outside of a utility pole or tree trunk and having a pair of end parts each formed with a hole sized to receive the upper end of a ladder stile to be mountable crosswise to the upper end of the ladder. A pair of curved slits are formed into the one side of the member each extending around one side of the cavity to form a pair of concentric curved gripper wing portions concentric to the cavity which are drawn together with a strap, which has ends connected together with a cinch to secure the ends together.

Abstract: A process for preweakening the inside of an automotive trim piece cover layer of various constructions by use of a laser beam so as to enable formation of an air bag deployment opening in the trim piece formed at the time the air bag deploys. The laser beam impinges the inside surface of the cover to form a groove scoring or spaced perforations to form a preweakening pattern. A robot arm may be used to move a laser generator so as to form the preweakening pattern. The laser beam can be controlled in accordance with sensed conditions to achieve accurate preweakening, and may also be used to trim substrate panels and to perform other cutting operations.

Abstract: A support arrangement is combined with a reflector sheet and fluorescent light tube to hold the reflector sheet above the tube in a curved trough shape maximum concentration of light at a desired distance from the light tube by varying the curvature in which the reflector sheet is held. An annular piece is detachable to form a larger opening to be fit to a larger tube, while an auxiliary strip can be mounted across the opening to create an opening for a smaller sized opening. The reflector sheet can be held in a reverse bent along its center to avoid light by the tube itself. Two clips can be mounted together at an adjustable distance from each other to allow mounting of a double sized reflector sheet over two side by side light tubes.

Abstract: An armrest which is sufficiently sturdy to support vertical loads but is deformable when a side impact collision occurs so as to avoid injury to an occupant. In one embodiment, a top platform pivots up when a supporting trim panel section is collapsed and a crush cell structure is collapsed under a side impact condition. In another embodiment, a cover molding encloses the crush cell structure is crushable with the structure in a side impact collision.

Abstract: A pistol accommodating rifle length cartridges in a pistol grip magazine by upwardly angling the cartridges in the magazine. The cartridges are successively chambered manually by exposing the topmost cartridge in the magazine in a feed slot, to allow the user to push that cartridge out of the slot, and the cartridge are guided into the exposed chamber of the barrel which has been pivoted out of the frame to a position to one side of the pistol frame ready to receive the cartridge.

Abstract: A controllably releasable security locking arrangement for a manhole cover allows a manhole cover to be locked into position but allows the manhole cover to rise up in stages upon development of upward forces in an explosion to vent gases developed by the explosion. A lock body mounts a latch slide which has an outer end and which can be extended to prevent removal of the manhole cover. When a shear pin fails the lock body pivots down, to a limited extent, and a secondary shear pin can also be included allowing the cover to be blown completely free upon development of pressures of a great magnitude. A slotted skirt directs venting gas flow so as to retard the inflow of free air and attenuate the explosion.

Abstract: A balancer hoist has an electric servomotor driving irreversible gearing in turn driving a hoist chain drive. A float mode and a manual mode are provided using two independent load sensors for sensing the load weight and force applied to a control grip. A traversing control is produced by a tractor carriage rolling on an overhead rail connected to a trolley also traveling on the rail and supported on upper hoist assembly. A load sensor interconnects the tractor carriage and upon hoist assembly to sense forces created by an operator pulling on the chain, which are used to control an electric motor on the tractor carriage driving a pinion gear engaged with a gear rack on the overhead rail to positively drive the carriage, trolley and upper hoist assembly along the rail. A stationary dual hoist system is also described in which two hoist assemblies are interconnected by a chain and sprockets to provide synchronized operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying the weight or cost of an uncut selected segment of an item involves passing a position indicating member over the item lying on a support surface. The position indicating member carries one or more sensors which generate signals corresponding to succeeding cross sectional contours of the item as the member is traversed along the item from a reference position to a selected other position over this item, defining the selected segment of the item. At the same time, a motion detector arrangement preferably comprised of one or more microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer devices generates signals corresponding to motion of the position indicator support member as it is moved along the item. These signals are processed in a signal processor to determine the volume of the uncut selected segment of the item lying between selected successive positions of the indication member.

Abstract: A bird toy providing activity for a pet bird such as a parrot including an enclosure receiving a slide in which treats can be placed. The slide is retracted into the enclosure to prevent access to the treats and cannot be pulled out until the pet bird rotates one or more predetermined orientations whereat the slide can be pulled out to access the treats. Appendages are provided to enable gripping of the slide and enclosure to allow rotation and pull out of the slide.

Abstract: A patient garment for wearing during treatment or examination involving insertion of tubing at a body site which is suitable for street wear. A plurality of openable flaps allow access to particular body sites and loops attached to the garment adjacent each opening secure the tubing in position.

Abstract: A plug assist drive assembly for driving plug assists in a thermoforming apparatus includes a single centrally located roller screw assembly enclosed in a housing and driving a third platen mounting the plug assist with a group of guide-drive bars connected to a drive platen which is driven by the roller screw nut. The roller screw assembly is removable by removing screws holding the nut to one hub adapter, the screws accessed through an opening in the housing normally covered with a plate.