Abstract: A foil applicator tool for use in construction of stained glass panel assemblies is formed by a body having a plurality of grooves each of which have an upper portion with a base formed by shoulders for supporting foil in strip form. The upper portion has parallel side walls which closely receive the foil strip. Each groove has a lower portion centrally located with respect to the upper portion. The walls of the lower portion are parallel and closely receive the marginal edge of a stained glass panel and foil to fold the foil about the edge of the glass when it is pressed down into the lower portion of the groove with the foil interposed. The grooves extend over a substantially planar top surface of the tool body and over a curved end surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a short circuit across a Vacuum Control Switch by electrically connecting the apparatus to that side of the Vacuum Control Switch which should be dead at anytime the Vacuum Control Switch has manually been placed in the off configuration, and utilizing the arcing and shorting voltage felt there in the event of a malfunction to produce a signal to actuate visual and audio alarm circuits. More particularly, the invention is intended for use with Vacuum Control Switches placed in very high voltage circuits such as industrial furnaces. Its primary purpose is to prevent personal injury by warning maintenance personnel of a malfunction which could produce lethal voltage on components that would be expected to be without electrical voltage whenever the Vacuum Control Switch is in the off position. The apparatus is not independently powered for detection, but utilizes that voltage which is felt on the off side of the open Vacuum Control Switch by virtue of the malfunction.

Abstract: Objects on a delivery conveyor are detected by a photo-detector connected to a multi-bit shift register which is clocked by a pulse generator connected to the delivery conveyor. A NOR gate is connected between two outputs of the shift register and the shift register resets to erase information relating to undersized objects. Another circuit having NAND gates connected to a series of shift register outputs and to a counter connected to the pulse generator determines the presence of objects over a base size. A comparator connected to the counter provides a signal to a microprocessor, connected to the shift register resets, to erase information relating to an oversize object. Another section connected to the intermediate output of the shift register detects the location and length of gaps between adjacent objects. This section provides information to the microprocessor which through its connections to the shift register erases information relating to the leading object if the gap is too small.

Abstract: A grill cleaning tool is provided having a tubular body which forms a handle. A projection from one end of the handle is formed integrally with the handle from a length of steel tubing. The end of the projection is beveled to form a sharp angle. A groove is provided in the extreme end of the projection for closely engaging a grill rod to scrape deposits from the rod's surface. The sharp bevel permits the tool to scrape deposits from the surfaces of closely spaced grill rods. A similar projection extends from the opposite side of the handle for cleaning differently sized grill rods.

Abstract: A vibrator with attached prongs which achieves the breakup of compacted materials in structures similar to silos, grain elevators and railroad cars is set forth. Attached to the pronged vibrator is a cable which allows the vibrator to be lowered into the structure where breakup is to be accomplished. The vibrator is housed within a shell of dimensions applicable to the particular use. Secured to the vibrator shell are a multiple of prongs. The vibrator when in operation causes not only the sphere to vibrate, but also the attached prongs. The vibrator is capable of imparting varying frequencies to the compacted materials and may be adjusted to reach the natural frequency of the compacted material. Thus where the vibrator comes into contact with the compacted material, breakup is achieved both by the physical action of the prongs and also by achieving the natural frequency of the material which in and of itself causes breakup.

Abstract: A method for obtaining vibrational and lateral movement within rotatable receptacles is disclosed. The lateral movement is achieved by the interruption of the simple circular motion of a receptacle by slight projections in the circular path of the receptacles. The interruptions cause the materials within the receptacles to vibrate and move laterally rather than continue in a strict circular path. The interruptions may take the form of studs or projections on the outer circumference of the receptacles being rotated or may take the form of studs or projections located on the means rotating the receptacles. The rotatable receptacles are classically rotated by belts.

Abstract: A system for conversion of wind power to electrical energy. The system provides for use during a wide range of wind velocities by use of the following: an external deflection system consisting of baffles and peripheral turbulence creating walls designed to increase the wind velocity and to divert the wind stream to the aperture of the system; a chamber for the collection and compression of the wind thereby further increasing the wind velocity if necessary; a deflection system for diverting wind from the chamber in high winds; a rigid circumferential tip face at the fan circumference whereby the fan blades fit into the tip race for support; a center deflector to divert the wind force to the fan blade tips; a tip-mounted generating system utilizing induction fields to obtain electrical energy and a system to vary the strength of the induction field so a constant blade speed may be obtained over a range of wind speeds and conditions.

Abstract: Means for capturing the vertical energy of waves and transferring this energy to air compression is disclosed. A compression shell chamber is affixed to the hull of a boat. Housed within the compression shell chamber is a float whose size is equivalent to the inner dimensions of the compression shell chamber. When a swell moves the float vertically towards the top of the compression shell chamber, air is compressed and forced into a compressed air exhaust line.The compressed air is utilized as it is forced into the compressed air exhaust feed line to a receptacle. The concept can be used to pump either water or air.

Abstract: An artists' water color paper stretcher and holder receives wet water color painting paper and similar materials to hold the paper and thereby to cause its stretching during drying, and thereafter to continue holding the paper during the artists' water color painting. This stretcher and holder is a flat top surfaced structure having grooves around its perimeter to receive wedges. Water color painting paper, when wet, is placed over the flat top surfaced structure and extended beyond the perimeter grooves. Thereafter the perimeter wedges are pressed into the perimeter grooves carrying the wet water color paper edges into the grooves, thereby snugly fitting the water color paper to the flat surface of the artists' water color paper stretcher and holder.

Abstract: A can crusher, particularly suited to reducing cans or similar containers to a compact form by crushing the containers between a pair of opposed jaws. The crusher consists of a track which serves as a base for the crusher and a trolley which is attached to and slides along the track. A first plate transversely attached to the track forms the lower jaw. A second plate is attached to the trolley in juxtaposition with the lower jaw to form an upper jaw. A lower pair of parallel lever arms are pivotally attached at their lower ends to opposite sides of the lower jaw. An upper pair of parallel lever arms are each pivotally attached at a midpoint to the opposite sides of the upper jaw and pivotally attached at their lower ends to the upper ends of the corresponding lower pair of lever arms. A handle is attached to the upper end of the upper pair of lever arms to serve as an operating grip.

Abstract: An alignment and locking system is set forth which aids in the placement of "V" bowed boats atop carrier vehicles. A cross bar is positioned across both the front and rear of the vehicle. Attached to the front cross bar are two alignment and locking devices spaced at either end of the cross bar. Both devices have a slanting smooth surface which will force a "V" bowed boat, if it is out of alignment as it is being loaded, to correct its alignment by being forced to the center of the cross bar. After the front of the "V" bowed boat is aligned on the front cross bar, the boat is pushed forward until the rails on either side of the boat are secure under the two alignment and locking devices.

Abstract: A wood splitter, particularly suited to hydraulic operation, for mechanically splitting sections of wood lengthwise for shakes or for more suitable sizes for burning is provided. In a preferred form the device is mounted on a trailer having a flat working deck. A column, which is lowerable for travel, projects upward out of the deck. A lever arm actuated by a hydraulic cylinder is attached to the column below the deck and upon actuation of the cylinder projects upward through a hole in the deck. A splitting blade is slidably mounted on the column over the lever arm. A piece of wood is placed over the lever arm and the blade which is also actuated by a hydraulic cylinder is lowered, by operation of a foot lever, against the top of the piece of wood. The contact with the wood is sensed by a sequence valve which then causes the lever arm to raise above the deck forcing the wood to be split by the blade.

Abstract: A self-erecting highway guide post for insertion in the ground is constructed in the form of a resilient plastic channel having a substantially flat center surface flanked on either side by a pair of flat side portions which are joined at an obtuse angle to the center portion by curved surfaces. A second, arcuately cross-sectioned channel is attached by fasteners through the center portions of each channel to the rear of the first channel. The rear, concave surface of the arcuate channel is directed toward the rear surface of the first channel and lies within its side portions. Such a configuration results in a self-erecting highway guide post when one end is imbedded in the ground to denote the margin of a highway. When the post is struck the curved portions flatten allowing the post to bend when run over by a vehicle and to recurve once the vehicle passes to re-erect the post.

Abstract: In an improved food freezing tunnel, an improved freezing air flow apparatus, more uniformly distributes upwardly flowing freezing air through a horizontally traveling porous food conveyor, thereby more effectively freezing the conveyed food pieces. The improved freezing air flow apparatus utilizes a centrifugal fan wheel, without a surrounding volute or housing, mounted with its rotational axis arranged vertically. It is dependingly mounted from a fan motor, in turn centrally supported, on horizontal frame, within the fan chamber located over an open bottom lower air souce chamber of the freezing tunnel. Returning air, after passing from the fan chamber up through the freezing coil chamber, and beyond up through the porous conveyor belts of the freezing chamber, is drawn down within the overall freezing tunnel building alongside each side of the freezing tunnel, to be again drawn upwardly through the open bottom air source chamber and then back up into the fan wheel and fan chamber for recirculation.

Abstract: A winding machine for the continuous glass filament winding of bonded fiberglass structures, such as cryogenic tanks for liquid natural gas, often referred to as LNG tanks, comprises, a hemispherical male mold mounted on a turntable, a half circular track which rotates over the male mold about a horizontal axis, a carriage which moves along the inside of the half circular track, and a bobbin wound with fiberglass tape secured to the carriage, whereby, the combined motions of the turntable, track and carriage are coordinated by numerical control, to produce a desired winding pattern to completely cover the hemisphere in manufacturing bonded fiberglass structures and parts thereof.

Abstract: A louver attachment for lights is constructed so that it is collapsible and portable to permit its use in a variety of applications wherein it is placed over the front of a light source to limit lateral distribution of the light. This configuration is advantageously used in connection with photographer's lighting systems. A framework is provided having two oppositely positioned parallel horizontal members having a series of openings along their lengths. A pair of parallel vertical side members connect corresponding ends of horizontal members together. The interconnections are allowed to pivot so that the parallelogram shaped structure may be collapsed. A wide ribbon is then woven between the horizontal members passing through the openings to form louvers. The ribbon is secured at either end to the framework. Conventional methods of attachment serve to attach the louver attachment over the front of a light source.

Abstract: To determine apparent power consumption in a distributed-load, constant voltage audio distribution system, a test instrument is provided which is substituted for the amplifier in the system during the test. A constant, known AC test voltage at a convenient audio frequency is applied to the distribution system or a portion thereof. The resultant AC current passing through the distribution system is measured and read on a meter calibrated directly in watts. The apparent power consumed in the system is directly proportional to the current. The instrument is provided with an internal audio frequency oscillator as a test signal source with a provision for bypassing it so that an external oscillator may be utilized. The oscillator signal is processed by a voltage controlled amplifier and a power amplifier wherein the signal level is controlled. The processed test signal is applied to the system under test. The voltage across a resistance in series with the tested circuit is monitored through an isolating buffer.

Abstract: A continuously and adjustably inflatable cushion supports the entire body length of a prone, face down, expectant mother, and is shaped to accommodate and conform to the enlarged contours of her body during pregnancy and immediately afterward. An essentially circular opening passes completely through the central portion of the supporting cushion, to surround and partially support the enlarged abdomen of the expectant mother. The depth and softness of this opening is varied during progressive stages of pregnancy through a valve mechanism, to add or release air.When deflated, the cushion is folded into a compact, lightweight configuration for economical packaging and storage. The inflatable cushion has the additional advantages of light weight and portability in either its collapsed or inflated configurations; continuous range of adjustment to accommodate the shape of a human body; and the cushion is preferably constructed from material which is non-flammable, odor free and easily cleaned.