Abstract: A fishing rod carrier device useful as a rod and reel caddy for transporting fishing rods with reels mounted on the rod. The carrier device includes a frame which is suitable for resting on relatively flat surfaces, a lower horizontal member mounted on the frame above the bottom of the frame and having a plurality of openings spaced from one another such that the openings are larger than a fishing rod handle and smaller than a fishing reel on the rod. An upper horizontal member is also mounted on the frame above the lower horizontal member and having a like plurality of similarly sized openings relatively vertically aligned with the openings of the lower member. Also included is a first vertical member mounted adjacent to the upper member and extending upwardly to an end having a handle means thereon. A support means is attached to the vertical member to maintain the vertical member perpendicular to the horizontal members.

Abstract: The stud detector apparatus of the present invention automatically indicates the presence of nails and other ferrous fasteners beneath a wall covering, thus revealing the presence of a wall stud or ceiling joist. The apparatus includes a magnetic actuated switch, a power source, and a light source conductively connected in series. The magnetic actuated switch has a substantially planar wall engaging surface, first and second terminals, and a movable magnet. The movable magnet is normally in a position in which the current path between the terminals is open. When the wall engaging surface is held near a ferrous substance, the movable magnet moves to a position which allows current to flow between the first and second terminals. In use, the wall engaging surface of the apparatus is held near and moved parallel to the surface of the wall. The presence of a nail or other ferrous fastener is indicated when the light source is energized.

Abstract: A portable power pack for starting and operating automotive engines includes a transformer having a primary winding provided with wires to be plugged into a standard 110 volt 60 hertz electrical supply and a center-tapped secondary winding connected to a pair of silicon controlled half wave rectifiers to provide a direct current output at approximately 16 volts. A remotely operable trigger or gate circuit is provided to cause the silicon controlled rectifiers to fire only at the time it is desired that electrical power be fed to the automotive engine which is to be started or operated. With the exception of the electrical leads from the standard source of alternating current, to the automotive engine, and to the point of remote operation of the trigger circuit, the entire power pack is potted in a solid, thermally stable, thermally conductive material to rapidly dissipate the heat generated within the potted electrical elements of the power pack when it is delivering electrical power to an automotive engine.

Abstract: A device for holding a fish stringer, comprising an L-shaped frame made up of a base plate and a shoulder plate perpendicular to the base plate, and including jaw means pivotally mounted on the base plate for engagement with a flexible line such as a fish stringer between the jaw means and the shoulder plate. The jaw means describes an arc about the pivot which intersects the shoulder plate near a perpendicular line between the jaw pivot point and the shoulder plate. Normally the stringer can be easily removed by pulling a portion of it near the jaw means in direction perpendicular to the base plate. However, cover means are optionally provided for selectively and slidably covering the jaw means and the shoulder plate to selectively obstruct and not obstruct the removal of the stringer line from between the jaw means and the shoulder plate in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base plate.

Abstract: An airborne, free floating, lift-weight balanced toy for manual manipulation includes a closed envelope of polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar) filled with helium. The envelope is exactly counterbalanced with one or more ballast members so that the toy will assume a position at a desired distance from the floor or ground when it is let free. Such ballast members are made up of a plurality of weight control modules spirally arranged with respect to each other and held onto the skin of the toy by double face adhesive. In one form of the invention, when such a toy is initially filled with helium and a ballast member is in place, it will have a static balance such that one portion will always come back to being the bottom portion. In a second form, two ballast members are placed so that the toy will remain oriented in space in whatever position it is manually placed, if there are no outside effects except gravity and the lifting effect of the helium working on it.

Abstract: A solid state sensor element is a flat device having a film resistance thermometer on one face and a pair of spaced apart conductors on the other. The element is used for measuring selected properties of a material or the surrounding atmosphere and normally the spaced conductors are covered by a coating of a material which is electrically responsive to variations in a selected parameter of the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A solar greenhouse utilizing at least one radiant energy transparent or transmitting panel, with a low density fibrous mat positioned to the interior of and having one side generally contiguous to the radiant energy transparent panel, which fibrous mat serves as means for converting radiant energy into heat, and which has fibers carrying (impregnated with or coated with) a fluorescent pigment material. Fluorescent pigments have been proven to enhance plant growth and the mat and panel serve not only as a means for transmitting radiation useful to the plants in the greenhouse, but also serving as an insulation layer. The fibrous mat is preferably sandwiched between two radiant energy transparent panels and the space between the panels serves as a heat collector through which air is passed for removing heat, which can then be used for other purposes.

Abstract: A "roll over" type vehicle wash apparatus includes a frame which is movable on a track and which is driven between a front end and a rear end of the track. The apparatus includes a pair of front arms and a pair of rear arms which are pivotally connected to the frame. Side wrap brushes are rotatably connected to each of the front and rear arms and are rotated about vertical axes. Positioned proximate the rear end of the track are arm deflectors which cause the rear arms to be driven inward toward one another as the frame approaches the rear end. This prevents the rear arms of the apparatus from being accidentally driven through doors at the ends of the bay area in the event of a failure of the actuators of the rear arms.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating a dead, cold, fluid cooled internal combustion engine which includes the use of another internal combustion engine with a cooling system having heated coolant circulated by a circulation pump and transferring the heated coolant to the cold engine cooling system. The apparatus includes three male quick couplings communicating with the cooling system and rigidly attached to each engine and a pair of coolant transfer conduits with female quick couplings at both ends. The male quick couplings are connected by the transfer for conduits and the heated coolant is transferred to the cold, dead engine and back to the hot service engine to be warmed up again. Either engine may be used as the hot service engine or can receive heated coolant from a hot service engine.

Abstract: A railroad side frame test machine for loading side frames used on the trucks or carriages for railway cars to simulate the in-use loads utilizing a compact linkage that provides for direct loading of the specimen in the various load directions. The forces are applied to the specimen to insure that certain reactions are grounded, while other applied forces are basically ungrounded to effectively eliminate "cross talk" between the various input loads or forces.

Abstract: An earth compacting machine includes a hollow drum rotatably mounted at each end to the machine frame to rotate on a horizontal axis, and a concentric vibratory shaft rotatably mounted at each end in a bearing which is mounted in a bearing housing fixedly mounted to the drum. A cylindrical oil sump mounted to rotate with the drum, surrounds the vibratory shaft and shaft bearings and encompasses the bearing housings. Lubrication oil in the sump covers a lower portion of the bearing housings but is below the lowest level reached by the vibratory shaft and its offset weight. Each bearing housing has a plurality of pockets provided therein open through oil access ports to the oil sump and through oil delivery ports to its associated bearing. Oil flows into a pocket when its oil access port is below the level of oil in the sump; and flows out of the pocket as the oil delivery port approaches and pass over the axis of horizontal rotation.

Abstract: A "roll over" type vehicle wash apparatus includes a frame which is movable on a track and which is driven between a front end and a rear end of the track. The apparatus includes a pair of front arms and a pair of rear arms which are pivotally connected to the frame. Side wrap brushes are rotatably connected to each of the front and rear arms and are rotated about vertical axes. A control circuit for automatically controlling operation of the apparatus includes five sequence control relays, FRONT IN and REAR IN switches for sensing side wrap brush position, a TOP BRUSH DOWN switch for sensing top brush position, and a HOME TRAVEL switch for sensing frame position on the track. The control circuit prevents both the front and rear arms from being fully in at the same time, thereby preventing a dangerous condition from occurring when very short vehicles are being washed.

Abstract: An electrosurgery safety monitor senses a parameter indicative of the area of contact between the return electrode of an electrosurgery system and the body of the patient. An alarm is provided if the area of contact between the return electrode and the body is less than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A control for controlling the level in one of two tanks used in a ceramic hot molding machine which requires transfer of a ceramic slurry from one tank to the other in a continuous molding process. More particularly the present invention relates to an apparatus which automatically shuts off the transfer process when the working tank is filled a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A photographic printer makes a plurality of exposures on photographic print paper. The size of the exposure is determined by a mask. The proper feed length of the print paper is determined by indicia associated with the mask.

Abstract: A processor of sheets of photosensitive material includes an entrance opening through which sheets enter the processor, developer, fix and wash tanks; a dryer; an exit opening through which the sheets exit the processor; and a transport system for transporting the sheets through the processor. Signals from a film sensor positioned proximate the entrance opening indicate when a leading edge and a trailing edge of each sheet enters the processor. An encoder provides signal pulses for each incremental movement of a drive shaft which drives the transport system. The signal pulses, which provide an indication of the linear travel of the sheets through the processor, are counted. Based upon the signals from the film sensor and the counted pulses, a signal is provided when the trailing edge of the last sheet passes out of the developer tank, so that the speed of the transport can be changed without affecting the developing of the images on the last sheet.

Abstract: A clamp effort intensifier that multiplies the manual effort used for clamping vise jaws onto a workpiece through the use of a cam that actuates the vise jaws together to provide adequate clamping forces while substantially reducing the manual effort necessary to achieve a safe clamp force. The effort intensifier acts to load the vise jaw through a heavy spring which deflects as the jaws are loaded. The amount of deflection can be used to indicate the clamping force exerted on the jaws. An interlock to the machine tool used will prevent operation of the tool until the clamp force exceeds a desired level.

Abstract: A photographic printer includes a sensor system for measuring the optical characteristics of each photographic film frame to be printed at a plurality of defined areas. Based upon the measured optical characteristics, the printer identifies and classifies the film frames into various types of scenes. The exposures used in printing each film frame depend upon the classification of that film frame. A user-selectable control permits the user to vary the sensitivity of the classification of one or more of the types of scenes in essentially a linear fashion.