Abstract: A waterbed mattress has a baffle structure that comprises a horizontally extending pad of bouyant material with a plurality of chambers depending therefrom. The chambers can be hemi-spheroidal. The chamber walls having water metering holes therethrough.

Abstract: A solenoid is affixed to a bracket having a base complementary in configuration to a portion of the housing of a diesel engine fuel pump governor that is spaced from the governor's run/stop member; the bracket is mounted on the governor housing by two bolts that also serve to join two halves of the governor housing. A lever mounted on the run/stop member of the governor is connected, by a connecting rod and swivel connection, to the solenoid plunger, so that plunger movement responsive to energization of the solenoid rotates the run/stop member to a RUN position; on de-energization of the solenoid its spring drives the run/stop member to a STOP position. A support rod affixed to the center of the bracket and mounted to the governor housing by a cover mounting bolt braces the bracket against engine vibration.

Abstract: Indexing rotary vacuum valve in which second stage vacuum at torr p.sub.i is applied through aligned ports of one valve member juxtaposed to another, originating a force tending to bring the two tightly together, but wet lubrication is not needed since gas under supra atmospheric pressure is admitted to an interface chamber in the lower valve member lifting the upper one to establish a slight clearance, sealed against ingress of atmospheric pressure. First stage vacuum at torr p.sub.o greater than p.sub.i is applied at the interface around the vacuum ports, to prevent leakage of the second stage vacuum.

Abstract: Corrosion inhibition apparatus in an electromagnetic heating system for in situ downhole heating in an oil well or other mineral fluid well that includes an A.C. power source for a high amperage, low frequency heating current (e.g. over 50 amperes at 0.01 to 35 Hz) and a D.C. bias source for generating a low amplitude (e.g., less than one ampere) current for corrosion inhibition, both sources connected to a downhole electrode. The bias source includes at least one semiconductor device, connected in the main A.C. heating circuit, in a bias circuit that develops a net D.C. voltage differential of the polarity required for corrosion inhibition in response to the A.C. heating current.

Abstract: A gypsum-based pesticide product and method of manufacture of such product in which the product has a release time for the pesticide which is determined at least in part by its size and in which the gypsum is a solid formed by the bonding of plaster of Paris and water. The product, prior to formation of the solid, includes, by weight, no more than about 20% water, approximately 5% of pesticide, with the balance being plaster of Paris. The ingredients, prior to formation into a solid, are intimately mixed for a time period which is only a fraction of the setting time of the mixture with the amount of water being no greater than that required to completely set the plaster of Paris into gypsum.

Abstract: An automatic hand dryer contains a heating element and a motor which drives a squirrel cage fan. The fan exhausts air past the heating element to a downwardly-directed outlet. A base or mounting plate is adapted for flush mounting to a wall. The axis of the fan is perpendicular to the base plate and wall to which the dryer is attached. A control or sensing circuit emits signals to a detection zone beneath the outlet and monitors the zone for reflected signals indicative of a user's presence. The circuit operates to energize and deenergize the power circuit to the fan motor and heating element. Upon detection for a predetermined period, the circuit energizes the power circuit. The control circuit deenergizes the power circuit upon interruption of the reflected signals for a predetermined period, or after a predetermined maximum time period of continuous detection. Under the latter condition, the stimulus reflecting the emitted signals must be removed from the detection zone to reactivate the control circuitry.

Abstract: A check stop for use at the inlet of a plumbing fixture such as a flush valve includes a conduit and a sleeve attached at the inlet of the conduit. The sleeve has an inlet and an outlet and there is a valve member movable to close the sleeve inlet. There are water passages formed between the exterior of the valve member and the interior of the sleeve. A spring urges the valve member into a closure position with the sleeve inlet. There is an adjustment member accessible from outside the conduit and having a interior portion positioned within the spring and movable toward and away from the valve member. Water pressure acting on the valve member causes movement thereof away from the sleeve inlet as determined by the position of the adjustment member.

Abstract: In order to provide when smoking a cigarette a substantially uniform concentration of the flavoring substance or substances supplied to the tobacco rod (23) in the form of at least one flavoring substance, the flow of flavoring substance is controlled, in accordance with the invention, periodically between a maximum and a minimum flow. The maximum flow is applied to those parts (36) of the tobacco rod which each include the tip-end of a cigarette, whereas the minimum flow is applied to the opposite end part (37) of the cigarette.

Abstract: Mode-locked laser comprising an active medium for the emission of a fundatal frequency radiation w1, with a resonator which is defined by a first mirror and a second mirror and in which the active medium is disposed, and a nonlinear optical means which is arranged between the active medium and the second mirror and which in combination with the second mirror effects a preferred reflection of radiation of higher intensity compared with radiation of lower intensity and it converts a fundamental-frequency radiation reversibly into radiation of a first frequency and radiation of a second frequency in such a manner that with increasing intensity the fraction of the radiation of the second frequency increases, and that the second mirror reflects at the second frequency to a greater extent than at the first frequency.

Abstract: A sheet feeder has a supply station wherein signatures fresh from the printing press are stacked. The stack is supported such that the signatures are in an arched, non-planar configuration. A sheet stripper extracts signatures successively from the stack and feeds them in a constant stream to a transfer conveyor. The stripper grips the sheets with a suction device which applies a constant but locally intermittent vacuum. The transfer conveyor carries the signatures to a delivery station. The delivery station includes fingers which arch the signatures. Arching the signatures in the supply and delivery stations prevents rolling of the signatures.

Abstract: An electrocoating machine has a frame supporting a series of tanks containing solutions for electrocoating work pieces such as can ends. A wheel is mounted for rotation on the frame and has a plurality of work piece holders spaced about its periphery. Each work piece holder has a pair of spaced, flexible fingers, each having a free end which is cantilevered from the wheel. As the wheel rotates, cams displace the free ends of the fingers at a point shortly before they enter the electrocoating tank. A work piece transfer apparatus places a work piece adjacent the displaced fingers at a pickup point. The cams then release the fingers so they engage the work piece in spring-loaded gripping relation. The wheel carries work pieces from the pickup point, down into the electrocoating solution and then to a rinse conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously forming pointed terminals from a length of wire. The length of wire is moved to a position where a portion of the wire is positioned between a pair of opposed swedges. The pair of swedges is closed to engage and deform the portion of wire. The wire is then moved to position the deformed portion of wire at a wire severing location and another portion of the wire is positioned between the pair of opposed swedges. The wire is twisted relative to the deformed portion to separate the portion of the wire ahead of the deformed portion to form a terminal. The pair of swedges are closed simultaneously with the twisting to deform the next portion of wire and these steps are repeated.

Abstract: A railroad car for carrying containers has a car body mounted on trucks. The car body includes two side sills connected to two end frames. The side sills and end frames define an open well which is adapted for receiving a container. The floor of the well is defined by a container support frame assembly which is hung from the side sills by four hanger straps. The container support frame assembly includes two transverse support beams. The hanger straps are pivotally connected by transverse pins to the side sills and the transverse support beams such that the hanger straps are stressed primarily in tension only and they transfer tensile loads but not bending loads to the side sills.

Abstract: A chair control for a pedestal chair having a knee-tilt seat. An elastomeric torsion spring is offset rearwardly from the tilting axis of the seat. The seat and torsion spring are operatively connected by a cam surface and a cam follower which effectively reduce the restoring force exerted by the torsion spring against the seat as the rearward tilt of the seat increases. A mechanism to adjust the initial restoring torque of the torsion spring provides a large angular twist of the torsion spring with a minimum linear movement of the mechanism. The chair control provides the chair seat with a less than conventional seat angle relative to the horizontal when the chair is unoccupied. A mechanism is provided to enable the occupant to adjust the chair seat to a more conventional seat angle in its unoccupied condition.

Abstract: A first coupling part (6) consists of a bushing (10), a coupling bolt (11) and a ring (12) and is inserted into the end of a pipe (2). Two rest lugs (16) of the bushing (10) engage there into rectangular break-throughs (5) of the pipe (2). The coupling bolt (11) is turnable in the bushing (10) and lies with a head (26) against it. It is joined secure against with the ring (12). This has support shoulders (32) for the support of the face surfaces (4) of the pipes (2, 3). On its circumference it has two wrench surfaces (34). A second coupling part (7) is cup-shaped and is likewise snapped in place with rest lugs (42) in break-throughs (5) of the other pipe (3). The base (43) has an oblong hole (46) through which a bolt (45) of the coupling bolt (11) can be inserted. After turning of the bolt (11) through 90.degree. a spherical supporting surface (47) of the bolt (45) lies against the cylindrical support surface (44) of the second coupling part (7) and clamps the coupling.

Abstract: A reel spring for a magnetic tape cassette is formed from a thin, elongated strip of stainless steel. The side edges of the strip are folded over by stamping or rolling to form longitudinal stiffeners. The stiffeners effectively increase the thickness of the strip at the edges, allowing the use of less expensive raw material without sacrificing functionality.

Abstract: A press for converting work pieces into finished parts has an elongated bolster mounted on a press bed. The bolster supports columns on which a ram is slidable. The bolster also supports the lower die shoe of the press tooling. A conveyor or transfer system mounted on the bolster carries work pieces into and out of the area of the tooling. The bolster is a unitary piece which integrates support of the die shoe, columns and conveyor to assure proper cooperation and alignment among them. A pivotable carrier mounts a feed mechanism for feeding a stock strip into the tooling. Power to the feed mechanism is supplied through a shaft which is coaxial with the hinge line of the carrier, so that the carrier can be swung away from the tooling for service access without requiring disconnection of the power supply. A traveling vacuum box on the lower die shoe supports the conveyor for vertical as well as longitudinal motion, and retains the work pieces on the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the tying of knots in elongated flexible members such as string or rope. The method includes the steps of first providing an elongated member of a desired length and then clamping the elongated member at a location spaced a predetermined distance from the free end thereof while rotating the clamped location to form a loop, with the free end crossing over the loop. The free end of the elongated member is then removed through the loop and the end is then clamped. The initial clamping pressure is released and the elongated member is then pulled to complete the tying of a knot.

Abstract: A device for apportioning washing agents in hand held shower heads. The device includes a canister casing having an open end. A water inlet leads into the container casing. A water flow sleeve extends through the container casing. An annular washing agent cavity is located between the container casing and the flow sleeve. An outlet cap assembly is attached to the container casing to close the open end of the casing. The outlet cap assembly has a first member with a cylindrical passage which surrounds the water flow sleeve and is spaced from the sleeve to create a gap which provides an outlet for the washing agent cavity. A water inlet passage is provided for the washing agent cavity and leads to the container casing water inlet. A bolt is positioned between the water flow sleeve and the water inlet. The bolt has a bore extending therethrough, which bore has a wider entrance portion adjacent the water inlet.

Abstract: A railroad car brake system operable by an air bag which includes double acting brakes operable on the wheels. Links suspend the brakes and the live and dead levers connected by an adjustable connecting link mechanism are operable by the air bag. Slack as a result of wear in the brakes is automatically taken up.