Abstract: Method of restricting a coating to a first area having an adjacent second area which is to be covered by a mask before the coating is applied, including the steps of separating the areas with a barrier strip of masking paper, applying a masking composition to the second area pressing the paper against the composition to produce a guarding edge between the first and second areas, and applying coating material to the first area, the masking composition inhibiting dust on the second area from marring the coating, and protecting the second area from coating overspray. Also disclosed is a masking system including the barrier strip of masking paper pressed against the film of the masking composition applied to the painted portion of an automobile. The masking composition is easily removable by a water wash after coating of the unmasked area of the automobile.

Abstract: A punch press has first and second sets of tooling mounted longitudinally of a press conveyor belt. The second set of tooling is located externally of the usual press columns. A second ram slidably mounted on the outside of the columns is driven by a connecting arm eccentrically mounted on a crankshaft extension. The second ram drives the upper tooling of the second tooling set in a reciprocating manner. The second ram can be operated out of phase with the main ram to reduce the total tonnage required of the press.

Abstract: The agglomeration of gold or silver ore fines is improved by the use of a water-soluble vinyl polymer as the agglomerating agent.

Abstract: An article adapted to be erected to form a shelf which may be attached to a wall or other vertical support. A generally planar sheet of plastic of generally uniform density is divided by longitudinally-spaced, laterally-extending hinge elements into rectangular sections. The hinge elements are created by miter cuts in the sheet of plastic which do not extend the full thickness of the sheet thereby providing a thin hinge of plastic which functions as the hinge. The rectangular sections are foldable about the hinge elements into a hollow tube which functions as a wall attachment member. At least one of the rectangular sections functions as a shelf member which is supported at one end by the hollow tube. Other rectangular sections may be folded to form a return or nose at the front of the shelf which may be formed with an opening to display a label. Additional rectangular sections may be folded about the sides of the shelf to form strengthening members.

Abstract: Electrical power sources and systems for heating in or adjacent to an oil well or other mineral well, or for heating other earth media, each comprising an A.C. heating generator that generates an A.C. heating current at a selected heating frequency substantially different from the conventional 50/60 Hz frequency used by power companies; the heating generator may comprise an A.C. to D.C. converter for developing an intermediate D.C. output of predetermined amplitude from a conventional 50/60 Hz A.C. input, and a solid state switching circuit for repetitively sampling the D.C. output of the converter at the selected heating frequency, usually in a range of 0.01 Hz (or even lower) up to about 35 Hz. A heating rate control varies the energy content and the frequency of the A.C. output to suit well requirements.

Abstract: An emulsion polymer having activity as a demulsifier for a w/o emulsion, particularly water-in-crude oil, having the general formula ##STR1##

Abstract: An ear insertable hearing aid having both a miniature microphone and a magnetic induction pickup which can be used simultaneously or alternately. The invention includes a core for the magnetic induction device that maximizes the surface area usable for sensing changes in magnetic flux but which is yet of a size that can act as a surrounding emplacement for the miniature microphone disposed between the plates of the substantially U-shaped core.

Abstract: A stake cap is provided for covering the upper opening of an outside stake of a railroad hopper car. The stake cap has a retainer plate having front and rear surfaces which define top, bottom and side edges. The side edges are beveled such that the front surface of the retainer plate is wider than the rear surface. A top sheet is joined at a right angle to the top edge of the retainer plate. Gussets strengthen the connection of the top sheet and retainer plate. When the stake cap is installed in the upper opening of a stake, the beveled side edges of the retainer plate form themselves to the stake and are wedged between the stake and the hopper car outside shell. The top sheet overlies the opening and prevents entry of contaminants and water.

Abstract: A balanced bowling ball having a core and a shell, and including a counterweight nugget positioned intermediate the bowling ball thumb and finger grip holes. The counterweight nugget comprises a non-metallic material, including refractory tungsten carbide suspended in a matrix of thermoplastic binder, having a density at least an order or magnitude greater than the density of the shell and core materials. The counterweight nugget is disposed within a depression on the core in one embodiment and in a depression in the shell in another embodiment. Alternative methods of manufacturing each embodiment and the material forming the counterweight nugget are also disclosed.

Abstract: A combination floor sweeping and scrubbing machine is as compact and maneuverable as an equivalent machine which only sweeps or scrubs, while retaining typical hopper and tank volumes. Its operator can change it from sweeping to scrubbing or vice versa at any time by moving a few controls and without adding or removing any parts. It has one debris hopper and one horizontal cylindrical rotating brush and they function in both the sweeping and scrubbing modes. A vacuum system supplies dust control during sweeping and vacuum pickup of dirty solution during scrubbing. In the scrubbing mode a single tank supplies scrubbing solution and receives dirty solution picked up from the floor.

Abstract: An anti-pilferage device is attached to the car body of a railroad flatcar of the type for carrying containers. The device has a mounting plate attached to the car frame at a point adjacent the doors of a container loaded on the car. A barrier is tiltably supported on the mounting plate in a manner which permits free movement if the barrier is bumped during loading of a container. The barrier is movable between a raised, operative position and a lowered, retracted position. A spring biases the barrier to the operative position, wherein it is in the path of a swinging container door to prevent it from being opened. In the retracted position the barrier is below the level of the container floor. A plurality of anti-pilferage devices may be mounted on the car to accommodate containers of various lengths. The barriers are automatically movable between the retracted position and operative position without the need for manual actuation.

Abstract: An identification card of the kind including at least two and usually three resin sheets bonded together, with identification data at an interface between sheets visible through the outermost sheet, which is transparent, and incorporates added anti-tampering protection in the form of a band or other limited area weldment between the sheets usually formed by an ultrasonic weldment; the weldment is clearly visible due to surface distortion caused by it but is not so extensive as to prevent effective viewing of the identification data in its limited area. In a more particularized aspect of the invention, a portion of the identification data is more significant than the remainder of the data and thus more susceptible to being tampered with and the weldments are placed in this susceptible area of the identification data.

Abstract: A seal face of a ring used in a non-contacting, gap-type seal having an annular groove area with microdams, each having a preferable width of about 0.025 inches, between a plurality of groove surface areas. The microdams provide a boundary to the groove surface areas whereby the recess of each groove surface area bounded by the microdams acts as a unitary pressure zone and the pressure in the separate zones decreases in a series of steps as measured from one circumference of the ring to the other circumference.

Abstract: An improved scrub head for a cleaning wand to be used with a floor cleaning machine. The scrub head is supplied with vacuumized air and pressurized cleaning solution through the wand from the machine. The scrub head has a nozzle for applying cleaning solution to the floor, a powered rotating tool such as a brush or a pad for scrubbing the floor, and a vacuum pickup shoe or squeegee for picking up soiled cleaning solution. The squeegee, when used, has flexible lips of a novel and improved design. The rotating tool is driven by an air turbine which takes in its air from essentially clean ambient atmosphere, and a valve selectively and automatically connects the vacuumized air to either the turbine outlet, thus causing the turbine and tool to rotate for scrubbing the floor, or to the pickup shoe or squeegee for picking up soiled cleaning solution and debris.

Abstract: An amplifier having improved input impedance and reduced susceptibility to power supply ripple, particularly suited for use with a high impedance signal source, utilizes at least two field-effect transistors; the signal source is connected to the gate of the first FET, which is connected to a reference potential by a high resistance, whereas the source electrode of the first FET is connected to the reference potential (usually ground) through a much smaller load resistance and is also connected to the gate of the second FET. The source of the second FET is connected to the drain of the first FET and the drain of the second FET is connected to a power source, usually a low voltage source.

Abstract: A heating element for a plastic film laminator has a base member, either flat or cylindrical. An insulating layer of non-conductive material is formed on the base member. A heating layer formed of conductive resin such as conductive silicone is molded to the base member, with the insulating layer between the base and heating layer. An outer layer of non-conductive silicone may cover the heating layer. Electrical contacts are connected to opposite sides of the heating layer. An electrical power supply is connectable to the contacts. Current passing through the heating layer provides uniform heating which is transferred to the plastic to be laminated.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having an electric hybrid power system comprising a battery powered electric motor connected to drive the wheels of the vehicle and a combustion engine which may be releasably coupled mechanically to the electric motor. When so coupled the combustion engine may drive the vehicle and the electric motor may act as a generator to maintain a desired charge level in the batteries. In operation the power train is automatically controlled by a process controller to produce maximum fuel economy for the engine and to maintain the batteries at an acceptable charge level. Means are provided to apply the combined power of the electric motor and the combustion engine to the drive wheels for short duration peaking power. Means are also provided whereby the combustion engine may drive the electric motor to function as a generator and charge the batteries when the vehicle is stationary.