Abstract: A receptacle for placement in a cooler of ice. The receptacle includes a sleeve structure placement in the cooler's ice compartment, the sleeve structure having a base portion and a chamber for receipt of a drink bottle or container, food item, medicine, or other items which require, or for which it is desirable, to maintain as chilled. The chamber is configured such that upon placement of the sleeve structure into the ice compartment and being surrounded by ice, the item to be cooled is substantially isolated and free from contact with the ice. The receptacle maintains an open volume in the ice for an item and allows for the item to be withdrawn from the cooler, without ice in the cooler collapsing and filling in the void left by the removed item. This allows the item may be readily reinserted back into the cooler when desired.

Abstract: A system applicable to acoustic, seismic, electromagnetic, hydrodynamic, and shock waves utilizing a map between signal time series and signal vectors defining the mathematical wave field model characterizing the signal's wave field. This map is developed from wave models relating field values to those on surfaces and corresponding uniqueness theorems. The system should allow for improved resolving power in bearing and elevation for discrimination of sources; detection and direction finding for signals below the average background level; detection based upon resolving power and signal vector characteristics rather than signal to noise ratio; reconstruction of signals of resolved sources for their transmitted information content; and multiple modes of operation. Adaptive incorporation of known undesired signals into the noise background and/or treatment of asymmetric background noise fields is permitted through use of a noise metric-based map yielding signal direction in the presence of diffraction effects.

Abstract: A door system used in a doorway of a pressurizable compartment of a high temperature structure, having a screw for compressing the door and a thrust collar providing clearance between the thrust collar and a bearing member during decompression of the door such that in the event the pressurizable compartment is pressurized, the pressure is relieved through the doorway while the door remains in contact with the doorway. The screw includes a shoulder, and the thrust collar is carried on the screw between the shoulder and the bearing member. The collar is configured to bear against the bearing member and the shoulder upon compression of the door. A debris guard covers and protects the screw during advancement and retraction of the screw, and a door frame is provided having weld slots for facilitating welding of the door frame to the high temperature structure.

Abstract: A system applicable to acoustic, seismic, electromagnetic, hydrodynamic, and shock waves utilizing a map between signal time series and signal vectors defining the mathematical wave field model characterizing the signal's wave field. This map is developed from wave models relating field values to those on surfaces and corresponding uniqueness theorems. The system should allow for improved resolving power in bearing and elevation for discrimination of sources; detection and direction finding for signals below the average background level; detection based upon resolving power and signal vector characteristics rather than signal to noise ratio; reconstruction of signals of resolved sources for their transmitted information content; and multiple modes of operation. Adaptive incorporation of known undesired signals into the noise background and/or treatment of asymmetric background noise fields is permitted through use of a noise metric-based map yielding signal direction in the presence of diffraction effects.

Abstract: A folding knife having a blade locking member carried for sliding movement within a channel defined in the handle, the locking member being movable to a blade locking position when the blade is in an extended position. A spring, or other biasing means, such as an opposing magnet arrangement, provide a spring-like biasing of the locking member towards a blade locking. In one embodiment, the locking member extends substantially the full width of the handle and is accessible from either side of the knife handle. The locking member includes a ramp on the underside thereof for contacting a projection, or bump, on the rearward portion of the blade tang. An adjustable bushing is provided which allows for adjustment of the blade within the handle to provide for both ease of pivoting of the blade, while reducing any lateral play in the blade within the handle.

Abstract: A folding knife having a handle and a blade pivotally attached to the handle for pivoting between a retracted position and an extended position. A cantilever member is connected to the handle, and the cantilever member includes a free end. The blade includes a first stop and a second stop, and the first stop and the cantilever member are configured such that upon the blade being in the retracted position, the free end of the cantilever member bears against the first stop to selectively maintain the blade in the retracted position.

Abstract: An automatic folding knife having a sear provided on a pivoting blade, and an engagement member, configured for upward movement, for selectively engaging the sear. The engagement member extends generally to the exterior of each side portion of the handle. A spring-biased cable biases the blade towards the extended position, and the engagement member is configured for engaging the sear upon the blade being in the retracted position. The blade is configured to automatically pivot from the retracted position to the extended position upon the engagement member being lifted upwardly, and the engagement member also automatically locks the blade in the extended position. The knife can readily be converted to an assisted opening knife having in significant part the components of the automatic knife.

Abstract: A manufacturing method is provided to form an overhead transmission cable having an elongated stranded steel core, and at least one layer of conductor wires generally encircling the stranded steel core. Each conductor wire includes a circumferentially extending, metallurgically bonded aluminum outer layer of at least 99.5 percent pure aluminum and having an IACS conductivity of at least 20.3 percent. In one embodiment, the steel conductors include a generally circular cross-section and an aluminum outer layer metallurgically bonded thereto, with the thickness of the aluminum outer layer being at least 10 percent of the overall radial dimension of the conductor.

Abstract: An assisted opening folding knife having a blade with an engagement surface extending generally radially outwardly with respect to the pivot axis of the blade. A cantilevered leaf spring contacts the engagement surface and immediately urges the blade to the extended position upon the blade pivoting through a predetermined angle from the retracted position. An elongated engagement member is pivotally connected to the handle and configured for pivoting between a blade locking position and an unlocking position. In one embodiment, the cantilevered leaf spring also urges the engagement member towards the blade locking position. The engagement member automatically locks the blade in the extended position, and the cantilevered leaf spring, the blade, and the engagement member all substantially extend in the pivot plane.

Abstract: A system applicable to acoustic, seismic, electromagnetic, hydrodynamic, and shock waves utilizing a map between signal time series and signal vectors defining the mathematical wave field model characterizing the signal's wave field. This map is developed from wave models relating field values to those on surfaces and corresponding uniqueness theorems. The system should allow for improved resolving power in bearing and elevation for discrimination of sources; detection and direction finding for signals below the average background level; detection based upon resolving power and signal vector characteristics rather than signal to noise ratio; reconstruction of signals of resolved sources for their transmitted information content; and multiple modes of operation. Adaptive incorporation of known undesired signals into the noise background and/or treatment of asymmetric background noise fields is permitted through use of a noise metric-based map yielding signal direction in the presence of diffraction effects.

Abstract: A combination machine for trenching, for forming the edge of a bed, and for laying and burying tubing, cable, piping, and the like. The machine includes steerable caster wheels mounted on the rear of the machine which, together with a single front wheel, allow for a tight turning radius when using the machine. The machine also includes a blade height adjustment which allows for the trenching or edging blade depth to be readily adjusted in a substantially infinite variation. Other aspects of the present invention include an edging machine and a trenching machine, both being of a compact design. Both include an extendable handle which, in a preferred embodiment retracts or folds to allow for the volume of space occupied by the machines to be minimized, preferably, to the extent that either of such machines can typically be carried in a trunk of a standard automobile.

Abstract: A folding knife having a blade locking member carried for sliding movement within a channel defined in the handle, the locking member being movable to a blade locking position when the blade is in an extended position. A spring, or other biasing structures, such as an opposing magnet arrangement, provide a spring-like biasing of the locking member towards a blade locking. In one embodiment, the locking member extends substantially the full width of the handle and is accessible from either side of the knife handle. The locking member includes a ramp on the underside thereof for contacting a projection, or bump, on the rearward portion of the blade tang. An adjustable bushing is provided which allows for adjustment of the blade within the handle to provide for both ease of pivoting of the blade, while reducing any lateral play in the blade within the handle.