Abstract: A stair bracket for constructing a staircase is formed from a single strip of sheet metal. One edge of the strip at one end and is upturned to form a flange having a length at least equal to the depth of a stair tread, and the same edge at the other end is downturned into a channel having a length at least equal to the height of a riser, the channel and flange meeting in the middle of the strip. In use the strip is bent at a right angle in the middle at the juncture point with the flange being on the inside of the angle and the channel being on the outside.

Abstract: The present invention proposes an apparatus or jig for the controlled spot heating of a substrate having soldered components therein and a designated locus to be heated for removal and/or replacement of a component. The apparatus comprises a frame and support means on the frame for holding and positioning the substrate with the locus to be heated along a designated axis of the frame. A rail at one end of the frame parallel to the designated axis holds a heating arm. The heating arm extends along an axis perpendicular to the designated axis and can be positioned along the rail. The heating arm ends in a directing means that is positioned over the designated axis and directs a heating medium, e.g. infra red radiation or a heated gas, onto a locus to be heated. The directing means limits the area of the application of the heating medium to only that area necessary for removal of the component.

Abstract: A HDR closed loop geothermal steam generating system comprises of three large vertical bores driven in solid rock to a depth of 2 to 3 miles and terminating in an enlarged bottom chamber from which a series of horizontal tunnels radiate. A plurality of small bores are then driven down from each horizontal tunnel to a depth where the rock temperature is high enough for steam generation. A steam generating chamber is placed at the foot of each small bore to which feed water is supplied. Steam is piped from the steam generating chambers to a common header in each horizontal tunnel. Each header feeds into a steam riser in one of the large vertical bores which conveys the steam to the surface. Steam condensate is recycled as feed water without the need of pumps.

Abstract: A cable support or hanger for holding cable or wiring above suspended ceilings comprises a single piece of wire configured to have an upturned U at its upper end to hold the cable. One leg of the U bends sharply downwardly and the wire then angles over to a first straight portion and thereafter angles back to a second straight portion. The wire then terminates in a toe. The hanger is adapted to be wrapped by hand onto a support wire of a suspended ceiling and firmly engage the support wire with a multiplicity of contact points that prevent sliding and/or disengagement.

Abstract: A safety release device particularly useful for tethering horses comprises a cylindrical housing, a central shaft therein having on one end a spring retainer/trigger and on the other end a capture washer held by a stop or shoulder on the shaft, a spring between the retainer and the washer, two opposed spring loaded capture dogs engaging the capture washer and preventing it and the shaft from being pulled from the housing until released and fastening members, one attached to the end of the shaft and another attached to the housing to permit lines to be attached thereto. The operation of the device is such that when a sufficient pull is exerted on the shaft, the spring compresses allowing the retainer/trigger to move toward the capture washer against the action of the spring and in so doing to force the dogs apart releasing the washer and thus the shaft.

Abstract: An applicator for applying pressure sensitive adhesive labels that have no memory or are "limp" is characterized by the use of a transfer wheel having a resilient perforate surface through which a vacuum is applied to pick a label off of its supporting web. This can be done without the need to waste the label. The label so picked up0 by the transfer wheel is then applied to a product with the resilient surface effecting a pressured squeegeeing action to firmly adfix the label.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the thickness of sheet material and especially for use in bank note counting machines. Two sensory elements have a measuring field, such as an electric, magnetic or ultrasonic field, maintained between them. The elements which are initially in contact are separated by the thickness of the sheet material passing therebetween which causes a measurable change in the measuring field which change is used to determine the thickness and/or the count of the sheet material.

Abstract: A portion controlled packaged slice cooked whole muscle boneless cut of meat having the characteristic configuration of that cut is produced by: trimming, cooking and selecting a group of pieces of the cut all of which have a cooked weight within .+-.6% of the median weight of the group; compacting each piece while still hot from the cooking to a pre-determined length for that group and chilling the pieces while so compacted; setting the number and blade spacing of a single pass multi-blade slicer to suit the pre-determined length of the pieces and produce slices of a pre-determined weight, including the two end slices and passing each piece across grain through the slicer while maintaining the ends of each piece as the piece passes through the slicer under a considerable confining pressure.

Abstract: A portion controlled sliced boneless whole muscle fresh meat product all of the slices of which have substantially the same weight and thickness and the packaged product having the natural configuration for that cut is produced by grouping trimmed pieces of the cut according to weight ranges and passing the pieces of one weight range under considerable confining pressure through a single pass multi-blade slicer the blade spacing of which is pre-set to produce slices having a target weight, and immediately packaging the cut so sliced.

Abstract: In a photographic color correction head filters are movable across a light path by DC motors. The motors drive cams via high reduction gearboxes and the filters are carried on supports urged against the cams by springs. The filters remain in their selected position when the motors are switched off due to internal friction in the gearboxes.

Abstract: A removable drumstick mallet head comprises (1) a hollow rubber core the bore of which is sized to fit over the end of a drumstick, and (2) a cover, preferably of felt, drawn down tightly over the core.

Abstract: A knife for trimming wallpaper has two tapered body parts 8 and 9 between which is held a tipped cutting blade 5. The body parts have external side faces which are flat around central recesses. When the side face of a body part is in engagement with a flat surface 4, such as a wall, the tip of the blade is a predetermined distance from the plane of the flat surface. When the end face of the body is brought into engagement with a surface transverse to the flat surface, such as an architrave 3, the knife can be drawn down in a stable manner to cut the wallpaper at the predetermined distance in a neat fashion.The two parts of the body are identical and contain crossing inclined grooves to contain the blade so that it projects from a corner of the body.

Abstract: A solder leveller comprising a solder bath into which a board to be soldered can be inserted and then, as it is withdrawn, levelled by air knives positioned above the bath. Recirculating means are provided in the form of ducts on each side wall of the bath, the ducts having ports directing a flow of solder against opposite sides of a board to bias the board away from the sidewalls of the bath, thereby reducing the risk of the board being scratched as it is inserted and withdrawn from the bath.

Abstract: A two part RIM nylon-based urethane block polymer consists of an anionic metal salt catalyst in minor proportions and a prepolymer consisting of the reaction product of a diisocyanate with a mixture of a polymeric triamine having primary amine groups and a polyether diol in a large excess of a ring lactam which serves as a reaction diluent. The prepolymer preparation process is characterized by the immediate formation of a visible high molecular weight polymer gel which redissolves with continued agitation. No free or extractable polymers, diols or isocyanate is observed in the polymer product.

Abstract: A uniform, portion pre-sliced roast beef product is made without objectionable loss of original muscle and fiber by: trimming a primal cut of beef; vacuum tumbling with water to soften and extract protein binder; forming and placing into a shape-determining cylindrical cook encasement; cooking; crust cooling and removing the encasement; slicing in one pass cross grain through a multi-blade slicer in a manner to exclude air contacting the slices; and vacuum packaging. The product stores well with essentially no blooming and without change in taste.

Abstract: A horseshoe full pad to be interposed between a metal horseshoe and the hoof is made of an energy absorbing microcellular urethane foam having a tough outer skin. The pad is characterized by having a central layer or sheet which covers and can be trimmed to the hoof. Stabilizer bars and heel shock reducers are molded into the turf side of the pad and rise to about the level of the horseshoe so that they along with the shoe take up and absorb some of the shock. A frog pad may be molded into the hoof side of the pad to further protect and/or stimulate it.