Abstract: An astigmatic ruler for determining an amount of astigmatism associated with a cornea of a human eye by qualitative methods comprises a target member having a plurality of apertures therethrough. One of the apertures is circular and the remaining apertures are elliptical in shape. The elliptical apertures are associated with various incremental amounts of astigmatism. The target member is adapted to be positioned between the eye and an illuminated surgical microscope such that light is projected through a selected aperture and onto the eye. The amount of astigmatism associated with the eye is indicated when a selected aperture is presented to the eye and the aperture has a degree of ellipticity that generally balances the amount of astigmatism associated with the eye so that a generally circular image is reflected from the eye.

Abstract: A three dimension optical transit target for use in optical tooling, when a construction site of interest is not within view of optical transits, comprises a rod having a target head on one end and an engagement area on another end for contact with the construction site. The target head includes at least one target, preferably defined by cross-hairs, located on a line passing through a rotational axis of the rod and the construction site of interest when the three dimension target is in use. When the three dimension target is supported such that the cross-hairs are visible from a sufficient number of optical transits, the location of the construction site in relation to the transits may be determined if the distance between the cross-hairs and the construction site is known. Several embodiments are described; in one a single set of cross-hairs is used in a target head which, in use, is supported with the cross-hairs positioned on a vertical line passing through the site.

Abstract: A multifunctional magnetic systems, draft, centrifugal force turbine which employs magnetic attraction and repulsion systems including a turbine with turbine magnets and magnetic shield magnets. The magnetic attraction and repulsion systems are augmented by a cooling system which creates a draft through the motor. The magnetic systems simultaneously with a compression-partial vacuum motor which is integrally connected with draft and atmosphere pressure upon turbine curved blades. A compression-partial vacuum motor has a centrally located within a compression-partial vacuum piston within its rectangular and arched character. That placement of the compression-partial vacuum piston completes the formation of two shrinkable-expandible compartments--one at each end of the compression-partial vacuum piston. Within these compartments are contained atmosphere which is intermittently compressed and forced through jets to impinge upon turbine curved blades.

Abstract: An animal isolation cage ward has upper and lower confinement units positioned within a housing and mounted on wheels for mobility. The units are heated for animal comfort and have exhaust ports in each connecting to a plenum within the housing. An exhaust blower draws air inwardly through the units, through the exhaust port, and out through a duct for routing contaminated air outwardly. The cages are fitted with doors of transparent material which are slightly smaller than the door opening, so that a gap is maintained about the periphery of each of the doors for airflow into the unit. The size relationships are designed so that a slight negative pressure is maintained within each of the cage units for inward airflow. The housing is designed so that air from one unit does not contaminate the other unit. A high efficiency particulate matter filter can be installed in the exhaust duct.

Abstract: A pencil holder includes first and second holder members having coaxial longitudinal through bores which are sized for receiving a pencil. A converging neck is located at a lower portion of the first holder and a chuck arrangement positioned at the juncture between the first and second holder members for gripping the pencil and maintaining its longitudinal positioning within the bore. The pencil tip protrudes through an aperture in the lower end of the first holder. Use of the pencil holder allows a writer to comfortably use pencils beyond a point at which the pencil would normally be discarded.

Abstract: A magnetic reciprocating motor including a block with a crankshaft journalled therein and a cylinder with inboard and outboard portions mounted thereon. A piston with a piston magnet is slidably disposed in the cylinder inboard portion. A carrier assembly reciprocates within the cylinder outboard portion and has a carrier magnet mounted thereon. A head magnet is mounted on a cylinder head attached to the cylinder outboard portion. An electrical distribution system is provided for selectively energizing at least one of the magnets to induce repulsion therebetween for reciprocating the piston and carrier assembly within the cylinder.

Abstract: A mirror assembly is provided adapted for use with a vehicle and includes a mirror housing, a mirror, a support bracket for mounting the mirror housing on an associated vehicle and an expandable ball and socket arrangement associated with the mirror housing and support bracket for selectively retaining the mirror in a desired rotational position relative to the vehicle. The ball and socket arrangement comprises a partially spherical socket formed in the mirror housing, a thin-walled socket liner retained therein and an expandable ball securely connected to the mounting bracket. The expandable ball comprises a plurality of partially spherical segments each attached to a shank and resiliently deformable outwardly from an axial bore therethrough. A draw bolt is received in the axial bore and when drawn therethrough, engages the spherical segments biasing same outwardly to resistably engage the socket liner.

Abstract: A pulmonary resuscitating device designed for single time use and for use with administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a heart failure patient. The device includes an endotracheal tube for insertion in the patient's trachea, a mouthpiece for a rescuer, and an air passageway therebetween. Included in the air passageway is a two-way valve which allows exhaled air from a rescuer to pass to the patient's lungs while diverting the patient's exhaled air to the atmosphere. An oxygen tap is provided between the rescuer's mouthpiece and the valve to allow oxygen enriched air to be administered to the patient.

Abstract: A grain drill suspension system including a support member comprising a parallelogram link structure and a walking beam member. The walking beam member has furrow cutting discs attached to a front portion thereof and a press wheel attached to a rear portion thereof. The support member includes parallel vertical members and cross links. The walking beam is pivotally connected at a medial portion thereof to a rear vertical member of the parallelogram structure. A front vertical member is attached to a vertically adjustable attachment member associated with the suspension system. A first spring extends upwardly from a rear portion of the walking beam to the rear vertical member biasing the furrow cutting discs downwardly. A second spring cooperates with the front vertical member and the cross links resiliently urging the rear vertical member and walking beam downwardly. The springs, along with the position of the front vertical member, cooperate to determine the depth of the furrow cut by the furrow discs.

Abstract: An aspirating horizontal mixer for aerating and liquid mixing includes a float with tiltable supports extending downwardly into a body of water and an air delivery conduit which are connected to a mixer unit supported below the liquid surface by the supports and tiltable therewith. The mixer unit includes a submersible motor powering a propeller and a nozzle member situated in the flow path of liquid from the propeller. The nozzle member has an internal venturi for mixing air from the air delivery conduit with the liquid flowing therethrough and includes a converging wall formation forming a constriction and a diverging wall formation leading downstream and merging with the interior wall of the nozzle member. An air injection port extends through the diverging wall formation adjacent the constriction and is in communication with the air delivery conduit for mixing air with the liquid as it flows through the venturi.

Abstract: A rupture disc system comprises a rupture disc including a dome portion and a flange portion interconnected by a transition region and a mounting mechanism for mounting the rupture disc by the flange portion thereof in a pressure relieving vent. The rupture disc includes a thickness reducing groove at least partially circumferentially surrounding the dome portion and located in the transition region thereof. Preferably, the rupture disc is of the reverse buckling type and the groove does not completely surround the dome portion so as to define a tab or hinge within that part of the transition region which is ungrooved or not as deeply grooved as a remainder of the transition region. In addition, the slope or radius of curvature may be increased in the region of the tab. The rupture disc also includes an indentation on the dome portion. The indentation is preferably greatest on the dome portion at a location spaced from the transition region and directly between the tab and a crown of the dome portion.

Abstract: An E-Log I field computer includes a controlled power supply, timers, and a current level stepping relay for circulating cathodic current through a buried metal structure, interrupting the current to allow the decay of residual polarization of the structure and electrolytes within the surrounding ground, and measuring the circulated current and the voltage of structure relative to the ground. The circulated current, voltage of the structure to the ground, and other parameters of interest, such as, the output voltage of the power supply are printed. Then the current level is increased by the stepping relay, and the process is repeated. When a sufficient number of readings have been taken, the data is plotted as a semi-log graph, resulting in an E-log I curve from which the corrosion current and therefore the cathodic protection voltage can be determined.

Abstract: An inside storm window or other window cover is mounted to a window frame by two magnetic tape strips, one which adheres to the frame and another which adheres to the window cover. Before the second tape strip is attached to the window cover, it is positioned with its magnetic side face to face with the first strip so that the strips are oriented to magnetically attract one another at all points around the window. Then, the window cover is attached to the second strip, and the magnetic attraction between the tape strips assures an effective seal around the entirety of the window.

Abstract: A tobacco harvester includes a self-propelled vehicle frame having driven front wheels and steerable rear wheels. A pair of harvester units are positioned side-by-side on the frame and each unit includes mechanisms for harvesting a row of tobacco plants. Each unit includes a tobacco stalk gripper which conveys a stalk into a cutting blade and which cooperates with an impalement conveyor to impale a stalk onto a tobacco stalk spear positioned longitudinally of the subframe. The impalement conveyor transfers the stalks to one or more stalk conveyors which slide the stalks along the spear toward a stick loading conveyor. The stalk conveyors are operated to time the travel of the stalks between the cutter and the stick loading conveyor. The stick loading conveyor is positioned opposite a stick supplier or magazine which holds a supply of tobacco sticks. A stick positioner receives the sticks one at a time from the magazine and places them on the stick loading conveyor aligned with the stalk spear.

Abstract: A game for a plurality of players wherein each player is provided with a playing card, said playing card being presented to the players by means of a mass distribution publication. The playiing card comprises a matrix of deliniated areas, such as squares, in rows and columns, each square bearing a certain indicia which is to be matched with a corresponding indicia found in a plurality of promotional coupons present in the same publication. The player matches such indicia and continues to do so until he has satisfied any one of several particular combinations of matched indicia. The player also may be any one of several required to ascertain the correct total number of coupons having appropriate indicia that appear in the publication in order to win the game or become eligible to progress toward winning a prize.

Abstract: A closure device for an opening in a pipe and the like is provided which includes an elastomeric sealing ring having a threaded bore which tapers from an outer to an inner end of the sealing ring. A threaded plug having a tapered configuration from an outer to an inner end thereof is threadably receivable in the sealing ring whereby the sealing ring is expanded and engages the opening in sealing relation. The plug includes a multi-sided boss fixedly attached to and extending from its outer end. The sealing ring engages the opening when the plug is received in the bore thereof in a frictional engagement whereby the sealing ring resists rotation and axial sliding within the opening as the plug is axially advanced into the bore.

Abstract: A rupture disc apparatus comprises a rupture disc holding cartridge and a fixed receptacle for receiving the cartridge. The receptacle is positioned in a vent so as to communicate on opposite sides thereof with the vent. The cartridge is removable from and replaceable into the receptacle when no pressure exists within the vent so as to position the rupture disc to block passage of fluid through the vent when the disc is unruptured. A first of the receptacle or cartridge includes circumferential seating rings on opposite sides thereof and the other of the receptacle or cartridge includes seats for the rings. The seats and rings are positioned adjacent to the vent. The rings are urged into locking position in the seats by pressure from within the shaft and are manually removable when substantially atmospheric pressure exists within the vent.

Abstract: A dryer for printed material and the like including a frame structure with upper and lower heater panel assemblies vertically movably mounted therein. Each heater panel assembly includes a plurality of quartz tube heat lamps. The heater panel assemblies are reciprocated between open and closed positions by a pneumatic cylinder. An air handling system includes a drying air subsystem, a cooling air subsystem and an exhaust system. A control system includes an infrared detector for determining the temperature of printed material in the dryer and automatically adjusts the output of the heat lamps to maintain a predetermined web temperature.

Abstract: A workpiece stand including a base and an upright standard with a lower end attached to the base and an upper end. A universal joint assembly is mounted on the standard upper end and includes a tension spring and first and second mechanisms for adjusting the tension of the tension spring. A cross arm is connected at its middle to the universal joint assembly and includes opposite ends. A pair of clamp assemblies are attached to the cross arm at its opposite ends. The clamp assemblies are adapted for securing a frame for a workpiece.