Abstract: Noise reduction enclosure for enclosing a sound-producing machine, including interconnected upstanding side walls and a ceiling at the upper ends of the side walls, wherein the side walls and ceiling are constructed of beams and support members having sheet metal panels floatingly mounted thereon. Resilient sealing members are mounted on the periphery of the sheet metal panels to isolate the panels from the beams and support members and to prevent noise leaks. Resilient grommets coact with fasteners to isolate the fasteners from the panels and to fix spacing between the panels and beams or support members, thus controlling proper compression of resilient sealing members. Openings are provided in the side walls of the panels and doors coact with the openings to provide access to the machine. The doors and doorways are arranged such that about ninety percent of the machine is available for servicing when the doors are in open position.

Abstract: A portable hair dryer of the hard hat type having the general configuration of an articulated, collapsible "Z." The head assembly and a base are pivotally mounted at the ends of a head mounting assembly on parallel, horizontal axes so that the base and the head assembly can be pivoted to nest the base and head mounting assembly within the head assembly. Electrical cord retaining means are provided on that portion of the head mounting assembly, the middle element in the hinged "Z," which is exposed to the head space within the head assembly when the dryer is in the collapsed or nested storage condition, and the cord is introduced to the dryer through that same portion. The cord can therefore be stored out of the way within the head assembly, without interfering with pivot hinges, or with moving surfaces which are closely spaced apart during nesting.

Abstract: System for handling and applying a non-suspended refractory slurry to ingot stools used in the production of steel ingots, including an apparatus capable of selectively applying refractory slurry to ingot stools which receives slurry from a storage tank. An agitator is provided in the tank to continually agitate the slurry, and wet air is used to clean the lines carrying the slurry when they are not being used for application of slurry to prevent clogging.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for the treatment of respiratory, skin, eye and related ailments and conditions wherein steam or a related vapor at a reduced temperature is admixed with particulate medicament and exposed to an afflicted area within a confined space.

Abstract: Mechanism for applying a squeezing force to a food product in a mold, including a fluid motor driving a reciprocal rod for engaging and applying a force to a plug movably positionable within the mold. The reciprocal rod is driven by the fluid motor to move the plug into the mold until the resisting force of the food produce within the mold balances the force exerted by the fluid motor. The squeezing force is applied a plurality of times to obtain a uniform cross-sectionally dimensioned food product.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for supporting a bicycle safety flag wand adjacent the rear end of a bicycle so as not to interfere with a rider swinging his leg over the rear wheel when mounting or dismounting. The bracket is preferably formed of hollow tubular or strip stock with one leg being longer than the other and with the distal end of the longer leg adapted to be secured to a rigid part at the rear of the bicycle such as on one of the sides of the rear wheel fork so that the bracket extends to adjacent the rear end of the bicycle. The second leg of the bracket extends generally upwardly and being open and hollow serves as a socket for receiving the bottom end of the flag wand.

Abstract: The terminal block assembly includes first and second terminal blocks each having a plurality of terminal connectors mounted therein. Each terminal connector in the first block includes a terminal blade which extends from the block and each terminal connector in the second block includes a recessed female jack portion adapted to frictionally receive and hold one of the terminal blades extending from the first block for establishing individual releasable electrical connections between each one of the extending blades and one of the female jack portions. Each female jack portion is loosely mounted in the second block so that it is self-aligning when it engages one of the blades extending from the first block.

Abstract: A portable hair dryer comprises a flexible bonnet, a combined blower and heater power module for supplying heated air under pressure to the bonnet, and a control module for selecting the operating mode of the dryer. The power module is suspended against the back of the user by means of a pair of support straps which extend over the user's shoulders to the control module. By balancing the weights of the power and control modules, a stable condition is obtained which enables the user to perform other activities during the drying operation. The power cord of the dryer depends from the control module to assist in balancing the weights, and flexible electrical conductors in one of the support straps convey electrical power to the power module. The other support strap is removably attached to the control module to facilitate setting up and taking down the appliance.

Abstract: A hair curling appliance includes two hair curling wands and a base assembly for heating the wands to a desired temperature. The base assembly includes two overlapping plate-like retention members having trough-like end portions which coact to form sockets for receiving the wands, and center portions which coact to form a cavity for holding an electrical heating element. The wands include hair retaining clamps operable from the handles of the wands, and heat insulating end caps which reduce the possibility of a user coming into accidental contact with the heat transfer portions of the wands.

Abstract: Portable tire changing apparatus and method for mounting and demounting heavy tire duty tires on a wheel including a hydraulic cylinder having removable shoes for mounting and demounting, respectively. The cylinder is removably fastened to and retained by additional mounting and demounting structures, both of which are compact and anchorable to a wheel hub eliminating the necessity of affixing a wheel and tire assembly to a bulky stand. The mounting and demounting structures utilize wheel hub rigidity as a base to retain differing supporting mechanisms which position the cylinder enabling the attached respective shoe to maneuver the tire beads away from and over a wheel rim flange.

Abstract: Finishing sharpener including a handle having a pair of wings extending therefrom and each wing being in the form of a flat bar defining a sharpening edge that is arcuate in cross section and smooth. The method of using the sharpener is concerned with the proper positioning of a knife blade relative the wings and a proper engagement between the knife edge and the sharpening edges of the wings.

Abstract: Air hose couplings for railway cars are prevented from uncoupling by wire form locking means reacting between the body of one coupling and the lip of the other coupling. In certain embodiments a wire form is an integral part of the air hose coupling assembly and has a laterally extending arm for manual unlocking. In another embodiment a detachable bifurcated wire form is applied to coupled air hose couplings after a train is made up and may be discarded when the respective cars are uncoupled. Alternatively, the detachable wire form also can be mounted on the clamp that secures the air hose to the coupling, or on a clamp that fits over the hose clamp, or mounted directly on the main body portion of a coupling.

Abstract: A system for loading a continuously moving conveyor belt comprises a slicer for producing bacon strips from a bacon slab, a conveyor for conveying bacon strips from the slicer, and a transfer station for transferring bacon strips from a serial arrangement on the conveyor to a side-by-side arrangement of spaced transverse rows on the continuously moving conveyor belt. A novel control system is provided to coordinate the operation of the slicer and the transfer station to obtain a continuous and uniform loading of the conveyor belt and to avoid the production of partial or deformed bacon strips by the slicer. The loading system is particularly well adapted to loading unfried bacon strips onto the conveyor of a bacon frying oven.

Abstract: A disposable comfort pad for bedpans having a pad member shaped to cover the flesh-engaging seat portion of a bed pan. The bottom or underside of the pad member, at least in the distal end areas and bight portion area, is coated with pressure sensitive adhesive which is shielded prior to use of the pad by sheet material which can be readily stripped away. At least one, and preferably three, pul tabs or loops project from the pad member for use in removing the pad from a bedpan. The pad member has an inexpensive filling within an envelope or cover formed of soft, thin, plastic film.

Abstract: A surface thermocouple assembly including a metal sheath having thermocouple conductors extending therethrough in spaced relation from each other and from the sheath by electrical insulating material, an opening in the sheath wall at the hot junction end and through which the conductors are extended, a ceramic plug receiving the conductors and mounted in the opening, a fusion weld of the conductors outside the plug, and a V-shaped pad with a knife-shaped edge integrally formed at the junction end. The thermocouple is made from a length of sheathed thermocouple conductors by forming a keyhole slot at the junction end, removing the insulation around the conductors, bending the conductors through the opening of the keyhole slot, mounting a ceramic plug in place, fusion welding the ends of the conductors outside the plug to define the thermojunction, inserting a metal end plug at the junction end, welding closed the slot and the end plug in position, and building up a V-shaped welded pad at the hot junction end.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic drive system for a doubleacting hydraulic cylinder which drives or rocks the walking beam of an oil well pump. A closed circuit hydrostatic drive system is used to operate the double-acting hydraulic power cylinder unit and includes a variable displacement reversing swashplate pump driven at a predetermined constant speed by a prime mover such as an electric motor. Suitable automatic control means are provided for synchronizing the reversing movement of the swashplate with the rocking movement of the walking beam.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating steel mill molds and stools including a sample bomb or container and means for filling the bomb with a precise amount of product to thereafter be discharged through a spray nozzle. The apparatus further includes means for automatically rinsing same after each application.

Abstract: A rotary contactor for use in conjunction with a thermocouple mounted on a container so as to permit measurement of the temperature of the contents at an interior location while the container is being rotated about a longitudinal axis. The rotary contactor device includes a pair of contact pins one of which has an axially projecting portion and which is formed of a metal corresponding to that of one of the thermocouple materials while the other contact pin is formed of a metal corresponding to the dissimilar thermocouple material. A slip ring concentrically embraces a section of the projecting portion of the one pin and is suitably insulated therefrom while being electrically connected to the other pin. The slip ring is formed of the same metal as the pin to which it is electrically connected. A sleeve bearing and a spring-loaded brush are mounted on the slip ring and are formed of the same metal as the slip ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacture of wet process phosphoric acid wherein phosphate rock and sulfuric acid are separately added to a combination reactor and cooler unit at a rate of addition such that the increase in calcium content and sulfate content in the slurry contained in the unit are small. Circulation of the slurry is provided and the rate at which sulfuric acid and phosphate rock are added is small compared to the rate of circulation of the reactor slurry.

Abstract: A system for offloading bacon strips arranged side-by-side in equally spaced transverse rows on a continuously moving conveyor belt comprises a transfer station for transferring bacon strips from the conveyor belt to a serial arrangement on a second unidirectionally driven conveyor, a product grouping station for rearranging the bacon strips into groups, and a paper feed station for placing the groups on sheets of parchment paper prior to packaging. The transfer station includes a cyclically driven carriage which transfers the bacon strips in each transverse row from a carriage loading station comprising a plurality of cantilevered rotatably driven rollers contiguous to the conveyor belt to a carriage offloading station comprising a plurality of cantilevered conveyor belt assemblies.