Abstract: An artificial lens is adapted to be implanted within the eye to replace the natural lens. A pair of arms projecting from the lens are held by a frangible thread such that the tips of the arms are spaced from but biased toward the peripheral portion of the lens. The lens is implanted immediately in front of the iris with the arms inserted behind the iris. After implanting of the lens, a laser beam is employed to break the thread. The arms then spring forwardly in a manner to firmly pinch the iris between their tips and the peripheral region of the lens.

Abstract: A self acting lock which automatically locks down the dump body of a truck and automatically releases when the body is to be raised. Two pairs of lever arms which are pivoted together cooperate with a single acting hydraulic cylinder to provide a hoist for raising and lowering the dump body. The upper arms are pivoted to the body and the lower arms are pivoted to a pair of links which are in turn pivotally mounted to the truck frame. Each link carries a hook which engages with a keeper rod carried on the upper pair of arms to lock down the body. A leg extending from the upper arms pivots the links in a direction to engage the hooks with the keeper rod in response to lowering of the dump body to the load carrying position. The linkage is arranged such that initial extension of the cylinder pivots the links in a direction to release the hooks from the rod before continued extension of the cylinder raises the dump body in the usual manner.

Abstract: A blower forces outside air into a heat conductive shell located within a fireplace. A partition separates the shell into inlet and outlet sides, and a baffle causes the air to follow a tortuous path through the inlet side. Heat conductive pipes extending above the shell direct the air between the inlet and outlet sides of the shell. The heated air is distributed within the building through ducts that connect with the outlet side of the shell. The blower forces air to flow through the device at a rate at least as great as the rate of flow through the flue plus the rate of air consumption by the fire.

Abstract: The device compensates for the offset of a sheet element which is movably mounted on at least two parallel rollers which are alternately supply and receiving rollers. At least one (1) of these rollers is inclinable relative to the other and is controlled by means (17-20) for detecting the offset of the sheet element and acting on compensating means (3-12) which modify the angle of the inclinable roller. This device comprises an offset compensating member (3) which normally rotates with the inclinable roller when the sheet element is correctly centered. The rotation of the compensating member is temporarily interrupted and converted into a linear displacement by the action of at least one abutment (9) which is shifted by the detecting means when the latter detects an offset of the sheet element. The compensating means cooperates, in its linear displacement, with the profile of a cam (12) which modifies the position of one end of the inclinable roller and consequently the angle of the latter.

Abstract: A bladed rotor is mounted for rotation within a conduit for carrying fluid. A sensing element is also installed in the conduit and the sensing element and the rotor together, when connected in an electrical circuit, are capable of differentiation between opposite directions of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A solar energy panel and an energy storing medium for use therewith is the subject of the present invention. The solar energy panel comprises a container having a transparent pane and designed to hold an energy storing medium. By utilizing a transparent material the solar radiation is passed directly to the energy absorbing medium thereby increasing the operating efficiency. A novel energy storing medium is also used in the energy panel. This medium comprises a paraffinic or aromatic hydrocarbon having a specific gravity of less than one, a melting point higher than 50.degree. F. and a relatively high heat of fusion. By using an organic compound a medium is provided which has the desired energy storage capability and which is noncaustic and relatively light weight.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring the amount of coating material that has been applied to a pipe. Opposed parallel sensing arms are positioned in contact with the coated pipe. One of the arms is movable relative to the other arm and in response to variations in the thickness of the coating. A direct mechanical linkage may be utilized to provide a readout of the variations in coating thickness or the movements of the arm may be used to vary the output of a potentiometer to provide an electrical readout. The potentiometer output may, in turn, be coupled with digital circuitry to provide a digital display. The circuitry may also include logic circuitry which will translate the variations in readings into positive or negative deviations from a desired predetermined coating thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wire clothes hanger having an upwardly projecting hook, and two cantilever arms extending from the hook in opposite directions. The free end of each of the arms is bent to form a downwardly projecting pair of spring jaws which are capable of gripping an article of clothing.

Abstract: A 24-hour operable baghouse plant with on-line maintenance features. The filter cartridge, comprising a tube sheet and a plurality of vertically suspended filters, includes a skeletal framework and a plurality of retaining bars traversing the bottoms of the filters to receive a stud projecting from the end cap of each filter. The tube sheet is equipped with retractable locking bars which cooperate with guide and support members attached to the housing walls to wedge the tube sheet to sealing engagement with the housing.

Abstract: This invention discloses an apparatus for coupling and controlling the overall operation of the operable components of a heat pump system. All of the components of the system are coupled through a single master switching relay which provides a central location from which all of the operations of the system can be initiated and tested. Time delay relays are provided to stagger the start of the secondary heating units of the system to avoid an electrical power surge.

Abstract: A fire ladder includes as opposite sides a pair of elongate flexible cables in the form of interwoven strands of wire. Hollow tubes flattened and scored on their upper surfaces extend rigidly between the cables to provide the ladder rungs. The rungs have initially open ends into which looped portions of the cables are inserted. One side wall of the rung is then crimped inwardly and pressed against the opposite wall to firmly clamp the cable within the rung. Hook-like arms secured to the ends of the cables serve to suspend the ladder from a window sill and may be folded by means of a hinge structure to a collapsed storage position occupying little space. A spring located within the hinge arms maintains the hook-like support arms spaced apart during use, while stops prevent the arms from pivoting excessively.

Abstract: A device which facilitates the testing of pressure switches included in the brake systems of locomotives. An air line is tapped into the pressure line of each switch and is provided with a quick connect coupling conveniently located on a test panel. Another quick connect coupling on the panel connects with the main air reservoir of the brake system. Also located on the test panel adjacent to the respective couplings are pairs of electrical receptacles for each switch. The receptacles connect with electrical conductors which lead to opposite sides of each switch contact. A preselected test pressure may be applied to each switch by connecting an air hose equipped with an adjustable reducing valve and pressure gauge between the main air reservoir coupling and the coupling for the switch to be tested. An ohmmeter may be connected across the receptacles for the switch contact under test to indicate whether the switch contact is open or closed at the test pressure.

Abstract: A lighting device for use with a fishing line is the subject of the present invention. A base support which is positionable on the ground or floor of a boat mounts an elongated transparent tubular member. Within the tubular member is contained a light bulb, battery and gravity activated switch. The tubular member is pivotally mounted relative to the base support and will always assume a vertical upright position regardless of the angle of the supporting surface. A pair of V-grip couplers at the top and bottom of the tubular member are adapted to releasably receive the fishing line. When the fishing line moves in response to a fish striking, the tubular member will be pivoted causing the fluid switch to close thereby lighting the bulb.

Abstract: A tool used to lift a hanging type plant onto and off of an overhead hook. The tool includes an elongate shaft having a handle at one end and a V-shaped tip at the other end which is formed to engage a ring carried on the upper end of ropes that suspend the plant container. The ring may be held on the tip of the tool and thereby lifted onto and off of the hook.

Abstract: In overhead cranes of the kind including a box girder fabricated of elongate plates and torsionally loaded by a trolley running on three rails respectively at three corners of the box girder, the structure of the box girder is usually such that flanges project from the corners thereof and prevent proper support of the rails in optimum corner positions in alignment with the walls of the girder. This problem is now solved by providing a rail with an elongate flange and securing the rail and flange respectively to marginal portions of a pair of adjacent plates of the box girder. In this way the rail can be secured in optimum position at the corner of the girder and forms with the flange a member which encloses the corner flange and serves as a stiffener or reinforcement for the corner. In a preferred construction the rail and flange are the respective arms of a generally V-section elongate member enclosing the corner of the girder.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for coupling and controlling the operable components of a heat pump system to effectively regulate the temperature within a controlled environment. The operable components of the heat pump system include an indoor thermostat for monitoring the temperature within the controlled environment, an outdoor heat pump for heating and cooling the controlled environment, and an indoor fossil fuel furnace for supplementing the heating capacity of the heat pump. These components are operably coupled through a master switching relay which is arranged to use the monitored temperature of the controlled environment to select the operating mode of the system thereby providing an economical and efficient central control point.

Abstract: A jack device for supporting and raising grain bins of the type constructed from top to bottom. The jack has an A shaped frame and an outwardly inclined brace leg. Three fixed pulleys and a floating pulley receive a cable that may be taken up by a winch mounted on the frame. The floating pulley is equipped with a hook which engages the bin in a manner to hold it at an elevated position and to raise the bin as the cable is taken up by the winch. The multiple fixed pulley arrangement acts to distribute the forces over the frame to thereby increase the stability of the jack in handling large bins.

Abstract: A pedal operated control mechanism for controlling the direction of travel of a fishing boat. In order to remain at a location convenient to the fisherman, the pedal is mounted on a bracket arm which rotates with the boat seat. The pedal has a control wire which enters a stationary control housing and which raises and lowers a pair of lever arms as the wire extends and retracts. The lever arms raise and lower a ring which in turn causes extension and retraction of a main control cable in order to change the direction of the trolling motor. A sliding brush assembly provides continuous electrical connection between rotating conductor wires on the seal assembly and stationary conductor wires which apply current to the trolling motor.

Abstract: A cleaning purge head for a baghouse traveling centrally of the clean air plenum to isolate and back flush with high pressure air successive compartments of filter bags arranged in two parallel banks of filters. Through a depressible seal, the purge head communicates with a pressure chamber supplying cleaning air. A cam activated valve regulates the bursts of cleaning air supplied to successive filter bag compartments as a delivery conduit registers therewith such that the purge head alternates in cleaning the two banks of filters on successive passes through the baghouse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centering two concentric cylinders having different diameters is the subject of the present invention. A linear reference line is projected from an illuminating source along the length of the inner cylinder. At the other end of the cylinder is a photo receiver operable to provide a displacement reading related to the amount of light striking the receiver. As the inner cylinder is rotated about its center point, the amount of light striking the photo receiver varies based on the amount of arcuate displacement present at each point of the cylinder. The photo receiver then converts the incoming light into a displacement reading related to the arcuate diplacement of the inner cylinder. The readings thus obtained are correlated with the points on the inner cylinder where they occurred to indicate the point and amount of maximum arcuate displacement. Thereafter, the outer cylinder is arcuately displaced a corresponding amount so that it will conform to the inner cylinder exactly.