Abstract: A fluidized patient support structure in which a mass of granular material is received within an open top container between a fluid diffuser plate and a flexible sheet on which the patient may lie in a supine position. Pressurized fluid passes through the diffuser plate and suspends the granular material in a fluidized form. The diffuser plate has a predetermined variable contour and a predetermined depth of fluidized material thereabove adequate to support a patient in a supine position.

Abstract: A pet door comprises a frame hingedly supporting a flap undersized relative to the opening therefor in the frame; the resulting gaps therebetween are weatherproofed by sealing means in part constituted by co-extensive plastics magnet strips on confronting edges of the flap and frame. One magnet strip at least is mounted for movement in a direction across the gap into and out of face-to-face sealing contact with the other magnet strip, respectively as the flap enters and leaves its closed position; the movement is responsible for jam-free closing and opening.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for restraightening depending bent metal end skirts of cylindrical containers, such as beer kegs, wherein the containers moving in a path of travel for processing are automatically interrogated by sensing heads which engage the rims of the normally circular end skirts of the containers to detect the presence or absence of a bent portion thereof. Containers having detected bent skirt portions are directed from the main processing path to a skirt straightening station where the ends of the container are supported in retaining rings of upper and lower straightening heads while arcuately spaced pry levers, or paws, located centrally in each retaining ring move radially outward from a central nested position to engage inwardly bent skirt portions of the container to lift and push the same outwardly into a circular configuration. The container is rotated in the rings between engagements by the paws to bring all portions of the skirts into position for straightening.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously treating staple length fibrous materials by applying a liquid dye or other chemical to the fibrous materials, conveying the liquid impregnated materials into and through an elongate heating tube under compression to react or fix the dye or chemical in the fibers, and collecting the fibers; and wherein the continuously moving loose fibers are condensed into a fibrous web before passage through the liquid dye or chemical applicator to provide sufficient cohesive integrity to the web so that it can be passed into and through the liquid dye or chemical, and the driven nip rollers of the dye applicator without parting.

Abstract: A mechanical harvester for marine bivalve mollusks and the like. A harvester head is provided for movement along a bottom to be harvested, which head includes driven tined elements for dislodging mollusks from the bottom and for removing dislodged mollusks and conveying same away from the bottom. The harvester head is supported by a cable system, preferably from a marine vessel, that is adapted to impart a substantially constant lifting force on the harvester head over a predetermined range of water depth, such that a predetermined pressure only is applied by the head against the bottom during harvesting, whereby damage to the bottom that would hinder replenishment of marine life is avoided. The harvester head is also capable of pitch and roll movement to follow the contour of the bottom during harvesting.

Abstract: A process for continuously dyeing or chemically treating textile staple length fibers having thermoplastic properties while conveying the fibers in a desired path of travel wherein the fibers are impregnated by passage through a liquid dye or chemical applicator and subsequently compressed and advanced in compressed form into and through a confined heating zone for reaction of the dye or chemical with the fibers, and wherein the fibers are preheated prior to their compaction at a temperature below their second order transition point but above the reaction temperature of the dye or other chemical applied thereto to compact and reduce the bulk of the same before their compression and delivery into the confined heating zone.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for continuously treating moving textile material in staple length fiber form by impregnating the moving fibers with a dye or other chemical, compressing and conveying the impregnated fibers in a continuous compacted mass form through an elongate heating tube to fix or react the dye chemical on the fibers, and periodically discharging in compacted mass sections of the fibers onto a conveyor which transports the fibers while they are being washed. The improvement in such apparatus comprises a pair of agitating rollers and a pin conveyor section disposed in the path of movement of the compacted fiber mass sections to break the sections apart and generally uniformly distribute the fibers on the washing conveyor to facilitate removal of excess dye or chemical therefrom.

Abstract: A saw blade is adapted for attachment to a power operated surgical saw having a blade element with teeth disposed along at least a portion of the periphery of same to define a cutting surface and having a saw connector receiving opening therein. A guard element is secured to the blade portion on at least one side thereof and extends outwardly therefrom in a direction transverse to the major axis of the blade. The guard portions are set at a predetermined distance from the cutting surface so as to define a depth of cut of the saw blade, whereby a surgeon may utilize the blade, either rotary type, or oscillatory type for sternal splitting incisions without the danger of too deep a cut to a point where injury to the heart and great vessels can occur. Likewise, blades according to the present invention can be utilized with greater safety for the patient in removal of casts and for orthopedic surgical purposes.

Abstract: A device for removing curl, folds and the like from a moving web in which elongated fins associated with top and bottom plates cooperate to define a web passageway therebetween. The top plate is preferably associated with the bottom plate such that the top plate is biasable away from the bottom plate by seams, etc., passing therebetween, and may include quick release coupling to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the device without affecting the process with which the device is employed. Relative positions of the top and bottom fins may be adjustably controlled. Preferred different fin spacing permits the handling of webs of varying weights and constructions.

Abstract: A hosiery toe closer has a hollow tubular carrier, to which suction is applied for everting hosiery, and an unloading mechanism for dispensing hose in an everted state on a table or tray. The unloading mechanism is a carriage reciprocally-movable forwardly of the carrier and the carriage supports at least one hose holder engageable with a welt of a hose on the carrier, so that as the carriage moves forwardly, it pulls the hose welt along the carrier while simultaneously the hose toe is sucked into the carrier; continued movement of the carriage pulls the hose out of the carrier and discharges it in a straight, everted condition.

Abstract: A solar powered reactor for collecting and converting solar energy into heat energy in the form of a heated fluid, such as steam, comprising a reactor vessel for containing a heat transfer fluid, such as water, and having an inlet and outlet for introduction of the fluid and discharge of the heated fluid in the form of steam therefrom. The vessel contains a light transmitting window in its upper portion, above which is located in spaced, heat-insulated relation therefrom, a single large concentrating lens of the Fresnel type construction to receive and direct both direct and reflected sunlight into the reactor vessel. A solar reflector is mounted on a trackway to move about the periphery of the concentrating lens to follow the path of the sun and reflect sunlight into the lens for direction through the light transmitting window and onto one or more heat conductive metal elements located in the reactor vessel.

Abstract: Hosiery toe closing and boarding apparatus has a pair of heatable boarding forms to which hose are fed by a reciprocally-acting transfer mechanism from carriers of a known toe closing machine. The boarding forms are mounted on a turret to move between hose-receiving and hose-discharging positions respectively associated with wind-on and wind-off rollers. At their ends remote from the toe closing machine the boarding forms are interconnected by a hinge with a rotatably-drivable hinge pin for causing one form to swing into a superposed, registered position over the other form immediately prior to discharge of the hose from the boarding apparatus.

Abstract: A macerator is disclosed which has an impeller which on its upstream side is provided with radial fins adjacent fixed teeth and through which a number of slots pass. On its downstream side an outwardly flared member is provided with radial vanes. Effluent entering the macerator is thrown by the fins onto the teeth and can than pass through the slots to be thrown outwardly by the member and then to the macerator outlet. The provision of the member provides a significant pumping effect.

Abstract: An spring hinge construction comprising a pair of hinge leaves having hollow knuckle portions axially aligned to form a hinge barrel containing a torsion spring. A pintle in each end of the barrel operatively engages an adjacent end of the spring to fix it against relative rotation. One pintle is fixed, through a leaf knuckle, to one hinge leaf, and the other pintle is rotationally adjustable to set a desired torsion on the spring, after which it is fixed against counter-rotation by means of a loose pin which is inserted through an elongate slot in a knuckle of the other leaf and into a selected radial passageway opening in the pintle which aligns with the end of the slot.

Abstract: A process for recording and projecting a three dimensional visual scene onto a receiving surface from which the scene may be viewed in stereopsis by the unaided human eye. A scene is recorded from right and left view positions which are laterally separated by a distance of no more than about 1 inch, and separated in a direction generally perpendicular thereto by a distance of no more than about 1 inch, groups of one or more recorded right and recorded left views are alternately projected onto a receiving surface in sequence such that the visual duration of each group varies from a minimum to a maximum time which is generally proportional to the distance of the nearest non-moving object of special regard in the scene from the recording positions and is approximately equal to the visiopsychological supression rate of the human eyes.