Abstract: A hand puppet in which a plurality of different facial components can be removably attached to a head portion to produce different characters, such as monsters, funny looking characters, science fiction characters, etc. The hand puppet has a relatively rigid head portion, and the facial components can be attached anywhere on the head portion, and in any orientation relative to the head portion. A sleeve depends from the head portion, and has an opening at its distal end, and into which an operator's hand can be inserted to support the puppet.The sleeve is preferably formed of fabric which depicts an outer garment for the puppet and the sleeve has a pocket for storing the detachable facial components. Further, the sleeve is designed so that when the pocket is closed, it is basically hidden from view.

Abstract: Extremely fine abrasive particles are incorporated in an elastomeric resin body or coating to produce abrasive articles exhibiting cushioned or resilient yielding qualities having a dual response to in-service conditions. These performance characteristics are accomplished by a structure whose working surface and underlying supporting means produce two distinct and complementary abrading actions, one hard enough to sharpen a hardened cutting tool and to smooth the adjacent surface, and a second of being virtually simultaneously micro-deformable, via the mechanisms of cold flow, at or near maximum or optimum sharpening pressure. Such abrasive articles allow limited local displacement of a volume of the abrasive surface layer in a continuous wave to lift the surface at the tool edge to a height slightly beyond the plane of the edge being sharpened to "wipe" and so refine the extreme edge of the cutting tool and to remove the "wire-edge" as only athree-dimensional form of contact will accomplish.

Abstract: A single shop continuous casting facility is disclosed that comprises furnaces 10 and 10a for producing hot metal, continuous casters 12 and 12a for forming continuous lengths of solidified metal, and a rotating bridge crane 14 for transporting ladles 52 of hot metal from the pouring stands of said furnaces to the casting stands of said casters, the pouring stands of said furnaces and the casting stands of said casters being disposed within the arcuate area serviced by crane 14.

Abstract: A relatively low-cost, lightweight vehicle has a traction belt drive system, a force-spreading air bag suspension, and operational efficiency features. The traction belt cooperates with track wheel assemblies on each side of the vehicle to spread the suspension forces and to provide efficient steering ability. Each traction belt can be in the form of a Moebius strip. The air bag suspension uses integral air bags on each side of the vehicle cooperative with plural flaps pivotable on a central keel to spread varying suspension forces and to smooth the ride over a variety of terrains. The vehicle lends itself to efficient relatively low cost manufacturing techniques using standard materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to a closure device for a container containing volatile liquid. The closure device is attachable to the container and includes a valve assembly having an actuating handle, a valve member associated with the actuating handle and a valve outlet. Preferably the valve assembly also includes a valve body which is attachable to a conduit projecting into the container and through which volatile liquid may be drawn upon operation of the valve assembly.The invention also relates to an auxiliary valve for the container which comprises a valve body attachable to the container which includes a valve inlet for entry of fluid into the interior of the container and a relief valve or bypass passage for venting of excess fluid from the container to prevent build up of excess pressure within the interior of the container.The invention also includes within its scope a container containing volatile liquid having the above mentioned closure device and auxiliary valve attached thereto.

Abstract: A solenoid actuated fluid control valve comprises a porting member including a port and a conical valve seat circumscribing the port, and a relatively movable port closing valve element such as a needle valve element including a resilient conical tip. The valve seat and tip are correspondingly tapered and a small annular bead is provided on the resilient tip which provides for initial and preferably total sealing of the valve. Also provided is a suitable stop such as a shoulder on the needle valve element body adjacent the resilient conical tip thereon which engages an opposed surface on the porting member to prevent overcompression of the resilient conical tip and preferably to limit sealing contact to the area of the sealing bead.

Abstract: A modified die casting process and machine utilizes a shaped and contained charge of molten metal which is formed and moved proximate the gate runner while the die halves are open. The charge is formed between the shot piston and an ejector side plunger which includes a slave driver rod projecting to engage the shot piston. By confining and compacting the charge, a charge more homogeneous and of uniform temperature is provided. When the die halves close, the shot piston further advances moving the plunger against a stop, retracting the slave driver rod and filling the cavity at the desired flow rate. The cavity is provided with one or more impact absorbing devices positioned in recesses on the parting plane of the die.

Abstract: A machine for dispensing dry and moist materials including those which are self-adhering and/or compactible or which tend to agglomerate comprising a material dispensing chute formed at its sides by horizontally reciprocating, expanded metal grid plates which engage and separate material from adjacent material pressing thereagainst for passage through the grids of the plates and metered depositation onto articles or products passing therebeneath. The grid plates have horizontally spaced, downwardly converging upper portions forming a V where the majority of material is separated and horizontally spaced, parallel lower portions forming a narrow transverse width channel which prevents material from loading up between the grid plates in the V, such giving the chute a generally Y-shape in transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A method of adaptive control for use in a controlled system having an adjustable forward loop gain and a control system apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed. The control system measures the value of a parameter which is to be controlled and generates an error signal by comparing the measured valve of the parameter with a desired valve. The error signal is squared and the time derivative of the squared error signal is obtained. The control system compares the length of time that the derivative so obtained has a positive value to the time it has a negative value to obtain a gain control signal, and applies the gain control signal to the forward loop gain. The gain control signal reduces the adjustable forward loop gain until a preselected margin of stability in the controlled system is obtained.

Abstract: An electric generating device of the self-excited, self-regulated, brushless, synchronous type includes an alternator-exciter for producing an electrical output and an adjusting means for adjusting or setting the output voltage of the alternator-exciter substantially independently of the winding arrangement thereof to control the no-load or light load voltage of the electrical output. A deactivating device deactivates the adjusting control when maximum field current is demanded by a load.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for transporting a lighter 136 from a floating position adjacent the stern 130 of ship 101 to a storage position in the cargo hold 138 of said ship, and for transporting lighter 136 from said storage position to said floating position. The system includes crane 102 which is adapted for fore and aft travel along spaced rails 104 and 106 which extend longitudinally along opposite sides of ship 101 and for hoisting lighter 136, and load frame 172 which is suspended by crane 102 and adapted for attachment to lighter 136. Vertically extendable and retractable load frame guide members 108, 110, 112 and 114 depend from crane 102. Removable aft guide members 118 and 120 are mountable on cantilevered beams 122 and 124. Removable fore guide members 126 and 128 are mountable on stern 130. Guide members 118 and 120 are adapted for being positioned below and coaxially aligned with guide members 108 and 110.

Abstract: Fluid actuator includes a lock mechanism for releasably locking the actuator against movement, and a lock release assembly including a lock piston engageable with a toggle linkage upon application of fluid pressure to the lock piston to release the lock mechanism. The toggle linkage is fixedly mounted on a rotatable cross shaft which may also be manually rotated by manual rotation of an external lock release lever attached to one end of the cross shaft for effecting manual release of the lock mechanism. The engaged or disengaged condition of the lock mechanism may be sensed electrically as by providing a target on the external lock release lever for movement therewith toward and away from a proximity switch.

Abstract: A wire stripper apparatus for stripping insulation from a coaxial type electric cable having a central conductor and a drain wire, which may be randomly located about the cable axis, includes piercing members to pierce through the cable insulation and pushing surfaces for pushing the drain wire out of the way of the piercing means so that during piercing and stripping of the cable insulation the drain wire is not damaged. The piercing members may be needle-like members having curved tips that pierce the cable insulation, on the one hand, and nudge, i.e. the pushing function, the drain wire out of the path of the penetrating needle-like members, on the other hand. The method is for stripping insulation of cable, especially of the aforesaid type, including such piercing and pushing steps.

Abstract: A process for producing a foamed synthetic resin body comprising continuously extruding a foamable thermoplastic resin extrudate composition from an extruder die into a reduced pressure zone, subjecting the extrudate to an expansion molding step, a cooling-hardening step and a cutting step while transporting the extrudate through the reduced pressure zone to obtain a foamed piece of predetermined length, shutting off a portion of the reduced pressure zone surrounding the foamed piece from the other portion thereof when the foamed piece has reached a specified position to restore the foamed piece surrounding portion to a normal pressure, subsequently discharging the foamed piece into the atmosphere, and thereafter bringing the surrounding portion into communication with the reduced pressure zone again upon reducing the pressure. Foamed resin bodies of desired expansion ratio and shape can be prepared continuously with high cooling efficiency. An apparatus for practicing the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self energizing pipe gasket includes a base and arm configuration projecting therefrom which cooperates with the base when pipe sections are assembled to cause the lip or sealing edge of the arm to kick away or distend toward the sealing surface of the pipe. To facilitate this action a harder insert is provided in the base in the form of a reinforcing ring providing a less compressible surface for the arm to react against. The ring also stiffens the gasket making it more difficult to dislodge upon assembly of the pipe sections enabling higher compression forces and assuring that the gasket does not go under or below the minimal compression requirements to form a sound flexible yet fluid tight seal.

Abstract: A rotary die head has radially extendable and retractable thread cutting tools moving in paths of different angularity relative to the workpiece to permit one tool to cut a load flank in the workpiece at one lead and another tool simultaneously to cut a stab flank in the workpiece at a different lead, with the tools commonly generating the thread root, whereby a dual lead tapered thread may be formed on the workpiece in one pass. The respective cutting tools may have chasers with multiple teeth to permit the formation of deeper dual lead tapered threads in one pass. The die head may also have a radially extendable and retractable turning tool commonly driven with but moving in opposite directions from the thread cutting tools, whereby the turning tool when extended may form a seal or thread relief surface on the workpiece while the thread cutting tools are retracted.