Abstract: A tire press, loader and method wherein a green tire is positioned by the loader between vertically separated mold sections and then engaged and held at the top bead thereof in registered contact with an upper bead ring of the press mold by a green tire bead elevator in the press head. While such registered contact is maintained, the upper bead ring and bead elevator raise and hold the green tire to the upper mold section as the loader axially clears the green tire and withdraws from the press. After such transfer of the green tire to the press head, the press partially closes to bring the bottom bead of the green tire against the lower bead ring of the press mold for subsequent shaping of the green tire and final closure of the press. The bead elevator includes a radially expandable chuck mounted for vertical movement in the press head which operates, when expanded, to engage and move the top bead of the green tire into registered or fully seated contact with the upper bead ring.

Abstract: A readily removable and replaceable acoustical pad for an interior space dividing system of the type having horizontal and vertical frames forming generally rectangular pad receiving windows with the upper horizontal frame member of each window having a depending flange or flanges forming a tongue, each pad having an upwardly opening central groove along the top edge adapted to mate with the tongue whereby the pad may be inserted in the window by first mating the groove with the tongue and then pivoting the pad to a vertical position into a snug fit in the window. The pad is preferably foam and fabric covered to deform along the bottom, vertical and groove spaced top edges to obtain the snug fit, and includes a frame, the upper element of which forms a V-shape groove. A metal septum is centrally positioned in the frame with fiberglass pads on each side, within the frame. Options include one half size foam covers with tack boards either directly fabric covered or with a one quarter size foam cover option.

Abstract: A solder or other liquid wave forming machine has a solder delivery chamber with a tapered depth profile to deliver solder uniformly from a horizontal stream to plural vertical chambers from which the upwardly flowing solder exits to form a solder wave. The wave has substantially uniform height and contour over its width. A slide valve cooperates with baffles that form the vertical chambers selectively to block flow from a prescribed number of chambers to adjust the width of the solder wave. Curved re-entry baffles direct the flow vector of the solder returning from the wave into a main solder supply tank in a horizontal direction to minimize turbulence at such surface and, thus, the formation and circulation of dross.

Abstract: Plastic tubing of extruded polybutylene and the like has an end reformed into a structural bulb sealing surface which includes a stop flange permitting the tube to be drawn into sealing engagement with a mating part. The tube end is reformed in a press or jig which includes two molds, with the tube end projecting through one mold and toward the other. The other mold is normally chilled or cooled but includes an I.D. mandrel or pin projecting therefrom. The pin is insulated from the other mold. The pin may be heated and/or cooled during the reforming cycle of the process to enable uniform heating of the projecting tube end from both the inside (I.D.) and outside (O.D.) of the tube end. The process and apparatus of the invention provides a more uniform and integral reformed tube end. The cycle time of the process may also be reduced resulting in greater productivity with less energy consumption.

Abstract: The coaster includes a wheeled foot platform, the steerable wheel of which is rotatable on a swiveled axle for effecting a steering action. The swiveled axle extends through aligned horizontal slots in vertical axle guides where are spherically curved. Each axle guide has at least one axially extending flange on which rides a bearing element or roller assembled on the axle. The roller and another bearing element assembled on the axle have complementary curved surfaces in sliding bearing engagement with opposite curved sides of each guide for axially constrained swiveled or turning movement of the axle. Steering of the coaster is obtained by a foot steerable plate mounted for pivotal movement on the foot platform. A mechanical linkage is connected at one end by a sliding pivot to the plate and at its other end to one or both ends of the swiveled axle.

Abstract: A foam extrusion die and monitoring apparatus, including a pair of adjustable die lip members having opposed, rigid die lips defining therebetween an elongated arcuate die orifice, is characterized by position sensors located along the arc of the die lips to monitor the die opening at such locations. The position sensors include sensing styli mounted for movement with the lip members at respective sensing locations such as at the arc ends and arc centers of the die lips, and provision is made for connecting the sensing styli as by precision push-pull, flexible cables to respective linear variable displacement transformers which provide electrical output signals representative of sensed positions to remotely located monitoring circuitry. The apparatus has particular application in a vacuum extrusion line wherein the extrusion die is located inside a vacuum chamber and thus is inaccessible during extrusion.

Abstract: A sterile intra-circulatory monitoring system utilizing an indwelling catheter with fluid under pressure being forced through a fluid line to the catheter. The system includes a normally stagnant pressure chamber to which a transducer is connected. The contents of the chamber are periodically flushed back into the fluid line by utilizing a flush valve and a venturi unit. The venturi unit may be an integral part of the flush valve or separate component. With the present invention a closed loop system is utilized which does not compromise the sterility of the system or the environment.

Abstract: A lightweight portable jig assembly for supporting a power drill and for advancing and retracting the drill towards and away from an overhead workpiece comprises a carriage having a first tubular portion slidable on a tube standard and a second tubular portion within which slides a second tube on which the drill is mounted. A releasable lock mechanism is cooperative relation with the carriage and tube standard prevents downward movement of the carriage on the standard while permitting upward movement of the carriage on the standard whereby the carriage may be selectively positioned on the standard simply by lifting the carriage to the proper vertical height and then released to lock same in place. Advancement and retraction of the drill towards the overhead workpiece is obtained by a manually operable lever and linkage which further is operable to effect automatic release of the releasable lock mechanism upon retraction of the drill.

Abstract: A seed planting device is disclosed comprising a generally flat strip 1 pointed at one end for insertion into the ground with a seed 3 mounted on the underside of a tongue 7 bent outwardly from the plane of the strip.

Abstract: A light reflector unit (12) for use with a photographic camera (10) for reflecting light from a light source (13), such as a flash gun, towards the subject to be photographed, the unit (12) comprising a hollow casing (15) having a window (16) for admitting light from the light source (13) into the casing (15), means (28) within the casing 15 for splitting the admitted light and for condensing the split light into separate beams of light, reflective surfaces (26) within the casing (15) for deflecting each beam of light to one of a plurality of windows (18) located such that when the reflector unit (12) is positioned on a camera (10) they face in the same direction as the lens of the lens unit (11) of the camera (10) and are disposed at discrete locations around the lens unit (11).

Abstract: A single ended hydraulic actuator requiring hydraulic pressure to extend the piston for raising the cowl door of a jet engine and the like. A preload spring device carried in the piston-rod assembly produces an extend force when the actuator is retracted and the door is closed which preloads the actuator to help eliminate fretting of the bearings and piston rod which otherwise can occur due to flight vibrations when unloaded.

Abstract: Bags loosely containing feathers are distributed onto oil on water to enable the feathers to take up the oil. The bags have openings sufficiently large to permit the oil to enter and contact the feathers within the bags. The bags can be linked together, for example in a chain using ropes. Once the feathers have become saturated with oil the bags can be picked up from the water.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention facilitate surveys of buried structures, such as pipelines or the like, in particular by substantially automatically measuring and indicating distance information. Preferably that information is obtained by a transducer that produces serial data representing the length of wire bailed out from a portable reel and a cyclical counter responsive to such data for counting the serial data. A signalling device, such as a horn, strobe light, etc., is activated each time the counter completes a cycle as an indication that a predetermined distance has been covered since the last measurement was made and that the next potential measurement should be made. The number of pulses of such serial data counted in each cycle of the counter can be manually adjusted to obtain small or large distance intervals between test locations at which potential or other measurements are to be made to obtain a substantially continuous survey of the pipeline.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the effect of certain agricultural chemicals, viz. fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, nematocides and plant-growth regulators, is improved by co-administration of them with one or more of the following additives: carbohydrates, organic acids (particularly fatty acids and acids of the Krebs tricarboxylic acid cycle), vitamins and co-enzymes, purine and pyrimidine nucleosides and nucleotides, naturally occurring fats and oils, certain amino acids and (but not when the agricultural chemical is itself a plant-growth regulator) plant-growth regulators. The invention provides compositions containing one or more of the said agricultural chemicals and one or more of the said additives, and methods of improving the harvest of a given crop by applying to it one or more of the said agricultural chemicals and one or more of the said additives, either simultaneously or within up to about ten days of one another.

Abstract: A partition head assembly for a partition wall panel is characterized by a telescoping head in the top of the partition panel and a strut at at least one end of the head which is adjustably vertically secured to the partition panel at all vertical positions thereof by a strut retaining clip. Vertical adjustment of the head assembly may be obtained without disassembly thereof and with the panel assembled in a partition wall.

Abstract: Briefly, according to one aspect of the invention, liquid crystal material, and especially nematic material, is encapsulated; according to another aspect the encapsulated liquid crystal material is used in liquid crystal devices, such as relatively large size visual display devices; and according to further aspects there are provided methods for encapsulating liquid crystal material and for making a liquid crystal device using such encapsulated liquid crystal material.

Abstract: An apparatus for wiping lenses or the like to clean them includes a wiping means for wiping a lens and a support means for supporting the wiping means in operative relation. Adhesive means may be used to attach the wiping means to the support means. Respective support means may be connected by a force fit frictional engagement of a protruding member in a receptacle associated with respective support means. A pair of support means may have respective heads for holding respective wiping means in operative relation; one of the heads may be concave and the other convex with respect to a plane therebetween. Moreover, means to facilitate manual grasping of the apparatus for convenient use also may be provided as part of the support means. A cleaning material or the like may be provided in the wiping material.

Abstract: A heating vent is disclosed in which A T-shaped housing of light weight sheet metal is inserted in the plastic vent hose of an electric clothes dryer to provide passages through which the dryer is vented either outdoors through the vent hose or indoors through a sock-like filter having its open end stretched over the lateral outlet of the housing according to whether a pivoted valve member in the housing is in its summer or winter position.