Abstract: Disclosed is an inventive apparatus which is interchangeably useful as a container or a megaphone. The apparatus includes a rigid, hollow, double-walled body open at its bottom through an outlet and opened at its top through a port. The apparatus is designed to be hand-held. A removable and reinsertable cap and base are designed to fit respectively into the port and outlet. When inserted, the cap and base make the body useful as a temperature maintaining potable liquid container. When removed, the cap and base open the body for use as a megaphone.

Abstract: This invention relates to a portable, high performance solar powered oven, distiller, heater and light directing survival apparatus which is fabricated of light weight, flexible materials that can be easily collapsed for convenient mobility.The invention is formed by concentrating incident solar radiation by means of a funnel shaped reflector into a transparent container which concentrically surrounds a solar heat exchanger. The reflector, transparent container and heat exchanger are constructed in such a way as to permit the heating of food, water, air or desalination reactants to temperatures in excess of 400.degree. F., yet when collapsed, can all fit within the small portable transparent container.

Abstract: A powered, electromechanical manipulator assembly is disclosed which includes an electrically powered input device coupled by a hydraulic circuit to a mechanical manipulator. The hydraulic circuit is a fixed-volume, closed circuit in which a master piston-cylinder assembly is driven by a D.C. motor and is hydraulically coupled for direct and proportional displacement of a slave piston-cylinder assembly to enable smooth, accurate and easily connected displacement of a manipulator arm. The manipulator arm is formed of a plurality of modules each having a fixed-volume, closed, hydraulic circuit and a slave cylinder. Both the slave and master cylinders includes ambient pressure surfaces which are exposed to the water pressure at the operating depth of the assembly so that variation in depth does not materially affect the response or dexterity of the remote manipulator apparatus. An improved terminal module or jaw assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A compact, variable speed pulley assembly is disclosed in which pulley faces are mounted to a pulley shaft for rotation with respect thereto and for relative axial displacement along the shaft. A torsion spring is connected to transmit a torque force from the shaft to at least one of the pulley faces. The pulley assembly further includes a motion damping brake which applies a sliding friction force resisting relative angular displacement between the pulley faces and the pulley shaft. This friction force damps out over-correction by the torsion spring for speed variations induced by changes in the V-belt width, machine dynamic imbalance and workpiece characteristics. Fatigue of the torsion spring is eliminated without increasing the pulley assembly bulk by providing a second compression spring or providing a conical torsion spring.

Abstract: An auxiliary test system for use with a long transmission line such as one having a telephone at an end thereof whereby from a remote central test station a line may be tested for a short between wires, an open, an abnormal load condition or reversed connections and the relative location of such a fault condition determined.

Abstract: The user of a remotely controlled, powered manipulator is provided with audible feedback signals which provide useful information relating to the force and speed of the motor. An audio tone is generated and is frequency modulated by a signal which corresponds to motor speed. The tone is amplitude modulated by a signal corresponding to motor force thus providing the user with an intuitively interpretable feedback signal having a speed-proportional pitch and force-proportional volume. In the case of an electric motor, voltage and current can be monitored to provide speed and force signals respectively. Additional modulation means are disclosed for introducing a force-proportional warble component to said tone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a counterbore and a bore in a workpiece for toe fastening of the piece to a second member is disclosed. The apparatus includes a router mounted with its cutting bit transverse to the workpiece so that the bit may be progressively urged into the workpiece surface to produce a shallow counterbore. Additionally, a drillbit is mounted so that it can be urged from the edge of the workpiece in an opposite direction toward the counterbore to produce a fastener receiving bore which communicates with the counterbore. The router and drill are mounted on a common carriage, and in one embodiment the carriage is pivoted, while in another it is slid, in opposite directions to produce the counterbore and bore. A method of forming the bore and counterbore is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tool for reforming a male, externally threaded, gardenhose fitting is disclosed. The plier-like tool includes pivoted lever arms which carry transversely extending swaging lobes that can be inserted inside a deformed hose fitting. The lobes are notched to receive an inwardly extending annular end flange commonly present on such fittings, and expansion of the lobes and relative rotation of the fitting and the lobes swages and reforms, not only the length of the fitting, but the end flange. The tool also includes recesses that can be used to initially open the fitting and to finish-up the reforming process.

Abstract: An automatic mail banding apparatus is disclosed in which mail is positioned in a stack in a mail receiving tray and is clamped to a movable portion of the tray. A rubber band applying assembly receives a rubber band at a position along the side of the tray, expands the band while axially aligning the expanded band with the stack of mail, moves the band axially toward the stack to surround the stack with the expanded band, and then releases the band around the stack. The movable portion of the tray pivots to move the stack to a new orientation while the stack of mail remains clamped to the movable portion of the tray, and a second band is applied to the stack by the band applying assembly in a transverse orientation to the first band.

Abstract: A cushion assembly for cushioning obstacles to prevent injury to skiers. Inflated gas bladders are held upright against obstacles such as ski lift support columns. The materials used for fabrication are selected to be substantially water-impervious so that melted snow cannot refreeze and create an undesirably rigid cushion that will injure a skier who skis into it. The cushion assembly is adjustable to include as many bladders as necessary to cushion the obstacle against skier impact.

Abstract: A valve especially designed for use in a prosthetic device such as an artificial limb wherein the limb stump is mounted within a mating socket provided by the prosthetic device and is firmly secured therein by vacuum sealing, the valve being is connected to vent the lower portion of the prosthesis socket when manually actuated. The valve includes a central core section of elastomeric material which is formed with a passageway therethrough for venting the prosthesis cavity and which is formed with an enlarged valve chamber and a valve set facing away from the prosthesis cavity. A valve member is mounted in the chamber and is moveable to and from the set to provide sealed and vented positions respectively. The movement of the valve is controlled by a finger engaging button which is in turn biased by elastomeric nodules to move the valve member to its seat thereby sealing the prosthesis chamber.

Abstract: An automatic bag tying apparatus for converting an open bag loosely holding a substance into a tight package. A first gripping assembly tightly grips the unsealed bag toward its mouth. A second gripping assembly loosely and slidably grips the unsealed bag to form a neck. A displacement assembly displaces the gripping means relative to each other to cause the gripping means to move apart until the substance stops against the second gripping means. Bag closure applying apparatus then applies a closure to the bag in close proximity to the substance to create the final, closed, tight package. The tying apparatus further includes a guide assembly, and the gripping assemblies open sufficiently wide to allow passage of the bag and product therethrough which enables gravity loading of the apparatus. Tightening of the bag about the product is also controlled by pressure sensing apparatus to prevent over-tensioning of the bag.

Abstract: A slat conveyor having a drive shaft with grooves running axially to the shaft and driving a plurality of endless conveyor belts connected to each other on the cargo carrying side with slats positioned transverse to the direction of travel and having on the other side of said belt teeth running parallel to the slats and shaped and positioned to engage in the grooves.

Abstract: A ball point pen cartridge capable of being pressurized in a pressure vessel including an end stopper having an enlarged section shaped to seal the end of a cartridge tube, a narrower section connected to the enlarged portion and extending into the cartridge, an axial tube running completely through the enlarged section and partly through the narrower section, a radial tube in the narrower section that intersects the axial tube and a flexible, gas impervious tube surrounding the narrower section to form a check valve with the radial tube.

Abstract: A quick adjusting saddle locator for a bicycle including a quick release saddle post holding element and an external spring urging the saddle assembly toward an upper position when the saddle is released with a stop establishing a pre-set lower position and a pre-set upper position being established by the maximum expansion of the spring.

Abstract: An elastic band cutting apparatus is disclosed which includes a movable blade mounted proximate an elastic band stock holding structure for displacement to effect cutting of the tubular stock. The apparatus also includes a movable anvil which cooperates with the blade to engage the cut elastic bands so as to grip the same between the blade and anvil. After cutting is completed, one of the anvil and blade are displaced with respect to the blade so as to break any bonds which have formed during the shearing process. The apparatus further includes stock feeding assembly which will advance the stock to the cutter and eject previously cut and separated bands onto band manipulating apparatus. A method for cutting and separating elastic bands also is disclosed.

Abstract: A chemical bath apparatus is disclosed in which an open topped beaker having a heater mounted to the exterior wall thereof is supported in an open topped surrounding housing or shell by a support assembly, the beaker being in spaced relation to the shell. The support assembly includes a sleeve mounted in sealed relation around the heater so as to isolate the same from corrosive fumes and a resilient pad extending over a substantial area of the bottom wall of the beaker for support of substantially the entire weight of the beaker and chemical substance through the bottom wall. Vent openings for convection cooling between the shell and sleeve are also provided.

Abstract: A rotary hand tool driven by reciprocal thrusts of a handle in which reciprocal motion is caused by extensions from a rotating shaft assembly engaged with elongated, axially spaced helical slots in a housing coaxial with the shaft and fixed to the handle.

Abstract: A micro-climate temperature control apparatus for heating and/or cooling of plants is disclosed. The apparatus includes an array of flexible, individually movable plastic tubes which are positioned under the plant root systems and/or used as space heating and cooling elements proximate the plant foliage. The tubes are preferably formed of EPDM plastic enabling their use with high-temperature water sources, as well as conventional sources. A notched tube securement strip is also disclosed which enables arrangement and securement of the individually movable tubes in a wide variety of configurations and also facilitates the use of relatively short input and outlet distribution manifolds.