Abstract: A material-handling apparatus and method are disclosed for use in high-speed feeding of bar stock or the like to a precise registered position with respect to a machine tool. The apparatus includes a stop which senses the position of the material and is coupled to a controller for a high-speed conveyor. The stop causes disengagement of the high speed conveyor in advance of the registered position and simultaneously causes an inching device, such as a movable vise, to move into gripping engagement with the work piece. The inching vise brakes the speed or advancement of the stock to an inching speed, and when the stop senses advancement of the work piece to the registered position at the inching speed, the inching vise advancement is terminated. Reversing of the inching vise upon an overshoot is also provided.

Abstract: A bulk material weighing apparatus 10, according to the present invention, includes a weigh frame 12 that is suspended within a conveyor frame 20 by three load cells 14, 16, and 18. The weigh frame has idler rollers 50, 52, 54, and 56 that are so positioned to be level with respect to corresponding rollers 34 and 36 of the conveyor frame. A conveyor belt 22, for transporting the bulk material 24 to be weighed, is supported by the rollers of both the conveyor and the weigh frames. The weight of the material conveyed by the conveyor belt is transferred to the load cells by the weigh frame. Material weight is found by summing the force outputs of the three load cells. The load cells are preferably positioned such that each load cell reacts one third of the weight of the material when uniformly distributed upon the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A durable, composite safety ball is disclosed which is formed with a soft, resilient, substantially closed-cell plastic foam core. The safety ball, including the cover, has a type A durometer less than about 60 and preferably in the range of about 25 to about 45. Preferably the core is surrounded by an inner skin which is formed to substantially prevent the entry of water into the foam of the core and, together with an outer heavy, tightly knit nylon cover, to provide sufficient strength to hold the soft cellular plastic foam together as a unit. The soft foam core is preferably a urethane foam and enables the formation of balls which have a performance similar to regulation baseballs and softballs and yet will not produce a substantial risk of injury to players or risk of property damage. The composite safety ball is also sting-free and has a long useful life.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for support of the haul rope of an aerial tramway or the like is disclosed. The assembly includes rocker arms, rope supporting sheaves rotatably mounted to the rocker arms and cantilevered from an inwardly facing side of the rocker arms. The rocker arms are additionally formed with rope catching groove or recess positioned outwardly of the sheaves and having a configuration which will enable not only the rope, but a hanger arm and grip to pass over the rope catcher in the event that the haul rope derails from the sheaves. The rocker arm assembly also preferably includes a platform which acts as a mount for the rocker arms and can be used for maintainence and repair of the rocker arms and rope supporting sheaves. Additionally, the rocker arm assembly includes haul rope derailment responsive apparatus formed to shutdown the tramway operation upon derailment of the rope from the sheaves.

Abstract: A headlamp assembly 10 including an elastic headband 16 and a tubular shaped clip 14 adhesively bonded to the elastic headband. A commonly available flashlight 12 can be inserted into a holster-like clip for use as a headlamp, or alternatively, it can be withdrawn from the clip for use as a flashlight. When used as a headlamp, the clip positions the light source of the flashlight behind the user's eye 30 with its light beam 34 angled toward the line of sight 36 of the user. The user may direct the light beam by rotating the headband to the appropriate position. Grit particles within the tubular section 22 of the clip act to grasp and retain the flashlight.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for luminous displays having one or more gaseous electric discharge tubes provided with electrode contact bearing ends and disposed within a letter or sign housing mounted at the exterior side of a building wall. An electrical housing for a high tension transformer and electrical raceway is mounted at the interior side of the wall and rigid metal conduits extend through the wall and have their opposite ends secured to and in communication with the interiors of the letter and transformer housings for accommodation of a high tension conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the support and organization in a compact and efficient manner of the various components required for a solar heating system. Of importance are a pair of elongated upstanding members mounted in spaced apart relation for positioning therebetween of a pair of superimposed pumps and unitarily mounted electric motor drives therefor. The upstanding members are formed with internal passages and ports for the close and compact support of the balance of the components required for the solar loop circuit and a heat exchanger heated fluid such as potable water or spa water or various combinations of heated fluids.

Abstract: A gown 19 for nursing mothers that includes a body portion 21 with sleeves 23 at each side. The body portion of the gown has an opening 27 down the back of the gown that is closed by closure ties 29 and 53. In the front of the gown, the body portion covers the patient's torso from the breasts downward. An upper portion 34 of the gown extends downward from the shoulders to the patient's waist and is sewn to the body portion of the gown in a region 39 adjacent to the patient's sternum. The upper portion forms two flaps 35 and 37 that extent downward from the sewn region. Access to the patient's breast is gained by simply raising a flap. Ties 47 and eyelets 51 are provided to secure the flaps in the raised position. Elastic 33 is sewn into the upper edge 31 of the front of the body portion to keep to gown in position under the patient's breasts.

Abstract: A cargo supporting device, preferably a partition-like member, is constructed for insertion in the interior of a cargo transporting container, such as a truck freight car, or marine cargo carrier, to support the cargo during movement of the container. The partition or bulkhead is constructed of any suitable stiff material and has positioned upon it a pair of foot assemblies at opposite edges disposed to frictionally engage opposite inner walls of the container. One of these foot assemblies includes an adjustable mechanism disposed to move a wall engaging bearing element or pad automatically against the container walls, to apply an increased bearing force to such walls, and to lock the foot assembly, and consequently lock the cargo support device, in a fixed position inside the container against the cargo.

Abstract: A device to locate the position of a communication satellite with respect to a specific site on the earth's surface including a transparent screen having markings to indicate the positions of one or more satellites for that site with respect to a horizontal platform and a north orientation, a table including an arcuate means to mount the screen, a wide-angle viewer fixed to the table with its axis perpendicular to the tangent of the arcuate means at its south position, a compass fixed to the table oriented with north-south parallel to the axis of the wide-angle viewer and a level to indicate when the tabletop is horizontal.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for attaching a sail to the mast of a sailing vessel, which will allow the sail luff to move laterally and forwardly of the stern side of the mast for improved air flow past the mast and sail. The device includes a follower for mounting on a vertical guide of a standard mast and provides in mast-mounted position a substantially horizontal track having a mid-portion at the stern side of the mast. The track is formed for reciprocation of a luff-attaching shackle between its opposite ends. The track opposite ends are positioned forwardly of the mid-portion and laterally of the mast in mast-mounted position.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for luminous displays having a gaseous electric discharge tube within a tube housing. The structure includes a connector housing adapted for mounting within the tube housing and for receipt of a high-tension wire. A tubular dielectric member dimensioned for receipt of the electrode bearing end of an electric discharge tube is carried by the connector housing for longitudinal reciprocation through a wall thereof with proximal and distal ends of the member positioned respectively within and externally of the connector housing. The dielectric member is mounted for reciprocation between extended and retracted positions of its distal end with respect to the connector housing wall and such distal end is open for telescopically receiving the electrode bearing end of the electric discharge tube. A spring urges the dielectric member to its extended position and an electric contact is carried within the member for engagement with the electrode contact on the tube end.

Abstract: An automatic valve bag placer is disclosed which is constructed to sequentially remove valve bags from a bag magazine, manipulate the end flap of the bag for opening, open the valve and place the same on a fill spigot. An improved bag magazine and feeding assembly in which a plurality of trays are mounted on the elevator and feed stacks of limited number of bags onto a pick-off support structure ensures that bags are picked off one by one. The bag is oriented by a horizontal and then a vertical conveyor to a near vertical orientation, which orientation is retained thereafter until the bag is placed on the fill spigot. A pair of carriages and associated clamping means first pass the bag through a deflector assembly to orient the valve for opening, and then, after opening, the second carriage carries the bag to and inserts the same over the fill spigot.

Abstract: A device to load semiconductor wafers into a furnace when the wafers are contained in a boat, the device including a tower movable horizontally on rails and a ram mounted on the tower to be independently movable horizontally so that the joint movement of the ram and the tower provide a telescoping effect, the ram also being tiltable in a vertical plane to a position with its end higher than the portion attached to the tower whereby a boat carrier held on the end of the ram in its tilted position can be placed in the furnace, lowered into contact with the furnace floor by moving the ram to a horizontal position and then retracted without causing sliding of the boat carrier against the furnace floor.

Abstract: A desk assembly for mounting to and carrying by a wheelchair or the like in the location of a conventional armrest is disclosed. The desk assembly extends across the lap of the user of the wheelchair in a deployed position, folds to a relatively compact condition, and is pivotally movable to a stored position located where a conventional armrest would be provided. The desk assembly is further formed for selective locking of the desk top in various sloped orientations and movement of the desk top toward or away from the user. A reading lamp is also provided for the desk assembly.