Abstract: A closure and seal construction for a high-pressure oxidation furnace and the like having a quartz chamber and an integral quartz wall formed with an opening for receiving into the chamber material to be processed, the wall providing an annular surface surrounding the opening and being formed with an annular recess in the surface surrounding the opening; a combined cooling and sealing tube mounted in the recess and protruding slightly therefrom; a closure mounted for engagement with the tube and wall surface; and the tube having an elasticity responsive to a closing pressure to resiliently retract and provide simultaneous sealing engagement of the closure with the wall surface and tube.

Abstract: A flexible wedge for use under the die of a press to compensate for deflection of the die when force is exerted against it, the wedge being elongated and tapering across its width and having graded flexibility along its length with the portions nearer the ends of the wedge being more flexible in order for the wedge to deflect as a uniformly load beam when a concentrated force is applied at its center to position it under a die.

Abstract: A protective body shield including a honeycomb core arranged with the axis of each cell perpendicular to the body of the wearer and a layer of resilient foam covering at least that side of the shield in contact with the body to produce a shield that is rigid and shock-absorbing in the direction of anticipated impacts, but flexible and yieldable in other directions so as to not interfere with movement of the wearer's body.

Abstract: A threaded fastener having a self tool movable from an operable position to an out-of-the-way position which includes a threaded shaft, a laterally expanded head having a cavity beneath it surrounding the shaft, holes in either side of the expanded head, a D-ring having its opposite ends in the holes through the sides of the head, and an elastomeric ring such as an O-ring surrounding the threaded shaft and extending partly into the cavity so that when the threaded fastener is screwed into a threaded opening to receive it the O-ring is forced into the cavity when the fastener is tightened providing enough friction to hold the D-ring in its out-of-the-way position. If the object being held with the threaded fastener has a circular cavity having a diameter greater than the diameter of the D-ring, the D-ring, in its out-of-the-way position, will also lie in that recess where it will not interfere with the use of the object being held with the threaded fastener.

Abstract: A device for supporting a soft-cover book having a stiff spine including a hook to extend from a slit in the spine, a locking element beneath the hook to engage the slit in the spine and a support element that is connected to the locking element and extends beyond it in two directions, the support element being adapted to support the book by its spine and to lie between adjacent pages in the book, with the whole device made of flat sheet material not thicker than 1.2 millimeters.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously transferring a plurality of stacks of sliced or bulk food product from a holding station, such as the output of a slicing and stacking machine, to a receiving station, or the like, for loading and packaging of the food product. The device includes a rapidly and continuously operating accumulating conveyor for transferring a plurality of stacks from the holding station to a transfer station, and a shuttle-like, product-engaging member mounted proximate the transfer station for rapid, reciprocating movement transverse to the conveyor for transferring the plurality of stacks from the transfer station to a loading station. The product-engaging member has a plurality of concave portions, each formed to receive one stack of the plurality of stacks of product.

Abstract: A removable partial dental prosthesis is disclosed in which a universal, resiliently displaceable coupling is provided between the abutment tooth from which the prosthesis is stabilized and the base of the prosthesis which rests on the alveolar ridge. The coupling includes an arm cantilevered from an abutment tooth clasp and a resilient tubular member mounted to the arm and secured by a clip to the base. A method for support of the prosthesis in the mouth for limited displacement is disclosed as is a method to manufacture the prosthesis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for root zone heating of plants is disclosed. The apparatus includes an array of flexible, individually movable, plastic tubes which are positioned under the plant root systems. The tubes are preferably formed of EPDM plastic enabling their use with water from geothermal and solar pond sources, as well as conventional sources.

Abstract: A car on tracks behind the knives of a shear machine, has a section for receiving product cuttings when the car occupies one position on the tracks, and means are provided for receiving scrap cuttings when the car is moved to another position, the car being capable of additional movement on the tracks to a position to the rear of the machine for convenient disposal of cuttings carried by it. Work support carried by the car, supports work prior to shearing and, when possessed of magnetic qualities, will magnetically grip the work and enable adjustment thereof for shearing, by movement of the car. In lieu of magnet work supports, roller supports may be provided, and such roller supports may be power driven.

Abstract: A reinforced concrete tank to surround a steel tank for storage of liquified natural gas which includes a base plate and an upstanding cylindrical wall with the base plate having a plurality of polygonal swing plates hinged to it to move about the hinge in a radial direction but not in a tangential direction and suporting the cylindrical wall above the base plate on projections from the wall that bear on the tops of the swing plates. The tank thus supported permits radial motion of the base plate due to thermal expansion or contraction but resists tangential forces such as those caused by earthquakes or explosions.

Abstract: A grip assembly and method for detachably mounting a chair, gondola or the like to a movable cable is disclosed. The grip assembly includes a movable jaw, spring biasing means coupled to bias the jaw to a closed position, and jaw actuating means in the form of opposed toggle joints coupled to move the jaw between open and closed positions upon the application of equal, opposite and aligned forces to knee portions of the toggle joints. A mechanism for applying the actuating forces to the grip assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a paint roller which includes a cylindrical cylinder in which the roller may be suspended while it is still attached to its operating handle, and a nozzle fixed to direct a stream of water against the roller in a non-radial direction to wash paint from the roller while at the same time causing it to rotate on its axis to expel water and paint centrifugally.

Abstract: A surface grading device adapted to be towed over a surface to be graded, capable of self adjustment in accordance with a pre-established signal such as a laser beam, capable of grading cross sloping surfaces, capable of minimizing blade deflection caused by carrier wheels hitting a flaw in grade, and adaptable for highway towing along a single lane of a highway.

Abstract: A friction-based, motion damping assembly for a chairlift or the like is disclosed in which the damping assembly is mounted between a hub provided on a cable grip assembly and the chairlift hanger arm. The improved damping assembly is formed as a sleeve mounted to the hub of the cable grip with concentric rubber block members mounted around the sleeve. The hanger arm is formed with a collar having tapered surfaces, and an axially displaceable nut on the hub is used to wedge the rubber blocks into radial compressive engagement of the sleeve to generate the necessary compression of the sleeve about the hub for frictional damping.

Abstract: A vertical bulkhead is constructed for insertion in the interior of a cargo transporting vessel such as a truck, freight car, or marine cargo carrier to support the cargo during movement of the vessel. The bulkhead is constructed of any suitable stiff material and has positioned upon it a pair of pads or bearing elements at opposite edges disposed to frictionally engage opposite inner walls of the vessel. One of these pads is mounted on an adjustable mechanism disposed to move the pad horizontally and to lock it and consequently lock the bulkhead in a fixed position inside the vessel against the cargo.

Abstract: A tennis racket having string receiving holes in coaxial opposed pairs and having a slot in the throat between the bow and the handle through which the axes of holes pass so that strings can be pulled to the proper tension during stringing of the racket without frictional contact with the holes.

Abstract: A box beam reinforced concrete and steel construction providing spaced apart wire mesh reinforced concrete skin walls and interior concrete supporting frangible sheets providing for solid concrete cores contiguous to and monolithically integrated with the skin walls.

Abstract: A tool for cracking the shells of sea urchins, comprising a blade formed with central recess which enables the blade to penetrate the shell in the region of the mouth thereof without causing significant damage to the internal organs or roe of the sea urchin, and means for restraining the shell and for moving said blade laterally with respect to said restraining means to thereby open the shell. In its simplest form, the blade is formed at one end of one handle of a hand tool while the restraining means is formed at one end of a handle to which the first mentioned handle is pivoted to achieve said lateral movement of said blade. In a more sophisticated embodiment, the blade is mounted for vertical movement by means of a pneumatic cylinder and is arranged for lateral movement relative to the restraining means by means of a further pneumatic cylinder which operates when the blade is in the shell penetrating position.