Abstract: A separable buckle for interconnecting two parts of a strap or other tension member comprises a first buckle member adapted to be attached to the first strap part and a second buckle member adapted to be interconnected with the first buckle member and to slidably receive the second strap part. When interconnected, the two buckle members are relatively pivotable about a transverse axis with the first buckle member acting as a two-armed lever, one lever arm of which is engageable with the second strap part on the second buckle member so that the second strap part can move in one direction relative to the second buckle member but is prevented from moving in the opposite direction by said one lever arm. The second buckle member comprises a reverse bent hook portion including a hinge element receptive of a hinge element of the first buckle member.

Abstract: High speed sheet feeders receive blocks or bricks of paper sheets, cards or folders stacked edgewise on a downsloping supply ramp, and singulate these for edgewise feeding in rapid succession. The frontmost sheets ready for feeding are buckled and fanned at their upper edges, and their lower edges are arched forward to form a dimple or ridge-shaped pocket by an underlying central traction singulator. A pair of ganged or synchronized feed belts engage the frontmost sheet and propel it rapidly downward edgewise, and a slanting discharge belt receives and diverts the sheet at even higher speed between the discharge belt and a tractive pinch roller. A transfer assembly beneath the discharge belt may receive sheets from an adjacent feeder and interleave them upon command with sheets delivered by the discharge belt.

Abstract: A heat exchanger element in the form of a cylindrical tube with an integral external helical fin extending along at least the major part of the tube length; the integral finned tube being formed by an extrusion or injection moulding process from a rigid setting plastics material. The invention includes heat exchangers incorporating or formed by the heat exchanger elements.

Abstract: By employing two independent, separate and distinct flow paths which are controllably sequentially opened during use in a single actuation operation, an error-free, flame and explosion proof liquid delivery/filling system is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, both flow paths are normally maintained in a closed, sealed configuration, requiring an actuation force to controllably, sequentially open the flow paths. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment is compact in design and provides an easy to use system, without sacrificing its inherent benefits. In addition, a flow diverging structure is mounted in the liquid flow path to assure complete removal of all of the air from the chamber being filled.

Abstract: High quality cedar wood oil is recovered from raw cedar wood with substantially improved efficiency employing the solvent extraction method of this invention. By submerging cedar wood pulp or sawdust in a suitable water insoluble solvent for a predefined time period, a purified cedar wood oil extract is easily attained after filtration of the cedar wood pulp and distillation removal of the solvent. Furthermore, depending upon the end use or operating system, the solvent extraction method of this invention may be conducted as either a batch process or a continuous process.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for treatment of flowing slurries of particulate material mixed in liquid employ a wide, elongated downwardly-slanted, metal tray with upturned edge flanges, cable-suspended for unrestrained vibratory flexing and undulation. The tray is provided with a plurality of ultrasonic transducers mounted on its underside, and the flowing slurry is delivered to the upper tray end, flowing lengthwise down the tray in a shallow flowing sheet. Ultrasonic vibratory energy coupled through the tray to the flowing slurry has a "microscopic scrubbing" action on all particles and agglomerates, breaking the surface tension on the particle, cleaning particle surfaces, and separating different constituent particles and coatings of gels, slimes, algae, clay or mud. Mixtures of fine particles of coal or other valuable minerals with ash, clay, rock or sand particles are separated with unexpected efficiency by these techniques.

Abstract: A method for renewing an existing pipeline comprises the steps of advancing a shield tunnelling machine from one end of an existing pipe defining the existing pipeline to the other end thereof, excavating at least the existing pipe by the machine and disposing a new pipe in an excavated spot while the machine is advanced, whereby the existing pipeline is renewed by breaking the existing pipe embedded in the ground while laying the new pipe therein. An existing pipeline renewing apparatus embodying the method described above comprises a shield tunnelling machine for excavating an existing pipe embedded in the ground so as to define an existing pipeline and a means for disposing a new pipe in a spot excavated by the machine. Accordingly, since the new pipe is disposed while excavating the existing pipe by the shield tunnelling machine, it is not necessary to excavate the spot, in which the existing pipe to be renewed is laid, by an open cut method.

Abstract: By providing prize award holding means cooperatingly associated with a container shell which is closed in the conventional manner, a container assembly is achieved for randomly distributing prize awards to consumers in association with any liquid, semi-liquid, wet or moist product, without fear of consumer detection of the prize bearing containers. In accordance with the present invention, the container assembly may incorporate the actual product along with the prize award or may comprise a simulated product container bearing the prize award without the actual product, but being completely indistinguishable from non-prize bearing, product-holding containers.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved device for minimizing the time delays associated with turning on and off the power switches or power transistors in a standard totem pole configuration. An improved saturation detector monitors each transistor to determine when it is in saturation and generates a feedback signal which is combined with the input signal to generate the appropriate time delay needed to improve the switching time of the transistor.

Abstract: A reinforced paper and method for making the paper. The method involves applying to finished paper or the areas of finished paper to be reinforced a reinforcing medium dissolved in water with a surface tension reducing agent added. The solution rapidly impregnates the paper and the water and surface tension reducing agent are subsequently evaporated. The reinforcing medium rearranges the bonding of the fibers in the paper, thus strengthening the paper. The process may be carried out at the line speeds of paper converters and, when only certain areas of the paper are reinforced, the reinforced areas have a thickness substantially the same as the unreinforced areas. A preferred reinforcing medium is an anionic acrylic copolymer.

Abstract: A secure box or safe having a mounting plate with a channel-shaped flange at the top thereof such that the safe may be hung from the top edge of an outer door of a residence and, when the door is closed, the safe is captured in place between the top of the door, the door head, the outside surface of the door, and the door stop. The safe may alternatively be located on another edge of the door. Acess to the safe by a delivery person is by unlocking the safe housing and removing it from the mounting plate. Loading or unloading of the safe by the occupants of the residence is accomplished through a loading portal on the inside wall of the safe, which loading portal is inaccessible when the door is closed, as the inside surface of the safe is held tightly adjacent the outside surface of the door. The safe is relatively weatherproof.

Abstract: A water jet massage apparatus comprises a platform having a bench mounted thereon, and an overlying lid arranged for pivotal movement between an open position in which a person may gain access to the bench and a closed position in which the lid is lowered onto the bench. The lid includes top, front, rear, and opposite side walls, and also has a bottom wall formed of flexible, water-proof material which drapes over and covers a person reclining on the bench when the lid closed. The water-tight cavity in the lid defined by the aforementioned walls contains a laterally extending, longitudinally movable water manifold which mounts and supplies water to a plurality of pulsating water jet spray heads which direct a multitude of pulsating jets of water downward onto the flexible bottom wall which loosely covers a person reclining on the bench, keeping him dry.

Abstract: A device for transmitting a thrust from one of a pair of adjacent pipes so as to propel the other comprises a pair of annular members adapted to be slidable relatively to each other along their spherical surfaces.

Abstract: A dielectric notch resonator particularly suitable for use in a band reject filter operable at ultra-high frequencies comprises a dielectric resonator and an associated housing which results in a reactance having an imaginary component effectively nulled by a coupling reactance mechanism forming part of the dielectric notch resonator so as to present a relatively low resistive impedance load at a given center frequency and frequencies in a narrow bandwidth thereabout. The coupling reactive mechanism comprises an inductive wire and a serially connected variable capacitor so as to null the reactive component of the dielectric resonator at a particular center frequency and to modify the symmetry of the rejected frequency bandwidth by adjusting the capacitance of the variable capacitor.

Abstract: An identification marker (17) is described for use in permanently identifying an individual histology sample (21), the marker including columnar indicia (18) mounted on a base (19) having a location flange (20). A specially adapted cassette having a slot (16) to receive the identification marker is described together with apparatus and method for moulding the indicia in a protein such as agar agar. The use of the identification marker is described firstly mounted in the cassette (11) during treatment of the sample (21) and later mounted beneath the cassette (11) in the slot (16) for wax embedding of the sample and identification marker. The marker (17) is sectioned simultaneously with the tissue sample (21) by means of a microtome (31), each section taken being identified by a section through the identification marker embedded alongside the sample.

Abstract: A timing device for use with live animal traps accurately and easily maintains the elapsed time since an entering animal caused the trap door to close. The timing device uses a switch that senses trap door closure to activate a timing module. All components of the timing device mount unobtrusively to the trap so as not to hinder its operation and, for collapsible traps, to allow folding of the traps for storage and transport.

Abstract: A method for renewing an existing pipeline comprises the steps of advancing a shield tunnelling machine from one end of an existing pipe defining the existing pipeline to the other end thereof, excavating at least the existing pipe by the machine and disposing a new pipe in an excavated spot while the machine is advanced, whereby the existing pipeline is renewed by breaking the existing pipe embedded in the ground while laying the new pipe therein. An existing pipeline renewing apparatus embodying the method described above comprises a shield tunnelling machine for excavating an existing pipe embedded in the ground so as to define an existing pipeline and a means for disposing a new pipe in a spot excavated by the machine. Accordingly, since the new pipe is disposed while excavating the existing pipe by the shield tunnelling machine, it is not necessary to excavate the spot, in which the existing pipe to be renewed is laid, by an open cut method.

Abstract: A shield tunneling machine comprises a shield body, a rotor disposed in a front portion of the shield body, support is provided behind the rotor in the shield body and for supporting the rotor to be eccentrically movable around the center axis of the shield body, drive motor for moving the rotor eccentrically and a seal disposed between the support and the rotor. The seal is provided with an annular recess provided around the center axis in a portion where one of the supports and the rotor faces the other and opened to the other of the supports and the rotor, a ring disposed in the recess to be movable in the direction of the center axis and having a generally constant outer diameter and a spring for pressing the ring toward the other of the supports and the rotor. The diameter D.sub.1 of the ring, the maximum diameter D.sub.2 of the contact portion between the ring and the other of the supports and the rotor and the eccentrically e of the eccentric movement have the following relationship; D.sub.1 .ltoreq.D.