Abstract: A drilling apparatus for directional drilling. A freely moveable connecting plate is seated in a seating provided for in a drill string motor support. The plate connects a drill string motor and a cylinder drive so that any mechanical stress transmitted by a drill string connected to the motor is substantially damped by the moveable plate. The result is that the drill string remains relatively true running to accurately bore while additionally preventing mechanical stress from damaging the cylinder, drill string motor or support therefor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a core mix and a method of fabricating the core for use in investment casting. The core composition comprises an acid soluble borate binder in a high percentage by weight of the composition. A refractory selected from period three nitride compounds is employed with the binder to impart strength to the core. The use of the combination of binder and refractory as disclosed herein provides a high strength core which is readily soluble by mild environmentally friendly acids.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for drilling underground. The apparatus includes a conventional drilling bit and a shroud disposed around the drill bit to produce a confined for the suspension of drilling debris. The debris is withdrawn under suction from the area by a conduit system associated with the shroud and a cyclonic filter structure.

Abstract: A fluid check valve of the two flapper variety which has replaceable seat flapper assembly. The assembly comprises a tubular ring having a seating area on the surface of one end and a reduced diameter portion on the other end. A pair of pin keepers are attached to opposite sides of the seat ring and the flappers are pivotably attached to a pin that passes through elongate holes in the keepers. The seat ring is a sliding fit in the bore of the valve body and abuts against an annular rib in the valve body bore. The reduced diameter portion of the seat ring extends through the annular rib. A retaining ring is attached to the reduced diameter portion by threaded engagement, bolts, or other means and tightened until it abuts against the other side of the annular rib thus holding the seat ring in tight assembly in the valve bore against the rib.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus whereby steel of various compositions may be produced from iron ore and coal through a series of stages without the intermediate production of liquid iron. A reforming reactor receives top gases from the steel making reactors, and converts them to high reduction potential gases which are returned to the steel making reactors. The iron ore and reductants, such as coal, are charged to a controlled atmosphere reactor which may be an inclined rotary cylindrical shaft. From the controlled atmosphere reactor the charge is moved to a potential shift reactor which is inclined or vertical and encounters increasing heat and rising gases for converting the carbonized sponge into a semi-molten state. The charge then passes to a high temperature reactor where it encounters the reducing gases from the reforming reactor and preheated oxygen to create temperature in which steel is made.

Abstract: A connector for releasably connecting and locking a first member to a second member is provided. The connector includes a first member having a connecting element extending from the first member; a second member having a locking element extending from the second member; and an intermediate member having two ends and a passage extending through the intermediate member from one end to the other end. One end of the intermediate member is rotatably attached to the second member so that the locking element of the second member extends into the passage. The other end of the intermediate member is releasably attached to the first member so that the connecting element of the first member extends into the passage. The first member can be locked to the intermediate member by rotating the locking element relative to the connecting element. The connector may be used to releasably connect and lock a toothbrush head to a toothbrush handle.

Abstract: A fluid check valve has a flapper assembly mounted in the bore of a valve body. The assembly has two flappers mounted on a hinge pin which is mounted at each end in holding members which fit against the bore of the valve. The hinge pin is mounted in elongate slots in the holding members which allow movement of the pin and hence the flappers along the axis of the valve. The elongate slots prevent any lateral or sideways movement of the pin. The holding members fit between the valve seat and a retaining projection or projections in the valve bore. Locating means retain the flapper assembly in position with the holding members between the seat and the projections.

Abstract: A frame member, as is used for office and other furniture, such as desks, chairs and other components, is formed from a length of rigid tubing, of polygonal cross-section, and bent on a diagonal. The tube is bent by bending around an arcuate bending member having a peripheral groove which is a cross-section corresponding to about half the cross-section of the tube. The tube is gripped against the periphery of the arcuate bending member, by a gripping member, the bending member and gripping member moving about an axis to bend the tube. The tube is held in contact with the arcuate bending member by an elongate bending member which is slidingly supported on a fixed base and moves with the tube over the fixed base as bending progresses. The tube is supported against collapse by a stationary internal non-deformable member.

Abstract: A resuscitation and inhalation device which can be used alternatively in each of two modes. The flow of oxygen or gas is controlled by a control valve, itself controlled by a movable member acted upon by the pressure of oxygen or gas in a chamber after having flowed past the control valve. On meeting a preset maximum pressure, the valve member moves to close the control valve. The movable valve member is acted upon by a magnetic field which is adjustable, and the magnetic field strength sets the pressure at which the valve member moves. Oxygen or gas is admitted to the control valve by two alternative inlet valves, one for resuscitation with only oxygen or gas flowing through the mask, and one for inhalation, with a mixture of oxygen or gas and air or a second gas being fed through the mask.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit comprises a housing (1) which consists of a bottom (2), a roof (3), two side walls (4, 4'), a rear wall (5), and a front wall (6) having an opening (8) which is closeable by means of at least one door (7, 7') and which permits access to the interior of the housing; means for introducing supply air into the housing; and means for evacuating exhaust air therefrom. Two vertical air ducts (13, 13') provided adjacent to the front wall (6) have a large number of small holes (14) through which supply air can be introduced into the housing in the form of partial currents which are directed away from the front wall (6) towards the rear wall (5), both when the door (7, 7') is closed and when it is open.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile crane having at least one hollow load bearing support member which is rotatable about a base. The load bearing support member is pivotally connected to a hollow boom which telescopically receives a plurality of secondary hollow and interengageable booms. The load bearing support member and boom are pivotally connected by an inwardly collapsible support. The crane cable is connected to a drive source and extends within the hollow booms and load bearing support member and is releasably retained by at least one boom. The crane may be automatically unfolded from a storage position when the boom is substantially parallel to the mast, to an operational position when the boom is angularly inclined to the load bearing support member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device having a working surface for a computer mouse which comprises: a supporting structure having a forward end; a rear end; a pair of sides; a generally planar top working surface; and a bottom surface adapted for engagement with a supporting surface. The planar top working surface is adapted to receive a mouse and extends from the forward end to the rear end in an upwardly inclined orientation. A wrist/palm support member is provided in cooperative engagement with the forward end.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for disposal of snow in urban areas. Snow is disposed of using existing manhole or other connections to sewer systems with a portable or mobile disposal unit formed of a snow receiving bin, a grinding device, apparatus for projecting the ground snow in a controlled and linear confined manner and into a trajectory downwardly into the sewer and preferably with sensing apparatus to sense whether there is a blocked sewer conduit as well as to determine the load carrying capacity of the sewer liquid. In this way, the grinding device may be driven by variable speed motors. The system and method permit the use of already existing sewer systems, and is more economical than trucking snow to disposal sites. The system and method also permit the ready disposal of snow in areas where there are no disposal sites or where disposal sites are not allowed.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a tube (4) provided with a flange in a hole (3) formed in a wall (2) comprises a locking ring (8) with at least three peripherally spaced apart seats (10) adapted to cooperate with a corresponding number of pins (9) which are fixed to the wall and which each have an oblique surface against which a cam surface (13) provided adjacent to the seat (10) on the periphery of the locking ring is arranged to be applied so that, when the locking ring is turned, the locking ring is urged against the wall in order to compress an elastic sealing ring (7) provided between the locking ring and the wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for dispensing bulk hair products. The method includes providing sources of hair products and flexible thermoplastic bags having integrally associated press taps for filling with the hair products. The charged bags are then hermetically sealed by any known method. In this way, a variety of hair products, particularly those susceptible to damage by exposure to air can be stored and dispensed into resealable containers. The bags are conveniently contained within a specifically designed carton formed from a blank. The carton includes a rectangular box having a partition therein and perforated areas adapted to receive the dispensing spout of the sealed bags. The carton further provides a storage area within the carton for storage of the resealable containers, gloves and other necessary supplies.