Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for variations in the distance between an object or load suspended by a string of rods from a floating support or vessel and the sea floor therebelow so as to control the movement of the object or load with respect to the sea floor. There is both active and passive compensation provided by respective cylinder and piston assemblies associated with pressure accumulators. The passive compensation acts like spring. The active cylinder and piston assembly is of the double action type and disposed in parallel with the passive assembly. The active assembly compensates for residual vertical oscillations and operates as a function of two parameters : the position of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder of the active assembly and the velocity of the floating support with respect to the sea floor.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical impact device, useful for driving nails, staples and other fastening elements. The driving member is driven by frictional engagement between a pair of counter-rotating high speed flywheels. The device has a safety provision whereby it cannot be actuated until the nose of the device is pressed against a work piece. This action also produces a movement of one of the flywheels toward the other. Actuation of the trigger moves the driving member into engagement between the counter-rotating flywheels, and these propel the driving element in a fastener driving direction. The inertia of the movable flywheel aids in efficient engagement of the flywheels with the driving member, and the movable flywheel is provided with a leaf spring permitting it to yield so that the driving member can pass between the flywheels while maintaining frictional engagement between the flywheels and the driving member.

Abstract: A papermaking felt having interwoven warp and filling yarns on its face side and bulky rib forming yarns on its machine side, the rib forming yarns lying in spaced apart relation to define water conveying channels therebetween, there being a batt surface on the face side of the fabric needled through the warp and filling yarns and into the rib forming yarns, the rib forming yarns being impregnated following needling with a resin which renders them essentially incompressible, the rib forming yarns being initially attached to the warp yarns by holding yarns which may be removed prior to the application of the resin or retained as a permanent part of the felt.

Abstract: Means for improving the repetition characteristics of an upright piano action of the type having a hammer for each key, the butt of the hammer being pivotally mounted on a main action rail so that the hammer can be projected from an at-rest position toward a string striking position, a wippen pivotally attached to the main action rail and operatively connected to the key, a jack pivotally connected to the wippen for transmitting the action of the key and wippen to the hammer via the hammer butt to cause the hammer to strike the string when the key is forcibly depressed and a back check serving as an oscillation damper for the hammer. The means for improving the repetition characteristics comprises an adjustable spring and linkage assembly attached at its ends to positions of substantially equal operating displacement on the wippen and the hammer butt.

Abstract: A reinforcing plate for use underneath two or more lapped thin gauge sheets to stiffen the lapped joint for prevention of damage to the seal from loading and to provide uniform compressant of sealant between the lapped sheets. The plate comprises an elongated planar member having pairs of parallel cuts evenly spaced along its length extending transversely from one edge thereof for substantially one half its width, the material between each of the pairs of cuts being bent into a down turned mounting flange of L-shaped cross section.

Abstract: Method and means for continuously contact-coating one side only of a ferrous base metal strip with a molten coating metal. One or more roll means are provided to conduct the strip surface to be coated above the surface of a bath of the molten coating metal. The strip surface to be coated is caused to travel sufficiently close to the molten coating metal bath surface that the surface tension and wetting characteristics of the coating metal will permit the formation of a meniscus which will continuously contact and coat the strip surface. The coating is subjected to jet finishing. The strip is maintained in a protective non-oxidizing atmosphere at least until the one side thereof is coated. The strip may be maintained in the protective non-oxidizing atmosphere until it is sufficiently cooled to prevent the formation of a visible oxide on the uncoated side thereof.

Abstract: A liquid impervious cuff assembly for a disposable surgical gown or the like comprising a stockinette folded back upon itself to form a double-walled, substantially cylindrical cuff envelope folded at its forward end, open at its rearward end and having inner and outer walls. A layer of liquid impervious material is located between the inner and outer walls of the cuff envelope. The open end of the cuff envelope and the fluid impervious layer between the wall thereof are attached to the free end of a surgical gown sleeve. This attachement may be accomplished by sewing the inner wall, the liquid impervious layer and the outer wall at the open end of the cuff envelope to the free end of the surgical sleeve. The cuff assembly may be adhesively attached to the free end of the gown sleeve.

Abstract: A tool for scraping the wires or rods constituting a barbeque grill or the like. The tool has a handle terminating in a stiff extension having a U-shaped distal end. A wheel is pivotably secured at its center to said extension and has a plurality of U-shaped indentations of different widths. The wheel may be rotated to align a suitably sized U-shaped indentation thereof with the U-shaped distal end of said extension. The latter indentation is of a width equal to the largest of the indentations in the wheel and of a depth equal to the deepest indentation in the wheel. The extension or backing element prevents rotation of the indented wheel during a scraping operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a housing assembly for gear heads or speed reducers and the like, and a method of assembly of such devices, which eliminates all drilling, tapping, fasteners, shims, gaskets and sealants, as well as doing away with assembly skill, which has been required heretofore to set proper bearing clearance. It is applicable to the assembly of any rotating element, such as a worm wheel, into a housing. The housing may have a bore for the introduction of the rotating element on one side only. The bore is closed by a side plate which fits into the housing with a small clearance and is sealed with an ordinary O-ring. After the rotating element and its bearings have been inserted into the housing and side plate, the side plate is pressed into the bore until zero axial clearance is attained.

Abstract: A fluid injector for the introduction, dispersion and mixing of a first fluid into a second fluid flowing through a conduit. The injector comprises an elongated body mounted in fluid-tight fashion through an aperture in the side of the conduit so as to extend transversely of the interior of the conduit and transversely of the flow of the second fluid therein. The injector body has an axial bore connectable at one end to a source of the first fluid under pressure and leading to at least one outlet bore extending transversely of the injector body and located within the conduit. The injector body has a transverse inlet bore within the conduit. One end of the inlet bore faces the flow of the second fluid within the conduit and the other end thereof communicates with the axial bore of the injector body upstream of the at least one outlet bore.

Abstract: An optical data entry and display system for decoding handwritten symbols into a data processing code is disclosed. The system comprises a television monitor for displaying decoded and otherwise derived symbols as well as for displaying a sequence of light spots on which a symbol may be traced by means of a light pen. The positions of the light spots comprising the trace are used in a comparison with a set of stored values defining the predetermined symbols to decode the trace.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a source of A.C. electrical power and for monitoring both the ground and polarity integrity thereof. The apparatus, which is configured to receive a polarized electrical plug, makes connection with the normally hot, neutral and ground outputs of the source of electrical power and includes a normally open indicating circuit connected to the normally hot power output. Insertion of the polarized electrical plug completes the circuit to the normally ground output and, if the ground line is intact and the polarity proper, the indicating circuit provides an indication of this fact. If, on the other hand, either the ground line is open or the polarity is improper, the indicating circuit will indicate that the source is unsafe to use. Means are also disclosed for correcting an improperly polarized service receptacle and for providing safety indications directly in combination with an electrical tool or the like.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for forming and implanting a staple in the skin or fascia of a patient to close a wound or incision therein. The instrument comprises a handle portion and a nose portion. The nose portion houses a staple driver operable by an actuator pivotally associated with the handle portion. An anvil plate is affixed to the bottom of the nose portion. A plurality of staples are supported by the anvil plate and means are provided to advance the staples along the anvil plate toward the forward end thereof about which each staple is formed by the staple driver. The nose portion is also provided with a staple retaining surface spaced above the forward end of the anvil plate to minimize bending of the staple crown during the staple forming operation.

Abstract: Apparatus and procedures for delivering tampon sacks having withdrawal strings at one end and inserter parts to an assembly turret having a plurality of operating heads on which the tampon sacks are assembled in the inserters, the apparatus comprising rotary transfer mechanism for engaging the withdrawal strings of the sacks and sequentially delivering them to a rotary assembly turret having a multiplicity of assembling stations mounted around its periphery. Each inserter comprises inner and outer parts, and feeding means are provided to individually feed and position an inner inserter and an outer inserter in holders at each assembly station.

Abstract: A multiple spindle dividing head in which each spindle is driven in synchronism from a common drive shaft adapted to be driven from a single source of power which may be pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical, the spindles being moved automatically from an open to a closed work-piece engaging position by pneumatic or hydraulically actuated means which maintain the spindles in the closed position as they are rotated and yet permit the spindles to be readily opened in any rotative position to release the work-pieces engaged thereby.

Abstract: Interlocked channel section panels having an interlocking joint wherein the male and female members are provided with deformable hook portions. During field assembly the female member overlies the male member with the outer surface of the corresponding upstanding members and upper portions of the male and female members adapted to mate throughout their lengths, and the deformable flange hook portions of the male and female members are capable of being reformed so as to conform intimately to effect continuous, positive interlocking of male and female ribs. A clip connector, including a body portion tightly sandwiched between associated corresponding upstanding members, upper portions and deformable flange hook portions of the sidewalls of the coupled panels, and a foot at the other end of the body portion of the clip connector anchored to a supporting member and fastening the connector along with the coupled panels to the supporting member, is also provided.

Abstract: In, or for use in, a vehicle inner tube splicing machine, a tube end cutting assembly comprising a cutting knife supporting carriage which is mounted on a pair of spaced parallel guide shafts and is reciprocated by hydraulically powered means. The knife supporting carriage also has mounted thereon scrap removal means which co-acts with cutting knives to remove off-cuts from said tube ends.

Abstract: A hand-held, generally T-shaped disposable product applicator and a dispensing package therefor. The applicator comprises a resilient applicator pad portion and an upstanding finger grip portion. The applicator pad portion is normally substantially planar with a top surface and a bottom product applying surface coated or impregnated with the product to be dispensed. The upstanding finger grip portion is normally substantially planar with its sides providing finger grip surfaces. The finger grip portion is substantially normal to and extends transversely across the top surface of the applicator pad portion, bisecting the applicator pad portion into two substantially equal flaps. The applicator pad portion is foldable along its juncture with the finger grip portion with its bottom product applying surface folded upon itself.

Abstract: Apparatus for the uniform treatment of thread with a treatment fluid during the winding of the thread on a cross-wound bobbin or the like driven at a constant rotational speed while the speed of the thread is increasing constantly, said apparatus comprising a treatment roller, the lower portion thereof dipping into a bath of the treatment fluid, and two thread guides. The first guide is stationary, the second is movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the treatment roller in response to the speed of the thread, the thread being stretched therebetween and lying against the periphery of the treatment roller. The roller, which is driven at a constant rotational speed, has a cylindrical first section and a second section comprised of a plurality of truncated cone surfaces; a plurality of radially disposed and axially extending small passages on the second section forming grooves having a depth of zero at the border of the cylindrical section and increasing over-proportionally to the groove length.

Abstract: A method of preparing carbon steel strip and sheet for hot dip metallic coating in a Selas-type direct-fired furnace, wherein the atmosphere in the furnace is controlled to contain from about 3% oxygen to about 2% excess combustibles by volume, thereby forming a thin iron oxide film on the carbon steel surfaces. The strip and sheet is then heated in a subsequent furnace containing at least 5% hydrogen by volume at a temperature sufficient to reduce the oxide film, viz., at least about 675.degree. C. The direct-fired furnace is preferably operated at stoichiometrically equivalent fuel:air ratios.