Abstract: A portable hand carried lantern comprising components which may be quickly snapped together without the use of tools. A battery contact platform separates the battery chamber and bulb chamber and includes a plurality of contact strips by which the electrical circuit is automatically established without the use of wires upon assembly of the components. A safety disconnect system incorporated in the bulb chamber and battery contact platform that prevents explosion in a flammable atmosphere should the bulb break.

Abstract: A wall penetrator sleeve system and method for using same provides an encasement for wires and cables passing through a wall or floor. The sleeve system is particularly useful in penetrating firewalls without violating the applicable fire codes. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes an elongated conduit having a toothed end capable of penetrating the desired surface. The system also includes appropriate securing devices for tightly retaining the conduit in place. In another embodiment, the securing devices include at least one flat washer and a sliding washer lock on each side of the wall.

Abstract: A flat bottom tank provides for complete drainage of liquid contents through sloped drainage in the bottom head. The bottom head has a raised center portion which is pyramidal shaped in one embodiment. The sides of the bottom head are broken upwardly to form smooth, rounded wall surfaces. The center portion and the side walls slope downwardly towards one another to form a line of flow extending around the perimeter of the center portion. The line of flow slopes downwardly from a first corner of the bottom head to a second corner of the bottom head which is diagonally opposite the first corner. A drain outlet located adjacent the second corner allows for the drainage of liquid contents from the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for quantifying the leak flow rate of a fluid from a fluid leak site in a piping system. An ultrasonic sound detector is used to accumulate sound level data for known leak sites in known piping system elements through which a known fluid flows at known temperatures and pressures. The accumulated data provide a database to permit the determination of fluid leakage rates in actual piping systems by comparing test data obtained for the actual piping system with the data contained in the database. In one embodiment of the invention, the database includes data corresponding to standard curves representing the relationship between accumulated sound level data and accumulated leak flow rate data. Based upon the cost of the fluid, the annual costs for fluid lost as a result of leakage can be determined, as well as the annual volume of fluid lost.

Abstract: An improved tank configuration includes a die employed to stamp a formed member. The formed member may be used as the bottom head for a portable liquid container, and is constructed so that all welding is eliminated in the corner portions of the container. A trim machine is employed to remove uneven edges from the formed part. The invention is particularly useful in constructing sloped bottom tanks of increased depth. By the present invention, a stamped configuration is provided in which a draw formed tank bottom is formed so as to allow complete and full drainage of the tank bottom. The bottom head is finish trimmed to exact dimensions so as to facilitate assembly to the shell of the tank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oligomers or prepolymers which are formed by reacting an isocyanate, a lactone adduct and a hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate. These oligomers can be used to make UV curable coatings by adding acrylate monomers, photoinitiators and wetting agents. Transparent, abrasion resistant surfaces result from the cure by ultraviolet light of these coatings on substrates such as PVC based substrates. By adjusting the ratio of hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate and the lactone adduct component in the oligomer, coatings with both high tensile strength and elongation can be obtained.

Abstract: A flashlight having a reinforced tubular plastic casing including a battery compartment and a bulb compartment separated by a transverse wall integrally molded with the casing. A bulb is retained in a socket integrally molded with the wall by a bushing which may be quickly connected and disconnected from the socket, the bulb and the bushing being resiliently axially moveable with respect to the socket and the transverse wall to prevent breakage of the bulb due to shock or impact. A novel reflector is axially moveable with respect to the bulb to afford adjustable focussing of the light emitted from the bulb. The reflective surface of the reflector combines a facetted parabolic surface on the outer portion of the reflector with a smooth spherical surface at the base of the reflector to optimize the amount of light collected from the light bulb and focused in the beam.

Abstract: A cereal milling machine comprising a base frame (100) to be fixedly mounted on a mill floor and at least one removable roll pack consisting of a pair of rolls (2, 4) mounted in fixed and movable bearing housing (1, 5) respectively and rotatable to form a milling nip. The movable roll bearing housing (5) is pivotally attached at (6) to the fixed bearing housing (1), and an adjustable loading means comprises a handwheel (11) connected via a lever (12), a pneumatic cylinder (13), a lever (9), an eccentric pivot (10) and a top link (7), to the movable bearing housing (5) thus to provide fine adjustment of the milling gap. With this adjustment established the rolls may be thrown in and out of grinding relationship by expanding and contracting the pneumatic cylinder (13). Thus the roll pack combines the micro-adjustment of the milling gap with an engage/disengage mechanism by way of a single compact expandable link in the form of the cylinder (13), and the handwheel assembly (11).

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic fuelling of vehicles. A robot head that carries a fuel filler tube is movable to enable it to be brought into position to engage with a vehicle fuel-tank pipe. The robot head carries an opening device for opening a fuel-tank cover plate of a vehicle. The positioning of the robot head is effected by a positioning system that includes a transceiver unit carried by the robot head and that preferably operates at microwave frequency. A passive transponder is carried by the vehicle and includes a simple code which the transponder is intended to modulate on a signal transmitted by the transceiver and is reflected by the transponder. The signal received by the transceiver from the transponder is decoded and is used to access a robot head movement plan that corresponds with that code, to automatically steer the robot head to the fuel tank pipe and thereby enable the vehicle to be fuelled.

Abstract: A lightweight exercise device offers variable resistance, including assisted resistance, for strengthening and conditioning various parts of the body. The device may be strapped to the user's back and is provided with rollers for contact with a wall, door, pad, or floor. The rollers, are mounted on rotatable axles on the rear face of the device and operate in conjunction with a tensioning system which uses durable elastic cords or bands. As the rollers are rotated in one direction, the cords or bands wind about the axles thereby progressively increasing the cord or band tension. This increased tension thereby increases the resistance to rotation of the axles and the rollers mounted thereon. As the rollers are rotated back, the cords or bands unwind and the roller resistance decreases. The cords or bands may be wound by rolling the rollers or, in one embodiment, by turning a tension preadjustment crank connected to an intermediate axle.

Abstract: A device for internally cladding an outer tube with an inner tube by means of an explosion process. The device includes an outer tubular fixture (1) in which a workpiece in the form of the outer (2) and the inner (3) tubes can be placed; at least one end of the tubular fixture (1) is connected to an expansion chamber (7, 10); and a sealing cap (6) of easily destructed material is located between a respective expansion chamber (7, 10) and the workpiece. The sealing cap or caps (6) is/are intended to retain a liquid pressure-transmitting medium (5), preferably water, in the inner tube (3) prior to detonating an explosive substance (4) placed within the inner tube (3).

Abstract: A closure device allows a welding rod container to be reclosed in an air and moisture tight manner after being opened. The device includes a frame member having an opening therein, and flanges extending downwardly from the frame member outer edges for secure attachment to the container. The opening is of sufficient size to allow a human hand to retrieve a welding rod from the open welding rod container while also helping to prevent contact of the hand with the dangerous sharp edges of the open container. A latchable lid member capable of fitting within the frame member and covering the opening therein is hingedly connected to the frame member such as by an internal or live hinge. The lid member is provided with a flanged bead extending along its outer edges capable of mating with a groove extending along the inner walls of the frame member.

Abstract: A composite package for scoopable products comprising an outer rectangular paperboard box having vertical front, rear, and side walls and an upper foldable flap assembly connected to said vertical walls. An inner thin-walled plastic jar has a lower generally rectangular portion fitting within said box and an upper portion of slightly reduced cross-sectional size provided with a large open mouth. The lid is removably connected over said mouth and is normally covered by the flap assembly. The upper portion has wall sections spaced inwardly from opposed walls of the box to provide finger receiving spaces therebetween, and the opposed walls have finger receiving openings adjacent said spaces to facilitate handling of said box.

Abstract: A universal lift frame to which the bottom of a conventional chair, recliner or lounger is readily attachable. The frame includes a base and a platform which is moved vertically and tilted forward and backward to assist the occupant in getting in and out of the chair.

Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic refuelling of vehicles, primarily cars, including a robot which includes a robot head that is movable in relation to the robot so as to bring the robot head to a predetermined position in relation to the vehicle fuel tank pipe. The positioning of the robot head is effected by a positioning system which includes a first part located on the robot head and a second part placed in a predetermined position on the vehicle, wherein the robot head includes an outer tube and an inner tube which can be moved within said outer tube and extended out of said tube. The outer tube is resilient or yieldable, and the free, front end of the outer tube has the shape of a truncated cone that docks with a correspondingly conical part of an adapter attached to the upper orifice of the vehicle fuel tank pipe during said positioning operation.

Abstract: A bumper device and method provide a hassle-free system for mounting and replacing bumper stickers. The device includes a clear, trimmable mounting sheet which can receive a bumper sticker and then be attached to the bumper of an automobile. In a preferred embodiment, the device is attached to the bumper using Velcro strips. Once the device is attached to the bumper, it is virtually undetectable to the casual viewer, thus reducing the potential for theft of the sticker and giving the appearance that the sticker is permanently affixed to the bumper.

Abstract: A system for launching a lifeboat (11) from davits (12) on an offshore drilling platform (10) comprises a submerged buoyancy device (10) tethered to the bow of the lifeboat (11) by a cable (13) which passes between the buoyancy device and the lifeboat. The cable is retained by a release mechanism (14) attached to the platform just above the water line and extends upwardly from a guide fairlead (18) attached to the sea bed, between the latter and the lifeboat (11). In some cases the release mechanism (14) may be omitted or alternatively two release mechanisms may be provided above the water line.

Abstract: An arrangement for the transportation of goods, such as paper rolls, having a load carrier which includes a goods-carrying bottom plate.The arrangement includes a lifting post (4) which is upstanding centrally from the bottom plate (2) and by which a loaded load-carrier can be lifted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for grinding grooves in the peripheral surface of rollers roller guides for rolling mills. The roller (2) of a roller guide is caused to rotate while retained on its own bearing (8,9,10) as the peripheral groove is ground.The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method, and to a roller guide structure with which the method can be applied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transportation of vehicles, primarily cars, by a seagoing vessel. The vehicles are loaded onto cassettes that include at least one floor or story, with each floor or story including a vehicle driveway. The cassettes are loaded by driving the vehicles onto a ramp, or the like, and onto the driveway. The vehicles are positioned one behind the other until the cassette has been loaded with the desired number of vehicles. The cassette is then transported onto the vessel. The vehicles are offloaded in the reverse order so that the cassette is first transported from the vessel to the dock, and the vehicles are driven from the cassette with the aid of a ramp, or the like.