Abstract: An appliance is disclosed for dressing the working surface, e.g. tip, of a soldering iron. A housing of chemically-stable material defines a treatment chamber with an access opening through which the tip of a soldering iron is received. The treatment chamber is partially filled by a packing which in the disclosed embodiment includes Teflon shavings carrying a cleaning agent including ammonium chloride. The insertion of a hot iron results in the vaporization of a quantity of the cleaning agent as well as some scrubbing action by the packing with the effect that the tip of the iron is effectively dressed, removing oxides and foreign particles while leaving a coating of liquid solder on the tip at an operating temperature.

Abstract: A semi-automatic telephone-answering system which connects a voice message to an incoming telephone line upon being activated. The incoming telephone line is connected to the system by an operator switchboard jack or key connector on a multiline telephone. A cueing signal switches a prerecorded message from a source thereof to the incoming telephone line at the beginning of the message. The cueing signal is synchronized with the message source so that switching means can only be activated at the beginning of the message. At the end of the message, a second cueing signal connects a music source or channel to the incoming telephone line. A primary signal indicates that the incoming telephone line has been waiting to be answered by the live operator for a predetermined time. A secondary signal is provided to indicate to the operator that a waiting call is being or has been answered live of a remote location. Thus, an effective urgency is imparted to the live operator as to the more pressing calls.

Abstract: A fitted, adjustable bed sheet is provided which is adapted for use with either spring or water bed mattresses. A substantially rectangular fabric has a top sleeping panel, four depending side panels with substantially square apertures cut between adjacent perpendicular edges of said side panels, and four fitted corners. Each corner is partially stitched beginning at the top of the open portion of the corner formed by the aperture and extending inwardly towards the top panel to form a dart. When the sheet is positioned on the mattress, the stitched portion of each sheet corner while the lower portion of top portion of the mattress corner while the lower portion of each mattress corner protrudes through the aperture formed between adjacent sheet side panels. The sheet is maintained in position on the mattress by a flap secured to the lower edge of a first side panel adjacent each corner.

Abstract: An automatic coffee brewing system for brewing coffee in a chamber and dispensing the brewed coffee into a container. The chamber is automatically flushed upon completion of the brewing cycle. A predetermined amount of coffee grinds is automatically inserted into the coffee brewing chamber through an open lid. The brewing chamber is then rotated until the lid is closed. Hot brewing water is then inserted into the chamber, while the lid is automatically locked to prevent leakage of the brewed coffee. The brewed coffee then is removed from the chamber. The chamber is then rotated to enable the coffee grounds to be flushed from the chamber. The chamber is then rotated into position for brewing another container of coffee. A conical-shaped filter in the chamber enables brewed coffee to pass through to an outlet and simultaneously, retains the grounds in the chamber. During the flush cycle, water is forced into the chamber and the coffee grounds are cleared from the filter.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for casting rollers having an external cylindrical surface defined by firmly-held carbide particles. As disclosed, a cylindrical mold is revolved about a central horizontal axis and heavy, tungsten-carbide particles are released within the mold to accumulate as a layer on the internal cylindrical surface of the mold. Molten metal of specific characteristics is injected into the mold; being lighter does not displace the particles at the mold surface yet forces and characteristics are such that the metal wets the particles and fills the interstices therebetween to provide an effective matrix upon solidification. Heat treatment overcomes the problem attendant the inherent rapid cooling, after which the metal may be machined.

Abstract: The method of producing a colored film from an exposed black-and-white picture and especially from an exposed black-and-white motion picture film wherein a black-and-white image is projected onto a surface, opaque pastel colors are applied within selected areas of the projected image and the reflected colored composite, of the opaque pastel colors and the black-and-white image superimposed thereon, is then photographed with color-sensitive film.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining a controlled gas mixture of predetermined proportionality using a temperature dependent permeation tube or like source for the addition of a small amount of a constituent gas in a higher flow rate carrier gas. A thermistor having a negative coefficient of resistance is associated with the permeation source and electrically connected to a flow controller for the carrier gas to automatically regulate the flow rate of the carrier gas in accordance with temperature variation of the permeation source.

Abstract: An aiming bar is inserted through the aiming slit of an aircraft visual approach slope indicator housing and secured at its inner end to a cross bar in front of a horizontal row of landing lights so that the aiming bar assumes the vertical angle of the upwardly directed light beam. A pivot bar is mounted on the aiming bar and aligned with an angle plate mounted on the aiming bar to indicate the slope of the approach indicator.The alignment assembly is calibrated using a T-shaped calibration bar positioned in a rigid carrying case. A pin at each end of the T-cross arm and at the remote end of the T-leg rests on respective mounting pedestals whereby the calibration bar is held in a raised position and leveled by adjustment of at least two of the pins to provide a horizontal platform for mounting the alignment assembly. The aiming bar is horizontally mounted on the T-leg and the pivot bar is set to a horizontal angle plate reading.

Abstract: A mass flow meter for measuring the flow rate of a fluid in a sensing tube over a wide ambient temperature range and with low sensitivity to attitude change. A pair of sensor temperature sensitive resistive wire coils are wound around the outer surface of the tube along the flow path of the fluid and are encased in open cell foam material. The sensor elements are heated and the rate of mass flow of the fluid is directly proportional to the temperature differential between the sensor elements. The sensor elements can be connected to a bridge circuit for detecting the temperature differential of the sensor elements. Tilting the sensor from the initial balance position results in a change in meter reading of less than 0.5%.

Abstract: Extenders for the ends of the handlebars of a motorcycle or the like, each extender comprising a bracket formed to rotatably encircle the handlebar end and an extension member rigidly and integrally joined to the bracket. The extension member includes a first portion projecting rearwardly from the bracket and a return portion in the pivot plane of the bracket constituting a hand grip.

Abstract: A thin insulative film is applied to be in direct contact with a surface carrying an electrostatic image which has a potential sufficient for adherence by induction of toner to the insulative film but insufficient to discharge when in contact with or upon separation of the toned insulative film. When the surface is photoconductive, it is exposed before or after contact with the insulative film to a pattern of discharging radiation to form an electrostatic image thereon. As one form of image development, toner is applied to the insulative film while in direct contact with the imaged surface. Thereafter, the toner image may be transferred to a support member. Toning and toner transfer is repeated without further charge and without further exposure.

Abstract: Apparatus to be used on a heavy-duty vehicular wheel tire for dislodging the tire from the wheel during removal of the tire from the wheel and for confining a separable wheel rim, should the wheel rim become disengaged from the wheel during inflation of the tire. A rim-retaining structure includes an outwardly extending member affixed to a swivel joint secured to one end of a lever. The lever pivots about a fulcrum mounted on a support member and inflatable bellows secured to the other end of the lever position the rim-retaining means against the tire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anchoring device which rigidly supports many kinds of standing objects in public works or in the construction industry and provides resistance to pulling loads exerted on the device, and also to a method for settling the device in the bottom of a deep shaft bored into the ground.

Abstract: A transfer sheet for thermal reproduction processes having a discontinuous transfer layer defined by a plurality of closely spaced discrete carbon regions. In a specific embodiment the transfer surface is defined by a substantially uniform distribution of carbon regions of varying diameters providing improved continuous tone reproduction through temperature-correlated carbon transfer.

Abstract: An illustrative system is disclosed for use as a rotary-drive engine, utilizing combustible fuel and a hydraulic system of energy conversion. An engine block defines a pair of expansion cylinders (combustion chambers) and an associated concentric pair of hydraulic chambers. The chambers matingly receive unitary piston structures for phase-opposed reciprocal movement.The hydraulic working chambers communicate with each other and can exhaust high pressure fluid through a control valve structure for drive power. Exhausted fluid is replaced in volume by low-pressure spent fluid. The body of the fluid contained in the hydraulic working chambers along with the piston means and springs connected to the engine block define an oscillatory system which is resonant at the operating frequency. That consideration, along with the absence of lateral loads on the pistons, results in relatively high efficiency.

Abstract: A loudspeaker horn has a conical section adapted to receive the driver assembly of a speaker system at the small cone end. An exponential section secured to the large cone end, concentrically with the cone longitudinal axis, flares outwardly to terminate in a square cross-section horn mouth. A raised lip secured around the periphery of the horn mouth diffracts sound symmetrically through a dispersion angle of about 120.degree. with a drop of about six decibels or less.

Abstract: An improved photographic processing system and process are provided. The system includes a novel photographic recording medium comprising a layer of silver halide emulsion, a barrier layer disposed on a surface thereof, the barrier layer being soluble in aqueous alkali but insoluble in water and acidic media, and an acidic developer disposed as a layer on the outer surface of the barrier layer or mixed therewith. The developer is activatable at an alkaline pH. A novel processing web comprising a support containing an alkali and a free water source is also provided, which web is adapted for contacting the layer containing developer to initiate development of the silver halide. The developer thus is isolated from alkali and from the emulsion prior to developing. The process includes exposure of the recording medium, followed by the described contacting for development of a visible image.