Abstract: A collector of waves, such as of solar radiations entering from any direction, concentrates them upon a receiver that converts them to useful purposes. Moderate concentration factors are achieved without the necessity of tracking the sun. The reflective surface of the collector is a semicircular arc developed by rotation about an axis either in the plane of the arc passing through the center of curvature to form a hemisphere, or in the plane of the arc and tangent to one end to form a hemitoroid with a central cusp, or about some other axis; or some combination of these shapes. The device is compounded to provide an increased concentration factor. Means are taught for adapting the device to heat-collecting plates, heat pipes, or photovoltaic conversion devices (solar cells) of either disc, ribbon, or tube construction and for installing the device on surfaces of buildings with or without the capability of tracking the sun.

Abstract: A collector of waves, such as of solar radiations entering from any direction, concentrates them upon a receiver that converts them to useful purposes. Moderate concentration factors are achieved without the necessity of tracking the sun. The reflective surface of the collector is a semicircular arc; developed by rotation about an axis either in the plane of the arc passing through the center of curvature to form a hemisphere, or in the plane of the arc and tangent to one end to form a hemitoroid with a central cusp, or about some other axis; or some combination of these shapes. The device is compounded to provide an increased concentration factor. Means are taught for adapting the device to heat-collecting plates, heat pipes, or photovoltaic conversion devices (solar cells) of either disc, ribbon, or tube construction and for installing the device on surfaces of buildings with or without the capability of tracking the sun.

Abstract: A collector of waves, such as of solar radiations entering from any direction, concentrates them upon a receiver that converts them to useful purposes. Moderate concentration factors are achieved without the necessity of tracking the sun. The reflective surface of the collector is a semicircular arc developed by rotation about an axis either in the plane of the arc passing through the center of curvature to form a hemisphere, or in the panel of the arc and tangent to one end to form a hemitoroid with a central cusp, or about some other axis; or some combination of these shapes. The device is compounded to provide an increased concentration factor. Means are taught for adapting the device to heat-collecting plates, heat pipes, or photovoltaic conversion devices (solar cells) of either disc, ribbon, or tube construction and for installing the device on surfaces of buildings with or without the capability of tracking the sun.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bending or helix-forming apparatus operating by partial but continuous rolling of a long product on a resilient rim portion of a driven rotatable drum, to which portion it is applied by a plurality of rollers having axes parallel to that of the drum, with a pressure sufficient such that its adherence to the said resilient rim portion of the drum ensures that it is positively driven by the latter.

Abstract: A device for continuously measuring the liquid level in a container, wherein a capacitive sensor is disposed in the liquid to be measured and is connected with an oscillator as the frequency controlling element thereof, the output of the oscillator being connected with a suitable indicator or control, and wherein the capacitive sensor is formed of an elongate flexible strip of insulating material having opposite faces, with a plurality of elongate conductive elements embedded in the strip of material spaced approximately equidistantly from the opposite faces so that an electric field generated between the conductive elements can be substantially equally acted upon simultaneously on both sides of the device by the liquid to be measured, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of the sensing element, and enabling linear gauge characteristics to be obtained in irregularly shaped containers.

Abstract: A rotary picker drum for use in a machine for harvesting fruit on a relatively low plants, such as low bush blueberries. The drum contains a series of circumferentially spaced rows of tines which can be retracted during the descending movement thereof as the drum rotates, and extended during the passage of the respective row through the bush and over substantial portion of the upward movement as the drum is rotated. The oscillatory extension/retraction movement is effected within a cylindric plane generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drum, the tines of the rows being curved such as to be generally coincident with such cylindric plane. The tines are guided in guiding plates forming one wall of a food collecting trough in the surface of the drum. The guiding plates reinforce the tines and clean same during the retracting movement thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for testing the accuracy of the oscillators of electronic clocks includes transforming a frequency signal corresponding to the output of a clock oscillator into a non-sinusoidal signal having the same frequency as the frequency signal and filtering the non-sinusoidal signal to pass a component of the non-sinusoidal signal having a frequency associated with a reference frequency to be compared with the signal passed by the filter such that clock oscillators operating at various frequencies of which the reference frequency is an integral multiple can be tested since the non-sinusoidal signal, which is preferably a sawtooth signal, contains harmonic components corresponding to the reference frequency.

Abstract: An indicator includes a dial having a translucent section supported on a housing, a light beam directed along a path through the housing such that light is not normally received at the translucent section, a measuring element movable within the housing in accordance with a condition to be sensed and a reflector carried by the measuring element and movable therewith to intersect the light beam path to reflect the light beam to the translucent section when a predetermined condition is sensed.

Abstract: A liquid level indicating device for indicating a predetermined liquid level in a container includes a mounting member mounted on the container, a float movable with the level of liquid in the container and actuating an electrical switch when the float is at the predetermined liquid level in the container, and a coupling pivotally supporting the float on the mounting member and adjustable in orientation to permit the float to pivot in various planes. The coupling can be an angularly movable clutch such as a universal joint or a ball and socket joint or the coupling can be in the form of a resilient hinge.

Abstract: A foldable frame for agricultural implements, for example harrows, includes a draw bar having a rear extension and two side members rigid with the draw bar, an elongated support beam for carrying the agricultural implements, the beam having two side portions pivotably connected to each other at the center of the beam for folding in a horizontal plane, and two links, each pivotably connected at a front end to the draw bar side members, and pivotably connected at their rear ends to a central part of the two beam portions.

Abstract: A single phase stepper motor is formed of a rotor having a shaft carrying a driving pinion and a permanent magnet and a stator having a body of diamagnetic or paramagnetic material, a field winding producing an excitation field transverse to the axis of the rotor shaft and a pair of diametrically opposed auxiliary poles spaced from the excitation field. The permanent magnet is constructed of a lanthanide ferromagnetic alloy, such as a lanthanide cobalt alloy and preferably a samarium cobalt alloy; and the permanent magnet has a moment of inertia substantially the same as or less than the moment of inertia of the combination of the rotor shaft and the driving pinion. The stator body has a plurality of pairs of holes therein for supporting a U-shaped, rod-like member having ends forming the auxiliary poles in a plurality of positions to permit adjustment of the direction of rotation and torque of the rotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a member for assembling tubular elements designed to form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional structure. Such member comprises two half-shells which can be nested one on the other, thus defining a passage for a tube of the structure, and having stub tubes onto which the other tubes are to be fitted.

Abstract: A flasher of the type of an elongated, double-bent plate-like member is produced from two generally identical transparent plastic plates having reinforcements at their edges and interlocking each other to enhance dimensional stability of bends at the front and rear ends. Sandwiched between the plates is a light reflexive sheet which is fully protected from water when the flasher is completed.

Abstract: An improved rectangular casing is provided in three parts for a quartz-crystal electric clock. A middle portion of the casing holds the mechanical and electrical portions of the clockwork and the dial. A front portion of the casing holds a sight glass over the dial and engages the middle portion. A rear portion of the casing engages the middle portion. When the rear portion is removed, conductors on a printed circuit board which carries the clockwork are exposed, as well as a battery chamber.

Abstract: The arrangement includes a drive motor for driving the winding member of a yarn storage and dispensing unit. The output torque of the drive motor is substantially independent of the momentary operational speed. The drive motor either is a synchronous hysteresis motor comprising means for suppressing eddy currents, or is a DC motor the motor current of which is maintained at a constant value corresponding to the desired driving torque.

Abstract: A station for a transport system comprising a track, an entry level, a transit level vertically spaced from the entry level and at which vehicles or trains may be stopped and two pairs of lifts arranged one pair on each side of the track, the lifts being arranged so that successive lifts arrive at the transit level on opposite sides of the track. A method of synchronizing the passenger lifts and train arrivals and departures is disclosed.

Abstract: The multi-zone drilling system consists of a spiral drill provided, over its whole length, with continuous spiral slots and a uniform core diameter, which drill is driven by steel clamps mounted in the bottom portion of the drill chuck and engaging the spiral slot surfaces. The spiral drill is furthermore provided, at its upper end, with an annular slot pin, extractably fixed in an annular slot-locking sleeve; this annular slot-locking sleeve is in turn mounted in a pressure element which is vertically adjustable in a delicately stepped way via a connecting bush, for the purpose of altering the jutting-out length of the drill attachment in the drill chuck.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a double walled mould interior divided into two halves, a heat exchange exterior hollow envelope and a pressure-exchange compartment within the envelope surrounding the adjacent abutting surfaces of the rims of the two mould halves, heat-exchanges and pressure-exchanges producing means to rotate the apparatus on two axes, means to introduce a protective gas into the mould to avoid combustion of vapors and optional means cooperating between the heat-exchange and pressure-exchange means in the heating and cooling phases.The method includes controls of pressure and heat-exchange steps during the heating and cooling stages to avoid formation of bubbles, deformities and combustions, particularly when transparent plastic materials difficult to mould are used.

Abstract: A construction type educational and amusement device having as its basic element a generally spherical hollow module or capsule and adjuncts which may be interconnected and operatively assembled into a large number of different relations to form power-driven vehicles, cranes, propeller-driven floats, air propelled devices and many other assemblies of scientific interest. The capsules of a complete assembly may contain, respectively, an electric motor, gearing of various kinds and types, to form operative simulations. The modules are preferably of clear plastic so that operation may be observed and understood.