Abstract: A ski with increased torsional stiffness while of normal flexural strength. A pair of substantially rigid rectilinear members that are stiff in torsion, are attached to the top of the ski by pivoted mounts that are rigidly secured to the ski. Two mounts lie to the rear of the ski's binding area, and two mounts lie in front of the binding area. The rigid members are mounted longitudinally of the ski, and the pivoting is transverse thereto. One mount of each pair of mounts is directly pivoted to its rigid member, while the other mount has an intermediate member pivoted transversely to the ski and also transversely pivoted at a point spaced therefrom to its rigid member.

Abstract: An electronic display device for presenting directional information to the operator of a motor vehicle. The display simultaneously shows current vehicle direction of travel as well as the relative directions of the 4 major compass axes by converting the direction information from an electronic flux gate compass. The device is further optimized to reduce the number of pin connections to the display and associated driver complexity and is readily applicable to LED, LCD or vacuum fluorescent type display elements.

Abstract: Low frequency amplifier, mainly for use in motor vehicles, of the type comprising an equalizing device and a device for compensating ambient noise, characterized in that the equalizing device (1a) is a fixed-correction-type device placed downstream of the controlled-gain amplifier (2) having the task of compensating the ambient noise.

Abstract: A rope ladder of the type having two spaced-apart pairs of ropes, has a metal frame for each step and has tubular nylon members with cylindrical bores, extending vertically through sets of through openings in the metal frame for assuring accurate bolt alignment. The frame and nylon members are provided with a molded hard elastomer body molded around them and having a collar portion at each end molded around a frame bracket. The body and frame provide a through rope opening. A pair of separate wedge collars is secured, on assembly, to each step, below the step and bearing up against it. Each wedge collar has a rope opening and vertical bolt passages aligned with the bores of the tubular nylon members. A generally diamond-shaped wedge heart is placed in between each pair of ropes, in the rope openings; the wedge heart provides two rope-engaging side grooves for locking the pair of ropes in place and preventing relative movement between them and the step.

Abstract: Blood products and derivatives, such as procoagulants--e.g. Factor VIII and rothrombin--plasma proteins, immunoglobulin and complement growth factors and various leucocytes, are obtained from shed blood or its tissue precursor, bone marrow, that has been anticoagulated by the use of a neutral salt that does not bind calcium ions. The preferred anticoagulants are salts containing the divalent ions calcium, magnesium, barium or strontium. Salts of calcium and magnesium are especially preferred because of their relatively lower toxicity, the salt of choice being a magnesium salt, for instance magnesium chloride, because magnesium salts exhibit the required anticoagulating action at levels compatible with retention of normal ionic strength and osmolarity. The toxicity of the neutral salt is eliminated by its removal.

Abstract: A ski that is stiff in torsion and is flexible in the vertical direction. The ski body that is relatively weak and flexible both in beam and in torsion, having a ski binding area in between its ends for affixation of a user's ski boot, providing forward and rear top surface portions. At least one tubular elastomeric member is rigidly secured atop said ski body, it may be on said forward surface portion, or on said rear surface portion, or on both surface portions, the tubular member being provided with reinforcing comprising helically wound braiding of high-tensile-strength filaments.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving oil production in oil wells. The lower end of an elastic steel column is attached to the upper end of a liner. The upper end of the column extends above the top of the well and is attached to a reaction mass lying vertically thereabove through (1) an accelerometer and (2) vertically mounted compression springs in parallel with a vertically mounted servo-controlled hydraulic cylinder-piston assembly. A substantially constant upward load is applied to the reaction mass, and the piston of the hydraulic assembly is reciprocated under servo control to apply vertical vibration to the upper end of the column. This vertical vibration is adjusted through the servo control to an appropriate resonant frequency for the column in the range of 5 Hz to 25 Hz, and the frequency is maintained at resonance by a feedback system relying on maintaining a phase difference of 90.degree.

Abstract: An automatic machine for loading and installing a telescopic lid on a shipping case is disclosed. The machine provides for bottom loading an open-top case with product which may extend slightly above the case sidewalls when loaded therein. After the machine has loaded the case and closed its bottom flaps, a pre-scored and slotted lid member in sheet form is positioned above the case and then moved onto it as as its side and end panel members are folded against the case sidewalls and joined together to form a snug fitting telescoping lid on the case.

Abstract: A resiliently flexible wishbone boom comprised of a pair of boom sections attached to the pivotal mast of a sailboard. A sail located between the boom sections is attached by its leading edge to the mast and at one location along its trailing edge to the outer end of the boom. The boom has flexible forward portions which enable the boom sections to be drawn closer together, thereby making the boom longer and applying increased outhaul tension on the sail which changes its overall curvature and aerodynamic efficiency.

Abstract: A filled-resin composition useful for porcelain repair and as a dental composite and therefore made up of non-toxic materials and a method for repairing porcelain or teeth. The composition comprises a methacrylate functional resin usable in dental composites, powdered filler-colorant therein, at least one photoinitiator for the resin in an amount sufficient to initiate polymerization and complete it in depth within about half a minute when exposed to a visible-light output of at least 5,000 foot candles, the photoinitiator being an exciplex of (1) an carbocyclic ketone or acetal and (2) either ethyl-4-dimethyl amino benzoate or ethyl-2-dimethyl amino benzoate, and at least one accelerator-free peroxide curing agent for the resin in an effective amount for completing polymerization within about one-half hour of any portion of the resin not receiving sufficient light to effectuate complete cure before then.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for downhole seismic exploration employing vibration emanating from a point deep in a well. An elastic steel column has an upper end extending above the top of the well. A reaction mass is attached vertically thereabove through a vertically mounted compression spring system, in parallel with it a vertically mounted servo-controlled hydraulic cylinder-piston assembly. The displacement of a spear or bit on the lower end of the column relative to earth develops a displacement signal. The piston in the hydraulic cylinder is under reciprocated servo control to apply vertical vibration to the upper end of the column and thereby to the spear, while developing an electrical, pressure-differential signal corresponding to the pressure across the cylinder-piston assembly.

Abstract: A protective facial mask covering the oral and nasal cavities. It slips over the user's head and comprises a single generally cylindrical, generally tubular, piece of an expandable impervious material open at each end. Two diametrically opposed ear slots and an opening below and extending between the ear slots hold the mask in place and provide for better conformity to the user's head. A filtered breathing cannula on the interior of the mask allows air to enter the nasal cavity only.

Abstract: The starting material consists of a multistrand elastic tape (7) which is fed by the apparatus (11) and then separated by the successive separators (20, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33) into two arrays (35, 36) of four individual elastic strands. Each individual strand passes into a longitudinal groove of an adhesive application unit (37, 38), the strands passing out completely coated with hot melt liquid adhesive at high temperature. Adhesive bonding to the flexible sheet (1) moving in the direction of the arrows (2) is effected as soon as contact is made with the said sheet.A diaper pantie is obtained which on each side of the absorbent pad has a plurality of elastic strands disposed side by side.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dewatering and drying sludge. A pair of upper and lower members form a closed chamber into which sludge is poured. Sidewalls of the upper member are pressed against the lower member to seal the chamber. Compressed air supplied at a pressure P.sub.1 to a continuous groove in the lower edge of the sidewalls flows across the sloped inside surfaces of the sidewalls and supplements air supplied to the chamber at a somewhat lower pressure level P.sub.2, the combined pressures P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 in said chamber forcing liquid from said sludge through porous media in the bottom of the chamber. Air from the continuous groove aids in releasing the dried sludge from the chamber when the upper and lower members are separated.

Abstract: A support structure for a lift car or elevator comprising two pairs of parallel rails and followers arranged in a horizontal parallelogram array between the lift car and support frame, such that compound movement of the followers on their respective rails allows the lift car to move in any horizontal direction to absorb transverse vibration due to misalignment of the vertical guide rails in the lift shaft. Also described are biassing devices arranged to lightly bias the lift car to a centralized horizontal position, and centralizing devices arranged to positively centralize the lift car for entry and egress at each floor.

Abstract: A new class of epoxy curing agents has been discovered that utilizes the monomer of (a) urea-formaldehyde, (b) phenol modified urea-formaldehyde, or (c) thiourea-formaldehyde as the center of a polyamine molecule. The ether monomers are reacted with conventional aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic polyamines to split off alcohol and water-yielding urea-formaldehyde etc., polyamine epoxy curing agents.

Abstract: A rotating, indexable carousel-like apparatus for retaining lead frame containers for use in combination with a singulation press which severs a reel of lead frames and progressively loads the lead frames into the containers. The carousel-like apparatus can accommodate multiple lead frame containers and comprises a baseplate, circular container holder, lead frame guide means and indexing means. Also, there are means to ensure container retention within the apparatus. The apparatus includes means which raise the baseplate and container holder to a loading position and lower them to an indexing position. The apparatus will automatically index to the next loading position when a container is fully loaded. The apparatus includes means which monitor both carousel position and lead frame position and will inhibit press operation if either the apparatus, lead frames or containers within the apparatus are misaligned.

Abstract: A pseudo-gel comprising a suitable solvent in an amount of 99 to 90 percent by weight and an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene in an amount of 1 to 10 percent by weight, said polyethylene being a semicrystalline network with adjustable crystalline morphology comprising randomly dispersed and oriented chain-folded single crystals, stacks of single crystals, spherulite crystals, and extended-chain shish-kebab-type of fibrils with lengths up to a few millimeters and widths up to 20 .mu.m. Also, the semicrystalline ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene obtained by removal of said solvent from the pseudo-gel. Further, a method for making the pseudo-gel and the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene product.

Abstract: A power loom for making carpets, tapestry and the like. A stationary, cylindrical mandrel is surrounded by a rotatable annular table adjacent the mandrel's upper end. The table is rotated around the mandrel. Each strand of yarn is guided down vertically between the mandrel and the annular table. A continuous circumferential series of substantially identical loom stations is mounted in succession on the annular table, each station having a pressure blade assembly, a guiding hook, and a cutter assembly. A jute is fed in split cylindrical form downwardly around and with an inner surface against the mandrel. The jute having an adhesively coated outer surface. Each hook engages a series of successive strands passing down, and at each loom station, feeds them one at a time to a pressure blade assembly while the annular table rotates. Each pressure blade assembly includes pressure means for forcing each strand against the coated jute and adhering it there to the jute's outer surface.

Abstract: A rope ladder of the type having a series of ladder steps and two spaced-apart pairs of ropes. Each step has a metal step frame about which is molded a hard elastomer body. Each step has a rope-receiving opening therethrough shaped and sized for closely confining a pair of ropes. Each step has a pair of horizontal transverse openings therethrough parallel to each other on each side of each rope-receiving opening. Before molding, nylon tubes are inserted in each end of each transverse opening and held during molding by slug bolts. After molding, the steps are each cut, on one side only, to provide a main step portion and two separate gripping portions, one for each rope-receiving opening, and each incorporating a portion of the frame and a portion of the body, the gripping portions including a portion of each transverse opening. A bolt is inserted through each pair of aligned nylong tubes, extending through both the main step portion and each gripping portion. A nut is loosely placed on each bolt.