Abstract: An impacting apparatus comprising a hammer assembly including a housing and a driven, reciprocating ram extending axially from one end of the housing; an anvil assembly including a housing and a manually adjustably anvil extending axially from one end of the housing; and a pair of arms for connecting the one end of the anvil assembly housing to the one end of the hammer assembly housing with the anvil in facing, spaced, coaxial relationship to the reciprocating ram. Such impacting apparatus may be used to loosen threaded members that are tightly engaged by positioning such members between the anvil and the ram.

Abstract: In an electrodeless fluorescent lamp of the type including a sealed, light transmissive, envelope including an elongate inner wall defining an open-ended cavity and an outer wall surrounding the inner wall to form a generally annular, hollow cavity therebetween, the annular cavity being charged with an ionizable gaseous medium, an induction coil positioned within the open-ended cavity, and a radio frequency oscillator connected to the coil, the coil and the oscillator initiating and maintaining ionization of the medium to form an ultraviolet light emitting discharge, the inner surface of the outer wall of the envelope being coated with a phosphor which emits visible light when excited by ultraviolet light, the improvement wherein the outer surface of the inner wall is coated with a layer of an electrically insulative ultraviolet light reflective material which is overcoated with a phosphor layer. Such improvement yields an increase in visible light production of the order of 50% to 100%.

Abstract: In a hydro-massage jet fitting for a hot tub wherein the fitting includes a venturi air-induction system which mixes air with water before pumping the water into the tub, there is disclosed an improvement wherein the passageway to conduct air to the fitting extends through the side wall of the tub to an annular space surrounding the body of the fitting and the fitting is modified to conduct the air from this space into the body.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a drafting board and a drafting parallel of the type including a straight edge suspended by cables on one surface of the board for parallel movement therealong, comprising means for releasably locking one end of the straight edge in a fixed position relative to the drafting board so as to permit pivotable movement only of the straight edge, an angle scale connected to the board adjacent the other end of the straight edge for indicating the amount of pivotable movement of the straight edge, and a pointer connected to the other end of the straight edge for use in association with the angle scale.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the pressure in a gas line and providing a visual and audible indication of a high or low pressure condition, the gas line having a pressure sensor for generating high and low pressure signals, comprising a visual indicator responsive to the high pressure signal for providing a high pressure visual indication, a visual indicator responsive to the low pressure signal for providing a low pressure visual indication, a system normal visual indicator which is normally maintained in an "on" condition, an audible alarm, circuit means responsive to either of the high or low pressure signals for turning off the system normal visual indicator and for activating the audible alarm, and a manual switch for deactivating the audible alarm.

Abstract: A system for detecting and locating a source of radiation in which an image orthicon tube, sensitive only to infrared emissions at the wavelength of the source, is scanned along first and second orthogonal axes and, upon sensing incoming radiation, generates a signal which is applied to an analog computer which analyzes the signal, determines the direction from which it came, and arms a suitable responding device, such as a weapon, at the source of radiation. Provision is made for storing signals from a plurality of radiation sources so that the responding device is aimed at each in sequence.

Abstract: A mechanism for use with a video recorder/reproducer of the type which receives a standard video cassette for withdrawing the video tape from the cassette to prepare the tape for threading around a video scanner, for sensing tape position to provide inputs to the reel drive servo motors of independent, closed loop servo systems, and for adjusting the level of tension in the video tape during operation of the recorder/reproducer. The mechanism withdraws the tape in two diverging directions, equally from both reels. The tension level is controlled accurately and is selectively changed for different operating modes.

Abstract: In a system wherein transitions occur in a data signal encoded with a known format and transition displacements occur as a result of bandwidth limitations, noise, and the like, there is disclosed a method and means for measuring the probability density function associated with such transition displacements. Furthermore, the present system permits the measurement of conditional probability such that the probability density function associated with certain selected transitions can be separately evaluated. The probability density function associated with transition displacements is measured by measuring the average frequency of occurrence of transitions of the data within a narrow, first time interval, varying the first time interval over a larger, second time interval during which transitions of the data are expected to occur, and plotting the average frequency of occurrence of data transitions determined at each first interval.

Abstract: In a truss rod assembly for adjusting the curvature of the neck of a musical instrument of the type including an elongate, curved truss rod positionable within the instrument neck and having one end thereof fixed thereto, the other end thereof being movable to increase or decrease the tension on the truss rod to adjust the curvature of the instrument neck, there is disclosed an improvement wherein a major part of the central portion of the truss rod is flattened to increase the flexibility thereof, such flattening of the truss rod being in a plane perpendicular to the plane of curvature of the truss rod.

Abstract: A turntable assembly for helically threading tape from a video cassette around a video scanner, for simultaneously threading the tape past a plurality of longitudinal magnetic heads, and for engaging the tape to a capstan drive assembly. The turntable comprises an annular ring that surrounds the scanner and longitudinal heads and provides a platform for rigidly supporting a plurality of guide posts and a pinch roller, the guide posts threading the tape around the scanner and the pinch roller engaging the tape to the capstan drive assembly. The rotational axis of the scanner is tilted relative to the cassette so that the plane of the cassette is coplanar with the entry angle of the scanner and the rotational axis of the turntable ring is tilted relative to the rotational axis of the scanner so that the plane of the ring is coplanar with the exit angle of the scanner. The turntable rotates through an angle which is greater than 360.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing collars from compressed gas cylinders by applying a lateral force on first opposite sides of the collar, the force having a magnitude sufficient to collapse the side walls of the collar, in the direction of the applied force and to elongate the side walls of the collar in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the applied force and repeating the above step on second opposite sides of the collar displaced by approximately 90.degree. from the first sides, the second step freeing the collar from the cylinder neck allowing its easy removal.

Abstract: An inexpensive, highly efficient, durable, and easy to manufacture solar collector of the flat-plate type. The collector includes a heat exchanger having an upper plate, a lower plate, and four triangularly-shaped side plates defining an enclosed chamber, all plates being highly absorbent of solar radiation, the upper plate curving inwardly so that a central portion thereof extends closely adjacent the lower plate along a hot line extending between opposite corners of the collector; and means for conducting a fluid into and out of the chamber, at the remaining corners thereof, on opposed sides of the hot line, so that the fluid flows through the chamber, perpendicular to and in a thin sheet past the hot line, absorbing heat from the upper plate. The collector also includes a frame in which the heat exchanger is supported along the outer edges only in a manner such that light is reflected to the lower plate to increase the efficiency of heat absorption.

Abstract: A surface treating process for alkali glass to prevent "whitening" thereof. The method comprises bringing the surface of glass into contact with an aqueous solution containing one or more metal nitrates, the nitrate being of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, nickel, chromium and cobalt.

Abstract: A string post for a musical instrument of the type which extends perpendicular to the instrument head and is adapted to be rotated manually to tighten a string wrapped therearound, the string post having a constantly decreasing diameter from the outer end thereof to a plane closely adjacent the instrument head so as to urge a string wrapped therearound toward and into contact with the instrument head.

Abstract: A system for filing, updating, and retrieving source documents comprising a video tape recorder; an electro-optic scanner for converting the images on source documents to video signals representative of such images; means for generating update signals representative of update information for source documents; a controller for selectively directing the video signals to first areas of defined storage locations in the video tape recorder and the update signals to second areas of the storage locations, the update signals for a particular source document being stored in the same storage location as the video signals therefor; a monitor for displaying source documents and update information, the controller selectively conducting the video signals stored in any storage location to the monitor; and means controlled by the controller for selectively mixing the update signals for the displayed source document with the video signals therefor for display therewith on the monitor.