Abstract: A check valve for a fluid conduit line including a spaced break in a fluid conducting line with a chamber defining sleeve connecting opposed ends of the broken fluid line, the chamber having a float fluid check valve disposed therein of a specific gravity lower that the specific gravity of the fluid in the line with opposed spaced ends of the broken line being contoured to remain open to the chamber when the float valve is urged thereagainst by line pressure.

Abstract: An improved compound miter saw is disclosed as having a selectively rotatable turntable mounted on a supporting frame and a power driven saw blade pivotally mounted on the turntable between a lowered full cut position and a raised full retract position. The turntable is provided with a saw blade slot for receiving the power driven saw blade when lowered to its full cut position. A work supporting fence is mounted on the supporting frame and turntable and includes a pair of work engaging surfaces longitudinally aligned across the saw blade slot. The work supporting fence is constructed to provide simultaneous longitudinal and transverse movement relative to the power driven saw blade so as to maintain the work supporting fence in a predetermined relative position to the power driven saw blade as the turntable and included power driven saw blade are selectively rotated on the supporting frame to various desired miter positions.

Abstract: A covered hopper railway car (10) for transporting difficult-to-unload ladings includes a pair of parallel, spaced apart side walls (12a, 12b) and opposed end walls (14a, 14b). A roof (16) covers the car and has an opening (18) therein for loading lading into the car. The bottom has outlets (24a-24g) attached thereto for discharging lading from the car. Each outlet comprises a drop-bottom outlet whose length and width are sufficient so as to substantially prevent lading from bridging over the outlet thereby facilitating discharge of the lading.

Abstract: An improvement (17) for a linear actuator mechanism (1) includes a brake mechanism (19) acting on an intermediate gear (39) of a gear mechanism (21) of the actuator. The brake mechanism includes a spring washer (61) installed on a gear shaft (53) and thrust washers (59) mounted on the gear shaft on each side of the gear. A constant force is exerted on the gear by the brake mechanism to eliminate "back drive" forces operating on a lead screw (5) of the actuator when its motor (7) is de-energized.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for acquiring and tracking a missile (M), and guiding it to a target (T). Beacons (18, 19) are carried on the missile to provide an indication of its location in a field of view. One beacon (18) is a xenon beacon which emits energy in a short wave-length portion of the light spectrum. The other beacon (19) is a thermal source which emits infrared radiation in a longer wave-length portion of the spectrum. A sight unit (20) includes both a xenon beacon detector and a forward looking infrared receiver (FLIR). The FLIR provides two independent channels (A, B) of video. An electrical signal developed within the sight unit is separately processed on both of the channels. One channel is used to develop a video display for an operator for target acquisition and tracking. The other channel is used for missile tracking and clutter and countermeasure (CM) rejection.

Abstract: A method for measuring the impedance of a transmission line. The length and D.C. loop resistance of the line are measured. A pulse is transmitted along the line, the pulse having a duration greater than the time required for it to propogate from its source to the end of the transmission line and reflect back to the source. The transmitted and reflected pulses are monitored and the resultant readings converted to a gross impedance measurement. The measurement is then corrected for the "dribble up" effect. The magnitude of the correction is a function of D.C. loop resistance of the line. The corrected measurement is an accurate measurement of line impedance.

Abstract: In an earth drill rig having a drive with a drive stud projecting from it, a Kelly bar, connected to drive a rotary table, and a coupling device associated with the Kelly bar and drive stud for selectively connecting the drive stud to a lower end of the Kelly bar, and a mast carrying the Kelly bar and adapted to be rotated about a pivot axis offset from the long axis of the Kelly bar from an erected position to a folded position, during which the Kelly bar is arcuately translated away from the drive stud, and to be rotated from the folded position to the erected position, during which the lower end of the Kelly bar is arcuately translated toward the drive stud, the Kelly bar is moved axially in a direction away from the drive stud and moved axially in a direction toward the drive stud to permit the coupling and uncoupling of the Kelly bar and the drive stud.

Abstract: An aspirator device for removing body fluids is disclosed as having a fluid collector with an air-type chamber that communicates with a first sealed passageway in an elongated flexible tube to be inserted in a body cavity for fluid communication with body fluids, and a second sealed passageway which connects the air tight chamber with a manually operable vacuum device or squeeze bulb. The manually operable vacuum means or squeeze bulb is operatively associated with first and second one-way valve which open in the same direction, the first valve establishing a vacuum in the first and second sealed passageways for remvoing and depositing harmful body fluids in the fluid collector, and the second valve means not only working to establish the vacuum, but also serving as an overflow valve for fluids overflowing the fluid collector.

Abstract: A whole house, direct drive fan is disclosed wherein the fan motor is secured directly to a single joist by means of a motor mounting bracket. A venturi housing is separately secured directly to the joist on which the fan motor is mounted.

Abstract: A diaphragm type game call has at least one diaphragm mounted in a frame in such a way that the diaphragm cooperate with a part or parts of the frame to permit the tension of the diaphragm to be varied selectively, as by fixing the initial effective length of the diaphragm at the outboard edge of a leg of a U-shaped frame whereby the inboard edge serves as a fret of sorts to shorten the effective length of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is pushed against it by the tongue of the user, or by providing a fret intermediate the length of the diaphragm, or by providing one or both legs of a frame with channels into which and from which a diaphragm can be readily mounted and demounted to permit the selective tensioning of the diaphragm so mounted.

Abstract: Particles are enrobed or coated by introducing, to a spinning cup having an outwardly upwardly extending inner surface with an upper edge, a liquid coating material and particles of greater density than the coating material. The coating material and particles are introduced inboard of the peripheral surface, perferably in separate streams. The speed of rotation of the spinning cup is controlled to cause the coating material to climb up the surface but to stop short of the upper edge, and at the same time to cause the particles to travel through the coating material, be enrobed with the coating liquid, climb out of the liquid coating material, and be ejected over the upper edge. The spinning cup is symmetrical about a central vertical axis. It has a peripheral surface sloping outwardly upwardly, which surface can be stepped outwardly upwardly, and a control device is provided for controlling the speed of rotation of the spinning cup.

Abstract: An easily transported and erected building structure formed in part as a vault made of interlocking voussoirs in the form of identical insulated boxes. Permanent exterior joint connectors prestress the voussoirs for strength. Easily installed interior clips join the voussiers. A floor made of insulated boxes is supported on a quickly-assembled adjustable structural frame. End walls made of insulating boxes close the ends of the vault or vaults. External cladding and interior finishing panels, corresponding generally to the dimensions of the voussoirs, are easily installed and removed. Interior raceways are formed along the joinder lines of the insulated boxes. All of the parts of the structure are designed for erection of the structure in harsh environments, without handling small loose parts.

Abstract: A constant humidity evaporative wicking filter humidifier is disclosed as having a water reservoir tank for holding a supply of water. The water reservoir tank is mounted on a supporting base and is constructed to dispense water as needed into a catch basin formed in the supporting base. A wick element of predetermined height has its lower end positioned within the catch basin for absorbing water up into the wick element by capillary action. A motor driven fan is also mounted on the supporting base relative to the wick element for drawing air with increased humidity through the wick element for discharge from the humidifier into the surrounding atmosphere. The water reservoir tank includes a valve which is selectively responsive to the level of water in the catch basin for dispensing water from the water reservoir tank into the catch basin when the water in the catch basin is below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A waste separation container for selectively separating and storing waste material includes a plurality of thin-walled flexible bags supported by a closure or frame engaging an upper part of the container. In embodiments that include a central partition in the container, the partition can have notches that are useful in mounting bags with handles. The container can have protrusions in the form of bollards or cleats that are also useful in mounting bags with handles.

Abstract: A trailer hitch (1) for use on a railcar (C) is movable between an erect position and a retracted position. A first strut (9) has its lower end pivotally mounted to the railcar. A second strut (25) has its lower end movable in a horizontal direction relative to the railcar. A hitch head (3) is carried on the upper ends of the struts for engaging a trailer loaded on the railcar to hold it in place. A cushioning unit (49) is carried by the second strut to cushion the trail from impacts. A latching mechanism (57) automatically latches the hitch in its erect position and maintains it there. The latching mechanism also allows for a safe release of the hitch so it can be retracted.

Abstract: A portable self-contained solar powered water purifier for swimming pools, spas, and other bodies of water is disclosed. The purifier includes a buoyant housing for supporting a solar cell array above the surface of water to be treated and a purification cell below the surface of water to be treated. Suitable electrical connections, between the solar cell array and purification cell, are sealed to prevent the entry of water therebetween which could result in electrical shorts and corrosion. The purification cell includes a sacrificial anode, having a metal alloy essentially composed of copper and silver and a cathode which is preferably constructed of stainless steel so as to not react adversely with the sacrificial anode. Metallic copper and silver ions are released by the sacrificial anode to prevent algae and bacterial growth.

Abstract: Shaped parts are formed from a powder having the desired chemistry of the finished part by mixing the powder with a thermosetting condensation resin that acts as a binder. The resin may be partially catalyzed, or additives or surfactants added to improve rheology, mixing properties, or processing time. Upon heating, the inherently low viscosity mixture will solidify without pressure being applied to it. A rigid form is produced which is capable of being ejected from a mold. Pre-sintered shapes or parts are made by injection molding, by using semi-permanent tooling, or by prototyping. Binder removal is accomplished by thermal means and without a separate debinding step, despite the known heat resistance of thermosetting resins. Removal is due to the film forming characteristic of the binder leaving open the part's pores, by providing oxidizing conditions within the part's pores as the part is heated, and by insuring that the evolving resin vapor diffuses through the pores by heating the part in a vacuum.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for performing an electrical test on a cable (3) used in local area networks (LAN's). A source (37) produces electrical signals transmitted through the cable. A resistance circuit (43) is interposed between the source and the cable. The amount of resistance interposed by the resistance circuit is adjusted using an adjustment circuit (67). A sensor (71) senses a characteristic of the signal and determines when that characteristic has a value representing an inpedance match between the source and the cable. The sensor circuit provides a command to the adjustment circuit to thereafter maintain the point of adjustment at which the impedances are matched.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating a fluid medium confined in a hermetically sealed housing chamber including a terminal assembly having a body member sealed in the housing chamber wall with pin means extending in sealed relation therethrough to provide electrically conductive inner and outer pin segments respectively connected to a heat transfer member and an electric power source, the inner pin segment means and heating element being electrically insulated from the housing wall.

Abstract: A prismatic lighting panel of very low weight (less than four ounces per square foot), high strength, and good optical characteristics includes a grid of depending thin ribs on one inch centers, and a web of microprisms between the ribs.