Abstract: A retarder (97) for a railcar hitch (1) is disclosed. The hitch has an erected and a retracted position and the retarder slows movement of the hitch towards its retracted position. The retarder comprises a cylinder (99) fixedly mounted on a railcar. A piston (101) is movable in the cylinder. A rod (115) attaches the piston to the movable hitch element so that preferably only axial loads act on the piston during operation of the hitch. The fluid compressed in one end of the cylinder by the piston is bled (metered) from the one end of the cylinder so as to control the rate of movement of the movable element during hitch retraction.

Abstract: A walker support tote bag is disclosed as adapted to be mounted to a walker support for carrying a variety of articles. The tote bag includes a large inner compartment within the tote bag for receiving a variety of articles and outer peripherally spaced pockets along an outer face of the tote bag for receiving articles, generally of smaller size. The outer peripherally spaced pockets have a different contrasting color than the tote bag to aid a user in positioning articles within the pockets. The tote bag and the outer peripherally spaced pockets are made from flexible material to enable the tote bag to be closed and collapsed for carrying and storage purposes.

Abstract: An immersion heater (1) for use in a chemically corrosive environment. An electrically conductive heating element (7) is immersible in the environment (C) and is capable of a watt-density of at least 30 watts per square inch when current flows through the element. A metallic sheath (9) covers the heating element. A coating (11) is applied over the sheath. The coating is capable of maintaining its coating properties not only when the heater is immersed in the environment, but also when the watt-density of the heating element exceeds 30 watts per square inch, and the temperature of the environment exceeds the boiling point of water.

Abstract: A two step process for ultrasonically welding together first and second thermoplastic pieces and welding a membrane between these two pieces. The first piece comprises an annular bead, the second piece comprises an annular energy director. The method comprises first ultrasonically cutting and sealing the membrane to the first piece using an anvil comprising an annular projection and at the same time creating a groove in the first piece. The annular bead is ultrasonically melted and thus welds the membrane to the first piece. The first and second pieces are then brought together so that the groove and energy director are aligned. Under ultrasonic action, the energy director melts within the groove creating a strong weldment without any voids or material flashing.

Abstract: A fluid pressure monitoring system for a balloon catheter includes a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon. The pressure transducer includes elements for providing an electrical signal which is a function of the pressure in the interior of the balloon. An electronic digital display is responsive to the electrical signal from the pressure transducer to display the balloon pressure measured by the pressure transducer. The system is especially suited for coronary angioplasty in which a catheter is inserted through blood vessels in the human body to the vicinity of a stenosis. The catheter carries an inflatable balloon to the vicinity of the stenosis, where it is inflated, and the fluid pressure monitoring system of the present invention detects and digitally displays to the cardiologist the pressure inside the inflated balloon.

Abstract: A folding net structure for attachment to a table tennis table and for feeding balls to a robot ball server. The net structure includes a plurality of elongated arms, each arm extending radially from and having one of its ends pivotally attached to a central member which is positioned at a lower central portion of the net structure. Netting material is attached to each of the arms such that the netting is maintained in an open and extended position when the arms are moved to their extended angular positions. The netting material has its lower edge attached to a trough device for receiving balls falling from the netting. The trough has a central point thereof pivotally attached to the central member and being operatively attached to the robot server to feed balls to the server.

Abstract: A purse including a series of flexible plastic inserts that gives the purse shape when the plastic inserts are bent and placed into the soft "skin" of the purse. These plastic inserts can be removed, if desired, so that the "soft" purse can return to a foldable, storable, cleanable state. Purse straps may be detached and interchanged. Purse flaps may be detached and interchanged. A fitted, removable, liner/organizer lets the user change purses without removing the contents piecemeal.

Abstract: A method of making foldable ladder structure wherein plastic material is injected and expanded in molds to form several parts of a foldable ladder which includes front and rear ladder sections that can be pivotally hinged at their upper portions, a collapsible shelf and spreader linkage to allow the sections to be relatively pivoted from collapsed face-to-face relation to erected position.

Abstract: A skimmer/separator ladle has a handle, a bowl or spoon integral with the handle, the bowl having a lip at its upper edge forming a spout defining one end of the bowl, the rest of the bowl constituting a container section, and a separator gate removably mounted in the bowl between the spout and the container section. The gate has a concave bottom so as to define a liquid passage between it and the bottom of the ladle.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating contaminants from contaminant entrained flows including an inclined longitudinally extending filtering trough with a floating conveyor disposed therein, the trough having a lower inlet and upper outlet and being pivotally mounted intermediate its extremities relative a sump so that the lower portion of the trough extends into the sump with the conveyor driven at its lower extremity from a power source adjacent the pivot area and in spaced relation from the trough outlet.

Abstract: A portable wet/dry vacuum cleaner is disclosed having a handle base and a combination nozzle/debris container. The handle base comprises a housing having a motor, a blower driven by the motor, and a battery pack for energization of the motor located therein. The blower is in communication with the container for forceably drawing air and entrained debris in the air into the container, for depositing the debris in the container, and for exhausting air from the handle base. A channel is provided within the outer end of the container, which channel extends inwardly and upwardly, but terminates short of the housing. The latter has an air duct between the nozzle/debris container and the blower having an inlet spaced from the inner end of the channel. A deflector is disposed between the inner end of the channel and the inlet of the air duct for directing debris entrained into the air exhausted from the channel away from the air duct inlet.

Abstract: A protective cover (163) for a trailer hitch (1) for use on a railcar (C). The hitch has a support (7), a hitch head (3) carried by the support, a locking mechanism (49) for latching the hitch in an upright, erect position, and a release mechanism (90) for allowing the hitch to retract. The cover comprises a plate (165) substantially covering at least a portion of the support, the locking mechanism, and the release mechanism. One end of the plate is pivotally mounted relative to the railcar and the other end of the plate cammingly engages the hitch support so that as the hitch is erected and retracted, the plate moves with the support and covers at least a portion of the support, the locking mechanism and the release mechanism.

Abstract: A fluid pressure monitoring system for a balloon catheter includes a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the interior of the balloon. The pressure transducer includes elements for providing an electrical signal which is a function of the pressure in the interior of the balloon. An electronic digital display is responsive to the electrical signal from the pressure transducer to display the balloon pressure measured by the pressure transducer. The system is especially suited for coronary angioplasty in which a catheter is inserted through blood vessels in the human body to the vicinity of a stenosis. The catheter carries an inflatable balloon to the vicinity of the stenoisis, where it is inflated, and the fluid pressure monitoring system of the present invention detects and digitally displays to the cardiologist the pressure inside the inflated balloon.

Abstract: A seal arrangement for sealing at least one side of an internally self aligning, adjustable bearing assembly having inner and outer race rings with the bearing disposed therebetween including a pair of spaced discs, each having one end portion extending in spaced overlapping opposed relation with the other shaped and positioned to provide a seal capable of accommodating bearing float and axial misalignment with the other end secured in fast engaging relation with one of the spaced opposed inner and outer race rings.

Abstract: A microscissors device for us in microvascular end-to-side anastomosis, and an end-to-side vascular anastomotic repair technique are disclosed. The microscissors device standardizes the excision in a recipient (arterial or venous) vessel wall so that a hemodynamically sound anastomosis can be achieved. In order to form the standardized excision, a microscissors device has pivoting arms providing a scissors-action with cooperating half-moon shaped sharpened indentations in the pivoting arms which engage and form the uniform excision in the recipient vessel wall. The end-to-side vascular anastomotic repair technique includes the step of forming a standardized generally longitudinally extending excision in the recipient vessel wall to facilitate insertion and subsequent suturing of the donor vessel, in a hemodynamically sound manner. The excision is made as uninterrupted single-step excision.

Abstract: A lighting panel has a planar upper face and a lower face having a system of aspherical female lenticules arranged in an overlapping offset pattern to form a network of diamond-shaped domed cells. The panel provides adequate light control and may be made thinner than a panel having female conical prisms. The panel also is substantially lighter weight than a panel of equivalent thickness having conical prisms, over a wide range of thicknesses. The pattern allows panels having a wide range of thicknesses to be made from the same tooling.

Abstract: A sub-miniature fuse for electrical protection includes an assembly of an outer tube and an inner tube made of insulating material. The inner tube has electrodes and a fusible metal link sputtered onto its outer surface. The assembly of inner and outer tubes is terminated electrically at its ends with axial leads, or with surface mounting pads, or with radial leads.

Abstract: A low profile pneumatic outlet for a covered hopper railway car is disclosed which allows the bottom slope sheets of the hopper car to be moved downwardly closer to the rail thereby increasing the cubic capacity of the car while maintaining the car within AAR clearances. The low profile aspects of the pneumatic outlet result from the provision of an outlet opening in the bottom of the outlet which is opened and closed by a slidable, translatable gate operated by gate opening and closing cam mechanisms positioned generally horizontally with respect to the gate. The preferred gate operating mechanism is a cam operated mechanism which generates a high mechanical advantage initially upon effecting opening movement of the gate thereby to overcome lading and static friction loads, and then, after movement of the gate has been initiated, a lower mechanical advantage is provided so as to more rapidly move the gate toward its open position.

Abstract: An overfill valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fill pipe includes an upper fill tube and a lower drop tube. A closure valve is positioned intermediate the fill tube and the drop tube. The valve includes a valve head moveable between a first open position and a second closed position. A float is attached to the valve head and is moveable from a first position when the container liquid level is less than a predetermined level and a second position when the container fills with fluid to a predetermined level. Movement of the float towards its second position produces movement of the valve head toward its closed position. The float also is moveable within an envelope corresponding to a diameter less than the diameter of the fill pipe to facilitate apparatus installation and removal. The valve head is mounted internally of a hollow shell.