Abstract: A static mixing chamber for mixing multi-component compositions has the provision of having the mixing chamber at the outlet of the feed lines. A valve is at the outlet end of the chamber. By having the chamber near the outlet end, a large pressure drop across the chamber is insured. Moreover, the valve at the end of the chamber insures that the large pressure drop will be maintained even during start-up of dispensing. By increasing the pressure drop over the chamber, mixing therethrough has been greatly enhanced. Therefore, a smaller mixture is required for effective mixing. The result in small size makes the static mixer capable of being hand held, in the form of a dispensing gun and the valve actuator is part of the dispensing gun so that the valve can be operated by the same hand that is holding the gun.

Abstract: A dough proofing apparatus is for use in association with a dough forming apparatus having a dough piece receiving means which receives preformed dough pieces from a dough dividing machine and directs them toward a toroid forming apparatus wherein the proofing apparatus includes dough conveyance means for receiving and conveying dough pieces in a proofing mode of travel through a closed loop path of travel of the conveyor belt between generally adjacent dough entry and dough exit locations on the toroid forming apparatus. The conveyance belt is passed over vertically spaced pulleys with dough pieces retained thereon by adjacent dough support means on the conveyance belt which cooperate to form open-ended cage-like dough retaining receptacles for dough pieces as they travel on the conveyance means over and about the vertically spaced pulleys.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition which is useful, when added to soil, in containing water, said composition containing bentonite and a particular type of water-soluble polymer, the purpose of the water-soluble polymer being to decrease the amount of bentonite necessary to form a water containing enclosure made of soil. The amount of bentonite necessary in the present invention is at least 50% and, most often, 60% less than is necessary when no water-soluble polymer is present. The water-soluble polymer is preferably polyacrylic acid, water-soluble salts of polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, water-soluble salts thereof, and acylic copolymers formed from either acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. The invention also includes a method for containing water which includes admixing an effective amount of bentonite and water-soluble polymer with soil and forming a water-containing enclosure from said mixture.

Abstract: Improvements in support means for well risers wherein the risers extend through a rotary table on a floating vessel down to a subsea well. A spider supports the upper end of the riser and hydraulically operated gimbal means support the spider with respect to the table to maintain a constant load on the riser. Inertia absorbing means is associated with the gimbal means so that, when sections or buoyancy chambers or the like are added to the riser and it is lowered down to the well, or vessel movement takes place, any off-center load that is acting on the spider that is not equally distributed, the inertia absorbing means absorbs such load and equally distributes it so as to maintain a constant load on the riser.

Abstract: A combination lock has a plurality of gated tumbler wheels mounted for rotation relative to a gate entering bar portion of a release lever, blocking a release movement of such lever until gate openings on the tumbler wheels are aligned to said bar and a tumbler locator and lever arm actuator member mounted for both axial and rotative movement relative the axis of rotation of the tumbler wheels. The member has a drive pin engaging, and successively releasable from, drive apertures divided in the tumbler wheels to allow rotation of the tumbler wheels upon rotation of the member and sequential release of located tumbler wheels upon an axial movement of said member relative to said tumbler wheels.

Abstract: A safety belt system includes a continuous loop of webbing which is anchored at one end to the vehicle floor and anchored at the other end to the roof or upper part of the vehicle. A buckle is mounted on the other side of the seat from the first-mentioned floor anchor, and a connector which is positionable along the webbing includes a tongue plate which mates with the buckle. The system has been improved by the provision of the combination of including limiting means on the connector for allowing the webbing to pass only in a direction to shorten the portion between the floor anchor and the buckle over the lower torso of the user and to lengthen the portion of the webbing between the retractor and the connector over the upper torso. The retractor is more powerful than a normal retractor to pull the webbing through the limiting means. The retractor may further include a tensionless feature to relieve the force from the retractor on the webbing.

Abstract: A water operated control apparatus and method for operating a controlled device is associated with moisture sensing apparatus for sensing the level of moisture available at a location and operating the controlled device in response thereto. Moisture sensing means is disposed at the location and is adapted to selectively pass air therethrough when the level of moisture at the location falls to a predetermined level, or prevent the passage of air therethrough when the level of moisture rises to a predetermined level. A housing is operatively connected to the sensing means and to a supply of water. A diaphragm is disposed in the housing in a manner forming a chamber therein, the interior of the chamber being in fluid communication with air passing through the sensing means.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor having a frame, a strap receiving reel mounted for rotation on the frame with the reel being urged into a strap wound position and a pawl having a tab for engaging the teeth of a ratchet wheel. Inertia responsive means are associated with the pawl which is normally biased into a position out of engagement with the wheel, the inertia responsive means being responsive to a first rate of acceleration of the strap off the reel for causing the pawl tab to engage with the teeth.

Abstract: A latching mechanism having a latch member and a pin assembly mounted on the latch member. The pin assembly includes a first sleeve member secured at one end to the latch member, a second sleeve member secured to the other end of the first sleeve member and having an opening therein and a third sleeve member slidably mounted on the second sleeve member and normally biased in a direction encircling the opening in the second sleeve member. A pin is slidably mounted within the first sleeve member and extends into the second sleeve member and detent means are associated with both the pin and the second sleeve member for selectively preventing the third sleeve member from moving into a position encircling the opening and for releasing the third sleeve member for movement to a position encircling the opening. A locking flange having a floating ring therein is provided for receiving the pin assembly in locking engagement therewith.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed herein which employs a breech lock whereby the two sections of the connector may be readily mated or unmated by a simple rotation of the breech lock through a fraction of a turn. In addition, means are also provided for retracting the electrical contacts into a protected position until the two sections are fully mated.

Abstract: A gas sample flowing through the lower chamber of a diffusion cell diffuses through a membrane into the upper chamber at a rate above a determined minimum. As the sample diffuses through the membrane, substantially all of the water and any particulates are removed from the gas. A clean carrier gas flows through the upper chamber at a constant rate to dilute the diffused gas and convey it to gas analyzers. Upon acquisition, a gas sample is maintained at a temperature above its dew point until it passes from the lower chamber and the membrane is maintained at a substantially constant temperature.

Abstract: A battery operated emergency lamp is provided for connection to a normally "on" electrical source of power, such as a standard ac line voltage, where such source is subject to occasional power failures. A solid state switching circuit including a single transistor and one diode serves to maintain the lamp in an unenergized condition and to simultaneously generate a low charging current for a re-chargeable battery so long as the power source remains "on." In the event of a power interruption, the solid state switching circuit is immediately responsive to switch to a condition in which the lamp is energized by the battery current. In one embodiment disclosed herein, the emergency lamp takes the form of a relatively small, portable lantern or flashlight equipped with a standard utility plug for connection to a household electrical outlet.

Abstract: A method for producing treated liquids by utilizing a treating material such as an ion exchange resin or adsorbent resin, said liquid to be treated being passed through a zone containing said treating material; when said ion treating material is exhausted regenerating said treating material in said zone by passing therethrough a liquid regeneration solution (in a direction opposite the flow of liquid to be treated); said zone having a pressure of at least 10 pounds; and regeneration solution being added in increasingly concentrated amounts in at least two steps and preferably three steps or more.

Abstract: A device protects against inadvertent loss of objects down drain pipes when the associated drain stopper is in an opened position. The associated stopper includes a top closure portion, an intermediate guide portion and a bottom actuated means for moving the top closure portion between opened and closed positions relative to a drain fitting which has a flange surrounding a drain bore in which said intermediate guide portion travels. The device for protecting against inadvertent loss comprises screening means of toroidal configuration for mounting about the stopper adjacent and below the top closure portion. The screening means rides on the intermediate guide portion into the drain bore upon closure of the stopper and, out of the drain bore upon opening of the stopper.

Abstract: A power control valve attachment is provided for assembly to a pre-existing exhaust system of a two cycle motorcycle type engine for effecting a back pressuring of the engine cylinder chambers during operation of the engine and includes an assembly of pressure plate and spring biasing means and means for mounting the assembly in the exhaust system duct at a minimum cross sectional area thereof for axial deflective movement under the pressure of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: An auxiliary air preheater means is for use in prewarming interiors of vehicles having engine preheating means employing a heated fluid for prewarming the engine prior to operation of the vehicle engine and the vehicle heater normally associated with the vehicle engine and includes an insulated housing surrounding a section of conduit employed for conveying heated fluid employed in the engine preheating operation. Air is circulated through the housing in contact with the heated fluid conduit and is blown into the vehicle compartment. Air may be returned from the vehicle compartment through the auxiliary air preheater housing for recirculation through the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A tape dispenser for use in winding tape about a rotating body generally includes a frame mounted on a base with adhesive tape mounted on a reel on the frame. The tape is run from the reel to a holding means which in the preferred form is a vacuum surface which holds the tape thereon but permits it to slide along the surface. The tape is fed in a manner in which the adhesive side faces outward from the vacuum surface. The dispenser has displacement means which pivots the frame and moves it toward the rotating body until the body touches the adhesive of the tape at or near the vacuum surface. The rotation of the rotating body causes tape to be payed from the reel until a predetermined length of tape is wound around the body. Thereafter, it is cut between the body and the vacuum surface.

Abstract: Relates to a pocket-type writing instrument, employing an extruded rod-like writing element composed of a homogeneous thermoplastic composition having a formation of longitudinally extending ink-conducting channels around an axial channel, one end of said element constituting the writing point and the other being in contact with a body of ink, usually carried in an absorbent material contained in the barrel of the pen. Provides novel means for preventing axial displacement of the writing element without damage to or constriction of the ink channels therein and without the use of wire pins which may interfere with the ease of handling of the instrument.

Abstract: A distributed resistance-capacitance component formed of windings of dielectric films having patterns of metallized layers formed thereon with margins shaped to provide a distributed resistance along the metallized layers and capacitance between the metallized layers on opposite sides of the dielectric films. Electrodes and leads are secured at opposite ends of the wound coil by metal spraying or schooping.

Abstract: An automatic irrigation controller apparatus having a cam follower operated bank of pilot valves for operating selected pilot operated water valves throughout a watering or irrigation system is provided with a water powered means for receiving water under pressure from a source thereof and a member driven in a predetermined manner by the force of such water for driving a cam means to operate said cam followers via power transmission means between the water driven member and a cam shaft mounting said cam. A water piston is mounted in a cylinder with associated water valve means for selectively connecting the cylinder to a source of water under pressure and to a vent to provide a reciprocal movement for the piston, a return stroke for the piston being accomplished through the provision of a spring. A reciprocal piston movement is translated through a power transmission means including a drive ratchet wheel connected to the piston and a driven ratchet wheel connected to the cam shaft.