Abstract: A maritime survival capsule is shaped like a somewhat elongted egg, and has an inside shell which is moulded slightly smaller.

Abstract: A gasoline motor powered spreading apparatus for use with vehicles equipped with articulating dump boxes is described. The spreading apparatus includes a hopper assembly, a spinner, a mounting platform for a gasoline powered motor, a mounting platform levelling system, and a multiple output gearbox. The entire assembly is configured to substitute directly for most conventional vehicle tailgates. The levelling system ensures that the motor (platform) is level through the full range of articulation of the dump box in order to provide efficient operation of a gasoline powered motor. The multiple output gearbox provides variable gear ratios to power peripherals such as the spinner and the auger. The gasoline powered motor as well as the peripherals may be manipulated remotely from the driver's area of the vehicle. The apparatus is easily installed or removed and requires limited modification to the vehicle.

Abstract: A plastically deformable lever is used to compress a flat spring against the upper surface of a power electronic device in mounting the device on a bus bar or heat sink. The lever preferably is integral with the bus bar or heat sink. The heat sink or bus bar has at least one mounting area onto which at least one power electronic device may be mounted. At least one spring is positionable against an upper surface of each power electronic device to be mounted on the heat sink or bus bar, and at least one plastically deformable element is positioned such that deformation bends a spring so as to cause the spring to exert pressure against the upper surface of at least one of the power electronic devices to bias same against the heat sink or bus bar.

Abstract: A probe delivery system for delivering a bendable probe into a tube bundle is provided. The system uses an elongated guide which is insertable into the tube bundle via the access opening. The guide has a channel for directing the probe therealong and several pivotable port devices spaced along the length of the guide, operable to selectively direct the probe either farther along the guide, or outwardly and away from the guide and into the tube bundle. Actuators operate the port devices, and may be pneumatic, for example. A base is mountable on the shell which surrounds the tube bundle, and a servomotor is mounted on the base to move the guide in and out of the tube bundle. A rotation drive servomotor preferably is mounted on the base for rotating the guide about its central axis. Preferably, the system includes a spool drive for the probe itself, having a rotatable substantially circular spool around which the probe may be wound for feeding into and retracting from the tube bundle.

Abstract: A video display unit has a box defined by peripheral frame members along each edge thereof, the box having front, rear, top, bottom and two side faces. Abutment surfaces are located on the peripheral frame members along the top and sides, for abutting corresponding abutment surfaces of other such display units. A video projector is mounted in a lower portion of the box, to project an image upwardly. A mirror is mounted in an upper portion of the box, angled to direct the image from the video projector forwardly towards an upper portion of the front face of the box. Three detachable mullions, namely an upper mullion and two side mullions, are mounted along top and side edges of the front face and extend slightly forwardly and outwardly therefrom. The mullions having longitudinal channels running the length thereof on opposite sides thereof, the mullions being symmetrical about longitudinal axes, the axes being parallel to the front face and aligned with respective ones of the abutment surfaces.

Abstract: A vehicle-mountable push broom has a generally horizontal frame provided with a plurality of transverse downwardly-opening generally C-shaped channels, and a plurality of removable bristle strips positionable one in each channel. Each strip has a holder specifically configured to be accommodated within the channel, and a plurality of bristles mounted in and extending downwardly from the holder. The strips are loosely held within the channels, such that the holders are permitted to rock within the channels, for example through an angle generally in the range of 10 to 20 degrees.

Abstract: A traffic channelizing device has a base unit made from the sidewalls of used car or other vehicle tires, using tread portions as a stabilizer between two sidewalls, wound spirally and having an outer band with a protruding loop which results in the resilient integral base unit having a significantly reduced propensity to roll when the device is overturned. The device has the advantages of being highly resistant in wind and impact, yet being readily removable and stackable with substantially less manpower and transportation space than for existing devices. If the central hole for the upper sidewall portion of the base unit is larger than that for the lower sidewall portion, the device retains the traffic safety feature of the base being separable from the body portion in the event of a high impact, even where the upper portion comprises more than one sidewall.

Abstract: The robot has a first rail which extends in one direction and has a first slide mounted thereon, the first slide being slidable along the rail. A second rail extends away from the first rail, and has one end secured to the first slide. First and second motors are mounted in fixed positions relative to the first rail, the motors driving first and second drive belts. The first drive belt is attached to the first slide, thence routed around a first pulley at one end of the first rail, thence around a second pulley at the other end of the first rail, and thence back to the first slide. This produces movement of the first slide along the first rail.

Abstract: The wrist guard can be secured to the hand and wrist by a single strap, to provide protection to the hand and wrist. A rigid palm pad, removably attached to the guard over the palm, protects against impact and abrasion. A relatively stiff or substantially rigid support member is removably attached to the guard on the back of the hand and wrist to prevent backward flexion of the hand while permitting forward flexion. The hand and back of the wrist remain exposed for breathability. A flexible strap across the back of the forearm cushions the arm from the support during a fall. The support member includes a flexible rim across the top, across the back of the hand, to cushion the hand from the support during a fall. The guard is modular in nature such that the guard can be used without the support member when less protection is required or when less bulk and weight is desired. The palm pad and support member can be removed to facilitate cleaning of the guard.

Abstract: A locking device has a non-magnetic pin and a button, the non-magnetic pin having a base and a post projecting perpendicularly therefrom, extending to a free end, with an indented portion close to the free end. The button is an enclosed non-magnetic unit, having a hole at the lower surface adapted to receive the free end of the post, and also enclosing a plurality of locking plates each supported at an outer portion by a compressible support material, and adapted to retain the pin at the indented portion in a locked position within the button, but to rotate upwards and release the pin in response to a magnetic force directed at the upper surface of the button. The magnetic force can be applied by a magnet mounted within a protective shield adapted to fit over the button.

Abstract: A lock condition indicator device which is adapted for affixation to a key for a cylinder lock has a substantially circular movable means adapted to be retained in juxtaposition to a head portion of the key, but rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the key when an engaging means on the circumference of the movable means encounters an obstructing means on an outer surface of the lock, resulting in the movable means being rotated into one of a plurality of indicator positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for vacuum collection of material, where a vacuum source is used for creating a vacuum to draw air into a displacement chamber, and at least two hoses are connected to the displacement chamber for vacuum collection of materials from various locations. Pressure sensors are connected to sense pressure in each hose, dampers are operable in response to the relative pressures between the hoses so as to vary the effective area of the respective connections between the hoses and the displacement chamber in order to equalize and optimize the relative pressures, and an automatic control such as a programmable logic controller is employed to operate the dampers in response to said sensed pressures.

Abstract: Heat is applied to a solid or semi-solid material in a cylindrical container in such a way that a precise, predetermined amount of heat is transferred to a horizontal layer of the material until it softens sufficiently to allow the heating element to sink into the material where it will heat the next layer. The container is rotated about a vertical axis, and a horizontally-oriented heating element is lowered into contact with the material to apply heat to a horizontal layer. The heating element is lowered through the material in a controlled manner to heat progressively lower layers within the container, until the whole container has been heated. The heating element may be heated by pumping hot water therethrough, or by other means. A container of hot liquid may be cooled in a similar fashion, by gradually raising a cooling element from the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A forwardly-opening scoop is positioned at the upper rear of a snowplow or the like, and a downwardly directed duct portion communicates with it to direct air downwardly along the vertical rear wall of the truck. The device has multiple air outlets, to distribute the air to different areas, to maximize the cleaning effect. Preferably, the device extends down to cover the full height of the rear wall, and includes an air outlet at the bottom edge so that tail/brake lights are also washed by air. A reflective checkerboard preferably is displayed on the device.

Abstract: Toy building pieces are disclosed which may be advantageously used in conjunction with POPSICLE sticks, their generic equivalents, or other framing pieces or connectors. One or more faces of many of the building pieces have apertures defined in the surface thereof to receive a framing piece such as a POPSICLE stick or connectors which are I-shaped in cross-section. Other faces of the piece may incorporate piece interconnection means, which may include for example: a pin on one part adapted to engage a sleeve on another part, for hinged connection; a dovetail tongue on one part adapted to engage a dovetail groove on another part; or a tongue projecting from a face to engage one of the apertures. Other interconnection means are also contemplated. Adapter pieces are provided to change the connection means of a piece, in effect. In a kit or collection of such building pieces, a combination of various configurations of such pieces is provided.

Abstract: An improved tubular projectile is described wherein an effective balance has been obtained between the design parameters of reduced mass/reduced aerodynamic drag, flight characteristics, and high energy transfer upon impact. An elongate tubular projectile is provided with an axial passageway, with a central section of generally uniform diameter and flared ends. Slots are cut into the leading end to assist with expansion upon impact. The tubular projectile can be used in sabot type, ammunition, full bore shotgun ammunition, and in conventional case type rifle ammunition.

Abstract: A robotic gripper module, which can be fitted to a robotic arm or other support, houses a rotor which is rotatable relative to the frame of the module. The rotor has at least two equiangularly positioned slots, each extending at the same relative angle to a radius of the rotor. A cam follower mounted on radially-moveable slide members is positioned in each of those slots and also in a respective radial slot in the module frame, and rotation of the rotor causes the cam followers and slide members, on which finger assemblies may be mounted, to move together radially inwardly or outwardly on the frame. An arcuate gear segment on the periphery of the rotor meshes with a gear rack on one end of a rod; the other end of the rod connects to a piston-and-cylinder actuator. In one form of the module two rotors rotate on a single axle, one on each side of the module.