Abstract: Ferroelectric transducers each including two cooperating, identically polarized ferroelectric stacks which are excited in opposite polarity. Each transducer includes a yoke assembly for sensing the respective expansions and contractions of the two ferroelectric stacks, mechanically adding these respective expansions and contractions, and applying the sum thereof to a pair of elongated T-levers, which T-levers serve to displace the output element of the transducer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for plasma treatment of workpieces in which the apparatus includes a reaction chamber having a door through which a magazine loaded with workpieces and an empty magazine can be manually or robotically placed on a shelf in the reaction chamber, and associated apparatus for striking and maintaining a plasma in the reaction chamber, the shelf being provided with stops for maintaining both magazines in alignment so that the workpieces can be pushed out of the loaded magazine, across a gap between the magazines, and into the empty magazine while plasma exists in the gap, and pushing apparatus for pushing workpieces from the loaded magazine, across the gap, and into the empty magazine, and the method of plasma treatment carried out by this apparatus. In one version the pushing apparatus pushes all of the workpieces from magazine to magazine at once. In another version, a subplurality of the workpieces in the loaded magazine is pushed across the gap and into the empty magazine at one time.

Abstract: Automatic forced air food heating apparatus having an automatic feeding bin for automatically feeding french fries or the like into a rotary heating basket, a warming compartment for maintaining foods heated in the heating basket at serving temperature for extended periods of time, automatically-operated means for automatically dropping the heated food into the warming compartment, automatically-operated means for shielding the operator from direct contact with the heating basket, and automatic cooling means for cooling the apparatus in preparation for the manual cleaning thereof, etc.

Abstract: Operators for sliding gates including a solenoid-operated detent for engaging a gear of the gate drive motor shaft speed reducer and locking the associated gate, and a key-operated cam for disengaging the detent from the gear.

Abstract: A penlite the body of which is made from two reinforced plastic half-bodies which are joined along one common edge by an integral web hinge.

Abstract: Smoke and fire control devices and systems are disclosed, including smoke control devices which are responsive to smoke to evacuate smoke and also responsive to elevated temperatures to terminate the evacuation of smoke. Other disclosed smoke control devices comprise valving means which also function as curtain boards, and second valving means which serve to terminate the evacuation of smoke when the temperature of the evacuated smoke and other gases becomes excessive.

Abstract: A clamp-type doweling jig is disclosed which comprises two clamping jaw and drill guide assemblies, each of these assemblies having a clamping face and a drill guide which is immovable with respect to the clamping face.

Abstract: An electronic safety device circuit is disclosed. This circuit includes two integrated circuit operational amplifiers, the first connected as an operational amplifier and the second connected as a follower. The output pin of the first amplifier is connected to the positive input pin of the second amplifier through a diode. The positive input pin of the second amplifier is connected to a memory capacitor. The output pin of the second amplifier is connected to the negative input pin of the first amplifier. A switching network is provided for grounding the positive input pin of the first amplifier and discharging the memory capacitor.

Abstract: Automotive air conditioning apparatus for generating air anions in the passenger compartments of motor vehicles is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a voltage converter for converting the ignition voltage of the vehicle engine to a lower voltage suitable for operating an air anion generator located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The voltage converter includes a voltage reducer, such as a resistive voltage divider or an autotransformer, a rectifier, a fuse, and a current limiting resistor.

Abstract: Motor vehicle back-up limit gauging methods and apparatus are disclosed which include a pair of line-of-sight indicators affixed to the left side of the vehicle in such positions that the driver of the vehicle when seated in the driving position may establish a line-of-sight by aligning these indicators through the existing rear view mirror, and may then back his vehicle to a safe distance from a building wall or other marker by halting the backward progress of the vehicle when the aligned indicators coincide with the ground line of the wall, or with the marker.

Abstract: A tractor-mounted scraper is disclosed in which the scraper blade has two scraping edges and is mounted in a box assembly having two side plates, the blade being mounted on pivots located near the lower edges of the side plates and near the outer edges of the side plates, remote from the tractor. The box assembly is mounted on one end of the tractor, on pivoted arms which are maintained parallel to each other. A power-operated tilting head is mounted rigidly on the parallel arms, and the side plates are rigidly mounted on the moving part of the tilting head by means of a transverse beam, so that the blade neither wanders from side-to-side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tractor, nor is permitted to tilt with respect to the axis of the pivots by which the attachment is mounted to the tractor, except as permitted by the power-operated tilting head.

Abstract: A tire chain container and mounting aid is disclosed which includes a pair of hollow shells which, when fastened together in open-face-to-open-face relation, form a closed container capable of containing both of the anti-skid tire chains used in connection with a particular motor vehicle, and which are so contoured and of such structural strength as to be capable of serving as ramps onto which the rear wheels of the motor vehicle may be driven to facilitate mounting of the tire chains.