Abstract: An improved injection molding apparatus for molding parts of thermosetting plastic material. First and second mold portions which together form a mold cavity at their molding surfaces are heated to allow thermosetting plastic material to set within the mold cavity when under pressure. A fluid distribution member comprises a manifold having an inlet port, two or more spaced outlet ports and a passage interconnecting the inlet port with the outlet ports guides the flow of plastic material therein. The manifold is cooled and includes a first manifold section disposed within a channel formed at the upper surface of a second manifold section such that the interconnecting passage is formed by a first wall portion of the first manifold section and a second wall portion of a second manifold section within the channel. The first and second manifold sections are separable to permit access to the passage to permit cleaning thereof.

Abstract: A continuous press is disclosed for simultaneously pressing and conveying a workpiece, such as the laminations for making plywood, through the press in a continuous manner. The press comprises opposed sets of presser-conveyor rails which are spaced apart to receive a workpiece therebetween. The rails are mounted upon hydraulic actuators, one set of actuators for transverse motion of the rails and another set of actuators for longitudinal actuation of the rails. Each set of rails drives a separate caterpillar belt and the workpiece is interposed between the belts. The hydraulic actuators are energized in a sequence so that the rails maintain continuous pressing action through the belts and the belts maintain continuous conveyor action.

Abstract: A grinding machine (10) includes apparatus for grinding grooves in inner races (16) of constant velocity universal joints with a high production output achieved by indexing of a race without stopping rotation of a holder (14) on which the race is clamped for rotation during the grinding. An indexer (46) of the apparatus is supported for rotation with the holder (14) and provides the indexing of the race about a central axis C thereof as the holder rotation proceeds. A locater (48) also rotates with the holder (14) and accurately locates the race after indexing to provide alignment thereof with the grinding wheel (12) that performs the grinding. A jaw operator (44) controls first and second jaws (40,42) of the holder clamp and has a high clamp mode for fixing the race during the grinding and a low clamp mode for permitting the indexing and locating operations as well as an unclamp mode that permits a ground race to be unloaded and another race to be loaded onto the holder in preparation for the next cycle.

Abstract: A pipe coupling is disclosed which comprises an open sleeve which is stretched around the pipes. The open sleeve comprises a roundish sector and a channel-shaped sector comprising a pair of sidewalls extending outwardly from the roundish sector. Force applying means are connected with the sidewalls to draw the sidewalls together and retaining means on the sidewalls are trapped by the force applying means so that the roundish portion of the sleeve is stretched over the pipes.

Abstract: A vehicle window cleaning system disclosed includes window wipers which are movable in a controlled fashion off a glass pane of the vehicle window of the drop glass type, and which are protected, out of view, between a header portion of the vehicle and a molded body extension secured to the vehicle when parked. Actuating arms of the wipers include offset segments which engage and follow a pair of spaced finger guides mounted on the header portion of the vehicle through a park stroke. The guide fingers define guide paths for the blades of the window wipers which closely approximate and track the outer exterior surface of a weather seal which seals the header portion and the glass pane of the window when the weather seal is engaged by the window pane. The molded body extension not only conceals the window wipers but also any unfinished body metal seams and/or welds between the header portion and other metal body panels.

Abstract: A kit for assembling a geodesic structure is disclosed as including a plurality of polygonal panels (12) preferably of triangular shapes so as to be assembled to define a sphere (10). Each panel is of a unitary construction molded from plastic and includes a first set of male lugs (20) and a second set of female lugs (22) projecting from its sides (14). The female lugs (22) are arranged in pairs and spaced along the length of the associated panel side so as to receive a male lug (20) on one side of another panel in order to provide a connection (16) therebetween. Outer ends on both the male and female lugs include connection surfaces (24, 26) that snap into engagement with each other as the male lug (20) of each connection (16) is inserted between the associated female lugs (22) in order to secure the panel sides (14) and thereby prevent relative movement between the panels lengthwise and transversely with respect to the length of each side.

Abstract: A control system (10) for a varible displacement internal combustion engine (12) is disclosed as including a sensor (14) for sensing intake manifold vacuum and a control unit (20) for operating valve deactuators (22a, b, c, and d) of the engine with a hysteretic action in response to the vacuum sensed so as to prevent oscillatory on-off operation of the valve deactuators. In its preferred construction, the control unit includes switches (28a, b, c, and d) for operating the valve deactuators and a switch operator (32, 34) including a lost motion connection that provides the hysteretic operation of the valve deactuators. The switch operator preferably includes rod (32) that is movable in response to the vacuum sensed and a switch operating member (34) slidably mounted on the rod and moved by stops (36, 38) to provide the lost motion connection. Electrical, fluid, and mechanical systems are all capable of operating valve deactuators by the hysteretic operation disclosed.

Abstract: A driving belt formed from detachable, flexible, elongate links arranged in a staggered, overlapping relationship. Each link is provided with a stud which is rotatable relative to the link and has a head which is shaped to pass through perforations in other links when the head is orientated correctly relative to the perforations but not otherwise. The arrangement allows simple assembly and disassembly of the belt without any lateral distortion of the material of the links.

Abstract: An electronic reversing control system is disclosed for preventing excessive shock loading of the vehicle driveline when the operator calls for vehicle reversal with the vehicle in motion. A digital logic forward-reverse control channel links the operator's direction control lever and the reversing means in the transmission. When reversing is called for the control channel logic is inhibited by a speed responsive signal unless the vehicle speed is below a predetermined value. A speed retarding control channel controls the vehicle brakes and throttle when a reversing signal is produced provided the speed is above the predetermined value. Additionally, the system is provided with a logic power loss detector which resonds to power supply failure and automatically shifts the transmission into neutral.

Abstract: A method of forming a permanent curve in a length of convoluted wire-reinforced flexible plastics tubing comprises the steps of first flexing the chosen region of the tube into a curve whose radius is tighter than that eventually desired; forcibly holding said region in said tighter than desired curves; applying to the tube an internal pressure which is insufficient to burst the tube but which is high enough to strain the wire-reinforcement, the tube material, or both, in the bend region beyond its or their elastic limit; maintaining said internal pressure for a finite period of time; releasing the pressure; and finally releasing the tube from its preheld curve.

Abstract: A slotted side rail and cross-rail receiving bracket assembly for association with an article carrier, such as a luggage carrier, is disclosed. A slidable cross-rail is supported between a pair of cross-rail receiving brackets and is movable with the brackets along the slotted side rail. Each bracket includes a rail engaging lock for locking the bracket anywhere along the length of the slotted side rail. The lock prevents unintended loosening of the bracket and resultant movement of the bracket along the side rail.

Abstract: A buffer composition for use in the electrophoretic separation of proteins into fractions, the buffer composition consisting essentially of Tris; an acid having the formula R.sub.1 --CO--NH--R.sub.2 --COOH where R.sub.1 is NH.sub.2 or an alkyl or aryl group, preferably NH.sub.2 , C.sub.6 H.sub.5 or C.sub.6 H.sub.4 NH.sub.2 and where R.sub.2 is an alkyl group, preferably CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 or CH(CH.sub.3); and a water soluble salt of the acid; the acid and salt being present in amounts and in a ratio to maintain the pH of an aqueous solution of the composition at from 8.2 to 9.0. The preferred acid is hippuric acid.

Abstract: A buffer composition for use in the electrophoretic separation of proteins into fractions, the buffer composition consisting essentially of Tris; an acid having the formula R.sub.1 --CO--NH--R.sub.2 --COOH where R.sub.1 is NH.sub.2 or an alkyl or aryl group, preferably NH.sub.2, C.sub.6 H.sub.5 or C.sub.6 H.sub.4 NH.sub.2 and where R.sub.2 is an alkyl group, preferably CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 or CH(CH.sub.3); and a water soluble salt of the acid; the acid and salt being present in amounts and in a ratio to maintain the pH of an aqueous solution of the composition at from 8.2 to 9.0. The preferred acid is hippuric acid.

Abstract: An apparatus disclosed comprises a manual hole punch which is modified to provide reinforcing rings for punched holes during the punching operation. The modified hole punch includes a tape dispenser mounted at one end of the punch to dispense perforated tape, one side of which has an adhesive applied thereto. The modified hole punch aligns dispensed perforated tape both longitudinally and laterally so that when a piece of paper is inserted within the hole punch, punching units of the hole punch punch holes through the paper and through designated portions of the tape. Simultaneously, staple-shaped cutting members which are mounted on their associated punching elements of the punching units to move therewith, cut through the paper and through portions of the tape between the perforations in the tape to separate the reinforcing rings from the remainder of the tape. The cut tape is collected on a tape collector mounted at the opposite end of the hole punch.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp dimming circuit is disclosed for DC fluorescent lighting circuits of the type using a battery voltage source and an inverter. The dimming circuit comprises an electronic switch (24) connected between the battery (18) and the inverter (16) and an oscillator (26) is provided to periodically actuate the electronic switch to reduce the on-time of the lamp current. A timer (30) is connected with the oscillator (26) to disable the dimming circuit for a preset time interval after the lamp has been turned on by an on/off switch (20). Thus, the lamp is started at full intensity upon each start-up and after the time delay the dimmer circuit is effective to reduce the intensity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making rotary die racks having an elongated shape including a partially circular forming face of less than 180.degree. and a flat mounting surface that faces in the opposite direction as the forming face. Cast metal blanks of the die racks are secured to a rotatable spindle in a side-by-side relationship to turn the forming faces. Forming projections, i.e. teeth that extend parallel to the axis of the forming face, are then cut in the turned face. Heat treating of the die racks is then performed before mounting thereof on a fixture to perform a finish grinding of the teeth. The spindle preferably includes a spindle member and a central shaft on which the spindle member is mounted for rotation. The fixture includes a pair of spaced end plates and a bed that extends between the end plates and has a stop and an adjustable positioner for clamping the die racks.

Abstract: A control valve unit (10) disclosed includes a slide mechanism (14) mounted on a base (40) of the unit, a control member (18) driven by a hydraulic linear actuator (12) controlled by the unit, and a control valve (22) that feeds hydraulic fluid to the actuator and has a deactivator (24) that is engaged and moved by a pair of slides (16a,b) of the slide mechanism under the impetus of the control member movement in order to terminate driving of the actuator at its limits of movement. The slide mechanism includes a slideway on the base and a pair of fixed stops (62a,b) between which the movable slides are supported on the slideway and biased by a helical spring (68) against the stops. The helical spring is aligned with openings (66) in the slides and the control member (18) extends through the spring and the slide openings. Lugs (76a,b) on the control member for moving the slides are preferably adjustable so as to permit adjustment of the limits of actuator movement.