Abstract: A headwall structure constructed of lightweight reinforced composite and incorporating a rigid polymer concrete core in selected portions, for use with standard culvert or drainage pipes in infrastructure water management systems in substitution for conventional concrete headwalls. The headwall structure has a vertical back wall with an integral spigot or pipe stub surrounding a central orifice. The pipe stub is preferably cross-sectionally dimensioned and configured to be identical to a selected standard pipe section end so that such pipe section can be connected to the pipe stub without an adapter. A tray is joined to the lower edge of the back wall. A pair of outwardly flared sidewalls are joined to the back wall and to the tray. Angled brace panels extending from the sidewalls to the tray reinforce the sidewalls. The tray, sidewalls and brace panels define the water channels. Front and side brace panels define a recess into which earth enters and against which earth bears to provide stabilization.

Abstract: A releasably securable security apparatus for securing the tailgate and rear canopy window of a pick-up vehicle equipped with a canopy, provides a releasably securable securing frame and a mounting means capable of being attached and secured to the side walls of the cargo box of the pick-up vehicle. The securing frame is mountable onto the pick-up vehicle, such that when in a closed position, the securing frame is positioned generally astride a tailgate and rear canopy window of the pick-up vehicle, and when secured in such closed position, prevents the tailgate and/or rear canopy window from being opened, and when in an open position, allows the tailgate and/or the rear canopy window to be opened so as to allow loading and unloading. The securing frame may be one-piece or two-piece. The two-piece securing frame comprises two gates, each for mounting on an opposite side of the rear of the pick-up and gates lockable to each other in the closed position.

Abstract: A shower curtain closure for closing off a vertical side edge of the curtain against a wall of the shower stall comprises a length of extruded plastic tubing that can be cut to a preferred length, a tube support ring for suspending the tube on the curtain rod, and an elongate vertically oriented wall receptacle into which the tube matingly fits. The tube is passed through a sleeve along the side of the curtain and is suspended from the curtain support rod by a ring connected to the upper end of the tubing and passing over the shower curtain rod. The wall receptacle is made of extruded plastics material that can be cut to length and is adhesively mountable on a wall of the shower enclosure. The receptacle is provided with a channel shaped to releasably secure the shower curtain sleeve with the tube therein.

Abstract: A charging circuit and method for charging a lithium-ion cell or battery at a charging voltage that is varied during the charging of the cell or battery from a selected minimum charging voltage to a predetermined maximum charging voltage. The charging circuit includes a transformer for transforming line voltage applied to the primary winding thereof to a lower AC secondary winding voltage, the transformer being selected to limit secondary winding output current when the charging voltage is not less than the selected minimum charging voltage to a value not exceeding a selected upper limit for the lithium-ion cell; a rectifier sub-circuit connected to the secondary winding of the transformer for rectifying the secondary winding voltage; and a charge-voltage regulator sub-circuit connected to the rectifier sub-circuit for receiving the rectified secondary winding voltage and providing an output charging voltage that is limited to the predetermined maximum charging voltage.

Abstract: A method of standing-stem log harvesting including the steps of preparing a tree for harvesting and then harvesting the same directly from the stump. A tree is prepared for harvesting by topping the tree, cutting the tree part way through the trunk near ground level with two cuts lying in generally the same plane to leave holding wood between the resulting two generally parallel cut edges, and driving support wedges or the like into both said cuts to stabilize the tree trunk. The holding wood and the wedges maintain the trunk stable and upright until it is harvested, but the holding wood is readily frangible in response to a generally horizontal pivoting force applied to the trunk near the top thereof in a direction generally perpendicular to the cut edges. For harvesting, the prepared tree is gripped near the top thereof, and a generally horizontal force is applied to the trunk at the point of gripping in a direction generally perpendicular to the cut edges, thereby breaking the holding wood.

Abstract: A novel lampshade, a kit for assembling lampshades, and a novel method of manufacturing lampshades are disclosed. The lampshade is composed of a plurality of semi-rigid or rigid elongate slotted bars, cords linking all the bars and resilient panels snugly fitting between the bars. The bars are arranged in a truncated conical, cylindrical, or possibly in pyramidal configuration, or can have rectangular horizontal cross-section. The bars are secured in specific positions on each cord by using adhesives or mechanical means such as crimped tubes. Resilient panels, typically of trapezoidal or rectangular shape, are inserted into the slots in the bars and fit tightly between the bars. The panels may be made of synthetic paper such as YUPO™ or of thin plastic sheets.

Abstract: An easily engageable and releasable chainsaw bar guard for protecting an individual carrying a chainsaw and for preventing damage to the cutter chain and saw dogs of a chainsaw. The bar guard comprises an elongated stiff hollow sleeve whose interior space is just slightly larger than the bar and chain to be protected. The sleeve has an opening at the proximal end for sliding the sleeve onto the guide bar, and is closed at the other end to protect the end of the bar and cutter chain. A snap-clip mechanism is fixed to the sleeve for releasably latching the proximal end of the guard to the chainsaw. The snap-clip mechanism biases a retaining claw into contact with the chainsaw bar between the nuts on the saw bar attachment/adjustment bolts. The sleeve and the snap-clip mechanism can be selectively configured to accommodate chainsaw bars of different shapes and dimensions and the spacing of whose guide bar adjustment nuts varies.

Abstract: An engine ignition timing tool is provided for use with a strobe timing light in setting the timing of Harley-Davidson motorcycle engines The timing display tool includes a modified circuit breaker cam bolt having a pointer indicator attachable to a cam assembly of the engine, and an ignition timing measuring plate attachable to a gear cover of the engine. The timing display tool is installed on the side of the engine having the ignition unit where the ignition timing is to be set. The engine is run and the strobe timing light is set to the engine spark firing frequency then shone onto the pointer indicator and measuring plate so that the pointer indicator is illuminated at a timing mark corresponding to the degree of spark advance or retard of the engine. The ignition timing is then adjusted.

Abstract: Surface defects in rolled steel are remedied by quenching a surface layer of the strand immediately downstream of the caster by transversely differential quenching to match the transverse temperature profile of the strand. The flow rate of the quench spray is differentially adjustable across the width and optionally the length of the strand. An array of spray nozzles controlled by groups provides the quench spray.

Abstract: Load power control circuits for single HID luminaires include both retrofit circuitry and “new manufacture” circuitry for connection to both controlled-voltage and controlled-current ballast circuits. A suitable such control circuit may be substituted for the capacitor in the capacitor-control type of ballast circuit. Control is effected by a microcontroller that controls selective switching by associated triacs of one or more capacitors connected in parallel across the ballast circuit. The reactor-control type of control circuit is interposed between the line supply and the ballast circuit, and may include parallel-connected pairs of opposed (reverse-coupled) silicon controlled rectifiers operating under the control of the microprocessor.

Abstract: The in-line combination of a reversing rolling mill (Steckel mill) and its coiler furnaces with accelerated controlled cooling apparatus immediately downstream thereof and associated method permits steel to be sequentially reversingly rolled to achieve an overall reduction of at least about 3:1, imparted by a first reduction while the steel is kept at a temperature above the Tnr by the coiler furnaces so as to preserve an optimum opportunity for controlled recrystallization of the steel after each rolling pass, and a second reduction while the temperature of the steel drops from about the Tnr to about the Ar3. The second reduction is preferably of the order of 2:1 as a result of which the steel reaches a final plate thickness.

Abstract: The game of Olé is a dice game played between at least two players using a pair of conventional six-sided dice. All possible combinations of the values of upturned faces of the pair of dice are exhaustively ranked. A session of play consists of a number of turns, wherein in each turn, each player rolls the pair of dice. The value of each player's rolled dice is ranked and a losing player is determined to be the player having rolled the worst-ranked combination. The losing player then deducts a point from a collection of points assigned to him at the start of the game. Turns are played until only one player has at least one point remaining, and is declared the winner.

Abstract: A steel rolling mill including a Steckel mill is provided with an in-line upstream quench station located downstream of the caster and upstream of the reheat furnace, a shear located downstream of the Steckel mill, and a temperature reduction station downstream of the shear. The upstream quench station has spray nozzles that quench a surface layer of the steel to transform same from an austentitic to a non-austentitic microstructure. The shear provides a precise transverse vertical face on the leading end of the steel. The temperature reduction station applies cooling fluid to the rolled steel so as to obtain a preferred microstructure that may be either bainite or martensite. If bainite, the temperature reduction station includes laminar-flow cooling apparatus; if martensite, the station also includes an initial rapid quench, in which latter case the station is followed by a tempering furnace.

Abstract: A method of developing and maturing somatic embryos in a growth environment, which method comprises manipulating the water availability of the growth environment using a physical means of control. The invention also provides a growth environment for maturing somatic embryos, wherein the water potential of the embryogenic tissue is manipulated to optimize somatic embryo development and maturation. The invention further relates to a somatic embryo matured by the method of the invention. In the invention, a physical means of control is used to affect the water potential of the embryogenic tissue and developing somatic embryos growth medium, rather than a chemical means such as the introduction of PEG, to stimulate the maturation of the embryos. The physical means may be operated, for example, by separating the somatic embryos from the growth medium by a porous support, or by introducing a gelling agent (e.g. gellan gum) into the growth medium in larger than normal quantities.

Abstract: The invention is a load voltage and power control and supply system for the supply of power to a load for which, over particular periods of time, usually on a daily basis, it is desired to reduce power. The invention has particular application to street lighting systems in which, for a period of several hours during the night (when traffic is minimal and many people are asleep), the luminaires of the lighting system can operate at reduced power. The power control system is able to act as a voltage stabilizer as well as a controlled power reduction system. The power control system may operate the bank of spaced luminaires from a single control location. Moderately reduced power (say a 30% reduction in power) supplied to luminaires does not noticeably diminish the adequacy of the illumination provided. Further, the power control system reduces power in stepwise decrements each of which reduces power by a small amount insufficient to diminish noticeably the ambient illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus for temporary use with a golf driving range mat or ground practice area in teaching the proper stance for a golfer when swinging a golf club to hit a golf ball placed upon a tee inserted into the mat or the ground. The apparatus comprises first and second strips of flat elastic material. Each strip has a length selected so that the strip will be under moderate tension when it is stretched across the mat from one edge of the mat to the opposite edge of the mat and held against the mat by a discrete anchor at each end of the strip.

Abstract: A method of logging a tree includes the steps of cutting the tree part way through the trunk with a cut near the bottom thereof, leaving a connecting portion of the trunk connecting an upper portion of the trunk above the cut to a lower portion of the trunk below the cut. A helicopter above the tree is connected to a point near the top of the trunk. The helicopter is moved away from the tree, thereby breaking the connecting portion and allowing the upper portion of the tree to be carried away by the helicopter. The method utilizes a helicopter logging tool comprising a body having a connection for a lifting device. There is a hook on the body guide connected to the body by a hinge. The guide extends vertically downwards away from the body when the tool is connected only to the lifting device. There is a hook on the body to one side of the guide for engaging an object.