Abstract: Sparkplug means for an internal combustion engine are provided with conduits to introduce pre-combustion gases directly to a mixing area adjacent the sparking electrodes. This may be by connecting the conduits into the plug directly or by connecting them into an adapter to be interposed between the engine and the sparkplug, and providing a pre-combustion chamber therebetween. Preferably there is a mixing area upstream of the electrodes. An electrolyzer can be built into the arrangement to generate the pre-combustion gases immediately adjacent the sparkplug.

Abstract: A battery powered hearing aid has a remote, momentary shut off switch comprised of two leaf plates mounted in a spaced apart relationship, with each leaf plate having an electrical contact extending inwardly and aligned so that pressure against either leaf plate separates the contacts to open an electrical circuit. When the switch is opened, power from the battery is disconnected from the hearing aid, rendering it non-operational while the leaf plates are under pressure. The remote momentary shut off switch is particularly adapted for mounting in the shoulder area of a hunting vest or the like to permit improved hearing while stalking a quarry without amplifying the firing noise from a shotgun or rifle.

Abstract: A coin-dispensing device has a coin reservoir, a coin-dispensing slide that is disposed adjacent to said coin reservoir and that is movable relative to said coin reservoir to dispense coins from that coin reservoir, an eccentric that is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of that coin-dispensing slide and that is movable relative to and with that coin-dispensing slide, a driving element for that eccentric and an abutment on that eccentric and an abutment on that portion of that coin-dispensing slide which are selectively engageable in response to relative movement of that eccentric and of that portion of that coin-dispensing slide toward each other and which are selectively separable in response to relative movement of that eccentric and of that portion of that coin-dispensing slide away from each other.

Abstract: A dental handpiece assembly has a handle sleeve with an exterior notch formed in its exterior surface. The head of the handpiece is mounted to a shoulder sleeve, which sleeve has a locking extension with an end lug size to be received within the handle notch. A locking ring is rotatably mounted on the handle, and has a slot sized to allow the locking extension to extend through it so that the lug is received within the handle notch. The exterior surface of the lock ring is approximately flush relative to the adjacent exterior surfaces of the handle and shoulder. A spring mounted to the handle and to the lock ring biases the lock ring to be positioned to block removal of the lug from the handle notch. The spring is mounted within the lock ring and on the outside of a third sleeve projecting unitarily from the first sleeve. A bearing sleeve acts as a bearing for a drive rod that extends through the bearing to transmit driving force to the tool in the head of the handpiece.

Abstract: A direct contact gas-liquid heater has a tank filled with a liquid, a submerged burner and a gas distributor. The heater burns a fuel air mixture producing hot gas which is bubbled up through the liquid. A system of liquid level raising and lowering pods or a bellows and reservoir prevents the liquid from sumping back through the gas distribution system to drown the burner when the burner is shut off. The heater has a vacuum pump in the exhaust conduit to create a continuous draft for the gas bubbling up through the liquid and baffles to disentrain liquid from the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A gravity roller conveyor has a pair of side frames, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted between the side frames, with provisions for conveniently converting the conveyor to a power roller conveyor including a mounting plate to receive a motor, a center bracket disposed between the side frames to receive and mount a drive shaft and end pulley at each end of the conveyor, provision for mounting a plurality of guide pulleys between the end pulleys, and a belt tightener so that an endless belt may be looped around the pulleys and tightened in place. A center spine may be provided extending the length of the conveyor to strengthen it and minimize the size of the side frames. The guide pulley mount includes a tee bar extending between the side frames with a cross bar mounted to the leg of the tee. A tension adjustment includes a tension spring and nut which threads on the leg to compress the spring against the cross bar and urge the guide pulleys mounted on the cross bar against the drive belt.

Abstract: An air suspension assembly for a heavy duty truck or over-the-road vehicle includes a first beam pivotally mounted at its forward end to a hanger assembly depending from the vehicle chassis, a second beam connected to the first beam by a pair of bushings having resilient members therein, and an air spring extending between the second beam and the vehicle chassis. An upper torque arm extends between the axle housing and another chassis member to complete the substantial shape of a parallelogram to stabilize the axle as it deflects vertically with respect to the chassis. The vehicle axle is rigidly pivotally connected to the second beam so that the second beam moves with the axle about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle but the axle freely pivots in the fore and aft direction as required for parallelogram stabilization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for playing a board game includes a playing board having a playing surface comprised of five concentric rings, each ring being divided into eight game piece areas. A circle in the center of the playing surface is divided into two semi-circles and define the inner fortress for each player. Each ring has two designated game piece areas for each player which indicate the position at which game pieces advance into the next innermost ring and the initial game piece area moved into to start movement about that ring. Each player's designated areas are on opposite sides of the ring from the other player to eliminate congestion and enhance play. Each player is assigned a plurality of game pieces including warriors, scouts, archers, shield bearers, captains, and one king. A catapult is available to each player as a means of capturing opposing game pieces.

Abstract: A dental prophylaxis tablet is disclosed containing abrasives and anticaries compounds. The tablet is hard enough to withstand normal storage and handling. The tablet also contains dispersing and wetting agents so that it may be readily constituted into a dental prophylaxis paste by the addition of water and may contain sweeteners and flavors. A typical tablet is approximately one gram in weight and has hardness of about 3.5 to 4.0 kilograms (Pfizer tester). A typical tablet can be hydrated in approximately 60 seconds with the addition of water to form a prophylaxis paste.A typical formulation is: feldspar 61%, Cabosil (TM) 1%, Instant ClearJel (TM) 5%, Sta R.sub.x 1500 (TM) 25%, sodium saccharin 0.5%, sodium citrate 0.5%, stannous fluoride 5%, Stearowet-C (TM) 0.5% and flavors 1%.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hot water system which utilizes heat from the refrigerant of a refrigeration system to produce hot water. The utilized heat consists of the superheat of the refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant. The water passing through a water-cooled condenser, which is part of the refrigeration system, is heated to a selected temperature by removal of both the superheat of refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant as it passes through the condenser. The condenser has a water inlet and an outlet between which is connected to a hot water storage tank. As the water in the condenser is heated by absorption of the superheat of the refrigerant vapor, the latent heat of condensation, and part of the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant passing therethrough, the heated water rises and flows by convection into the storage tank.

Abstract: An integrated solar roof system, consisting of insulated roofing panels and collector panels, and method of producing same wherein the base assembly of the collector panel may be used with either an air or liquid absorber and is both an insulator and radiation shield as well as an integral structural part of the roof of the building on which it is mounted. The construction of the panels lends itself to mass production techniques and the efficient use of materials making the panels cost effective. The collector panels are also suitable for use as independently mounted units, functioning only as collectors and not as roofing members. Collector panels and insulated roofing panels, being identical in size and installation method, and said installation method being simple and quick, a suitable combination of panels may become a complete roof with minimal installation labor.

Abstract: A D.C. welder includes an engine-driven D.C. generator, a polarity-reversing switch which can change the direction of current flow through the field winding of that generator to provide a positive or negative polarity at the welder output terminals, a circuit that automatically permits only uni-directional current flow through that field winding during the starting of the engine, and a further circuit that energizes a solenoid to close contacts which enable that generator to operate as the starting motor for that engine but which thereafter de-energizes that solenoid and then keeps it de-energized until the engine is at, or close to, rest.

Abstract: A collet of somewhat flexible plastic for holding a dental tool in a dental handpiece, has an inner body which fits within a socket in the burr tube of the handpiece, and at its outer end extends outwardly into a hub and then rearwardly into a cylindrical skirt which fits between the outer surface of the bearing for the burr tube and the inner surface of a counterbore in the handpiece. Centrifugal force caused by rotation of the burr tube flares the skirt outwardly against the counterbore surface to provide a seal therebetween. In a modification the skirt slants outwardly to contact the counterbore surface when the skirt is stationary. A modified skirt tapers from its connection to the hub to the skirt end.In another modification, the collet has a bore in its inner end, with the handpiece end cap, the driven gear and the burr tube having bores aligned with the collet bore so that a burr extractor pin can extend through the bores to push the dental tool out of the collet.

Abstract: A ship has a plurality of open-top recesses in the deck thereof in which substantially fluid-tight, relatively light-weight, buoyant containers are held solely by the force of gravity and by frictional forces. Those containers substantially fill those recesses. If the ship were to sink, the containers would automatically eject, responding to the weight of the water which they displaced to rise up out of those recesses and float upright in open water. Thereafter, those buoyant containers would confine the contents thereof until those containers could have the contents thereof transferred into other ships at sea or could be towed to shore to be emptied, thereby preventing accidental spills of oil or other liquid cargo.

Abstract: A one vessel process for manufacturing stable ammonium phosphate fertilizer utilizes a spray reactor in which phosphoric acid is reacted with ammonia to form ammonium phosphate. The ammoniation is conducted under conditions which form sufficient ammonium polyphosphate to stabilize the solution in the liquid condition. The liquid may be stored and transported without substantial solidification or crystalization so that the product may be subsequently used as an ammonium phosphate fertilizer.

Abstract: An illuminated changeable-display sign has lamps which are visible to viewers and which are arranged in rows and columns, has light emitting diodes which are visible to the operator of that sign and which are arranged in corresponding rows and columns, and has control circuitry which enables the data displayed by the LEDS to be exactly the same as or different from the data displayed by the lamps.

Abstract: A woven fabric has cotton and polyester therein and has a total combined surface area of less than fifty-three thousand (53,000) microns per square inch and yet has, prior to the application thereto of any finish, a wetting time greater than one-half of a minute.

Abstract: A first horizontally-directed spacing and connecting member extends between and interconnects the upper ends of a first plurality of aligned, but spaced-apart, vertically-directed columns, a second horizontally-directed spacing and connecting member extends between and interconnects an intermediate portion of one of the first plurality of vertically-directed columns with the upper ends of two columns of a second plurality of vertically-directed columns, a third horizontally-directed spacing and connecting member extends between and interconnects an intermediate part of a second of the first plurality of vertically-directed columns with the upper ends of two columns of the second plurality of vertically-directed columns, and rung-like spacers interconnect the second and third horizontally-directed spacing and connecting members to constitute an overhead exercise ladder.

Abstract: A tandem axle vehicle suspension system has a pedestal mounted to a chassis member and extending downwardly to support a trunnion shaft extending the width of the vehicle and between two suspension systems. A compensator is pivotally attached to the trunnion shaft. A fore torque beam and a rear torque beam are pivotally attached to and extend between the compensator and an axle. A central, principal load-bearing elastomer spring is held in position between the upper portions of the torque beams with sandwich type secondary springs extending between the compensator and each torque beam. In one embodiment, a mounting stud extends into the cylindrical opening at each end of the elastomer spring to hold it in position. In an alternate embodiment, fiber block assemblies are mounted to each end of the elastomer spring and opposing U-shaped saddle brackets with arcuate slots capture each end of the spring and permit limited arcuate movement of each end of the spring with respect to its adjacent torque beam.

Abstract: A pitch adjuster for a valved brass instrument having a tuning slide crook and a third valve slide crook enables play in the just intonation scale and includes a main push rod attached to the tuning slide crook, a finger operator attached to the third valve slide crook and slidably mounted on the main push rod, a bias spring retaining the finger operator in a normal position, a trigger operator and a detent assembly which provides for stopped flat and sharp positions. The trigger operator retracts the main push rod to retract the main tuning slide crook and sharpen the pitch of the note being played. The finger operator extends the main push rod and thereby extends the tuning slide crook and third valve slide crook to flatten the pitch of the note being played. The finger operator may be moved beyond the stopped position, by sliding along the main push rod and compressing the bias spring, and further extend the third valve slide crook alone.