Abstract: A dispenser is provided for liquids which responds to actuation either by squeezing or by some other action to cause dispensing. Liquid is stored in an enclosure and an outlet structure has an outlet passageway which carries liquid from the enclosure to exit outside the dispenser. A buoyant bell combines with the passageway to trap liquid in the enclosure. If preferred, upon actuation liquid will flow initially, and then the bell can be made to seal the outlet structure to stop liquid flow thereby simulating a pumping action.

Abstract: A stabilized platform system for isolating a payload from angular motion and translational and angular vibration of a supporting structure, has an inner gimbal for carrying the payload, a sprung shell containing and carrying the inner gimbal in a manner permitting the inner gimbal a limited amount of angular movement relative thereto about pitch, roll and yaw axes, and an outer gimbal containing the sprung shell and inner gimbal. A passive vibration isolator is connected between the sprung shell and the outer gimbal and has two symmetrical arrays of dampened coil springs located on opposite sides of the sprung shell.

Abstract: A dispenser for liquid is provided having a relatively stiff or rigid container above a resiliently deformable reservoir structure. The container is coupled to the reservoir structure and the container has a bottom outlet inside the reservoir structure which also includes a discharge structure leading from the inside to the outside of the reservoir structure. Liquid is dispensed when the user causes relative movement between the container and the reservoir structure to increase the pressure in the reservoir structure and to thereby force liquid from the reservoir structure through the outlet passageway.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for producing preselected lengths of rope from a supply of thermoplastic rope, and includes a rope feed system for advancing rope longitudinally along a rope path and a guillotine assembly coupled to the feed system. The guillotine assembly has a thermally conductive blade support mounted for reciprocal movement orthogonally with respect to the rope path, and a thermally conductive blade removably attached to the blade support. The blade is in good thermal contact with the blade support and movable with the blade support between a first position clear of the rope path and a second position in which the blade crosses the rope path. An electrical heating element is attached to the blade support to heat the support and thereby heat the blade to a temperature sufficient to fuse the rope locally.

Abstract: A process for recovering precious metal particles or small precious stones from aqueous clay suspensions containing said precious metal particles or precious stones in suspension with clay particles includes adding a sufficient amount of deflocculating agent to cause deflocculation of the clay particles, and allowing the deflocculated suspension to settle. The settled material containing the precious metal particles or small precious stones is then removed.

Abstract: The invention provides dispensers for liquids having a dispensing opening in the side of the dispenser and liquid is stored in a main body of a resiliently deformable container coupled to a neck structure which has a bottom outlet inside a base structure. In use, the dispenser is first lifted and then tilted through about 30 to 50 degrees before squeezing the container. The tilting action causes some of the air in the base structure to be trapped thereby minimizing the effect of temperature compensation on response rate. Consequently, the squeezing action is immediately available to force liquid to pass through the base structure and issue from the side dispensing opening. Various structures can be made consistent with the invention to accommodate a range of liquids having different properties.

Abstract: A cargo anchoring and protection system particularly is provided for pickup trucks. The system includes six basic contributing components that operate individually or together to multiply their usefulness. These include: a pair of extruded anchor rails are provided to be removably attached to the top surface of the truck bed side walls; a bed liner with an optional separate floor section; a universal anchor beam; a cab guard with optional cargo access doors; a cargo bed enclosure; and a rear bumper.

Abstract: A fruit catcher has a trolley with ground-engaging wheels to enable the catcher to be moved over the ground, and a pair of side-by-side catcher portions pivotally mounted on the trolley for lateral opening and closing movement to enable the trolley to be moved, when the catcher portions are in a laterally opened position, to position the catcher portions on opposite sides of a tree, whereby the catcher portions can subsequently be pivoted to a closed position in which the catcher portions surround the tree. Each catcher portion has a series of radial arms which are extendable and contractible and which carry a flexible catcher sheet portion. Each catcher portion also has an actuator connected to each radial arm thereof for extending and contracting the arms simultaneously and, when the arms are extended, the flexible sheet portions provide an annular catcher array surrounding the tree for catching fruit falling therefrom.

Abstract: A method of recovering metals and producing a secondary slag from base metal smelter slag produced by a copper or nickel smelter includes mixing the smelter slag with at least one reducing agent selected from the group consisting of carbon, calcium carbide, ferrosilicon and aluminum, said carbon and calcium carbide (if present) being from about 1% to about 40% by weight of the slag and said aluminum (if present) being from about 2% to about 35% by weight of the slag and with from zero to about 70% calcium oxide by weight of the slag, heating the mixture aluminothermically if Al is present as reducing agent above the melting point to reduce the smelter slag to a metal alloy containing iron and possibly silicon and aluminum, depending on the quantity of aluminum added to the smelter slag, and heavy metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt which were in the smelter slag and thereby also producing a secondary slag containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium silicate, calcium alu

Abstract: A refrigeration system has an evaporator compartment containing a refrigeration evaporator and a refrigeration heat exchanger, a liquid line for conveying liquid refrigerant from a compressor through the heat exchanger to the evaporator, and a suction line for conveying vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator through the heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with the liquid refrigerant flowing therethrough to a compressor. The refrigeration system also has a compartment to be cooled, and an air flow passage associated with the compartment for cooling thereof, the air flow passage passing through the evaporator compartment whereby the air flow passes over the liquid line and evaporator, the liquid line being thermally insulated from the air passing thereover. The refrigeration system may be used in a refrigerated merchandising display case.

Abstract: A pressure relief or back pressure valve has a valve body with a tubular outlet member having an outlet surrounded by an end face and an annular inlet chamber surrounding the outlet member. The annular inlet chamber has an outer periphery defined by a wall member with an end face in a plane spaced away from a plane defined by the end face of the outlet member. A flexible diaphragm has an outer peripheral edge portion clamped between the end face of the wall member and a clamping member, the flexible diaphragm in an undeflected configuration having a central portion spaced from the end surface of the outlet member. A resilient force applying device is operable to apply a predetermined force to the diaphragm to cause the diaphragm to be deflected into engagement with the end face of the outlet member, and a release device is operable to remove the force from the diaphragm to permit the diaphragm to move away from the end face of the outlet member.

Abstract: A clamping device is provided for use in applying radial compressive loading on a deformable tube to retain the tube on a fixed tubular element. The device includes a central portion and first and second interengaged end portions with the first end portion having parallel side pieces and a pair of outwardly extending legs dependent one from each of the side pieces. The legs are spaced apart and a bridge extends between the legs outwardly of the legs. The second end portion has a central piece extending between the legs of the first end portion and including a radial projection extending outwardly from the end of the central piece and defining an outwardly facing step.

Abstract: A refrigeration system has a compressor operable to supply relatively hot compressed refrigerant gas, a condenser to liquify the relatively hot compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor, a thermostatic expansion (TX) valve to vaporize liquified refrigerant from the condenser, an evaporator to cool the surrounding atmosphere by vaporized refrigerant from the TX valve, a superheat sensor to improve control of the TX valve, a compressor discharge line to convey relatively hot compressed refrigerant gas from the compressor to the condenser, a liquid line to convey liquified refrigerant from the condenser to the TX valve, and a suction line including the superheat sensor to convey vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor.

Abstract: An autotracking antenna system operable to cause a steerable antenna assembly to automatically track a moving RF video signal source has a reflector, a rotator for positioning the reflector at any desired position in azimuth and elevation, a primary antenna element positioned to receive an RF video signal reflected from the center of the reflector, and a series of offset antenna elements each positioned to receive an RF video signal reflected from a different off-center location on the reflector. A tracking control processor is operable to select and receive video signals from the primary antenna element and the offset antenna elements and to control the rotator, and a signal receiver receives video signals from the antenna element and has a video signal output.

Abstract: An annular end member of plastic material for insertion into an end portion of a hollow cylindrical core member of a tubular core assembly for a roll of paper or other sheet material has an outer annular surface securable to an inner annular surface of the core member and an inner annular surface shaped to receive a roll supporting chuck. A radially-projecting lug adjacent an end of the end member is engageable in a lug-receiving notch in the core member, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axially-extending channels are provided in the inner annular surface of the end member to receive radially outwardly movable portions of a chuck. The channels have side walls engageable by the radially moveable chuck portions to enable rotational movement of the chuck to be transmitted to the end member. The end member also has a notch for receiving a projection of a roll supporting chuck, the notch extending inwardly from the end of the end member immediately radially inwardly of the lug.

Abstract: A time-locked cigarette case has time-controlled locking mechanism which is manually adjustable by the user and also has a first latch rod which normally retains the case in a closed condition and a second latch rod which moves to retain the case in a closed condition if the first latch rod is jolted to an open position so as to prevent the case from being opened by jolting before the manually set time delay has expired.

Abstract: A medication container has a tubular container body having an open upper end, and a cap detachably securable to the upper end of the container body by clockwise rotation relative thereto. The cap and the container body have mutually engageable stops preventing anti-clockwise opening rotation of the cap relative to the container body when the cap is in an upper position relative to the container body. A cap liner of resilient material is located within the cap and has a peripheral portion engageable with the upper end of the container body to close the upper end, the cap liner also having a central button portion projecting upwardly through a central aperture in the cap for manual engagement by a person wishing to open the container. The cap has a downward extending wall adjacent the aperture and engaged by the cap liner to maintain the cap in the upper position relative to the container body.

Abstract: The invention provides a positioning device engaged loosely on a prestressed hose clamp to locate and orientate the hose clamp on a hose. The device is adapted to engage about the clamp and has inwardly facing pegs which serve both to locate the device loosely on the clamp and to engage the hose to bias the clamp into engagement with the hose thereby holding the clamp orthogonally with respect to the hose.

Abstract: The turn-up of a continuous web from a parent reel to a new spool is made using an apparatus for sensing the presence of the newly cut web about the new spool and moving the new spool about a pope reel drum once the web has begun to wind on the new spool. A signal processing system is provided to monitor the speed of the web, defects in the web, the position of primary and secondary arms, and whether a turn-up has failed. The system provides output signals to control the timing of the turn-up and the motion of the primary and secondary arms. The apparatus may have several sensors for measuring the presence of the web, the speed and elapsed number of turns of the spool, and may have different types of sensors for use with different types of spool materials.