Abstract: An energy-dissipating receptacle for use with a fluid jet cutting system is disclosed wherein the interior cavity of the receptacle has generally converging sidewalls in the direction of jet flow. A plurality of circulating suspensoids within the cavity are impinged upon by the jet to dissipate the jet's kinetic energy. Means are included for permitting the egress of spent jet fluid while retaining the suspensoids.

Abstract: A scissors mechanism supports a platform, and is coupled to a sealed gas cylinder or other energy-storage device in such a way that the cylinder tends to lift the platform, and an article on the platform--such as a television set, a bar, office equipment, a tabletop, etc. The lift may be enclosed in a compact cabinet so that the article on the platform is concealed when down, and accessible when up.Energy released in lowering the article is stored in compression of gas within the storage device, and subsequently reused in raising the article. Compensation is provided for the strongly varying mechanical advantage provided by the scissors mechanism, so that the stored energy can operate smoothly on the article throughout the entire operating range of the scissors, making possible the use of the energy-recycling system.

Abstract: This machine includes a feed device (13) through which a metal element (1) to be curved is advanced with a stepped feeding movement. A bending device is situated downstream and in the vicinity of the feed-device outlet. The bending device can be rotated about a first axis perpendicular to the feed direction and about a second axis parallel to the feed direction, and can also be reciprocated parallel to the first axis. Preferably the bending means thus rotate about the metal element (1), which is secured against rotation.

Abstract: This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio.The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove.The cable wraps around three-quarters of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position.A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles.

Abstract: Vibrations having a frequency exceeding 150 Hertz are established in a rigid body by means of a vibrator system that in one embodiment includes a pair of rotating wheels, only one of which has a weighted eccentric secured to its axle. The wheels are coupled together by an endless belt made of a material that dampens the vibrations propagating between the wheels. The unweighted wheel is driven by a flexible shaft connected to its axle. In another embodiment three wheels are used in which two are weighted at the axles. The vibrator system may be used to sink pipes and the like into the ground, or shake a sorting table employed, for example, in the mining industry or a silo hopper for discharging grain. Also disclosed is a method for sinking a pipe or the like into the ground and retrieving it after lowering it a predetermined distance. In this method, wires are attached at each end of the pipe for facilitating its downward motion and its retrieval.

Abstract: Red, green, and blue signals from a video camera are separately recorded. In preparation for this, the three signals (advantageously generated at twenty-four frames per second and more than 655 noninterlaced raster lines per frame) are first applied to three separate low-pass filters, which pass up to at least eight and preferably more than fourteen megahertz. The filter output signals then frequency modulate three separate carriers, each of frequency at least two megahertz greater than the filter passband. The three frequency-modulated carriers are simultaneously recorded on parallel tracks. The three separately recorded FM carriers are subject to editing, traveling-matte combination with other triplets of carriers, and other special effects--while preserving wideband detail. The final three-track recording is used to generate a widescreen color film negative: The tracks can be conformed into a single monochrome video track, with each set of three color frames placed in sequence.

Abstract: This track, particularly for use with electrically self-propelled vehicles, has various elements for interfering with vehicle passage. Different effects are obtained--amusing, fascinating, or enhanced competitive play with two or more vehicles. Most of the interfering elements are detachable, and usable in different combinations and arbitrarily selectable positions. Three element types are (1) bumps that redirect the vehicles, tending to make them go around curves in the track without moving to the sides; (2) small flooring sections operated (by levers) vertically through holes in the track floor, to variably influence the vehicles' passage along the track; and (3) a gate, with a releasable catch, for starting cars along the track simultaneously in a race.

Abstract: An amphibious toy vehicle about the length of a "penlight" battery can climb any grade where it will not tip over backward, and can propel itself through water. An "AA" battery powers an electric motor in the four-wheel-drive vehicle. The motor has a double-ended shaft, driving a symmetrical worm-and-worm-gear geartrain. The motor and geartrain are aligned along one side of the chassis; the battery alongside them occupies the rest of the chassis. Both climbing and water-propulsion capability are enhanced by several-times-overscale hollow (to aid flotation) wheels, with pronounced peripheral cleats. A flotation chamber extends beneath the entire chassis. To resist degradation due to dirt, the chassis is substantially sealed against dirt particles, but for economy the sealing is not watertight. To compensate for this, the entire electromechanical system has been made to operate even with the chassis full of water.

Abstract: The carousel when assembled by the consumer has striking animation effects (considering that the mechanism is made primarily of wood), including a rocking motion of animal figurines. The rocking results from mounting each figurine on the end of a horizontally rotatable shaft, supported from the carousel; a crank keyed to the same shaft extends down through a log slot in the carousel deck.Under the deck is a stationary disc. In this disc is a series of holes, in a circular pattern with radius equal to that of the crank locus. The crank periodically drops into these holes, as they sequentially move under the crank; the crank rotates upwardly as the trailing edge of each hole sequentially engages the crank.This oscillation of the crank is transmitted by the horizontal shaft to the figurines.

Abstract: Toy motorcycle play apparatus comprising a toy motorcycle having an energy-storing drive-train mechanism, and a launcher for imparting energy to the mechanism and then releasing the motorcycle for forward movement. The motorcycle comprises aligned rotatable front and rear ground-engaging wheels and an intermediate flywheel, all rotatable about horizontal transverse axes. The energy-storing drive-train mechanism is formed by the flywheel, one of the wheels, and a gear train between them which reduces speed and increases power and duration of rotation at that drive wheel. In operation, the motorcycle is powered by the flywheel, which also serves to maintain it upright by gyroscopic action as it moves forwardly. The launcher holds the motorcycle in the desired upright orientation with the drive wheel elevated so that it can rotate freely while energy is being stored in the flywheel. Then the motorcycle is released, the drive wheel is allowed to engage the launcher platform and propel the motorcycle forwardly.

Abstract: Hydraulic chambers for attenuation of wave motion within waterbed mattresses are buoyed by unencapsulated material made by binding expanded foam beads to a garnetted fiber matrix.

Abstract: This toy operates on continuous-belt treads that cooperate with other "climbing toy" features to provide extremely exaggerated ability to negotiate steep and/or rough surfaces. The car selectably operates: (1) as a conventional electrically powered toy, at at least one speed, on a flat surface; (2) as an electrically powered "climbing toy" with particularly advantageous weight distribution, at at least one reduced speed with greater torque, on a steep and/or irregular surface; or (3) as an unpowered free-rolling toy vehicle. Major weight components, particularly the battery and motor, are in a symmetrical, compact, balanced and relatively low arrangement--at about the same height as the tread drivers. Together with a speed-reduction mechanism they fill the toy's housing.

Abstract: This toy car has a selector on its sides for use, without picking the vehicle up, in selecting operation:(1) as a conventional electrically powered toy vehicle, at at least one speed, on a flat surface;(2) as an electrically powered climbing toy with particularly advantageous weight distribution, at at least one reduced speed with greater torque, on a steep and/or irregular surface; or(3) as an unpowered free-rolling toy vehicle.For climbing operation the car's battery, motor, etc. are in a symmetrical, compact, balanced, low geometry--about level with the wheels. With speed-reduction and selector parts they fill the toy's housing. The reduction mechanism has front-and-rear duplicate gearing: at each end, two worms that are both powered from the motor but through different reductions, and a worm gear shiftable between engagement with either worm by sliding on a square axle. Wheels are mounted to and driven by the axle ends.

Abstract: A target structure comprising of at least one target and means coupled to the target for exploding the target when the target is hit by an object. In a particular embodiment, the target is a horizontal panel and projector means is located beneath the panel and projects the panel away from the target structure when the panel is struck by an object. The projector means is spring-loaded and is triggered by the force of the object striking the panel.

Abstract: An airbrush assembly comprising an airbrush adapted to receive a gas under pressure and a fluid, such as paint, and to eject the fluid in an atomized form entrained in the gas, supply means for supplying a plurality of fluids having differing characteristics, such as color, and selection means coupled to the supply means and the airbrush for receiving the plurality of fluids and for selecting one or more of the plurality of fluids to supply to the airbrush. Means are also provided for mixing the selected fluids prior to reaching the airbrush and for selecting complementary colors.

Abstract: A sawhorse frame is provided for use with a separate work-supporting top member that may be disposable. The frame is made with the paired legs at each end hinged together near their tops, and with pincer-like clamping jaws formed near the hinge points so that the work-supporting top member is very forcefully clamped in place. Force for this clamping is derived from the force with which the feet of the sawhorse are pressed against the floor, acting through a large mechanical advantage that arises from the foot-to-hinge distance's greatly exceeding the clamping-jaw-to-hinge distance. When the sawhorse frame is not in use, the same hinge arrangement facilitates folding the bottoms of the legs together to a more compact configuration for storage.