Abstract: A lamp crushing machine comprises a casing which may be divided into upper, central and lower zones. Lamps which are to be disposed of are loaded into the upper zone. In the central zone there is a horizontally mounted drum with a number of radial vanes and possibly also circumferential vanes. When this drum is rotated the lamps are progressively broken by the shearing action of the vanes as they pass close by the edges of walls which project inwardly from the casing. Unbreakable parts such as lamp and caps are carried around the drum in pockets arranged between the vanes. The debris falls into a hopper in the lower zone which can be removed and emptied periodically. Throughout operation of the machine the lamps are doused by water issuing from a nozzle to quench any igniting sodium. Dangerous vapors pass out through special vents and other contaminents are filtered out of the water draining from the machine.

Abstract: A mechanism for heating the head of a percussion drum includes a pair of membranes disposed in tight adjacency to each other and tautly held with respect to the annular drum wall and a wire loop electrically connected to an external source of electricity and being tightly sandwiched concentrically between the membranes for insuring heat dissipation radially outwardly and inwardly therefrom with a minimization of the heat being lost to ambient air before the primary purpose of thorough membrane heating has first been realized.

Abstract: A method of building a filled roll in the form of a load-carrying shaft and a stack of annular fillings sleeved upon the shaft and an end head sleeved upon the shaft at each opposite end of the stack, includes the steps: concentrating compressive forces on the end heads and the stack therebetween in the axial direction of the shaft and on axially aligned concentric loci defined on the outboard faces of the end heads and radially spaced from and circumadjacent the shaft periphery for precluding end head deformation under the applied compressive forces, the surface area of each end face inboard of the respective locus being equal to the surface area outboard thereof as figured from the area of the fillings of the stack, and with the inner end face of each end head having a negative taper at the interface of the end head and the respective end of the stack.

Abstract: An x-y positioning device in which a cable or chain is used to drive a carriage, powered by two motors. The same cable that moves the carriage also constrains the angular orientation of the moving mechanism. In so doing, the moving parts can be made lighter and less expensively, while providing improved dynamics. All is advantageously applied to large, flat-bed plotters, to a computerized engraver, to a large sign painter, or to an elevator.

Abstract: A calendar assembly for making a substantially uniform thickness web in large widths with rolls having adjustable axis. The upper roll has an axis adjustable in a plane which is parallel to but offset from a plane in which the lower roll is adjustable. The axis of a third or intermediate roll in the stack is transversely adjustable between the upper and lower rolls.

Abstract: A housing 50, provided with a flat top 60 adapted to receive a carry cot or similar infant carrying device, is pivotally attached 36, 38 to respective lower ends of two pairs of swinging arms 26,28. The upper ends 22, 24 of these arms 26, 28 are pivotally secured to beams 16, 18 which in turn are secured to a structure 14 mounted on a base 10. Drive means 70 is provided fixed to the structure 14 and the arms 26, 28 so that the arms may be reciprocated about the upper pivotal connections 22, 24 thereby effecting a rocking movement of the housing. Preferably the drive means 70 comprises a dual coil solenoid arrangement including a sensing coil to determine the direction of movement of the arms 26, 28.

Abstract: A fountain, suitable in particular for use in domestic locations, comprises a generally vertical fluid inlet tube, a spray tube surrounding the fluid inlet tube and free to move linearly in the direction of the length of the latter, the spray tube being open at its lower end and having at least one flow-restricting orifice at its upper end, and a liquid container surrounding the spray tube. A pump may be provided to feed fluid, e.g. air or water, to the fluid inlet tube. Liquid ejected from the orifice or orifices may be collected in a catchment vessel and returned to the liquid container for recycling.

Abstract: Access equipment comprising an articulated boom arrangement for supporting a cage, in which a lower boom and upper boom are pivotally connected and the lower boom is pivoted to a turntable platform boom relatively to the lower boom and a second ram for moving the lower boom relatively to the platform. With a view of avoiding the need to provide complex control gear, movement of the lower boom under the control of its ram is limited so that, in its rest position, the lower boom is arranged to extend upwardly with respect to the platform at an angle .theta. such that, in operation, the booms are not movable into positions in which the equipment becomes unstable.

Abstract: A hand tool of the scissors type includes two pivotally-movable operating members or jaws or blades and two pivotally-movable handle members which members are readily separable from each other and are interrelated by a single pivot bolt extendable through the four components so that relative movement between each operating member and its respective handle member is precluded. The components are readily replaceable without supporting rivets, pins, screws or the like. Novel locking means allow easy tool operation both in the opening stroke preparatory for use and in the closing operating stroke and for assuming the safe locked position when the tool is fully closed.

Abstract: In a papermaking machine, a drainage interrupting mask of a certain width is disposed between a continuously moving endless Fourdrinier wire and respective suction box therebelow for interrupting web formation through the said certain width and along the length of the forming web and providing a dividing of the web with that portion of the web outboard of the mask being recycled for subsequent reuse as pulp slurry while the remainder of the forming web continues forwardly for the usual papermaking functions.

Abstract: Mechanism for automatically controlling and maintaining a selectively differentiated vacuum pressure in a vacuum head accommodating to the transverse width of a moving web passing relative thereto involving means for supplying air to the vacuum head at spaced points along the width and control means for detecting the need for an increase or decrease in the vacuum at the spaced points along the length and selectively charging more or less air to the vacuum head at the corresponding points along the length.

Abstract: A rocking mechanism for providing an interesting, apparently random motion for a toy or game using an electric motor with very low battery drain, wherein an unbalancing weight is mounted on a driven wheel driven by a small PM motor, the wheel carrying a cam which controls the action of a first switch connecting the motor to a battery with a second horizontal sensing switch connected in parallel with the first switch, all mounted in a frame which allows it to rock three-dimensionally. In a modified form of rocking mechanism for providing apparently random motion using a spring-loaded motor, an unbalancing weight is mounted on a driven wheel driven by a spring motor linked by a gear train to an oscillating escapement and pin actuator for controlling the unwinding of the motor spring, all mounted in a frame which allows it to rock three-dimensionally.

Abstract: In a calendar book each page corresponds to a part of a month and is subdivided into a plurality of fragments corresponding to the different parts of the month. The fragments of a page are releasably secured to each other for ready separation. The separated fragments of the pages may be successively removed from the stack as time ensues for continuously revealing the current date and the successive dates next-following beyond the dates of the next-to-be-overturned fragment.

Abstract: A sterile air trolley introduces sterile air into a zone adjacent all outermost boundaries of an upper part of a casing which extends laterally outboard of all sides of a lower part of a casing. The sterile air so introduced is without or free of any contaminated ambient air being entrained by the air so being emitted from the trolley and so introduced into the zone.