Abstract: Combination tension connector and flex joint for underwater tension elements, such as the tension elements of a leg of a tension leg platform. The flex joint is of generally ball and socket type, with the ball member connected to the lower end of the tension element and the socket member connected to an upwardly projecting annular portion of the male member of the connector.

Abstract: A display board for receiving and holding cards or sheets of paper or the like so that information thereon is visible includes a rectangular front wall which is transparent, a rectangular back wall which is opaque and spacing strips between the walls. The spacing strips maintain the walls in spaced relationship and define a plurality of rectangular compartments between the walls. The back wall has slots located at the top of each compartment for insertion and removal of cards. The spacing strips and slots are shaped so that the cards can be removed, but can not be inadvertently spilled.

Abstract: A cast, one-piece vehicle wheel is made such that the wheel pan with hand-holes passing through it is fastened to the rim such that the intermediate parts of the pan abut on the shoulder, which is formed on the side adjacent the offset wheel pan, and the shoulder extends by lobes in the direction of the drop-center. In the areas of the rim corresponding to hand-holes 10, the shoulders extends over inclined elements into the drop-center.

Abstract: A seal and closure for a container end includes a metal foil seal having a cylindrical part sealed to the inner surface of the container adjacent the end, a transverse diaphragm part recessed inwardly from the end, and a tear tab on the diaphragm. An annular groove is formed in the cylindrical part between the container end and the diaphragm, the groove defining a tear line so that the membrane and the inward portion of the cylindrical part separate from the remainder thereof when the tear tab is pulled. An insertable lid covers the seal.

Abstract: In riding saddles of the type comprising a seat structure and two side flaps each depending from a different side of the seat structure, the flaps are made adjustable in such fashion that each flap can be secured selectively in a forward position, suitable for jumping with shortened stirrups, an intermediate position, appropriate for pleasure or trail riding, and a rearward position, for dressage with lengthened stirrups.

Abstract: A process for compacting moulding sand to form a casting mould comprises the steps of filling a moulding space located between a pattern plate and a pressure plate with moulding sand, pre-compacting the moulding sand, after the moulding space is filled with moulding sand and closed by the pressure plate, by an explosive-type shock pressure, and subsequently re-compacting the moulding sand by mechanically pressing the moulding sand between the pattern plate and the pressure plate.

Abstract: A metal door is provided with a rectangular opening the edges of which are bent to form a ledge. Two half-frame structures are formed from side members and corner pieces which snap into the side members and the half-frames are placed in the opening from opposite sides and held together by threaded fasteners so that the frame does not protrude beyond the door faces. A method of cutting the plates removed from the rectangular opening to obtain all material for side members, corner pieces and muntins is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining veneer strips with an adhesive string between the abutting edges of the veneer strips, which string forms loops between the edges of one side of the veneer, the string being pressed and cemented against the other side of the veneer. The loop is being made by lifting the adhesive string through the plane of movement of the veneer strips using a supply eye in front of a holding hook. Thereafter, the string is being hung into the holding hook by a swinging movement and a following return movement of the supply eye.

Abstract: A pipe repair device has a tubular housing and an expandable seal. The tubular housing includes a central passageway extending along its longitudinal axis and opening on the opposite ends of the housing. A mechanism is provided at one end of the housing for attaching a conduit to the housing in fluid communication with the passageway. The expandable seals can comprise annular tubes of resilient material which are expanded to form a seal between the device and the pipe in which it is inserted by supplying fluid pressure to the tube interiors. A mechanism for supplying purge gas to the interior of the pipe adjacent the work area can be provided adjacent and downstream of the seals. When two seals are provided, an interstage volume is defined between the seals into which fluid may be conveyed and withdrawn.

Abstract: An inductive measuring transducer impermeable to pressure media for use with a fluidic adjusting member such as a multiple position valve as a receiving casing of non magnetic working material for receiving a magnetic core, coils surrounding the casing which are, in turn, surrounded by a housing. An operating rod passes into the casing through a connecting member and operates the core. The casing is formed as continuous, hollow cylindrical tube with a closing member or plug inserted in one end and attached in fluid tight relationship. The other end of the receiving casing is tightly connected with the connecting member which is formed as a separate part from the receiving casing.

Abstract: It is disclosed that the properties of epoxy resins may be improved by incorporating therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of boron, molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten and zirconium. The selection of a particular metal atom for incorporation into the epoxy resin or a combination of these metals will depend on the specific resin properties desired.

Abstract: A ski has a ski binding detachably mounted. The ski binding, which includes the usual safety release system, includes a binding plate which is securable to the ski. In some embodiments, the binding plate engages a ski plate which is fixed (e.g. by screws) to the ski, the two plates having interengageable male/female edge surfaces and said interengagement is maintained by the agency of separately operated means (e.g. set screw, cam, blocking device). In another embodiment, the ski plate is integral with the ski and, in yet another embodiment, the ski plate is integral with the binding plate. In the last-mentioned embodiment, the ski plate is accommodated in a complementary cavity in the ski.

Abstract: A system for levelling a template adjacent the floor of a body of water comprising a plurality of gripping assemblies pivotally coupled to the template and receiving the supporting piles therein, with portions of the piles extending above the template; and a jacking assembly capable of being lowered down each of the piles, releasably connected to the template adjacent the associated gripping assembly and raising or lowering the template in the area of each pile to level the template. The jacking assembly comprises an outer housing, and a double acting hydraulic piston slidably received in the housing, with a pile gripping assembly being coupled to the piston. The gripping assembly in the jacking assembly and those in the template are each formed from a plurality of ring segments that are serrated on the inside and have tapered ribs on the outside, these segments being received in a bowl having corresponding tapered ribs.

Abstract: A cold-weather sports glove including at least one finger with an open distal end to expose the wearer's finger and a sealing assembly to limit cold air or water intrusion into the glove through the open end. The sealing assembly comprises a first annular circumferentially resilient member and a second annular circumferentially and radially resilient member located inside the finger adjacent the distal end. The distal end can also taper to form a part of the sealing assembly. The wrist portion of the glove can also have a sealing assembly thereon including first and second annular members.

Abstract: A one-piece, washable and sterilizable plastic shoe comprising a lower part with a top on which the foot bears and a bottom enveloping an outsole and a heel, and an upper part having ventilating openings in a substantially vertical lateral area, these openings having upper and lower outer boundary edges that are lower, respectively, than the corresponding upper and lower inner boundary edges thereof. The method for producing such a plastic shoe includes the steps of introducing mouldable plastic into a mould comprising top and bottom halves with a shoe last therebetween and simultaneously forming the lateral ventilating openings by means of spaced pins extending between the bottom-half mould and the last. The apparatus for producing the shoe comprises a mould having top and bottom halves with a shoe last therebetween and a plurality of pins extending from the bottom-half mould into removeable engagement with the shoe last.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating carbon fibers to provide an epoxy resin finish thereon. An aqueous emulsion of an epoxy resin is applied to the fibers and the fibers are thereafter dried. An effective amount of two different emulsifying components are used in the epoxy resin emulsion. One of the emulsifying components is a long chain aliphatic alcohol containing from eight to 18 carbon atoms. The other emulsifying component is a quaternary ammonium salt having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is an aliphatic radical containing from 12 to 18 carbon atoms, or a mixture of such radicals, each R' may be the same or different radicals selected from methyl and ethyl, and x is bromine or chlorine.

Abstract: A sports shoe or boot having an upper and a shaft or leg plate is provided with a tightening system comprising a tightening member and a pull cord. The pull cord is arranged in turns over the openable closing flaps of the upper and is protected by a covering tongue. A turn of the pull cord is guided out of the area of the covering tongue by means of a slot in the latter and is held on the shaft by means of a tubular guide piece with a cover strap. Placing the turn on the upper part of the covering tongue ensures that no additional fastening means are required for the tongue. The boot can be completely tightened with a single tightening member.

Abstract: A template levelling system and method for levelling a drilling or production template adjacent the bottom of a body of water on a plurality of suspension joints implanted in the floor of the body of water. The template has a plurality of passageways therein receiving the suspension joints which extend upwardly above the template. The template carries a pair of pivotable guideposts on opposite sides of each passageway. The levelling system includes a jacking assembly lowered by a handling string and including a hydraulic jack with an inner member slidably received in an outer member, a tension beam pivotally coupled to the inner member, a pair of tension joints pivotally and releasably coupled to the tension beam and engageable with the template guideposts, and a support beam receiving the outer member therein and releasably coupled to the tension joints via a pair of hydraulic slips assemblies.

Abstract: Underwater devices, particularly bushings for centering and/or anchoring a guide line relative to a hollow guide post in a guidance system, are equipped with latch means which can be unlatched by the same remotely operated tool employed to retrieve the device after unlatching.

Abstract: Tubular metal articles are produced by centrifugal casting in a rotary metal mold lined by centrifugally distributing a quantity of a dry finely particulate free flowing refractory material on the active mold surface with the quantity being in excess of that required for the lining, densifying the layer by rotating the mold at a rate such that the refractory layer is subjected to centrifugal force adequate to establish an equivalent specific gravity of at least 7.5, determined by multiplying the actual specific gravity of the refractory material by the number of gravities of centrifugal force, contouring the densified layer and removing the excess refractory material, rotating the mold at the casting rate and then introducing the molten metal for casting while continuing to rotate the mold at least that rate. Articles so cast have relatively smooth outer surfaces which require only finish machining.