Abstract: A stamping hammer for printing quality control indicia on a flat article comprising a rigid, flat base plate, an elongated handle rigidly coupled to the base plate at a fixed angle of about 5.degree.-15.degree., a resilient, shock-absorbing layer rigidly coupled to the base plate, and a rubber stamp pad rigidly coupled to the shock-absorbing layer. The stamp pad has raised characters thereon corresponding to the indicia to be printed onto the flat article.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the regulation of continuously operating shot-blasting machines for achieving an approximately uniform shot-blasting effect on the workpieces independently of time variations in throughput of the workpieces. Throughput speed of the workpieces in the radiation chamber or the supply of shot-blasting medium to one or more centrifugal impellers is regulated in dependence on the quantity of workpieces to be blasted per time unit. The apparatus includes measuring apparatus (9, 9') for the measurement of the fed-in-workpieces (5), disposed in the radiation chamber (1) or in the feed-in arrangement (2), which measuring arrangement is connected by way of a measuring transducer (10) with a regulating circuit (11) for the change of the throughput speed of the workpieces (5) and/or with a regulating circuit (12) for the change of the throughput radiation means at the flywheel (4).

Abstract: An a.c. bridge has a first arm with standard resistance, a second arm with a standard reactance element, a third arm having terminals for connection to an unknown impedance, and a fourth arm comprising a resistive circuit having first and second variable resistive elements. An a.c. supply voltage is coupled between the junction of the first arm with the second arm and the junction of the third arm with the fourth arm. First and second phase-sensitive rectifiers are coupled between the junction of the first arm with the third arm and a variable tap on the second resistive element in the fourth arm. The first rectifier is synchronized to a first a.c. reference signal in phase quadrature with the voltage across the unknown impedance, and the second rectifier is synchronized to a second a.c. reference signal in-phase with the voltage across the unknown impedance. Indicators are coupled to the outputs of the rectifiers for indicating the senses of their output signals.

Abstract: A marine installation for generating electrical energy, which installation operates as a giant battery using the sea as the electrolyte and comprises a plurality of electrodes (6, 8) connected together mechanically and electrically to form a floating structure of cells (5) which is anchored to the sea bed and insulated to prevent loss of potential by conduction.

Abstract: A dental mirror warmer to prevent fogging when the mirror is placed in a patient's mouth includes a housing with a cover having an opening. Below the opening is a heating well to receive the reflective end of the mirror. The well has a stainless steel wall connected to a transformer which supplies high current at low voltage to heat the wall. The supply to the transformer is controlled by a photoresponsive device responsive to insertion of the mirror and a timing circuit which permits current supply for a short heating interval. A temperature sensor shortens the interval when heating cycles are initiated frequently. The photoresponsive device is mounted in the housing in juxtaposition with a light transmissive opening in a wall of the heating well. The photoresponsive device includes a source of light arranged to direct light into the heating well through the opening and a photoresponsive element arranged to receive light reflected from the reflective surface of a mirror inserted into the heating well.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in recovering an article at least partially submerged in water comprises at least two floatable members each having an arm mounted thereon and whose buoyancy can be varied, each arm carrying a recovery member having gripping or scooping means. A pivot interconnects said arms so that their motion opposes that of the recovery members. A locking device for progressively and releasably locking the arms with respect to each other is provided such that on release thereof the pivot moves downwardly by gravity, causing the recovery members to come together in a caliper-like action. Pressure sensing means in recovery members feeds back information to the locking device to cause the arms to lock and prevent an increase in pressure is attained. A further embodiment does not need a locking device.

Abstract: A double-acting compacting apparatus comprises two movable compaction plates and a stationary compaction plate arranged between said movable plates. Arranged between respective ones of said movable plates and said stationary plate is a free-fall aperture through which compacted objects can fall under gravity. Means are provided for connecting the movable plates together such that during a compaction stroke utilizing one of said movable plates the other of said movable plates defines with said stationary plate a space for receiving further material to be compacted.

Abstract: A solid state ballast circuit for a discharge lamp includes a transistor oscillator with a current amplifier connected to a transformer one secondary winding of which is connected to the lamp and another secondary winding of which is coupled to the amplifier input. An inductive choke coil is connected in the power circuit of the amplifier so that when the lamp burns out or is removed the operating frequency increase resulting from the decrease in load circuit capacitance results in an increase in impedance of the choke, drastically reducing current flow through the amplifier power circuit to prevent transistor damage or RF interference radiation. The current amplifier disclosed is a two-stage emitter follower circuit.

Abstract: Regeneration of clay-bonded used foundry sand for reuse instead of new sand. A dry mass of used sand is rubbed for such a length of time, is accelerated suddenly and delayed, and is freed continuously of fine components, until the fine matter, active bonding clay and oolitization degree fall below certain threshold values such that the regenerated product substantially gains the characteristics of new sand. An apparatus for regeneration treatment contains a horizontal revolving sand drum (10), an impact rotor (30) disposed inside said drum in the area of the fall stream (46) of the used sand and a pneumatic dust removal device (36) disposed in the inside of the drum. A chemical secondary treatment of the regenerated product can be carried out advantageously in the same installation in order to bind remaining fine matter to the surface of the grains of sand and simultaneously to seal the pores of the grains.

Abstract: A locking structure comprising a channel and a bracket. The channel has a pair of lips defining an elongated mouth. The bracket is L-shaped having a horizontal limb and a vertical limb extending downwardly from one end of the horizontal limb. The bracket has a neck the lower end of which merges with said vertical limb. The neck extends obliquely upwardly from said vertical limb and has a locking formation at its free end. The locking formation is wider than the neck and projects laterally on each side of the neck. The neck can pass through the mouth. When the bracket is so positioned with the neck passing through the mouth, the laterally projecting parts of the locking formation engage one face of each lip. The external surface of the vertical limb engages the other face of each lip. Said one face of each lip is formed with deformable serrations which extend in the direction of elongation of the mouth.

Abstract: An a.c. circuit including a thermistor used as a variable resistance device. A d.c. current source is provided for varying the temperature, and hence the resistance, of the thermistor and a DVM is provided for giving an indication of the resistance thereof and/or for controlling the temperature varying current source in order to set the resistance of the thermistor to a defined resistance. The thermistor can form part of an a.c. bridge and the temperature varying current source can be arranged to adjust the resistance of the thermistor until the bridge is balanced.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping two side-by-side pipes together comprising two recessed holding bodies receiving the pipes therein, two clamping elements having the holding bodies therebetween and a screw interconnecting these four members. Interlocking projections and indentations on one of the clamping elements and its adjacent holding body prevent relative rotation during tightening of the screw.

Abstract: Microcapsules are formed in the absence of coacervation by providing an oil-in-water emulsion containing a polymeric, emulsifying agent having cross-linkable groups or complexing sites and admixing with the emulsion a cross-linking agent or a complexing agent which forms an impermeable coating around the dispersed oil droplets. The emulsifying agent may be non-proteinaceous or the protein, gelatin. Impermeable capsule walls are formed solely by the addition of the cross-linking or complexing agent and extraneous hardening agents are obviated. Moreover, the emulsifying agent may be a preformed, polymeric, cross-linking agent which eliminates the need for any separate cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A method of recording images of selected areas of source documents by photographic, video or similar camera analog recording techniques. Embodiments of apparatus to perform the method include devices for feeding the source record, aiming the camera and arranging the recorded segments in an order independent of the original order of the data segments on the source record. Also disclosed are systems usable in conjunction with the above for encoding the data in digital form and storage thereof.

Abstract: A grinding machine towed by a vehicle and having a plurality of rotating grinding members to smooth the surface traversed by the vehicle. Various mechanisms are provided to adjust the orientation of the grinding members so they are substantially parallel to the surface to be ground. The grinding machine comprises a main support member, a plurality of rotating grinding members extending downwardly therefrom, motors for rotating the grinding members, a first hinge coupling of the support member to the vehicle, a second hinge coupling of the support member to a wheel, a first adjusting mechanism to adjust the elevation of the front of the support member via the first hinge coupling and a second adjusting mechanism to adjust the elevation of the rear of the support member via the second hinge coupling.

Abstract: A thin-walled hollow metal cylinder is rotatably held at its ends between holding flanges which are mounted with a pressure-tight seal on an opposing aligned pair of rotatable hubs. The spacing between the hubs can be adjusted. In one embodiment, the hubs are supported on a hollow pipe arbor and make a pressure-tight seal against it. In another embodiment, one hub is mounted on a stub shaft which is held in bearings and another is held in the head stock of a lathe in proper alignment. In both cases, a pressure medium, air, is supplied to the inner space of the cylinder through the arbor at a pressure of about 0.5 to about 1.0 atmospheres to increase the inherent rigidity of the cylinder. This improves the stability of the cylinder for various processes, such as for photoengraving of the surface of the cylinder to prepare it as a screen-printing stencil.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cosmetic hair or skin composition comprising as an active ingredient 11-.alpha.-hydroxyprogesterone and/or a pharmaceutically compatible ester thereof in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. There is also disclosed a method for the treatment of individuals exhibiting acne, excessively greasy hair and/or androgenic alopecia, which comprises topically treating the affected area with such composition.

Abstract: A continuously variable traction drive transmission comprising a rotating disc mounted on a first shaft and a roller in frictional contact with the face of the disc, the roller being axially movable along a second shaft and thereby radially movable along the disc face to vary the relative rotational speeds of the disc and roller. This axial movement is automatically accomplished by pivotally supporting an end of the second shaft and providing a controlled translation to the other end of the second shaft. A mechanism for controlling the contact pressure between the disc face and the roller is also provided. The transmission has low frictional losses and is therefore highly efficient and has a long service life.

Abstract: A device for detecting and indicating the presence of corrosive fluids in a specified volume, as in the insulating blanket surrounding the pipes in a heavy water plant, is disclosed. The device includes a housing containing a primary indicator such as a bobbin with a long, brightly colored ribbon wrapped therearound, and a secondary indicator. A compression spring abuts the secondary indicator and is held in compression by a corrodable link anchored at one end to the housing and at the other end to the secondary indicator. The link is exposed to the volume being monitored and if there is a corrosive fluid present the fluid will corrode the link until it breaks. The spring force is released to act on the secondary indicator to project the primary indicator from the housing. The ribbon unwinds from the bobbin to provide a visual indication of the presence of the corrosive fluid.

Abstract: An improved clamp for hoses and other tubular members includes two rigid clamping members having semi-circular recesses, one or more annular wedge-shaped grooves in the recesses, and fasteners. An elastomeric insert, or a pair of inserts, has one or more ribs shaped to fit the groove or grooves. The rib height is less than the groove depth leaving an annular gap to improve the clamping action. Inserts of different thickness can be provided to accommodate hoses of different dimensions.