Abstract: A method of making a violin including forming the body, neck, sound post and backplate as a unitary structure from a single piece of material such as wood. The fingerboard, shim and nut is also formed as a single piece. The top plate, bridge, tailpiece and peg structure are separately provided and assembled with the body-neck and fingerboard members in a simple and inexpensive instrument. A kit with components thus formed is disclosed.

Abstract: A tapering flow duct is formed below a chassis having a caterpillar track and forms lateral openings between a cleaning brush and the tracks. The flow duct is connected through an opening to a suction duct of a suction pump which conveys the sucked up liquids with the contaminants contained therein into a filter. Due to the increased flow velocity, the static pressure in the flow duct is reduced, so that the chassis is pressed onto the bottom surface and can overcome severe gradients without sliding.

Abstract: A torque transmitting assembly for effecting rotation of a valve member such as a butterfly valve is hermetically sealed to the valve housing. It includes a rotor member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets of opposite polarity and a driver magnet assembly having a like plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets of opposite polarity facing the magnets mounted to the rotor. The two sets of magnets are separated by a stainless steel separator which hermetically seals the rotor. The driver magnet assembly is rotatable about the separator so that magnetic coupling forces effect a following rotation of the rotor and hence of the valve member. A magnetic indicator may be used to identify the rotational position of the rotor. The entire assembly is hermetically sealed and no packing is required. The assembly is especially useful to control a valve in a hazardous environment wherein no leakage of the fluid being controlled by the valve member is permissible.

Abstract: The formation of a composite formed by spreading a liquid thermosetting resin over a continuously moving plastic film or sheet. Chopped fiber is added and a fabric or veil, such as dacron polyester cloth, is continuously laid over the top to form a reinforced composite. This continuously produced thermosetting resin composite is rolled into a coil. After a maturation period, the plastic film or sheet may be removed from the SMC composite and sections of appropriate size and weight are cut from the coil and placed over the die of a compression molding machine, veil side down, up or both. The material is then compression molded at a pressure of 500-3000 p.s.i. (35 to 210 kg. per sq. cm.) and a temperature of 100.degree.-165.degree. C., and cured into an article. The fabric used has a grab break strength of at least 10 lbs. (4.5 kg.

Abstract: There are disclosed thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers which incorporate tungsten and/or molybdenum metal atoms. The metal atoms are incorporated into the polymer by reacting a monomer or polymer containing at least one free carboxyl group with a reaction product of tungsten or molybdenum and pyrrolidine.

Abstract: A self-raising strap loop is described, for use with a flexible, stackable container. The strap loop includes a strap which is flexible, and resilient means associated with the strap so that when the container is subjected to stacking forces the strap loop will lie substantially flat on the container, but when the stacking forces are removed, the loop will be forced to assume an upstanding position ready to receive a lifting device such as a fork of a fork-lift truck. The resilient means may be a resilient plastics or metallic insert enveloped by the strap, either in the form of a flat strip or a plurality of wires. The resilient means may also take the form of plastics or metallic wires woven into or being the warp threads of a woven strap. The resilient means may also be an impregnating material within a woven strap to render it semi-rigid. By using the self-raising strap loop it becomes unnecessary to pre-orient a lifting strap prior to engagement with a suitable lifting device.

Abstract: Indicator valve unit for providing a change in fluid pressure as a remote indication of whether an object occupies a desired position. Particularly useful for indicating whether a component, such as a multiple string tubing hanger, has been properly oriented and landed in an underwater well installation, the indicator valve unit provides for automatic separation of the sensing element of the unit from the sensed object as soon as the valve has been actuated.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for filtering a liquid including a replaceable filter and a pump. A unitary connecting piece in the apparatus has a series of channels in the form of bores for connecting a suction inlet with the suction side of the pump, for connecting the pressure side of the pump with the filter housing and for connecting the filter element with a pressure outlet.

Abstract: Tool for giving remote indications, typically both a change in fluid pressure and a televised image, to check whether a device is in a desired position. The invention is particularly useful for checking whether a component, such as a pipe hanger, has been properly landed in an underwater well installation.

Abstract: A coupling device, especially for well tools, for connecting a load, such as a tubing hanger from which tubing strings depend, to an upper member, such as a handling tool, from which the load is to be suspended, with capability of remote operation of the coupling device to disconnect the load and to reconnect. To provide heavy load capability when only a relatively small space is available for the coupling, coupling segments of generally C-shaped radial cross section are employed, the segments being actuated by a piston moved axially of the coupling.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for installing multiple strings of pipe in underwater wells in which, just prior to landing of the hanger for the multiple pipe strings, the weight of the strings is carried by a support ring releasably secured to a body member through an antifriction bearing so that rotational orientation can be accomplished.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operation of a heating apparatus having a combustion chamber with associated air and fuel supplies and an exhaust path includes sensors for monitoring temperatures at the combustion chamber. A microprocessor and a display receives signals from these sensors and has a keypad to permit calculation and display of parameters indicative of proper operation of the heating system including fuel usage per unit time. Limit values can be stored in the processor memory to trigger alarms when temperatures or fuel usage exceed the set limits. Various measured and calculated values can be displayed.

Abstract: An omnidirectional receiving antenna primarily intended for TV signals and constituted of substantially circular antenna elements, tuned for different TV frequency ranges, connected to an amplifier and cast into a common casing, each antenna element comprising a double dipole antenna, one part of which is of circular shape and made of a metal plate or metal net cut open diametrically from one edge nearly to the opposite edge so as to form a slightly widening slot, and the other part being a metal band or similar extending substantially along the edges of the circular plate or net and at a certain distance therefrom, the ends of the band turning symmetrically inwards at the unbroken edge left by the cut and extending along the edges of the slot and being finally connected to the cut-open edge of the circular part on each side of the slot.

Abstract: A bottle case integrally molded from thermoplastic resin has at least one separator column subdivided into partial pillars rising from the floor of the case for separating bottles in the case sufficiently to prevent breakage in handling and transportation. Each column is subdivided by a gap so that bottles can be accepted together with a carrier or minicase, with one internal wall of one carrier or minicase or one external wall of each of two carriers or minicases being slid into the gap of the column. The pillars have single-webbed profiled walls, the surface of the profiled wall facing the side walls of the box structure being part of side faces of the column and the other surface of the profiled wall being part of the gap configuration. The upper mouth of the gap can be a slot to facilitate insertion of the carrier or minicase and to locate and adjust its walls. Vertical reinforcement corrugations stabilize the pillars.

Abstract: A system for securing two containers in a cell in a ship's hold wherein, at the midpoint of the length of the cell and at at least one side of the cell a flanged guide device is attached to the ship's structure, which guide device cooperates with two guiding hooks which are each detachably connected to a bottom corner piece of one of the containers at the sides thereof, the guiding hooks being mounted so that the hook on one container is turned toward the hook on the other container to engage the guide device flanges. In a further embodiment wherein containers are placed in a cargo cell side-by-side, hook assemblies are detachably connected to corner pieces of adjacent sides of the containers so that they are locked to each other to prevent movement of the containers during pitch and roll of the ship.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for conducting a microbiological radiorespirometric assay. The device comprises a support member which includes a plurality of pairs of chambers. One chamber in each pair contains a radioactive labeled substrate which is capable of being metabolized by at least some microorganisms to yield a radioactive gas. The other chamber in each pair contains a means for collecting radioactive gas. The two chambers in each pair are in communication with each other by means of a passageway, which opens into each of said chambers at the upper portion thereof. There is also disclosed a method for determining whether microorganisms contained in a sample material will metabolize a radioactive labeled substrate in the device. The method comprises placing said material in contact with a radioactive labeled substrate, collecting any gas which is evolved, exposing a photosensitive material to said collected gas and determining if a spot is produced on said photosensitive material.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents alkoxy or aralkoxy, R.sup.2 represents hydrogen, alkoxy, aralkoxy, alkyl, aralkyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent the group --O--CH.sub.2 --O--, R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, alkyl, aralkyl, acyl or a protecting group, Y represents Cl, Br, I or a leaving group; and X represents Cl, Br or I.The present invention also provides a process for preparation of compounds VI in a single step wherein X and Y are the same and represent Cl, Br, or I, and R.sup.3 is as previously defined except that in this instance, it does not represent a protecting group.According to another aspect of the present invention there are provided compounds VII-a and VII-b having the structure: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as previously defined, j is an integer having a value of 0 or 1, Z.sup.1 represents a non-reacting electron withdrawing group, and Z.sup.

Abstract: An adjustable convex rearview mirror comprising a mirror housing carrying a convex mirror and a support housing pivotally coupled to the mirror housing and adapted to be rigidly secured to a planar surface, such as the exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle. The mirror housing telescopically receives a part of the support housing therein. The support housing has a cantilever arm thereon with a pin at the distal end. This pin is selectively received in a plurality of apertures in the mirror housing to selectively adjust the angular alignment of the mirror relative to the support housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition for the treatment of acne, hyperpigmentary dermatoses or skin hyperpigmentation which contains dicarboxylic acids containing 7 to 13 carbon atoms or certain derivatives thereof that contain reducing functional group or a salt thereof. There are also disclosed methods for preparing mercapto derivatives of these dicarboxylic acids.

Abstract: A combined socket wrench and gauge for removing, installing and setting the gap of spark plugs includes an elongated tubular body with a socket in one end and an annular gauge wall extending axially from the other end. The gauge wall has a series of flat gauge members in edge-to-edge relationship, forming a polygon of gauges of predetermined thicknesses. The distal edge of each gauge is beveled. The gauge sizes are stamped into the outside body surface.