Abstract: An automatic self-leveling ladder having a leveling leg axially slidably mounted within the bottom of each member of a pair of spaced vertical rung supporting members for automatically compensating for unevenness in the support surface. A rack is fixed to each of the legs and is engaged by a gear located within each of the legs that is mounted on an end of a stub shaft. A locking device is fixed on each of the rung supporting members and engages the gears upon application of the weight of the ladder on the legs to lock the legs in a selected leveling position. The stub shafts extend inwardly from the rung supporting members and are located within a complementary sized tubular telescoping member which serves as the bottom rung of the ladder. One of the stub shafts is fixed to the tubular member so the member rotates with the shaft. The shafts are joined by a spring steel strip to rotate the shaft in unison and to compensate for torsional forces exerted on the two stub shafts when in locked positions.

Abstract: In the body of a pipe support a piston supported on a compression spring is movable relative to the body. A turnbuckle suspended from the piston passes down out of the body and, in use, is connected to a pipe to be supported. The body and the piston have adjacent each other oppositely inclined slots. The piston may be clamped to the body by a lock nut and a lock washer which are interconnected through registering portions of the slots by a bolt. The bolt can be slackened off to allow the nut and washer to slide in the slots so that the piston can move freely in the body. The oppositely inclined slots allow the piston to be clamped to the body at any position within its range of movement.

Abstract: A portable milling tool for milling pipes, tubes, cylinders, and the like has a collet at one end thereof for securing and centering the tool to the work piece. An adjustable in-line rod connects the collet to the tool and permits the collet to secure or release the work piece. An in-line shaft moves the tool into or out of engagement with the work piece. The tool is of compact design allowing it to be used in on-site situations wherein tool size is a problem.

Abstract: An emergency breathing device for use in a toxic environment including a clear plastic hood having sealing means about the neck or body to form a generally airtight enclosure about the wearer's head. A canister containing carbon dioxide and water vapor adsorbent material is mounted on a mouthpiece which is located completely within the hood. The mouthpiece directs inhaled air directly into the mouth and directs exhaled air through the adsorbent material before discharging it into the hood interior. An oxygen enriched carbon molecular sieve may be located within the canister whereby oxygen molecules trapped within the sieve are replaced by the carbon dioxide and/or water vapor and are liberated into the hood to enrich the oxygen concentration thereof to extend the breathing time of the wearer.

Abstract: A dual brake valve assembly including two co-axial primary and secondary valves for primary and secondary braking circuits is modified to include an auxiliary exhaust valve operable in conjunction with the pressure plate and a secondary piston for controlling operation of the secondary valve in response to operation of the primary valve. When the valve assembly is operated to apply the brakes, the auxiliary exhaust valve remains closed to prevent the premature release of fluid from the primary circuit irrespective of uncontrolled relative movement between parts of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A device which stabilizes the sheath of an endoscope or arthroscope during surgery. The device is a relatively thin, flat, flexible plate of plastic material and is adapted to be placed against a patient's body at the area where penetration is made by the scope sheath. The plate is formed with a predetermined sized central hole and the sheath is slidably inserted through the hole and has an interference fit with the surrounding plate material. The plate provides a stable base for the scope to be slidably moved with respect to the plate to adjust the depth of penetration. The plate preferably has a bow or generally figure-eight configuration which provides sufficient surface area at both ends of the plate to provide a stable base for the scope while permitting other surgical instruments to be inserted into the patient's body closely adjacent the scope due to the concavity of the plate sides. Various mechanisms can be mounted in the central plate hole to accommodate various sizes of scope sheaths.

Abstract: A device for breaking coal and for separating predetermined size coal particles and impurities therefrom. A supply of coal containing rock, shale and other impurities is dumped in a hopper through a top opening. A zigzag-shaped passageway extends from the top to the bottom of the hopper and has a single double action accelerator rotor or a pair of accelerator rotors mounted therein. The rotors increase the speed of the deposited materials that are moving by gravity through the passageway by striking the material and propelling it in the same direction that it was moving prior to being struck. The coal is split upon impact against splitting grates. Chutes located beneath the splitting grates receive the coal particles which pass through sized openings formed in the grates and deposit it in a collection area. The rotors each include a shaft with a plurality of radially outwardly extending blades.

Abstract: A reusable molded plastic package for holding audio cassettes which enables the cassettes to be stored and displayed in racks heretofore used for record discs and eight-track audio tapes and which includes a slide lock which secures the cassette in the package preventing its unauthorized removal therefrom. In one embodiment, the cassette is mounted in a transverse position at one end of the package enabling the contents of the cassette to be viewed from the end of the package when stored in a horizontal position. In another embodiment, the cassette is mounted in a longitudinal position at one end of the cassette whereby the contents can be read from the front of the cassette when stored in a vertical position. In still another embodiment the package can store either an audio cassette or a compact disc. The slide lock is retracted from its locked position by a manually operated key.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a porting ring adjacent the cylinder head to reduce the diameter of the cylinder. The piston in the cylinder has a reduced diameter crown portion complementary to the porting ring and an upper face on the crown provided with a small clearance from the cylinder head to provide a large squish area. A primary combustion chamber of "dogbone" shape is provided in the crown, while a secondary combustion chamber is provided under the crown. On the power stroke, the sparking plug ignites the air/fuel mixture in the primary combustion chamber and the pressure pulse generated pushes the piston down the cylinder. When the piston crown clears the porting ring, the air/fuel mixture in the secondary combustion chamber is ignited and a second pressure pulse is applied to the piston. The slower, staged, burning of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder applies a more powerful driving force to the piston, generating increased torque.