Abstract: A wave-operated generator system utilizes flotation means for coupling the vertical movement of waves to an electrical generator using a rack and pinion assembly. Ratcheted pairs of gears convert the upward and the downward movement of the flotation means to unidirectional rotation. Supplemental generating systems which convert air and water current into electrical energy are used in conjunction with the wave-operated generator system.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for attaching bed bed coverings to the mattress of a bed to prevent them from being pulled loose and to make the task of making the bed on a day-by-day basis easier and quicker. The spread for the bed includes a flap secured near the foot end of the spread extending essentially the width of the mattress, the flap including an elastic strap secured at or near its terminal edge adapted to fit around and across the mattress. Any blankets and the top sheet to be secured to the bed are each fitted with an elastic strap along their respective edges for securing under the foot end of the mattress, the elastic strap extending along the terminal edge essentially the width of the mattress and adapted to fit around and across the top surface of the mattress. The coverings are secured to the mattress in reverse order; i.e., the flap of the spread is first positioned beneath the mattress with the elastic strap extending across the top surface of the mattress.

Abstract: A novel pelting board removes the need for pins or other tack-like fasteners and allows for better drying of the pelts along edges of the board. The board's frame of non-absorbent plastic has channels along its edges, a dam to direct air to the channels, and a lattice of girders between the edges for improved airflow. Clips hook onto the lattice girders to hold the underside and tail. This pelting board allows faster drying with reduced sticking of the pelt to the board.

Abstract: A multi-stage extensible tower on a wheeled base with a platform at the top has an extensible multi-sectioned ladder which slopes downwardly uniformly from the platform when the tower and ladder are in extended position. When the tower and ladder are in lowered, retracted position, the ladder sections have different slopes from one another. Outriggers are provided on the base which have a retracted position preventing extension of the tower. The platform has a fence which can be swung down level with the platform for conditions of reduced overhead clearance while the unit is being moved.

Abstract: A process and apparatus allows continuous or semicontinuous finishing of doors. The doors are fed to the finishing machine and are conveyed through a series of finishing stages. Sanding, staining, drying, lacquering (finish-coating), drying, cooling, and buffing in the machine leave a completely finished door to exit the machine. Automatic stacking of finished doors is easily accommodated. Water-reducible stains and lacquers are readily used in this novel process and apparatus to reduce health and fire hazards. The process greatly reduces the time required to finish a door.

Abstract: Partial locking for a fluid-locked planetary gear used in a differential or the like is obtained by causing oil to be squeezed between the gears of a planetary gear train, thereby providing increased resistance to movement, or partial locking, of the gears within the gear train. Improved partial locking for a fluid-locked planetary gear train is provided by loosely mounting planet gears for movement within the chambers which closely surround the partially locked planet gears. The driving and reaction forces on the loosely mounted planet gears permit the planet gears to move so that their peripheral ends come into close engagement with the walls of the chambers in which the gears are mounted to further increase the fluid resistance to movement of the gears. To obtain similar partial locking characteristics in either a forward or a reverse direction, the planet gear pairs and their corresponding chambers are reversed in their relative positions.

Abstract: A novel water ski binding clamps tongue, heel, and reinforcing strips to a sole plate with screws normal to the edges of the plate. Thus the strips initially extend substantially vertically from the edges rather than substantially horizontal (parallel to the mounting plate) as in the prior art.

Abstract: An adjustable sight for firearms of the type having a trapezoidally shaped dovetail extending transversely across the upper rear end of the firearm and a sighting bead projecting upwardly at the front of the slide. The adjustable sight includes a trapezoidally shaped base which replaces trapezoidally shaped, fixed sights normally mounted in the dovetail. The base is frictionally secured to the slide by a set screw extending through a threaded bore in the base which is torqued against the lower wall of the dovetail. A transverse slot formed in the base receives a sight blade having formed therein a notch projecting downwardly from its upper edge. The blade is held in place by a blade set screw mounted in a second threaded bore in the base. The set screw intersects the slot at an acute angle, and its end is sufficiently pointed so that its lower surface contacts the lower edge of an aperture formed in the blade.

Abstract: An ash removal apparatus for a burner which produces ash moved through a discharge passage in the floor of the burner, including a circumferential ash-removing opening surrounding the grate of the burner, with the surfaces forming the opening being circumferentially progressively varied in spacing to crush and pass clinkers through the opening and out the discharge passage.

Abstract: To reduce the possibility of a kick by a chain saw when cutting on the end of the bar, this invention provides cutter elements having spurs to cock the elements when the elements engage the idler sprocket on the end of the bar. As the elements begin to move in an arc around the idler sprocket, the spurs ensure that the leading depth gauge of the element does not fall away to expose the trailing teeth to too great a depth of cut. Instead, at any position in the arc, the spurs ensure that the depth between the depth gauge and the tooth of each element remains substantially no greater than the depth between the depth gauge and the tooth when the element is moving in a straight line. Preferably, the spur cocks the element so that the depth gauge is effectively higher than the tooth (i.e., the radius of the arc of the outside edge of the depth gauge is larger than the radius of the arc of the outside edge of the tooth).

Abstract: A method to reduce animal browsing damage to plants comprises the step of inducing a nonphytotoxic dosage of selenium into the foliage of the plants at a level sufficient to repel animals. The method is particularly suited for use in reforestation of pines, firs, and other conifers. The selenium is systemically absorbed into the plants after application to the surrounding soil in the root zone. Selenium compounds having a valency of no more than 4.sup.+ are applied to the soil around the plants to induce absorption in a preferred method.

Abstract: An attachment within the air cleaner housing of a liquid-fuel internal-combustion engine, the attachment having a circumferential venturi air passage and a gaseous fuel inlet slot inboard of the narrowest portion of the venturi air passage.

Abstract: A fused electrical plug assembly is provided having a plug body with a fuse socket open to one side to hold a push-in fuse unit. The fuse unit has one pair of active fuse elements between which there is a spare pair which can be used by removing the fuse unit, turning it ninety degrees and pushing it back into the fuse socket.

Abstract: A blasting composition, method and system for making such is disclosed. The blasting composition is a homogeneous slurry-type blasting agent containing a major amount of water and a relatively small amount of a particulate fuel, preferably a particulate metal fuel. The blasting composition is made by premixing the fuel with water and a gelling agent to form a stable suspension of fuel in the water, metering the suspension of fuel into a dry particulate mixture of an inorganic metal oxidizer and a gelling agent, and slowly tumbling the mixture a short time sufficient to obtain a uniform composition without desensitizing the composition to detonation.

Abstract: Controlled release compositions are made by a distillation method to include chemical impregnants (such as animal repellants, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, plant growth stimulants, perfumes and deodorizers, fertilizers, and drugs) in biodegradable, microporous structures. Each microporous structure collapses upon drying but swells upon rewetting to allow the impregnant entrapped in it to diffuse from the structure. Never-dried wood pulp is a particularly desirable microporous structure because it has large pores initially, a large surface area initially, and demonstrated swelling capability. The method is particularly useful when the impregnant is insoluble in the fluid initially within the microporous structure and when the solvent for the impregnant is immiscible with that fluid.

Abstract: A rough and final pull back tension are applied by moving the strap laterally of its path between a fixed strap end and a releasably anchored strap supply end, with the releasably anchored end being held by spaced pins biased together to obtain the rough tension and a greater final tension.

Abstract: A method of making a nonmagnetic, austenitic, manganese-chromium-nickel-nitrogen stainless steel uses intermediate addition of ferroalloys and novel mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen to maintain the temperature of the melt below about 3150.degree. F. (1732.degree. C.). The method improves on the economics of making specialty steels by reducing the cost of raw materials and refractories.

Abstract: A low-cost fence is essentially free from ground rot. The novel fence post of this invention capitalizes on the structural rigidity of rectangular tubular members. The fence post has a concrete reinforcing rod projecting downwardly into concrete from the tubular member and small-dimensioned lumber bolted to the tubular member and extending upwardly from the other end. This fence post makes it easy to construct a variety of fences, all of which reduce toenailing and nail bracketing by using spanning rails. Long rails span fence posts in a staggered pattern, thereby gaining additional cantilever strength while reducing the number of posts required.

Abstract: A system for storing time-varying kinesiograph waveforms and continuously displaying the stored waveforms on the screen of a cathode-ray tube (CRT). In a recording mode, the waveforms are periodically sampled, digitized, and then stored in a block of random access memory reserved for that waveform. In a display mode, the Y axis of the CRT is driven by a digital-to-analog converter which receives digitized samples from the memory block corresponding to the displayed waveform. The X axis of the CRT is driven by a second digital-to-analog converter, which, in an X-Y mode, also receives digitized samples from a selected block of memory. In a sweep mode, the X axis digital-to-analog converter receives the continuously incrementing memory addresses, which read out digitized samples from the memory block for the displayed waveform. The system may also display an expanded portion of a waveform in the sweep mode by incrementing the memory address from one of several predetermined values.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for the conversion of solid carbonaceous fuels to combustible gases having a high energy content. The system utilizes a two-stage reaction system where a particulate fuel is entrained in a high velocity, hot gas stream emanating from a fixed-bed char reactor, the particulate fuel delivered to a gasification reactor by the hot gas stream while being rapidly heated (fast pyrolized). The gases produced are drawn a fixed distance through a bed of char at the bottom of the gasification reactor, after which they are withdrawn from the reactor and cooled. To promote methanation, the generated gases, after passing through the fixed bed of char in the gasification reactor, exit the reactor through a dip leg within the reactor filled with a catalyst which promotes methanation.