Abstract: The device includes first and second pads each of which is adapted to support one leg of a person. The pads are rigidly interconnected together. Each pad has a ground engaging element below and associated therewith. A generally spherical bearing is provided between each ground engaging element and its associated pad so that each pad may tilt and/or rotate relative to its ground engaging element.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic packaging of products such as concrete blocks in pallets formed by stacking layers of the blocks including a fixed table having supports along its sides and a moveable carriage disposed above the table on guide rails. The carriage is slideable having a translatory movement along the rails and carries gripping members for holding and releasing the blocks so as to move the blocks to form reserved spaces in the pallet for the tongs of a pallet handling device. The reserved spaces are formed in a given layer of the blocks in the pallet by causing the gripping members to hold and release the blocks in cooperation with detection and spacing devices for forming a given number of reserved spaces in the desired layer of blocks. The reserved spaces are created in a layer of blocks during the continuous movement of the carriage in the same direction.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium, consisting of a base coated with a magnetic coating material, contains finely divided particles of at least either nickel or copper uniformly dispersed in the magnetic coating, in the form of primary particles obtained by pulverization of the skeletal structure of a mother salt or of an aggregated structure. In a method of manufacturing the medium, an antistatic additive, prepared by pulverizing and dispersing at least either Ni powder or Cu powder which retains the skeletal structure of a mother salt or having an aggregated structure, in the presence of a polymeric material, is mixed in the magnetic coating material.

Abstract: It is known to remove sulfur dioxide from gas streams, particularly waste or flue gases, by contact with aqueous scrubbing solutions containing a metal salt, such as ferric sulfate, in which the valence of the metal is reduced by the sulfur dioxide. It is also known that such scrubbing solutions can be regenerated by oxidizing the reduced metal salt, such as ferrous sulfate, back to the higher valence for further use in removing sulfur dioxide. According to the invention, the regeneration of the scrubbing solution is advantageously effected by electrolytic or anodic oxidation, rather than air oxidation, of the reduced metal salt, since anodic oxidation is not adversely affected by the increase in sulfuric acid content of the scrubbing solution which results from the conversion of the sulfur dioxide absorbed in the scrubbing solution.

Abstract: Box blanks produced from a moving web by a paperboard corrugator are shingled on a stacker conveyor. The corrugator includes a shear which severs the web in response to a production run change signal into leading and trailing portions. A cut-off machine cuts the severed web portions into the box blanks. Box blanks cut from the leading portion of the severed web are part of the old production run. Box blanks cut from the trailing portion of the severed web are part of the new production run. The leading edge of the trailing portion of the severed web is tracked to the cut-off machine. The trailing edge of the first full size box blank of the new production run is detected at a first position relative to the stacker conveyor. The trailing edge of the first full size box blank is then tracked to a second position on the stacker conveyor. When the trailing edge of the first full size box blank reaches the second position, a command signal is generated.

Abstract: Washing apparatus for washing insulated trays includes an endless conveyor below the elevation of first and second guide rails which guide the trays in an upright disposition as they are being washed. The conveyor includes generally V-shaped tray supports at spaced points therealong so that each tray is supported by two adjacent tray supports. Vertically disposed manifolds have spraying nozzles for spraying water generally horizontally at opposite major faces of the trays.

Abstract: The web from a running roll passes through a festoon in which an amount of web is stored. Upon the application of a splice command signal, the speed of the running roll is reduced from an initial or line speed V linearly at a rate R1. As the speed of the running roll decreases, the rate at which the festoon web length decreases reaches a preselected fraction of the speed V. This indicates that the running roll is stopped. A splice initiate signal is then generated. The web from the running roll is spliced to the web from a reserve roll. Following the splice, the speed of the web from the reserve roll is accelerated linearly at a rate R2 to speed V. If the rate of reduction of running roll speed is independent of the initial speed V, the same web tensions are experienced during braking of the running roll regardless of the initial speed V. If the rate is made dependent on the initial speed V, lower web tensions are experienced during braking for lower initial speeds V.

Abstract: A fiber optic line simulator simulates the attenuation in a fiber optic cable with repeatable accuracy by adjusting the air spacing between the ends of two foreshortened fiber optic cables adapted to be connected to a continuity meter or other device for measuring attenuation in a fiber optic cable of extensive length. The simulator may also simulate specific fiber optic lengths for use in evaluation of optical communication systems.

Abstract: A tamperproof cap assembly for a hydrant having a valve stem rod which in one embodiment is displaceable in elevation within the hydrant housing without rotation of the valve stem rod about its axis. The assembly includes a cap adapted to cover the outlet port in the hydrant housing. The cap is provided with a stem. A locking means secured to the valve stem rod engages the cap stem when the valve stem rod is in a first position and the cap stem is displaced toward the valve stem rod. The locking means releases the cap stem when the valve stem rod is displaced in elevation from the first position to a second position without rotation of the valve stem rod about its axis. The cap is provided with a pair of unthreaded facing annular walls which define an annular channel for receiving the hydrant nozzle.

Abstract: An electroslag remelting furnace with a power connection at the base and a coaxial conductor to eliminate the deleterious effects of magnetic fields upon the pool of molten metal. The furnace may have a vertically moveable crucible, and also a top supported inner mold to form a hollow ingot, for containing the molten portions of the metal as the ingot is formed. The upper portions of the annulus between an inner and outer mold can be greater in width than the width of the lower portion of the annulus to permit increased spacing between the electrodes and the walls of the molds or to permit the use of electrodes of a larger diameter than the width of the lower portion of the annulus.

Abstract: A cover pocket for securing the corners of a mattress cover to a mattress or box spring which is made from a rectangular flexible material. The material to be made into the corner pocket has notches at opposite corners which overlay each other. Folding in a specific manner and fastening by stitching to a matress cover results in the corner pocket to be attached at each of the corners of the mattress cover.

Abstract: A clock is provided having a luminous digital display. The clock is enclosed in a housing having a glass covered display face. A stationary light source is provided within the housing. The first end of each of a plurality of optical fiber light conductors are mounted in annular concentric bands on a mounting board inside of the clock. The second end of each of the optical fiber light conductors are arranged in a pattern on the display face to indicate time. The light guides receive light from the light source and cause illumination of the display. Filters are mounted on arms which are in turn rotatably attached to the output shafts of a clock motor. The arms are disposed in such position that the filters come between the light source and the first ends of a group of light conductors as the filters rotate, filtering the light received by that group of conductors, and creating a colored display of time information at the second ends.

Abstract: A bank of counters is clocked at a relatively high repetition frequency by a clock oscillator. Each counter separately produces a sequence of digital signals which are transmitted at the clock oscillator frequency by a latch and a decoder/driver associated with the counter to a numeric display also associated with the counter. Consequently, the digital signals produced by each counter are separately displayed at the clock oscillator frequency. This frequency is sufficiently high to prevent recognition of a number on the display. A bank of manually operable momentary switches is associated with each latch. A brief audible tone is produced whenever a switch is operated. When operated, the switch temporarily disables the associated latch for a preselected interval of time. When disabled, the latch transmits only the digital signal currently stored in the latch to the display for the preselected interval of time.

Abstract: Organic polysilanes may be produced in a simpler, safer and more economic manner by reacting an organohalosilicon hydride with lithium metal or lithium-alkali metal alloy. According to the reaction the silicon-silicon bonds of the organopolysilane are formed by the removal of halogen and hydrogen from the hydride. Particularly important is the formation of dodecamethylcyclohexasilane by the reaction of dimethyl chlorosilane with lithium metal. Simpler polysilanes may be produced by adding to the reaction mixture endcappers such as trifunctional organohalosilanes without an Si-H bond.

Abstract: A volumetric screw feeder is interchangeably convertible from a twin screw feeder to a single screw feeder without modification of the gearing or drive means. The change from twin screw feeder to single screw feeder is made by interchanging the screws and the feeder hopper. Moreover, the drive shafts for all of the screws are brought out through a unitary seal.

Abstract: A chamber is provided with a built-in material dispenser. A confined space such as a conduit associated with the chamber contains a pressurized material, such as fire suppressant, which is released when the chamber is subjected to one or more of the following: heat above a predetermined temperature, an impact force as occasioned by a collision, pressure above a predetermined limit, etc.

Abstract: A weight scale includes a capacitive force load cell for linearly transducing force into electrical capacity. A C-shaped spring supports two capacitor plates adjacent the distal ends of the arms with the surfaces of the plates being normally parallel. Weight is transmitted from the platform of the scale to a pin which acts to separate the arms against the spring force. The plates are shaped, preferably triangularly, so that the change in capacitance as they separate is linear. The load cell is connected in circuit with an oscillator so that the change in capacitance is directly proportional to change in frequency as a measure of the weight of the load on the scale's platform.

Abstract: The throughput of a conveyor belt is controlled by a motor whose speed is established by the instantaneous state of an up/down counter. The counter is incremented upwardly by setpoint pulses representative of the desired mass flow rate, and downwardly by feedback pulses from a rate multiplier representative of the actual mass flow rate. When the actual mass flow rate is equal to the setpoint flow rate, the average number of setpoint pulses will equal the average number of feedback pulses with the result that the state of the counter will be stable with time. Speed control means for the motor maintains the belt speed at a level dependent upon the state of the counter. A variation between the actual and desired mass flow rates is manifested by a change in the average number of feedback pulses which results in a change in the state of the counter.