Abstract: A body support member for spacing a body above a supporting structure which comprises a sheet of resilient plastic material permanently deformed to produce downwardly disposed, laterally spaced, elongated protuberances distributed over a body support area for engaging the supporting surface, adjacent elongated protuberances being complementary in shape with each one having a plurality of reversed direction portions along its length, the reversed direction portions in adjacent protuberances being in overlapping relation in the plane of the body support area looking in the direction the elongated protuberances extend, whereby the body support area of the member will resist flexing along all straight lines traversing the body support area.

Abstract: Barbeque structure free of internal compartmentation which would block free movement of heated gases and passage of radiant heat is disclosed. Vertically oriented walls define an open pit with firebox heat source and rendering collection surface arranged in a predetermined manner contiguous to floor level. A removable, open framework provides stable support for meat sections at a working level above the heat source without obstructing heat passage. An open-space rack supports elongated meat sections, such as whole hams, with elongated dimension vertically oriented above the rendering collection surface. A movable cover means is positioned to span the vertical walls at their upper ends to close the pit and confine heat. The dome-like configuration cover means extends above and about the meat sections being barbequed presenting a solid surface which redirects heat toward the meat sections.

Abstract: Methods are presented for continuous-line manufacture of composition board from furnish which is moved in a continuous-flow manner through a processing line and distributed for deposition at a uniform rate over a preselected area to continuously form a mat for compaction.Commercially economical production flow rates are achieved with a lightweight refined wood furnish to form fiberboard having directional properties without relying on pneumatic impulsion while uniformly distributed furnish is delivered substantially free of air turbulence effects enabling fiber orientation by means of an electrical field.Control of movement and accurate metering of furnish are facilitated by continuously over-feeding furnish into the processing line and returning excess furnish as part of an initial distribution of furnish over one dimension of the mat to be formed.

Abstract: An improved driving control and wheel position indicator for an extendible and retractable passenger conveyance loading ramp of the type having one end mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and the other end supported on an undercarriage having steerable, driven ground engaging wheels controlled from an operator's station in a vestibule mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on the movable end of the ramp. The system includes a wheel position indicator connected between the undercarriage and the movable vestibule including means for detecting the steered position of the ground engaging wheels and a visual display at the operator's station responsive to the wheel position detecting means for continuously indicating the true bearing of the ground engaging wheels regardless of the rotative position of the vestibule about its vertical pivot axis.

Abstract: Conveyance loading ramp has its inner end pivotally supported adjacent a building structure and the other end mounted on a mobile undercarriage having a pair of ground engaging wheels mounted one on each side of the ramp for rotation about a common horizontal axis. The undercarriage is supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis for steering and an improved hydraulic driving and steering system includes separate hydraulic motor connected in series to drive the wheels.

Abstract: A covered body support member for spacing a body above a supporting structure which comprises a sheet of resilient plastic material permanently deformed to produce downwardly disposed, laterally spaced, protuberances distributed over a body support area for engaging the supporting surface, adjacent protuberances being complementary in shape and disposed in overlapping relation to each other, whereby the body support area of the member will resist flexing along any straight line traversing the body support area. An attachable and detachable cover member formed of readily flexible material extends over the body support area of the body support member and is held in place on the body support member by the provision of pockets formed in the cover material, the pockets snugly receiving end portions of the sheet of resilient plastic material. The cover material is readily applied to or removed from the body support member by slight flexure of the sheet of resilient plastic material.

Abstract: An improved driven rotary toothbrush has an electric motor enclosed in a handle and driving a plurality of rotary brushes for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces. The rotary brushes are mounted in a brush head adapted to be releasably supported on one end of an elongated brush head support stem having flexible drive shafts extending therealong and having its other end adapted to be releasably mounted on the handle to provide rotary driven connection between the motor and brushes. The releasable mounting of the brush head and of the support stem enables hygenic use of the same motor and handle by a plurality of persons through use of personalized snap-on brush heads and support stems, and also makes possible the easy and economical replacement of the brush heads.

Abstract: Air removal is completed and ascertained, in steam sterilization systems which use steam flow through a sterilizing chamber to facilitate air removal, by methods which enable steam-table values for a dependent variable relationship of pressure and temperature, as exhibited by confined saturated steam, to be utilized under steam flow conditions.Apparatus for controlling and measuring chamber conditions are provided so that such established steam-table values for confined steam can be readily and reliably used to establish and ascertain complete air removal while steam is flowing through the chamber.In a representative embodiment, chamber pressure is held substantially constant while the remaining variable chamber temperature is measured. Venting of chamber atmosphere is continuous during such control of chamber pressure with chamber temperature being measured until a value is reached corresponding to the steam-table value at the level of the chamber pressure being held.

Abstract: A composite expanded sheet reinforcing material especially useful as a stiffening, vibration and sound dampening, reinforcing laminate, and methods of manufacturing such sheet reinforcing material and of reinforcing articles therewith are disclosed. Formable sheet material having a layer of a foamable adhesive laminated thereon is passed through an expanding apparatus which forms rows of spaced, longitudinally staggered slits through the laminated sheet to form a series of elongated strands integrally joined at their ends by a series of joints or bonds. The slit material is expanded in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the slits, causing the adhesive-coated surfaces of the strands and joints to be inclined at an acute angle to the principal plane of the formed reinforcing sheet.

Abstract: An improved colostomy appliance includes a first pouch for receiving solid and liquid waste and a second separable pouch for containing gas. The two pouches are connected by a releasable coupling which provides a gas flow path therebetween and which includes valve structure for automatically closing each pouch upon disconnection of the two pouches.

Abstract: A land irrigation system in which a traveling sprinkler line is supplied with water from a stationary water supply conduit extending in the direction of movement of the sprinkler line, the apparatus of the invention being designed to supply water to the sprinkler line from spaced risers forming part of the water supply conduit. A conveyance moving along the water supply conduit supports a water carrying arm having a coupling at one end for successive connection to water outlet valves on the risers as the conveyance moves along the length dimension of the water supply conduit. The water outlet at the other end of the water carrying arm is connected for water flow to the water inlet of the sprinkler line during rotation of the water carrying arm by means of a continuous water flow arrangement. The conveyance when intermediate two risers stops and the coupling at the one end of the water carrying arm is disconnected from one riser.

Abstract: Biocidal gas sterilization methods and apparatus are disclosed in which goods are heated and moisturized prior to addition of the sterilizing gas utilizing repressurization after initial evacuation to provide drive power for the conditioning vapor and improve conditioning efficiency. After initial evacuation to a selected subatmospheric pressure level, the chamber is repressurized with a conditioning vapor comprising steam to a subatmospheric pressure level corresponding approximately to desired sterilizing temperature, then the chamber is held with evacuating and vapor injecting interrupted for a predetermined interval; this sequence of steps is repeated a selected number of times; and, conditioning to various sterilizing temperatures is available. Initial evacuation can be accompanied by intermittent injection of conditioning vapor. No chamber measurement of temperature or relative humidity is required for conditioning control and conditioning vapor injection is free of flow rate control requirements.

Abstract: Tinplate container stock coated with a substantially uniform film of lubricant, the lubricant film consisting essentially of a citric acid ester lubricant in an amount of at least 1.8 grams per basebox, and a method for its use in drawing and ironing operations.

Abstract: A plurality of sole flue-heated, non-recovery coke ovens constructed in side-by-side relation in a battery have their chimney uptake outlets connected to a common combustion tunnel extending longitudinally of and above the battery and connected to stacks at spaced intervals along its length. Each oven has a bypass flue directly connecting the top of its coking chamber to the combustion tunnel, and a normally closed valve in each bypass is operable to selectively connect the coking chamber to the tunnel to permit charging gases to be drawn from the chambers to be burned in the tunnel and stack. The bypass valve is closed during coking so that the partially burned gases from the crown of the coking chambers are led through downcomers in the oven walls to the sole flues where a controlled amount of combustion air can be admitted to promote the continued burning process and provide maximum heat in the sole flues.

Abstract: Continuous-line methods and apparatus for orientation and uniform deposition of fibers to enhance directional properties in and production rates of fiberboard produced from lightweight fibrous furnish.A plurality of elongated rod electrodes are predeterminedly spaced over the area of fiber deposition to establish an electric field exerting a torque on discrete fibers tending to orient longitudinal axes of the fibers in the plane of the mat being formed and aligned with the machine forming direction for such mat. Placement of the rod electrodes and controlled rotation about their longitudinal axes yield a combination of electrical and mechanical forces to provide desired orientation and uniformity of deposition over the full area of deposition.Directional properties measured in the compacted and cured fiberboard establish that effective orientation ratios of longitudinal axes of fibers in the preferred direction of 1.

Abstract: Soiled foodware is cleaned in a batch-type machine in which the foodware is subjected to a washing cycle and a chemical sanitizing rinsing cycle. A controlled flow of fresh preheated rinse water is supplied to an accumulation tank during the wash cycle while a drying agent is optionally added to the water in the tank. Thereafter, the rinse cycle is initiated by pumping the accumulated fresh water into a rinse line at a predetermined pressure to provide uniform flow in the rinse line. A liquid chemical sanitizing agent is then introduced directly into the uniform flow of water in the rinse line. This sequence of operations provides a desired uniform water pressure, independent of water supply pressure, for effective rinsing action and accurate metering of sanitizing agent into the uniform flow of water in the rinse line.