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 lines traversing the body support area. Where desired, the resiliency of the plastic material of the body support member can be such that the reversed direction portions of the elongated protuberances incorporate an inherent spring-like action under the weight of a supported body to cushion the same.

Abstract: A method of and system for controlling the oil concentration in and the stability of an oil-in-water emulsion used as a coolant-lubricant in a metalworking operation in which a portion of the emulsion is circulated through a sensor to monitor its density and to generate a signal relating the density to the oil concentration. The signal is employed to control addition of oil to the emulsion to thereby control the concentration within close limits. Sensing means also monitors the stability of the circulated emulsion, and emulsifier is added, as required, either to the oil to be added or directly to the emulsion to thereby control both the oil concentration in and the stability of the emulsion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for ultrasonic cleaning and decontaminating, disinfecting, or sterilizing articles, such as surgical instruments, in a single piece of equipment. Energy transmission through a unitized shell wall coupled with deep vacuum conditions in the chamber enables rapid degasification, enhanced cavitation providing effective and efficient ultrasonic cleaning in a sealed vessel capable of carrying out high pressure sterilization.Sonic energy transducers are rigidly mounted externally of the unitized shell to achieve desired cavitation substantially uniformly throughout the volume of the chamber established for placement of articles to be ultrasonically washed and biocidally treated.

Abstract: Metal strip tensioning apparatus for use in a continuous cold reduction method and mill for metal strip in which the trailing end of a metal strip passing through the mill is welded to the leading end of a metal strip coming off a new coil without stopping the mill, the trailing end portion of the metal strip passing through the mill being paid out from a metal strip storage system during the welding operation with a resulting loss of close control of the lateral metal strip position at the entry side of the first mill stand, the present invention providing a method and means associated with a metal strip back tensioning unit ahead of the first mill stand for correcting the lateral position of the metal strip issuing from the metal strip storage system while applying the tension of the metal strip in the metal strip storage system to the metal strip entry side of the back tensioning unit.

Abstract: Coke oven charging apparatus includes an improved jumper pipe and charging hole sealing mechanism for conveying charging gases from an oven being charged to an adjacent oven. A substantially gas-tight coupling is formed between the larry car charging pipes and the oven charging holes, and between the jumper pipe and a charging hole in the adjacent oven, to prevent the escape of charging gases into the atmosphere and to prevent air from being drawn into the flow of charging gases. Exclusion of air reduces the temperature in the jumper pipe by preventing combustion of the charging gases, and minimizes adverse effects on the coking process in the adjacent oven.

Abstract: A vehicle tire chain which will fit different size tires and can be installed without moving the vehicle wheel, a single adjustable tension member acting to accommodate the tire chain to different size tires and wheels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for steam sterilization in which goods are conditioned by removing air and heating to a desired temperature in a sealable chamber. Pressure change in the chamber is monitored and employed to control conditioning. The goods are subjected to a plurality of controlled cyclic pressure pulses below a predetermined supra-atmospheric pressure level by alternate evacuation and vapor pressurization of the chamber. The cyclic pressure pulsing is made responsive to load characteristics which are determined by monitoring pressure change in the chamber. In a specific embodiment, air is flushed from the chamber initially by the injection of steam simultaneously with evacuation; the evacuation phase of each pulse continues until both a predetermined time has lapsed and a predetermined vacuum level has been attained; and, the steam pressurization phase of each pulse is continued until a fixed pressure related to sterilization temperature is reached.

Abstract: A method for indicating possible biological hazard due to sterilization residual, e.g. ethylene oxide sterilization residual, involves extracting residual, contacting extracted residual with enzyme, and providing an indication of enzyme deactivation.

Abstract: A cathode, particularly a lead cathode, which is immune to plating zinc on its surface when used in an electrolytic galvanizing solution. The method of producing such a cathode which comprises placing the lead cathode in an electrolytic solution containing zinc ions, electrolytically forming a light zinc coating on the surface of the cathode, and removing the zinc coating from the surface of the cathode, preferably by interrupting the applied current for a sufficient period to permit the zinc coating to dissolve in the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: A dual-phase steel strip is produced by heating a hot rolled steel strip to a temperature within the intercritical temperature range, annealing the heated strip for a period of from 15 seconds to 5 minutes, and controlling the average cooling rate to about 3.6F..degree.-45F..degree./sec. (2C..degree.-25C..degree./sec.) down to the martensite formation temperature of about 850.degree. F..+-.100.degree. F. (454.degree. C..+-.56.degree. C.). The hot rolled strip will have a chemical composition of 0.08 to 0.12% C, 1.25 to 1.8% Mn, 0.5 to 0.7% Si, and 0.1 to 0.7% Cr, the balance being substantially Fe.

Abstract: An improved dishwashing system includes operating methods and apparatus for water and energy conservation and elimination of spot-reducing chemicals in the rinse water. Return water from the rinse cycle is stored in insulated tanks and rinse water flowing to the dishwasher absorbs heat from the return water to thereby conserve the heat energy of the return water while simultaneously cooling the return water to a selected temperature in preparing a feed solution for membrane separation. A controlled quantity of make-up water is added to the feed solution which is raised to a selected pressure to provide for reverse osmosis purification and deionization. The reverse osmosis effluent is accumulated and, when needed, boosted in pressure to a desired operational dishwasher pressure, and heated to sanitizing level so as to achieve desired bacterial count levels during rinse cycles. Rinsing with the purified and deionized water results in film-free and spot-free dishes after drying.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine exhaust gas filtering device in which an elongated high temperature resistant filter cartridge, gas permeable from end to end and radially, is received within a sheet metal casing having gas inlet and gas outlet ends with the filter cartridge spaced from the gas inlet end to form an entering exhaust gas distributing plenum, the filter cartridge being spaced from the casing internal side walls by an elongated circumferential spacing member which forms gas passages along the length of the filter cartridge which are open toward the filter cartridge but are closed toward the casing internal side walls whereby the exhaust gas to be filtered can flow longitudinally into the filter cartridge from the entering gas plenum and can flow radially from the passages in the spacing member into the filter cartridge, the spacing member also acting to protect the sheet metal casing against high temperature corrosive action of the exhaust gases.

Abstract: A cathode, particularly a lead cathode, which is immune to plating zinc on its surface when used in an electrolytic galvanizing solution. The method of producing such a cathode which comprises placing the lead cathode in an electrolytic solution containing zinc ions, electrolytically forming a light zinc coating on the surface of the cathode, and removing the zinc coating from the surface of the cathode, preferably by interrupting the applied current for a sufficient period to permit the zinc coating to dissolve in the electrolytic solution.

Abstract: A ventilating seat cushion for use between a body and a supporting surface which comprises a panel or grid in the form of a sheet of resilient plastic material having a plurality of protuberances arranged in columns and rows which act to support the body in spaced relation to the supporting surface with a lattice of channels formed by the protuberances between the supporting surface and the body for ventilation, certain of the protuberances being star-shaped in plan view, each star-shaped protuberance including portions extending toward adjacent protuberances in the associated row and portions extending toward adjacent protuberances in the associated column, the extending portions of adjacent protuberances in adjacent rows overlapping each other in the direction of the columns and the extending portions of the adjacent protuberances in adjacent columns overlapping each other in the direction of the rows to stiffen the sheet of plastic material against flexure along any straight line extending across the suppo

Abstract: A unitary tatting shuttle has an elongated body portion with laterally-extending thread guards at each end providing means for storage of a large quantity of thread wound around the periphery of the body. An axially-extending pin projecting from one end of the shuttle has a hook on its distal end for manipulating thread. A resilient sleeve can be telescopingly received on the thread supply wound on the shuttle to protect the thread against soil and to prevent windings of thread from being cast off the end of the shuttle during handling in the production of tatting.

Abstract: A surgical light assembly employs three fixed, coaxially-arranged curved reflectors with a single movable light source mounted for limited movement along the axis of the reflectors to focus the light. The light source and at least the reflective surfaces of two of the reflectors are enclosed so that convective currents over these surfaces are precluded. The light is cooled by a heat sink mounted in heat transfer relation with the light source, with the heat sink having a major surface exposed to atmosphere to dissipate heat. Glare is minimized by precluding direct viewing of the light source from outside the light assembly.

Abstract: An electrolytic process and a cathode structure for use in the process for treatment of an elongated strip of metal as the strip is passed between an anode immersed in an acidic anolyte solution and a cathode immersed in a basic catholyte solution separated from the anolyte solution by an ion-permeable membrane. The cathode structure includes means for directing a flow of the catholyte solution through a chamber enclosing a negatively-charged cathode plate to cool the structure and to remove hydrogen gas which is evolved on the active cathode surface to increase the efficiency of the electrolytic process.

Abstract: A radio antenna for use on a motorcycle having a windshield mounted on a non-conducting fairing. The antenna includes an elongated metal rod member shaped to conform to and extending along the edge of the windshield around at least a substantial portion of its periphery and being connected at one end to a flexible conductor by means of a fastener extending through the non-conducting windshield and fairing, with the flexible conductor leading to radio means carried by the motorcycle.

Abstract: This method involves impinging fluid against a liquid coating on opposite surfaces of a moving web with the fluid impinging against the liquid coating across the width of the web to control the liquid coating thickness so that on either side of the center of the web there is a component of motion of the fluid toward each associated edge of the web, whereby excess liquid coating on the web has a component of motion toward each edge of the web.

Abstract: A self-tailing winch assembly that is either combined with the winch drum or which forms a removable apparatus for use therewith that is adapted for controlling the line extending from an object to be pulled by rotation of the winch drum in the normal manner causing the line to be grasped by one or more rollers thereby pulling the line away from the winch.