Abstract: Optical magnifying apparatus comprises an objective lens (11) from which light is directed to a beam splitting mirror (12). A portion of the light passes through the beam splitting mirror to a first concave mirror (13) and is reflected back via the beam splitting mirror through a viewing lens (5) to a first eye (16) of an observer. The remainder of the light is reflected by the beam splitting mirror to a second concave mirror (17) from which it is reflected back via the beam splitting mirror through the viewing lens to a second eye (19) of the observer. Focussed first and second images (14, 18) of an object (10) are produced respectively on the surfaces of the first and second concave mirrors. The optical axes of the concave mirrors are relatively offset such that the relayed pupils of the mirrors are separated horizontally by a distance approximately equal to the average interpupillary spacing of an observer.

Abstract: A control communication network system adapted for distributed control and communication between various home electrical appliances in a manner that eliminates the need for a central controller and eliminates or greatly simplifies the manual assignment of addresses, control relationships or other network resources. The system utilizes a novel and useful process of "hailing" for addresses or resources by newly introduced network devices combined with a process by which declaratory statements are used to convey identification or resource availability information to potential controlling devices. The present invention comprises an intelligent lightswitch which can be dynamically "taught" to control or to be controlled by any other similar lightswitch in a given house without special wiring or user intervention other than the toggling of a simple "teach/learn" switch associated with each lightswitch.

Abstract: A process for the low temperature, low pressure preparation of the hydride product of ferroalloys of Group IV and Group V metals including niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and silicon and the novel hydride product of ferroniobium.

Abstract: Breast meat is stripped from a poultry carcass, after the shoulder joints have been separated and preliminary cuts have been made in the shoulder area with a cutter designed to leave the wings attached to the breast meat, by pulling the wings and breast meat attached thereto downward on the carcass. The breast fillets and wings remain attached to the carcass, facilitating visual inspection of the product. An apparatus for performing this method comprises special devices operating at four successive stations of an inline machine; the inspection is done at a fifth station.

Abstract: Generally trapezoidal web sections of non-uniform shape for fabricating structural I-section beams having varying bending modulus are sheared from a continuous roll of metal stock by a shear whose platen is oscillated, as a series of pieces are cut from a length of metal sheet or plate, about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the stock material. The platen angle is determined and controlled by a computer to which design criteria are fed.

Abstract: A unitary structure which serves as a waterfowl decoy anchor having attached anchor line which structure is configured to be removably received for storage on the keel of a floatable waterfowl decoy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously producing metals such as zirconium, hafnium, titanium, niobium, vanadium, silicon and tantalum. The corresponding metal halide is reacted with a metallic reducing agent such as aluminum, calcium, magnesium and sodium in a reactor where the reaction takes place at a temperature where the metal reducing agent is below its vaporization temperature and where the metal halide is above its vaporization temperature. The metal formed by the reaction is recovered from the reactor by collecting it in a pool of molten product metal contained in a cold wall induction heated receptacle in the reactor from which the metal product is removed.

Abstract: An artificial vagina is described includes a sheath (1) made from a flexible waterproof material. The sheath tapers from one end to the other, the wider end having a resealable opening (2) closed by a screw-threaded stopper (3). Projecting from the inner end of stopper (3) is an eye loop (4) connected to a hook (5) which swivels on wire loop (6) secured to tab (7). The tapered end of sheath (1) has a soft flexible undulating wall (8) and a bulbous portion (9) from which extends an annular membrane (10), the peripheral edge of which has a reinforced elastic rib (11). When assembled with the hook (5) connected to wire loop (6) a fluid chamber (12) is formed and filled with warm water (13) forming a chamber (14). Aperture (15) is formed in wall (8) to connect with bulbous portion (9) for the passage of the water (13).

Abstract: A cutting and coagulating forceps includes a housing with a protruding barrel, a pair of electrocautery jaws which are closed by camming contact with the mouth of the barrel when the jaws are retracted, and an independently sliding blade which passes between the jaws. The jaws are opened by squeezing a trigger, and the blade is advanced by pressing a lever with the thumb. Forward blade movement is limited by a stop whose position is a function of jaw position, so that the blade cannot strike the jaws, yet always can travel short of contact with the tips of the jaws.

Abstract: A magazine for dispensing liner bags from a supply roll through an aperture in the bottom of a trash receptacle includes an upwardly open base having a horizontal cross-sectional shape adapted to receive the trash receptacle, a hinge for connecting the base to the trash receptacle along a horizontal pivot axis extending along one side of the base, whereby the receptacle can be tilted away from the base to provide access to the base. The base has a seat formed by an inwardly protruding flange to limit the depth of penetration of the trash receptacle into the magazine, so that it does not bear against or otherwise interfere with the liner bag supply. Two parallel dividers in the base form three compartments. The outer compartments are useful for storing addition supply rolls or supplies, while the central one contains the active supply roll.

Abstract: A method of making a porous plug suitable for use as a phase separator, heat exchanger tube, wherein very small uniform holes are produced in a matrix by placing a first material in a matrix of a second material to form a bundle or billet comprising said materials, reducing the cross-section of the bundle or billet by drawing or extrusion to form a reduced cross-section rod, and then etching away one of the materials to leave a matrix with very small uniform holes therein. The reduced rod may be bundled with other similarly reduced rods to form a bundle which is again drawn to further reduce the cross-section thereof.

Abstract: Thermal printing apparatus has an impression roller mounted in opposition to a thermal print head, the mounting for the impression roller permitting movement of the impression roller toward and away from the thermal print head and the impression roller having a part cylindrical surface and a planar surface. Prior to a printing operation the roller is positioned with its planar surface co-planar with a feed bed. An actuator projects from the planar surface so as to be engaged by a leading edge of a print receiving medium entered between the impression roller and the print head. Engagement of the actuator rotates a drive gear for the impression roller into driving engagement with drive means.

Abstract: A security screen includes a rectangular frame including a top member containing a screen reel comprising a rotatable core with a length of electrically non-conductive screen material affixed thereto. The screen contains parallel electrical conductors therein running lengthwise, and transverse conductors interconnect selected pairs of the lengthwise conductors to form therewith a single continuous electrical path which is interrupted if the screen is cut. A latchable drawbar is affixed along the lower edge of the screen, so that the screen can be drawn closed, against the bias provided by two torsion springs. One end of each spring is connected to the reel's core; its other end is attached to a stationary stub shaft, which serves as a terminal for connection to an alarm. The springs are electrically joined to opposite ends of the screen's conductor path, thus serving as non-sliding rotary electrical joints.

Abstract: A franking machine is disclosed in which the accounting memories are implemented by memory devices in which each storage location comprises a volatile and a non-volatile cell. During normal operation data is written to the volatile cells of the storage locations and in the event of a power down the data is transferred from the volatile to non-volatile cells. The volatile cells preferably are semi-conductor and the non-volatile cells are ferroelectric capacitative devices which retain their polarization without supply of power. The memory devices may provide storage for accounting data and other data processed by a micro-controller of the franking machine. In addition the memory device may be utilized to store other data which is not to be processed by the micro-controller.

Abstract: A seedlings transplanting machine, which includes a machine base having a platform at the top and a rail transversely disposed above platform and reciprocated longitudinally, a sliding frame placed on the platform and reciprocated along the rail to carry a seedling tray, a first transmission mechanism controlled to move the sliding frame along the rail, a second transmission mechanism controlled to reciprocate the rail longitudinally, a seedling drop unit controlled to draw seedlings away from the tray and then to plant the seedlings in the soil.

Abstract: An adaptor (1) can be releasably connected to a fixed plug portion (13 or 21). The fixed plug portion is, with that, for example a component in a measuring device for taking measurements on differing optical fibers. The adaptor is provided with a sleeve (3) in which various transferable plug portions can be temporarily inserted. The sleeve has an axially parallel slot (6) for accommodating a rotational security device on an initial category of fixed plug portions (21). Additionally, the sleeve also has at least one further recess (4, 4, 5) on its outer casing for accommodation of the rotational security device (19, 19', 20) of a second category of fixed plug portions (13). In this way, an interface between adaptor (1) and fixed plug portion (13, 21) is created, which indeed enables combination with an adaptor equipped in the same way, although an adaptor without an additional recess is only able to be placed on one of the two categories.

Abstract: A medical backcheck valve includes a hollow housing containing an upwardly biased piston assembly for controlling liquid flow therethrough. The piston assembly comprises a substantially rigid plug having one end protruding from the upper end of the housing, and a flexible sheath covering having a relatively small diameter upper end surrounding the plug, a main seal for controlling flow through said first flow space, and a tubular lower end, secured at the bottom of the housing, for preventing liquid from entering within the covering.