Abstract: Apparatus for treatment of septic tank effluent to remove suspended particles for clarifying and purifying the water prior to discharge into the leaching field or for use for other purposes. The apparatus, which is small enough to be conveniently installed in individual households, comprises a vertical main tank, flocculation material supply means to form flocs for combining with suspended solids in the unclarified water introduced into the main tank, a water electrolysis unit in the main tank for producing gaseous bubbles to which the flocs become attached and which rise to the surface where the entrapped solids are removed and returned to the septic tank, and a filter device at the bottom of the main tank for removing remaining precipitated flocs with entrapped solids. The anode of the electrolysis unit is made of aluminum to provide aluminum hydroxide as a flocculating agent.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing suspended particles from water comprises outer and inner concentrically arranged tanks and a carriage arranged on top of the outer tank for movement around the same. Unclarified water is introduced into the inner tank along with flocculating material for combining with the suspended particles in the water, and the mixture passes from the inner to the outer tank. Gaseous bubbles are introduced into the mixture for attaching to the flocculated suspended particles and floating them to the surface of the water in the outer tank, forming a sludge layer thereon. A scoop device mounted on the carriage removes the sludge for discharge from the apparatus. A plurality of filter beds are arranged near the bottom of the outer tank for removing the remaining precipitated flocs to complete the clarification of the water for discharge, and suction apparatus is arranged above the filter beds for cleaning the same.

Abstract: Tool for removing spring clips from a picture frame, in which the clips are arranged between the backing sheet and the channel-shaped frame. The tool comprises an elongated handle from which a shank extends at an angle of about 45.degree., the shank having at its outer end a blade projecting laterally from the shank at opposite sides. At one side the blade is formed with a pair of spaced projections for engaging the spring clip for pulling it out. At the opposite side the blade is similarly formed with a pair of projections which are spaced closer together than the other pair of projections.

Abstract: Firearm of muzzle-loading type is constructed to provide ready attachment of different barrels, such as a rifle or shotgun barrel, having different sizes to the same butt stock. The butt stock is provided with a mounting plate on its front end which is threadably engaged by an adapter member secured to the breech end of the barrel. The adapter member has a rear plate portion which matches the shape of and is co-extensive with the mounting plate, and abuts the same in operative position. Yieldable locking means on the adapter member provides for ready locking and unlocking of the adapter member and mounting plate. Assembly of the barrel to the butt stock is made by screwing the adapter member into the mounting plate and locking the parts together in operative position.

Abstract: Greenhouse, solarium or the like has roof and side walls comprising a plurality of panels formed of stiff, outwardly bowed light transmitting sheets arranged adjacent one another in substantially radial array, and elongated spaced framing members extending along the adjacent sides of the panels holding the panels in bowed condition in the array.

Abstract: Indoor lighting fixture provides semi-indirect symmetrical light distribution. The fixture comprises a central support tube attached to the ceiling at its upper end and having a high intensity gaseous discharge lamp at its lower end projecting into a box-like housing having a semi-transparent variable transmission lens on its bottom and an interior reflector extending around the lamp for reflecting light rays upwardly toward the ceiling. Vertically spaced louvers arranged encircling the upper portion of the lamp serve to shield the lamp from direct view of the room occupants to avoid glare.

Abstract: A heat shield is disclosed for rectangular PAR lamps in which the shield is mechanically attached to the roof of the lamp by two rails into which the shield slides.

Abstract: Starting and operating circuit for gaseous discharge lamps has device for quickly re-starting extinguished lamps while still hot. Circuit comprises ballast reactor, pulse transformer having a magnetic core formed with an air gap, charging capacitor and voltage sensitive switch device connected to the pulse transformer to form a series discharge loop with a portion of the transformer, and a storage capacitor connected at the output of the ballast reactor having sufficiently high capacitance to provide, in combination with the pulse transformer, for hot re-start of the lamp.

Abstract: High frequency circuit for operating gaseous discharge lamps includes oppositely poled controlled semiconductor switches connected to a resonant circuit comprising a capacitor and inductor connected to the lamp load and serving both as a high-frequency ballast for the lamp and to effect alternating turn-off of the semiconductor switches. Diodes are connected to the switches in a manner to provide energy pulses on the lamp load without return to the supply source. A control circuit is provided for alternately triggering the semiconductor switches into operation.

Abstract: A prefocused mount is disclosed which is hermetically sealed to a plastic reflector for a PAR lamp.

Abstract: Latch device for hinged luminaire door comprises a pair of spaced spring steel members attached at their upper ends to the luminaire housing. At their lower ends the spring members are formed with ledges for releasably holding the luminaire door in closed position. A latch bar interconnecting the spaced spring members at their lower ends is movable to disengage the spring members from the door to allow it to swing open.

Abstract: Luminaire with high intensity gaseous discharge lamp for illuminating a work area such as an automobile assembly line. The lamp is arranged between a concave main reflector and an auxiliary reflector facing the central portion of the main reflector. The arrangement is such that it provides adequate light control to efficiently illuminate the work area while shielding the lamp from direct view of the worker and reducing shadows on the work area due to the worker being positioned between the work and the luminaire.

Abstract: System for controlling operation of a plurality of gaseous discharge lamps for selectively turning on or off one or more of the lamps and producing desired lumen output of the lamps as needed, to provide for conservation of electrical energy. In the system, each of the discharge lamps is connected to a separate variable impedance ballast device, a control circuit for varying the impedance of each ballast device, and a signal processing circuit connected to each control circuit for operating the same, and a signal transmitting device for transmitting information to each of the signal processing circuits, whereby the latter circuits selectively operate the respective control circuits in response to the information received from the signal transmitting device. In a preferred embodiment, the signal transmitting device is a remote transmitter such as a radio frequency signal device for remote control of the lighting system.

Abstract: Indoor lighting fixture providing indirect asymmetrical light distribution. The fixture, which is adapted to be positioned adjacent a wall and below a ceiling, comprises a high intensity gaseous discharge lamp and an upwardly opening asymmetric reflector which is inclined to the horizontal for projecting light forwardly and laterally toward the ceiling while restricting light below the horizontal, so as to provide ample, uniformly distributed indirect light in the work area while shielding the light source from direct view of the room occupants to avoid glare.

Abstract: Lowering and hoisting apparatus for high mast luminaires. Luminaire support ring is mounted for movement along a hollow pole by a plurality of hoist cables secured at one end to a transition plate which is located inside the pole and to which is also attached a winch cable operated by a winch at the base of the pole for raising and lowering the support ring. Both the hoist cables and the winch cable are secured to the transition plate by freely rotatable ball bearing devices to prevent the cables from twisting and tangling during the raising and lowering operations.

Abstract: Device for securing screw-shell in lamp socket housing. The device comprises a fixed mandrel for holding the terminal tab of the screw-shell which projects through a slot in the housing and a rotatable mandrel on the fixed mandrel for bending the ears adjacent the terminal tab so that the ears engage the socket housing adjacent the slot for retaining the screw-shell in the housing.

Abstract: Flexible sheet reflector for floodlight is supported at its ends by cradle members having parabolic openings into which the reflector ends are inserted, so that the reflector is formed and held in the desired shape by the cradle members, thereby avoiding distortion of the reflector which would otherwise result from the use of screw mountings or other fasteners.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming a plurality of round wire strands into rectangular shape and winding the thus formed wires into multiple wire coils. The round wires are drawn from supply spools into a rolling mill for pre-flattening the wires on top and bottom surfaces and then moved in side-by-side arrangement through a second rolling mill for flattening the wires on all four sides to the desired dimensions, after which the rectangular wires are conducted to a multiple coil winding machine.

Abstract: Safety device for preventing fall of pole-mounted luminaire support due to breaking of hoisting cable. Device comprises pivoted brake arm which automatically clamps and holds the support cable in the event the hoisting cable breaks during hoisting or lowering operations.

Abstract: Circuit for providing low ripple DC power supply from a single-phase AC source without the use of a filter capacitor. The circuit comprises a high leakage reactance transformer with a primary winding and two secondary windings arranged with the secondary windings on opposite sides of the primary winding, a leading current circuit connected to one secondary winding and a lagging current circuit connected to the other secondary winding, and a three-phase full wave rectifier bridge connected to the leading and lagging current circuits to provide a low ripple DC power output. The DC power supply circuit is used with a pulse generating circuit to provide pulsed operation of a gaseous discharge lamp such as a high pressure sodium vapor lamp, and produces desirable relationship of lamp watts to lamp volts for improved lamp life and uniformity of illumination.