Abstract: A fire extinguisher including a spring biased plunger controlled by a trigger mechanism wherein the plunger is mounted in a flame retardant compound container and the spring and plunger cooperate, when the trigger mechanism is activated, to discharge flame retardant compound from the container toward a fire. The extinguisher has a handle end and an outlet end at opposite ends of its length such that a user can hold the outlet end in a remote location away from the user when compound is discharged. The extinguisher can also be mounted and provided with a heat sensor for automatic activation.

Abstract: An objective refractor, having light source and detection paths intersecting at a beamnsplitter uses light normally lost during testing of an eye to self-calibrate for optical errors introduced during production of the instrument.

Abstract: A non-contact tonometer is improved by providing a non-telecentric applanation detection system enabling relaxation of instrument alignment requirements during testing. In a preferred embodiment, the applanation detection system comprises an emitter for directing an obliquely incident beam of light for reflection by the cornea, and a detector array having a plurality of photosensitive detector array elements located to receive corneally reflected light. The detector array generates a plurality of signal curves for light energy received at different locations on the array as a function of time, and the signal curves are evaluated to determine an optimal signal curve which best indicates the moment of applanation.

Abstract: A conveyor element tensioning mechanism which is formed by a pair of like tensioning supporting opposite ends of an idler roller. The tensioning devices each include a slide member with a cylindrical pin which is supported within a cylindrical guide opening. The cylindrical pins have a studs extending radially therefrom which extend through a radially opening slots formed along the lengths of the guide openings in order to prevent the cylindrical pins from rotating. The studs support manual operators which may be actuated to move the slide members into a conveyor element tensioning position. During actuation, the manual operators engage an adjustably positioned reference surface so that the resulting tension in the conveyor element may be easily altered.

Abstract: An adjustable punch assembly is provided for use at an indexable punching station in a turret punch press. The overall length of the punch assembly may be adjusted using a motor and pulley system that is also used for indexing the punch tool. Further, the punch assembly includes a quick disconnect connection between the punch driver and the punch tip that facilitates the changing of the punch tip.

Abstract: A mechanism for weighing articles including a continuous thread screw conveyor for moving articles to be weighed across a weigh pan in combination with a motor for first driving the conveyor in an article transport direction through an angle of 360.degree.+.alpha..degree. and then driving the conveyor in a reverse direction through an angle of .alpha..degree. to remove the conveyor from frictional engagement with the article, during each article weighing operation.

Abstract: A work platform for temporary installation under a bridge span includes a plurality of longitudinal support cables supporting transversely extending grating planks, with sidewise adjacent planks being interlocked by lock pins. A selected subset of the grating planks are releasably fastened to underlying support cables T-shaped clamping members inserted through slots in the selected grating planks.

Abstract: A vehicle system for high-speed passenger transport between metropolitan centers comprises a guideway having a pair of parallel guideway tubes; a plurality of carriages levitated and propelled by pressurized air stored within one or both tubes; and a passenger car connected to ride atop the carriages and tilt relative thereto. The passenger car and carriages cooperate to define lateral air cushion zones under the floor of the passenger car for supporting and tilting the passenger car by air pressure. The carriages have pluralities of lift cells partially surrounding each guideway tube, with active peripheral skirts for minimizing air leakage. Pressurized air stored within the guideway is used to supply the lift cells and cushion zones, and also to propel and brake the carriages. Ram air is collected during vehicle motion to help supply the lift cells and cushion zones.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microscope, in particular an operating microscope with a remote controlled adjustment system (32) for an ocular (8); the adjustment system preferably facilitates automatic adjustment of the ocular to match the optical characteristics of the user's eye (1). A further development also facilitates automatic adjustment of the separation of the eyepiece tubes in a stereomicroscope.

Abstract: A ground guide system for a trimming head of a powered vegetation trimmer, which may be of the type having a rotatable drum enclosing a spooled trimming cord and a bump feed mechanism on the bottom of the drum, comprises a housing above the drum, a hollow hub mounted within the housing and coupled to the drum for driven rotation therewith, an elongated mounting shaft slidably received within an axially extending sleeve fixed within the housing for upward and downward axially-directed motion, a spring for resiliently biasing the mounting shaft in a downward axial direction, and a ground guide threadably attached to the mounting shaft below the bump feed mechanism for adjusting trimming height. The mounting shaft includes an actuating ring arranged to operatively engage the bump feed mechanism incident to bumping the ground guide against a rigid environmental surface to restore a free end of the trimming cord.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for removing a nut frozen is place regardless of the degree to which the corners of the nut have been rounded by a prior attempt to remove such nut by an ordinary wrench. The device is formed with an opening, which is sized to receive the nut and formed with a plurality of teeth preferably arranged such that a leading or cutting edge of each tooth engages approximately with a midpoint of a flat of the nut. The front and rear faces of each tooth form an angle of less than 90.degree. and a gullet between teeth, which is defined by a rear face of one tooth and a front face of a next adjacent tooth, is sized to freely receive the corner(s) between the flats with which the leading edges of an adjacent pair of teeth engage. The gullet is shaped and sized to permit the formation of a chip upon penetration of a leading edge into a flat of a nut, which is operable to lock the nut for rotation with the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring use of a commodity and for transmitting the measurement over a global computer information network to a remote location. The apparatus comprises a data acquisition and reporting device and an automatic meter reading device operatively arranged to measure use of a commodity and transmit the measurement over a global information network to the data acquisition and reporting device.