Abstract: A support form for use in the casting of a grade beam on piles comprises an elongate rectangular body having a width equal to the intended width of the grade beam. The body is located under the intended grade beam and the grade beam cast on top of the form. The form is manufactured from polystyrene foam which is cut to form interior voids extending longitudinally of the body. The body prevents soil from entering the area underneath the grade beam. The body is formed with side walls having a wedging action and a collapsible central support so that a top wall of the body can collapse onto the bottom of the body if the forces from the soil due to exansion exceed a predetermined maximum force thus preventing the soil from causing heaving of the grade beam after installation.

Abstract: Apparatus for disintegrating baled material in the form of large cylindrical bales, a collection of small rectangular bales or large rectangular bales includes a hopper for receiving the baled material. At the base of the hopper is provided a flail cylinder which engages the material and sweeps it around to an ejection slot along one side of the hopper. Above the flail cylinder is provided a pair of support rollers each on a respective side of the flail cylinder with the axes parallel to the flail cylinder. The rollers can be rotated in either direction to provide a vigorous rotating action of the baled material despite flat edges of the baled material. The rollers are mounted so that they can lift from the surface of the hopper if material passes between the underside of the roller and the inside surface of the hopper on its way to the flail cylinder.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model of the teeth of a patient is prepared by taking molded impressions of the mandibular and maxillar teeth, placing separately the impressions on a support table define an X-Y plane and detecting the Z distance from a probe by directing a beam of laser light onto the impression and calculating from the pattern of reflected light a centre of the light falling on an area array. The scanning in the X-Y plane is effected continuously and is limited by datum points defining a dental arch. The impression is then tilted and the process repeated and information correlated to provide the three-dimensional model. A partial impression is then taken of both mandibular and maxillar teeth in comparison with datum points to provide information concerning the bite (occlusal) positions of the teeth. This information is then compared with the full impression to simulate using the three-dimensional models movement of the jaw from an open position to the bite (occlusal) position.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator with substantially continuous discharge of the concentrate comprises a centrifuge drum with axially spaced rings projecting inwardly from the peripheral wall of the drum. The material between the rings is fluidized by injection of water. Each channel between the rings has a number of exit openings at the base of the channel for discharge of the concentrate. Each exit opening includes a pinch valve to restrict the discharge to predetermined time periods. Each exit includes injection openings around the exit for injecting water to replace the material discharged to maintain the fluidization between the channel.

Abstract: A heating element for an air flow comprises a channel shaped bracket including a base and side walls at right angles thereto within which is mounted a pair of mica sheets arranged parallel to the base and at right angles to the sides and connected to the sides by ribs longitudinally of the sides with transverse slots within which the sheets slide. Each sheet is wrapped with a heating wire formed into helical coils so that each side of the sheet carries a plurality of parallel helical coil portions with connecting portions wrapped over the edges of the sheet. The sheets are symmetrical and one is inverted relative to the other. Each sheet carries at ends thereof a male and a female connector of the blade and receptacle type so that the blade of one sheet engages into the receptacle of the other sheet.

Abstract: A table assembly is mounted on a wheelchair using a hinge mounted along the side of the chair arm. The table assembly has a panel with two use positions, one extending across the front of the chair and the other extending laterally to the side of the chair. The table panel may be stowed in a position alongside the chair, inside the brake and the drive wheel, beneath the arm. It is readily removed and replaced.

Abstract: A pipe joint is formed between two annular flanges at the end of pipe elements and includes a gasket in the form of an annular band having an outside diameter less than the bolts and an inside diameter equal to the diameter of the duct through the joint. The band is recessed on both surfaces from a shoulder spaced inwardly from the outer edge to the inner edge and these recessed portions are filling by annular bands of sealant material which is compressed in the finished joint.

Abstract: Built-in current mode quiescent current monitoring circuitry is provided for measuring a circuit's or a subcircuit's quiescent current. Anomalously high quiescent current (Iddq) generally results as a consequence of a manufacturing defect. These defects include those not detected by tests generated using traditional fault models. The technique provided here is based upon generating a proportionally matched current to the circuit under test current by a control loop. The proportionally matched current is then sent to a comparator where it is compared to a reference current, the reference current representing an acceptable quiescent current level. The output of the comparator then indicates whether the quiescent current is above or below the reference current.

Abstract: A door stop is formed from a single flexible band of sheet metal which is symmetrical about a transverse center line and includes an arch shaped central section and two end portions. An underside of one end portion includes a high friction material while the underside of the other end portion is free from that material. The only engagement with the door is provided by the frictional engagement of a high friction material on a center section engaging the bottom edge of the door. The device can thus be used from either direction and provides a symmetrical force on the door preventing movement relative to the stop in either direction.

Abstract: An air filter cleaning system comprises a support plate mounted on a frame with a clamping system for clamping an end face of the filter against the underside of the support plate. A supply tank can be filled with air up to a predetermined pressure. A duct communicates from the supply tank to an opening in the support plate. The valve can be opened to substantially instantaneously release the air into the interior of the filter to explode through the filter wall. A collection bag is engaged around the lip on the underside of the support plate to collect the material exploded from the filter wall.

Abstract: An auxiliary handle is provided for manual implements like rakes and brooms. The handle has a lateral arm with one end pivotally connected to the implement handle by a clamp and the opposite end connected to an upright second arm, which is in turn pivotally connected to the implement handle by a clamp. The upright second arm is telescopically adjustable in length to allow the system to be adjusted to suit most any implement configuration and personal stature. The lateral arm is also preferably telescopically adjustable. It carries one or more hand grips.

Abstract: A bathing apparatus is designed specifically for aged or infirm bathers to improve their independence. A conventional tub and shower enclosure is modified by a modular system including a pivotal support bar member which can move to a position projecting outwardly from the rear wall of the shower enclosure to enable the bather to stand at the bath. The bar member includes a lower horizontal bar against which the stomach of the bather rests and an upper bar spaced away from the stomach which can be grasped by the hands of the bather. A swivelling showerhead is mounted on the rear wall and includes a handle allowing a flooding type shower head to be moved back and forth over the head of the bather. A transfer chair can be provided which is mounted on a vertical post at one corner of the bathtub and includes an arm projecting horizontally outwardly from the post which can swivel around the post. A chair is canti levered downwardly and forwardly from the arm and swivels on the arm.

Abstract: A storage module for household type batteries of the "AAA", "AA", "C", "D" and "9-Volt" type comprises a generally rectangular body having a front face defining vertical receptacles each for receiving one of the different types. Across the top is provided individual receptacles for the 9-Volt type. The "AAA" and "AA" volt type batteries are arranged in one vertical column and the "C" type and "D" type in two spaced vertical columns each extending to a lowermost wall so that a lowermost one of the batteries in each of these receptacles can be pulled from the receptacle with the remaining batteries sliding down to the lowermost wall.

Abstract: Transverse fibers are added to a pultruded part by forming a body of fibers and resin in a first die part which body is dimensioned smaller than that of the die through which the body is to be passed. A fluid including cut fibers is then applied under pressure to the body just upstream of the die so that cut fibers become integrated with the body into the spaces defined in the body. The continuous fibers, the cut fibers, and the resin are then passed through the die and become integrated into a pultruded part with the transverse cut fibers providing a transverse strength.

Abstract: A conventional bottom dump truck includes doors which in a closed position are suspended underneath the bottom opening of the hopper of the trailer. The doors are opened outwardly and upwardly by pivotal action about an upper suspension point of each of the doors. The amount of movement of the door is limited by an abutment member mounted upon a vertical flange on the outside surface of the hopper bottom. The abutment member includes an abutment plate extending outwardly from the flange together with a bracket which has a slot slidable along the length of the flange and locatable at different points along the length of the flange by a pin passing through openings in the bracket and one of a plurality of openings in the flange. An elongate triangular body can be positioned between the doors during operation at minimum spacing so as to increase the angle of the surface of the doors beyond the angle of repose of the material to ensure complete discharge without hang up of the material on the doors.

Abstract: A pultruded part is formed from thermosetting resin which is carried on continuous longitudinal fiber reinforcement into a die which shapes the resin and fibers into the required transverse cross sectional shape and then acts to set the resin. Some of the fibers have applied thereto a second resin material of a different characteristic so that these fibers carry the second resin into the part at localized regions to form localized regions of the second resin extending longitudinally continuously of the part. This allows a resin of an increased strength to be used at areas of increased strength requirement, for example areas of screw fastening, screw ports, junction between two legs and in order to provide a thinner part for reduced thermal transfer.

Abstract: A conventional header of a combine harvester includes a sickle knife and a table onto which the crop material is deposited by a reel. The crop material is transported toward the feeder housing of the combine harvester by an auger transportation system. At the feeder housing, the auger includes a cylindrical drum portion with fingers to push the material into the feeder housing. This conventional arrangement is modified by the addition of a suction shroud positioned over the central cylindrical portion of the auger to extract dust when cutting dusty crops such as peas.

Abstract: A target game apparatus includes an inclined main target base having a top panel and plurality of holes with a receptacle area behind the panel to receive objects when successfully falling through the holes. A vertical rear panel stands up from the rear edge of the main target base and includes one or more holes through which the objects can pass when successfully thrown. The construction can fold into a collapsed condition by pushing the receptacle base into the area behind the top panel of the main target base and by folding the rear panel rearwardly and downwardly so as to lie underneath the base panel of the receptacle. The legs fold into the area between the top panel and the sides of the receptacle.

Abstract: A support rack for temporary storage of clothes and other articles comprises a post with a bottom ring member for resting on the floor and a top pad member spring biased upwardly for engaging the ceiling of a room so the post is supported vertically by its engagement with the floor and the ceiling. The post is formed from from elongate post portions and from separate support pieces, each of which has a coupling at the top and bottom ends for engagement with respective post portions. Each support piece includes 3 pins projecting upwardly and outwardly at 90.degree. spacing with each pin being arranged to receive a sleeve of a support member for the articles. One support member comprises a trouser bar with a triangular loop at the top of the sleeve and a second support member comprises a tray.

Abstract: A wall framing system accommodates deflections and frame shortening in building structures to avoid applying structural loads to veneer walls. The system includes a ceiling rail and vertical studs connected to the rail with a vertical slip joint between each stud and the rail. The slip joint is formed with a connector plate integral with the ceiling rail web and vertical slots in the connector plate. The slots accommodate screws threaded into a stud.