Abstract: A firearm, such as a pump action shotgun, includes a barrel connected by a magazine cap to a receiver. A fore end assembly is connected to the receiver and includes a magazine tube positioned below the barrel. A tubular recoil buffer surrounds the magazine tube, and a slide bar arrangement extending from the recoil buffer connects the recoil buffer to the receiver. A cup-shaped fore end is adapted to receive the recoil buffer and is preferably fabricated of a light weight material, such as aluminum or plastic. The fore end has an internal shoulder, and a compression spring is positioned in the fore end in surrounding relation with the recoil buffer. The coil spring has opposite end portions and one end portion abuts the fore end shoulder and the opposite end abuts a spanner nut. The spanner nut is threadedly connected to the end of the recoil buffer.

Abstract: A valve body includes a chamber for the flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet thereto. The chamber includes an upper portion with an opening therethrough and a lower portion including a valve seat between the inlet and outlet. A bonnet is positioned in the chamber upper portion and is connected to the valve body and extends upwardly therefrom. The bonnet includes a passageway, and a stem is positioned in the passageway for longitudinal movement into and out of sealing engagement with the valve seat. An actuator is rotatably positioned in the bonnet passageway above the stem. A micrometer operating handle is nonrotatably connected to the upper end portion of the actuator to facilitate fine adjustment of the stem position to provide incremental adjustments in the flow rate of fluid between the inlet and outlet.

Abstract: A valve includes a molded plastic body portion having an internal chamber with upper and lower portions. Fittings connect the valve to conduits of a piping system. A valve seat surrounds inlet and outlet openings in the chamber lower portion. A plastic plug member is rotatably positioned in the valve seat. The plug member is a molded unitary element. The valve body portion and plug member have a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout. The plug member includes an integral plug portion and an actuator portion which facilitates ease of disassembly of the valve for repair. The plug portion has a flow passage which communicates with the inlet and outlet openings in the valve seat and is rotatable between open and closed valve positions. Seals retained on the plug portion engage the valve seat in the closed position. The actuator portion includes shearable stops which permit 360.degree. rotational operation of the plug member upon failure of the stops under excessive torque.

Abstract: A plurality of flange portions are positioned oppositely of one another on the ends of a pair of generally rectangular sheet metal ducts. The flange portions are positioned in pairs on the adjacent ends of the ducts and each flange portion includes an upstanding wall having a pair of end portions for receiving the right angle legs of corner pieces. Four corner pieces extend into abutting relation with the upstanding walls at the four corners of the end of each duct to form a frame around the duct end portion. Each corner piece has a corner section, and a pair of legs extend angularly from the corner section. The pair of legs extend into abutting relation with the upstanding walls of adjacent flange portions on each duct end portion. In the assembled joint, the frames around the duct end portions are oppositely positioned with a gasket member positioned between the flange upstanding walls and the surfaces of abutting corner pieces. Each corner piece includes a corner and an outer edge with a corner flange.

Abstract: A hollow trolley pole associated with an electrically propelled vehicle has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. A passageway extends downwardly through the trolley pole from the upper end portion to the lower end portion. A trolley wire contact shoe is mounted on the pole upper end portion and slides along an electric power line or trolley wire that is suspended, for example, from a mine roof in an underground mine. An electrical conductor extends from the contact show through the passageway to the lower end portion of the pole which is received within a socket-like connector which is spring mounted in a base member connected to the vehicle frame. The conductor is enclosed within an impact resistant flexible conduit that extends from the passageway in the lower end portion of the pole through the connector and the base member and into a contactor box for connection to a propulsion motor.

Abstract: A joint assembly for connecting the ends of a pair of generally rectangular sheet metal duct sections includes a pair of frame members secured to each other and connected to the respective duct end sections. The frame members each include four flange portions. Each flange portion has an upstanding channel shaped leg portion and an angularly extending duct receiving leg portion. A corner piece connects adjacent flange portions and extends into the channel portions of the upstanding leg portions to form the generally rectangular frame. The end portions of the ducts are inserted into longitudinal openings of the duct receiving leg portions. A flowing type gasket material is positioned longitudinally in the flanges in a longitudinal pocket formed between an inturned rebent portion and the upper horizontal surface of the bottom wall of the duct receiving leg portion.

Abstract: A putter shaft has a lower end portion extending angularly relative to the shaft longitudinal axis and is slidably engageable with a guideway in the top of a removable putter head. The guideway extends substantially the length of the putter head and includes an entry at one end portion and a stop at the opposite end portion. The guideway is selectively oriented relative to a striking surface of the putter head so that when a shoulder on the shaft lower end portion abuts the guideway stop, the putter head is in the desired spatial relation with the putter shaft. Cooperating releasable locking devices carried on the lower end portion of the putter shaft and within the guideway of the putter head engage to secure the putter head to the shaft when the putter head is in the operative position on the shaft lower end portion.

Abstract: A radiation source emits a beam of penetrating radiation toward an examination object. A protective filter, fabricated of yttrium foil attached to a bakelite card, is positioned in the path of the radiation beam between the source and the examination object. The yttrium filter has a preselected critical absorption edge operable to obstruct from the beam photon energy below 20 keV and permit a filtered beam having a photon energy above 20 keV to pass through the examination object. The filtered radiation emerging from the examination object is detected by preselected means, such as illuminated film, an X-ray intensifier, a CT scanner, or the like. The detector generates an output signal corresponding to the intensity of the emerging filtered radiation. An image processor converts the output signals to a radiographic image displaying the examination object.

Abstract: A valve includes a molded plastic body portion having an internal chamber forming a valve seat having inlet and outlet openings. A plastic plug member is rotatably positioned in the valve seat and has a flow passage which in the open position of the valve communicates with the inlet and outlet openings. Pipe fittings of the valve body communicate with the valve seat and are aligned with the inlet and outlet openings. Each fitting is coupled to a conduit of a piping system by a nut threaded into the respective fitting to urge a wedge-shaped collar into frictional engagement with the conduit. The nut surrounds the collar which is advanced by the nut into the fitting until a radial shoulder on the nut abuts the end of the fitting so that the end of the nut in the fitting applies a controlled compressive force upon a gasket seal to effect a fluid tight connection of the conduit to the fitting.

Abstract: A punching tool for use in a tablet making machine includes a body portion having at least one bore extending from an end of the holder a preselected distance into the holder. The bore is internally threaded a preselected depth. An interchangeable punch is threaded into the punch holder bore and extends a selected length from the holder. The end of the punch has an externally threaded portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is positioned between the threaded portion and the portion of the punch that extends outwardly from the holder. The cylindrical portion has a diameter that permits it to move freely without interference into and out of the internally threaded bore. The bore has an enlarged thread configuration provided with cylindrical bearing surfaces between threads. The punch threaded portion has a thread configuration corresponding to the configuration of the threaded bore to permit rapid engagement and disengagement of the punch in the bore.

Abstract: An input shaft of a press feed is rotated at a preselected speed and is drivingly connected to a cam that rotates the input shaft. Continuous rotation of the cam is converted to oscillating rotational movement of a cam follower through a preselected angle of rotation. The cam follower is nonrotatably connected to an output shaft that is connected by an adjustable drive link and gear arrangement to a driven feed roll. Oscillating rotational movement of the output shaft is transmitted to the driven feed roll to advance the driven feed roll in contact with the strip material through a preselected degree of rotation corresponding to a preselected feed length of the strip material to the press. The end of the drive link adjacent to the output shaft is movable relative to the output shaft.

Abstract: Energy is stored in a hoop 12 spinning around a stator 10 both made of soft steel. At the interface between them there is a cavity in which there are conductors to provide a magnetic bearing between the hoop and the stator. A magnetic levitation device keep the hoop levitated. Energy is imparted to and withdrawn from the hoop by means of linear reluctance motors.

Abstract: A method for degumming decorticated plant bast fiber such as ramie bast fiber, to remove pectin-containing material therefrom. The decorticated plant bast fiber is washed with a washing solution containing a surface active agent to penetrate the plant bast fiber to remove water soluble material therefrom. The washed plant bast fiber is then rinsed. The washed and rinsed plant bast fiber is treated with an aqueous, acidic treatment solution of fungal pectinase for a period of time up to about one hour to degum the plant fiber. The treatment solution is maintained at an elevated temperature and has a pH between about 2.0 and about 4.5.

Abstract: Molten pig iron flows from the hearth of a blast furnace down a runner positioned on the floor of a cast house and into ladles for receiving the iron. The runner is constructed by a plurality of precast refractory side blocks and an interconnecting base of compacted particulate refractory material to form a substantially U-shaped trough extending a preselected distance and along a preselected path from the hearth to one or more ladles for conveying the iron from the blast furnace. The trough has opposed upstanding side walls and a floor extending between the bottom of the side walls. The side walls are formed by individual side blocks positioned in abutting end to end relation on the cast house floor. The compacted base forming the trough floor extends between and interconnects with the side blocks. The adjacent ends of the side blocks are notched to form a joint for receiving castable refractory material which upon setting interlocks the ends of adjacent side blocks.

Abstract: Air trim control actuator mechanically connects a fuel flow device to an air flow device for setting the air to fuel ratio in combustion apparatus. An air to fuel ratio control unit is responsive to electrical input signals from an oxygen sensor that monitors the combustion products in the stack emissions. The air trim actuator includes a pivotally mounted input arm that is mechanically connected to the control unit and is pivoted to a preselected position corresponding to the selected boiler load. The input arm is connected by a link to an output arm which is pivoted through a preselected range of movement to control the position of the damper. The output arm has an elongated arcuate slot for receiving the end of the link. The output arm is pivoted to a position corresponding to the pivoted position of the input arm for selectively positioning the damper to provide air flow to the boiler for the desired air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: A valve body includes a chamber for the flow of fluid between an inlet and outlet thereto. A valve member, such as a ball valve member, is positioned in the chamber for rotation between an open position and a closed position to open and close the chamber. An actuator is rotatable about an axis coaxially aligned with the valve member axis. A lower end portion of a valve stem is connected to the valve member and an upper end portion is connected to the actuator. The valve stem upper end portion is displaced angularly from the valve stem lower end portion. The valve stem lower end portion has an axis aligned with the rotational axes of the valve member and the actuator. The axis of the valve stem upper end portion is positioned in spaced parallel relation to the axes of the actuator and the valve member.

Abstract: X-rays at a minimal exposure level representing 25% of the conventional exposure are emitted from an X-ray tube and pass through a subject, such as a patient undergoing radiographic examination. The minimal exposure X-rays are detected by a preselected detector means, such as illuminated film, an X-ray intensifier, a CT scanner, a radioactive nuclear scanner or an image intensifier in combination with a television camera. The detector converts the radiation emerging from the subject to light images in the case of the video system. The light images are converted to electronic signals in a television camera. In the case of the CT scanner and nuclear scanner a photodiode array or scintillation crystal is actuated by the emerging radiation to generate an electrical current proportional to the intensity of the emerging radiation. The electronic signal is transmitted to an analog to digital converter, and the digital signal is transmitted to a computer for storage.

Abstract: A molded polyethylene valve body has a flow passage connecting an inlet with an outlet of the valve body. A valve seat formed integral with the valve body surrounds the passage and a plastic valve disc is rotatably positioned in the passage for movement into and out of sealing relation with the valve seat to effect closing and opening of the passage between the inlet and outlet. A valve stem is nonrotatably connected at one end to the valve disc and extends through the valve body and projects upwardly therefrom to an upper end portion. An actuator cap is nonrotatably connected to the valve stem upper end portion. An external valve neck portion surrounds the upper end portion of the valve stem and is positioned on the outer surface of the valve body. The neck portion is adapted to rotatably receive and support the actuator cap. A pair of clamp-like leg members of the neck portion extend circumferentially around the surface of the valve body to connect the neck portion to the valve body.

Abstract: A valve body includes a chamber for the flow of fluid between an inlet and outlet thereto. A valve member, such as a ball valve member, is positioned in the chamber for rotatable movement between an open position and a closed position to open and close the chamber. A bent valve stem extends between and is connected to the valve member and a rotatable valve actuator. Rotation of the actuator moves the valve member by rotation of the valve stem between the open and closed positions. The valve stem upper end portion is displaced from the valve stem lower end portion to provide the valve stem with a bent configuration. A bellows surrounds the valve stem to provide a hermetic seal around the stem between the valve body and the actuator. The bellows has a bent configuration corresponding to the bent configuration of the valve stem.

Abstract: A pulley adapted to be mounted at each end of a bow and so constructed as to permit adjustments in the eccentric axis of rotation relative to a bow. Each pulley at the end of a bow includes a pair of annular grooves positioned in spaced relation around the periphery of the pulley. A first and second set of slots extend radially through the rim portion of each pulley and into the first and second annular grooves respectively. The sets of slots are diametrically opposed on the rim. The cable is reeved about each pulley and positioned in a selected pair of slots so that a preselected amount of cable is positioned on the pulleys corresponding to a preselected draw length and/or draw weight of the bow.