Abstract: A new building brick for use in the construction of buildings is disclosed. The brick is provided with projecting members and indentations on opposite surfaces. The projecting members and indentations provide resistance to lateral movement of the bricks. The bricks are held together in adjacent tiers by means of magnetic forces. The magnetic materials are located around the periphery of the projecting members and indentations or on the tops of the projecting members and the innermost portion of the indentation. In another embodiment, the bricks may be partially cured and held together by means of applying water to the surfaces to be joined and applying heat.

Abstract: A welding apparatus for welding covers to containers, such as battery casings by pressing the cover on to the casing is provided with a testing device which includes a connector adjacent the pressing-on device and adapted to connect with an opening in the cover. The testing device is adapted to monitor the pressure inside the container after the latter has been charged with fluid under pressure at the end of the welding operation. Any fall in pressure is indicative of a leak at the welded seam.

Abstract: Motion compensated load lifting apparatus for use on marine vessels. Apparatus includes means for maintaining tension in load lifting member during relative motion and means for locking the tensioning means in one direction of motion. Tensioning means includes high and low pressure accumulators which enable compressed fluid to act on linear or rotary drives to apply high and low tension. Load rises and falls with vessel under high tension but weight is mainly offset. Locking means, such as ratchet and pawl or pilot-operated valve, is selected to lift load from vessel at crest of relative motion. Tension can be applied with linear ram, rotary drive or through differential drive.

Abstract: A two to three wire converter circuit is disclosed which provides a protective function for users when using power hand tools, appliances or any electrically operated device. Many alternating current electrical supplies provide a hot or high line and a neutral line. Many electrical devices, such as hand tools and appliances, are provided with a high line, neutral and a ground line connected to the housing of the device. The present invention enables the connection of the housing ground line or the housing to the neutral line. The neutral line of an alternating current supply is connected to ground. The present invention provides a circuit for sensing which line is the high line and which line is the neutral line of an electric supply and connecting these to the electrical device only if the neutral line of the supply is connected to the neutral line of the electrical device.

Abstract: A live bottom pit for a solid waste disposal system is disclosed in which an endless device or endless belt-like structure driven by a motor is positioned near the bottom of the pit and extends upward along one side of the pit at an angle in excess of 35 degrees. A plurality of the endless belt-like structure may be provided to cover the entire bottom of the pit. The endless belt-like structure is comprised of a plurality of plates pivotally joined together. The plates are provided with projecting members which slice through a solid waste mass piled thereon. The solid waste is piled to a substantial height on the live bottom. A layer of solid waste is fed from the bottom of the mass of solid waste. Material from the rear of the mass of solid waste is fed first by the endless belt-like structure. The material being piled to a substantial height and the feeding action of the endless belt-like structure causes the mass of solid waste to become packed thereby allowing the pit to hold more solid waste material.

Abstract: A reflecting system utilizing a uniquely designed external mirror of specified shape to project and reflect light beams, distortion-free to the eye, from a light source to a receiving surface. The light source is uniquely positioned in relation to the mirror and supplemental mirrors may also be utilized to afford flexibility in the positioning of the elements. A uniquely designed reflector is constructed of a plurality of points specifically determined by an iterative method of solution utilizing as critical variables the size of the viewing surface, the distance from the light source to the reflector and the distance from the reflector to the receiving surface.

Abstract: A double-acting pump for food products. The pump has a metering cylinder closed by end caps defining respective pairs of inlet and outlet parts. Valve housings contain identical valves and are connected to respective manifolds. The components are maintained in sealing relationship by urging the end caps together. A locking collar and drain plate enables pump to be bodily rotated through 180.degree. without releasing clamping force, for self draining and cleansing-in-place. Pump can be dismantled without tools.

Abstract: Photogrammetric method and apparatus comprising a flexible platen used with standard stereo plotting instrumentation such as double-projection direct-viewing plotting instruments. The purpose of said flexible platen is to provide an absolute stereo image for photographic and other purposes. The flexible platen which is of sufficient size to provide a meaningful mapping surface is vertically adjustable at a multiplicity of points by mechanical, pneumatic, electro-mechanical, fully automated, or other means to provide an actual model-like three-dimensional photographic surface to enable relief distortion from the aerial photographs to be effectively eliminated in planimetric photographs which are taken of the adjusted flexible platen upon which the aerial images are projected. Additionally, an orthostereoscopic photo can be produced by the use of color film.

Abstract: A tape-operating apparatus adapted for use either with an endless loop type cartridge or a coplanar type cassette which comprises a movable frame carrying cassette tape operating means including a magnetic head and a lock mechanism for keeping the movable frame in an operative position, wherein the lock mechanism is operatively coupled to cartridge tape track-changing means, and the movable frame is disengaged from the lock mechanism when the cartridge tape track-changing means is put into operation.

Abstract: A tape-operating apparatus adapted for use either with an endless loop type cartridge or a coplanar type cassette which comprises a fixed frame; a movable frame movably fitted to the fixed frame; cassette tape-operating means provided on the movable frame; and guiding means for guiding the movable frame from an inoperative position to an operative position so that the movable frame is lifted obliquely upward and then horizontally moved.

Abstract: A tape-operating apparatus adapted for use either with an endless tape type cartridge or a coplanar type cassette which comprises a fixed frame having a common free space for admission of said cartridge and cassette; a movable frame for supporting cassette tape operating device including a magnetic head; and actuating means for setting the movable frame in an operative position, wherein the actuating means is not put into operation by the inserted cartridge but by the inserted cassette.

Abstract: An instrument for emergency laryngeal-tracheal operations hereinafter referred to as a cricothyrostomy instrument which includes a cricothyrostomy tube of generally L-shaped configuration with the tube having an access opening through which a cutting instrument may be inserted to penetrate the laryngeal-tracheal wall, preferably the cricothyroid membrane, thus enabling the tube to be inserted in the trachea of the individual to permit an airway to be cleared.

Abstract: Hair cutters having a hair cutting blade laterally adjustable to selectable hair cutting positions within a cage of wire tines including substantial improvements in cage and frame construction. In one embodiment, the cage is longitudinally slidable relative to the blade carrier to provide access to the blade for replacement purposes while in a second embodiment, the blade and its retaining means are longitudinally slidable from within the cage.

Abstract: A protective covering for a fiberglass boom is disclosed. The present invention is particularly useful on the fiberglass boom used on aerial lift trucks used by electrical utilities and for other similar applications. The covering includes a polyurethane coating applied to the surface of the fiberglass boom. Polyurethane strip material is spirally wrapped over the polyurethane coating and bound to the polyurethane coating by the use of a solvent sealer, preferably tetrahydrofuran. A second polyurethane coating may be applied over the polyurethane strip material. The protective covering of the present invention provides resistance to abrasion, weather resistance, and maintains the dielectric strength of the boom. Furthermore, the coating is transparent, allowing inspection for cracks developing in the underlying fiberglass boom.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, feeding corrugated blanks from a stack in which the lowermost blank is advanced to processing machinery on a feed bed which comprises rollers mounted above a vacuum source in such manner as to enable the advancing blank to be held flat while minimizing friction between the advancing blank and the feed bed. In one preferred embodiment, a kicker feed bar is utilized which is depressed with respect to the rollers to enable the lowermost blank to be advanced while maintaining substantially the same vertical height in a flat plane until reaching the proximity of the processing machinery.

Abstract: A new and improved cloth-board reel is disclosed which utilizes two corrugated sheets bonded together eliminating the need for an intermediary sheet which was previously considered necessary. The cloth-board reel of the present invention provides the required strength without the more expensive construction previously considered necessary. The corrugated sheets are covered with a wrapper sheet which forms a smooth surface for the cloth and adds to the strength of the cloth-board reel.

Abstract: An amplitude modulated transmitter is disclosed for use in the frequency range generally below 50 mega-hertz. The transmitter is provided with a series diode modulator which is provided with a corrected modulating signal which biases the diode in proportion to the modulating signal. The modulating signal is derived from comparison in a difference amplifier between the desired audio input signal and a signal derived from the output of the output amplifier by means of a directional coupler. The directional coupler samples the magnitude and phase of the current and voltage at the output and feeds a signal proportional to the inciden as contrasted to any reflected component, of the output signal.

Abstract: An air filter cleaner is disclosed which is portable and which may be used on the job site for the cleaning of air filters of heavy construction equipment. The air filter cleaner is lightweight and may easily be carried or moved by a single person. The filter is comprised of a base member and an upper member. The filter to be cleaned is inserted between the base member and the upper member. The upper member is provided with a vertically depending rotatable pipe means provided with radially directed nozzles. The pipe means is also provided with a pair of nozzles directed at an angle to the radial to provide a rotary movement to the pipe means. The air filter cleaner may be operated from air compressors readily available on the job site, such as compressors on the heavy construction equipment itself, during normally scheduled down times such as lunch hours.

Abstract: A screen for a projection system supported by a pair of cross members extending to the four corners of the screen where they receive a tensioning member disposed around the perimeter of the screen and held in stress by a tensioning mechanism secured to a portion of one of the cross members. The cross members may be secured in their "up" position by means of a restraining member and the screen may be tilted forward as permitted by one of several modes of support. The screen may be shaped with curvilinear edges preferably of a catenary configuration to increase tautness which is imparted thereto by the tensioning member.

Abstract: A projector case assembly designed for use with a projector system which utilizes a system of mirrors to provide enlarged panoramic viewing. The projector case assembly is designed to accommodate any standard movie or slide projector and it serves as both support means during the time of actual projection and as a storage means when the equipment is not in use.