Abstract: Complemental male and female mold sections are supported in spaced relation to define a cavity that has a shape corresponding to the shape of the article to be molded, the mold sections being relatively movable away from one another to afford ejection of a completed article. A recess in the surface of at least one of the mold sections in a wall thereof generally parallel to the direction of the mold separation. An ejector bar sized to fit within the recess, the ejector bar having a surface discontinuity that is the mirror image of a surface discontinuity to be formed on the wall of the molded article. Means for moving the ejector bar along an oblique path after the mold sections are separated so that the ejector bar performs the dual function of separating the molded article from the mold section and effecting disengagement between the surface discontinuity on the ejector bar and its mirror image on the molded part.

Abstract: A housing and a spool supported within the housing for rotation therein. A rope or like tension member wound on the spool and having at its free end a harness for engaging a swimmer's waist. A brake disc within the housing and a ratchet and pawl mechanism for coupling the spool and the disc only in the direction of rotation corresponding to unwinding the rope from the spool. A brake mechanism cooperable with the disc and being adjustable to apply a desired frictional force on the disc to retard the swimmer's movement through the water. A spring for retracting the rope onto the spool.

Abstract: A microwave furnace having an impervious housing with an inlet and an outlet and a fan or blower for inducing within the housing a moving air stream. Supported within the housing within the air stream is a body of microwave lossy material. Also within the housing upstream of the body of microwave lossy material is a microwave source and a transmission line for transmitting the microwave energy from the source to the body. The body is configured with respect to the cross sectional shape of the air flow path such that the moving air passes through a relatively small gap between the body and the inner surface of the housing, thereby affording sufficient residence time for the air to be heated by radiation from the body.

Abstract: A transducer for placement in fixed relation to the axle/wheel assembly of a vehicle and adjacent to the body of the vehicle, the transducer cooperating with the vehicle body to form a reactance that has a magnitude proportional to the distance between the transducer and the vehicle body. The magnitude of the reactance thus varies in response to variations in distance between the vehicle body and the transducer when the body is caused to experience oscillation on the springs thereof. Such oscillation is damped by the vehicle shock absorbers. A capacitive transducer and an inductive transducer, both of which include a guard or shield which shields the transducer from ground. An oscillator circuit wherein the frequency of oscillation is determined by the above mentioned reactance, the oscillator circuit having a non-ground common to which the guard is connected.

Abstract: Apparatus for introducing into a prepared field surface a plurality of seedling bodies each of which includes a small plant that is growing in a root supporting medium. A conveyor onto which the seedling bodies are placed and a mechanism for receiving the seedling bodies in sequence from the conveyor for transporting them to a trench in the field surface. The transporting device includes two pivotable jaws and strategically located cams for opening and closing the jaws to receive the plant from the conveyor and them to deposit the plant into the trench at the correct location and position. A drive mechanism for the conveyor so that the plants are delivered to the transporting means at the proper time and position.

Abstract: A system for producing a reverse blast of air to dislodge from an air-filter element contaminents that are captured on the surface of the element in response to forward flow through the element. A manifold pipe spanning one or more openings at the outlet end of the filter elements and a nozzle supported on the manifold pipe in alignment with each element opening. Associated with the nozzle and secured to the manifold pipe for rotation in unison therewith is a venturi which, when rotated into an active position substantially covers the opening so that when air is supplied through the manifold pipe to the nozzle, the reverse blast is effective in dislodging contaminents on the exterior of the element. The manifold pipe is rotatable to an inactive position at which the venturi and nozzle are virtually clear of the outlet openings so as to avoid impedence to air flow through the filter.

Abstract: A horizontal chamber and a piston movable in the chamber to discharge potato dough through a discharge opening at one end of the chamber. A dough dividing structure adapted for mounting in the discharge opening. A diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm on the face of the piston such that when the piston is retracted in the chamber from a body of dough therein, an air passage is created to relieve the vacuum between the diaphragm and the dough, thereby avoiding distortion of the dough. For charging the chamber with a body of dough to form an impervious barrier therein there is an adapter in vertical alignment below the constituent introducing devices; the adapter supports the piston and the cylinder in vertical alignment below the constituent introducing devices so as to expedite charging of the machine to form an impervious dough barrier. After the constituents set into a dough the chamber, with the impervious barrier therein, and the piston are installed in the machine for normal operation.

Abstract: Mobile apparatus movable over a crop bearing field such as a field in which onions or garlic are grown. The apparatus includes a pickup device for lifting the food product from the field surface onto a conveyer within the apparatus. Also included are devices which separate the food articles from an admixture of the articles with debris which is inevitably picked up during operation of the apparatus. On the apparatus is a transport conveyer that moves the articles in single file and spaced apart relation under a photoelectric cell. Responsive to the photoelectric cell is an air operated ejection device which ejects debris articles from the transporting conveyer but permits food articles to move to the end of such conveyer.

Abstract: Data recording apparatus wherein the data is recorded on a sheet in a spatial arrangement or pattern corresponding to the spatial arrangement of a plurality of containers that constitute a part of a fraction collecting apparatus. The fraction collector operates by moving a nozzle carrying the discharge from a fractionating column along a path on which the containers are disposed. There is a data recording sheet and a pen supported for inscribing a graph on such sheet. The pen moves in unison with the nozzle and is displaced in a direction transverse to the path so that the spatial arrangement of the graph corresponds to the spatial arrangement of the containers.

Abstract: A mechanism for controllably driving a plunger in a dough forming apparatus of the type that has a chamber in which the plunger resides to move dough in incremental steps toward one end of the chamber. Spanning the one end of the chamber is a plurality of parallely spaced apart elongate members, the spacing between the elongate members corresponding to the thickness of a french fry shaped piece, e.g. 1/4 inch. The plunger is advanced by increments of a similar distance, the distance corresponding to the width of the french fry piece and when a plurality of dough bodies protrude through the spaces between the elongate members a single wire cutter is reciprocated across the exterior of the elongate members to sever the protruding bodies thus to form french fry shaped pieces.

Abstract: A frame having two or more thin elongate vanes mounted thereon and a shaft for supporting the frame for rotation so that each of the two opposite surfaces of the vanes is sequentially exposed to heat energy from the sun or the like. One surface is an absorbtive surface, exposure of which effects heating and expansion of the vane. The other surface is reflective surface, exposure of which permits cooling and contraction of the vane. When the vane contracts, the contraction sets up substantial tensile forces within the vane, and the invention includes a linkage interlinking the vane and the shaft so that the tensile force is converted to rotative force to sustain rotation of the frame. The frame has a power takeoff so that useful work is produced.Two mechanisms for interlinking the tensile force in the vanes to rotative motion are disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal chamber and a piston movable in the chamber to discharge potato dough through a discharge opening at one end of the chamber. A dough dividing structure adapted for mounting in the discharge opening. A diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm on the face of the piston such that when the piston is retracted in the chamber from a body of dough therein, an air passage is created to relieve the vacuum between the diaphragm and the dough, thereby avoiding distortion of the dough. For charging the chamber with a body of dough to form an impervious barrier therein there is an adapter in vertical alignment below the constitutent introducing devices; the adapter supports the piston and the cylinder in vertical alignment below the constituent introducing devices so as to expedite charging of the machine to form an impervious dough barrier. After the constituents set into a dough the chamber, with the impervious barrier therein, and the piston are installed in the machine for normal operation.

Abstract: A keyboard switch assembly having an apertured plate, a plurality of pushbuttons supported in the apertures and a hinge for so supporting the pushbuttons that is integral with both the panel and the pushbuttons. The hinge has a web extending between the panel and the pushbutton, and the web is formed with a plurality of grooved portions at which the web deforms in response to the reciprocable movement of the pushbutton within its associated aperture to permit a degree of reciprocable and lateral movement of the pushbutton within the aperture. Switch contacts having operative portions secured to the pushbutton so that the contacts are moved to make or break an electric circuit in response to reciprocable movement of the pushbutton relative the panel.

Abstract: A horizontal chamber and a piston movable in the chamber to discharge potato dough through a discharge opening at one end of the chamber. A dough dividing structure adapted for mounting in the discharge opening. A diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm on the face of the piston such that when the piston is retracted in the chamber from a body of dough therein, an air passage is created to relieve the vacuum between the diaphragm and the dough, thereby avoiding distortion of the dough. For charging the chamber with a body of dough to form an impervious barrier therein there is an adapter in vertical alignment below the constituent introducing devices; the adapter supports the piston and the cylinder in vertical alignment below the constituent introducing devices so as to expedite charging of the machine to form an impervious dough barrier. After the constituents set into a dough the chamber, with the impervious barrier therein, and the piston are installed in the machine for normal operation.

Abstract: An impervious housing having a compartment for a pharmaceutical product and an independent compartment for containing circuitry that senses and records when a patient administers the pharmaceutical contained in the first compartment. The circuit includes a clock which produces a pulse each hour and an addressable memory coupled to the clock so that the address is changed each hour. Sensors for determining when the cap is removed from the first compartment and when the housing is inverted, the output of the sensors being coupled to a register at the input of the circuitry so that if a patient has administered the pharmaceutical since the last clock pulse, a binary signal indicative of that fact will be transferred from the register to the memory upon occurrence of a succeeding clock pulse.

Abstract: A transducer for placement in fixed relation to the axle/wheel assembly of a vehicle and adjacent to the body of the vehicle, the transducer including an antenna plate which in cooperation with the vehicle body forms a capacitance. The magnitude of the capacitance varies in response to variations in distance between the vehicle body and the antenna plate when the body is caused to experience oscillation on the springs thereof. Such oscillation is damped by the vehicle shock absorbers. The transducer includes a guard or shield which shields the antenna from significant capacitive reactance with respect to ground. An oscillator circuit wherein the frequency of oscillation is determined by the above mentioned capacitance, the oscillator circuit having a non-ground common to which the guard is connected.

Abstract: A clip, two or more of which can be employed to retain a canvas stretcher frame within a decorative picture frame. Canvases are typically fixed to a frame formed of a plurality of stretcher bars having rectangular cross-sectional shapes, such frame being adapted for placement into a rabbet groove at the rear of the decorative frame. The disclosed clip has a main body of a length somewhat greater than the width of the stretcher bars. Extending from one end of the main body and integral therewith is a leg having at least one outward projecting point which is adapted to pierce the surface of the decorative frame that defines the rabbet groove. The main body extends across the rear surface of the stretcher bar and has a second leg which resiliently engages the inner edge of the stretcher bar as to retain the clip in place, which in turn retains the stretcher frame within the decorative frame.

Abstract: A safety closure for a container which makes difficult, if not impossible, access to the container contents by a child. A continuous helical thread on a container neck in which thread are formed a plurality of teeth each of which defines an abutment surface transverse to the thread. A cap interiorly threaded for engagement on the neck thread, the cap having adjacent the lower extremity thereof a pawl that engages the abutment on one of the teeth thereby preventing rotation and removal of the cap. The pawl is secured to the cap for resilient movement relative thereto and has a fingernail groove to enable adults to move the pawl out of engagement with the tooth abutments on the container neck.