Abstract: A wind-powered drive shaft, the rotary force of which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as to drive a hydraulic pump, the crankshaft for a water pump, or an electrical generator. To a central shaft are attached two or more sets of arms extending radially outward from the central shaft and containing two or more arms each. Preferably the sets of arms are arranged in pairs about the central shaft. Each set of aims has two or more aims. Two or more pivot shaft are rotatably attached to each arm in a set of arms and between vertically adjacent arms a vane composed of light but strong material is connected to each pivot shaft. Attached to one of every two vertically adjacent arms is a stop, said stop being in such a location that the free end of the vane will contact said stop when such free end makes its closes approach to said central shaft.

Abstract: A track-mounted ride powered by compressed gas injected either into a tube surrounding the vehicle of the ride or into a housing having a piston connected to a catch that removably engages the vehicle. The track can be an open course or a closed course. Braking is accomplished either by braking systems traditionally utilized in the art of track-mounted amusement rides or by using a tube which the vehicle enters and in which the vehicle compresses air to produce pneumatic braking.

Abstract: A holder for embossing a card which permits manipulation of the card and shields the user's hand from heat employed during the process of embossing. A heat-resistant clip has a first side with a straight tip and a second side with the tip curving away from the straight tip to facilitate the introduction, manipulation, and extraction of a paper card without damaging such card. A spring force retains the card in the clip and permits the clip to adjust to cards of different thicknesses. The base of the clip is attached to a handle which, to protect the hand of the user from heat applied near the clip during the process of embossing, has a low thermal conductivity and is of sufficient length to preclude the user's hand from being in the flow of heat that is applied near the clip. And, to facilitate manipulating the handle with a single hand, the handle has a circular cross section.

Abstract: A racing-type amusement ride utilizes a self-propelled vehicle which has guide wheels to move along a track having a beginning end, a finish end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a top, a rail along which a guide wheel of the self-propelled vehicle runs situated on the top of the track, and attached to at least one lateral side of said track between the beginning end of the track and the finish end of the track a frictional strip. Deceleration of the self-propelled vehicle is accomplished by having at least one brake pad so attached to the self-propelled vehicle that such brake pad will come into contact with a frictional strip.

Abstract: A device for teaching correct putting that can be attached to the shaft of a putter. A mirror is pivotally attached to an arm which extends behind and is parallel to the face of the putter such that the center of gravity for the mirror is between the pivot point and the face of the putter. The mirror is oriented at such an angle that a golf ball and a target cup can be viewed simultaneously by a golfer using a putter to which the device has been attached. Rotation of the mirror caused by the relative position of the pivot point and the center of gravity for the mirror will, under the influence of gravity, maintain this desired visual image in the mirror throughout the putting stroke. A straight line is placed on the reflecting surface of said mirror in such an orientation that the plane which contains the visible line and which is perpendicular to the reflecting surface of said mirror is perpendicular to the face of the putter and aligned with the desired point of impact on the face of the putter.

Abstract: A resuscitator having a collapsible bag with an inlet for attachment to a source of oxygen. The collapsible bag has a major outlet and a minor outlet. The major outlet is connected to a first arm of a three-armed connector. The minor outlet is attached to a flexible tube which, in turn, may either be connected to an adapter that is connected to a second arm of the three-armed connector or to a nebulizer or aerosolizer that is attached to the second arm of the three-armed connector. The third arm of the three-armed connector is connected to a housing containing a one-way valve to permit the flow of oxygen away from the collapsible bag and to preclude the flow of liquids and gases toward the collapsible bag. Preferably, the housing also contains, between the one-way valve and the second end of the housing, an exhaust aperture; and the exhaust aperture is preferably covered by a filter.

Abstract: A method for the in vitro biosynthesis of proteins in native conformation which improves the technique which is well known in the art by immobilizing on the surface of an affinity matrix at discrete locations a ligand for which the protein being synthesized has an affinity and adding to the reaction mixture said affinity matrix having said immobilized ligand so that each molecule that is in the process of folding into a functional protein molecule may bind an immobilized ligand and be kept separated from other protein molecules as the folding proceeds. The technique works with either a batch method or a continuous method.

Abstract: A decorated animal having the trunk of said animal simulated by a piece of carpeting folded with the side containing the fibers on the outside of the folded carpet to simulate the trunk of an animal. One or more appendages are attached to the carpeting to represent heads, necks, arms, legs, and tails. And one or more additional appendages are connect to the appendages to simulate ears; manes; eyes; beaks; noses; and heads, when a neck has been attached to the carpet.

Abstract: A brake for a track-operated vehicle employing the use of friction between at least one brake pad to be mounted on the vehicle and at least one frictional strip for attached to a lateral side of the track. The brake pad is to be attached to the vehicle by a device for urging the brake pad toward a lateral side of the track to which a frictional strip has been attached to such an extent that when the vehicle is maintained in alignment with the track, the inner surface of said brake pad will attain a position, in the absence of the frictional strip, that is intermediate between the lateral side of the track and the position where the outer side of the frictional strip would be located were such first frictional strip installed. Similarly, an auxiliary brake has a bar that fits across the track and two brake pads attached to the bar in the same manner as brake pads are attached to the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for producing ferrous picrate and a fuel additive containing ferrous picrate. Picric acid is dissolved in an organic solvent which has a low solubility for water. The resultant mixture is filtered and substantially all water is removed from the filtered mixture before an alcohol, preferably an alcohol which is not hygroscopic, is added to the filtered, dewatered mixture. Powdered elemental iron is added to the mixture that includes the alcohol; the reaction mixture resulting from the previous steps is preferably agitated until such reaction mixture becomes substantially homogeneous; and, if needed, sufficient water is added to the reaction mixture to create a conductive medium which enables the requisite ionic reaction to proceed at a reasonable rate. The concentration of water is, however, maintained below a level where the water causes the additive to be undesirably unstable.

Abstract: A shroud canister for reducing the oxidation of extruded metal in an extrusion press. The shroud canister introduces a relatively inert substance which is gaseous at standard temperatures and pressures into the bore of the platen of an extrusion press, confines the relatively inert substance with the bore of the platen, and precludes any of the relatively inert substance which is in liquid form from coming into contact with the extruded metal. In one embodiment, the shroud canister consists of a faceplate to be attached to the platen of the extrusion press, a fluid supply tube to inject the relatively inert substance into the bore of the platen, and a shield to preclude any of the relatively inert substance which is in liquid form upon leaving the fluid supply tube from coming into contact with the extruded metal.

Abstract: A wet bulb thermometer. A temperature sensor which can function in a moist environment is placed in such a location that it will be within the mist of water produced by a nozzle when pressurized water is supplied to the nozzle. Preferably, the temperature sensor is placed somewhat below the nozzle to account for the effect of gravity upon the mist of water. Also, preferably, the temperature sensor produces an electrical signal that is indicative of temperature and that can be read by a computer. Accuracy of the determination of the wet-bulb temperature of the air is assured by the redundancy of this device. Evaporation from droplets in the mist assure that the temperature of the air within the mist is at the wet-bulb temperature as, independently, does the evaporation from the film of water which forms on the surface of the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A compost aerator and monitor which has a cylindrical helical screw, preferably with a sharpened first end. The diameter of the cylindrical helix and the tightness of the windings are selected so as, when the screw is inserted into a compost pile, to create a core of compost material that is sufficiently large to be cohesive and representative but not so large that the weight of the core will cause the core to fall from the screw when such screw is withdrawn from the compost pile. Attached to the second end of the screw is a handle with sufficient leverage to enable the screw to be turned rapidly and, consequently, rapidly introduced into a compost pile and to preclude the screw from rotating as the screw is withdrawn from the pile, thereby retaining the core of compost material. Optionally, either a traditional brace or a traditional power drill can replace the simple handle; and a shaft can be inserted between the screw and the handle or the brace.

Abstract: A gas-based transmission which has a self-regulating mechanical advantage that is continuously--and, essentially, infinitely variable. A high-pressure reservoir receives either exhaust gas from an engine or air from a compressor that is run by the drive shaft from an engine. A pressure regulator on the output of the high-pressure reservoir controls the engine resistance and decouples the engine from the the drive forces. The pressure can be set at a given level which will approximate the power curve for the engine or can be controlled by a computer so that the engine will produce the power desired by the operator at the lowest engine speed capable of producing such power, i.e., the engine will operate precisely on its power curve. The gas or air passes from the pressure regulator to a variable-pressure reservoir.

Abstract: A process for preparing ferrous picrate is disclosed. The process includes the step of reacting under substantially non-oxidising conditions ferrous carbonate substantially free from ferric compounds with a substantially water-free solution of picric acid in a solvent medium to produce a solution of ferric picrate. The solvent medium is selected from aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, straight- or branched-chain aliphatic alcohols, mixtures of straight or branched-chain aliphatic alcohols, and mixtures of straight- or branched-chain aliphatic alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. The reaction is preferably carried out under a continuously maintained inert atmosphere and at a temperature between 10.degree. C. and 120.degree. C.

Abstract: A device for accelerating and decelerating objects by introducing compressed gas into the bore of a housing. A piston is slidably mounted in the bore and has attached to it a cable which proceeds along the bore, through a first aperture near the first end of the housing, around a first pulley, along the exterior of the housing, around a second pulley, through a second aperture near the second end of the housing, and along the bore again before entering the piston and having the second end of the cable connected to the first end of the cable. A carrier is attached to the cable so that the carrier is near the second end of the housing when the piston is near the first end of the housing. Compressed gas can be introduced into the bore near the first end of the housing or near the second end of the housing.

Abstract: A self-monitoring hand-sanitizing station having a basin capable of holding an antiseptic solution to be situated near the entrance to a food handling area. A first proximity detector determines when an individual is approaching both the basin and the entrance. The basin contains a first moisture-proof switch and a second moisture-proof switch the activation of which switches must be done simultaneously; these switches are so situated that a user cannot accomplish such simultaneous activation with a single hand. A second proximity detector determines when an individual has passed beyond the basin toward the entrance.