Abstract: An automobile occupant hoist is provided for aiding a disabled or crippled person in entering or exiting an automobile. The hoist is disposed entirely inside the car for traveling and is extensible by means of an electric motor drive to project outside of the car with the door open. A transverse bar is provided which is parallel to the body of the car and which may be gripped by the occupant so that he may swing himself in or out of the car. The bar is optionally provided with hangers for engagement with a harness worn by the disabled person if he is physically unable to manually pull himself in and out of the car.

Abstract: A fuel control system for a gas turbine engine comprises a variable metering device and a flow limiting valve arranged in series. The limiting valve is servo pressure operated to reduce fuel flow in response to unacceptably high levels of certain engine operating conditions and is additionally movable to a fully shut condition when the engine is stopped. The servo operating pressure is controlled by an electrically actuated pilot valve which can be energized to a first level to provide flow limitation, and to a second, higher level to effect shut down. The pilot valve can also be energized in a reverse direction to open the limiting valve when starting the engine.

Abstract: An umbrella with an oval or substantially oval canopy comprising a center pole (1), a plurality of short conventional main ribs (3), and a plurality of long main ribs (18). Each long main rib (18) consists of a proximal main rib (20), a distal main rib (22) slidably fitted to the proximal main rib (20) through a slide member (30), and upper and lower stops (31)(32) fixed thereon. When opened, the canopy automatically assumes an oval form or substantially oval form, and when closed, the distal ends of the main ribs automatically lie on the same plane.

Abstract: An umbrella with an oval canopy comprising a center pole (1), a plurality of long main ribs (12), and a plurality of short main ribs (31). The center pole (1) consists of upper and lower poles (1') (1") slidably fitted. Each long main rib (12) consists of a proximal long main rib (16) and a long distal rib (19) slidably fitted to the proximal long main rib (16) through a slide member (18). Each short main rib (31) consists of a proximal short main rib (35) and a short distal rib (38) slidably fitted to the proximal short main rib (35) through a movable member (37). When opened, the canopy automatically assumes an oval form or substantially oval form, and when closed, the distal ends of the main ribs automatically lie on the same plane, and when compressed, the total length of the closed umbrella is considerably shortened.

Abstract: An inhalation valve is presented for use with a known antiasthmatic medication cartridge and mouthpiece to simplify patient inhalation and to improve mist formation. A cylindrical passageway receives the known mouthpiece and is provided with an elastomeric diaphragm having a slit therein. An upstream spider backs up the diaphragm. Upon inhalation the diaphragm flexes and stretches to open the slit, and the diaphragm seals off exhaust passages. On exhalation the diaphragm backs against the spider which seals the slit, the diaphragm moving away from and opening the exhaust passages.

Abstract: An integrally formed joining device is disclosed. The joining device comprises a first and a second backing member portion and a bracing member portion interposed therebetween. The bracing member portion is integrally formed respectively with each of the first and the second backing member portions. The bracing member portion defines a continuous and curved edge for the joining device.

Abstract: Multiplexed serial data from the keyboard of a musical instrument, such as an electronic organ, is delayed in a shift register to cause generation of musical tones related to the keyswitches closed on the keyboard and combined with the non-delayed serial data for producing mutation voices or chords.

Abstract: A converter igniter is provided for igniting a converter screen assembly which acts as a catalyst for vapor phase oxidation of ammonia in a nitric acid reduction process. The igniter includes an elongate gas delivery tube and structure for sealably mounting the gas delivery tube with one end thereof within the vapor phase oxidation chamber. An igniting structure is provided at the end of the elongate gas tube includng a spark plug completely recessed within the end of the tube and a plurality of apertures in the tube end for producing a diffuse flame. An elongate rod-like conductor is concentrically mounted within the gas delivery tube and electrically and physically isolated therefrom by means of a concentrically mounted surrounding insulator structure.

Abstract: The pulley of moulded plastics material is mounted adjacent to the outer side of the bicycle wheel flange, concentrically with this flange. The pulley comprises a grooved ring around which extends a belt for driving a distance recorder. From the periphery of the ring, on the side of the latter adjacent to the wheel flange, extend in generally radial directions are three arms which are angularly spaced 120.degree. apart. Mounted on the free end portion of the arms by means of a pivot pin are the end portions of tabs which are provided with a mounting device at the opposite end. This mounting device is adapted to engage with a wheel spoke so as to maintain the pulley in a centered position relative to the wheel flange.

Abstract: A welding head for narrow gap welding is provided with a flat contact nozzle which is pivotable laterally with respect to the longitudinal extent of the gap by being journaled in a similarly flat nozzle holder by means of a shaft which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the gap and is fully insertable in the gap together with the contact nozzle and at least that part of the nozzle holder which carries the shaft. A drive shaft disposed in the nozzle holder at right angles to the shaft cooperates with the contact nozzle by means of a joint for converting a rotary movement generated by a pendulum device into a corresponding pivotal movement of the contact nozzle about its shaft.

Abstract: A plier (35, 36) of which the jaws are provided with claws (38, 39) of electrically good conductor metal, threaded in a complementary way to that of the threaded portion (10) of the cap (4) of the device (1), grips the device (1) by that threaded portion (10) of the cap (4) while strongly pressing the capsule (17) on the threaded end (10) of the cap (4) and heating those parts by Joule effect. The plier rests on a portion (26) which rests itself on the frame (25) of the machine. Hence, the insulating portion of ceramic material (2) of the device is not subjected to any stress due to the pressure exerted during such welding operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for laminating a film (e.g. of transparent polypropylene) to a substrate (e.g. paper stock bearing printed matter). The method and apparatus comprises coating the film at a station incorporating a pair of contra-rotatable rollers rotatable about parallel, horizontal axes and defining a nip. One roller has a portion of its periphery immersable in a bath of water-based adhesive, (e.g. a mix of ethylene and vinyl acetate). The coated film is stripped from the roller and fed to a first infra-red heater tuned to a frequency which evaporates the water content of the adhesive; a laminating station comprising a first pair of contra-rotatable pinch rollers comprising a metal roller and a rubber roller rotatable about parallel axis and defining a nip; a second infra-red heater, also tuned to a frequency that activates the solids of the adhesive adhering to the film; and a second pair of pinch rollers comprising two metal rollers defining a nip.

Abstract: A process for producing fertilizer-grade phosphoric acid is disclosed. In the process, a rock slurry is produced from a predetermined quantity of phosphate rock and a predetermined quantity of pond water neutralized with ammonia. A predetermined rate of sulfuric acid is added to the rock slurry to produce a reaction mixture. The improvement comprises maintaining an excess of sulfate ion in the reaction mixture.

Abstract: An ashtray device comprises an ashtray unit, a housing for accommodating the ashtray unit, energizing means disposed within the housing for energizing the ashtray unit in the direction of being opened, retaining means for keeping the ashtray unit in a closed state, and means for releasing the retaining means from the outside. By building the ashtray device into the dashboard of an automobile, for example, a driver is relieved of special care and allowed to devote all his attention to the operation of his automobile even during the use of the ashtray unit.

Abstract: A cosmetic bag or case is provided for carrying cosmetic articles and the like. The bag can be any shape or size. The illustrated bag includes a top cover and a bottom cover, which can be hinged together. These covers can be made of plastic, cloth, or some other suitable, flexible or rigid material. A hook and loop strap member extends across at least part of this cover on the interior of the bag. A second hook and loop strap is adapted for mating engagement with the first strap. Padding is located adjacent the hook and loop straps. When a cosmetic article is secured between the first and second hook and loop straps, the article resiliently and frictionally engages the padding, and is thus retained in a substantially immobile position within the cosmetic bag.

Abstract: The device comprises an annular adaptor having a bottom provided with an opening so as to permit sliding the adaptor on the housing of the kilometer recorder and including a peripheral axial collar. The collar is provided with an assembling groove which receives a corresponding rib on a transparent window. An inner shoulder clamps the dial between these two elements. The window and the collar of the adaptor have shapes and sizes which may vary in accordance with the shapes and sizes of the dial.

Abstract: An electronic reset circuit is provided for a fluid dispenser of the type including a fluid pump and a meter, wherein upon deactivation of the fluid pump, the meter must be reset in order to reactivate the pump and a resetting device normally actuatable for accomplishing meter resetting. The electronic reset circuit comprises a reset control switch actuatable only by a fluid dispenser attendant and an electronic circuit coupled with the resetting device and with the reset control switch for preventing resetting of the meter in response to normal actuation of the resetting device until actuation of the reset control switch by the attendant.

Abstract: An inhalation valve is provided for testing the breathing capacity of a person. The valve is constructed of two plastic moldings which snap together and trap a flexible elastomeric valve diaphragm between them. The valve is provided with a mouthpipe. Exhalation through the mouthpipe deflects the diaphragm to permit substantially unrestricted exhalation. Inhalation is through a laterally displaced passageway having a transverse wall therein to produce a pressure drop. Tubular fittings are provided in the pressure drop area behind the wall and exteriorally of the flow path to provide an input to an electronic apparatus to indicate the efficiency of breathing.