Abstract: A mixing, aerating and decanting unit adapted for floating installation in a liquid treatment basin and operable to provide mixing, aeration, settling and decanting phases in an SBR (sequencing bath reactor) process. The unit comprises a rigid support structure with floats for buoyantly supporting the unit in the basin, a mixing apparatus operable to mix liquid in the basin, an aerating apparatus selectively operable to supply air to the water in the basin, and a decanter apparatus for decanting liquid from the basin.

Abstract: A spirit level including a frame having parallel working surfaces and a web interconnecting the working surfaces. One or more vial openings of regular octagonal configuration are formed in the web. A vial case member having an octagonal wall is selectively positionable in the opening in the web with the vial extending either parallel to or perpendicular to or at an angle of forty-five degrees to the working surfaces. A second vial case member is disposed at the side of the web opposite the first mentioned case member and bonded to the octagonal wall on the case member to hold the case members in assembled relation on the web. A pair of case covers of like configuration are mounted at opposite sides of the web with hook portions on the cover members extending through openings in the web.

Abstract: An hydraulically operated vehicle lift having an electro-hydraulic power unit mounted on one of the lift columns for supplying fluid to the hydraulic actuator for raising the lift carriages. The electro-hydraulic power unit has an electrical junction box mounted on the motor and a manually operable switch and a lift limit control switch mounted on the junction box and electrically connected inside the box to each other and to the motor windings. The lift limit control switch is actuated by a flexible switch actuating line that has a portion extending crosswise between the lift columns at a level to be engaged by the roof of a vehicle being raised, to stop the power unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing a body of liquid in a treatment basin and for removing floating matter from the surface of the basin. A propeller type downflow mixer is buoyantly supported on a float in the basin with the inlet side of the mixer below the liquid level and the discharge side of the mixer arranged to direct the pumped liquid downwardly in the basin for mixing material in the basin. A shield is provided on the float overlying the inlet side of the pump to inhibit direct passage of liquid from the area of the basin above the shield and to induce an inflow pattern below the surface of the liquid toward the inlet of the pump. A scum receiving trough is mounted on the float and extends along the outer margin of the float with the upper weir edge adjacent the surface of the liquid in the basin to receive matter floating on the surface of the basin. Material received in the trough is selectively discharged to a receiver outside the basin.

Abstract: A foldable valance having plastic hinges attaching the return panels to the front panel of the valance, to allow folding of the return panels alongside the front panel for compact packaging. A tab is formed integrally with one of the plate portions of the plastic hinge and is movable to a position extending at an angle to the associated plate portion of the hinge, for retaining the return panel in erected condition when the valance is installed.

Abstract: A fitted sheet having a top panel and side and end panels for covering the top, sides and ends of the mattress. A one-piece elastic band of generally cylindrical cross-section has end portions attached by band end anchors to one end panel of the fitted sheet, and the band is slidably connected intermediate its ends by intermediate band connectors to opposite side panels of the sheet in a manner such that an intermediate section of the band extends between the side panels of the sheet generally parallel to the end panel and corner sections of the band extend generally diagonally from the intermediate band sections to the end panel. The intermediate band connectors are arranged to allow sliding of the band to substantially equalize the tension of the corner band sections with the intermediate band section of the elastic band.

Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having a plurality of louver carriages mounted for movement along a guide channel, with a louver carrier mounted on each carriage for rotation about an upright axis and carriage gear mechanism for rotating the louvers in response to turning of an operating shaft that extends lengthwise of the channel. A wand is attached to a drive lever at one end of the channel and the wand is arranged to angularly oscillate the drive lever in response to raising and lowering of the wand and to rotate the operating shaft through an angular motion amplifying mechanism, to rotate the louvers through 180.degree. in response to raising and lowering of the wand. The wand is preferably tubular and one of the cords in the operating loop is arranged to extend through the tubular wand to separate the cords.

Abstract: A system for anchoring a mobile equipment carrier on a platform for transport by a freight carrier wherein the mobile equipment carrier is supported on a plurality of shock absorbing casters. Wheel anchors including a base bracket and a hold-down bracket attach the wheel of each caster to the platform to retain the caster against rolling and swiveling about the caster axis while accommodating vertical movement of the shock absorbing casters and the equipment supported thereby. The base bracket comprises a sheet metal member having end portions and an upwardly facing saddle shaped intermediate portion integral with the end portions and adapted to receive a caster wheel.

Abstract: A valance for concealing window blind headers or drapery fixtures. The valance includes a front panel and end panels, and each of the panels have an upper rail adjacent the upper edge defining a downwardly projecting lip, a lower rail adjacent the lower edge defining an upwardly projecting lower lip, and an intermediate rail defining an upwardly projecting intermediate lip and a downwardly projecting intermediate lip. Upper and lower valance face members are provided for each panel and each face member has a front wall, a reentrant channel extending lengthwise along one rear edge and an internal hook portion spaced inwardly from a second rear edge. The reentrant channels on the upper and lower valance face members are arranged to receive the respective upper and lower intermediate lips and the internal hook portions on the upper and lower face members are respectively arranged to receive the upper and lower lips on the associated panel.

Abstract: A shampoo chair and bowl apparatus in which the shampoo bowl is mounted with a neck rest at a fixed elevation, and a shampoo chair is mounted for adjustment along a linear guide path inclined upwardly and rearwardly toward the shampoo bowl between a lower and an upper position. The chair frame and guide are arranged to support and guide the chair during movement along the guide path with the back rest extending upwardly and rearwardly from the seat generally parallel to the guide path toward the neck rest on the shampoo bowl. Seat adjustment apparatus is provided for stopping the chair in a selected adjusted position between the upper and lower positions.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a device on a wall in which the device includes a wall mounting pad having at least two fastener receiving openings. A plastic base plate is provided with at least two integral screw anchors that extend transverse to the rear side of the base plate at locations corresponding to the spaced locations of the fastener receiving openings in the mounting pad. Screw fasteners are adapted to be screwed into the wall anchor to expand the wall anchors into firm engagement with the opening in the wall and to provide mounting fasteners for attaching the mounting pad to the base plate.

Abstract: A boat propulsion apparatus having a thrust blade mounted for swinging movement about a generally horizontal swing axis lengthwise of the boat and for turning movement about an upright blade axis, and a swash plate drive for simultaneously swinging the blade about the swing axis in a direction crosswise of the boat and for angularly oscillating the blade about the blade axis to sinusoidally vary the pitch of the blade as the blade is swung crosswise of the boat. A planetary gear type mechanism is provided for adjusting the angle of the swash plate while the boat propulsion apparatus is in operation or when it is stopped. The thrust blade is connected to the blade shaft through an overload release coupling to prevent damage to the thrust blade and propulsion apparatus in the event the thrust blade strikes an obstruction. An improved arrangement for mounting the thrust blade on the swing shaft and for sealing the thrust blade to an enclosure for the boat propulsion apparatus, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode with limb band for use on a limb of a patient comprising a composite electrode pad having an electrically conductive member with means for connection to an external sensoring and monitoring apparatus, and a layer of electrically conductive solid gel adhesive contacting the conductive member and providing a skin contacting adhesive surface for attaching the electrode pad to the skin of a patient. A composite limb band includes an outer band formed of non-woven spunlaced polyester fibers and an inner band formed of non-woven spunbonded polyester filaments adhesively secured to an intermediate portion of the outer bank along the inner side thereof. A first end portion of the outer band is adhesively attached to the outer face of the composite electrode pad.

Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping articles of the type wherein articles are advanced along an article path into a curtain of heat sealable wrapping material, and upper and lower jaw assemblies are sequentially moved laterally of the article path into positions at the trail side of the article and then forwardly along the article path in a sealing run. The lower jaw assemblies each include a pair of spaced clamping jaw members having a jaw opening therebetween and a rotary heat sealing and cutting member is mounted for movement into and out of the jaw opening as the lower jaw assemblies move past a zone intermediate the ends of the sealing run. The upper jaw assemblies include upper jaw carriers that are guided for movement in a fixed path along the sealing run and upper jaw members that are shiftable relative to the upper jaw carriers.

Abstract: A disposable biomedical electrode of the type adapted for connection by a clip-on connector to a lead wire, comprising a semi-flexible composite sheet member having a non-conductive upper layer and an electrically conductive current distributing lower layer, and a layer of biomedical electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive on an electrode section of the sheet. A layer of resilient foamed plastic is fixed on the non-conductive upper layer of the electrode, on a portion of the tab section of the semi-flexible sheet, to enhance gripping of the tab section by the clip-on type connector assembly.

Abstract: An ice making machine of the type in which an ice mold is refrigerated and water recirculated from a water receiver over the refrigerated ice mold and back to the water receiver during an ice making cycle, to freeze ice forms on the ice mold, and the ice mold is heated and water recirculation stopped during an ice harvest cycle, to release the ice forms from the ice mold. A temperature sensor senses when the water temperature in the receiver initially drops during an ice making cycle to about water freezing temperature and operates a water supply valve to supply additional water to the receiver to prevent the formation of ice slush in the water recirculation system. The amount of water added to the receiver during an ice making cycle is preferably controlled by volume. The amount of water added during the ice making cycle can also be controlled by temperature of the water in the receiver or by timing the addition of water to the receiver.

Abstract: A press having a work positioning carriage for moving a workpiece horizontally along relatively transverse X and Y axes to position different areas of a workpiece at a work station. Lower forming tools are fixed at the work station and a lower stripper is mounted for vertical movement relative to the lower forming tools. Upper press tools are mounted on the press ram and operative when the ram is moved downwardly to force the workpiece downwardly over the lower forming tools and depress the lower stripper. The lower stripper is yieldably biased upwardly to raise the workpiece off the lower press tools when the upper press tools are raised. A work carrier is mounted for horizontal movement by the work positioning carriage and the work carrier has a workpiece support that is vertically movable relative to the work carrier.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus having a lower cooking platen and an upper cooking platen mounted on a plate support arm for swinging movement between a lower cook position and a raised position inclined upwardly from the lower platen. The rearward portion of the lower platen is heated by a gas fired infrared heater having a combustion chamber vent passage formed along the rear of the combustion chamber. A combustion observation window is provided in a forward wall of the combustion chamber of the rear infrared heater, and an electrical heater is provided for heating the forward portion of the lower platen and arranged so that the observation window can be viewed from the front of the cooking apparatus. The platen support arm has an arcuate intermediate portion that slidably extends through an opening in a rear cover on the cooking apparatus.

Abstract: Mixing and dispensing apparatus for a frozen confection machine for mixing and dispensing a measured volume of frozen confection material and a flavoring material including edible solids. The apparatus comprises a mixing and measuring chamber including a mixing cylinder having a discharge head at one end, a rotary mixer in the cylinder and a dispensing piston slidable in the cylinder. The mixing and measuring chamber has a flavoring material inlet port, a flavoring material feed chamber communicating with the flavoring material inlet port, and a flavoring material feed piston for feeding flavoring material from the feed chamber to the mixing cylinder. The mixing and measuring chamber also has confection material inlet port adapted for connection to a frozen confection machine and a confection inlet valve for controlling flow of confection to the mixing cylinder. The discharge head has a discharge passage and a discharge valve for controlling flow through the discharge passage.

Abstract: A foldable bicycle carrier comprising a main frame adapted to be mounted on the rear of a vehicle, an auxiliary frame mounted for movement between an upright position alongside the main frame and an erected position extending rearwardly of the main frame, and a pair of bicycle support frames mounted on the auxiliary frame for pivotal movement between a folded position extending inwardly of the auxiliary frame and an erected position extending outwardly of the auxiliary frame. Bicycle wheel receiving channels are provided on the bicycle support frames for receiving and supporting the bicycle wheels and a bicycle support arm is mounted on the main frame for movement between a folded position alongside the main frame and an erected position extending rearwardly from the main frame for engagement with the bicycle.