Abstract: A skewer assembly (12) that incorporates a counterbalancing device (42) for use with a barbecue grill (10) or other rotisserie assembly includes a generally rectangular shaft (20) that has a handle (22) releasably secured to one end thereof through a releasable end piece (24). The counterbalancing device (42, 42a) has a counterweight (15, 62) on one free end thereof and an elongated slot (48, 60) intermediate opposite ends. A threaded stud (32) forming part of and extending outwardly from the main body (30) of the end piece (24) is threaded through the elongated slot (48,60) of the counterbalancing device (42,42a) and into a threaded opening (34a) extending inwardly into the shaft (20) to frictionally grip the counterbalancing device (42,42a) between an abutment (40) on the handle (22) and an abutment (36) on the end piece (24).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for centering and gripping a work piece (WP) having an internal cavity (60) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generally longitudinal post shaft (11) in an internal chamber (21) that has a head portion (42) for supporting the cavity end wall (62) and a plurality of pivot bars (22) and clamp bars (31) for engaging the cavity side wall (61) and cavity throat (63). An air driven slidable push rod (41) disposed within the shaft (11) in an internal chamber (21) causes the bars (22,31) to move from a retracted position to an expanded position. The apparatus can be inserted into the work piece (WP) while the bars (22,31) are in the retracted position and then gripped and centered by activating the push rod (41) and expanding both sets of bars (22,31).

Abstract: A method of mass producing plug-in diode units includes the steps of punching areas of metal from a sheet metal body and forming the remaining areas of the body to leave longitudinally spaced, confronting pairs of laterally extending terminal blades having plug-in terminal end portions extending in different planes and opposite diode-mounting end portions in the same plane connected by webs or links to the rest of the sheet metal body. Diode elements are then soldered or welded between the diode-mounting end portions of each pair of terminal blades, and an insulating housing is molded around the diode-mounting end portions of each pair of terminal blades and the diode element secured thereto. The connecting links of each pair of terminal blades then are severed, leaving exposed severed portions of the connecting links which form accessible test points for testing the continuity of the diode element within each housing even after the terminal blades are plugged into a connector block.

Abstract: A solderless cartridge fuse comprises an open-ended insulating housing made of a relatively rigid, unyielding material. End caps close the open ends of the housing. Each end cap comprises an end wall confronting the adjacent housing end and a flexible yieldable side wall which, in its pre-formed state, has a lesser size than the periphery of the adjacent end of the housing so that there is a tight interference fit between the conductive end cap side wall and the housing periphery. A fuse element extends diagonally across the interior of the housing. Prior to application of the end caps to the housing ends during fuse assembly, the fuse wire ends are bent back around the housing ends so to be tightly sandwiched between the side walls of the end caps and the housing when the end caps are applied thereover.

Abstract: This invention is an adjustable wrench design having only two movable elements that uses contact points fixed to a movable jaw to hold the movable jaw in position. The contact points act on a guide member to bind the movable jaw from movement when the wrench is under load. Simple rotation of the movable jaw, once the load is removed, permits ready movement of the jaw to a new position.

Abstract: The invention is a mobile apparatus for transporting a liquid. The apparatus includes a wheeled frame and a pump, with a suction and a discharge port, that is supported by that frame. A liquid storage container is supported upon the wheeled frame. A fitting secured to the liquid storage container includes an integral liquid head. The apparatus further includes an inlet transfer line between the integral liquid head and the suction port of the pump. Finally, the apparatus includes an outlet transfer line from the discharge port of the pump for transfer of the liquid to a remote container.

Abstract: A fuse for handling normal load currents substantially in excess of about 80 amps, the fuse comprising a metal portion formed of an integral piece of metal having outermost, spaced terminal-forming portions with bolt-anchoring holes therein and a fuse link-forming intermediate portion between the terminal-forming portions. The terminal-forming portions of the metal piece has a rectangular configuration having inner margins spaced from one another. The fuse link-forming portion of the metal piece has an S-shape with one face thereof being co-planar with one of the faces of the terminal-forming portions thereof. The thickness of the S-shaped fuse link is only a fraction of the thickness of the terminal thickness and has outermost legs respectively extending from the opposite sides of the innermost margins of the terminal-forming portions of the metal piece and a central link interconnecting the outermost legs.

Abstract: For small line width tuning of a laser, especially a pulsed dye laser, a reference beam is uncoupled from the laser resonator (10,18) and directed to a beam position photosensor such as an adjacent pair of photo diodes. A control signal for synchronizing the movements of a grating (10) and an etalon (18) of the laser resonator is derived from a local change of the reference beam in order that synchronism may be achieved in the movement of both the etalon and the grating.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a drawn and ironed or a drawn beverage container, and a container made by that method. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has a vertical axis; a generally cylindrical side wall parallel with the vertical axis; an outer annular wall; a convex U-shaped portion; a preformed bottom wall including a center domed portion; and an annular, substantially vertical wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the container in a jig, the jig having a bottom peripheral profile portion substantially corresponding in shape to the outer annular wall of the container. The bottom peripheral profile portion of the jig is then mated with the outer annular wall. A reforming roller is brought into engagement with the substantially vertical wall. The reforming roller rotates along the vertical wall and about an arcuate path, affecting the angle of the substantially vertical wall.

Abstract: A mass-production technique for fabricating individual indicia-bearing display sign plaques (10) employs fabricating sheets of large plaque stock (36) as a laminate of a stiffening substrate (12) and an indicia-bearing front sheet (22) adheringly affixed thereto, the indicia (24) on the front sheet bearing the indicia of the desired plaque replicated thereon preferably as a large rectangular array of elements having common boundaries subsequently to be severed along severance lines (38). For wall-mounting of finished plaques adhesive tape strip stock (40) is affixed to lie generally centered on the common boundaries of the array elements, as well as around the periphery of the laminate stock. An edge-registered stack (41) of laminates 41 is then cut along the severing lines by repeated passes of a guillotine-type blade 42.

Abstract: The invention is a process of manufacture, and a product manufactured by that process. The process comprises various steps. The steps include charging aspartic acid particles into a process unit and heating those particles to approximately 400.degree.-480.degree. F. As the aspartic acid particles are heated, vacuum is applied to that unit. Water is removed from the aspartic acid to form polyanhydroaspartic acid.

Abstract: A lighting system (10) is disclosed comprising a free-standing base (12) supporting a track lighting strip (20) in a substantially vertical position. Lighting elements (38) may be positioned at any point along the track lighting strip. Spacer tubes (80) and protective elements (90) cover and enclose the track lighting strip.

Abstract: An optical fiber probe for attenuated total reflectance measurements comprises a tubular body within which pass input and output optical fibers. The optical fibers are mounted within the body so that radiation emitted from the end of one of the optical fibers can pass through the optical system of the probe and be reflected back and focused on to the end of the other optical fiber for transmission back to a spectrophotometer. The optical system includes an attenuated total reflectance element, preferably of zinc selenide, which has a cylindrical body having at one end two perpendicular cut-away surfaces to form a roof mirror and at the other end a convex surface which acts to focus the radiation on to the end of the output optical fiber. The material to be tested is allowed to come into contact with the surfaces of the roof mirror, and then radiation is sent through the element and is totally internally reflected within it.

Abstract: A surface-mounted fuse has a hollow, open-ended insulating fuse body with a square sided central portion terminating in opposite, preferably square-sided, recessed, tapered end portions. A pair of preferably square-sided conductive end caps are provided having end walls respectively confronting the open ends of the fuse body and side walls enveloping the tapered end portions thereof. The side walls of the end caps define annular tapered cavities to receive without compressing the fuse wire one or more bent back ends of a fuse wire. The recessing of the tapered end portions of the fuse body provides axially outwardly facing abutment shoulders which limit the extent to which the end caps can be moved over the fuse body during assembly. The end walls of the end caps are then spaced from the ends of the fuse body to form outer spaces of greater size than the fuse element thickness, so that the ends of the fuse element are not compressed between the end cap end walls and the ends of the fuse body.

Abstract: A gas burner (11) for a charcoal grill having a bowl (12) includes an elongated burner tube (30) secured to the bowl and passed through an opening (36) in the bowl (12) so as to be positioned in a substantially horizontal manner below and substantially parallel to a bed of charcoal supported on a charcoal support grid (18). The burner has a propane tank (42) connected to the free end thereof outside the bowl (12) and has air intake openings (44) in the tube (30) adjacent the free end. A venturi section (46) is formed into the tube (30) downstream of the air intake openings (44) and elongated diametrically-opposed, horizontal slots (50) defining the gas exit ports are positioned downstream of the venturi section (46). An igniter assembly (52) having its electrode (56,60) extending through an opening into the tube (30) is located between the venturi section (46) and the slots (50) to ignite the flowing gases.

Abstract: A shelf or hanger mounting bracket which comprises an inner bracket body having one end provided with projections configured for locking engagement with vertically extending slits in a wall-mounted upright mounting rail and an ornamental outer sleeve comprising a locking system enabling the sleeve to be continuously adjustable over a range of positions so that it can be adjusted to lie flush with the mounting wall. The locking system employs a latching member pivotally mounted on the forward end of the inner bracket body having a locking end slantingly engaging the confronting interior wall surface of the sleeve so that forward retracting movement of the sleeve cannot occur as long as the locking end is held in contact with this sleeve surface. Slipping rearward movement towards the wall readily occurs.

Abstract: A lay-in ceiling panel structure, comprising a glass fiber ply, a gypsum board, and a highly perforated vinyl lamina. The ceiling panel structure having noise and sound transmission reduction coefficients in the range of 0.85 to 0.95 sabins and 0.35 to 0.39 dbs respectively. This structure also provides good fire resistance, space efficiency, and a lower surface that is washable and pleasing to the eye. In addition, the glass fiber ply is secured to the gypsum board by droplets of glue which are spaced 1 to 2 inches apart and which are applied 4 to 6 inches away from the outer periphery of the gypsum board. Applying the glue in this way allows the glass fiber ply and vinyl lamina to lay flat even if the board is warped by water leaks, humidity or age.

Abstract: A plastic pallet (10) includes two identical decks (12, 120) that are interconnected by identical connectors (14). Each connector includes a central core (20) and a surrounding sleeve (44) interconnected by spokes (46). The core has flexible tangs (28) that extend beyond opposite ends of the sleeve and lock onto the deck. Each deck includes a plurality of respective segments (130) consisting of a pair of open shells (132, 134) and the periphery of each deck is reinforced by respective segments (182) that are internally reinforced by gussets (192, 194).

Abstract: A slicing/shaving machine particularly adapted for high speed slicing/shaving or food products in which at least one slicing/shaving blade defines a slicing/shaving edge of a generally arcuate configuration. The blade is carried by a slicing/shaving drum which is rotated about an axis to impart a circular path of travel to the slicing/shaving edge disposed at an angle other than parallel thereto. The product is fed/guided generally radially toward the slicing/shaving edge and is sliced/shaved thereby along the circular path in a continuous high speed fashion.