Abstract: A microwave oven structure wherein a movable food support is selectively positionable in any one of a plurality of preselected different discrete positions. The support may be moved to the different positions during the cooking cycle as by a programmed timer. Alternatively, the support may be moved as a function of a sensed condition of the food being cooked, such as a temperature differential occurring therein. The movement of the support may be limited so as to permit the use of a probe inserted into the food being cooked without damage to the wires connecting the probe to the control of the oven. The support, in the illustrated embodiment, is a turntable which is controlledly rotated less than a full turn in repositioning the food being cooked.

Abstract: A three-mode, hydromechanical transmission including a pair of hydraulic displacement units forming a hydrostatic transmission and having a first, low-speed hydrostatic mode and a second and third intermediate and high speed hydromechanical modes. In one embodiment, a pair of planetary gear sets are related to form a four-element differential and are associated with an input shaft and the hydrostatic transmission and brake and clutch means. The hydrostatic transmission drives an output shaft through a connection to one of the planetary gear sets, with the brake means engaged. A first clutch means in a drive train from the input shaft to one planetary gear set effects the second mode of operation with the brake disengaged and a second clutch means in a parallel drive train to another element of the planetary gear sets effects the third mode of operation, with the brake and first clutch means disengaged.

Abstract: A safety device for roll forming apparatus that has a pair of oppositely rotating pressure rollers with parallel axes and peripheral cylindrical surfaces which define between them a gripping and contact gap. The safety device comprises a pair of safety rollers located rearwardly of the pressure rollers and having peripheral portions spaced apart a distance greater than the gap between the pressure rollers and means for rotating the safety rollers in a rearward direction with respect to the pressure rollers in order to engage and reject foreign articles placed between the safety rollers.

Abstract: A device for wrapping twine around a bale of fodder which is rolled in a baling chamber of an apparatus that moves along a windrow. The device has a twine arm which swings between a transversely extending rest position and a dispensing position extending rearwardly into the baling chamber, a twine clamp near the rest position of the free end of the twine arm, a twine cutting blade near the twine clamp, and a mechanism that operates automatically in response to swinging movement of the twine arm to release the twine clamp as the arm approaches dispensing position and to re-engage the clamp and sever the twine as the arm approaches rest position. The mechanism includes a tension spring that passes overcenter to rapidly release and engage the clamp.

Abstract: A refrigerator door construction and method of assembly wherein an inner door liner and a sealing gasket are secured to the inner surface of the door by a plurality of retainer strips. The retainer strips are provided with locking tabs extending through slots in the door surface and define a plurality of retaining surfaces for positioning the retainer strips selectively in a first, partial installed position and a final fully installed position wherein the retainer strips clamp the edge of the door liner and gasket to the inner door surface. The clamping action is effected by a camming of the retainer strips as a result of movement thereof generally parallel to the door surface. The strips are deflected in the first position to accept the gasket for facilitated installation. Threaded fasteners may be used to secure the retaining strips in the second fully installed position.

Abstract: A spring actuated, pivoting cutting tool, which is used in conjunction with turning equipment and which at the termination of its cutting stroke automatically lifts the cutting edge off the finished surface to allow the tool to be withdrawn without leaving a return mark, is provided with a spring actuated, slidable shield which substantially covers any gap between the moving parts of the cutting tool, thus reducing the likelihood of chips or other debris from lodging between the moving parts of the tool and preventing its proper operation.

Abstract: A power boost mechanism for converting pilot linear throttle input commands to rotary motion and providing amplification of output torque to an engine fuel control and having an output shaft adapted for connection to an engine power lever assembly. An input member is movable in response to a throttle input command and power boost structure responsive to movement of the input member causes rotation of the output shaft. The mechanism further includes feedback structure associated with the output shaft and responsive to movement thereof for returning said power boost structure to a null position independently of said input member, structure automatically enabling direct operation of the output shaft by said input member when the power boost structure is inoperative, and structure responsive to a malfunction in the engine fuel control causing limited rotation of the output shaft without movement of said input member.

Abstract: A catheter introducer device using a silicone rubber catheter with a stylet therein permitting introduction by manual threading of catheters which would otherwise be too flexible for individual insertion. The stylet is held at its proximal end by a hub which, with a seating ferrule, abuts a proximal end of the catheter. The hub may be pushed to wedge the catheter in an introducer cannula and is then withdrawn carrying the stylet with it, leaving the catheter in place and ready for use.

Abstract: A multiple electrode magnetic arc welder that has a plurality of electrodes arranged in a preselected pattern corresponding to the arrangement of the multiple welds to be made by these electrodes in sequence. Each of these electrodes is mounted for movement from a retracted inoperative position toward the respective work areas where the welding takes place and back to the retracted position. The electrodes are moved individually into close proximity welding position to its workpiece for welding the workpiece and then retracted to inoperative position with the means for retracting the electrodes comprising means for automatically de-energizing the retracted electrode. The disclosure also includes a supply of pressurized inert gas and a valve for bathing the electrode and the workpiece in this inert gas automatically during the welding operation when the above close proximity position is maintained.

Abstract: A molding apparatus and method for molding patties of ground raw meat and the like that has a hopper for holding a supply of the meat, a mold having a patty shaped mold cavity, a ram equipped pressure chamber into which the meat is moved from the hopper and from which it is forced into a patty shaped mold cavity in the mold, means for moving the mold between a filling position for the cavity and an ejecting position for removal of the patty from the cavity and a lever system for moving the mold, meat transfer means in the hopper and the pressure ram all without substantial lost motion in order to avoid noise pollution that is an unwelcome side effect of machines such as patty molding machines that use such lost motion connections to provide pauses between relatively operating parts.

Abstract: A new catalyst and a method of polymerizing olefins in which the catalyst is prepared (1) by forming a mixture by dispersing on a finely divided, difficult to reduce, inorganic support of silica, alumina, thoria, zirconia, titania, magnesia or mixtures of these a tetravalent or lower valent organic chromium compound, (2) calcining the mixture of (1) in an oxidizing or inert atmosphere and at an elevated temperature to produce a chromium compound on the support, (3) reacting the product of (2) with an alkyl ester of titanium, boron, vanadium or mixtures thereof or boric acid at an elevated temperature, and (4) activating the product of (3) with a dry gas that contains oxygen by heating at an elevated temperature the product of (3) in this dry gas.

Abstract: A well water retrieval system for deep shaft wells including an electrical generator of limited generating capacity of the type that operates upon input of naturally occurring energy in wave or kinetic form as, for example, a photovoltaic generator. The system includes a plurality of electrically operated pumps each having an electrical energy demand not in excess of the generating capacity of the generator and a plurality of water reservoirs each sized to be disposed in a well shaft, there being a reservoir for most of the pumps. A conduit system supports the pumps and the reservoirs in a well shaft with the pumps and reservoirs stacked substantially vertically with the outlet of each pump connected to a reservoir higher in the stack and the inlet of each pump connected to an adjacent reservoir.

Abstract: A self-aligning water jet receiver for a rotary spray arm rotatable about an axis of rotation on a dishwasher dish rack in which the rotatable spray arm is mounted on the dish rack and is rotated by the reaction force of water exiting through spray nozzles in the spray arm. An upwardly projected water jet supplies the water to the hollow spray arm. In this invention the liquid jet is received in a jet receiver that is mounted on the spray arm along the axis of rotation and is shiftable laterally by the force of the jet on the receiver to align the receiver coaxially with the jet.

Abstract: A cabinet device is provided for use in combination with an abrasive blasting system. The inner chamber of the cabinet device is maintained at a pressure of less than ambient air pressure during an abrading operation by applying a source of vacuum to an exhaust outlet in the bottom of the cabinet below the article being abraded which is supported on a rack in the chamber. A blasting gun in the chamber is manipulated from outside the cabinet by an operator. An inlet for ambient air is located in the cabinet above the article on the rack and, during an abrading operation, establishes a continuous current of air downwardly toward the cabinet exhaust outlet to clear the space in the cabinet above the rack of view-obscuring debris and dust caused by the blasting operation. An improved sealing device between the cabinet cover and the peripheral sidewall of the cabinet housing is also provided.

Abstract: A device for connecting the superstructure of a wiper blade in side-by-side relationship to a wiper arm. The device comprises a pin which extends through both the superstructure and the wiper arm and has an enlarged portion on one end of the pin operable to limit longitudinal and to prevent rotational movement of the pin relative to the superstructure of the wiper blade. The device also includes a member which is at least partially supported by a portion of the pin outside the wiper arm with a second member resiliently urging the wiper arm toward the superstructure. The superstructure acts as a stop limiting the relative movement of the wiper arm in the direction of the superstructure.

Abstract: A thermal current limiting controller for use in protecting the electric drive motor, controller and battery of an electrically propelled vehicle against damage thereto resulting from excessive temperature conditions. The controller is arranged to calculate the temperature condition of the motor as a function of the current flow therethrough and more specifically, integrates the current flow with respect to time so as to provide a control signal proportional to the calculated temperature condition. The control signal is utilized to limit the amount of current the drive motor is permitted to draw notwithstanding an attempt by the operator of the vehicle to cause the drive motor to draw greater current. The controller further includes an indicator which is responsive to the control signal to provide a variable indication of the temperature condition so as to warn the vehicle operator of the magnitude of the undesirable heating of the drive motor and, thus, the impairment of the system capabilities.

Abstract: A ski pole shaft defined by a tubular element formed of a plurality of continuous filaments extending substantially rectilinearly end to end of the element and spaced in an annular array about the axis of element. The filaments are embedded in a matrix of set synthetic resin and are maintained in a longitudinally stressed condition by the set resin so as to define a prestressed tubular shaft wall.The shaft wall may have an outer diameter of approximately 10 times the thickness of the wall. In one embodiment the wall has a thickness of approximately 0.07 inches. The filaments in the illustrated embodiment are stressed to approximately 5 to 10% of their breaking stress. The filaments in the illustrated embodiment comprise approximately 60 to 70% of the volume of shaft wall. The filaments may include filaments made of different materials and the different filaments may be selectively uniformly distributed in the annular array in the tubular wall.

Abstract: A crop divider pivotably mounted to the end of a harvesting platform about a horizontal axis, said divider having a plate with a reinforcing frame and two convexly curved surfaces tapered from front to rear. The leading curved surface is sloped rearwardly and is curved inwardly toward the harvesting platform. The rear curved surface is curved outwardly away from the harvesting platform.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus for use in association with a vacuum casting apparatus wherein the box containing the sand and casting upon completion of the vacuum casting is moved on track means to a vibrating station where it is lifted off the track, tilted, and vibrated to discharge the sand and separate the sand from the casting.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an evaporator fan and a temperature sensing circuit which includes a thermistor located to sense the average temperature of the cabinet air and a potentiometer manually adjustable to a desired temperature set point. The temperature sensing circuit also includes a first comparator stage which indicates whether the average temperature of the cabinet air is above or below a first value, the first comparator having little or no hysteresis in its response so that small changes in temperature can be detected. A second comparator stage indicates whether a signal at its input is greater or less than a second value, the second comparator stage having substantial hysteresis in its response to provide high noise immunity. An integrator is interposed between the first comparator stage and the second comparator stage to further enhance noise suppression.