Abstract: Embodiments of this invention, useful for removing articles cut from a sheet of flexible material include a gas transmissive conveyor belt that is brought into proximity to the exposed surface of the articles, a suction roll which backs the conveyor belt and has an internal vacuum and passageways for exposing said vacuum to the outer surface of the suction roll in configurations corresponding the leading portions of the articles, and means for causing the passageways to register substantially with the leading regions of the articles. Embodiments may also include passageways which are arcuately arrayed in groups, a cylindrical cutter roll for cutting out the articles from the sheet as it is being transported by a carrier surface, and/or a carrier surface in the form of a roll face.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention, useful for removing articles cut from a sheet of flexible material include a gas transmissive conveyor belt that is brought into proximity to the exposed surface of the articles, a suction roll which backs the conveyor belt and has an internal vacuum and passageways for exposing said vacuum to the outer surface of the suction roll in configurations corresponding the leading portions of the articles, and means for causing the passageways to register substantially with the leading regions of the articles. Embodiments may also include passageways which are arcuately arrayed in groups, a cylindrical cutter roll for cutting out the articles from the sheet as it is being transported by a carrier surface, and/or a carrier surface in the form of a roll face.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for removing palm hearts from the tapered and "meristem" sections of cut lengths of stalks of palm, each of which had included a large "meristem" section joined to a smaller diameter top section by an intermediate tapered section, and had a palm heart that runs the length of the stalk as a core member inside an intermediate layer that is surrounded by a thorny outer bark layer. After removel of the smaller diameter section from the remainder of the stalk, the remaining tapered and "meristem" sections are caused to be retentively positioned in coring means by which, backed by means for retaining the work piece in position, a coring knife moves substantially coaxially to the piece from one of its ends to core out and remove the palmheart core from the remainder of the work piece. Embodiments include such means per se and methods for carrying out the foregoing processes.

Abstract: Elongated, trough-like rain gutters devices and methods of making same are disclosed, made from material by which they and/or their constituent components are rendered (1) formable into desired natural configurations, (2) coilable in their long dimension after having been formed without substantial residual elastic deformation from their natural configurations, and (3) uncoilable. The material is substantially impervious to the passage of water and has residual memory by which, when unaffected by external influences, to resume the natural configurations. Thus, they may be coiled to facilitate shipping and handling and unrolled without substantial residual deformation. They may be comprise one or more constituent members. Those comprising more than one may include a wall-facing structure and a main body structure, each of which structures is made up from at least one member, with the constituent members in edge to edge seriatim arrays.

Abstract: For use in forming apparatus having a die element and a roll platen element that have parallel, facing, flat, and preferably horizontal surfaces and each of which has an associated mounting structure, toggle assemblies to alter the distance between the flat surfaces of those elements by moving one or both of them, and to positionally fix those surfaces at desired distances from each other. Each toggle assembly includes an obtusely angled toggle link, one end of which is pivotally interconnected with an associated motion actuator means. A second toggle link that is positioned across the exterior angle of the angled toggle link has one end that is pivotally affixed to the angled toggle link at a first pivot point located at the angle of the angled link. The other end of the second toggle link and the other end of the angled toggle link are pivotally interconnected to the element and with its associated mounting structure, in either order, at second and third pivot points.

Abstract: Devices for ceilings in which tiles are supported by a concealed suspension grid include channels and channel hangers that establish the ceiling level and support the suspension grid and, together with wall supports form the suspension grid. Each channel, in cross-section, is substantially "U" shaped and has a retaining tab portion positioned at one end of one of its legs that is oriented at right angles to that leg in the direction of the other leg. The tabbed leg may be shorter than the untabbed leg which may be substantially the same height as the depth of the edge grooves in the ceiling tiles. Each hanger is adapted for affixation to a support structure at one end, and has a channel-receiving aperture at its other end whose height when said hanger is vertically oriented is greater than the height of the retaining tab portion of the channels, and has a vertical slot in its floor that is deeper than the height of the retaining tab.

Abstract: Apparatus useful for removing articles cut from a sheet of flexible material includes a gas transmissive conveyor belt that is brought into proximity to the exposed surface of the articles, a suction roll which backs the conveyor belt and has an internal vacuum and passageways for exposing said vacuum to the outer surface of the suction roll in configurations corresponding the leading portions of the articles, and means for causing the passageways to register substantially with the leading regions of the articles. Embodiments may also include passageways which are arcuately arrayed in groups, a cylindrical cutter roll for cutting out the articles from the sheet as it is being transported by a carrier surface, and/or a carrier surface in the form of a roll face.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for removing palm hearts from cut lengths of stalks of palm each of which includes a large "meristem" section that is joined to a smaller diameter top section by an intermediate tapered section, and has a palm heart that runs the length of the stalk as a core member inside an intermediate layer that is surrounded by a thorny outer bark layer. Each such stalk is caused to move longitudinally through bark removal means for slitting the outer bark layer of its smaller diameter section and removing the bark from the remainder of the stalk. The smaller section, after having been severed from the rest of the stalk, is caused to move longitudinally through intermediate layer removal means for slitting and removing the intermediate layer from the underlying palm heart. Embodiments include each such means per se and acting cooperatively with the other, and methods for carrying out the foregoing processes.

Abstract: Machines are disclosed for making arepas from corn flour dough which is then formed into arepas in a cavity situated between abutting, opposing forming members. The cavity, when the forming members are closed with dough occupying the cavity, is of predetermined dimensions, is substantially circular in the plane where said members abut, is substantially bilaterally symmetrical with reference both to said plane and the central axis of that circular portion, and, axially from that plane, is of progressively increasing thickness dimension proceeding from said edge of said circle toward that axis. The forming members are then moved apart from each other by a distance at least equal to the axial dimension of the cavity and the arepa preform is disassociated from the forming members and its entire outer surface, but not its interior, is cooked using primarily radiant and/or convective heat, but not conductive heat to any significant extent.

Abstract: Machines and methods are disclosed for making arepas from corn flour dough in a cavity situated between abutting, opposing forming members. When the forming members are closed, dough occupying the cavity is circular in the plane where said members abut, and is of progressively increasing thickness dimension toward its axis. The forming members are then moved apart from each other and the arepa preform is disassociated from the forming members and its entire outer surface, but not its interior, is cooked using primarily radiant and/or convective heat. In some embodiments, the dough is extruded directly into the cavity while the forming members are already abutting each other. In others, the dough is extruded, a preform plug is severed from the extrusion, the cavity portion of one of the forming members is pressed down against the preform plug while it sits on a distensible surface backed by a backing member having a circular central void.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for removing palm hearts from the tapered and "meristem" sections of cut lengths of stalks of palm, each of which had included a large "meristem" section joined to a smaller diameter top section by an intermediate tapered section, and had a palm heart that runs the length of the stalk as a core member inside an intermediate layer that is surrounded by a thorny outer bark layer. After removel of the smaller diameter section from the remainder of the stalk, the remaining tapered and "meristem" sections are caused to be retentively positioned in coring means by which, backed by means for retaining the work piece in position, a coring knife moves substantially coaxially to the piece from one of its ends to core out and remove the palmheart core from the remainder of the work piece. Embodiments include such means per se and methods for carrying out the foregoing processes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for removing palm hearts from cut lengths of stalks of palm each of which includes a large "meristem" section that is joined to a smaller diameter top section by an intermediate tapered section, and has a palm heart that runs the length of the stalk as a core member inside an intermediate layer that is surrounded by a thorny outer bark layer. Each such stalk is caused to move longitudinally through bark removal means for slitting the outer bark layer of its smaller diameter section and removing the bark from the remainder of the stalk. The smaller section, after having been severed from the rest of the stalk, is caused to move longitudinally through intermediate layer removal means for slitting and removing the intermediate layer from the underlying palm heart. Embodiments include each such means per se and acting cooperatively with the other, and methods for carrying out the foregoing processes.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include pressure differential barrier members for separating selected substances from fluid, gaseous and/or liquid, and methods of making same. They include separation material which, with respect to the fluid to be treated, is pervious and exhibits desired separation capabilities. They may also, at least in part, include material which is substantially impervious to the fluid. They include bridges spanning flow paths to form lateral flow paths, and they may also include flow paths that are unbridged. All flow paths through such embodiments are either through structural elements which themselves have desired separation capabilities or are occupied by separation material that is pervious to the fluid being treated and is of such desired characteristics.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced composite structures and preforms for making same, and methods for making such structures and such preforms, are disclosed. In the preforms, at least two constituent elements are woven from yarns made from material of desired characteristics and the elements are joined at a juncture therebetween by fibrous material that is common to and integral with said elements. At least one of the elements includes at least one internal pocket that is adapted to contain a reinforcement member that produces improved shear stiffness and/or shear strength in the preform when it is matrix infiltrated. In preferred embodiments, three such elements are oriented at right angles to each other, with reinforcement pockets included in two of the three elements. Preforms so made may then be infiltrated with matrix material.

Abstract: This invention comprises laminar flow generation devices that are adapted to be affixed to the upper, substantially flat surfaces of a rain gutter deflector system. They have at least one water diverting surface which rises abruptly from such upper surface and provides for the smooth redirection of water from the region of its top end through an angular displacement preferably not in excess of 90 degrees to the other of its ends from which the water is discharged. Embodiments may have two such water diverting surfaces with a common leading edge to divide the water and redirect the resulting flows away from each other. They may be further adapted for affixation to gutter deflector surfaces which intersect each other at an angle, as at the site of a roof valley. The diverting surfaces may include apertures to provide flow paths for water to further reduce the volume of the water discharged at the egress end of the diverting surfaces.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor having a main body member with an interior chamber, made from material which is an oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte when at specified temperatures. Electrodes made from material which is porous to oxygen molecules are positioned opposite each other on the main body member, within the interior chamber an d on the outside of the main body. Via a port which extends through the main body, changes in the absolute pressure of gas to be tested in the environs of the outer electrode are transmitted to the gas in the environs of the inner electrode. As a result of reference gas being introduced into the interior chamber of the main body through an orifice at a pressure sufficient to maintain the rate of flow at its critical (and therefore constant) rate of flow, the environs of the inner electrode are occupied by reference gas and a flow of gas results, through the main body member from the region of the inner electrode and out through the port.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include devices for removing particles, such as the fly ash from gaseous effluent produced by the combustion of pulverized coal, comprising arrays of ceramic rods that are contained within a housing having ingress and egress openings for the effluent. The rods are so oriented as to create tortuous paths for the effluent and thereby effectively render the rods in the aggregate into an impact separator. The rods are made from material which exhibits electrical resistance such that when the are sufficiently energized electrically, ash accumulated thereon liquefies or otherwise looses its adhesive strength, releasing such accumulations which then, by gravity and/or the drag forces of the gas stream separate from the rods for subsequent collection and removal.

Abstract: Shear-type cutters for hard and/or large thickness workpieces having a pair of shearing-action cutting jaws, laterally abutting each of which jaws is a hold-down clamp member having a hold-down surface positioned opposite the other of said jaws. Each hold-down surface is moveable with respect to its associated jaw away from the jaw it opposed through a wide range of distances, normally is in alignment with the cutting surface of the jaw to which it as affixed, and is resiliently biased against being so moved. Thereby, when the jaws close on a workpiece of any of a wide range of thicknesses, the hold-down surfaces of the clamps come into contact with and yieldingly remain pressed against the outer surfaces of the work piece to hold it in place as the cutting jaws impinge upon and cut through it.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of identification devices. Embodiments include a shoelace, near the center of which is affixed a flexible strip, made from textile, plastic, or other suitable material, that is adapted to be wrapped about the shoelace and retained in that position. Desired information, such as name, address, telephone number, blood type, medical facts of special concern, or the like, may appear on the surface of the strip which is to be concealed by the strip having been overlaid by itself as it is wrapped about the shoelace. The strip, so marked and so positioned, may be surrounded by a protective cover material, such as a short, tubular segment of clear plastic, to protect the strip while keeping the distinguishing indicia visible. Such protective cover and/or the surface of the strip which is exposed when the strip is so wrapped may include distinguishing indicia to notify interested persons, such as police, medical workers, etc., of the existence of the enclosed information.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices for sawing hard material such as stone, and includes extenders to be affixed to the peripheral surfaces of a sawing core. Each has vertical sidewalls which are spaced-apart from each other by top and bottom spacer elements. The cavity created thereby opens to the front (i.e., in the direction of travel of the core when in use) and to the rear of the extender. The bottom of the cavity, which is formed by the upper surface of the bottom spacer element, inclines upward toward the rear to deflect water that has been sprayed onto the device to lubricate, cool and clean it, onto the next succeeding extenders and their associated cutting surfaces. The top spacer element receives a slideably replaceable cutting member base from said front direction, that may have a U-shaped mounting base and has a matrix element affixed to its top that is adapted to provide desired cutting surfaces.