Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer for use in generating transient acoustic pulses in particular for medical purposes such as the destruction of kidney stones. The transducer comprises at least one pair of conductors, of which one is held against movement by a carrier having a high sonic impedance, whereas the other is displaceable with respect to the first to actuate an emitter for generating a pressure pulse as soon as both conductors are traversed by contradirectionally oriented currents so as to repel one another. The conductors of each pair are laid parallel to each other and so connected electrically that the portions adjacent to each other in each case of the cooperating first and second conductors can be traversed by the currents fed into the conductors contradirectionally to generate repulsive forces and equidirectionally to generate attractive forces.

Abstract: A package for an optical disc and an optical disc sleeve includes upper and lower formed plastic sheets sized to receive and support therebetween the optical disc and the optical disc sleeve in side by side relationship. The lower sheet is shaped to support the optical disc and defines an annular depression made up of a central hub, an inner ledge, an annular floor surrounding the inner ledge, an array of raised stiffening structures formed in the annular floor, and at least one outer ledge positioned around the annular floor. The upper sheet is shaped to cover the optical disc and the optical disc sleeve and includes a closed end receptacle shaped to receive an end portion of the hub. The hub has an enlarged head that forms an interference fit with the central opening in the disc to hold the disc on the hub. The upper and lower sheets define peripheral shoulders shaped to fit together to increase the rigidity of the sheets.

Abstract: A tubeless tire valve has a one piece, integral valve body having a central passageway formed therein, wherein the passageway is formed of upper, central and lower regions. A one piece, integral valve pin has a head sized to fit in the upper region, a first shank extending away from the head to an enlargement, and a second shank extending away from the enlargement. The pin enlargement has a maximum dimension larger than the central region to create an interference fit therewith, and the maximum dimension is selected such that the enlargement can be forced through the central region. A resilient internal gasket is mounted on the second shank to seal the central passageway.

Abstract: A longitudinal position measuring device for measuring the relative positions of two objects comprising a housing, a measuring scale, and a scanning unit for scanning the measuring scale. The housing is attached to one of the objects and a scanning unit is attached to the other of the objects by means of a fastening member and a connecting element. The scanning unit comprises a light source and four photosensitive elements. The measuring signal produced by the scanning unit and power to the light source are conducted by means of a cable through the connecting element and into the fastening member. The fastening member is rotatably mounted to the connecting rod so that the fastening member may be readily attached to the other object such as a machine cradle. The cable extends through a chamber located in the fastening member and is connected to an electrical box from which the scanning signals may be taken for conduction to either a display or an evaluation unit.

Abstract: Construction system for shelves comprising shelves and rear panelling plates, and in which the shelves at their rear end are insertable in upright or wall mounted consoles from which the shelves are cantilevered. The consoles are hidden behind the vertically extending rear panelling plates which are mounted horizontally spaced from the uprights or from the wall. Each console constitutes a horizontally mounted profile support rail for continuously supporting at least one shelf along its rear edge engaging its top side and its bottom side along rear edge zones of which the top side edge zone is closer to the rear edge of the shelf than the bottom side edge zone.

Abstract: An extension table for a machine tool of the type that includes a machine table that defines a reference plane includes a rigid, straight beam having a lower surface. A ledge is mounted to the lower surface of an outer portion of the beam to extend outwardly from at least one side of the beam, and this ledge defines a continuous upper surface which is substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the beam. The inner portion of the beam is mounted on the machine table with the beam positioned above the machine table such that the outer portion of the beam is cantilevered from the machine table with the lower surface of the beam substantially coplanar with the machine table. The outer portion of the beam is then supported against deflection by a support leg. The beam is sufficiently rigid to ensure that the upper surface of the ledge is substantially coplanar with the machine table.

Abstract: Gypsum scale inhibitors useful under wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) scrubber temperature and pH conditions. The gypsum inhibitors advantageously prevent or minimize gypsum scale formation and crystal growth in mist eliminator wash water and in the scrubber internals. Specific inhibitors contemplated include copolymers of modified acrylic acid/acrylamide; acrylic acid/vinyl acetate; acrylic acid/maleic anhydride; acrylic acid/acrylate ester; and combinations thereof. In addition, gypsum scale inhibitors comprising phosphonate-polymer blends of hexamethylene diamine tetra (methylene phosphonic acid) salts and polymaleate, poly(acrylic acid/ethylacrylate), poly(acrylic acid/N-methoxypropyl acrylamide/acrylamide), poly(acrylic acid/N-propyl acrylamide/acrylamide), and combinations thereof are also contemplated.

Abstract: A top head drive assembly includes a tubular quill having a central passageway aligned with an axis. The quill is supported for rotation on a load beam included in the top head drive assembly such that the quill is movable along the axis through a range of travel sufficient to provide thread protection to the down hole tubulars during tubular handling operations. Splines drivingly connect the quill with a transmission such that the transmission is operative to rotate the quill throughout the range of travel of the quill along the axis. A blowout preventer valve is mounted in an upper part of the quill to move axially and rotationally with the quill in order to eliminate sliding or rotary seals between the blowout preventer valve and the drill string.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for packing a box with a plurality of groups of pouches or other flexible containers and inserting a support shelf between the groups. A conveyor is used to support and convey boxes such that means for inserting a first group of pouches into a box inserts a group of pouches into the top portion of a box. The boxes are then positioned such that means for inserting a support shelf into the box inserts a shelf into the box before means for inserting a second group of pouches inserts a second group of pouches into the box. The support shelf is inserted from the bottom of the box such that the first group of pouches is supported above the second group of pouches and the support legs of the support shelf rest on the bottom of the box.

Abstract: A frame for ganging a plurality of individually powered rotary lawn mowers together for towing by a vehicle in cutting lawn or the like has T-shaped draft bars which have cross-bar portions pivotally attached to the brackets of skid units mounted to the forward ends of off-the-shelf rotary mowers. Skid units are additionally provided on the rearward end of a first lawn mower, which has the tow bar of its T-shaped draft bar pivotally attached to a vehicle for towing. An intermediate elongated draft bar is attached to the brackets of the first lawn mower's rearward skid units. The tow bars of second and third lawn mowers are attached to the intermediate draft bar on either side of the first lawn mower such that the respective cutting paths of the second and third mowers at least slightly overlap the cutting path of the first lawn mower.

Abstract: A random size carton sealer for folding and gluing carton flaps is disclosed which includes an infeed conveyor; three transfer sections; three flap folding, gluing and compressing sections; and an outfeed section. The cartons to be sealed by the apparatus normally have three sets of top and bottom flaps and two minor flaps for sealing. The infeed conveyor conveys cartons onto the first transfer section. The first transfer section transfers cartons to the first flap folding, gluing and compressing section. The first flap gluing, folding and compressing section seals a first set of top and bottom flaps on a carton and then conveys the carton to the second transfer section. The second transfer section folds a first minor flap on cartons and conveys the cartons to the second flap folding, gluing and compressing section. The second flap gluing, folding and compressing section seals a second set of top and bottom flaps on a carton and then conveys the carton to the third transfer section.

Abstract: A seat spring assembly for upholstered furniture incorporates an inverted torque arm adjacent the back rail of the furniture frame. The torque arm is formed upwardly out of the body of a sinuous spring band which descends from its crown closer to the front rail, in a continuous curve, to lower end of the torque arm at a point below the level of the top of the back rail. The torque arm is connected, from its upper end to the back rail, by translatory means which include a generally horizontal link.

Abstract: The present invention is a rock bit insert including a polycrystalline diamond surface on an insert body having a head portion made from a material with elasticity and thermal expansion properties advantageously tailored for use in three types of rock bits, as well as the three types of rock bits made with such inserts. The three types of bits are a roller cone rock bit adapted to be used with mud as the drilling fluid, a roller cone rock bit adapted to be used with air as the drilling fluid, and a percussion rock bit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to functional 1,3-dihydrogeno disilazanes of formula: ##STR1## in which: R and R.sub.1, identical or different, represent an atom of hydrogen or a hydrocarbon such as an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl or arylalkynyl radical, possibly functional, R also being able to represent a radical ##STR2## and R.sub.2 represents an atom of halogen, an OR group or an --NRR.sub.1 group, when R and R.sub.1 are both hydrocarbon radicals.

Abstract: A portable container for heating and storing pizza includes a fabric box about 20 inches long, about 20 inches wide, and about 8 inches high supported in its four vertical corners by plexiglass strips positioned inside sleeves. A lower rigid panel located at the bottom of the fabric box is used to support a heating unit. An upper rigid panel located above the heating unit forms a compartment with the sides and top of the fabric box large enough to contain two pizzas in their delivery box containers. The heating unit includes an aluminum pan which contains a block of insulation having a one-half inch depression in its upper surface. A silicon rubber heating element is positioned inside this depression. The temperature inside the portable container is maintained between 165.degree.-180.degree. F. The portable container can be carried with one hand when used for delivery of hot pizzas.

Abstract: A method of making chewing gum is disclosed which reduces the incidence of "sugar spots." The method begins by providing a sweetener matrix in a mixer. Discrete particles of unmelted gum base, e.g. commercially available gum base pellets, are then added to the mixer. These two components are mixed until a homogenous mass is produced. Preferably, the sweetener matrix contains no more than about 13 percent by weight moisture at the time the gum base particles are added.

Abstract: A portable water filter assembly is provided with a filter canister secured to a removable base unit to permit replacement and cleaning of the filter elements. The base is sealingly secured to the canister to prevent any leakage through the use of a sealing device. A tamper-proof fitting at the water supply connection serves to prevent servicing of the unit and changing the filter element by other than qualified personnel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a piston slidably disposed for rectilinear reciprocal movement within a cylinder. A drive rack pivotally mounted to the piston carrys a continuous internally facing row of teeth. A drive gear nonrotatably keyed to a drive shaft and internally adjacent to the continuous row of teeth engages a portion of the drive rack teeth. A runner guides the drive rack such that the drive gear cooperatively associates with the drive rack teeth to convert rectilinear movement of the reciprocating piston into rotary movement. One or both of the drive gear and the drive rack are shaped in accordance with the variable forces exerted on the piston during its motion so as to apply torque more evenly to the crank shaft.