Abstract: A relay pilot regulator for use in combination with a main regulator in a gas distribution system, the gas distribution system including an inlet conduit supplying gas at an inlet pressure and an outlet conduit for delivering gas at a reduced outlet pressure, the main regulator including a main valve controlling gas flow from the inlet conduit to the outlet conduit and thereby also controlling the outlet pressure, a main regulator diaphragm mechanically linked to the main valve and a loading chamber the loading pressure in which acts on the main regulator diaphragm wherein the loading pressure positions the main regulator diaphragm and the main valve, the relay pilot regulator providing and controlling the loading pressure in the loading chamber.

Abstract: Sandwich panels comprising a top skin and a bottom skin and a connecting core of a plurality of strand connectors are fabricated by applying viscous liquid core material to one of the skins, providing particles with the viscous core material, and reciprocating the particles between the top and bottom skins to form the strand connectors. The strand connectors are permitted to solidify to complete the formation of the sandwich panel. The particles are preferably of a ferrous metal and are driven between the top and bottom skins by a controlled magnetic field. Compound curved and tubular sandwich panels can be formed by the method.

Abstract: A multi station metal forming press comprising: a single reciprocating ram; a plurality of tools carried by said ram in fixed positions relative thereto and individually being disposed at the stations, said tools being mounted for simultaneous movement with said ram jointly the same linear distance, whereby the maximum amount of linear movement of said ram and said tools is limited by the inherent configuration of said press thereby limiting the length of work piece drawing capacity of said tools; a transfer means for carrying work piece sequentially in a predetermined manner to each station; and an additional pair of tools at two of the stations; and means mounting said additional pair of tools on said ram for simultaneous movement therewith but a linear distance greater than the linear distance said ram moves, whereby said additional pair of tools have a work piece drawing capacity greater than that of said tools.

Abstract: A two-cycle method for flushing an automobile cooling system and apparatus associated therewith. The method comprises cutting a hose between a water pump and a heater of a standard automobile cooling system. A pressurized air and water mixture is then introduced into the heater end of the cut hose, and after circulating through the cooling system, it exits through an opening in the top of a radiator which is normally sealed by a radiator cap. When this exiting water becomes clear, the second cycle is begun. The air and water mixture is introduced into the radiator opening and it circulates through the system in the opposite direction eventually exiting from the heater end of the cut hose. The apparatus of this invention includes a flow-through radiator cap which replaces the standard radiator cap, a plug which seals the water pump end of the cut hose and an "X" connector which by means of a pair of diverter valves directs the flow of the air and water into either the cut hose or the radiator opening.

Abstract: Surgical splints, including finger splints and fence splints, have thin and lightweight bases incorporating stiffening ribs to provide the stiffness and strength of thicker, heavier splints. Splints have aluminum bases with corrugated stiffening ribs, and plastic bases with integral stiffening ribs, wherein the plastic is rigid at room temperature and moldable at slightly higher temperatures. Additional splints have hand moldable plastic bases with metal wire, braided metal wire or wire mesh encapsulated therein to provide stiffness. The splints have more stiffness along their length than across their width. Splint pads are attached to splint bases by double-stick tape or removably attached by statistical loop fasteners.

Abstract: Polypropylene hinges include hinge mounts for self-attaching them to the box and cover of a polystyrene container. The hinge mounts depend from hinge plates and are characterized by an outwardly protruding rigidly supported flange. The hinge mounts are generally matingly received in openings in the box and cover, and the flanges deform the openings to create notches receiving the flanges in an interengaging fit. Hinges also releasably detain the box and cover in a closed position by means of locking legs upstanding from one hinge plate and releasably capturing the other hinge plate to hold the hinge plates in a closed position. In a preferred embodiment, two locking legs having capture tabs receive the other hinge plate therebetween, the capture tabs capturing the other hinge plate to hold the hinge in its closed position.

Abstract: A ski boot comprising an outer boot having a sole on which an improved foot supporting insert rests so as to be selectively laterally tiltable relative to the sole within the shoe. Inversion or eversion of the foot alone causes the insert to tilt, thereby creating a weight shift which is transferred to the lateral edge of a ski attached to the boot causing it to turn. Skiing maneuvers are, therefore, accomplished without twisting the torso or laterally moving the knees of the skier. The insert includes a foot supporting portion made of a suitable material and configured so that in its free state it does not necessarily conform to the sole of the foot of the skier, but which does so conform when it is mounted in a ski boot and the foot of the user is operatively mounted in the ski boot on the insert. The insert is also adapted to be used with an ice skate shoe for use in ice skating and functions essentially in the same manner as when incorporated in a ski boot.

Abstract: The invention relates to an above sea-level platform, for use as, for example, an oil-rig, which is connected to a sea-bed foundation by a ball-joint arrangement. For protection, the ball joint is hollow and partially received in a recess at the lower end of a tubular extension of the platform through which an oil conduit leads from the foundation via the hollow ball joint, the two parts of which are held in sealing abutment by a draw member.

Abstract: A protective boot of flexible, insulating material for use in covering the grounded portions of a circuit interrupter and thereby preventing accidental shorting between the current carrying sections of the circuit interrupter and the grounded portions. The standard, pole-mounted circuit interrupter consists of a number of movable switches used in high voltage applications where shorting can be extremely damaging to the unit. The protective boot of the invention is fabricated in a number of separate parts which correspond to the individual grounded elements of the interrupter. Thus, when in place, the boot will substantially encase the entire grounded portion providing the requisite insulation. At the same time, due to the number of separate parts of the boot, installation on pole-mounted interrupters is easily accomplished, and at the same time, the moving parts of the switches remain unobstructed.

Abstract: A control circuit for use with a shuttle car used in mining operations and circuitry associated therewith. The control circuit generally comprises a chopper circuit in series with a reversing circuit and a traction motor which drives the shuttle car. The chopper circuit essentially comprises two separate current paths each through a separate set of silicon controlled rectifiers or SCRs and a common capacitor. A logic circuit controlled by the operator alternately gates the sets of SCRs thereby placing voltage across the traction motor. The magnitude of this voltage and hence the speed of the motor are directly proportional to the frequency of the gating pulses. The reversing section also employs two sets of SCRs and a common field inductance. The operator, through the logic circuit, triggers one set of SCRs and current flows through the field inductance in a forward direction causing the traction motor to operate in a forward mode.

Abstract: A filter apparatus comprises a tank, a pump and pump motor assembly, a filter assembly, and an inlet/outlet hose, which are modular elements easily assembled for use and disassembled for cleaning. The pump and pump motor assembly is detachably mounted to the tank by flanges including alignment pins and releasably connecting means. The filter assembly and inlet/outlet hose are attached to the pump and pump motor assembly by quick disconnect fittings which include heat insulating actuator rings. The filter assembly includes a filter intake pipe having a filter shoe mounted transversely thereto, a plenum grid which fits over the filter intake pipe and is detachably secured to the filter shoe, and a filter bag which fits over the plenum grid and is clamped between the plenum grid and filter shoe to effect a filter bag seal. The filter assembly is provided with a heat insulating handle to facilitate removing it when hot for filter bag replacement.

Abstract: A power circuit for use in billet heating, surface heat treating and melting and protective circuitry associated therewith. The power circuit generally comprises a source of potential in series with a pair of inductances and an inverter module. The inverter module has two sections each comprised of a thyristor in parallel with a diode. A pair of series connected charging capacitors are connected across the source of potential and a load is connected from between the capacitors to between the two sections of the inverter module. Current flows through one thyristor, through the load and charges the capacitors. The capacitors discharge and a reverse current flows through the load and through the corresponding diode. This cycle is repeated then with the opposite section of the inverter module. A commutation failure protection circuit is provided which detects the voltage collapse condition accompanying a short circuit through the inverter module and when this occurs, it acts to shut off the thyristors.

Abstract: A spool deflection indicator comprising a shank and an integral enlarged switch housing supporting a switch. The shank pivotally supports a rod which is connected at one end to a horizontally movable spool located below the indicator. The other end of the rod opposite the spool has a cam with a concave indentation. The concave indentation is aligned with a switch button on the switch. When the spool moves, the cam also moves causing the concave indentation to become misaligned with the switch button thereby depressing it and changing the mode of the switch.

Abstract: Metal cutting tools comprise a tool body including a shank and generally cylindrical tool head having top and circumferential surfaces. The tool head defines a plurality of generally radially extending slots spaced at intervals about the tool head. The slots open on both the top and circumferential surfaces of the tool head. Each slot matingly receives a U-shaped anvil. A cutter insert is clamped between the legs of the U-shaped anvil and butts against the U-shaped anvil and tool head to position the cutter insert in the metal cutting tool with at least one cutting edge exposed. The cutter inserts have polygonal shapes, square and triangular shapes being shown, and are indexible and replaceable. The U-shaped anvils are also replaceable. The metal cutting tools accurately mount the cutter inserts, are of high strength and durability, and have a long service life by virtue of the replaceability of the cutter inserts and U-shaped anvils.

Abstract: Self-regulating tide gates comprise a door pivotally mounted to the end of a conduit connecting two separated bodies of water. The door is held open to permit full reciprocal flow between a protected one of the bodies of water and the other body of water until the flow would cause an undesirably high water level in the protected body of water. A float senses the water level and releases the door, which then closes a cut off further flow of water. In some embodiments, the door is hingedly connected to the lower edge of the conduit, is buoyant, and is retained in its open position until the float releases it for self-closing. A latching mechanism is employed to hold the door open, or the weight of the float and its connecting float rod accomplish this purpose. In other embodiments, the door is pivotally hinged to the upper edge of the conduit and is provided with counterweights to maintain it in its open position. A float operates against the counterweight to release the door for closing.

Abstract: A ground leakage relay circuit including a core balance transformer through which pass the supply and return line of the circuit to be protected and having a multi-turn secondary winding. A capacitor is connected to be normally charged from a d.c. source. A normally conducting transistor is connected across the capacitor. When the transformer secondary winding exceeds a preselected level, the transistor is switched "off" to permit a voltage build-up across the capacitor. When the voltage across the capacitor reaches a triggering value, it actuates a relay to open the supply line.

Abstract: A polystyrene box comprising a cover and a container section and having a pair of polypropylene hinges and a polypropylene latch. The container section has a sidewall having a pair of hinge slots disposed therein, and the cover has a corresponding pair of hinge slots adjacently disposed thereto. Each hinge comprises a flexible top having a pair of legs and is disposed so that one leg fits into a cover hinge slot while the other leg fits into the corresponding container section hinge slot. Each leg has a protruding blade on its end opposite the top of the hinge and each blade has an outwardly extending flange which digs into the side of the slot when the hinge is fully inserted thereby securing the hinge to the box. The latch is comprised of a cover portion and a container portion each of which is separately connected to their respective parts of the box in the same manner as the hinges. The container portion of the latch has a front leg with a knob which is disposed outside the container section.

Abstract: A probe safety coupling device adapted for use in a cooking system, such as in the deep fat frying of French fries, fish, chicken and the like, wherein the cooking is to be controlled by an electrical control unit responsive to the temperature of a predetermined portion of the cooking medium as sensed by a probe assembly containing a temperature-sensitive element at one end and delivering electrical signals to the control unit through a flexible conduit at the other end. The probe assembly is attached to the control unit with good electrical contact and with lessened risk of probe breakage by means of a safety coupling device which includes a first electrical connector fixedly secured to the timing computer and joined to a length of flexible conduit terminating in a second electrical connector.

Abstract: A ski boot generally comprising an outer boot having an upper shell and a sole attached to the bottom of the upper shell. When the ski boot is in place, the outer boot is fixed to a ski. A laterally tiltable insert rests upon the portion of the sole inside the upper shell, and a foot of a skier rests upon the insert. Inversion or eversion of the skier's foot alone causes the insert to tilt thereby creating a weight shift which is transferred to the edge of the ski causing it to turn. Skiing maneuvers are, therefore, accomplished without twisting the torso or laterally moving the knees.

Abstract: A fluorescent lantern generally comprising a single piece chassis and a cover which removably fits over the rear portion of the chassis. The chassis has a unitary reflector section with a pair of integral sockets for supporting the electrical contacts of a fluorescent lamp. A compartment section for housing the battery and switching mechanism is integrally disposed on the back of the reflector section. When properly mounted in the compartment section, the batteries are electrically connected to the fluorescent lamp through the switching mechanism and the reflector sockets. The switching mechanism is also used to selectively make and break the electrical circuit from the battery to the lamp.