Abstract: In a dummy block construction for use in extruding an extrudable metal, the dummy block having a dummy block base; a connector for connecting said dummy block base to a stem of an extruder; a replaceable wear ring connected to a forward circumferential portion of said dummy block base; a device for releasably securing said wear ring to said dummy block base; a device for expanding said ring to engage a billet container inside wall of an extrusion press during extrusion of a billet of extrudable metal through such extrusion press, the improvement being characterized in the wear ring being a metal collar having a conical interior surface converging towards said dummy block base; and the device for expanding the ring comprising a metal plunger having a plunger head with a conical surface for engaging the collar conical surface to expand the collar as said plunger head is forced into the collar during extrusion; the converging surfaces of the collar and the plunger head extending a sufficient distance to permit t

Abstract: An automatic brake adjustment for small transmissions, such as used with riding lawn mowers and the like. A brake disc rotated by the transmission is selectively engaged by friction producing pucks brought into engagement with the brake disc by a rotatable lever having a cam operating a puck. The axial position of the brake lever on its supporting shaft is determined by a threaded nut and automatic rotational nut adjustment is produced by a wheel having evenly spaced shoulders in the form of ratchet teeth defined upon its periphery selectively and sequentially engaged by a detent mounted upon the brake lever. When puck wear of sufficient extent occurs, the detent will sequentially engage the following shoulder of that previously engaged to rotate the brake lever adjustment nut during the next brake actuation thereby translating the brake lever and puck toward the brake disc to compensate for puck wear.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming a vehicle headlight to a standard image pattern includes a frame movable relative to the vehicle. A housing carried on a vertically adjustable housing includes a lens focusing a headlight beam onto a reflective screen which reflects the beam image to a camera. A control compares the digitized image output from the camera with a standard image pattern and generates a correlation factor based on the difference between the reflected image and a standard image. Based on the difference, the control generates output signals to an adjustment device engagable with the headlight mounting frame to adjust the position of the mounting frame to reduce the difference to zero.

Abstract: A golf ball warmer including a fabric container for housing a commercial hand warmer that is activated by contact of air. The fabric container is cubical in shape to house the hand warmer and golf balls, and having a floor for receiving one of the hand warmers. A back surface of the container extends above an opening of the container to form a closing flap. A mesh fabric pocket is stitched to the inside of the flap for receiving another hand warmer. The container can house two golf balls on the warmer disposed on the floor of a container. When the flap is closed the mesh fabric pocket is placed over the top of the golf balls.

Abstract: A pressure plate filter having a filter vessel with an upper cylindrical section and a lowers downwardly tapering conical section. A stack of spaced-apart filter plates is mounted on a support frame within the filter vessel for pivoting about an offset axis between a lowered filtering position in which the filter plates are horizontally arranged within the conical sections to a raised filter cake discharge position in which the filter plates are supported above the conical section in a sloped position. The stack of filter plates is raised and lowered by means of a hoist assembly. In a further embodiment, the filter includes a separation frame which can move relative to the support frame and which causes the filter plates to move apart relative to each other when placed in the raised discharge position.

Abstract: A drive-through vehicle wash of the type including a plurality of gantries defining a tunnel through which the vehicle passes and including a plurality of longitudinally spaced work stations along the tunnel for performing respective operations associated with the washing of the vehicle. A utility carrier is provided to facilitate delivery of the various utility lines (such as soapy water, clear water, electric power, hydraulic power, and hot air) to the various work stations. The utility carrier comprises a ladder structure positioned above the gantries and a plurality of U-shaped brackets positioned on top of the gantries. The ladder structure has a closed loop configuration overlying the gantries and includes an entry section.

Abstract: A control system utilizes generated acoustic or electromagnetic waves within a deformable wall wave guide. The wave guide is located in the surveillance area and, upon the wave guide being deformed by an obstruction or an intruder, the characteristics of the wave within the change. The change is sensed by a receiver which produces a control signal to activate an alarm and/or an operating system if the control system is used to control moving elements, such as a door or gate. The wave guide can constitute a homogeneous portion of door weatherstripping.

Abstract: A restraint assembly for securing an automotive vehicle to a flat-bed transport vehicle is adapted for use along with wheel chocks. The restraint assembly includes a synthetic, woven webbing strap having ends which are cut cold rather than by a heated blade; a standard, off-the-shelf ratchet mechanism with which the strap is engaged; a vehicle attachment hook attached to a second end of the strap; and a J-shaped hook for engaging a hole on the transport vehicle, the J-hook having a return bend that is approximately 180.degree. in arc length and an extended free end. The geometry of the J-hook serves to substantially prevent the ratchet mechanism from becoming disengaged from the transport vehicle due to bouncing of the restrained automotive vehicle on its suspension.

Abstract: The invention provides a battery having an electrode active material comprising a mixed-metal sulfate compound. The mixed-metal consists of at least one alkali metal and at least one transition metal. Preferably, the sulfate compound is a polysulfate having more than one SO.sub.4 group. The invention also provides novel lithium-metal-sulfate compounds and electrodes comprising such novel compounds.

Abstract: A Christmas tree type clip for mounting a wire harness or electrical component to a vehicle body panel, the clip being designed to provide a low insertion force and a high retention or withdrawal force. The clip has a hollow, thin-walled, flexible stem supporting a plurality of conventional barbs along its length. The interior of the hollow, flexible stem includes pairs of opposed withdrawal-hindering fingers associated with the barbs such that insertion force exerted on the walls of the stem from the barbs is transmitted to the fingers. The opposed pairs of fingers are angled and spaced from one another such that insertion force spreads the fingers further apart, but withdrawal force exerted on the barbs forces the opposed fingers into withdrawal-hindering contact with one another.

Abstract: An improved, panel-mounted fuel reserve valve for a recreational vehicle fuel system. The valve body is molded plastic with a cruciform-symmetrical arrangement of throughbores defining the fuel inlets, the fuel outlet and a valve bore for receiving an internal valve assembly. In the illustrated embodiment the fuel inlets are coaxial, the fuel outlet and the valve bore are coaxial, and the internal valve assembly includes a ball valve element which mates with O-ring type seals associated with the fuel inlets. In a preferred form the valve includes molded hose connectors inserted in the fuel inlets, the hose connectors having valve seat portions which define retainers for the O-rings to hold them firmly and precisely against the ball valve element in the valve body. The invention is also a method for achieving the inventive valve body structure with little or no "flash" or injection leakage which would affect the valve sealing tolerances inside the valve body.

Abstract: A water-disintegrable sheet having biodegradability. The sheet comprises one or more kinds of biodegradable synthetic fibers, and one or more kinds of natural fibers and/or regenerated fibers, all the fibers being bound together by a binder such that the binding power of the binder will be substantially lost in water. The sheet has a given degree of tensile strength and good softness, coupled with a required degree of liquid absorbency, and still has some biodegradation property. Therefore, the sheet can be flushed in a flush toilet without involving any appreciable increase in the volume of solid residues in a septic tank and/or in a sewage disposal plant and is therefore suitable for use in the form of a wet wiper in particular.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring flow rate and controlling delivered volume of fluid flow in a fluid conduit is disclosed including a valve having a fixed aperture disposed in the fluid conduit for selectively opening and closing the aperture between an open position and a closed position. The valve is selectively closed when a predetermined volume has passed through the valve. Differential pressure is measured across the valve and the differential pressure is accumulated with respect to time to provide a value corresponding to volume of fluid flow passing through the valve when in the open position.

Abstract: A viscometer has a rotatable member and a stationary wall engageable with material to be measured. A lens extends through at least a portion of the wall of the viscometer such that laminar flow of material to be measured is undisturbed while shearing across a face of the lens. An infra-red sensor is alignable through the lens for directly measuring infra-red energy created while the material shears across the face of the lens in response to the rotatable member moving with respect to the lens. A method is disclosed for measuring a torque of a material to be tested in a viscometer has a rotatable member and a wall engageable with material to be measured.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a safety feature for batteries comprising an integrated series of lithium-ion bi-cells. Each individual bi-cell comprises, sequentially, an anode, a film separator, a cathode, a film separator, and an anode. When multiple bi-cells are joined within a single package an insulator element, preferably an electrolyte permeable insulator element, is placed between anode elements of adjoining bi-cells. This insulator element appears to restrict internal shorting during crushing of the battery, thus avoiding undesirable effects of shorting such as thermal run-away and producing a safer battery.

Abstract: An improved dispensing system for gasoline cans, comprising a hose adapter which replaces at least the typical spout and sealing disk associated with the gasoline can cap. The hose adapter is designed to accept common garden hose couplings, such that an ordinary piece of garden hose can be securely attached to the adapter and then cut to length for convenient pouring from any distance. In a first embodiment the hose adapter operates with the original cap. In a second embodiment the hose adapter has a built-in cap portion, and replaces the original cap.