Abstract: A bicycle trailer hitch for securing a trailer to a bicycle, the trailer including a hitch arm and the bicycle having a rear wheel including an axle with an axis of rotation and a frame, the bicycle trailer hitch comprising: a hitch ball including a base end connectable to the trailer hitch arm, an opposite end formed as a ball end and a intermediate portion extending therebetween; and a bicycle-mounted hitch portion mountable on the bicycle and including a socket formed to removably retain the ball end of the hitch ball, the socket including an open end, sized to permit the ball end of the hitch ball to pass therethrough and a retainer end formed to retain the ball end therein, the open end being positioned at the forward end of the socket and the retainer end positioned at the rear of the socket such that the ball end is retained in the retainer end when the hitch arm of the trailer is extending out from the hitch behind the bicycle.

Abstract: An improved drive shaft connecting device, including a novel shear bolt (50) for connecting two ends or flanges (42, 44) of the drive shaft connecting device in a manner whereby the separate parts of the drive shaft connecting device are securely connected to each other and are yet free to disconnect from each other and rotate relative to each other in the case of an overload condition on the drive shaft or drive shaft connecting device. The shear bolt is double ended (i.e. threaded on both ends) and shouldered on both ends. The threads on each end allow the two flanges of the drive shaft coupling device to be pulled together to a pre-determined distance, which, together with a shear point (60), is set by the distance between the opposing shoulders (52) on either side of the shear bolt As well, the flanges of the drive shaft coupling device are designed to accept the shear bolts in slotted openings (46, 48).

Abstract: A passenger carrier frame of the invention includes a lower frame member, a folding frame member, a back frame member and a frame folding control. These frame members are pivotally connected adjacent their ends to form a triangular arrangement in side view. The pivotal connections permit the frame to be folded and the frame folding control acts at a selected one of the pivotal connections to drive and lock pivotal rotation at that pivotal connection.

Abstract: A bicycle trailer hitch for securing a trailer to a bicycle, the trailer including a hitch arm and the bicycle having a rear wheel including an axle with an axis of rotation and a frame, the bicycle trailer hitch comprising: a hitch ball including a connector end connectable to the trailer hitch arm, an opposite end formed as a ball and a intermediate portion extending therebetween; and a bicycle-mounted hitch portion including a plate having an aperture extending therethrough, the plate being mountable on the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle with the axle extending through and rotatable within the aperture and a socket connected to the plate and formed to removably retain the ball of the hitch ball.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for stabilizing a PC pump suspended from production tubing. The stabilizing apparatus is connected to the pump and comprises a tubular body having a cylindrical wall, a longitudinal bore contiguous with the production tubing and three or more circumferentially-spaced linkages are disposed in longitudinal slots formed in the exterior of the tubular body. Each linkage comprises at least a passive and an active link pivotally connected end-to-end in series, the passive link being pivoted from the body. An annulus is formed within the cylindrical wall and contains a longitudinally movable annular piston pivotally connected to the active link. The annulus is connected to the bore so that the piston is pressurized dynamically with fluid from the bore. Fluid pressure drives the piston, actuating the active link, thereby causing the linkage to expand radially outwards, the radial force being proportional with the fluid pressure.

Abstract: A method for precipitating atmospheric water by means of multicomponent aerosols, including iodide based complex multicomponent aerosol compositions. The compositions comprise a solid mass formed by a compacted mixture of silver iodide and the iodides, iodates, and periodates of alkali metals, lead, copper, barium; ammonia, barium chromate, and selected oxidizers such as ammonium perchlorate, and fuels such as poly-p-phenylene, phenol formaldehyde resin, epoxide resin, and shellac and mixtures thereof. The compositions, upon burning, produce an aerosol effective to promote atmospheric water precipitation.

Abstract: A high-pressure, high-temperature gate valve which uses a flat faced gate seating on a flat and preferably interchangeable seat, the gate having a wedge-shape on the upstream side which assists in forcing the seating surfaces together which is highly desirable in high-pressure conditions. The inlet and outlet ports are completely covered in the closed position which enables the valve to withstand extreme pressures. The gate valve further includes a valve stem extending through said chamber and said body having a threaded lower end cooperating with a threaded recess in said gate, said stem being axially rotatable in a bearing means in said body to raise and lower said gate between said open and closed positions, said bearing means including a stuffing box, a lower seat and an upper seat through which said stem extends, said stem including an integral collar located between said seats. The upper seat is provided by the stuffing box.