Abstract: This invention relates to a safety switch for a small transmission to prevent operation of an engine when the transmission is in gear. The transmission can have an H-shaped shifting pattern with the engine being capable of starting only when a gear shift lever of the transmission is in neutral. The switch and preferably being made mostly of plastic material.

Abstract: A novel flux for glass compositions which is an eutectic mixture of lithium carbonate and sodium sulfate (liquidus temperature 496.degree. C.) is used in fiberizable glass compositions to improve fluidity and reduce the temperature of fusion of the raw materials of which the glass is formed.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle has multiple forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is carried on an intermediate portion of a shaft and is backed up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. This support minimizes lateral deflection of the shaft on which the bevel gear is mounted, when the transmission is under load.

Abstract: Shift mechanism for a transmission is provided for engaging and disengaging a gear therein. The mechanism is particularly designed to disengage the gear even when the transmission is under a heavy load. The shift mechanism includes a clutch dog or collar on a shaft with the collar having at least one lug or projection which is engagable with and disengagable from a lug or projection on a gear rotatably carried on the shaft. One of the collar and gear has a recess adjacent its respective lug in which a ball is located with the ball also being retained by a retaining ring mounted on the collar or gear. When the collar and gear are in an engaged position, both lugs are in contact with the ball; when the collar is moved away from the gear to disengage the collar and the gear, the point contact of the lugs and ball enables disengagement of the collar from the gear even when the transmission is under a heavy load.

Abstract: A shell for an orthotic is formed monolithically and includes a heel post, a navicular flange and a metatarsal raise. The shell can be made from a semi-rigid material, such as molded rubber, and encapsulated by a suitable covering so as to form a universal orthotic.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided, especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle is exceptionally shallow, with the gear shift lever entering the housing on about the same level as the rear axles. The transaxle has six forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is also backed-up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. A unique bearing design provides effective lubrication for the output shafts or axles of the transaxle. A compact differential of the transaxle also rotates within a cavity without any axle.

Abstract: An orthotic device for the heel of a person's foot. The orthotic device includes a flexible cup-shaped body member adapted to surround the heel and adjacent portions of a person's foot when worn by the person. The cup-shaped body member includes an integral substantially solid heel cushion disposed on said body member in the vicinity of the heel of the person when the orthotic device is worn, three substantially solid rib members extending substantially longitudinally along the length of the bottom portion of the body member, and a tendon supporting portion provided on the cup-shaped body member which is adapted to surround and support a portion of the Achilles tendon when the orthotic device is worn. Relieved areas are provided on the cup-shaped body member for joining the heel cushion to the bottom portion and to the tendon supporting portion to permit limited freedom of movement of the heel cushion relative to the sole portion and the tendon supporting portion when the device is worn.

Abstract: Shift mechanism for a transmission is provided for engaging and disengaging a gear therein. The mechanism is particularly designed to disengage the gear when the transmission is under a heavy load. The mechanism includes a clutch dog or collar on a shaft, with the collar having at least one lug or tooth which is engagable with and disengagable from a lug or tooth on a gear rotatably carried on the shaft. The clutch collar has a peripheral flange with a cam configuration on the side toward the gear. A shifter fork has a projection or cam follower with a cam surface facing the cam surface of the flange. To disengage the clutch collar from the gear, the cam follower of the shifter fork is engaged with the cam surface of the clutch collar and forces it away from the gear to a disengaged position, even when the transmission is under a heavy load.

Abstract: Resilient shift mechanism for shifting gears in a transaxle, transmission, gear box, or the like is provided. In a gear drive for a small vehicle such as a garden tractor or a self-propelled lawn mower, it is often difficult to disengage a shift dog from a gear when under a heavy load. In some instances, the shift mechanism, such as a shifter fork, can be distorted, bent, or broken. The new shift mechanism includes a shifter fork for moving a shift dog or clutch collar and a resilient shift lever for moving the shifter fork. The lever has a resilient leg which yields when the shift lever attempts to move the shift dog while the transmission is under a heavy load. The resilient shift lever, being stressed, will subsequently shift the shift dog when the load has diminished.

Abstract: Lithium chloride containing small amounts of inorganic and/or organic impurities is purified by heating the lithium chloride above about 200.degree. C., cooling the compound to ambient temperatures and extracting it with isopropanol, separating the liquid and solid phases, removing the isopropanol and recovering lithium chloride of high purity.

Abstract: Highly pure lithium chloride suitable for use in production of lithium metal by electrolysis is obtained directly from impure natural or other lithium chloride brines by an integrated process in which the brine is first concentrated by solar energy to a lithium chloride concentration of about 3%, after which the brine is treated with lime and calcium chloride to convert such impurities as boron, magnesium and sulfate to a calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate, respectively, and separating the precipitated calcium sulfate dihydrate from the brine. The brine is then further concentrated to 40% or more lithium chloride by means of solar or other energy, during which concentration step the calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate precipitate from the brine. The highly concentrated brine is subjected to evaporation at a temperature above 101.degree. C. to produce anhydrous lithium chloride which is further heated to a temperature of 200.degree.

Abstract: A shift control mechanism is provided for a transmission or the like. The control mechanism prevents the transmission from being shifted directly from a forward speed to reverse or vice versa. A shift lever of the transmission engages a slider when shifting between a reverse position and a neutral position or between a forward position and the neutral position. The slider is mounted in a guide on a lockout plate with the slider being limited in movement to prevent the shift lever from moving beyond the next adjacent position of the transmission in any single motion. Thus, the transmission must always be shifted into neutral when shifting between forward and reverse.

Abstract: Boron, as well as magnesium and sulfate impurities, are removed from or at least substantially reduced in a lithium containing brine to minimize lithium losses on further concentration of the brine by adding to the brine an aqueous slurry of slaked lime and a solution of calcium chloride to form a calcium borate hydrate, magnesium hydroxide and calcium sulfate dihydrate, the last named compound being precipitated and separated from the brine. On further concentration of the brine, calcium boron hydrate and magnesium hydroxide precipitate and they are also removed from the brine. In an alternate procedure, the pH of the brine is adjusted to 8.0-8.4 by addition of hydrochloric acid to form a calcium borate hydrate, which on further evaporation, is also separated from the brine. The brine is then concentrated further to recover lithium values.

Abstract: A powdered metal part is provided with a side recess or notch which is shaped to receive a threaded member or screw. The part is made from powdered metal formed under high pressure by punches and a die and the part is then sintered. The threaded member is threaded into the notch in a direction which is transverse to the direction in which the punches and die are brought together to form the part. The recess or notch has generally parallel side walls extending between opposite surfaces of the part with the side walls having V-shaped ridges and grooves. The ridges are opposite the grooves to threadedly receive a machine screw or the like which is turned into the open end of the notch.

Abstract: By evaporation employing solar energy, a brine having a lithium chloride concentration greater than that of a brine whose vapor pressure under ambient conditions is substantially equal to the partial pressure of moisture in the atmosphere above the brine is obtained. The process by which such result is accomplished involves the use of a pond system consisting of a series of shallow ponds of relatively large surface area to which a dilute lithium chloride brine is introduced. The flow of the brine through the pond system is controlled so that, at a point intermediate the points of introduction of the brine to and withdrawal of the brine from the pond system, the concentration of the brine is such that its vapor pressure under ambient conditions is substantially equal to the partial pressure of the moisture in the atmosphere immediately above the pond system.

Abstract: An effective alloying additive for adding small (5-30 ppm) quantities of boron to steel which is continuously cast, said additive containing 0.5-1.5% boron, 8-15% calcium, 8.5-20% titanium, 40-60% silicon, up to 1.5% of aluminum, and balance iron.The additive makes possible continuous casting of boron steel without the tundish nozzle-clogging problem associated with aluminum-killed steel, and the cast steel contains sufficient soluble boron to provide a good hardenability effect.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided, especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle is exceptionally shallow, with the gear shift lever entering the housing on about the same level as the rear axles. The transaxle has six forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is also backed-up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. A unique bearing design provides effective lubrication for the output shafts or axles of the transaxle. A compact differential of the transaxle also rotates within a cavity without any axle.