Abstract: A liquid pump having a rotary impeller of improved construction to eliminate the cavitation in the pump housing. Motor noises are muffled because the exhaust port of the pump is on the heel of the skimmer plate of the pump which is slightly below the water line, allowing the water to act as a muffler. Also, in use of the pump in outboard motors, further efficiency is caused by the Venturi effect created when water passes over the exhaust port. A reverse mechanism is mounted internal to the discharge end of the pump housing to prevent the accumulation of debris on the reverse mechanism. The impeller includes helical blades mounted on an inverted cone. Each blade has an inner peripheral portion near the axial center line of the impeller to present a negative radial rake which decreases as the upper end of the blade is approachable. Each blade has an outer peripheral portion provided with a positive radial rake which increases as the upper end of the blade is approached.

Abstract: A method of preparing certain bis-quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures is disclosed. The method involves contacting a tertiary amine with a suitable amount of neutralizing acid, e.g. HCl, and subsequently contacting the resulting mixture with a suitable epoxide, e.g. epichlorohydrin, at an elevated temperature and in an amount that e.g. 2-hydroxypropylene-bis-1,3-(dimethyl stearyl ammonium chloride) is obtained in almost stoichiometric yields. The resulting bis-quaternary ammonium compounds can be incorporated into a hair conditioner whereby a softer feel and better control of hair is obtained.The general structure for the resulting bis-quaternary ammonium compounds is as follows: ##STR1## wherein the R's are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkylamidoalkyl, aryalkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, and carboxyalkyl and X is a negative radical from the epoxide used, e.g. epichlorohydrin.

Abstract: A spherical mounting joint of a light fixture that mounts vertically on a wall has first and second couplers that attach to an angled surface of the fixture to mount the fixture vertically.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for measuring the wear in the cross-sectional profile of a railroad rail. A carriage is adapted for travel along the length of the rail and includes means for moving transversely with respect to its direction of travel in response to wear in the railhead of the rail. Distance sensors fixedly mounted to the carriage sense the changes in distances from the carriage to the rail as the carriage moves in a direction transverse to the direction of travel. The sensors relate the changes in these distances to wear in the top and gauge sides of the railhead.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus which is applicable such as, for example, an automatic golf ball dispenser, and comprises a ball magazine floor which consists of a number of tracks for golf balls so that these are arranged in rows after one another, the ends of the tracks being combined to form a pivotal cradle whose depth corresponds to one golf ball, whereby each pivoting of the cradle entails emptying of only that number of golf balls which is present in the cradle.

Abstract: A railroad track rail grinding car having both vertical and horizontal grinding stones, with the horizontal stones being individually positionable to contact selected areas of a rail head profile and with the vertical stones being mounted on a flexible beam that can be bent to adjust the grinding path of the vertical stones. Both vertical and horizontal stones are surrounded with shrouds from which a vacuum pulls dust and sparks.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a chassis adapted for travel along a railroad rail with the chassis having a plurality of bearing points located between the chassis and the rail for supporting the chassis on the rail and for allowing movement of the chassis over the rail. The bearing points are aligned along a reference line and are at least variably spaced on opposite sides of a sensing point mounted on the chassis. At least one bearing point on each side of the sensing point contacts the rail surface as the chassis moves over the rail. A sensing device is provided at the sensing point for continuously sensing the distance between the reference line and the surface of the rail as the chassis travels along the rail. The sensing device has an output which is a function of the sensed distance between the reference line and the rail surface.