Abstract: An offshore structure for deepsea production of this invention is designed for achieving economy both in installation and in operation. It consists mainly of a base to be founded on a sea-bed, a buoyant body having a separator segregated from the sea for storing and separating the produced fluids and an elongate tensioned member for connecting the base and the buoyant body and transporting the produced fluids from the well through the base to the separator near the surface of the sea. The separator has a compartmentalized outer wall for controllably variable ballasting and deballasting.

Abstract: A longitudinally expansible and contractible duct characterized by the employment of a pair of expansible and contractible bellows protected by internal, thermally insulated, baffles which are slidably secured to the external shell members of the duct to accommodate differential thermal expansion both longitudinally and radially of the duct.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-theft device for use with a garment-hanger which is intended to be suspended from a rail. The hook (22) of the hanger (10) is fixed to the anti-theft device (12) which itself includes a fixed hook (18) for hooking to the rail (14) together with a moving arm (20) which is lockable by means of a key-operated mechanism (24, 26) in a position in which it prevents the anti-theft device (12) from being removed from the suspension rail (14). The invention is intended for use, in particular, in clothes' shops.

Abstract: A joint for use in a collapsible chair has a main component with a stub which is connectable with the seat of the chair and is integral with a housing for the flat shorter arms of first and second two-armed levers each of which is pivotally secured to the housing by a rivet. The longer arm of the first lever is connected to the back and the longer arm of the second lever is connected to the rear foot of the chair. The shorter arms of the levers are coupled to the respective end portions of a link by two pivot members whose axes are parallel to the axes of the rivets. The levers are pivotable relative to the main component between (a) operative positions in which the chair is erected and the axis of the rivet for the first or second lever is disposed in the common plane of the two pivot members, and (b) inoperative positions in which the chair is collapsed and the longer arms of the levers are adjacent and parallel to the stub of the main component.

Abstract: A transmission ratio selector actuator has a transmission ratio selector assembly including a selector shaft and a toothed gear segment secured thereto. The selector shaft is adapted to drive a conventional transmission detent sector plate or "rooster comb". The toothed segment meshes with a gear member which is formed integrally with or otherwise secured to a Geneva drive sector. A drive pin for the Geneva drive sector is secured to a worm wheel which is driven by a worm shaft integrally formed with or otherwise secured to an electric motor. A plurality of electrical control switches are actuated by the Geneva drive sector to control the operation of the motor and thereby provide for proper positioning of the selector shaft. The worm wheel has integral therewith a cam surface which is actuated upon by brake shoes to ensure stoppage of the drive pin during disengagement from the Geneva drive sector upon deactuation of the drive motor.

Abstract: A locked cover for surrounding an air condition responsive controller such as a thermostat to prevent the setting from being altered by people unauthorized to do so. This is accomplished by baffles which are opposite the openings in the cover to prevent tools from being inserted through these openings to adjust the control. The baffles have openings through them to permit air to flow to the controller. In one form, the baffles are rigidly secured in position in an otherwise existing type of guard cover. In another form of the invention, there are a plurality of interlocking pieces which can be fitted together and placed within an existing cover to prevent access to the adjustment for the controller. In still another version, the guard cover is modified so that the openings for admission of air are not adjacent the controller, but are spaced outwardly therefrom with the openings through the baffles adjacent the controller.

Abstract: A draining arrangement for removing water from roofs or equivalent areas wherein the aim of the arrangement is to improve the draining effect making it possible to use smaller draining pipes, and further to avoid disturbing noise in the pipes. The arrangement is mainly characterized in that the opening (4) of the vertical water pipe (3) is situated directly at the surface (1) of the roof and is covered by a lid element (5). This lid is situated at a height (h.sub.c) over the roof that a certain predefined amount of water can flow under the lid where the water stream while on its way to the opening of the vertical draining pipe and without changing its direction, continuously changes to closed flow simultaneously as the air entrance becomes closed.

Abstract: A shifter boss mounting assembly includes a member threaded at each end and extending diametrically at least partway through a bicycle frame downtube formed with openings therein, a pair of shifter boss bases with inward surfaces conforming to the downtube outer surface, and a pair of shifter studs that extend through the base and a respective opening in the downtube and thread onto the corresponding threaded ends of the member. A projection on each base cooperates with an opening or indentation in the downtube to restrain the base from rotational movement. A lock washer or a plate keyed to cooperate with the base and the stud restrain the stud against unthreading when the shift levers are pivoted. Once mounted, the boss assembly is standardized in its external configuration to bosses adapted to receive standard commercial shift lever assemblies.

Abstract: Clevis connection includes a clevis bushing having a bushing sleeve, with a shoulder at one end having a tapered inner diameter, and a longitudinally extending slot through the shoulder and a portion of the length of the bushing sleeve. The bushing is inserted through aligned holes in the clevis arms and connecting lug. Then a tapered expander collet is inserted into the tapered inner diameter of the bushing shoulder and a bolt is inserted through the collet and bushing so that the bolt head loads through the collect which expands the bushing to cause pre-stress on the surrounding lug and a pre-load clamping of the connecting lug to one of the clevis arms, and cause pre-stress on the other clevis arm.

Abstract: The invention provides a releasable connector comprising a male part presenting four mutually inclined faces forming a tetrahedral wedge, and a female part presenting three walls for mating with the faces of the male part when the male part is inserted therein. A locking device is mounted on one of the two parts and applies a locking force, urging the wedge into intimate contact with the female part to lock the male part in position. The locking means is movable to a release position in which it frees the male part for insertion and withdrawal in a direction transverse to the face. The mutual inclinations of the three faces are sufficient to avoid jamming of the connector.

Abstract: A pipe elbow having a composite ceramic wear liner which is particularly adapted to resist abrasive wear from particulate material conveyed through the pipe elbow. The composite ceramic wear liner is comprised of four series of polyhedron shaped ceramic wear blocks disposed at angularly spaced locations around the circumference of the elbow flow passageway. A mixture of wear resistant particles and binder surrounds the wear bricks and provides an abrasion resistant wear surface along those portions of the pipe elbow which are less subject to abrasive wear. The pipe elbow is provided with a removable cover plate in order to access and replace the series of wear bricks located along the outside center line of the pipe elbow most subject to wear.

Abstract: An apparatus for below-ground driving of pipeline segments made from lengths of production pipe, especially those having rated pipeline widths that are not man-sized. Driving is effected by means of a driving apparatus, which is disposed in a jacking shaft and from there drives pipeline segments via a thrust bridge. The driving apparatus comprises threaded driving mechanisms disposed parallel to one another in the length of the pipeline segments. By means of the threaded drive mechanisms, the thrust bridge can be moved back and forth, via at least one motor drive means rotating the parallel threaded spindles of the threaded drive mechanisms about their axes of rotation. The field in which the apparatus is used is preferably sewer construction, involving sewer mains and household connection lines branching off from them. Both types of line can be driven forward out of the jacking shafts, in which the apparatus can be brought into a desired driving direction by rotating it in the shaft.

Abstract: A fencing material composed of plastic-ensheathed metal wires and cooperating bracket elements; the fence material has a cross-sectional design including raised bead positions spaced apart by flat web sections; when the fence material is extruded, the bead or rib portions each ensheath a high tensile wire with the surface of the wire being roughened to enhance adhesion with the plastic; the fence material is mounted between fence posts by means of specially designed brackets that enclose the width of the fence material with the interior of the brackets having raised portions to conform to the cross sectional variations in dimensions of the fence material whereby slippage of the fence material whereby slippage of the fence material is prevented while spanning of substantially greater distances between posts and over varying terrain contours is made possible; the brackets have interlocking portions to prevent loss of complimentary bracket pieces in the event the bracket is loosened from a fence post during use.

Abstract: Anti-rotation lock asembly includes a male threaded member that may be releasably locked in any desired axially adjusted position relative to a mating female threaded member by means of one or more wedge keys that are forced axially into notches in an end face of the female threaded member and radially against flats or keyways on the male threaded member. Surrounding the male member is a key retaining ring which retains the wedge keys on the male member when the wedge keys are disengaged from the female member to permit relative rotation between the male and female members for adjustment of the male member in or out relative to the female member. The wedge keys are retained in radial slots in the retaining ring which prevent relative axial movement between the wedge keys and retaining ring while permitting limited radial movement therebetween.

Abstract: A structure for coupling a bar-like member to be erected on a floor or wall, with a coupling member having a connecting portion, and a holding member provided with a bearing hole to be engaged with the connecting portion, thereby allowing to detachably fix the coupling member on the floor or wall. The connecting portion of the coupling member is provided with threads or other fixing means. The holding member includes a base body to be fixed on the panel, a cylindrical main body erected perpendicularly from the base body, and a bearing hole formed in the main body and provided with threads or other fixing means to engage with the screw or other fixing means, thereby to fix the connecting portion therein.

Abstract: A portable and foldable stand for musical instruments includes a pair of spaced apart supports each including a tubular main leg having a pivot collar, a brace leg, a brace, a pin for joining one end of the brace to the brace leg, and a latch for releasably attaching the brace to the main leg. The brace leg is pivotally linked at one of its ends to the pivot collar of the main leg and is joined to one end of the brace by the pin. The other end of the brace is releasably attached to the main leg by the latch means. A pivot is joined to the main leg, and an upper segment is joined to the pivot means. At least two cross members are provided each one including a releasable clamping sleeve for releasably clamping each cross member to each support. The clamping sleeve is releasably clampable and slidable on the upper segment and the pivot, thereby linking the pair of supports.

Abstract: A socket adapter for use with a broom block, the socket adapter for receiving a threaded handle such that the release torque required to remove the handle is aggrandized, i.e. greater than the application torque required to attach the handle. The socket adapter comprises a tube having an annular lip for abutting against a corresponding lip adjacent the threads of the handle and at least one thread on the tube. The thread begins a predetermined distance below the annular lip such that an expansion space is formed above the thread to provide a space into which the handle thread material may expand. Upon tightening the handle in the socket adapter with a predetermined amount of attachment torque, the handle material will expand into the expansion space and create an attachment between the handle and the socket requiring a release torque greater than the attachment torque to remove the handle.

Abstract: A hydraulic trench support includes a piston and cylinder head supported within a cylinder such that the cylinder head is fixed at one end of the cylinder and the piston is moveable within the cylinder. A piston rod is coupled to the hydraulic piston at one end and extends outside the cylinder and beyond at the other end. A pair of load bearing bases having generally planar construction are attached to the piston rod portion extending beyond the cylinder and to the cylinder head. Means are provided for introducing a fluid under pressure into the cylinder between the inwardly facing surfaces of the cylinder head and piston to provide an outwardly expanding force there between which is coupled to the base members to provide a sidewall retaining force. In one embodiment, spring means are provided which bias the hydraulic trench support toward a contracted position in the absence of fluid pressure.

Abstract: An adjustable copyholder comprises a base and a cantilever arm having a plurality of cantilever arm segments attached thereto, and a copy support plate mounted at the free end of the cantilever arm. The cantilever arm is connected pivotally to the base. The cantilever arm segments are connected pivotally with each other. The copy support plate is connected pivotally to the cantilever arm. The pivot joints used to extend the cantilever arm have single pivot axes which are parallel to each other, horizontal and transverse to the cantilever arm, wherein these pivot joints are manually adjustable, at least controllable frictionally, the pivotability of the cantilever arm segments connected pivotally with each other being associated with a securing mechanism for each pivot joint.

Abstract: A pair of spaced apart, upright and adjacent fence posts are provided having upper and lower end portions and their lower end portions embedded in the ground. An upper horizontal brace extends between and is anchored to the upper end portions of the posts at an elevation spaced appreciably above the ground and a pair of guides are anchored relative to the posts at generally ground level. A pair of elongated inclined braces have their lower ends slidingly engaged with the guides and their upper ends anchored to the longitudinal mid-portion of the horizontal brace. The guides and the lower ends of the inclined braces include co-acting structure releasably locking the lower ends of the inclined braces in adjusted shifted positions relative to the guides.