Abstract: A self-contained jack up type drilling and production platform structure comprising a flotatable barge-like hull with support legs which can be jacked up and down to lower and raise the hull with respect to the surface of the sea. A removeable drilling module rests on top of the hull and extends over an opening therein between two of the support legs. Production equipment is arranged in the hull and communicates with the opening. Moveable conductor supports extend between the legs of the platform and serve to brace the drill string and production conduit conductors.

Abstract: A device for dispensing articles, such as trays, plates, etc., maintains the uppermost article in the stack at a predetermined dispensing level independent of the number of articles in the stack. The device has an upper annular member through which the articles are dispensed and a plurality of vertical posts connecting the annular member to a bottom member. An article carrier has guide bushings for vertically slidable movement on the vertical post members. The guide bushings are movably mounted in the article carrier to permit horizontal movement of the posts to accommodate articles of different sizes.

Abstract: Aquatic sports zones are reclaimed or made by bounding non-shore areas of the zone with a plurality of end-to-end connected water impervious flotation boom sections, anchoring the formed boom in the bound zone, and attaching the ends of the boom to pier bulkheads, and providing the boom with a ballasted skirt having a length greater than the maximum normally anticipated water depth at the point of attachment of the skirt to the boom. Where desired, water purification means may be included in the bound zone.

Abstract: A multiple-use joint connector of plastic, sheet metal, wood, etc., particularly for roof structures of greenhouses, smelting plants, and the like. Two sleeves are arranged at an angle to one another for the insertion of rafters therein. These sleeves are connected by connecting elements which together with the sleeves define an opening, the axis of the passage of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sleeves. This opening is provided for the ridge beam or board. The sleeves are open at both ends. The openings between the sleeves are formed by the end edges of those side walls of the sleeves which face one another, and extend beyond the width of the sleeves by extensions of flanges arranged on the sleeves. Additional openings which are aligned with one another and have a cross section at least as large as that of the beam which is to be inserted therethrough, are arranged in the side walls of the sleeves and/or of the extensions thereof which bridge the space between the sleeves.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming compound semiconductors, which has a plurality of closed type crucibles for separately holding and vaporizing the component elements of a desired compound semiconductor thin-film, the crucibles each having at least one injection nozzle, a plurality of temperature control sections for separately controlling vapor pressures inside the crucibles so that the vapors jetted from the injection nozzles of the crucibles may form clusters, a plurality of ionization chambers provided in the vicinity of the injection nozzles of the crucibles respectively for ionizing the clusters, and acceleration power supplies provided between a substrate and the ionization chambers for giving kinetic energy to the cluster ions to make them impinge on the surface of the substrate so as to form a thin film thereon.

Abstract: A telescoping-type connector comprising outer and inner telescoping members, the inner telescoping member defining an outer circumferential groove, and adapted to sealingly fit in telescoping relation within an aperture of the outer telescoping member. The outer telescoping member includes retention means for releasably projecting into the outer circumferential groove, to retain the inner and outer members in the desired sealing, telescoping relation. In accordance with this invention, the inner telescoping member defines, between the circumferential groove and the forward end of the inner member relative to the outer member, a recessed portion on its outer surface for facilitating molding and the like. Ribbed members are positioned within the recessed portion, to prevent the retention means from projecting therein and providing inadequate locking of the connector.

Abstract: A pipeline is installed by forming a ground surface below the desired grade of the pipeline, holding a pipe length at the desired grade while injecting a hardenable fluid material into a bag positioned between the pipe length and the underlying ground surface so that after the material hardens the bag provides a temporary support for the pipe length at the proper grade and thereafter installing a permanent support by placing hard granular material between the remainder of the underside of the pipe length and the underlying ground surface.

Abstract: Substantially uniform distribution of developer in a cascade assembly for xerographic reproduction apparatus is effected as the developer slides down an inclined cascade baffle onto which the developer is dumped by a succession of buckets which elevate the developer from a sump in the cascade chamber. From the cascade baffle the developer is cascaded substantially uniformly onto a perimeter sector of the electrostatic image carrying drum of the associated apparatus. Uniform developer distribution is attained on the cascade baffle by means of an array of distribution projections.Toner dust is effectively screened from the image-free areas of the image carrying drum. This is accomplished by efficiently blocking access of the dust to the drum by the position of an effective dust baffle between the developer supply and the drum in the area where the unused developer drops into the developer sump after the developing cascade.

Abstract: A subsea station or installation in which one or more rigid elongated base template frames are adapted to be permanently positioned on a sea floor. Each base template frame includes a plurality of framed receptor openings, each adapted to receive a module guide base for aligning and releasably connecting thereto module unitary assemblies, each of which carries selected equipment in a protected manner. Extending along each side of the base frame are elongated side structures releasably connected to the base frame and recoverable for maintenance and service, each side structure extending outboardly of the sides of the base frame and being adapted to carry fluid conducting lines, power lines, and a rail means for guidance of a submarine capsule along the length of the base frame.

Abstract: A magnetic brush developing device for a xerographic copying machine is constructed to prevent toner from being leaked out of the developer housing. A magnetic brush roll is provided opposite to a photosensitive member, and at least one air current blade is provided along the lower outer periphery of the surface of the magnetic brush roll. One end of the air current blade is closely adjacent the surface of the photosensitive member, and the other end of the air current blade projects back toward the interior of the developer housing. An air circulating path is defined between the air current blade and the lower outer wall of the developer housing. This air circulating path is effective to conduct entrained air carrying excess toner back into the developer housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for developing latent electrostatic images in an electrophotographic copier are disclosed, the developer including an image carrier having a conductive backing layer and a photoconductive layer, a magnetic brush developer, a voltage source connected with the magnetic brush developer, and a high-ohmic resistance connecting the backing layer with ground, the voltage source and high-ohmic resistance establishing a potential difference between the magnetic brush developer and the backing layer to prevent a voltage breakdown at the image carrier which may result in undesirable streaking and fogging of an electrostatic copy. The high-ohmic resistance may be adjusted in accordance with the amount of current generated in the developer mixture whereby the flow of current from the developer through the photoconductive layer to the backing layer is impeded to prevent a voltage breakdown. In a first embodiment, the image carrier is a planar printing plate.

Abstract: An upwardly open, transversally partitioned box is preferably made of exteriorly decorated corrugated paper box board. The upper and lower box edges are protected and reinforced with square hoop-like metal frames, riveted in place. The dividers are hung from upper edge metal frames, riveted at opposite ends to opposed sides of the box upper edge reinforcing frame. The case may be free-standing or pedestal-supported, e.g., upon a similar case turned on its side or upon a vertical axis cruciform support. Carpet samples stowed in the individual upwardly open cells defined between the box sides and partitions are individually accessible.

Abstract: A developer powder supply means is disposed within a developer reservoir for supplying developer powder to a magnet brush developing roller which is placed adjacently to a drum surface carrying an electrostatic latent image formed thereon. The developer powder supply means comprises a stationary sleeve and a rotatable cylindrical magnet enclosed by the stationary sleeve. The rotatable cylindrical magnet includes a magnet shunt means or has an odd number of magnetic poles to produce distorted distribution of the magnetic field. The stationary sleeve has an extended portion which is placed above the rotatable cylindrical magnet, where the magnetic field established by the rotatable cylindrical magnet does not effect the developer powder.

Abstract: This invention provides improved apparatus for clamping together a pair of flanges of a processing vessel. The apparatus includes an elongated tubular stem having a handle at one end thereof for applying torque to the stem. Means defining a surface at the other end of the stem for engaging one of the pair of flanges in the clamping position of the apparatus is provided together with means defining screw threads on at least a portion of the interior of the tubular stem. An elongated threaded stud is at least partially received in the threads of the tubular stem. The end of the stud remote from the stem has a pivot axis defining means thereon for pivotally connecting the stud to the other one of the flanges of the processing vessel.

Abstract: A firm, shape-retaining mattress made of layers of resilient material separated by a layer of nonwoven material such as jute, which are held in relation to one another by a strong, nonwoven fabric material intertwined among the layers and through slits in the layers in a manner to substantially prevent movement relative to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus in which particles are dispensed from an open-ended chamber. An oscillatory magnetic field vibrates a magnetic member at least partially immersed in the particles. This prevents bridging and caking of the particles to facilitate flow of the particles from the open end of the chamber.

Abstract: A preassembled tube coupling into which a tube may be inserted and which automatically grips the tube to prevent withdrawal of the tube. The coupling includes a packing ring for sealing the tube, a sleeve with spring fingers to lightly grip the tube upon insertion of the latter, and a nut with a cam surface to contract the fingers into tight gripping engagement with the tube upon slight withdrawal motion of the tube.

Abstract: In order to maintain the shape of a hole, such as a grave, dug in the ground, an inflatable bag is lowered into the hole and then inflated to a low pressure so as substantially to fill the hole, thus maintaining the sides of the hole against subsidence and also largely preventing water seeping into the hole. A protective cover is then placed over the hole and means are provided for anchoring this cover to the bag itself, which is wedged against the sides of the hole.

Abstract: An elastic pipe-connecting component for pipes or pipelines or the like, comprises an elastic sleeve with flanges at each end and an annular expansion bulge in its midportion. In its undeformed condition, there is a cylindrical section on each side of the bulge, between the bulge and the portion of the component that is clamped to the pipe or pipeline. These exposed cylindrical portions are adapted to expand outwardly, to form two additional bulges, upon the imposition of pressure. To this end, they are reinforced with fibers of glass or steel or high strength synthetic, which are disposed at an angle to the axis of the component, of less than 55.degree.. A desirably long component is thus provided, from a minimum of material.

Abstract: A generally circular pipe joint clamp able to compress a flexible packer around a joint between substantially aligned pipes. The clamp comprises a plurality of plates forming a flexible shield. Each plate overlaps one neighboring plate and underlies the other neighboring plate. There is a joint in between each pair of neighboring plates except the plates at each end of the flexible shield to allow the plates to pivot relative to each other. Clamps allow a compressing force to be applied to the flexible shield.