Abstract: A novel rigging for a sailboat is disclosed in which the mainsail is mounted between a luff boom and a foot boom, the luff boom being attached to the top of the mast by a fitting that allows rotation at least about a vertical axis parallel to the mast and about a tilt axis normal to the mast such that the luff boom can tilt out of the vertical. The fitting is joined to the luff boom at a pivot point above the center of effort of the sail, and not necessarily at its head. A tack sheet and a clew sheet restrict the tilt of the luff boom and its rotation around the mast. A jib sail, too, may be tiltably mounted by attaching it to a luff boom which is suspended at its head from a high point on the mast. The mast may be retractable or extendable and either luff boom may be given a streamlined cross section.

Abstract: A transport system for conveying and dispensing non-fluid fluent material such as free-flowing packaging material includes a recycling system for automatically retrieving spilled material and a reservoir which automatically controls the input of material from a main supply based upon the height of material in the reservoir. Various air transport systems are incorporated.

Abstract: An improved thermally active glass bulb for fire extinguisher sprinkler heads. The elongate bulb has a one piece integrally formed glass envelope which is of circular shape and has end portion and a tubular column therebetween defining an elongate sealed chamber containing a heat responsive expansible liquid to rupture the glass envelope when heat is sensed. The bulb has an elongate tapered end tip formed in loading and sealing of a quantity of the expansible breaking liquid into the chamber. The end portions are adapted for seating in the sprinkler head and have outer peripheries smoothly tapering divergently progressively endways from portions of the tubular column and toward the seating areas. The end portions having diameters in excess of a diameter of the tubular column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel which comprises a floating body upon which a seat for a person is mounted. The vessel is driven by human power through a treadle mechanism which drives a propeller.The treadle mechanism comprises two actuating elements which are each pivotable and are driveable by arms or legs and which are coupled by a driving shaft through a freewheel clutch. By avoiding the death centers which are present in a cycle treadle mechanism, human power is used efficiently.By making the floating body a gliding body the water resistance is reduced, so that together with the efficient propulsion mechanism a high travelling speed through the water is reachable.

Abstract: A truck mounted particulate material applicator which entrains metered amounts of the particles in a fluid for conveying the material outwardly along tubes forming boom assemblies. The metering assembly and the booms are mounted in the mid portion of the truck wheel base for minimizing bouncing, and excess shock loads on the booms during travel, and also for providing a centrally located distribution point for the metering assembly. The present device includes a unique manifold for entraining particulate materials such as inorganic fertilizer or grains in fluid flow streams within tubes in which they form the boom assemblies. Each tube carries the metered air entrained material a different distance from the center to cover a wide path. Separate tubes are directed toward the rear of the truck to spread the material in the path of the truck.

Abstract: A field type granular fertilizer applicator includes a mixing unit for putting the fertilizer into the air carrier medium stream for conveying it to a plurality of applicator knives. The mixing unit includes a passageway between the inlet and the outlet which has a 180.degree. curve with an alternate path that returns to the inlet thereby providing a 360.degree. turn. The granular material is fed into the mixer unit at the approximate radius of curvature center for the curved passageway. The centrifugal movement of the air produces a vacuum at the radius of curvature center allowing for gentle acceleration of the granular material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coil spring feeding machine comprising a stationary magnet mounted on a frame for releaseably holding individual coil springs delivered thereto, a first conveyor on the frame for containing a plurality of serially nested coil springs and for advancing the coil springs along a path toward the magnet, a second conveyor mounted on the frame for movement so as to transport coil springs from the magnet and including a hook engageable with a coil spring releaseably held by the magnet for removing the coil spring from the magnet in response to second conveyor movement, and first and second fingers located on the frame adjacent to the magnet and movable into, and retractable from, the path of coil spring advance so as sequentially, in a cycle, to prevent further advance of the nested coil springs toward the magnet, to separate the leading coil spring from the remainder of the nested coil springs while preventing advance of the leading coil spring toward the magnet, to advance the leading coil sp

Abstract: A single overhead pneumatic tube system employs a large rectangular tube, a pair of overhead mounted blowers and a large rectangular captive carrier having a pair of oppositely disposed sliding covers which are locked in position when the carrier is passing from one terminal to the other. The locking means for each cover includes a pair of diagonally offset bolts having heads exposed through apertures in the cover. The locking bolts of the two covers are interconnected so that withdrawal of the bolts of one cover by pressure on their bolt heads also withdraws the bolts of the other cover and so unlocks both covers at the same time.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for transporting disintegrated solid particles, in which the particles are transported by a quantity of air placed under an over pressure. The weight ratio of the particle/aix mixture lies within a range at which particle transportation gives rise to migrating particle agglomerations. Transportation of the particles is terminated in a particle agglomeration equalizing arrangement, from where the particles are transported further in the form of a particle/air mixture which has been equalized in time. Particle transportation is effected by at least two stages. A first stage in which the weight ratio of the particle/air mixture is greater than 15, and a second stage in which the weight ratio of the particle/air concentration is greater than 5 and lower than the weight ratio of the particle/air mixture in the first stage. The arrangement is used for transporting powdered coal to a powdered-coal burner connected to a combustion furnace.

Abstract: Upon transportation of synthetic rubber chips through a piping or by means of a conveyor, 2 wt. %-50 wt. % based on the weight of the synthetic rubber chips of steam of 160.degree. C. or lower, water or both steam of 160.degree. C. or lower and water is added to the synthetic rubber chips upon their transportation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a quick release device and a release technique. The device comprises a pair of members or sections which are releasably joined together. These members have opposed surfaces, which in turn have aligned indentations or grooves that form an opening for a radially expandable actuator. Pressurization of the actuator, preferably by an explosive charge therein, forces the two members apart and breaks the joint, allowing the members to separate. The device can take various forms, for example, a valve or a link.

Abstract: According to the invention, a lift is provided having base beams, first and second pairs of lifting arms and lifting rails. The lifting arms have one end pivotally mounted to the base beams for rotation about parallel axes with the common plane of the axes residing substantially in a horizontal orientation. The other ends of the lifting arms pivotally connect to the lifting rails to define, when viewed from the side, a closed linkage that permits the lifting rails to be raised and lowered relative to the base upon the lifting arms being simultaneously pivoted. The bow pair of lifting arms are longer than the stern pair of lifting arms, and the distance between the pivots on the base beams is greater than the distance between the pivots on the rails so that the linkage cannot lock-up when in the loading position and so that a craft resting on the rails is inclined with the bow above the stern for drainage.

Abstract: In the particular embodiments of the quick response sprinkler described in the specification, a sprinkler housing is sealed with a valve plug supported on a deflector which is movable between a closed position and an open position. A thermally responsive element supported from a first lever which engages the valve plug has a plunger supporting a second lever and a third lever maintains the spacing between the first and second levers. When the thermally responsive element is actuated by elevated temperature, the plunger moves away from the levers, permitting the levers to separate and releasing the entire valve-retaining mechanism from the sprinkler housing.

Abstract: Solids drained from a fluidized bed 10 pass to a conical transition section 36 and through valve 50 to a pneumatic transport line 46. The flow of solids is controlled by controllably 56 introducing air 58 into the transition section 36.

Abstract: Apparatus for fighting fires within storage tanks includes a frame movably coupled to the lip of the storage tank. The frame includes rotatable members by which the frame may be moved around the lip of the storage tank. Attached to the frame is a holding device adapted to hold a fire extinguisher nozzle on the interior of the storage tank so as to direct fire extinguishing agents down the inside face of the storage tank. The apparatus may include a fire detector to detect the presence and location of the fire, propulsion means to automatically move the apparatus around the storage tank to a location adjacent to the fire source, and a storage tank for storing fire suppressing agents be used to extinguish the fire.

Abstract: To prevent crossflow of wind and increase aerodynamic efficiency of boom-footed sail, a stationary sealing vertical baffle structure is mounted along the centerline of a sailboat under the boom. The top portion of the baffle is made of a compliant sealing material, e.g., closed cell polyurethane foam, which forms a tight seal with the boom when the boom is positioned substantially along the centerline, as is common when sailing to weather. The boom and baffle can have curved side surfaces which form with the sail a substantially continuous surface which extends the effective sail area down to the deck.

Abstract: A feeder is disclosed for introducing slug of a particulate material into a gas stream. The feeder is characterized by a valve member positioned in a housing and movable from a first position to a second position and from a second position to a third position. A first passsage through the valve member connects to an inlet port of the housing when the valve member is in first position. The first passage connects the second inlet port to the outlet port when the valve member is in the second position. A second passage through the valve member which is isolated from the first inlet port throughout operation connects the second inlet port to the outlet port when the valve member is in third position. In a preferred embodiment, the rotor of a rotary feeder is provided with alternating bores and channels parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor circumferentially spaced apart inwardly from the surface of the rotor.

Abstract: A system for supplying blasting media to a media blasting system in which a pair of pressure pots or pressure chambers are provided in which the blasting media is introduced for dispensing the media to conduits leading to blasting guns. The media supply valves and air supply valves are controlled by a cam shaft assembly. Further, a metering hopper having a media supply valve is provided between the storage hopper and upper pressure pot or chamber. The media and air valves are operated in timed sequence as determined by the cam shaft assembly.

Abstract: A buoyancy compensator adjustment for a diver's buoyancy compensator having a backpack and a back portion terminating in side and shoulder portions. The shoulder portions and side portions are each secured by straps overlying the chest extending from the side portions to the shoulder portions. The straps are looped through belt loops to provide a bight under tension which is loosened upon lifting or disengaging one of the belt loops.

Abstract: A system and method for the transport of fly ash and other particulate matter. The system comprises (a) a fly ash hopper; (b) a metering container for measuring the amount of fly ash to be transported; (c) a first valve for regulating the movement of fly ash between the hopper and the metering container; (d) a transport line for transporting fly ash out of the metering container; (e) a second valve for regulating the movement of fly ash between the metering container and the transport line; (f) a third valve for regulating venting and pressurization of the metering container; and (g) means for moving the plug between first and second positions, the movement means being in physical communication with the third valve. The third valve comprises (i) a valve body having a bore and five ports in communication with the bore; (ii) a valve plug movably mounted in the bore between the first and second positions; and (iii) sealing means for preventing fluid passage out of the bore other than through the ports.