Abstract: A device for turning articles such as envelopes 90 degrees as the articles are moved forward from an entrace location to an exit location. Two flexible endless belts, each having a span contiguous to a corresponding span of the other, move the articles as they are turned. A pair of entrance and exit rollers have the flexible belts wrapped around them. The axis of each of the entrance rollers is horizontally disposed and the axis of each of the exit rollers is turned 90 degrees in the direction of the angular displacement of the article such that the axis of each of the exit rollers is disposed vertically. A pair of idler rollers assist in keeping the belts properly positioned on the entrance and exit rollers.

Abstract: A mechanism for removably joining elongate frame members comprised essentially of a series of geometrical apertures in some frame members which are adapted to receive specially designed, geometry-conforming detents or keys which have been affixed to, or constructed integrally with, adjoinable frame members. Major connecting action is effected by insertion of one member, a strut which has special cylindrical projections at its ends, into another member, a spar which has a special keyway for receiving said projections, and rotating said strut into a position which, because of the unique geometry of said projections and internal surfaces of said spar, result in capture of the projections, thus immobilizing said strut.Two adjunct locking mechanisms are suggested for rigidifying connections of the preferred embodiment. The first such locking mechanism employs detent means, the second, lever and snubbing action.

Abstract: A threaded pipe connection is disclosed that has threads the flanks, roots, and crests thereof form thread seals when the connection is made up and that has a seal ring of resilient material that is trapped in a cavity between a groove in either the box or the pin and the thread seals to provide a secondary seal.

Abstract: The clamp apparatus transmits torque forces between a shaft and a hub. The clamp apparatus comprises conical rings, each having a conical surface together with a cylindrical inner or outer circumferential surface. The conical rings are drawn together by axial straining screws, thereby radially expending the clamp apparatus. Surface channels are provided on at least one of the conical surfaces into which a flowable lubricant may be forced under high pressure.

Abstract: A conical stressing device for connecting a hub to a shaft, the device including a double conical stressing assembly adapted to be mounted on the outer periphery of the hub, so that the hub may be radially compressed to attach it rigidly to the shaft by frictional forces, the double conical stressing assembly including: (1) a double conical ring which has two coaxial peripheral surfaces axially spaced apart and tapering in opposite directions, whereby the greatest wall thickness of the double conical ring is in the central region of its axial length, (2) two conical rings, each of which possesses a conical peripheral surface that acts in conjunction with a respective conical surface of the double conical ring, and (3) axial tensioning bolts which are distributed around the perimeter and are inserted in holes drilled axially in the conical rings, the axial tensioning bolts placing the conical rings under axial tension to force them to slide along the conical surfaces, wherein one of the conical rings tensions

Abstract: A pen and penholder combination includes a pen portion. An elongated flexible tether attaches on one end to the pen and on another end to a stop. A disk with a hole formed therein is slidingly received on the tether. The penholder is permanently securable to a writing surface. The penholder has a penholder surface with an upper and lower face. A disk securing slot is formed in the penholder surface. The slot is shaped and dimensioned to receive the stop therethrough and to receive the disk therethrough when the disk is oriented substantially perpendicular to the penholder surface. After the disk is passed through the slot and when it is not oriented substantially perpendicular to the penholder surface it abutts against the bottom face of the surface and cannot be passed through the slot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a holder for towels, bathrobes and the like. The holder comprises a bundle of stiff short bristles which are held in a suitable cup-shaped member at their lower ends, with the upper ends being exposed, the cloth being engaged by said upper ends of the bristles.

Abstract: A flexible PVC coupling is provided and consists of combining two reinforced PVC couplers with a flexible high pressure tube which can be easily bent into any position when installing and repairing PVC pipes.

Abstract: A skeleton-like supporting rack or frame for supporting a product display carton or the like having a substantially open front for exposing such product. The rack or frame defines a generally U-shaped section for engaging the back or rear and the sides of the carton; e. g., the bight portion engages the rear and the arms or legs of the U-shaped section engage the sides. Adjustably attached to the arms or legs of the U-shaped section are elongated brace members extending longitudinally forward of the arms or legs. These brace members terminate into generally U-shaped hook or cradle members embraceably engageable with the front edge of the side sections of the opened carton. Also, attached to the legs or arms are downwardly extending elongated L-shaped support members, the foot of the L being engageable with the bottom of the carton for supporting the same. Hooks are provided to attach the assembly to a generally vertically oriented existing support surface such as a wall.

Abstract: Preloaded connection for supporting an annular body from an annular suspension joint. The connection includes an actuating ring, a split locking ring and a retaining nut which are positioned between the annular body and suspension joint. The connection is preloaded by applying an axial force to the actuating ring causing the locking ring to be expanded outwardly with the annular body becoming preloaded in compression and the suspension joint preloaded in tension with the preload force passing through the mating surfaces.

Abstract: A torsional damper device, for use in friction disks in automobile vehicle clutches, for example, comprises at least two coaxial parts rotatable relative to one another within defined limits and damper means adapted to oppose such relative rotation. The damper means comprise at least one friction ring, two annular members and an elastic prestressing member disposed axially between the annular members. The prestressing member is adapted to urge the friction ring axially against one of the coaxial parts. It and one of the annular members constitute a pair of members of which one has at least one primary transverse land which is circumferentially subdivided and of which the other has at least two secondary transverse lands which are axially offset and circumferentially subdivided and each of which is adapted to contact selectively the primary transverse land.

Abstract: A pipe connection joint comprises two coaxial tubular joint members which are telescopically engaged, one within the other. The outer joint member has a bore, and the inner joint member a through bore, of the same diameter as that of the pipeline with which the joint is to be used. The inner joint member is received in a counterbore in the outer joint member, being an interference fit therein over an interface region to provide both a seal and a friction lock precluding relative axial separation of the joint members under internal working pressure. One of the joint members incorporates an externally connectible duct which leads to the interface region, whereby fluid under pressure can be introduced through the duct to relieve said friction lock.

Abstract: A bumper for attachment to a leg of an offshore platform comprising an upright, bumper holding element which carries resilient bumper members. A first arm projects outwardly from the upright element above the water line for fixed attachment to the leg of the platform above the water line. A second, submerged arm projects outwardly from the upright element and is pivotally connected below the water line to the leg. This structure allows the bumper to be quickly and efficiently replaced with a minimum amount of diver time required. The bumper is easily positioned in a vertical orientation regardless of the slope of the platform leg, and all welding is performed above the surface of the water.

Abstract: An elongated guide member is positioned on a bow and extends longitudinally in a direction of shooting motion of the bow's bowstring. The guide member includes elongated parallel portions for guiding both short projectiles and arrows. A short projectile is provided which slidably engages the parallel portions. The guide member also includes projections which engage recesses in the support. The guide member also includes a resilient element to allow passage of oversized or deformed projectiles. A projectile includes a groove or slot extending longitudinally along the body portion of the projectile. Another projectile has elongated ridges positioned at the base of its wings. Another embodiment of the guide employs rod-like parallel portions.

Abstract: A system for putting two contiguous enclosures (2,3) disposed on one side of a common wall (4) into individual communication with the outside. According to the invention, a coaxial coupling part (1) is provided enabling two connections to be made. The coupling is suitable for use in heart prostheses.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting portions of subsea flow conduits includes a stab member with a body and having a bore therethrough, one end of which exits from the stab body through a side port. A stab receptacle includes a bore for receiving the stab body, and a flow bore intersecting the receiving bore and leading to the exterior of the receptacle. The side port communciates with the receptacle flow bore when the stab member is landed in the receiving bore. Seals above and below the side port seal the receiving bore above and below the intersection of the receptacle flow bore and receiving bore. The cross-sectional areas of the seals exposed to internal fluid pressure are substantially equal, resulting in zero blow-apart force on the stab connection. Alternatively, the lower seal can have a larger exposed cross-sectional area than the upper seal, resulting in a net force tending to hold the connection teogether.

Abstract: An offshore oil platform (1) is provided with an improved riser handling system for making a subsea connection of a riser (6) to the platform, without the need for divers or boats to move the riser into position. A first coupling part (7) on the riser (6) is releasably coupled to a second coupling part (8) which in turn is releasably connected to a third coupling part (9) mounted in a submerged position on the platform. The second coupling part (8) is used as a guide to position the riser. The part (8) is coupled to cables (12,14) wound by winches (13,15). In use the riser can be released from the position shown in FIG. 1 to fall to the sea bed. To reconnect the riser, it is raised by davit (16) onto a platform (17), where the second coupling part (8) is fitted onto the part (7) on the riser. The cables (12,14), are then adjusted to draw the second coupling part (8) and hence the riser to the third coupling part (9) for connection therewith.

Abstract: A swivel joint for pipes includes a split collet carried by a male portion of the coupling, and which provides an abutment for a threaded annular nut carried by a female member of the coupling, the nut being lockable in its adjusted position, the male member being rotatable within the female member to provide for swivelling of the joint.

Abstract: A roof bolt assembly for a mine roof of the mechanical point anchor type is provided with a sealing plug to preclude the flow of mine air into the roof hole surrounding the bolt. In one embodiment, the sealing plug is frusto-conically shaped with an axial bore which surrounds the bolt rod. In another embodiment, the sealing plug is cylindrical with a first set of resilient rings on the external surface for engaging the roof hole sidewalls and with a second set of resilient rings in an axial bore for engaging the bolt rod. The sealing plug is installed in the entrance of the roof hole out of contact with components of the assembly tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: A portable exercise device for simulating jumping rope has a handle portion which is connected to a weighted tubular portion via a flexible and stretchable rubber strip. The weighted portion has a weight element mounted in the end of the tube adjacent the handle portion to make the center of gravity of the weighted portion closer to the handle portion. One end of the rubber strip is connected to a rotatably-mounted central shaft extending through the handle portion, so that the shaft and interconnected weighted portion may rotate relative to the handle portion. The other end of the rubber strip projects outwardly from an end of the weighted portion and has a stop member. The weighted portion slides along the rubber strip, so that, when the handle portion is given a swinging motion by an arm, the weighted portion revolves about the handle portion.