Abstract: An improvement to a cathode used in an electrorefining or electrowinning of copper. The cathode has a solid copper head bar with a horizontal groove on its undersurface. The upper edge of a stainless steel flat sheet has several holes along its width and is vertically inserted into the groove. The stainless steel sheet is then mechanically attached to the copper head bar by pressing the copper head bar against the stainless steel at the perforated points along the head bar. To increase the joint strength, the stainless steel sheet may be welded to the copper head bar at its upper edges at the underside of the head bar.

Abstract: An improvement to a cathode used in an electrorefining or electrowinning of copper. The cathode has a solid copper head bar with a horizontal groove on its undersurface. The upper edge of a stainless steel flat sheet has several holes along its width and is vertically inserted into the groove. The stainless steel sheet is then mechanically attached to the copper head bar by pressing the copper head bar against the stainless steel at the perforated points along the head bar. To increase the joint strength, the stainless steel sheet may be welded to the copper head bar at its upper edges at the underside of the head bar.

Abstract: A spline for joining wood boards or panels with a groove extending throughout their longitudinal sections. The spline has a body with an upper surface and a lower surface, and central concave ridges on the at least one of upper and lower surfaces for draining water. The ridge extends throughout the length of the spline so that when two adjacent boards or panels are joined by the spline, the space between the boards or panels or equal to the width of the ridge. The spline has been designed to provided efficient drainage of water, thus preventing and substantially limiting swelling, if any, of the boards. The spline of the present invention provides a joint with mechanical and resistance properties comparable to conventional tongue and groove boards.

Abstract: A strand tensioning tool comprises a tool body, a stationary clamp mounted on the tool body for holding one end of the strand and including a fixed plate secured to the tool body and a gripper plate pivotally mounted on the tool body using two parallel levers for allowing even distribution of clamping stress over a predetermined length of strand, a rotary drum also mounted on the tool body and having a notch across the face thereof for inserting the other end of the strand to tension the strand around packages to be strapped by rotation of the drum, and a guide plate rotatably mounted on the tool body and adapted to trap the strand in the notched drum to prevent it from sliding out of the drum during rotation of the drum.