Abstract: A safety device may be used to provide separation in the event of a side impact collision. The device may be used in a utility pole guy wire system, interposed between the guy wire and the ground anchor. The device operates in bending. A lateral force of sufficient magnitude applied to the device by the errant vehicle causes a rod within the device to break in tension, even though the tensile strength of the rod may be greater than that of the guy wire. In operation, certain massive portions of the device are tied safely to the ground, while other portions are pulled over the moving vehicle by the tension of the guy wire. The invention may be designed to tolerate axial loads, but to fail reliably when a side force exceeds a desired threshold. When installed in series with a utility pole guy wire, the invention will withstand all normal tensile and incidental loads, and will release when subjected to a high side force as from an automobile impact.

Abstract: A safety device may be used to provide separation in the event of a side impact collision. The device may be used in a utility pole guy wire system, interposed between the guy wire and the ground anchor. The device operates in bending. A lateral force of sufficient magnitude applied to the device by the errant vehicle causes a rod within the device to break in tension, even though the tensile strength of the rod may be greater than that of the guy wire. In operation, certain massive portions of the device are tied safely to the ground, while other portions are pulled over the moving vehicle by the tension of the guy wire. The invention may be designed to tolerate axial loads, but to fail reliably when a side force exceeds a desired threshold. When installed in series with a utility pole guy wire, the invention will withstand all normal tensile and incidental loads, and will release when subjected to a high side force as from an automobile impact.

Abstract: A drill bit is provided for drilling holes in hard, reinforced material, including reinforced concrete. According to one aspect of the invention, wear-resistant inserts are provided in a cross-shaped pattern. The inserts ensure that the entire bottom surface of the drilled hole is engaged during each drill bit revolution. The inserts may be secured in pockets or slots. Fluid entry ports may be located between the inserts for efficient handling of drilling fluid and removal of drilled material, without impairing the structural integrity of the drill bit. According to another aspect of the invention, the drilling surface is separated into two or more stages to increase drilling efficiency, especially through composite material such as reinforced concrete.

Abstract: A threaded joint is provided with a locking mechanism for resisting loosening and over torquing. The joint has splines that are alignable with axially directed fingers, and shear plates that are movable into the spaces between the splines and the fingers. The shear plates may be supported by a shear ring. A lock ring may be provided for maintaining the shear plates between the respective spaces. Another embodiment of the joint has a knurled portion that is alignable with axially directed fingers. The joint also includes a clamp ring engageable with the fingers.

Abstract: A drilling system employs spaced apart cutting members arranged in a helical pattern to form a helical thread within a rock bore. The thread is efficiently fragmented by a wedge-shaped trailing cutting member. Advantageously, a substantial portion of the rock is removed by the fracturing of the internal thread in the rock bore by the uppermost cutting member, taking advantage of the weakness of rock in tension. The rotational speed of the helical cutting system may be controlled as a function of the axial thrust applied to a pilot bit located in front of the helical cutting system.

Abstract: An insulated container for maintaining a product at a specific constant temperature during shipping or storage using two constant temperature coolants of different temperatures on either side of a highly conductive product storage box to establish a temperature gradient. Two pieces of insulated material of different thicknesses are placed between the product storage box and the constant temperature coolants. The selected thicknesses of the insulated material determine the specific temperature of the product, which will be between the temperatures of the two constant temperature coolants. U-shaped heat equalizers are disposed around the insulated material to conduct ambient heat leakage directly to the coolants and thereby help to insure a uniform temperature throughout the product storage box.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining the position of a centerline of a passageway by using a measuring instrument which passes through the passageway taking periodic and successive axial strain measurements which are in turn used to form an interconnected series of circular arc segments representing the centerline.

Abstract: A figure is disclosed having a head with a back projected image to animate the facial expression of the figure. The image is back projected onto the head's face by a wide angle lens inside the head having an extremely short focal length. The lens is adjustable for focusing and image registration purposes in vertical, horizontal and lateral directions with respect to the face by a lens adjustment system also inside the head. The image is brought inside the head to the lens by a coherent fiber optic bundle having a high resolution which transfers the image from a remote image source, such as a motion picture projector. Independent movement of the head in all directions with respect to other parts of the figure is provided by a motion device. The lens adjustment system and fiber optic bundle ensure that the image always remains in proper focus and registration on the face despite free and unrestricted movement of the head by the motion device.