Abstract: A hermetically sealed metal detector includes a plastic housing with an integrally formed diaphragm having a predetermined area and a thickness that enables vibration thereof by an internal acoustic transducer. An alert signal audibly drives the transducer in response to a metal detector circuit. The acoustic transducer is positioned to align the transducer output port adjacent to the interior surface of the diaphragm, which enables coupling of the acoustic signal through an air gap to vibrate the diaphragm. A cover is disposed about the diaphragm on the exterior of the housing. The cover has a vent formed therethrough for enabling passage of the acoustic energy to the exterior of the housing. Light and battery hermetic sealing are also presented.

Abstract: A manually-operated baling wire twisting and tying tool, and a method of twisting and together the wires together, comprises a first handle having a first wire-twisting implement mounted therein, and a second handle having a second wire-twisting implement mounted therein. An axially oriented slot is effectively defined within the tool throughout substantially the entire axial extent thereof for accommodating the wires, and when the first and second handles, having the first and second wire-twisting implements disposed therein, are rotated with respect to each other, the wires are twisted and tied together. A visually indicating mechanism is also provided upon the tool for indicating to the operator when a predetermined number of twists have been imparted to the wires.

Abstract: A manually-operated baling wire twisting and tying tool, and a method of twisting and together the wires together, comprises a first handle having a first wire-twisting implement mounted therein, and a second handle having a second wire-twisting implement mounted therein. An axially oriented slot is effectively defined within the tool throughout substantially the entire axial extent thereof for accommodating the wires, and when the first and second handles, having the first and second wire-twisting implements disposed therein, are rotated with respect to each other, the wires are twisted and tied together. A visually indicating mechanism is also provided upon the tool for indicating to the operator when a predetermined number of twists have been imparted to the wires.

Abstract: A mechanism for tying a bale of compressible material comprises a housing, a gear rotatably mounted with respect to the housing, and a drive mechanism operable for rotating the gear. A twister pinion is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and is coupled to the gear to rotate when the gear rotates. The twister pinion includes a slot formed therein for receiving overlapped wire sections and twisting the wire sections upon rotation of the pinion. The twister pinion includes a sloped surface formed therein proximate at least one end of said slot. The sloped surface engages the overlapped wire sections and directs the wire sections inwardly toward a center axis of the pinion when the pinion is rotated.

Abstract: A container for photochemical materials has a frangible closure. The frangible closure has a central weakness and a central portion having a thickness and a central portion of greater thickness than the thickness of the central weakness. A radial weakness connects with the central weakness enabling the central weakness to collapse in response to an applied predetermined force.

Abstract: A frangible closure has a closure sheet having a central weakness formed substantially though a medial portion. The central weakness has a thickness and a central portion of greater thickness than the thickness of the central weakness so as to resist shearing of the central weakness. A lateral skirt surrounding the closure has at least a partial radial weakness therebetween for cooperating with the central weakness and enabling the central weakness to fracture.

Abstract: A fluid transfer system suitable for emptying a container or flask closed by a liquid-tight removable frangible closure obtained from a material that can be recycled. Photoprocessing materials are transferred from a first container having the frangible container into an adjoining second container. The frangible closure has a single closure sheet fixed to a lateral skirt for mounting the frangible closure on the spout of the flask, for example with a screw. The flask is emptied by tipping the flask onto a perforation device that perforates a central weakness in the closure sheet which connects with a radial weakness at the seam of the closure sheet and lateral skirt, allowing for lower puncture forces.

Abstract: An automatic baler for creating a bale of compressible material comprises a mechanism for compressing an amount of the material into a bale and moving the bale along a path past a continuous strand of wire which extends across the path to engage a front end of the bale and wrap around the bale as it moves along said path. Opposing arm elements positioned on opposite sides of the path are movable toward each other to engage the path and are operable for engaging sections of the continuous wire strand. The opposing arm elements form at least two overlapped sections of wire proximate the rear end of the bale, and a twisting mechanism with twister pinions engages the overlapped wire sections to simultaneously tie the overlapped wire sections to both secure the wire wrapped around the bale and to reform a continuous strand of wire to engage the next bale.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying a bale of material with a baling wire comprises an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, and a leg extending from each end of the body and including a forked portion. A retention clip is rotationally mounted about an axis proximate each of the forked portions, and the axis of rotation of each clip is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. The clips are operable to rotate automatically in a first direction on said axes when wires, oriented along the longitudinal axis of the body, are directed against the clips, and are further operable to automatically rotate in a second direction to capture wires directed thereagainst for maintaining wires along the body between the clips.

Abstract: A musical notation system which displays the seven notes of any chosen scale on a staff of eight lines and seven spaces, which are typically arranged in a vertical fashion, and which is a graphical representation of a keyboard. No sharps or flats are used to designate a key, but rather only the valid notes of any particular diatonic scale are provided with positions on the staff. Notations which indicate octaves, beats per measure, the selected Key and the mode are all provided. Symbols for timbre, loudness, duration of notes and rests are the same as conventional music notations.

Abstract: A hand cart for transporting a roll of wire and straightening and measuring a length of wire pulled from the roll. The hand cart comprises a generally planar frame having upper and lower transverse mounting plates located in the plane of the frame. A center post extends outwardly from the lower transverse mounting plate and rotatably supports a rotatable reel. The rotatable reel is adapted to support a roll of wire for rotation about a reel axis, the reel axis being generally perpendicular to the plane of the frame. The hand cart further comprises a transverse axle and a pair of rotatable wheels rotatable mounted on opposite ends of the axle. A wire straightener and a wire counter are secured to the upper mounting plate of the frame so that a length of wire pulled off the roll may be straightened and measured before it is cut to the appropriate length.

Abstract: A mechanism for securing together the overlapped ends of an elongated binding device wrapped around a bale of compressible material for binding the bale comprises a housing and a twister pinion rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to receive overlapped ends of the elongated binding device into a slot therein. The twister pinion includes alignment pins positioned on opposite sides of the slot for engaging the overlapped ends and maintaining those ends in the pinion slot. A drive mechanism is coupled to the pinion and rotates the pinion to twist the overlapped ends. In another embodiment of the invention, the twister pinion is coupled to a twister gear by an alignment pin which extends into an alignment aperture and an alignment groove in the gear and pinion. In another embodiment of the invention, a retrieving device is movably coupled with the body for moving toward and away from the twister pinion for moving the ends of the binder device into the twister pinion slot.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument comprised of operators organized in repeating patterns of seven. The operators are electronically interpreted to correspond only to the valid notes of a selected scale. The repeating patterns of seven notes directly corresponds to the vast majority of mucis theory and thus constitutes an enormous simplification in the art of learning, performing and composing music. The present invention enables users of the electronic musical instrument to master chord and note progressions in any scale and mode by learning only a single set of note patterns, in contrast to the myriad scales, chord and note patterns which must be learned on traditional keyboard and pedal devices.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring laser power includes a target disc of a predetermined thickness located within, and in thermal contact with, a heat-sink. The heat-sink has an opening therein for directing laser radiation to be measured onto the target disc. A thermal gradient is established in the target disc when laser radiation to be measured is directed onto one surface of the disk. The opposite surface of the disc includes means for detecting the thermal gradient. The heat-sink includes a cylindrical core having an opening in one end thereof for admitting laser radiation to be measured. Cooling-vanes are disposed around the cylindrical core extending radially outward therefrom and extending therealong. A housing surrounding the heat sink includes a fan which causes air to be drawn into the housing, flow between the cooling-vanes, and the be expelled from the housing.

Abstract: A hobby-style metal detector includes a two-piece stem interconnected by a hand grip and provided with an arm rest. A search coil is positioned at the lower end of the first section of the stem and an electronic housing is mounted on the first stem section near the hand grip. A metal detector circuit, a display and operator controls are provided with the electronic housing. A second housing is detachably connected to the second section of the stem in conjunction with the arm rest. The second housing contains batteries and can be detached and clipped to the operator's belt to reduce the weight carried by the operator's arm. A speaker can further be included within the second housing thereby removing additional weight from the arm carried unit. A cable is provided to extend from the second housing to the electronic package for providing the battery power to the metal detector circuit. When a speaker is provided in the second housing, a further line is provided in the cable for the detection signal.

Abstract: A marine operations structure for use in arctic seas having steel/concrete composite ice walls positioned to permit multi-year ice ridges to be broken up with lower vertical forces imposed on the structure than heretofore possible. The structure provides for simultaneous contacting and fracturing of both surface ice floe and multi-year ice ridges by proportioning of the ratio of the annular dimension of a first sloped surface to the radius of the structure within the range of about from 0.15 to 0.30. The structure is fabricated by modular construction techniques which lowers total construction costs. The structure is in the form of a sixteen-sided polygonal sloped walled marine structure with internal ballast tanks for providing gravity founding of the structure on the sea floor. Modular drilling equipment is provided for and supported by the structure for use through two rectangular shaped moon pools extending vertical throughout the central core of the structure.

Abstract: A marine operations structure for use in arctic seas having steel/concrete composite ice walls positioned to permit multi-year ice ridges to be broken up with lower vertical forces imposed on the structure than heretofore possible. The structure provides for simultaneous contacting and fracturing of both surface ice floe and multi-year ice ridges by proportioning of the ratio of the annular dimension of a first sloped surface to the radius of the structure within the range of about from 0.15 to 0.30. The structure is fabricated by modular construction techniques which lowers total construction costs. The structure is in the form of a sixteen-sided polygonal sloped walled marine structure with internal ballast tanks for providing gravity founding of the structure on the sea floor. Modular drilling equipment is provided for and supported by the structure for use through two rectangular shaped moon pools extending vertical throughout the central core of the structure.

Abstract: A marine operations structure for use in arctic seas having steel/concrete composite ice walls positioned to permit multi-year ice ridges to be broken up with lower vertical forces imposed on the structure than heretofore possible. The structure provides for simultaneous contacting and fracturing of both surface ice floe and multi-year ice ridges by proportioning of the ratio of the annular dimension of a first sloped surface to the radius of the structure within the range of about from 0.15 to 0.30. The structure is fabricated by modular construction techniques which lowers total construction costs. The structure is in the form of a sixteen-sided polygonal sloped walled marine structure with internal ballast tanks for providing gravity founding of the structure on the sea floor. Modular drilling equipment is provided for and supported by the structure for use through two rectangular shaped moon pools extending vertical throughout the central core of the structure.

Abstract: A mechanism for encoding continuously moving documents. Documents are transported between a plurality of fixed dies and a plurality of electronically controlled hammers. An ink bearing ribbon is interposed between the documents and the fixed dies and is momentarily transported at the same velocity as the documents. As the documents traverse the plurality of fixed dies, the electronically controlled hammers are cycled, in a selected sequence and at selected positions, to provide the desired encoding. In those applications wherein the cycle time of the electronically controlled hammers is too slow to allow identical encoding in adjacent position, a second plurality of fixed dies and electronically controlled hammers may be located adjacent to the first plurality or interspersed among the first plurality of fixed dies.