Abstract: A device comprising a substantially vertical post member that can be adjusted longitudinally within a fin box and remain vertical, riding adjustably in a longitudinally oriented slot and thereby protrudes from the bottom of a standard fin box customarily installed in personal watercraft such as a surfboard, sailboard, paddleboard, and the like. The securable end of a removable fin is dropped over the post and held in place by a nut, clip, hook, or clamp.

Abstract: A device comprising a substantially vertical post member that can be adjusted longitudinally within a fin box and remain vertical, riding adjustably in a longitudinally oriented slot and thereby protrudes from the bottom of a standard fin box customarily installed in personal watercraft such as a surfboard, sailboard, paddleboard, and the like. The securable end of a removable fin is dropped over the post and held in place by a nut, clip, hook, or clamp.

Abstract: A friction engaging device, such as, for example a braking disc and a friction couple, brake disc/pad are disclosed. The friction engaging device is a carbon-ceramic composite comprising a carbon fibre network and a filler comprising silicon carbide. One device comprises, by weight, from 35-50% carbon fibre, 14-30% free carbon, 10-28% silicon carbide, 5-14% silicon and 5-14% silicon oxide. Also disclosed is a method of producing a friction engaging device in which a carbon-carbon composite comprising 10 to 60% by weight of a carbon fiber network and from 40 to 90% by weight free carbon is impregnated with silicon under conditions such that substantially all of the carbon fibre network remains as carbon fiber, and a proportion of the free carbon present in the volume is converted within the volume to silicon carbide by reaction with the silicon.

Abstract: An access device for use with a cable television communications network and a network utilizing such a device. The network includes a cable head end in communication with a television source and a data source and a trunk feed cable. At least one access device is placed in communication with the trunk feed cable. The access device includes an upstream frequency translator, a communications modem, a television band pass filter, a non-television band pass filter, a downstream frequency and a microprocessor for allocating frequency slots for the subscriber, setting the upstream frequency translator. At least one drop cable is in communication with the access device and a subscriber cable modem. In operation, the subscriber sends a service request from the computer, the subscriber cable modem converts the service request signal from the computer and sends the converted signal through the drop cable to the access device.

Abstract: A cable television control apparatus includes a television channel access controller connected at a node of a cable television network between the network and at least one subscriber household. All available cable television channels, including premium channels, can be transmitted by the headend without scrambling. Each access controller receives channel selection signals, such as television tuner local oscillator signals, from within subscriber households. The controller detects the channel selection signal and identifies selected channels. A channel filtering system is tuned in accordance with the detected selection signal to pass only selected channels to subscribers while blocking all other channels.

Abstract: A cable television control apparatus includes a television channel access controller connected at a node of a cable television network between the network and at least one subscriber household. All available cable television channels, including premium channels, can be transmitted by the headend without scrambling. Each access controller receives channel selection signals, such as television tuner local oscillator signals, from within subscriber households. The controller detects the channel selection signal and identifies selected channels. A channel filtering system is tuned in accordance with the detected selection signal to pass only selected channels to subscribers while blocking all other channels.

Abstract: A cable-television usage system that enables subscribers to be charged based upon their actual usage of the cable channels offered. The system is compatible with current cable equipment and methods. It can be installed outside of the subscribers dwelling and it is capable of determining usage for multiple sets and various cable configurations including converter boxes. Channel usage is monitored using the local oscillator tuning circuit that tunes the channel for the subscriber's set. An unique switching design permits the carrier frequency to be acurately measured by briefly disconnecting the cable from the set. An electronic switching arrangement enables the measurement to be made during a random manner corresponding to one pixel's time on the TV screen. The invention also permits polling of subscriber's television preferences without any effort required by the subscribers.

Abstract: A storage tank apparatus is described which comprises an above-ground storage tank having a first, lowermost bottom, a second bottom joined to the walls of the storage tank above the first, lowermost bottom and defining a space between the first and second bottoms, structural support means placed in the space between the first and second bottoms for supporting the second bottom above the first bottom, and a plurality of sampling ports spaced about the perimeter of the storage tank and permitting access to the space between the first and second bottoms and to the avenues for fluid communication provided therethrough by the structural support means. Processes for detecting leaks and avenues for leaks of materials placed in the storage tanks of such apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A wheel comprises a central hub and an outer rim interconnected by a web, with a pair of annular braking discs being mounted one on each side of the web by connection assemblies each comprising a plate member slidably retained in a generally radially extending slot in the rear face of a braking disc. The plate members are preferably flexible and of a thickness less than the depth of the slot. Bolts secure the plate member to the web so that the braking discs are solely subjected to the pull of the flexed plate members irrespective of how tightly the bolts secure the plate member to the web.

Abstract: An article of headwear to protect eyes, ears, neck and shoulders of wearer from the sun's harmful rays during outdoor activities. This protective headwear consists of a semi-rigid visor portion, a kerchief portion and a ribbon portion. The visor is substantially crescent shaped, and the kerchief portion is substantially rectangular. The visor portion is attached to one of the short edges of the rectangular kerchief portion along its concave back edge. The ribbon portion is attached to the concave edge of the visor portion and to the said short edge of the rectangular kerchief portion. The ribbon is of sufficient length to allow the wearer to knot its ends behind ones head. The visor and kerchief portions are attached substantially in the middle region of said ribbon. The article, when dampened can provide evaporative cooling for the wearer in warm conditions, and when worn dry can retain warmth for the wearer in cold conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disc for a disc brake, the disc comprising two annular members arranged coaxially with respect to each other and joined together by generally radially extending vanes and pillars, which project from a central web located between the annular members. The vanes extend for part of the radial extent of the annular members, and the pillars are located in a region not occupied by the vanes and preferably radially beyond the vanes. Power absorption and noise generation is reduced considerably as a result of the reduced vane overall diameter, as compared to a disc of like diameter with the conventional long radial vanes. However, the desired cooling is maintained due to the surface area presented by the combination of shorter vanes and pillars.

Abstract: An overload protector for a telephone set or other telecommunications terminal comprises an electrical component having DC continuity and DC resistance mounted by leads on a circuit board, the leads soldered to the conductor pattern. On application of an overload, the component heats up to a level at which sufficient heat travels along the leads to melt the solder. Usually both leads become unsoldered. One or both leads part from the conductor pattern under the effect of gravity; under the effect of a compression spring on one or both leads and held in compression between component and circuit board; or a combination of both. A convenient component is a carbon block resistor, in the Tip or Ring line. A heat insulating member can be positioned around the component. The insulating member can be a sleeve loosely fitting over the resistor and retaining heat in the resistor, or a coating or layer directly on the component.

Abstract: An overload protector for a telephone set or other telecommunications terminal comprises an electrical component having DC continuity and DC resistance mounted by leads on a circuit board, the leads soldered to the conductor pattern. A compression spring is positioned on each lead, held in compression between component and circuit board. An insulating member fits around the component. In application of an overload, the component heats up to a level at which sufficient heat travels down the leads to melt the solder. Usually both leads become unsoldered. A convenient component is a carbon block resistor, in the Tip or Ring line. The insulating member would be a sleeve loosely fitting over the resistor and retaining heat in the resistor.

Abstract: A volatile liquid is circulated through a normally closed circuit, including expansion tubes within an expansion chamber where the sun's rays are focused on the tubes to heat the liquid, transforming it to an expanding gas to drive a fluid-operated motor, also in the circuit. The motor may drive a mechanical load or an electric generator. The generator drives a pump which compresses the gas back to a liquid state and returns the same to a reservoir and to the inlets of the expansion tubes in the expansion chamber. An air reservoir which is pressurized by a pump driven by the fluid operated motor has its outlet connected to the motor inlet so that during periods of darkness or cloud cover in which the volatile liquid is not expanded into a gas, the pressurized air will be automatically fed into the motor to continue to drive the same.

Abstract: In a disc assembly for a vehicle disc brake, the assembly comprises a rotor, with brake rings secured to one or both of a pair of opposite faces of the rotor by bolts passing through clearance openings in the rotor. Each brake ring comprises at least two segments, with clearances provided between adjacent radial ends of the segments. The segments are coupled by pivotal links, and a single pivotal connection is provided between each segment and the rotor. The pivotal connection is located to one side of a radius of the disc bisecting the segment, and the segments, links, and pivotal connections are constructed and arranged to maintain the disc assembly in balance irrespective of centrifugal, shock, or expansive forces.

Abstract: A shield for protecting a pyrometric cone of the kind conventionally used in the control of ceramic firing kilns comprises an annular or arcuate member open at both ends and provided with means for mounting it within the cone in a position to protect the kiln against dislodgement or other adverse consequences due to the tipping or falling of greenware within the kiln.

Abstract: A data terminal utilizes a time division multiplexer to monitor traffic on up to 8000 input lines in banks of 1000 lines and converts the information in each bank from parallel to serial form as 1000 serial 112 bit parallel words, records the various kinds of event count data and usage time duration for each input line, and under interrogation by a control center transmits the accumulated data.The terminal has up to eight serial synchronously operating memory banks, one for each bank of 1000 lines, each memory bank containing an accumulating memory which counts the events as they occur and a passive memory which upon command receives data from the accumulating memory. The condition of each line is examined continuously cyclically to determine the presence or absence of specifically different particular events and the durations of such events. The accumulated data is usable directly for billing purposes when the apparatus is used to monitor telephone subscriber lines.