Abstract: A flexible auxiliary handle having an elongate member having a hand grip portion associated with a first end and an attaching portion associated with a second end wherein the elongate member provides for torsion or bending or both in response to motions and forces applied to the grip portion. The elongate member is typically advantageously comprised of one or more segments having characteristics enabling such action. The flexible handle ergonomically allows the gripping hand to move freely while the implement's tool maintains orientation to the ground without undue need for balancing, or for avoiding or performing certain undesirable movements customary with auxiliary handles. Such auxiliary handle is attractive, lightweight, cost effective to manufacture, has many configurations, conserves implement storage and retail space, installs and adjusts without tools, fits a wide variety of implements, enables conventional implement use, remains within easy grasp of the user, and is pleasurable to own.

Abstract: A safe toy balloon closure and sealing device is provided that includes (a) a generally flat member having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, (b) a balloon neck receiving aperture formed through the generally flat member and between the first end and the second end, (c) an inserting passage for inserting a balloon neck from the first end into the balloon neck receiving aperture, and (d) at least one non-aligned stretched neck retaining device formed on at least one of the second end, the first side edge and the second side edge at a location that is not aligned with the inserting passage, for creating at least one angled sharp bend and seal in a balloon neck being stretched from the balloon neck receiving aperture for reinsertion through the inserting passage and the balloon neck receiving aperture; thereby effectively closing and sealing the stretched balloon neck without tying and without a risk of the balloon neck unravel

Abstract: A safe toy balloon and a method for making same are provided. The safe toy balloon includes an elastomeric inflatable member having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a neck portion and a body portion; and a safety coating formed on portions of the one or more of the surfaces of the inflatable member, the safety coating consisting essentially of repulsive taste agent for making uninflated and inflated balloons safer from risk of ingestion injuries or possible death from asphyxiation.

Abstract: A hopper door operating mechanism includes an arcuate closing plate mounted on an internal shaft pivotably connected to the frame of the hopper door. An operating crank has one end connected to the internal shaft and the other end pivotably connected to a link arm. The link arm has motors pivotably connected at opposite ends of the link arm. The closing plate can be rotated to open the hopper door in either direction depending on the discharge direction. To open and close the closing plate in a first direction, the first motor is operated to move the link arm and rotate the closing plate while the second motor is maintained in a closed position to retain one end of the link arm as a fulcrum point. To open and close the closing plate in the opposite direction, the second motor is operated to move the link arm while the first motor is maintained in a close position to retain end of the link arm as a fulcrum point.

Abstract: A railroad ballast spreading system is provided for rail cars used to spread ballast about the rails. A plowshare is mounted beneath the rail car and is supported by a bracket arm connected to the rail car. A curved linkage is also connected to between the rail car and the plowshare. A hydraulic motor or other pressure fluid motor is connected to an intermediate point of the linkage to pivotably move the plowshare from a lowered position for spreading the ballast to a raised, stowed position. The linkage includes a curved crank arm and a curved link arm such that the linkage passes the toggle point between the lowered and stowed position to increase the stability of the plowshare in the stowed position.

Abstract: A door apparatus for a railway hopper car for discharging bulk material from the car has an elongated flexible hollow body positioned in a discharge opening. A pair of end walls are attached to opposite ends of the body. Each end wall has a first pivot point for rotary attachment to the body. The body is rotatable about the first pivot point between an opened position and a closed position. The body has an arcuate surface extending generally vertically when in the closed position to reduce the effort required to open the doors when the car is loaded. If the door apparatus is stuck in the closed position, such as when ice has formed between the longitudinal edge of the door apparatus and the edge of the discharge opening, a torque applied to one end of the door apparatus about the first pivot point tends to twist the door apparatus about the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pivoted drop end for a railway car which is adapted to be manipulated (lifted) by power equipment in the car to open or close the car end. The car end includes lower side posts, each having a cam follower running in a cam on the car frame which swings the car end about a pivot carried on each of the posts. The pivots are guided in a vertical slot and cooperates with the cam. The car end is opened outwardly of the car and rests in open horizontal position on a pedestal support of the frame so that adjacent open car ends form a bridge to move loads longitudinally of the train. The car end is dampened in lowering (opening) movement by dash-pots connected between the car end and car frame. A side dumping railway car tilts the car body to either side by sets of pneumatic cylinders, each set being alternatively under control of a valve.

Abstract: A connecting assembly consisting of a hub and a plurality of U shaped connecting members for joining the framework of geodesic domes is provided. The hub is formed from a hollow member containing a plurality of radial grooves designed to accept the rectangular end of framing members. The rectangular ends are secured in the grooves by the U shaped connecting members that wrap around the bottom of the grooves of the internal side of the hub and thereafter lie adjacent to the flat end of the framing members. Further, nails, screws or bolts can be used to secure the U shape connecting members to the rectangular ends of the framing members. The frame members extend radially from the center of the hub and are so arranged that the angle between the adjacent framing members is at least 40.degree.. The grooves are so designed that the attached framing members form an angle from 1.degree. to 14.degree. with a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the hub.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for electrical excitation of a laser gas by application of a pulsed voltage across the gas, followed by passage of a pulsed, high energy electron beam through the gas to initiate a discharge suitable for laser excitation. This method improves upon current power conditioning techniques and is especially useful for driving rare gas halide lasers at high repetition rates.

Abstract: An electron beam of energy typically 100 keV excites a fluorescer gas which emits ultraviolet radiation. This radiation excites and drives an adjacent laser gas by optical pumping or photolytic dissociation to produce high efficiency pulses.The invention described herein was made in the course of, or under, United States Energy Research and Development Administration Contract No. W-7405-Eng-48 with the University of California.

Abstract: A traffic control system for governing from a central office train control equipment such as track switches and track signals which are disposed along a stretch of railroad track. The control system is flexible in that it can operate with either the CTC (unit lever) type of control wherein the operator designates the particular condition or position of track switches and track signals, or in an NX mode wherein the operator merely designates a particular entrance and exit for a particular route. The control system offers still further flexibility in enabling the operator to simply initiate a passing move on a stretch of railroad track which includes a siding. Still further flexibility is built into the control system in that it allows the operator to designate conflicting control requests at the same time. After the particular operator selected control requests have been entered the control system checks the validity of the selected control requests in a predetermined sequence.