Abstract: A manual baler for compressing thin plastic sheeting for efficient recycling including downwardly extending fingers on the compression plate that serve to gather and retain the plastic sheeting during compression and a latch and twine threading system for holding the bale in compression while allowing ties to be wrapped around the bale to retain it in a compressed state.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock having a dial-shape handle with a keypad incorporated therein is disclosed. Rotation of the handle extends or retracts a bolt that closes or opens the lock. The keypad includes indicia that give the user visual cues as to the orientation of the handle, thereby informing the user of the extended or retracted condition of the bolt. A battery pack is used to energize circuitry that recognizes a code entered through the keypad. The circuitry provides a control signal that activates a solenoid to extend or retract a bolt blocking device, which in turn prevents or enables movement of the bolt. A visual indicator warns of a low voltage or power condition in the battery pack. Electrical contacts are provided in the face plate of the handle to connect the circuitry to an external power source in case the battery pack fails.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock is disclosed which allows access to a closed or secure location wherein the lock includes a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. A rotatable cam wheel has a circumferential surface portion defining a slot such that rotation of the cam wheel moves the slot. A movable lever is coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition and is pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel. The movable lever engages the cam wheel such that rotation of the cam wheel changes the condition of the locking mechanism. A cantilever and detent on the lever releasably maintain the lever in a position disengaged from the cam wheel.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock having a dial-shape handle with a keypad incorporated therein is disclosed. Rotation of the handle extends or retracts a bolt that closes or opens the lock. The keypad includes indicia that give the user visual cues as to the orientation of the handle, thereby informing the user of the extended or retracted condition of the bolt. A battery pack is used to energize circuitry that recognizes a code entered through the keypad. The circuitry provides a control signal that activates a solenoid to extend or retract a bolt blocking device, which in turn prevents or enables movement of the bolt. A visual indicator warns of a low voltage or power condition in the battery pack. Electrical contacts are provided in the face plate of the handle to connect the circuitry to an external power source in case the battery pack fails.

Abstract: A combustion burner includes a housing secured to the top of a water heater, a gas tube in fluid communication with a source of gas and depending vertically from the housing and positioned within a heat exchange tube of the water heater. The An ignition assembly depends vertically from the top of the housing through the gas tube and into the heat exchange tube. An angled nozzle, extending from the housing, transports air from an air blower through the housing and into an annulus defined between the exterior of the annular chamber and the interior of the heat exchange tube. A deflector plate having a first and second series of slots and adjacent louvers effects the mixture of the gas and air in the interior of the heat exchange tube and enables the production of a long narrow flame within the heat exchange tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for an electronic lock having a movable bolt including a spring biased pawl movable when it is released by a solenoid mechanism for relative movement by the bolt as the bolt is moved from a blocked entrance way position to an unblocked entranceway position.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock having a dial-shape handle with a keypad incorporated therein is disclosed. Rotation of the handle extends or retracts a bolt that closes or opens the lock. In one embodiment, a gear rotated by the shaft displaces the rack end of radially-extending bolts that extend or retract. The keypad includes indicia that inform the user of the extended or retracted condition of the bolt. A battery pack is used to energize circuitry, and the circuitry provides a control signal that activates a solenoid to extend or retract a bolt blocking device, which in turn prevents or enables movement of the bolt. A visual indicator warns of a low voltage or power condition in the battery pack. Electrical contacts are provided in the face plate of the handle to connect the circuitry to an external power source in case the battery pack fails.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock is disclosed which allows access to a closed or secure location wherein the lock includes a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. A rotatable cam wheel has a circumferential surface portion defining a slot such that rotation of the cam wheel moves the slot. A movable lever is coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition and is pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel. The movable lever engages the cam wheel such that rotation of the cam wheel changes the condition of the locking mechanism. A cantilever and detent on the lever releasably maintain the lever in a position disengaged from the cam wheel.

Abstract: The present invention is a commercial water heater comprising a tank dimensioned to hold a quantity of water, a blower, a heater, a heat exchanger in the water, and a control system. The heat exchanger includes a central tube running from the top of the tank to the bottom and a coil connected to and encircling the central tube. The heater is mounted inside the central tube, and the blower is mounted to the top of the tank, which together simplify manufacture and servicing. The blower is capable of delivering sufficient air for combustion at a pressure and velocity sufficient to drive the exhaust gases fifty feet beyond the water heater outlet, thus avoiding the need for a chimney. The water heater according to the present invention has an average efficiency of 93% with a 1% standby loss and is considerably cheaper to manufacture than other similarly efficient water heaters.

Abstract: An electronic combination lock is disclosed which allows access to a closed or secure location wherein the lock includes a locking mechanism for operating between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. A rotatable cam wheel has a circumferential surface portion defining a slot such that rotation of the cam wheel moves the slot. A moveable lever is coupled to the locking mechanism for changing the condition of the locking mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition and is pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the cam wheel. The movable lever engages the cam wheel such that rotation of the cam wheel changes the condition of the locking mechanism. A cantilever and detent on the lever releasably maintain the lever in a position disengaged from the cam wheel.

Abstract: An electronic lock for a safe door is provided with a digital keypad entry device, a mechanical bolt works and associated handle for retracting the door bolts, and a spring biased rotary bolt which engages and precludes operation of the bolt works, such that upon entry of the predetermined code into the entry device, an electric signal causes a solenoid to energize and retract its armature from a blocking position relative the rotary bolt, further enabling the rotary bolt to rotate against its bias in response to mechanical manipulation of the handle by the user to retract the door bolts. Unauthorized operation of the safe handle causes the rotary bolt to be locked into a fixed position, preventing entry into the safe.

Abstract: An electronic lock for a safe door is provided with a digital keypad entry device, a mechanical bolt works and associated handle for retracting the door bolts, and a spring biased rotary bolt which engages and precludes operation of the bolt works, such that upon entry of the predetermined code into the entry device, an electric signal causes a solenoid to energize and retract its armature from a blocking position relative the rotary bolt, further enabling the rotary bolt to rotate against its bias in response to mechanical maniupulation of the handle by the user to retract the door bolts. Unauthorized operation of the safe handle causes the rotary bolt to be locked into a fixed position, preventing entry into the safe.

Abstract: A self-locking electronic lock system is illustrated in association with safe doors having a door locking bolt works manipulated between door open and door locked positions by a door mounted handle. The bolt works includes a link which moves the door bolts and in turn is locked by an electronic lock in accordance with the present disclosure. The elctronic lock has a spring bias bolt normally biased into a locking gate provided on the link and is operated to a withdrawn position by an associated digital input electronic signal generating means.

Abstract: A self-locking electronic lock system is illustrated in association with safe doors having a door locking bolt works manipulated between door open and door locked positions by a door mounted handle. The bolt works includes a link which moves the door bolts and in turn is locked by an electronic lock in accordance with the present disclosure. The electronic lock has a spring bias bolt normally biased into a locking gate provided on the link and is operated to a withdrawn position by an associated digital input electronic signal generating means.

Abstract: The tumbler wheels have a plurality of false gates, each having a width, depth and/or angular position feature which is a random value selected from within given circumferential, radial and/or angular locational limits, respectively, to foil sophisticated sound wave analyzers. Additonally, the wheel may include an outer periphery whose radius between pairs of adjacent gates is randomly variable within given limits. A method and apparatus for producing the random wheels in large batches includes spindling a large number of blank wheels on an arbor and randomly rotating the arbor selectively relative to a cutting tool which is randomly movable selectively in two axes.

Abstract: A key duplicating apparatus is disclosed which includes a base and platform supporting a reciprocating carriage assembly and a pivotally mounted housing. The carriage assembly has a key securement means which secures a blank key and a template key in alignment for positioning, respectively, with a notch cutting means and a notch depth indicating means, so that a template key may be duplicated by cutting notches of a predetermined depth and position into the shank portion of the blank key.The duplicate key may be cut by use of the template key as a pattern, with a guide cam affixed to the indicating means aligned with a cutter wheel affixed to the notch cutting means. Alternatively, the guide cam may have indicia about its circumference, which may be used to "dial" and decode a manufacturer's code for the purpose of creating a duplicated key. As the guide cam is rotated, the invention may be used to cut a duplicate key from the notch pattern presented in the code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use by a locksmith for ascertaining the combination of a locked safe of a known type without destruction of the lock or safe includes the location of a position beneath the dial or dial ring of the safe at which a repairable access hole can be drilled into the lock at a known angular position relative to the lock's fence and coaxially with an unoccupied, cylindrical region generally normal and tangential to the tumbler wheels of the lock, through which a probe may be inserted to sense the outer circumference of the wheels and to detect the alignment of the gate in each wheel with the probe by manipulation of the spindle of the lock in a predetermined, sequential order. From the known angular position of the axis hole and the angular position of the spindle required to align the gates in the wheels with the probe, the combination of the lock can be computed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use by a locksmith for ascertaining the combination of a locked safe of a known type without destruction of the lock or safe includes the location of a position beneath the dial or dial ring of the safe at which a repairable access hole can be drilled into the lock at a known angular position relative to the lock's fence and coaxially with an unoccupied, cylindrical region generally normal and tangential to the tumbler wheels of the lock, through which a probe may be inserted to sense the outer circumference of the wheels and to detect the alignment of the gate in each wheel with the probe by manipulation of the spindle of the lock in a predetermined, sequential order. From the known angular position of the axis hole and the angular position of the spindle required to align the gates in the wheels with the probe, the combination of the lock can be computed.

Abstract: A shooting bench including an upper cross member having legs pivotally attached thereto to allow for collapsing of the legs for carrying of the shooting bench. A brace secures one of the legs in an extended position during use of the bench. The other leg carries a rest member at its upper end which is adjustable for elevation by pivoting the leg about its pivotable attachment to the upper cross member.

Abstract: A wire wound resistor is vertically disposed in a vessel. The resistor has a former of between 20 mm and 45 mm diameter and resistance wire of a resistance of between 1 and 4 ohms per turn connected in the circuit of an A.C. bridge-circuit. Impedance change is indicated on a display unit calibrated to indicate the change in level of liquid e.g. milk in the vessel. The resistance wire is laid on the former by applying ultrasonic sound energy to soften the former which is of polysulfone or polycarbonate and the wire embedded in the softened former material. The vessel is shaped at the lower end to assist in giving linear readings when the level of liquid is low.