Abstract: Plumbing tools (50, 110, 140, 180, 220, 260, 290, 340, and 400) comprise a ramrod (10, 90, 112, 188, 222, or 402) with longitudinal portions (188 and 190, 130, or 142 and 144) that include unidirectional and/or bidirectional stiffening, or three longitudinal portions (142, 140, and 144 or 188, 190, and 192) that include unidirectional and/or bidirectional stiffening. The method includes manual ramming (FIGS. 7, 10, 13, 17, and 26), slide hammering (FIG. 30), and power-impact ramming (FIGS. 31-33). Power-impact ramming (FIGS. 31-33) optionally includes a rotary-to-impact converter (FIG. 33). The method includes flexibly threading a ramrod (10, 90, 112, 142, 188, 226, or 402) into a passageway (16), ramming one end, elastically transferring ramming energy, and impacting a blockage (30). Optionally the method includes distributing the plumbing tool (110, 140, or 180) as promotional merchandise.

Abstract: Toilet ramrods (10, 90, 100, 130, 150, 202, 280, or 300) comprise extruded plastic (10), steel strip (92), wires (102 and 104), and/or a coiled spring (206). Two toilet ramrods (130 and 150) include unidirectional stiffening. Toilet ramrod apparatus (70, 110, 200, 240, or 270) comprises a toilet ramrod (10, 90, 100, 130, 150, 202, 280, or 300), a sleeve (72 or 204), a ramming handle (112, 212, or 258), an impacting foot (114 or 210), a slide hammer (252), a power-impacting device (272), and/or a torque deactivator (334+336). The method includes threading an elongated member (10, 90, 100, 130, or 202) into a curved discharge passageway (16) and elastically ramming the elongated member (10, 90, 100, 130, or 202) against a blockage (30). Optionally the method includes distributing the toilet ramrod (10, 130, or 150) as promotional merchandise.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for enhancing the earth's dc magnetic field (14) and/or for restoring the earth's dc magnetic field (14), when the earth's dc magnetic field (14) has been degraded by steel construction, or has been degraded by either an extra-low-frequency or an rf magnetic field (96), in a living space (144). Magnetic-field enhancing/restoring apparatus includes beds (120), mattresses (314), bassinets (428), other seating furniture (370), office furniture (414), rooms (186), buildings (222), child-restraint seating (560), and vehicles (712). Apparatus and method also are provided for enhancing the earth's dc magnetic field in a body member (608) by use of body-worn apparatus (596). Magnetic-field enhancers/restorers include magnetic-field-enhancing coils (226) and magnetized sheets or pads (514).

Abstract: Magnetic-field-augmented beds (10, 246, 258, 366, 406, 408, 424, 426), mattresses (330, 352), seating furniture (488), desks (542, 574), carrells (278), railings (514) rooms (168, 202, 216A, 216B), and buildings (156, 164, 192, 230, 472) include magnetic-field augmenters (14, 36, 46, 56, 120, 154, 162, 172, 198, 210, 224A, 224B, 234, 250, 262, 282, 304, 334, 360, 380, 386, 412, 430, 466, 476, 492, 524, 550) that, when connected to a source (70) of electrical power, provide a healthful magnetic field for entire bodies of human beings or other living things in living spaces (31, 182, 300, 507, 531, 549, 591). In another embodiment, a magnetic-field augmenter (444) is hung on a wall (446), and in another embodiment, a magnetic-field augmenter (456) is arranged on a floor (458) around seating furniture (462).

Abstract: Wheeled apparatus (10) is usable both as a wheeled walker and as a wheelchair. The wheeled apparatus (10) includes a foldable frame (12 or 258), first (16A) and second (16B) transversely spaced-apart wheels that are attached to the frame (12 or 258) with a negative camber angle, a third wheel (24A) that is longitudinally spaced from the first (16A) and a second (16B) wheels and that is attached to the frame (12 or 258), and a seat cushion (97) that is attached to the frame (12 or 258). When used as a wheeled walker, bi-directional seat (101, 124, 146, or 162) provides rearward facing seating (186) for resting, and when used as a wheelchair, the bi-directional seating means (101, 124, 146, or 162) provides forward facing seating (187). Centers (94) of handgrips (82A and 82B) are disposed longitudinally intermediate of the first and second wheels (16A and 16B) and the third wheel (24A) to minimize danger of the wheeled apparatus (10) tipping backwardly when used as a wheeled walker.

Abstract: A keyboard (10) is provided for use with computer type devices. The keyboard (10) provides thumb-actuated keys (52, 54, 56, and 58) for controlling the cursor in all four directions without removing either hand (42a or 42b) from its home position (40a or 40b); and the keyboard (10) includes thumb-actuated keys (62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, and 78) for performing other text-control operations without removing either hand (42a or 42b) from its home position (40a or 40b). The character keys (18) are divided into two spaced-apart groups (28a and 28b); and a function-control pad (34), which includes function keys (38), is disposed in longitudinally-disposed and laterally-staggered rows (36a, 36b, and 36c), and is interposed between the groups (28a and 28b) of the character keys (18).

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and method for mounting a plurality of vertically-spaced antennas (256 or 384) or other devices (262) to a tower (12) of the type having three tower legs (20a-20c), and for both separate and selective rotational positioning of the antennas or other devices. The preferred embodiment includes first (170 or 342), second (170 or 342), and third (204 or 320) support housings that are separately attached to the three tower legs, and an antenna-mounting ring (142 or 292) that circumscribes the tower, and that is rotatably attached to the support housings.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for mounting and both separate and selective rotational positioning of a plurality of antennas, or search devices, that are attached to the face of a tower. The preferred embodiment includes an antenna-mounting ring, or search-device mounting ring (142) that is attached to the tower (12) by a plurality of support rollers (160, 186, or 219). The antenna-mounting ring is rotationally positioned by a drive motor (214), and by a friction drive element that is connected to the drive motor and that engages the antenna-mounting ring. Preferably, one of the support rollers serves as the friction drive element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for mounting and both separate and selective rotational positioning of a plurality of separate antennas, or search devices, on a single tower. Three of the preferred embodiments for use in mounting and rotationally positioning antennas or search devices include an antenna-mounting ring, or search-device mounting ring (142, 292, or 406) that is attached to the tower (12) by a plurality of support rollers (160, 219, or 306). The support rollers are operatively attached to the tower or to the antenna-mounting ring and supportingly engage a circumferential groove (150, 298, or 430) which is located in either the antenna-mounting ring, or in a tower-attaching ring (402) that is interposed between the antenna-mounting ring and the tower.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for mounting and both separate and selective rotational positioning of a plurality of separate antennas, or search devices, on a single tower of the type having a plurality of vertically-disposed tower legs (20a-20c) and having bracing (22) between adjacent pairs of the tower legs. The preferred embodiments include an antenna-mounting ring, or search-device mounting ring (142 or 406) that is attached to the tower (12) by a plurality of shaft-mounted support rollers (160, 219, or 306).

Abstract: A fluid flow controlling device includes a flow control that is interposed between the valve spool of a directional control valve and the work port channel of the directional control valve, and that is effective to control fluid flow to and from one motor port of a fluid motor in proportion to respective sizing of first and second fluid flow paths by the valve spool. The fluid flow controlling device is preferably used in load responsive hydraulic systems.

Abstract: A reciprocating fluid device is provided in which dynamic stresses in the weld between the cylindrical tube and the base thereof are reduced by prestressing the tube proximal to the weld prior to welding.

Abstract: Each directional control valve of a load responsive hydraulic system supplies a flow of signal fluid to a work port channel thereof and pressurizes this flow of signal fluid to a predetermined pressure magnitude above the load actuating pressure in the work port channel to provide a synthetic signal pressure. Fluid logic is provided for the selection of the highest synthetic signal pressure from any of the directional control valves and for application of this highest synthetic signal pressure to an effective output operator for the control of the pressure and effective output of the pump.

Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a fluid responsive means that controls the effective output of the pump in response to pressurization of signal fluid that is supplied by the pump. The signal fluid is pressurized by flowing through a synthetic signal generator and on into a fluid motor in opposition to the working pressure therein. This signal fluid is directed to the fluid motor by the directional control valve when the directional control valve is in an operating position; and it is directed to a sump by the directional control valve when the directional control valve is in a standby position. The present invention provides pressure actuated means to divert or occlude this signal fluid from the directional control valve except when the directional control valve provides a load sensing flow path which communicates this signal fluid to the fluid motor.

Abstract: A load responsive hydraulic system uses a signal supply restrictor, a synthetic signal generator and a unique directional control valve to provide a signal fluid having a pressure magnitude which is at a predetermined value above the load actuating pressure of the system and which is called a synthetic signal pressure. The effective output of the system's pump is controlled by the difference between the pressure of the pump and the pressure magnitude of this synthetic signal pressure. During pressure operation of the system, the directional control valve applies the synthetic signal pressure to the pump control mechanism; and during standby operation, the control valve applies a signal fluid to the pump control mechanism whose pressure magnitude is not increased by the synthetic signal generator.

Abstract: A load-responsive hydraulic system is provided in which the effective output of a fixed displacement pump is controlled by a bypass valve having three fluid-responsive areas.The first fluid-responsive area is pressurized by pump pressure; and the directional control valve of the system includes a first fluid flow path which pressurizes the second fluid-responsive area with the load-actuating pressure of a fluid motor when the fluid motor is receiving pressurized fluid from the pump. Thus, the bypass valve is load responsive.The directional control valve also includes a second fluid flow path which controls a fluid pressure which is applied to the third area; so that, the force balance of the bypass valve is changed by the force developed by the third area; and the difference between pump pressure and load-actuating pressure, while operating the system, is greater than the difference between pump pressure and sump pressure at standby.