Abstract: A mooring line coupler connects a mooring line from a dock or mooring post to a boat and releases the mooring line from the boat from a remote location on the boat. The coupler includes a cleat mounted on the boat with the cleat having a rotatable bar carrying a projection at an intermediate portion thereof. The projection engages the mooring line when in a first position and releases the mooring line when in a second position. A releasable latch engages and holds the projection when the latch is in a first position and the projection is in the first position. The latch has a second position spaced from the projection to enable it to move to the second position. The latch is moved from the first position toward the second position by remote controls which can be located at an operator's station.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling gasket-forming material. This material is usually supplied in tubular cartridge form and is dispensed to a screen with a porous pattern which shapes the material to the desired gasket-configuration. The material is spread on the screen and forced through to the other side where the gasket pattern is applied to an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad. This pad with the pattern on the transfer surface is moved to a mateable surface of a workpiece located on a support spaced from the screen. The gasket-forming material is then transferred to the mateable surface. The gasket-forming material is dispensed from the cartridge with the aid of a cartridge holder having an opening at one end to receive a spout of the cartridge and having a plunger at the other end with a plunger rod extending outwardly therefrom. A fluid-operated cylinder is aligned with the plunger rod and has a piston connected with the rod.

Abstract: Battery testing apparatus is provided for rapidly and automatically testing newly-manufactured electric batteries. The apparatus includes a testing machine which has at least one station, and preferably two, at which the batteries are tested for voltage and current output. By using two stations, the test at each station can be shorter and the change in the current output of a battery between the two stations helps to determine battery characteristics more effectively. Each of these stations has a stop for stopping a battery and a clamping arrangement for holding the battery at the station. Each station also has a pair of vertically movable terminal pads and a pair of horizontally movable terminal pads for top post batteries and side post batteries. The apparatus also includes an entry conveyor which is effective to supply one battery at a time to the stations of the machine and to effectively stop and hold a line of batteries to be tested.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a bead of gasket-forming material to a mateable surface of a workpiece. The apparatus includes a source of gasket-forming material and a screen having a predetermined pattern conforming to the desired bead of the gasket-forming material. A spreader applies the gasket-forming material to one side of the screen and the gasket pattern is then formed on an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad on the opposite side of the screen. Means are provided for moving the pad with the pattern on the transfer surface and engaging it with the mateable surface of a workpiece mounted on a support spaced from the screen, thereby forming a bead of gasket-forming material on the mateable surface. The transfer surface is moved through an arc of 180.degree. when moving between the screen and the workpiece surface.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a bead of gasket-forming material to a mateable surface of a workpiece. The apparatus includes a source of gasket-forming material and a screen having a predetermined pattern conforming to the desired bead of the gasket-forming material. A spreader applies the gasket-forming material to one side of the screen and the gasket pattern is then formed on an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad on the opposite side of the screen. Means are provided for moving the pad with the pattern on the transfer surface and engaging it with the mateable surface of a workpiece mounted on a support spaced from the screen, thereby forming a bead of gasket-forming material on the mateable surface. The transfer surface is moved through an arc of 180.degree. when moving between the screen and the workpiece surface.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling gasket-forming material. This material is usually supplied in tubular cartridge form and is dispensed to a screen with a porous pattern which shapes the material to the desired gasket-configuration. The material is spread on the screen and forced through to the other side where the gasket pattern is applied to an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad. This pad with the pattern on the transfer surface is moved to a mateable surface of a workpiece located on a support spaced from the screen. The gasket-forming material is then transferred to the mateable surface. The gasket-forming material is dispensed from the cartridge with the aid of a cartridge holder having an opening at one end to receive a spout of the cartridge and having a plunger at the other end with a plunger rod extending outwardly therefrom. A fluid-operated cylinder is aligned with the plunger rod and has a piston connected with the rod.

Abstract: A support for a trailer tip out is provided. Larger house trailers, in particular, sometimes have additional rooms or tip outs which are hinged or slide out of side walls of the trailers and moveable through openings therein between a storage position within the trailers and an operating position extending out through the openings from the side walls. Heretofore, the floor of the tip out has been supported above the ground by concrete blocks or the like. These are carried within the trailer and are heavy as well as space consuming. Also, the blocks may shift or sink in the ground and throw off the level of the tip out floor. The new tip out support supports the tip out through the frame of the trailer to eliminate the blocks and any problems caused by shifting or sinking.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a bead of gasket-forming material to a mateable surface of a workpiece. The apparatus includes a source of gasket-forming material and a screen having a predetermined pattern conforming to the desired bead of the gasket-forming material. A spreader applies the gasket-forming material to one side of the screen and the gasket pattern is then formed on an adjacent transfer surface of a transfer pad on the opposite side of the screen. Means are provided for moving the pad with the pattern on the transfer surface and engaging it with the mateable surface of a workpiece mounted on a support spaced from the screen, thereby forming a bead of gasket-forming material on the mateable surface. The transfer surface is moved through an arc of 180.degree. when moving from the screen to the workpiece surface. If desired, two of the transfer surfaces can be positioned on opposite sides of the transfer pad.

Abstract: An electronic inspection fixture is provided which checks a dimension of objects and rejects oversized ones. The inspection fixture includes spaced conducting members set apart at a fixed distance and preferably placed one above the other at angles to the horizontal which enables objects to slide between the members by gravity. An oversized object completes a circuit between the members and causes a fluid-operated cylinder to move the upper member away from the lower one to release the object. The circuit also operates a second fluid-operated cylinder which moves a diverter member into the path of the objects to divert oversized objects from the normal path thereof. Objects which are not oversized pass between the members and past the diverter member.

Abstract: Docking apparatus is provided for aiding in the docking or mooring of a boat. The apparatus is particularly advantageous for larger pleasure boats which may have but one pilot or operator but which normally require more than one person to dock the boat. The apparatus includes a line held in an extended position by a mooring post on the side which the boat approaches. A line-engageable member is mounted on the boat and is positioned to engage the line as the boat approaches the docking area. In a preferred form, the line-engageable member is a hook and is mounted so as to be swung or extended outwardly from the boat in one position and to be retracted and out of the way in another position. The line is preferably releasably held relative to the post so that it will be partly released when engaged by the hook but will still be fastened to the dock or the post. Once the hook engages the line and the boat is stopped, the operator can then fasten additional mooring lines as desired.

Abstract: An electronic line coupler for a boat is provided. The line coupler connects a mooring line from a dock or mooring post to the boat. One end of the line is suitably attached to the dock or post and the other end of the line is attached to a projection. The projection is received in a recess of the boat with the recess preferably being located in a cleat. A latch holds the projection in the recess when inserted thereinto and securely holds the line until the latch is released. In a preferred form, the latch is electrically-operated by an operator or pilot located at the boat controls or other desired position. The operator can then release the latch to uncouple the line projection from the recess when he wishes to cast off and leave the dock or post. The line is preferably equipped with an elastic connection between two spaced portions thereof to aid in urging the line projection from the boat recess and to aid in holding it above the water level.

Abstract: A propelling device is provided for propelling lines from a boat to a dock or land. The device is particularly designed for larger pleasure boats which may have but one pilot or operator, but which normally require more than one person for docking. The propelling device includes a housing containing a projectile to which a line is attached, and a compressible gas or spring for propelling the projectile with the line to the dock as the boat is about to dock. The boat usually will be equipped with several of these devices and, in a preferred form, they can be remotely operated from the bridge or other suitable location on the boat. The projectile is preferably propelled by compressed gas, but spring arrangements can also be used.

Abstract: A docking device is provided for aiding in the docking or mooring of a boat. The device is particularly advantageous for larger pleasure boats which may have but one pilot or operator but which normally require more than one person to dock the boat. The docking device includes a line held in an extended position by a mooring post on the side which the boat approaches. A line-engageable member is mounted on the boat and is positioned to engage the line as the boat approaches the docking area. In a preferred, form, the line-engageable member is a hook and is mounted so as to swung or extended outwardly from the boat in one position and to be retracted and out of the way in another position. The line is preferably releasably held relative to the post so that it will be partly released when engaged by the hook but will still be fastened to the dock or the post. Once the hook engages the line and the boat is stopped, the operator can then fasten additional mooring lines as desired.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for piercing and flanging a metal workpiece. The apparatus includes a punch and a back-up die with the punch driven by a hydraulic ram. The punch, die, and ram are mounted on a frame which is movably carried by a main support. A workpiece support is affixed to the main support and positions the workpiece between the punch and the die. The ram moves the punch toward and away from the workpiece relative to the frame and also causes the frame to move relative to the workpiece. This arrangement enables the punch and die to seek operative positions relative to the workpiece without the necessity of the workpiece being precisely positioned. The punch and die are also designed to be reversed to provide the opposite operation on the workpiece, if desired.

Abstract: A docking device is provided for aiding in the docking or mooring of a boat. The device is particularly advantageous for pleasure boats which may have but one pilot or operator but which normally require more than one person to dock the boat. The docking device includes a dock post or mooring post around which a line is positioned. The portion of the line on the side of the post from which the boat approaches is held extended from the post by supporting arms. The arms are pivotally attached to the post and swing downwardly to lower the line when the operator has maneuvered the boat such that a cleat thereon is adjacent the post and under the line. A remotely-controlled element holds the arms in the extended position and, when operated by a signal from the boat, enables the arms to swing downwardly and place the line around the cleat.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying gasket-forming material to workpieces. The apparatus includes a supply of the gasket-forming material under pressure with a nozzle communicating with the material for directing the material to mateable surfaces of workpieces which are to be joined to mateable surfaces of other workpieces. Means are provided to move the nozzle over the mateable surfaces and to supply beads of the gasket-forming material thereto. The means include a track positioned in a predetermined location relative to the mateable surface, with means connected to the nozzle and the material supply and movable along the track to move the nozzle in the desired direction. When the connecting means makes one trip around the track, a complete bead of the gasket-forming material is applied to the mateable surface of the associated workpiece from the nozzle. Another workpiece is then moved into position and the bead-applying process is repeated.

Abstract: Apparatus for piercing and coining a metal workpiece is provided. The apparatus includes a punch and a back-up die which accomplish the piercing, and a coining die located around the punch and movable with respect thereto to accomplish the coining. The punch and coining die are driven by a hydraulic ram which enables the overall apparatus to be relatively compact as compared to most heavy-duty dies and is adaptable for use at a station in a machine which also performs other operations on the workpiece. The workpiece is held precisely in position by a plurality of locators including adjustable fingers which contact and position the workpiece.