Abstract: A method for delivering a geometric type stress relief element to a terminated electrical cable is provided. The cable contains a conductor surrounded by at least one coaxial layer of insulator, semiconductor, grounded wires and cable jacket. First, the terminated cable is tapered to expose a portion of the conductor so as to protrude beyond the insulation, which protrudes beyond semiconductor, which protrudes beyond the conductive wires. A geometric stress cone is preloaded onto a cold shrink tube. The terminated, tapered cable is inserted into the cold shrink tube. The cold shrink tube is removed and the geometric stress cone collapses onto the tapered cable. The cable is rated for supplying high voltage.

Abstract: A post planter has been presented that is removably attached to a support post of a deck or porch. The post planter is attached at any height along the support post and is made of two sections that wrap around the support post and are held together by clips at the top and a mounting mechanism that is attached to the support post. The post planter outer walls have holes to allow plants to grow through and are manufactured in a variety of sizes.

Abstract: A truck trailer having a pair of tandem spaced apart rear axles and a suspension system for supporting the axles from the chassis of the trailer having a pivot member intermediate the axles about which the axles may pivot relatively to one another, the axles being connected to respective ends of leaf springs. The trailer has apparatus for lifting one of the axles relative to the other axle selectively so that the wheels carried by the lifted axle may be lifted off the roadway. The apparatus for lifting includes air bags which may be inflated by pressurized air or deflated to control the position of the axle to be raised. The air bags are positioned between one of the axles and the chassis and when pressurized air inflates the bags the other axle is lifted about the pivot member.

Abstract: A post planter has been presented that is removably attached to a support post of a deck or porch. The post planter is attached at any height along the support post and is made of two sections that wrap around the support post and are held together by clips at the top and a mounting mechanism that is attached to the support post. The post planter outer walls have holes to allow plants to grow through and are manufactured in a variety of sizes.

Abstract: Stretcher supporting and lifting apparatus normally stowed beneath the body of an ambulance has a frame in the form of a plurality of telescoping members fastened to and extendable lengthwise relative to the chassis of the vehicle and carries a lifting device on which a platform is mounted. The frame may be extended and tilted downwardly from a stowed position to the ground with the platform in its lowest position. The platform has guide tracks for the wheels of a transportable stretcher and the stretcher may be rolled onto the tracks and a patient supporting litter lowered onto the platform. The lifting device is then actuated to lift the platform and the stretcher to the desired height so that the wheels may roll onto the floor of the ambulance. After the stretcher has been moved thereon, the lifting device is lowered to lower the platform, and the frame may be tilted back to the horizontal position and retracted to its stowed position beneath the ambulance.

Abstract: A fiber optic, Faraday-effect sensing coil has very low linear and circular birefringence, which remains stable over a wide range of temperatures. The coil is fabricated from a spun fiber having an effective linear beat length of 100 meters or more, and is annealed after being formed into the coil. The coil has improved discrimination for magnetic fields associated with electric current-carrying cables, and may be incorporated into an optical current transducer (OCT), either interferometric or polarimetric.

Abstract: A fiber optic, Faraday-effect sensing coil has very low linear and circular birefringence, which remains stable over a wide range of temperatures. The coil is fabricated from a spun fiber having an effective linear beat length of 100 meters or more, and is annealed after being formed into the coil. The coil has improved discrimination for magnetic fields associated with electric current-carrying cables, and may be incorporated into an optical current transducer (OCT), either interferometric or polarimetric.

Abstract: A method for preparation of a pasta-based food product is disclosed. The method comprises several steps. Pieces of pasta are cooked to form pieces of cooked pasta. The cooked pasta is mixed with a binding composition comprising a binding agent that is either soy protein, or an egg white composition consisting of either egg whites or a mixture of powdered egg white and water. The pasta and binding agent are mixed in a cooked pasta to binding agent weight ratio of from about 40:1 to about 10:1, to form a pasta/egg white mixture. A desired amount of the mixture is formed into a desired shape and the desired shape of mixture is baked until the pieces of cooked pasta adhere together, yet remain moist. A pasta-based food product prepared by such method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Towing apparatus mounted on the rear of a towing vehicle for lifting and towing disabled vehicles includes an extendible boom assembly positionable beneath the undercarriage of the vehicle to be towed. The boom assembly is carried by a vertically and pivotably movable housing assembly mounted on the towing vehicle and is pivotable relative to the housing assembly. The boom assembly includes a number of extendible boom stages telescopically mounted within first and second stage boom members, the first stage boom member being pivotably mounted on the housing assembly. Second stage boom member is mounted within and pivotable relative to the first stage boom member about a vertical axis so as to move from side-to-side, the extendible boom stages moving with the second stage boom member. The first stage boom member has an enlarged mouth through which the second stage boom member extends, the large mouth permitting the second stage to have substantial sideways movement.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a boat having a seat assembly to support a pilot provides an outboard motor which is directionally controlled by extension and retraction of a control cable with the control mechanism having a pedal which is generally planar on its upper surface receptive of the pilot's foot. A bracket mounts the pedal at a location below the seat assembly so that the user occupying the seat can position one of his feet on the pedal. A pair of switch surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the pedal, each surface extending above the pedal surface so that lateral movement of the user's foot when positioned on the pedal can contact one of the switch surfaces. A switch associated with each switch surface can then be activated for directionally moving the outboard motor into different positions responsive to pressure applied to one or other of the switch surfaces applied by the edge of the user's foot.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a boat having a seat assembly to support a pilot provides an outboard motor which is directionally controlled by extension and retraction of a control cable with the control mechanism having a pedal which is generally planar on its upper surface receptive of the pilot's foot. A bracket mounts the pedal at a location below the seat assembly so that the user occupying the seat can position one of his feet on the pedal. A pair of switch surfaces are disposed on opposite sides of the pedal, each surface extending above the pedal surface so that lateral movement of the user's foot when positioned on the pedal can contact one of the switch surfaces. A switch associated with each switch surface can then be activated for directionally moving the outboard motor into different positions responsive to pressure applied to one or other of the switch surfaces applied by the edge of the user's foot.

Abstract: A load rotating attachment for a lift truck provided with an elevating carriage has a back plate sub-assembly including an upright wall adapted to be secured to the carriage adjacent and forwardly thereof. A front plate sub-assembly has an upright wall juxtaposed to the back plate wall and pivotally mounted thereon for rotation relative thereto with the major planes of the walls in parallelism. An upright framework is fixed to and extends above the back plate wall and supports a hydraulic ram thereon. A fixed upright of the framework serves as a guide track for a movable guide having a roller arm with guide rollers supported thereon for tracking on the guide track. The piston rod of the ram is pivotally connected to a drive link which in turn is pivotally coupled between and to said movable guide and to the rotatable front wall for bodily travel and pivotal motion in a path extending partially around and radially offset from the pivotal mounting of the front and back walls. This produces a 180.degree.

Abstract: A power-up and power-down mast and carriage assembly for a lift truck of the type having a stationary mast section fixed to the truck, a movable inner mast section reciprocable within the stationary mast, a fork carriage movably associated with the inner mast section, a double-acting hydraulic ram having an extensible and retractable cylinder and piston rod assembly operatively connected between said mast sections for extending and retracting the inner mast section relative to the stationary mast section. Lost-motion couplings interconnect both power-up and power-down chains with the stationary mast and carriage in a closed loop chain rigging system. The lost-motion couplings each have a rod slidably through the interconnection with the carriage and stationary mast, and spaced stops operable to limit travel of the rod to a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An improved mounting of the ceramic arc tube on a support rod attached to one lead-in within an outer vitreous envelope allows for thermal expansion. The inlead at one end of the arc tube is fastened to the support rod which serves also as conductor, while that at the other end extends through an insulating bushing supported from the rod and is connected by a curved flexible conductor to the other lead-in of the outer envelope. Differential thermal expansion is accommodated by sliding of the inlead through the bushing and flexing of the curved conductor.

Abstract: An improved sealing composition for use between alumina ceramic parts, or between alumina ceramic and refractory metal, is based on 40 wt% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 35 wt% CaO, 15 wt% BaO and 10 wt% SrO, and has an average thermal expansion coefficient of 95.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. between 25.degree. C. and 600.degree. C. This composition after sealing achieves a closer match to the coefficient of thermal expansion of high density polycrystalline alumina (86.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C.) than previously available materials. In addition, it has a wider sealing range which facilitates seal processing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an ejector pin retracting means for plastic molding dies and die cast molds; the retracting means being commonly known as an early return system for retracting ejector pins into a mold cavity into flush relationship with a surface thereof before a conventional laterally moving slide mechanism is actuated, and thereby preventing the slide mechanism from hitting the extended ejector pins and causing damage thereto. The invention comprises resilient means operable by a return rod, the resilient means being engageable by the rod and resiliently expandable to permit the rod to pass therethrough after the rod has applied sufficient force to the resiliently expandable means so as to retract the ejector pins into one of the mold cavities and into flush relationship with an inner surface thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing a fuel particle is disclosed, which comprises forming hollow spheroids which have a mass number greater than 50, immersing said spheroids while under the presence of pressure and heat in a gaseous atmosphere containing an isotope, such as deuterium and tritium, so as to diffuse the gas into the spheroid and thereafter cooling said spheroids up to about 77.degree. Kelvin to about 4.degree. Kelvin.