Abstract: A wooden flooring strip having a wooden flooring strip, comprising a top surface and a base surface opposed to the top surface, the top surface and the base surface defining between them a predetermined thickness wood flooring material. The predetermined thickness wood flooring material includes a top surface zone adjacent the top surface and a base surface zone adjacent the base surface. The base surface zone has longitudinally-extending wood fibers which have been broken to an extent sufficient to relieve tension on the base surface and thereby increase the flexibility of the flooring strip for more closely adhering to a sub-floor. The top surface zone has longitudinally-extending wood fibers which have been broken to an extent sufficient to relieve tension on the top surface of the flooring strip and to equalize tension on the wood fibers adjacent both the top surface and base surface of the flooring strip.

Abstract: A fluid control system that includes a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form at least first and second passages extending continuously through the manifold and each of the bodies. A plurality of solenoid valves are each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into the body to the fluid passage(s) that extend through the manifold. An electrical connection arrangement is mounted at one end of the manifold for receiving control signals from an external source. A plurality of circuitboards are disposed one within the second passage of each body, with each of the circuitboards including male and female connectors at opposed ends for connecting the circuitboards in series with each other to the electrical connection arrangement at the end of the manifold. A third connector on each circuitboard extends laterally from the circuitboard for connection to the solenoid valve mounted on the side of the associated manifold body.

Abstract: A wooden flooring strip having a top surface having a decorative finish and a base surface opposed to said top surface. The base surface has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores extending into the flooring strip from the base surface transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip to relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor. The flooring strip has substantially longitudinally-extending wood fibers in an area of the flooring strip between the scores and the top surface of the flooring strip which have been broken to an extent sufficient to relieve tension on the top surface of the flooring strip and to equalize tension on the wood fibers adjacent both the top surface and base surface of the flooring strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the flexibility of and straightening wooden flooring strips of the type having a top surface having a decorative finish and a base surface opposed to the top surface. The base surface has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores extending into the flooring strip from the base surface transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip to relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor. The apparatus has an infeed zone for feeding flooring strips downstream from an upstream processing station and an outfeed zone for discharging the flooring strips to a downstream processing station. A conveyor conveys the flooring strips downstream from the infeed zone to the outfeed zone.

Abstract: A wood flooring product for assembly into a wood floor is disclosed. The flooring product includes a top, decorative layer, an intermediate layer bonded to the top layer, and a base layer bonded to the intermediate layer. The top, intermediate and base layers are bonded in registration to define a laminated elongate wood flooring strip. A tongue and a groove are formed on respective side edges of the flooring strip. The tongue and groove extend along the length of the flooring strip, and lock adjacent flooring strips together side-to-side to form an assembled wood floor. The base layer has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores cut transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip. The scores relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor.

Abstract: A plurality of solenoid control valves each mounted on a module of a manifold with a terminal block for each valve removably received in the manifold and having at least three terminals. A printed circuit board with a microprocessor and a coil driver mounted on the board has three spaced apart electric connectors releasably secured to separate terminals of the same terminal block and each having a shank received in a hole through the circuit board and electrically connected to a printed circuit on the board by solder to both mount and support the circuit board on the terminal block and provide output of the coil driver to the coils of two solenoids for controlling the application of electric power to them. An auxiliary circuit board with another coil driver and electric connectors mounted on another terminal block is daisy chained with the microprocessor for controlling the application of electric power to additional solenoid coils.

Abstract: A wood flooring product for assembly into a wood floor is disclosed. The flooring product includes a top, decorative layer, an intermediate layer bonded to the top layer, and a base layer bonded to the intermediate layer. The top, intermediate and base layers are bonded in registration to define a laminated elongate wood flooring strip. A tongue and a groove are formed on respective side edges of the flooring strip. The tongue and groove extend along the length of the flooring strip, and lock adjacent flooring strips together side-to-side to form an assembled wood floor. The base layer has a multiplicity of closely spaced-apart scores cut transverse to the length of the flooring strip along substantially the entire length of the flooring strip. The scores relieve stress and increase flexibility in the wood strip for more closely adhering to irregularities of a sub-floor.

Abstract: A sous vide reheating device preferably includes at least two water heating chambers with each chamber having a heating device and a thermostat for controlling the temperature of the water in the chamber. An agitation mechanism is provided to circulate the water in each chamber. Each chamber is preferably divided into a plurality of sub-chambers with each sub-chamber having an associated timer to measure the amount of time elapsed for that sub-chamber. The device may include a plate storage and warming mechanism and has a work space for preparing the sous vide foods for service to a consumer.

Abstract: A sous vide reheating device preferably includes at least two water heating chambers with each chamber having a heating device and a thermostat for controlling the temperature of the water in the chamber. An agitation mechanism is provided to circulate the water in each chamber. Each chamber is preferably divided into a plurality of sub-chambers with each sub-chamber having an associated timer to measure the amount of time elapsed for that sub-chamber. The device may include a plate storage and warming mechanism and has a work space for preparing the sous vide foods for service to a consumer.

Abstract: An improved fast response shut-off valve for use with pneumatic tools and the like that utilizes a solenoid for holding the valve open and utilizes fluid pressure for driving the valve closed. Further, a field suppressor may be utilized to decrease the magnetic flux strength of the solenoid coil very rapidly increasing the rapidity with which the valve can be moved from the open to closed position.

Abstract: An improved method for treating an intervertebral spinal disc in a mammalian subject which disc exhibits an abnormal condition, characterized by a reduced risk of toxic effect to the subject is provided which comprises, injecting in said disc an amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable solution of a purified chymopapain essentially free of proteolytically inactive and/or toxic protein components, said purified chymopapain being used in an amount sufficient to selectively dissolve the nucleus pulposus of said disc.Pharmaceutical compositions are also provided for said method which include a purified proteolytically active lyophilized chymopapain, essentially free of proteolytically inactive and toxic components, and an activating amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable reducing agent.

Abstract: An improved method for treating an intervertebral spinal disc in a mammalian subject which disc exhibits an abnormal condition, characterized by a reduced risk of toxic effect to the subject is provided which comprises, injecting in said disc an amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable solution of a purified chymopapain essentially free of proteolytically inactive and/or toxic protein components, said purified chymopapain being used in an amount sufficient to selectively dissolve the nucleus pulposus of said disc.Pharmaceutical compositions are also provided for said method which include a purified proteolytically active lyophilized chymopapain, essentially free of proteolytically inactive and toxic components, and an activating amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable reducing agent.

Abstract: The improved shut-off apparatus for pneumatically driven tools includes an auxiliary shut-off valve located in the flow passageway. The valve is controlled by a control rod which extends through the air motor into engagement with a latching device. The latching device is held in the latched position with the valve open by a movable weighted control member. The movable weighted control member is responsive to inertia so that as the speed of the air motor decreases due to a torque load imposed thereon, the shaft slows causing the inertial movement of the weighted member to release the latching device permitting the auxiliary shut-off valve to close.

Abstract: The improved shut-off apparatus for pneumatically driven tools includes an auxiliary shut-off valve located in the flow passageway. The valve is controlled by a control rod which extends through the air motor into engagement with a latching device. The latching device is held in the latched position with the valve open by a movable weighted control member. The movable weighted control member is responsive to inertia so that as the speed of the air motor decreases due to a torque load imposed thereon, the shaft slows causing the inertial movement of the weighted member to release the latching device permitting the auxiliary shut-off valve to close.

Abstract: Safety apparatus for a mining machine having a gathering head for gathering product (e.g., coal) in a mine, a conveyor system which extends rearwardly along the machine from the gathering head for conveying the product rearwardly for discharge at the rear of the machine, and power generating equipment for driving the conveyor system and the gathering head. The conveyor system comprises an elongate conveyor support or structure pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the machine between lowered and raised positions. The machine has a frame having a rear bottom section below the conveyor support and sides extending upwardly from the rear bottom section. Hydraulic lift means is provided between the rear bottom section and the support powered by the power equipment for pivoting the support. Access is provided between the support and the rear bottom section, when the support is raised, for personnel servicing machine components located in this area.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polymer blends of improved impact strength and knit line toughness consisting essentially of (a) 60-90% by weight polypropylene, (b) 30-35% by weight of thermoplastic crystalline heteroblock propylene-ethylene copolymer and (c) 30-35% by weight of an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber.

Abstract: An EPDM elastomer (e.g. ethylene/propylene/ethylidene norbornene) is blended with polypropylene (70-98 wt. %) and a halogenated phenol resin (1-20 parts per 100 parts of the elastomer). The blend may be cured and molded to provide articles having high flexural modulus and high impact resistance at low temperatures.