Abstract: During the assembly of electronic components on circuit boards, the problems of ductile smear cusps produced on wire ends by traditional scissor-type shearing are addressed by a spiral orbital shear apparatus. This apparatus includes a first fixed plate having an array of apertures and a second plate also having the array of apertures. The first and second plates have abutting surfaces. A first eccentric drive member is connected to rotate at a first rate in a first direction. A second eccentric drive member is connected to the second plate and rotates with the first eccentric drive member. The second drive member is also rotated at a second rate in the first direction independently of the rotation of the first drive member.

Abstract: A device for cutting successive sheets from a traveling web includes a pair of thin-walled knife-carrying cutting cylinders concentrically mounted over fixed supporting shafts. To prevent ringing of the shafts at high cutting frequencies, due to resonant frequency interference, each support shaft is formed by a body having an inperforate cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall of the support shaft is closed at both ends to form an uninterrupted cylindrical cavity extending from end to end of the cylindrical wall. Furthermore, and to prevent poor cuts due to changes in the alignment of the cutting knives, the amplitude of vibrations occurring at the time of each cut is reduced. The cavity of the support shaft is filled with a flowable vibration damping material which is not firmly affixed to the cavity walls and thus forms no significant part of the mass of the support shaft.

Abstract: A device for perforating a web or sheet of material, includes a rotatable male die carrier roll having at least one radially extending cylindrical bore opening into its outer periphery, and a male die holder comprising a hollow cylinder having an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore and being removably located within the bore. The outer and inner cylindrical surfaces of the hollow cylinder are substantially smooth, and the cylinder has a through slit extending in a radial direction completely between such surfaces and completely between opposite ends thereof. And, means are provided for applying an external force against the cylinder for frictionally holding a male die member in place therewithin, the slit in the cylinder permitting it to yield to such force supplying means.

Abstract: A cylindrical body resembling a piece of pipe has the sharp edge of a utility-knife blade extending into the bore of the body to cut a longitudinal slit in the wall of a piece of plastic tubing that is pushed or pulled through the bore. A removable stop protruding into the bore momentarily stops the piece of tubing until another utility blade, connected to a guide and handle positioned at an angle across the cylindrical body, is pulled into the slitted end of the tubing to cut on a line that intersects the longitudinal slit. A pointed angular piece is thereby cut out and removed to leave in the end of the piece of tubing a notch with a surface slanting outward toward the end of the piece of tubing for functioning as an inclined plane to spread the tubing. A linkage connected between the angular guide and the stop removes the stop to permit completion of slitting. A handle with a triangular blade is also connected transversely to the cylindrical body for cutting the slitted tubing into lengths.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for positioning a large, flexible workpiece relative to a high speed reciprocating tool. The apparatus comprises a frame and associated workpiece supports which move in a first direction. A workpiece holding assembly mounted to the frame moves the workpiece over the workpiece supports in a second direction transverse to the first direction of movement. The supports engage channels of a tool bed associated with the operative tool and are preferably beveled so as to prevent interference with the moving workpiece.

Abstract: A loop guide has a plurality of transversely spaced loop guide comb teeth for guiding loops of thermoplastic resin therealong into contact with cutter blades of an ultrasonically vibratable cutter to cut off only one of two legs of each loop. The other legs that remain unsevered serve as hooks on a hook-and-loop fastener.

Abstract: A circular rotary slitter construction comprises a body hub having a circular perimeter and at least one axially facing surface. A cutting edge hoop cylinder is fixedly mounted on the body hub perimeter. At least that portion of the axially facing surface contiguous to the hoop cylinder is axially inset from an annular cutting edge of the hoop cylinder so that the annular cutting edge margin of the hoop cylinder overhangs the contiguous axially facing surface cantilever fashion and the cutting edge is axially outwardly spaced relative to the contiguous axially facing surface. The hoop cylinder is adapted to be made from tool steel and the body hub is adapted to be made from a more easily machined material such as aluminum and at least partially from a suitable plastic material.

Abstract: A rotary cutter for cutting holes of various sizes in sheet material such as self-adhesive pads. The cutter includes a base to which a cover is pivotally mounted for movement between a lowered closed position where it overlies the base and a raised open position. The cover has upstanding side walls defining a cavity between the roof of the cover and the upper surface of the base. A blade carried by a blade arm rotates within the cavity for cutting holes in sheet material carried on the base. The blade arm is adjustably secured to one end of a shaft extending into the cavity which is journaled in a bearing sleeve in the roof of the cover permitting rotary as well as axial movement permitting the blade to be pressed downwardly to the sheet material during rotary cutting operations. A crank arm is mounted to the other end of the rotor shaft for imparting rotary motion to the blade arm.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard, a tone generator and a digital filter. The tone generator bit-serially generates a musical tone signal corresponding to a depressed key on the keyboard. The digital filter bit-serially performs a digital filtering operation of the musical tone signal in accordance with the predetermined amplitude-frequency characteristic. A musical tone is produced based on an output of the digital filter, whereby the characteristic is imparted to the musical tone. This bit-serial processing in the digital filter makes not only the circuit construction of the digital filter itself but also that of the electronic musical instrument incorporating this digital filter smaller and simpler.

Abstract: An externally powered automatic cannon comprises a receiver, a barrel conted to the receiver and having a bore with a rear end opening toward the receiver, a chamber member having a chamber for a propellant case movable in the chamber and a cam drum rotatable on the receiver and engaged with the chamber member for moving the chamber member from an operating position with the chamber aligned with the rear end of the bore, to a loading position with the chamber misaligned with the rear end of the bore and spaced therefrom. A projectile feeder with ram, rams a projectile into the now exposed rear end of the bore. At the same time a propellant case feeder with ram, rams a propellant casing to the opened chamber. Continued rotation of the cam drum returns the chamber member into its operating position at which time the propellant is ignited to propel the projectile down the barrel bore. The cycle is repeated with each rotation of the cam drum for rapid automatic firing of the cannon.

Abstract: A breech mechanism having a breech block and an obturator for an automatic weapon for firing with a high firing frequency and high gas pressure without inhibiting the safety of the weapon against jamming or misfiring.The obturator is pivotally mounted about a first axis which is normal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gun barrel to pivot about an axis of 90.degree. from a closed firing position to an open loading position and vice-versa. A pair of control cams are operatively connected via a pair of projecting pins to said obturator in said breech aperture. The breech block has a pair of laterally projecting pins which are adapted to slidingly guide the control cams during their pivotal movement. A pair of biasing members are pivotally connected at one of their ends to opposite walls of the breech aperture and at their other ends to the pair of control cams so as to bias the obturator either into the closed firing position or the open loading position.

Abstract: A mortar carriage includes a holder (10) for a tube (19) and two angularly related legs (11, 12). The legs have adjustment devices (112, 122) for adjustment of the length.A sensor (13) senses the incline of site and the elevation of the tube (19) and controls the electric motors (111, 121) which drive the adjustment devices (112, 122).Control devices with a counting unit (20) controls the automatic adjustment of the length of the legs (11, 12) by coarse adjustment of incline of site and elevation respectively and after that fine adjustment of incline of site and elevation respectively. At the adjustments for incline of site the actuation of the legs (11, 12) happens in opposite directions and at the adjustment for elevation the actuation happens in the same directions.

Abstract: An oscillator is proposed which comprises a pair of cylinders having a common, circular-cylindrical outer wall (100) and two sealingly guided pistons (120, 122) each having one piston rod (121, 123), which are likewise guided in a sealing manner to the outside through the closure walls of the cylinder. The cylinder is divided by the pistons (120, 122) into outer chambers (124, 125) and inner chambers combined into one common chamber (126). The chamber (126) is filled with fluid. The outer chambers (124, 125) have two openings (102, 103) offset from one another by 180.degree.. A control cylinder (101) having axially offset, oppositely disposed holes (104, 105, 106, 107) connects the outer chambers in alternation with an annular high-pressure chamber (113, 115) and an equalization chamber (114) whenever the control cylinder (101) is rotated. The two pistons (120, 122) thereby execute movements in common toward the left or right, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic motor of the type comprising a plurality of cylinder-piston units arranged radially about an eccentric cam made rotatively rigid with a rotating shaft. The cam has a pair of shoes which project axially from opposite sides thereof and engage in guides formed diametrically in a pivotable support and on a rotating shaft, respectively. The shoes engage with such guides to allow for a radial displacement of the cam and provide a rotary connection of the latter to the rotating shaft. The shoes have respective cylindrical cavities formed internally in perpendicular directions to the shaft axis of rotation, cavities which accommodate small pistons whose rods are stationary relatively to the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A piston arrangement including a hollow piston, a piston pin extending within the piston, an intermediate abutment within the piston supporting the pin between its ends, and a transmission member, e.g., a connecting rod, engaging the pin on each side of the intermediate abutment. The intermediate abutment may be supported by the circumferential wall of the piston, or by the piston head, and may be formed as one piece with the piston. The transmission member may have a forked end for engaging the piston pin, the intermediate abutment being between the arms of the fork. The piston pin may be two separate aligned pins each having an end located within the intermediate abutment. The piston, intermediate abutment, piston pin, and transmission member may all be formed of a ceramic material.

Abstract: An engine piston is formed with a top crown surface and a top ring groove. An upper annular land surface is defined between the top ring groove and the edge of the top crown surface. The upper annular land surface and the side walls of the top ring groove are defined by a part of the piston which is formed of a matrix metal reinforced with inorganic fibers. The proportion of the inorganic fibers by volume in the reinforced part of the piston may optionally be approximately between 2% and 10%.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine comprising a piston body (1) and a crown portion (3) that are connected by anchoring means comprising elongate members (7,23,26,79,80) that extend from the crown portion (3) into the piston body (1) so as to transmit tensile and compressive loads from the crown to a portion of the piston body in a region spaced axially away from the crown portion at a temperature which, at maximum operating temperatures, is low enough to prevent loosening of the anchoring means, characterized in that co-operating surfaces of said anchoring means (7,9,16) and piston body (1) are pre-loaded into contact with one another by virtue of mechanically applied strain energy stored in the anchoring means and piston body (1) and which acts axially to prevent parting of said co-operating surfaces by said tensile and compressive loads without being dependent on any reaction forces between the adjacent faces of the crown portion and piston body.

Abstract: A fume hood forming an experimental work space includes a sensor for detecting an air speed within the exhaust duct. The sensor is provided in a by-pass section which is positioned on the exhaust duct and in communication with the ambient air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coffee maker comprising a water reservoir (1), a filter device (2) and a flow heater (3) for heating water from the water reservoir for delivery to the filter device. A problem associated with coffee makers is the deposit of scale in the flow heater. It is proposed to provide a coffee maker with means (13, 14) for adding a small amount of coffee extract to the water before it enters the flow heater (3). Coffee extract naturally contains phosphoric-acid-like compounds which inhibit the crystal growth of metal salts in the water. Preferably, coffee extract is fed continuously from the filter device (2) to the water reservoir (1).

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic food cooking machine comprising a frame supporting a housing having an unobstructed opening with an adjustable heating surface at the bottom thereof. Mounted in the opening of the housing are a pair of spaced parallel endless conveyor chains supported on sprockets connected to a pair of spaced shafts--one driven by a motor, and one used for adjustment of conveyor chain tension. Mounted between these shafts are idler sprockets used to support the conveyor chain.A plurality of spaced angles are connected to the conveyor chains, and a retainer fastened to the spaced angle is used to secure each food basket comprised of a bottom, four sides, and a hinged lid. A sauce dispenser is supported by a bracket fastened to a slide rail at the top of the housing. As the actuating tab fastened to a retainer moves slowly toward the sauce dispenser and makes contact, it automatically rotates said dispenser 90.degree. allowing sauce to drip directly on the food product.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for the "in-field" production of compact bales of fibrous material, particularly picked cotton, the apparatus including a bin into which the fibrous material can be deposited, a series of beaters near one end of the bin which are capable of dispersing the fibrous material, a movable wall for moving the fibrous material in the bin towards the beaters, a duct extending from at a point near the beaters to a baling hopper, a blower for creating an air stream for conveying the dispersed fibrous material through the duct, and a press ram for compacting the dispersed fibrous material in the baling hopper into compact bales.

Abstract: A refuse compactor of the type having a receptacle drawer removably contained within a cabinet wherein refuse is compacted by a ram to a fraction of its normal volume. The ram includes a refuse-compressing platen actuated through a toggle linkage to which force is applied by a single screw driven by an electric motor coupled to the screw through a reduction drive. The screw, motor and drive train are carried as a unit by the toggle linkage and move bodily therewith. Improvements are provided in the cabinet, receptacle drawer, compacting mechanism and mounting framework for the same which embody many structural and operational simplification features greatly reducing the size, weight and cost of the compactor.

Abstract: In a dual band press assembly which includes an upper and a lower press band unit each having endless press bands in driven engagement about a pair of rotative guide cylinders, there is provided a roller assembly unit which consists of a plurality of longitudinal support beams having spindles extending therebetween to mount pressure rollers which apply pressure to the inner surfaces of said endless press bands with a support plate being provided in the roller assembly unit extending thereacross on a side of the rollers opposite the side on which they engage the endless press bands. The rollers are provided with bearing needles to fill out the entire space of the rollers and of the same length as the rollers and the rollers are arranged on their axes spaced apart in rows a distance somewhat greater than the roller diameter with adjacent roller rows having rollers offset relative to each other.

Abstract: In a dot matrix printer, a single main shift register is loaded in the non-printing time during which a transversely shuttling print bar is changing direction with the complete dot row to be printed on the next printing pass of the print bar. A custom VLSI integrated circuit comprising a serial loaded 2772-bit main shift register and a parallel loaded 132-bit bidirectional parallel-to-serial output shift register is provided. The main shift register has one storage cell for each dot that can be printed across the dot row during a single pass of the print bar. Parallel output taps physically placed along the main shift register provide simultaneous serial output of the storage cells between each tap. The number of bits stored between each output tap is the number of dots each individual print hammer can print on a single pass of the print bar. The 132-bit output shift register is utilized to limit the number of package pins and to compensate for the direction of motion of the print bar.

Abstract: A floor conveyance system for transporting goods along a preselected conveyance path includes a drag chain conveyor defining a first surface and a skid conveyor having one end adjacent to the drag chain conveyor and defining a second surface disposed at a higher level than the first surface of the drag chain conveyor. A conveying frame is operatively engageable with the drag chain and skid conveyors for supporting goods thereon and includes front and rear pairs of wheels to permit for rolling movement of the conveying frame across the first surface and a pair of elongated parallel skid members mounted interiorly with respect to the front and rear pairs of wheels and each having a longitudinal length less than the separation dimension between the front and rear pairs of wheels. The parallel skid members establish sliding contact with the second surface when the conveying frame is conveyed along the skid conveyor.

Abstract: A track-traveling four-wheel vehicle is arranged such that pedalling power of a passenger is transmitted to rear wheels as drive wheels through a chain, and the rear wheels and front wheels as driven wheels roll along two rails. The vehicle has: frames constituting a rectangular body; a swing frame arranged such that an L-shaped end portion is pivotally mounted in the middle portion of the rear frame through a vertical shaft and the other L-shaped end portion extends along the longitudinal direction of the body, the swing frame being supported to swing in a horizontal plane; and a driven wheel support frame pivotally supported at the distal end portion of said swing frame. The front frame is slidably supported in the vicinity of the distal end portion of the swing frame through a sliding support mechanism.

Abstract: An upstanding nipple is provided for downward telescoping over the upper end of a furnace flue pipe outlet end and the upper end of the nipple is secured through a central opening formed in a circular base plate over which a circular top plate is supported in vertically spaced relation by a cylindrical spacing member extending between and secured to the outer peripheral portions of the base and top plates. The spacing member includes diametrically opposite openings formed therein covered by screen panel portions and upwardly convergent baffle plates are disposed between the base and top panels with the lower marginal edges of the baffle plates anchored relative to the base plate and the upper marginal edges of the baffle plates terminating upwardly a spaced distance below the top plate and being spaced apart a distance generally equal to one-half the diameter of the nipple.

Abstract: A fast fluidized bed reactor, comprising an upright reaction chamber for containing a bed of granular material, the chamber having a cylindrical upper region and a lower region; a feeder for feeding matter into the lower region; apparatus for supplying pressurized air to the reaction chamber to fluidize the granular material in the circulating regime, whereby a portion of the granular material is entrained into the upper region; apparatus for tangentially supplying pressurized air to the upper region, the second stream of air being supplied, and the reactor being constructed, in a manner to provide a Swirl number of at least 0.

Abstract: A grate for industrial furnaces wherein pairs of stationary grate bars flank movable grate bars. The grate bars of each pair are connected to each other by an elongated coupling device which extends through one or more elongated slots of the movable grate bar between them. The coupling device has two bolts whose heads are pivotably anchored in the downwardly extending ribs of the stationary bars and an internally threaded sleeve which is located between the slots in two downwardly extending ribs of the movable grate bar and meshes with the shanks of the two bolts. The shanks have oppositely inclined threads and the sleeve is held in the selected position by a lock nut.

Abstract: A mounting comb for a tufting machine for mounting the needle plate fingers so that the fingers may be readily replaced without requiring substantial cutting of base material. The combs have a base member including a plurality of slots for receiving respective elongated fingers, and at least one securing member releasably assembled to the base member for positively locking the fingers in the comb. In two embodiments the base member has a shallow elongated channel and one securing member is positionable within the channel to clamp the fingers into the slots. In one of these embodiments the securing member is a thin elongated bar, while in the other the securing member is a portion of a base plate upon which the comb is mounted. In another embodiment the base portion and the securing portion each have spaced lands including finger receiving slots through each of the lands.

Abstract: An apparatus for putting ribbon pieces on a textile fabric's edge comprising a ribbon folding apparatus with a fold plate having two long sides with slanting, converging fold edges and two fold plate stops engageable by the slanting fold edges and a fold edge on its front side lying parallel to the textile fabric's feed direction which is engageable with the ribbon alternatively to the slanting fold edges so as to make ribbon pieces that are V-shaped or simply folded over on themselves; and a ribbon feed apparatus having a ribbon oriented transverse to and adjustably perpendicular to or at an acute angle to the textile fabric's plane of motion, a ribbon-holding clamp positioned above the fold edge's point of engagement with the ribbon to support the ribbon prior to engagement with the fold plate, and a ribbon cutting apparatus mounted in the feed direction above the place of engagement of the ribbon by the fold plate.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for assigning stitch patterns that are to be automatically sewn on workpieces presented to an automatic sewing machine. The system is capable of receiving a number of communications that identify separate stitch patterns that are to be sewn on a workpiece. The system analyzes these communications and either accepts or rejects the communications as valid stitch pattern assignments. In the event that a communication is accepted, it is stored in a recallable sequence of stitch patterns that are to be sewn on the workpiece.

Abstract: An adaptive semi-automatic sewing system (10) comprises a sewing machine (12), a drive unit (42) including a variable speed motor and encoder for counting stitches sewn and for sensing the rotation of the motor, at least one material edge sensor (40) mounted ahead of the needle (22) of the sewing machine, and a microprocessor controller (51) coupled to the sewing machine controls. Accurate control of seam lengths and end points is achieved by initiating countdown of a variable number of final stitches responsive to detection of the material edge of the sensors (40). The speed of the sewing machine at the time the material edge is detected is monitored and compared to a reference speed. The number of final stitches is then dynamically adjusted to compensate for the speed variance from the reference speed.

Abstract: A sewing machine is equipped with an automatic control assembly for the needle bight and/or the feed dog. The control assembly comprises a control cam block having a plurality of juxtaposed cam track portions to be operatively connected, through a contact mechanism, to the sewing machine needle or to a device for setting the feed dog. The contact mechanism comprises a contact finger which can be set by a handwheel, and a cam track connected to the handwheel, against one of the various cam track portions. The handwheel is mounted on a shaft carrying the control cam block, while the cam track connected to the handwheel forms a ring surrounding the control cam block. The contact finger directly engages the cam track, so that a control assembly of small overall length and having a small number of parts is obtained.

Abstract: A holder for detachably mounting a presser foot in a sewing machine. The holder consists of a holder body and a ruler rod mount. The holder has a longitudinal channel on its rear side for accommodating the ruler rod mount. This configuration is effective in allowing workers to assemble these parts easily and quickly with their fingers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of finishing lengthwise both ends of a towel fabric by sewing after automatically forming a three-ply part on each and, and an apparatus for practicing this method.At each end of the towel fabric, a first part and a second part to wrap up the first part are folded automatically in turn so as to form a three-ply part including the above two parts and a ground fabric part.Selvages extending outwardly slightly farther than crosswise both ends of the first and the second parts are formed on both ends of the ground fabric part of the three-ply part. The three-ply part thus provided with selvages is stitched from one selvage side to the other with sewing thread so that automatic folding and sewing of the three-ply part can be performed without causing the crosswise end of the first and the second folded parts to jut out from crosswise both ends of the towel fabric.

Abstract: Hopper barge comprising one or more cargo spaces and a series of discharge openings in the bottom of the hold. Each opening comprises a bottom flap which in the downwards displaced position realizes a connection between the hold through the respective discharge opening to the water outside the barge. The barge further comprises a suction channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the barge whereby the bottom flaps each have at least one wall assuring the continuity of the channel in case the flaps are completely closed and connecting the channel to the hold when a flap is in the intermediate position, in which the discharge opening is still closed. Each flap comprises a pivotally attached hollow body with a wall opposite the pivot shaft, which wall extends concentrically in relation to said shaft.

Abstract: A catamaran boat is provided including a pair of laterally spaced apart longitudinally extending displacement-type hollow hulls. Generally horizontal connecting deck structure extends between the hulls and includes a large plan area transparent generally horizontal viewing panel supported therefrom in an opening provided in the deck structure. The boat has a loaded operational water line which is spaced below the transparent panel and the hulls include buoyancy varying structure operative to selectively flood the hulls to reduce the buoyancy thereof and raise the water line to a level above the panel and to subsequently pump out the hulls to increase the buoyancy thereof and lower the water line to the aforementioned operational water line.

Abstract: A watercraft rudder assembly including a rudder blade having a forward planar rigid portion and a rearward planar flexible fin portion, such fin portion having a resiliency rendering it planar at low craft speeds and bendable to opposite sides of the rigid rudder portion at high craft speeds so that low speed turning ability of the craft is substantially enhanced.

Abstract: A quadrilateral is secured to horizontally extending and vertically spaced supports adjacent a water covered area. A support frame is secured to the quadrilateral in a downward, parallel relationship thereon and projects forwardly of the quadrilateral. A longitudinally extending elongated elastomer body bumper is removably secured on the support frame, and a stabbing guide is provided adjacent the lower end of the quadrilateral which includes a forward portion spaced laterally relative to the quadrilateral and which extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom to serve as a guide to receive and support the lower end of the support frame as it and the elongated elastomer body bumper thereon are lowered longitudinally of the quadrilateral in a water covered area to be positioned on and supported by the quadrilateral in the water covered area.

Abstract: A replaceable marine fender mechanism according to the present invention is adapted for connection to marine structures such as the cylindrical legs of offshore platforms to prevent vessels and other objects from impacting against the platform legs and causing damage. The fender mechanism is supported by upper and lower energy cells with the lower energy cell having a stabbing and positioning receptacle that is adapted to receive a stabbing and positioning portion defined at the lower extremity of an elongated fender post. The upper extremity of the bumper post is releasably supported by a bolted connected structure that is presented at the free extremity of an upper energy cell that is also securable to the leg structure of the offshore platform. A cylindrical fender element is receivable about the fender post and is supported by a connector element to the upper energy absorbing structure.

Abstract: A system for maritime transportation and distribution of bulk raw materials includes a series of containers, a carrier vessel, a container unloading dock for unloading material from each container, and a loading dock for loading material into each container, each container having openings in the stern and bow walls for loading and unloading materials, provided with watertight covers and/or valves, and having no hatches on deck so that the containers can be stacked one on the other, the vessel having a hold provided with a port for the flotation loading and unloading of the containers into and out of the hold, the hold comprising retention devices to lock each container to the structure of the carrier vessel, in the stowage position the containers being stacked one on the other in a multilayer arrangement, the unloading dock being a sloping bed graving dock which includes a tunnel located underneath the same in communication with the floor of the dock through openings provided with watertight covers, and a con

Abstract: A bouyant foundation comprising a substantially unitary concrete hull defined by bottom, side and end walls; at least one partial bulkhead wall disposed generally normal to and spanning the bottom wall and having a height less than that of the upstanding walls to yield a plurality of recessed flotation cavities bounded by flotation cavity side walls; generally rectilinear flotation block members, having reentrant sidewall portions, disposed within the flotation cavities; restraining wedge members integral with the flotation cavity sidewalls received within the reentrant portions of the flotation block members for fixedly retaining the same within the cavities, and a method for fabricating such a structure comprising the steps of establishing a construction form including bottom, side and end wall form members; depositing a concrete mixture on the form members to yield a substantially unitary hull including concrete bottom side and end walls; positioning a plurality of positive flotation members as internal bu

Abstract: A ship having at least its side portions and bottom portion comprised of a double hull construction consisting of an inner hull plating and an outer hull plating connected together solely, except for transverse bulkheads disposed in spaced apart relation in the lengthwise direction of the ship, by a plurality of connecting longitudinals fixed to the bulkheads, at least one of the connecting longitudinals having anti-buckling means extending in the lengthwise direction thereof and tripping means extending in the widthwise direction thereof. According to this arrangement, external forces exerted on the ship may be transmitted through the connecting longitudinals to the transverse bulkheads so that the inner and outer hull platings may be protected from buckling. The absence of transverses crossing the longitudinals considerably facilitates the automatization of welding operation.

Abstract: The specification discloses a ski boat having a swim platform across which a conventional water ski can be laid so that a skier can easily put the ski on while standing on the platform. More particularly the boat includes a pair of sidewalls and a swim platform integral with and extending between the sidewalls. The swim platform extends rearwardly beyond the sidewalls to provide a portion across which the ski can lie.

Abstract: A lid knob for a pressure cooker contains a whistle which informs the user when boiling has occurred. The lid knob is designed so that the whistle hole of the knob may be rotated into alignment with the steam hole of the lid of the pressure cooker during initial heating and then rotated out of alignment with the steam hole once boiling has occurred. The lid knob is simple in structure and is easy to disassemble for cleaning.

Abstract: A time reminder device in a sanitary combination with a container for dispensing content in the form of pills or liquids, with or without a nipple projecting therethrough, and adjustable to a time index associated with a ring member snapped onto a cap or coupling and rotatably positioned by a detent.

Abstract: A device for applying a flowable fat composition to objects, especially chocolate compositions on candy, baked goods, etc. The chocolate composition is kept in a container, which has at its lower end an outlet opening above the objects to be coated. A roller rotates at relatively high speed in the opening. That part of the surface of the roller, which is immersed in the container, picks up chocolate composition and releases it at approximately its lowest point. The thickness of the chocolate composition film, transported on the roller, is determined by an edge fixed to the container. The separation of the composition film from the roller is aided by a doctor blade. The thickness of the composition film on the roller, the rotational speed of the roller, and the distance between the roller and objects to be coated are selected, so that a bubble-free composition film is transported on the roller and new bubbles do not form in the chocolate composition on the way from the roller to the objects to be coated.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition wafer boat for polysilicon deposition in a vertical CVD apparatus comprises upper and lower, mutually engaging, open ended hemicylinders. Gas flow passageways are present in a diffusion zone of the lower hemicylinder wall, but not in the remainder of the walls of the hemicylinder. Gas flow to the wafers is limited to diffusion flow, and the wafers are protected from particulates forming in the gas stream during the coating operation.

Abstract: A disposable cat litter box including a horizontally extending bottom preferably rectangular and attached along the ends to upwardly extending end walls and side walls which each may be further folded to provide a top cover of one-half the area of the horizontally extending bottom. Furthermore the upwardly extending side walls and end walls may be further folded and through the use of tabs and slots form angled sides.The disposable cat litter box contains litter and is sealed. Upon opening, the cat litter box may easily be formed into an open-top moisture resistant box. After use, the biodegradable cat litter box may be resealed and disposed.