Abstract: An elastomeric compressor mount has a hollow convex cylindrical head portion which must be passed upwardly through a substantially smaller diameter circular opening in a support foot portion of the compressor. To facilitate the passage of the mount head portion through the support foot opening a specially designed clamping tool is provided which has an arcuate support portion and a clamping portion that may be pivoted toward and away from a concave side surface of the support portion. With these two tool portions pivoted toward each other they are inserted downwardly through the compressor foot opening, opened, and then clamped exteriorly onto the mount head portion in a manner deforming it to a generally U-shaped configuration as viewed along the axis of the mount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bucking bar assembly that positions a bucking bar for clamping a first panel and a second panel along a lap joint and upsets a rivet to fasten the first panel to the second panel at the lap joint. The assembly includes a lateral carriage system for moving the bucking bar along a length of the lap joint, and a rotational carriage system for rotating the bucking bar relative to the lateral carriage.

Abstract: A puller tool is comprised of a finger guide member having a central through bore and containing one or more fingers arranged for radial movement therein, an elongated actuating member having a rearward end and a forward end which passes through the central through bore. The finger guide member is positioned between the forward and rearward end, and an engagement head is mounted to the forward end of the elongated actuating member and is operatively arranged to contact the one or more fingers and cause the radial movement when the engagement head is moved toward the finger guide member.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing the lid of a container without causing any substance which has collected in the can rim to splash during the recovering process. More particularly this invention relates to an apparatus that secures the lid of a standard gallon or quart size paint can. The invention has an intermediate annular wall and an annular flange such that, when force is applied to the impact surface, as from a hammer or mallet, the lid is secured to the can, and any paint that has collected in the annular ring and sealing groove of the can is prevented from splashing. The apparatus is designed for use with cans or containers of different sizes.

Abstract: A method for cutting an outer cladding or tube of a light waveguide cable to form a gap includes removing material on the opposite lateral portions of the outer cladding to produce flattened areas, forming an annular cut on each end of the flattened area and then splitting the cladding in the flattened areas to enable removal of the portion. To accomplish the production of the flattened areas, a milling unit having guide rollers for the cladding and a pair of milling wheels engaging opposite sides of a cladding of a cable held in the guide rollers is used.

Abstract: A carrier element for a semiconductor chip, in particular to be built into smart cards. The carrier element has a substrate that carries the chip and a stiffening sheet which also carries the chip and has a recess for receiving the chip and its connection leads therein. An edge of the recess is provided with a frame formed integrally from the sheet.

Abstract: A method of fixing a tubular metal member in an aperture which comprises, locating the tubular metal member in the aperture and deforming the 10 metal of the tubular member to expand to extend within the confines of said aperture, which may be formed in masonry. A method of fixing two tubular metal members one to the other, is disclosed, which comprises locating a first tubular metal member (10) through a transverse aperture (12) in a second tubular metal member (11) and deforming the metal of the first member (10) to expand (13) to extend within the longitudinal passage of the second member (11) at the location of the transverse aperture (12) therethrough. A tool for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide a lathing method and apparatus capable of realizing lathing of a bar member made of a hard cutting material and lathing a stock made of a hard cutting material by a lathe including an NC automatic lathe, although lathing of the hard cutting material is impossible in a conventional case, a round bar is rotatably held to be fed along the longitudinal direction of the round bar by a guide bush fixed on the main body side of the lathing apparatus, and the round bar is sequentially fed from the guide bush to a machining tool arranged on the main body side, thereby lathing the round bar in a cantilevered state. Alternatively, a stock is gripped by the chuck of a lathe which performs turning or a lathing device which performs any other machining in addition to the turning, and the stock is lathed while the outer surface thereof is held to prevent an off-axis error.

Abstract: The generator frame includes an inner frame module having openings at opposite ends sufficiently large to permit installation of various elements of the stator core, including the laminations and windings. Separate end cap modules having openings for receiving the rotor, as well as integral pedestal supports, are fabricated separately from the inner frame module and later secured, for example, by bolting, to the inner frame. Upon installation of the rotor, a packaged generator is afforded which can be bolted directly to a foundation at the installation site without an intervening base assembly.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine constructed for speed and accuracy of manufacturing has a stator core constructed of 90.degree. symmetrical stator laminations and the windings have differing numbers of poles which overlap in slots of the stator core are wound of the core formed by the laminations in unique fashion. The rotor bars of the machine are skewed to optimize performance of the machine when in the form of a single phase induction motor. Magnet wire leads of the windings are connected directly to terminals on a plug and terminal assembly which is formed for positive location on an end frame of the machine without welding or other fastening to the end frame. The end frames of the machine and stator laminations forming the stator core are formed so as to increase the precision of the final position of the stator relative to the rotor assembly of the dynamoelectric machine. The end frames are constructed for grounding without the use of fasteners or wire.

Abstract: A method of making a squirrel cage rotor of copper material for use in AC or DC motors, includes forming a core with longitudinal slots, inserting bars of conductive material in the slots, with ends extending out of opposite ends of the core, and joining the end rings to the bars, wherein the conductive material of either the end rings or the bars is copper. Various methods of joining the end rings to the bars are disclosed including friction welding, current pulse welding and brazing, transient liquid phase joining and casting. Pressure is also applied to the end rings to improve contact and reduce areas of small or uneven contact between the bar ends and the end rings. Rotors made with such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A head/slider assembly is integrated with a track-following electrostatic micro actuator. A method for fabricating the head/slider assembly includes the steps of: forming a micro actuator structural layer on a slider substrate with a cavity formed therebetween; forming metal signal lines on the micro actuator structure layer; forming the read/write magnetic head on a central part of the micro actuator structure layer; etching to separate the micro actuator and the read/write magnetic head; and forming a protective cover on top of the micro actuator and the read/write magnetic head to form the head/slider assembly, to thereby make the assembly to allow it to be used in a HDD system of a very high track density having a track pitch of 1 .mu.m and a recording density of more than 10 Gb/in.sup.2.

Abstract: In a method for forming a horizontal head slider having a media opposing surface flying above or coming into contact with a recording medium, a film-like surface of a head for recording/reproducing information provided in parallel to the media opposing surface, and a rail portion provided on the media opposing surface for generating a pressure for ensuring stable flying or contact. The rail portion has a planar portion and a taper portion, and all of the shaping accuracy of the bottom surface of the slider and the rail, the adhesive property to a sacrificial layer overlaid thereon and the surface smoothness of the rail surface are enhanced. When the rail portion is formed, a part of mold for the planar portion is prepared by a metallic layer 2 and a mold for the taper portion is prepared by a photoresist layer 3, and a sacrificial layer 4, a media opposing surface layer 6 and a slider body layer 6 are formed thereon in this order.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head core of a complex magnetic head includes binding a first core material of a U-shaped cross section and a second core material of a flat plate shape to form a tubular core material having two bonded portions between the first and second core materials. Then a plurality of grooves are formed in the tubular core material across one of the bonded portions to form a plurality of track surfaces. The grooves are then filled with a fused glass material, and the other of the bonded portions is removed to form a substantially U-shaped core block having a plurality of track surfaces separated by the glass-filled grooves. The U-shaped core block is then sliced along each of the grooves to obtain a plurality of magnetic head cores. A complex magnetic head manufactured by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preloading roller bearings which rotatably support a pinion shaft in a differential gear assembly includes a drive mechanism which selectively engages and rotatably drives the yoke of the differential gear assembly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the pinion shaft threaded end. A dead shaft engages the pinion shaft nut and rotates therewith. A brake is coupled to and selectively restrains or allows the dead shaft to rotate with the nut. Preventing the dead shaft and nut from rotating causes the nut to be threadingly received onto the pinion shaft and load the bearings. Disengaging the brake and allowing free rotation of the dead shaft and nut allows sensing of the bearing preload condition within the differential gear assembly housing.

Abstract: An electronic component transferring apparatus for transferring electronic components, including at least one movable member, a movable-member moving device which moves the movable member, a rotary head which is supported by the movable member such that the rotary head is rotatable about an axis line thereof, a plurality of component holders which are supported by the rotary head such that the component holders are provided along a circle whose center is positioned on the axis line of the rotary head, a drive source which is supported by the movable member and which provides a motion, and a motion transmitting device which is selectively operable in a component-holder selecting state in which the motion transmitting device transmits the motion of the drive source to the rotary head, to rotate the rotary head about the axis line thereof and thereby position one of the component holders at an operating position in which the one component holder holds one of the electronic components, and in a component-holder r

Abstract: A clamp assembly holds an integrated lead suspension during assembly. The clamp assembly has a number of features for precisely positioning the integrated lead suspension while transducer heads are being mechanically and electrically connected to it. The clamp assembly works in conjunction with a stationary platform which restricts movement of the suspension in three directions. The clamp assembly includes upper and lower support plates which compensate for lateral misalignment, and a pair of clamps which independently isolate the suspension and slider while compensating for rotational misalignment.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus for and a method of mounting electronic parts, in which uniaxial tables for positioning a board can be driven at high speed, and the speed of mounting of the electronic parts on the board can be further increased. A natural vibration waveform A of uniaxial drive portions, constituting an X-Y table for positioning the board, is beforehand measured. When a deceleration portion of each of speed patterns V1 to V4 of the uniaxial tables, is synchronized with a minus portion of the natural vibration waveform, the vibration of the uniaxial tables is amplified to become vigorous. When the deceleration portion of the speed pattern is synchronized with a plus portion of the natural vibration waveform, the vibration of the uniaxial tables is absorbed to be suppressed.

Abstract: A method for mounting an integrated circuit includes a plurality of solder balls arrayed on the bottom surface of a package of the integrated circuit onto to a circuit board. These solder balls provide for surface mounting of the integrated circuit to a circuit board by solder reflow. The array of solder balls can be planarized so that each of the plural solder balls participate in defining a truly planar solder ball contact array for the integrated circuit package. Methods of manufacturing the integrated circuit with a package having planarized solder balls in an array dependent from a bottom surface thereof are set forth. The truly planarized solder ball contact array of the integrated circuit package affords nearly absolute reliability in forming of surface-mount electrical connections between the integrated circuit package and the circuit board on which the package is to mount.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package that contains an integrated circuit that is mounted to a bond portion of a substrate. The bond portion of the substrate is separated from a contact portion of the substrate by a flexible portion. The contact portion is attached to a printed circuit board by a plurality of solder joints. The flexible portion decouples the bond portion from the contact portion to allow relative movement between the package and the circuit board to minimize the strain on the solder joints. The package may also contain a spacer that separates a heat pipe from the integrated circuit and controls the thickness of a thermal grease located between the circuit and the pipe.

Abstract: A pump includes a coaxially integrated pump bypass/relief valve element of high density polymer material seats against a hard metallic sleeve that is pressed into a first counterbore around the bypass flow channel with an interference fit. That axial end of the sleeve bearing the valve seat face projects, for a substantial proportion of the sleeve length, beyond the first counterbore shoulder into a second counterbore space to provide an annular space around the outside diameter surface of the sleeve to free the seat face end of the sleeve from direct structural restraint.

Abstract: A method for making a heat sink device comprises the steps of 1) forming a base from punching an array of mounting holes in at substrates; 2) forming a plurality of cooling fin strips from a material sheet; 3) aligning and assembling each of the cooling fins to the corresponding mounting holes of the substrate; 4) punching deformation holes in the first substrate to fixedly secure the cooling fin assembled to the mounting holes; and 5) cutting a redundant material portion from the cooling fin strips.

Abstract: A framing structure for the rear portion of an automotive, including a pair of spaced and generally vertically oriented suspension strut towers each tower fixed at lower and upper end portions to a lower cross beam and an upper cross beam respectively and with each cross beam extending the full width of the vehicle and with each beam having a closed cross-sectional configuration to providing a high degree of structural rigidity as a mounting platform for the left and right rear wheel suspensions. A yoke-like structure on the upper ends of each suspension strut tower supports an end portion of the upper cross beam, each yoke including a pair of spaced side walls between which an end portion of the beam extends so that in vehicle assembly the beam's end portions are positioned or floated in a respective yoke in sliding engagement between the spaced side walls which permits independent lateral shifting of the upper end portion of each strut tower into desired alignment with the vehicle and with one another.

Abstract: A nail clipper retainer for use with a convention nail clipper having jaws fixed together at a first end and having chain hole surfaces therein and chain connected thereto, a rivet slidably connected to rivet open surfaces formed in a second end of the nail clipper jaws and a lever actuatably connected at a first end of the lever to the rivet to enable the jaws to bite together at the second end of the nail clipper, wherein the nail clipper retainer includes a hollow housing of a size and configuration to generally receive the nail clipper therein, the housing having a base, sides and top, wherein the base and sides of the housing are a sufficient length to substantially extend a length of the nail clipper, a first end having a chain open surface for receiving the chain of the nail clipper therethrough and a second end having an opening in the top sufficient to permit actuation of the lever and jaws of the clipper and permit access of the jaws.

Abstract: A cable cutting tool with high hardness insert blades inserted between pivotably mounted levers. The levers are pivotably mounted to hand-grippable handles. The levers have jaws with a gap formed between inner facing surfaces thereof. The gap provides space for insertion of the insert blades.

Abstract: The present invention is a can opener with a manual turning knob and a magnet. The can opener has a first cutting side, second turning side, an upper handle, and a lower handle. The manual turning knob comprises a wheel with indentations. The top of the wheel may be flat, allowing the user to turn the wheel with his or her palm. The manual turning knob is disposed adjacently to the second turning side on a pivot post which intersects the lower handle. Attached on the opposite end of the pivot post is a driving toothed wheel which rotates upon rotation of the manual turning knob. A cutting edge or disk is disposed adjacently to the first cutting side on an upper rivet, the upper rivet extending out from the first cutting side of the upper handle. A magnet is disposed on or adjacent to the cutting disk such that a completely severed lid of a can will rotate toward the magnet. The magnet and cutting edge are angled downward toward the lid of the can.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hydrostatic leveling including a pair of liquid filled containers connected by a liquid hose for equalizing static pressure in the mercury pools in the indicating heads and a gas hose for equalizing the gas or vapor pressure within the heads above the mercury. Each head has an internal float with a display gauge. The indicating heads have identical structures and thus when they are resting on the level surface they may be reversed in location without change in gauge indicator reading; any difference in the reading is a measure of out-of-level condition. An elevator is used to support one head while a mobile tool is used to support the other head. The elevator comprises a rigid body that is secured to a stable structure adjacent the object to be leveled and includes a vertically displacable set-off for supporting the head. The mobile tool includes a level system for insuring consistent alignment of the head to the object being leveled.

Abstract: A sensor arm (1) is inserted into a hole (3). The arm is mounted on a pivot (5) perpendicular to the arm axis so that it may be urged into engagement with the wall of the hole, e.g. by an air cylinder (12). The pivot (5) is in turn rotated about an axis passing through the hole, preferably by means of a rotary body (10). A bearing piece (16) controlling the sensor arm may be moved towards or away from the hole and rigidly supports a light sensor (8) that receives a light beam (7) from the sensor arm. The geometry of the hole is determined on the basis of the position where the light beam impinges on the sensor and the position of the bearing piece relative to the hole.

Abstract: A device for measuring and/or checking the diameter of a cylindrical part (2) moving orbitally about an axis (3) during a grinding process. The device comprises a measuring head (7) coupled to a holder (18, 22) which is provided with a member (26) for engaging the circumference of the part (2), and is movably mounted in a direction parallel to itself on a frame (31) so that it can follow the orbital motion of the part (2). Grinding is performed by means of a tool (1) moving transversely to said axis (3), and the frame (31) is moved transversely to said axis and synchronised with the motion of the tool (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring seal defects on a seal surface of a rocket motor case field joint is provided. The apparatus includes a base mountable onto the rocket motor case field joint. The base is sweepable circumferentially along the field joint. An axial sweeping mechanism is disposed on the base and is sweepable axially along the case field joint. A measurement probe for measuring the depth of the seal defect is disposed on the axial sweeping mechanism.

Abstract: Dryer section of a machine for manufacturing a material sheet. The dryer section may include at least one dryer cylinder, a plurality of sheet guide rolls, a transport belt for guiding the material sheet in a meandering manner around the at least one dryer cylinder and the plurality of sheet guide rolls, and threads surrounding at least one of the at least one dryer cylinder and the plurality of sheet guide rolls. The threads may be positioned between the material sheet and a surface of the at least one of the at least one dryer cylinder and the plurality of sheet guide rolls.

Abstract: The invention describes a device for through-flow continuous processing of textiles, nonwovens, or paper in web form with a gaseous processing medium circulated in the device. The material rests on the outside of a permeable drum subjected to suction, said drum having bottoms on the ends, namely a sieve-type or perforated covering that rests on the drum structure. For this purpose, sheet metal strips firmly connected with the bottoms extend from one bottom to the other between the bottoms of the drum, with the widths of the strips extending in the radial direction. These sheet metal strips are secured over their entire radially aligned height firmly but releasably to the corresponding bottoms by means of the clamping structure.

Abstract: To reduce the heating temperature and electric power consumption, maintain the quality of cloth and thoroughly dry the cloth, the cloth is heated and dried while it travels over a press roller, is wound round a surface roller through a pressure contact portion, is guided to a pressure contact portion between the surface roller and the other press roller, and travels round the other press roller.

Abstract: A grain dryer which includes a grain column through which grain may flow is disclosed. The grain column includes a left lateral discharge sidewall, a right lateral discharge sidewall, a lower discharge surface and an upper discharge surface which collectively define a discharge opening. The lower discharge surface is spaced apart from the upper discharge surface by a distance equal to D1. The distance D1 is greater to or equal to 5.0 inches. The grain dryer further includes a metering roll positioned to contact grain advancing out of the discharge opening of the grain column. The metering roll has a vane diameter equal to VD. The vane diameter VD is greater to or equal to 6.0 inches.

Abstract: In a heat treatment installation a strip moves continuously past infrared radiant elements and elements for blowing air onto the strip. The installation comprises a succession of blower elements separated from each other by at least one infrared radiant element, each blower element having on each side of it a suction element near an infrared radiant element.

Abstract: A dryer is disclosed in a compact design for interstation use on printing presses, particularly lithographic presses. High velocity air is combined with intense infrared radiation to heat, evaporate and scrub vapor from freshly printed substrates. Air under pressure is provided through passages in a housing which is passed toward and by the infrared lamp in such a way as to cool the lamp and thereafter impact the substrate being dried. A pressure sensing control prevents operation of the lamp without the cooling air. The lamp power circuit is switched off if air pressure is lost. The dryer is mounted in an extractor housing provided with a negative pressure to extract the supplied air after it impacts upon the substrate.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a plurality of high energy lamps. The high energy lamps are mounted so as to emit high energy radiation toward a drying chamber. A blower is arranged to move air to the plurality of high energy lamps so as cool the high energy lamps. The air that cools the high energy lamps is delivered to the drying chamber. The plurality of high energy lamps is operated to emit ultraviolet energy for sanitizing the articles in the drying chamber and to emit infrared energy for drying the articles in the drying chamber.

Abstract: An improved drive rod and clutch disk for a paint brush and roller cleaning tool providing the unique combination of a hardened steel clutch disk and chrome plated drive rod. Hardening virtually eliminates enlargement of the bow tie hole in the clutch disk due to wear, preventing the cross member on the end portion of the drive rod from escaping through the clutch disk bow-tie hole during the lifetime of the cleaning tool. The chrome plated spiral drive rod minimizes galling, greatly extending the useful life of the cleaning tool in the instant invention, compared to the prior art.

Abstract: A method for injecting a liquid directly into a fluidised bed and a configuration of at least one twin nozzle in which a gas is used to atomise the liquid and each nozzle permits a dispersion of liquid into a vessel containing the fluidised bed.

Abstract: A shoe structure includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft and a sole. The inner shaft includes at least one waterproof, water-vapor permeable functional layer and at least one layer of lining material which faces the inside of the shoe structure. An extension, made of a waterproof material, is connected in a waterproof manner to a lower end of the inner shaft which faces an outsole of the shoe. The inner shaft is fixed in place in the sole area by the extension only. The extension preferably encloses the lower end of the inner shaft.

Abstract: A shoe with closure system for provides enhanced support for feet and ankles. The shoe with closure system includes an upper and a sole coupled to the upper. The upper has a toe portion, a top portion, a pair of lateral portions, an ankle portion, a heel portion, and a tongue. An elongate toe channel is coupled to the toe portion of the upper. A pair of elongate top channels are coupled to opposite sides of the top portion of the upper. A pair of elongate lateral channels are coupled to opposite sides of the lateral portion of the upper. A pair of elongate ankle channels are coupled to opposite sides of the ankle portion of the upper. A shoelace extends through the channels.

Abstract: A vehicle plow suspension system designed for use with a large object such as a plow blade is disclosed. The suspension system is disposed between and connected to the plow blade and its associated positioning means, and comprises an expansion spring coaxially mounted about a two-way shock absorber in a sealed housing. The suspension system operates to attenuate both the relative movement between the plow blade and its associated vehicle, and the resultant forces thereby transmitted from the plow blade to the vehicle.

Abstract: An implement adapter for providing improved excavation versatility that couples with and attaches to an excavation tool assembly for mounting a working implement thereon. The implement adapter comprises a frame for holding a working implement, wherein the frame is coupled and semi-fixedly attached to an excavation tool assembly. A parking projection holds the coupling element of the frame at a sufficient height above a surface when the implement adapter is detached from the excavation tool assembly and supported on the surface by the parking projection and a lowermost portion of either the frame or the working implement. The height at which the coupling portion is held by the parking projection enables engagement of the coupling portion with a cooperative coupling element on the excavation tool assembly without the need for any manual assistance.

Abstract: An implement adapter for providing excavation versatility that couples with and attaches to an excavation tool assembly for mounting a working implement thereon. The implement adapter comprises a frame for holding a working implement, wherein the frame is coupled and semi-fixedly attached to an excavation tool assembly. A parking projection holds the coupling element of the frame at a sufficient height above a surface when the implement adapter is detached from the excavation tool assembly and supported on the surface by the parking projection and a lowermost portion of either the frame or the working implement. The height at which the coupling portion is held by the parking projection enables engagement of the coupling portion with a cooperative coupling element on the excavation tool assembly without the need for any manual assistance.

Abstract: The invention concerns an ironing press including a base bearing an ironing plate, a sleeve board and an articulated arm for manoeuvring a heating plate, movable between two positions. In one position, the heating plate is pressed against the ironing plate or the sleeve board. The ironing plate and the sleeve board are mounted on the base so as to enable their alternating displacement from a working position to a retracted position. The ironing plate and the sleeve board are each articulated to the base and are interconnected by a linking member providing a kinematic linkage between them.

Abstract: Viewing apparatus including a viewing surface having a viewing area, back-lighting apparatus for selectably adjusting the back-illumination of areas of the viewing surface, the areas having a given extent, the back-lighting means including: an liquid crystal array of individually controllable liquid crystal light attenuators located behind the viewing surface, each element of the array being associated with an area of the viewing surface and including active elements having a controllable opacity over an area smaller than the given extent of the area with which it is associated, and inactive areas between the active elements, a light source behind the array of light attenuators and a plurality of light guides, each associated with an element of the array and located between the element and its associated area on the viewing surface for providing controlled illumination of the associated areas including at least a portion of the space surrounding the active element.

Abstract: A retention system for applying tension to a flexible sheet of material used in a sign system is shown. A support frame can be utilized to couple a material retainer which engages the flexible sheet of material. A tensioning member can be utilized to urge the material retainer into a tensioned position on the support frame. A coupling can be used to couple the tensioning member to the support frame and to allow the tensioning member to rotate about the axis of the hinged coupling, such as through a ball and socket arrangement. A spring arm integral to the support frame can be used to retain the tensioning member against the material retainer as well as to retain the material retainer against the support frame. An audible indication can be produced in establishing the tensioning member in its initial position as well as in establishing the material retainer in the tensioned position.

Abstract: A decorative accessory includes an adhesive attachment tab connected by formable wire segments to at least two cards. The formable wire may be formed into a desired shape by hand to extend outward from the attachment tab in a cantilever fashion. The adhesive attachment tab can be secured to gift packages or gift bags. The cards are highly visible when the wire is formed into a selected shape. One of the cards may announce the special occasion for the gift while the other card may announce who the gift is from. A bow or other decoration may be attached to the attachment tab to increase the aesthetics.

Abstract: An apparatus for oscillating a flotation device on a body of water comprising attaching a rigid extension having a buoyancy container to the flotation device, placing the flotation device in the body of water such that the buoyancy container is filled with water and the flotation device and rigid extension rotate to a vertical position, and pumping gas continuously to the buoyancy container such that the buoyancy container will rise to the surface, rotating the flotation device and rigid extension to a horizontal position, thereby causing the buoyancy container to fill with water, further causing the flotation device and rigid extension to rotate to the vertical position, and to so oscillate between the vertical and horizontal positions continuously.

Abstract: An ice fishing system comprising a variable stiffness jigging mechanism inside a housing. The jigging mechanism includes an oscillating arm having a flexible tube that supports and jigs the fishing line. The fishing line is draped over a flexible line guide. The flexibilities of the flexible tube and the line guide are chosen to suit the particular kind of fish to be caught. A heat exchanger in the housing has a slidable glass door that protects a burner from the wind as well as provides illumination inside the housing. The heat exchanger is spaced from the housing walls to provide adequate air circulation around it. A lid of the housing is strong enough for a fisherman to kneel on.