Abstract: A method of processing waste is disclosed wherein the municipal solid waste is segregated and processed to recover reusable rubber, metal, plastic, glass and the remaining organic portion of the waste stream is used to make lactic acid and other chemicals. One process utilizes a pretreatment step with dilute sulfuric acid to reduce the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of the municipal solid waste which may contaminate the produced lactic acid or inhibit the fermentation of the sugars obtained from such waste. In another, the heavy metal content of the cellulosic component of municipal solid waste is removed via an ionic exchange process, after hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. A process for an economical, energy efficient production of lactic acid from municipal solid waste is also disclosed.

Abstract: A two prong plug locking device having opposed top and bottom hemi-spherical housing elements enclosing an intermediate guide lever and guide plate. A keyed tumbler lock turns the intermediate guide lever. Such guide lever is attached to a flexible cable that moves within a channel in the top and bottom housing. A pair of plug prongs inserted into the bottom housing through multiple apertures are engaged by the cable and locked within the bottom housing. By turning the tumbler lock, the cable is retracted from the plug prongs and the plug is released.

Abstract: An outlet arrangement is disclosed that positively engages the straight terminal blades of most standard plugs. A positive clamping action about the broad sides of the terminal blade holds the plug into the outlet. The user controls the clamping action by moving the plug or some other control element relative to the outlet. The clamping action is unlike the usual friction force provided by most outlets since the clamping force provided by this invention can hold the plug in place whereas the force provided by standard outlets permits easy withdrawal of the plug from the outlet. This invention uses the fact that most plugs have a small depression or hole near the end of its blades. This invention also controls the electrical connection of the terminal contacts with the movement of the locking element to prevent shocks upon initial insertion of the plug into the receptacle.

Abstract: A wiring device or receptacle having a rotatable or slidably mounted shutter for blocking entrance of the positive prong of a power plug into the hazardous, positive receptacle slot unless the neutral prong of the power plug has actuated the shutter to the open, positive prong passing position. The neutral receptacle slot length is increased to allow the shutter to be actuated in a direct manner upon contact and subsequent applied force against the shutter in the slot length direction, in order for the shutter to be actuated to the open, positive prong passing position.

Abstract: Selective device for electrical connection is provided with a plug with multiple contacts designed to engage with the corresponding contacts of a socket, while a safety disk and a complementary disk mounted pivotally on the socket are provided with openings designed for passage of the contacts of the plug and are arranged so as to be entrained in rotation by the plug when the latter is locked on the socket from an initial position which is locked by a locking system that is disengaged when the plug is introduced into the socket. The locking system only acts on the complementary disk while a locking mechanism is provided between the complementary disk and the safety disk in order that the safety disk can be locked in a plurality of pre-established angular positions relative to the complementary disk so that the safety disk can be given an initial position at will by acting on the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A mechanical coupling system wherein a spline screw system is used to connect two bodies, a work attachment mechanism and a work attachment fixture. A kinematic clamp first guides and mates the attachment mechanism to the attachment fixture. The kinematic clamp includes three round roller members equidistantly located around the periphery of the bodies and three correspondingly located V-shaped grooves located on the periphery of the other body. A motor driven spline screw in the attachment mechanism then engages a spline bolt head in the attachment fixture and includes a threaded shank upon which is mounted a translatable nut which is adapted to translate up and down the shank but not rotate. The nut carries one or more electrical connectors which travel upwardly during a connecting sequence and cams open a set of dust covers which operate to engage an opposing set of dust covers adjacent complementary type electrical connectors on the attachment mechanism.

Abstract: An electric plug combination lock for locking the prongs of an electric plug thereto. The lock includes a casing enclosing a chamber having a lock subassembly therein which has a frame lock portion with lock hooks that lock into holes in the prongs of the electric plug, a spring biasing the frame lock portion to the locked position and a combination lock for preventing the frame lock from entering the unlocked position unless the correct combination is present.

Abstract: Electric power socket (10) having structure (12) supporting electric contacts (20, 22, 24). A plug receptacle (18) having openings (100, 90) (102, 92) and (104, 94) therethrough is positioned for rotation in front of the contacts (20, 22, 24). The plug receptacle (18) is normally locked at an inactive position, at which it covers the contacts (20,22 24), by means of resiliently depressable locking tongues (142) which engage openings (90,94) of the plug receptacle. When pins of an electric plug are pressed into the plug receptacle (18) to pass through the openings (104,94) and (100,90) the pins engage the tongues (142), depressing them to allow the plug and plug receptacle to be rotated to align the plug pins with the contacts (20,22,24). Subsequent inward movement of the plug engages the pins with the contacts (20,22,24).

Abstract: An electrical socket includes a socket housing which receives conductor pieces that are adapted to be electrically connectable to contact blades of an electrical plug. A rotary plate of a socket cover is provided in the front face of the socket housing. The socket cover further has a shaft projecting rearward from the rotary plate and extending into the socket housing. The socket cover is movable between a closed position, wherein the rotary plate blocks entry into the socket housing, and an open position, wherein entry into the socket housing is permissible, allowing plugging of the electrical plug into the electrical socket to achieve electrical connection between the contact blades and the conductor pieces. A control member engages the rotary plate when the socket cover is in the closed position to prevent rotation of the rotary plate relative to the socket housing.

Abstract: A safety device for shielding off the receptacles of an electric current tap or socket comprises a shutter member guided for sliding movement inside a body against the bias of a spring. The shutter member is disposed between tap holes in a forward cover intended for receiving pins of an electric plug and the tap receptacles. The shutter member is accommodated within the body in tilting support relationship with a back wall of said body which has two oppositely pitched surfaces set at a slight inclination angle which are adapted for blocking the shutter member against sliding movement when a portion thereof is thrust against one of the surfaces.

Abstract: A parallelepiped housing is open on one side and has a face plate moveable toward and away from the rear wall. A movable support holding electrical contacts is provided to receive the blade of a plug. An articulated arm assembly having a free end extending inwardly and bendible on movement of the face plate rearwardly is mounted on the moveable support to occlude the contact in the absence of the insertion of the blade, or in the presence of a blade, to proceed through the hole in the blade and into a channel thereby locking the blade in the slot, or in the insertion of a foreign object to prevent movement of the moveable support. The housing includes electrical contact means fixedly located to the rear of the electrical contact for connection to a source of current.

Abstract: A protective cover for a multiple pin type electrical connector receptacle having an insert shell provided with a plurality of locking keys spaced about the circumference of the shell to receive mating, locking lands on the cover, is disclosed wherein the cover is provided with an additional antirotational locking means between the cover and shell for preventing unintentional release rotation of the cover relative the shell when they are in an assembled relation. The exemplary embodiment of antirotational locking means includes the provision of a spring detent means mounted within the cover wherein a generally V-shaped detent is spring mounted as part of an integral, one piece contoured spring metal plate to cooperate with an orienting key on the shell to prevent unintentional release of the cover from the shell due to the resiliency of the detent engaging over the orienting key when the cover is rotated into its fully assembled position relative the shell.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a female connector having a protruding portion extending from one end and with one or more sockets therein and a male connector having one or more pins for being received in a different one of the sockets and a retractable pin shield member in which the pins are recessed when the shield member is in a forward position. The pin shield member includes a cavity for receiving the protruding portion of the female connector and as the connectors are progressively engaged the protruding portion is urged against the shield member causing it to become gradually retracted and exposing the pins which are then progressively received in the sockets of the female connector.

Abstract: An improved child-safe outlet cover including a main plate defining receptacle opening(s), a shield on the main plate for each opening having first and second portions, such shield movable between use and non-use positions in which the first and second portions, respectively, cover the receptacle openings, the first portion having prong openings aligned with the receptacle slots in the use position, and means biasing the shield to the non-use position. Preferred embodiments include locking pins and a number of structural variations providing important advantages.

Abstract: A safety shutter for an electrical receptacle is in the form of a sliding rocker with a pair of angled lugs on the front side and a slot that can mate with one of two electric plug receiving slots in the faceplate of the electrical receptacle and is biased by a spring into a safety position wherein such receiving slot is out of alignment with the shutter slot. The shutter slot may move into alignment with such receiving slot when an electric plug is inserted into the receptacle to simultaneously engage the angled lugs. However, the shutter rocks without sliding when a single foreign object is inserted through either of the faceplate receiving slots and engages only one of the lugs whereby the foreign object is prevented from reaching the internal contacts of the receptacle.

Abstract: A switch including a plug and a socket for use with high intensity currents includes a power circuit and a pilot circuit for maintaining current flowing through the power circuit. The switch also includes an apparatus for controlling the pilot circuit and preventing insertion of the plug into the socket when the at least one socket pilot contact and the at least one plug pilot contacts are in a closed position.