Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for sintering or melting ceramic or refractory products in a wave-guide or a sounding cavity wherein they are subjected to the action of a microwave field, a plant wherein the temperature of the product to be processed is detected and the resulting signal compared with a reference value, so as to generate a differential signal or signal of error, and a driving electronic device to act, depending on said signal of error, on the value of the hyperfrequential power injected in the wave-guide or sounding cavity, in order to have the value of the signal of error reduced to zero.

Abstract: A voltage regulating circuit is provided for low voltage battery-powered measuring instruments of the type using electrically-heated filaments as sensing elements. The circuit includes an indicating signal light which is energized from a separate control power source and controlled by the voltage regulating circuit and also in response to energization of a filament in the instrument. The light is turned OFF in case of failure of the control power or of inability of the voltage regulating circuit to maintain the desired voltage. The light is also turned OFF for a set time period upon energization of the filament to allow the filament to stabilize at its normal temperature. Thus, when the indicator light is ON an indication is provided that the instrument is in condition for use.

Abstract: A bipolar cell comprising a plurality of spaced electrode plates defining a sinuous flow path therethrough, wherein the flow path sweeps out the entire space between adjacent plates so as substantially to prevent the formation of stagnant areas and thus minimize the growth of precipitate between the plates.

Abstract: A switch housing having a separate base attached to one end includes an electric end contact secured to each end of the base inside the housing, and central electric terminal means secured to the central part of the base between the end contacts. An elongated bridging contact engages the central terminal means and has end portions beside rigid dielectric members projecting from the base adjacent the end contacts for restricted lateral movement of the bridging contact. The end contacts have projections overlying the end portions of the bridging contact, and the base and all of the contacts and terminals together form a base unit in which the bridging contact is confined between the base and the overlying portions of the end contacts before the base is secured to the rest of the switch housing. Manually operable actuating means engage the bridging contact for rocking it on the central terminal means to electrically connect the latter with the overlying portions of either of the overlying contacts.

Abstract: A hair setting roller includes a dielectric cylinder encircled by an electrical resistance magnetic heating element secured to it and adapted to be attracted by a permanent magnet mounted in apparatus having a pair of laterally spaced electric supply contacts. Electrically connected to the opposite ends of the heating element are electric contacts for engaging the supply contacts while the magnet overcomes a force tending to separate the roller and magnet, whereby to heat the heating element electrically. The heating element has a magnetic permeability that decreases as its temperature increases until the attraction of the magnet for the device becomes weaker than the separating force acting on the roller.

Abstract: A suspension element for suspending a load and absorbing energy if the load is increased suddenly above a predetermined minimum includes a normally rigid ring that is permanently deformable under an applied load above said minimum. Diametrically opposite areas of the ring are connected to a support and a load, but the opposite sides of the ring between those areas are free of the connecting means and subject to being pulled toward each other if the load suspended by the ring suddenly increases beyond the predetermined miminum and elongates the ring in the direction of the movement of the load. The energy required to thus deform the ring is absorbed by the ring.

Abstract: A gate lock housing mounted against the rear face of the front platen of an extrusion press has a passage through it aligned with a passage through the platen. A tubular block is normally disposed in the housing passage where it is held by releasable gate lock means. Behind this block is a laterally movable carrier, in which is seated a bolster member having a passage through it aligned with the block passage. An indirect-extrusion stem secured to the bolster extends rearwardly from the housing and supports an extrusion die at its rear end. The bolster is connected to the block in such a way that the bolster can be moved forward with the block but can move laterally away from the block when they are in their rear position. Shifting means detachably connected with the carrier can slide the bolster and stem laterally away from the block and out beyond one side of the housing, where the carrier can be supported while being disconnected from the shifting means.

Abstract: Finely-divided graphite flake is heated to a high temperature in the presence of boron or a boron-containing compound to cause the boron to permeate the crystal structure of the flake, which is then subjected to an intercalating agent and rapidly heated, resulting in an expanded or vermicular graphite with a bulk density substantially less than what might be expected if the flake were not pretreated with boron. The expanded graphite then is compressed to form a preform that is reduced in thickness by rolling or molding to form a higher-strength flexible graphite foil than heretofore.

Abstract: A lock housing is adapted to be mounted at the free vertical edge of the inactive one of a pair of hinged doors that have adjacent vertical edges when both doors are closed. Slidably mounted in the housing is an axially movable shaft that extends vertically therefrom and has a normally retracted latch bolt mounted on its outer end. Operatively connected to the opposite end of the shaft is the inner end of a rocker arm, the central part of which is pivotally connected to the housing on a horizontal axis. A cam pivotally connected on a vertical axis to the housing normally projects from it for engagement by the free vertical edge of the active door for swinging the cam into the housing to swing the rocker arm vertically in order to project the latch bolt from a horizontal edge of the inactive door. The rocker arm is so mounted in the housing that it will be moved by the cam bodily away from the free edge of the door if the shaft cannot move, whereby the mechanism will not be damaged.

Abstract: A ceramic or refractory product is placed in a sounding cavity close to but spaced from an opposing member and they are heated to a predetermined temperature to sinter or melt said product by subjecting them to the action of a hyperfrequential electromagnetic field. The opposing member is formed from a material having dielectric losses higher than those of said product in the temperature range below said predetermined temperature so that the intensity of the field will be increased locally in the immediate vicinity of the surface area of said product opposed to said member and that area will be exposed to thermic radiation from the opposing member and be protected by that member from thermic losses.

Abstract: A cable reeling device for winding cable upon a flanged reel comprising support means slidable along vertical side-frames and supporting a spindle, the support means being interconnected by means of an extendable shaft, in which each support means comprises a power means for moving said spindles between a first position, in which the spindle is able to freely move within a zone around intended position of the axis of the reel and a second position fixed in relation to the support means for carrying the reel turnably on the spindles.

Abstract: A series of adjoining concentric rings are cut from a metal plate. The same number of hubs, all the same shape, are also cut from plate material as are annular web plates to fit around hubs, but the outer diameters of the web plates are different from one another in order to fit in the different rings. Each web plate is welded to a hub and encircling ring to form a sheave that is then provided with a circumferential groove to provide a grooved rim for receiving a wire line. The sheaves can be mounted side by side on a common shaft, with the largest sheave at one end and the smallest at the opposite end. This arrangement is suitable for a crown block.

Abstract: The upper edge of a cup-shape flexible diaphragm in the lower part of a vertical dispensing cylinder is sealed to the side of the cylinder, with the bottom of the diaphragm engageable with the bottom of the cylinder around an inlet and outlet port to close it. The bottom wall of the diaphragm may have a central thickened portion for engaging the bottom wall of the cylinder, with the rest of the diaphragm bottom spaced from the cylinder bottom wall. Engaging the side wall of the cylinder above the diaphragm is a piston having a lower portion filling the diaphragm cup and attached to its bottom wall. The diaphragm and piston are movable upwardly in the cylinder by liquid product forced up through the cylinder port, and the upper part of the cylinder has an inlet for air to move the piston and diaphragm downwardly to expel liquid product from the cylinder.

Abstract: A valve housing has a mouth port in one side and a vent opening in its opposite side, with another opening between them for connection to a carbon dioxide removing and oxygen generating canister. Around the mouth port inside the housing is a valve seat, toward which a valve member is urged by a spring to normally close the valve. Surrounding the valve member and spring is a bellows that has an open end secured to the housing around the vent opening to thereby expose the inside of the bellows to the pressure of water or other liquid in which the valve may be submerged. Connected to the outer end of the mouthport is a mouthpiece adapted to be held in the mouth of a user, and encircling the mouthpiece is a ring that is connected with the valve member for movement with it.

Abstract: A supplementary filter housing is provided in one side with an opening for receiving the inlet end of a respirator filter attached to a facepiece. Inside this housing there is a perforated partition between the filter-receiving opening and a portion of the housing that extends laterally away from that opening, whereby to separate the housing into first and second chambers, the second chamber being in the laterally extending portion of the housing and having a perforated outer wall for admission of air. Disposed in the second chamber is a removable filter member that is in the path of air flowing through that chamber from its perforated wall to the perforated partition. The second chamber also has an access opening for insertion and removal of the filter member, which is formed from a material that will dry the air inhaled through it.

Abstract: A burner that has flat upper and lower walls connected by side walls and a front end wall is provided with a fuel inlet for connection to a fuel source and with an open rear end. A device is connected to one side of the burner for inserting it between the overlapping layers of a lap joint of fusible roofing sheets for sliding it forward along the joint while flame issues from the rear end of the burner to fuse the overlapping layers together. Preferably, a roller follows the burner to press the hot layers of the joint together. A second burner may be provided which is opposite hand to the first burner and which is held in an elevated position as long as the first burner is in operating position.

Abstract: Apparatus is supported by one end of a line of rails for feeding metal bars from a coil lengthwise into parallel longitudinal slots in the rails to form continuous straight electrical conductors. The feeding apparatus includes a plurality of staggered straightening rolls for straightening the conductor bar as it is pulled from the reel for feeding it into the slot in line with the apparatus, the apparatus being adjustable transversely of the rails to locate it in line with the different slots.

Abstract: An open-top card-receiving sheath adapted to be inserted in the breast pocket of a man's jacket is detachably connected to a substantially rectangular fabric member in front of it that is at least as wide as the sheath. The appearance of the front of the upper portion of the fabric member is different from the appearance of the front of its lower portion, and the upper portion extends above the sheath for exposure above the pocket. Since either end of the fabric member can be placed uppermost, this decorative element can match the appearance of either of two different cravats.

Abstract: A pair of laterally spaced wheel chocks are each normally connected in a gap in a railroad track rail, with each chock having a straight upper surface over which car wheels can roll in crossing the gap. Pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to each chock is the rear end of an arm, the front end of which is pivotally connected to a support. Means are provided for lifting the chocks after car wheels have rolled across them, whereby to cause the chocks to engage a pair of car wheels and move them forward on the track. The arms guide the upwardly-moving chocks in paths that result in there being substantially no sliding of the chocks against the wheels.

Abstract: A long horizontal tubular housing for a garage door operating screw is provided in its bottom with a slot extending lengthwise of the housing. Inside the housing there is a metal tube that is several feet long and that can be rotated by reversible means at one end of the housing. Wound helically around the tube and welded to it is a wire that forms a screw thread that is spaced from the surrounding tube and is encircled by a traveling nut for movement lengthwise of the housing when the tube is rotated. The nut is connected to means extending down through the slot for connection to a garage door to open or close the door. Since the space between the screw thread and the surrounding housing is empty except for the nut, the wire-wound portion of the tube is unsupported between the nut and the bearings for the tube. However, due to the light weight of the screw, it can be driven at least as fast as conventional door-opening screws without bending.