Abstract: An arrangement for a direct ignition type fuel ignition system includes a capacitive timing network which enables a flame relay to operate during a trial for ignition interval, energizing a fuel valve to supply fuel to a burner for ignition, and a flame sensing circuit which causes the flame relay and the fuel valve to be maintained operated only if a flame is sensed before the end of the trial for ignition interval. In the absence of a flame, a diode, back biased by the timing signal, decouples the flame sensing circuit from the timing network. When a flame is established, a further diode, back biased by a control signal provided by the flame sensing circuit, decouples the timing network from the flame sensing circuit. In an embodiment wherein the charging time of a capacitor defines the trial for ignition interval, a fast reset circuit provides rapid discharge of the timing capacitor when power is removed from the timing network.

Abstract: A drain plug of the standpipe type embodying an elongated tubular member for affording drainage when the liquid level in a compartment is at the top of the standpipe, and a resilient, annular valve member mounted on the lower end portion of the standpipe for sealingly engaging a valve seat in a drain opening for preventing flow of said liquid into said drain opening around said standpipe, the valve member having an upper and lower flanged construction that is effective to guard against leakage around and damage to the drain plug if the drain plug is improperly aligned or excessive closing pressures are applied thereto.

Abstract: A concrete vibrator machine wherein the vibrators thereof are mounted on individual supporting structures that are adjustable longitudinally of the main frame of the machine, and wherein the vibrators are raised and lowered on their individual supporting structures in such a manner that if the vibrators strike an obstruction during lowering thereof, lowering of the vibrators may stop without damaging stress being placed thereon.

Abstract: The combination in a food slicer of the type embodying a cutter unit, comprising a plurality of spaced cutter blades, and a pusher unit having a plurality of pusher blades that may be manually moved into and out of intermeshed relation to the cutter blades for pressing tomatoes, or the like, through the cutter unit, of a safety guard having a portion movable upwardly and downwardly between a position wherein it is disposed in overlying relation to the cutter blades, between the cutter unit and the pusher unit, and a position wherein it is disposed above the pusher unit, the safety guard having a projecting portion for preventing the pusher blades being damaged by engagement with the safety guard.

Abstract: A precast insulating material member for insulating a furnace skid rail includes a precast insulating material portion containing a crisscross reinforcing structure. The crisscross reinforcing structure is comprised of a pair of arcuate-shaped rods which are welded together intermediate their ends, each rod having end-eye portions which extend outwardly from the corners of the U-shaped precast insulating member. Positioned about the crisscross-shaped rods are coil members which assist in reinforcing the insulating portion of the member when the reinforcing structure is embedded within the insulating portion. The end-eye portions of the rods provide a mechanical lock of the insulating member to a skid rail pipe when the eye portions are moved into engagement with the outer surface of the skid rail pipe.

Abstract: The illustrated embodiment is electronic. It includes circuitry for simulating heat anticipation so that in operation, the temperature of the room being heated or cooled does not exhibit excessive overshoot. A signal is generated representative of a desired set point, and another signal is generated representative of room temperature. An output signal, derived from a comparison circuit, is either ON or OFF. An integrator is reset each time the output signal is switched and generates a ramp voltage of increasing magnitude and having a polarity tending to reverse the state of the comparison circuit. The comparison circuit generates an ON signal when the set point signal is greater than the combined temperature and ramp signals; and it generates an OFF signal when the set point signal is less than the combined signals. The comparison circuit latches up once it has switched to avoid hunting or chatter.

Abstract: A low-temperature grain drying/aeration system includes a controller having an initialization circuit which is programmed on the basis of long term computer simulation of the low-temperature drying process to respond to inputs representing initial conditions such as harvest date, harvest moisture and air flow rate, and control a dry down indicator to indicate the probability of drying success and the time of completion of the drying. The controller responds to control outputs provided by the initialization circuit to provide humidistatic control of fan and heater operation during the drying operation, and to permit heater operation only when supplemental heat is desirable. At the end of the normal drying season, the controller automatically transfers operation from the drying mode to an aeration mode to provide periodic ventilation of the stored grain, and effects shut down of the system when conditioning of the grain is completed.

Abstract: A golf putting practice device having a ramp with a ball receiving pocket therein, a kicker being disposed in position to return putted balls falling into the pocket, and a rib disposed in upright position in the front portion of the pocket to engage and stop balls rolling laterally across the pocket, the rib having an upwardly and forwardly sloping upper surface for deflecting balls upwardly and forwardly out of the pocket.

Abstract: A centrifugal impeller for use in a combination centrifugal-turbine pump capable of pumping liquids at or near the boiling point thereof with suction heads not greater than about one foot and wherein the entrance portion of the centrifugal impeller includes a plurality of vane inserts removably mounted therein, with adjacent ones of the inserts having vanes that are aligned with each other to define liquid-feeding spiral vanes that extend through the plurality of inserts.

Abstract: A conveyor trolley for transporting articles along an elongated supporting rail and embodying dielectric supporting and retaining wheels and bumpers constituted and arranged so as to effectively electrically insulate the trolley and the article to be transported from such a rail and from members, such as other trolleys or stop members, on said rail.

Abstract: The system includes a pull-type frame with a forward line of disc blades widely spaced to part the trash, mix it with soil and displace most of the mixture laterally on top of previously undisturbed soil, thereby creating strips of ground which are alternately cleared and windrowed. At least a second line of disc blades, also widely spaced, is placed to the rear of the first line; and these blades are offset laterally from, and located in the windrows formed by, the discs of the first row, to part and return at least some of the previously cleared trash and previously undisturbed soil back onto the cleared strips while still leaving strips of undisturbed soil with an accumulation of cleared trash on top. Following the discs are novel plow tips located in the undisturbed strips having accumulated layers of cleared trash.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible material, wherein the material is disposed in a roll in a housing having a dispensing opening therein, and the material is dispensed by pulling thereon to thereby rotate the roll in the housing, detents being afforded on the roll and housing that are effective to periodically releasably resist further dispensing rotation of the roll during each rotation of the roll.

Abstract: A fuel ignition control system including a control arrangement for operating pilot and main valves of the system the pilot valve being operated to permit a pilot flame to be established, and the main valve being operated by a pilot flame sensing circuit which includes a controlled switching device enabled in response to the charging of a capacitor to a given value to effect the operation of the main valve, the charging of the capacitor being controlled by a further controlled switching device which supplies AC current to the capacitor in the absence of a pilot flame, preventing the capacitor from charging to the given value, and which supplies DC current to the capacitor when a pilot flame is established, permitting the capacitor to charge to the given value.

Abstract: A heat exchanger and method of making same, which embodies laterally spaced tubes mounted in a plurality of spaced sets or assemblies of cross-fins, with adjacent ones of the sets of cross-fins being disposed at an angle to each other which is less than 180 degrees, and with the portions of the laterally spaced tubes extending between respective adjacent pairs of the sets of cross-fins being bent around the same radii.

Abstract: A furnace ignition and draft control system includes a damper plate movable under control between a closed and an open position. When a call for heat signal is generated, a holding relay is actuated to energize a damper motor to open the damper provided the damper plate was closed when the signal was generated, otherwise the system will not operate. After the damper is run to the full open position and this is proved, a fuel control circuit is actuated to supply fuel to the furnace, and a trial-for-draft period is initiated. A draft controller energizes the damper motor to open the damper if draft is less than a first predetermined value and to close the damper if draft is greater than a second predetermined value. The predetermined draft values define a desired draft range in which the damper is not operated.

Abstract: A split-shell magnetic printing cylinder is made from first and second half cylinders which are joined along a plane through the axis of the cylinder. Each half cylinder or "split-shell" has first and second similar end plates with laminations stacked between the end plates. The laminations alternately form pole pieces and spacers which hold permanent magnets in contact with adjacent pole pieces. A plurality of core bars extend between and are secured to the end plates, and they are located to engage an inner curved edge of the laminations when the laminations are assembled to the core. The core bars are welded to the inner edges of the laminations for holding the laminations firmly in place. The rods extending through the laminations may also be secured to the end plates to hold the laminations. The inner edges of the laminations, the core bars and the welds are all embedded in a layer of resin such as epoxy. The split cylinders are secured together with shoulder bolts securing the end plates together.

Abstract: A cradle is mounted on a frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis between a start position and a discharge position. In the start position the pallet stringers are placed in the cradle and supported by upright guides including transverse, spaced guide bars. The stringers are clamped longitudinally. A first set of deck boards is placed across the stringers and fastened to them. The cradle is unlocked and rotated to the discharge position to thereby turn the partial pallet over. The other set of deck boards is then placed between longitudinal guide bars that had supported the stringers, and these deck boards are fastened to the stringers. The clamp is released, and the completed pallet falls under gravity free of the cradle which is then turned back to the start position for a new pallet.

Abstract: A pass-through structure for enabling objects to be transferred through a dividing wall from one area to another is disclosed wherein an outer drum is provided with opposed openings, one on each side of the dividing wall, and an inner drum provided with one opening is rotatably mounted within the outer drum so that, when the opening in the inner drum is aligned with an opening in the outer drum, objects may be placed therein and the inner drum rotated so that the opening therein comes into alignment with the opening in the outer drum whereby the objects therein may be removed. One or both of the drums may be lead-lined when X-ray film cassettes are the objects being transferred. Latch means are provided to lock the inner drum in at least one of its rotated positions.

Abstract: The shaft driven by a reversible motor for opening and closing a door is provided with at least one reflective surface. An optical source/detector senses rotation of the shaft and generates a pulse each time one of the reflective surfaces passes. A programmable counter circuit counts the pulses in one direction when the door is opened and de-energizes the motor when a predetermined count is reached without the use of mechanical switches. The counter is decremented when the door is closed, and de-energizes the motor when the count returns to zero. Any obstruction will cause the system to stop the door if sensed during opening, or to reverse the door's direction if sensed during closing. Provision is made to account for any "coasting" the door may experience due to inertia; and the system will also track and permit small changes in the closed position of the door, as might occur if snow accumulates beneath the door.

Abstract: A human reproduction indexing device for indicating the calendar dates for days of a menstrual cycle on which the probability of conception is the greatest includes a generally circular base member having indicia representing the calendar dates for the days of a given month disposed around the periphery thereof, and an index member rotatably secured to the base member and having an index and an indicator disposed thereon and configured so that when the index is aligned with the calendar date corresponding to the day of the onset of the menses, the indicator is positioned to indicate the calendar dates for a seven day interval starting ten days after the indexed date thereby indicating the time interval during which ovulation should occur and thus the days on which the probability of conception are the greatest.