Abstract: A lightweight pressing and steaming iron having a soleplate with a heating element and steam passages in communication with steam ports including a first plastic housing member mounted on the soleplate and defining the bottom wall of a water reservoir and a second plastic housing member disposed over and secured to the first plastic housing member by a suitable sealant and defining the top and side walls of the water reservoir. The second plastic housing member also defines a tower-like structure at the forward end of the iron and a handle projecting rearwardly from the upper end of the tower-like structure. A valve located between the water reservoir and the soleplate steam passages includes an orifice adapted, when the valve is open, to provide a predetermined flow of water from the reservoir to the steam passages for normal steam ironing.

Abstract: An electric dry shaver having a movable long hair clipper which is slidable from a retracted position within the shaver housing to an extended position in which the clipping teeth of the clipper are exposed. The clipper includes a relatively fixed blade or comb supported by a molded plastic part which performs the functions of guiding the movable clipper, providing a detent action for the movable clipper and interconnecting the clipper assembly with a manually actuable member which extends through the wall of the shaving housing. The shaver also includes a roller supported between a pair of shaving heads by the means for tensioning the flexible comb on its supporting frame.

Abstract: As used to provide an effluent, from which ion-exchange capacity of a sample of a selected type of ion-exchange resin can be determined analytically, an apparatus comprises a column, which is adapted to contain the sample, a solenoid valve, which controls an effluent from an outlet of the column, a solenoid valve, which when opened allows a regenerating agent to flow into an inlet of the column, a solenoid valve, which when opened allows a rinsing agent to flow into the inlet of the column, a solenoid valve, which when opened allows an exhausting agent to flow into the inlet of the conduit, and electronic sequencing means, which operates sequentially for certain specified functions involving the solenoid valves.

Abstract: In a cartridge for removal of impurities from water, an elongated tube is charged, between water-permeable barriers, with ion exchange resin of a type capable of removal of bacteria from water. Outside one such barrier, an inlet cap is charged with water-soluble bactericide in a shelf-stable, water-activatable form. Preferably, the bactericide is sodium salt of dichloroisocyanuric acid, in granular form.

Abstract: At atmosphere X and an atmosphere Y, which may be an oxidizing atmosphere, are used in a process wherein silicon wafers are processed in a processing chamber, which is pressurized sequentially with a purging atmosphere, with the atmosphere X, and with the atmosphere Y displacing the atmosphere X excpet for a residual portion remaining with the atmosphere X and diminishing in concentration with time. As the atmosphere X has a molecular weight approximating the molecular weight of the atmosphere Y, stratification is minimized. If the atmosphere Y is steam, the atmosphere X may be a premixture of helium and oxyen.

Abstract: A gas flow control system in which several constituent gases are mixed and the mixture delivered through controlled injectors to a processing zone. Mass flow controllers control the injector flows with one of the controllers being a master and the other being slaved to provide a selected percentage of the flow through the master controller. The gas mix is regulated by a mass flow controller on one of the constituents and a flow meter on the other, the flow meter producing an error signal which is used to readjust the total flow through the injectors by control of the master injector flow controller.

Abstract: An electric toaster is provided which may be used for either bread slices or convenience foods. A first control lever for varying the setting of the control means of the toaster is employed to provide for light and dark toasted bread. A second control lever is employed when convenience foods are being heated to open a pair of switch contacts which reduce the power level of the toaster. The second control lever is linked to the first control lever in such a manner that the control means is adjustable over a reduced range when the power level of the toaster is reduced.

Abstract: A furnace to contain molten zinc, molten aluminum, or other molten metal has an outer vessel, an inner vessel, and particulate matter packed therebetween so as to enable the inner vessel to be lifted readily from the outer vessel. Electrical conductors are imbedded in said matter and arranged to close an electrical circuit including a signalling means if bridged by any molten metal leaking from the inner vessel. The furnace is provided with a removable bonnet, a beam mounted across the inner vessel, and a partition mounted to and beneath the beam so as to extend into the molten metal deeply. The inner and outer vessels, the removable bonnet, and the beam are insulative. The partition is a good conductor of heat.

Abstract: An ice cube making machine having an evaporator plate on which ice is to be made in a vertical plane, the plate having a cube forming lattice structure on one side thereof and an evaporator coil with the inlet and outlet for fluid refrigerant being disposed to freeze water evenly in said lattice structure and to enhance the thawing of the cubes for renewal therefrom.

Abstract: A dual temperature electric hair curling iron has a barrel rotatable relative to a rigid handle by means of a friction clutch therebetween. The barrel includes a plurality of apertures allowing steam or mist generated within the barrel to flow into contact with the hair being curled. An electric heater in the barrel is controlled by a low limit (220.degree. F.) thermostat and a high limit (270.degree. F.) thermostat located within the barrel. A normally open momentary contact switch manually operated by a ring-like arm encompassing the a front portion of the handle is arranged in circuit with the thermostats and heater in such a manner that the low limit thermostat controls the temperature of the barrel when the switch is in its normal open position. Closing of the switch by movement of the arm relative to the handle disables the low limit thermostat and allows the barrel temperature to increase to the limit set by the high limit thermostat thereby allowing tighter curls to be produced.

Abstract: A modulator motor and drive unit for use in an electrical device, such as a hand food mixer, wherein the motor is characterized by a low-cost speed control which is capable of providing a large number of discrete motor speeds. The speed control, rather than utilizing a multi-contact switch connected to the field coil by individual taps, has approximately twenty field coil continuous loop taps wound over a bobbin spindle in side-by-side relationship with a wiper contact being slideably movable relative thereto along a path from which the insulation has been removed. Positions of the wiper contact may be determined by replaceable detent elements provided with different detent patterns providing different series of motor speeds whereby the same motor and drive module may be provided within a suitable housing(s) for the economical production of several different models of such electrical devices having differing speed selections.