Abstract: The method of contemporaneously sealing interfaces of bearing surfaces for valve faces and cylinder linings in a steel rotary cylindrical barrel having a plurality of longitudinal bores extending through the barrel longitudinally from one end to the other, each of the bores having a restricted diameter intermediate portion connecting a valve surface area at one end of the barrel with a cylinder area extending to the other end. An insert of bearing material is placed in both ends of the bore and a cap secured over a lower end adjoining the cylinder bore. A removable carbon hot top is placed over the other end of the barrel. The barrel and its assembly is heated in a metallurgical furnace for 90 minutes at 1925.degree. F.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for selective conversion between on-the-floor and above-the-floor cleaning. The basic upright vacuum cleaner includes a joint with a through passageway connecting the handle to the floor nozzle and through which the suction air passes. The joint includes a wall with a selectively openable passageway into which an adaptor, coupled to a hose, may be selectively inserted. Insertion of the adaptor cuts off the suction path to the floor nozzle and creates a suction path through the adaptor and associated hose to a wand and cleaning tool.

Abstract: The high efficiency mixing method uses an impeller with a central axial hub adapted for attachment to a rotatable driven shaft of a mixer motor. Under certain operating conditions, the method has a higher mass transfer efficiency, in both directions of rotation when compared to other methods using other impellers.

Abstract: An agitator has a shaft carrying a wear sleeve detachable secured thereon and extending through a fixed flange. A detachable stuffing box is secured to a first side of the flange, and an axially operable element of a valve is secured to the shaft on the opposite side of the flange. The sleeve is threaded into the valve element so that it can be replaced from the first side of the flange, and the valve is axially operable by longitudinal movement of the shaft to seal a shaft opening in the flange during replacement of the sleeve.

Abstract: Improved draft tube mixing apparatus having one or more of the following features: (a) controlled circulation at the inlet of the tube which allows operation at reduced submergence by preventing formation of a vortex; (b) an additional passage for controlled flow into the draft tube along its length to allow operation without the tube being entirely submerged; (c) the recovery of dynamic energy from the flow at the outlet of the tube by wide area diffusion without separation from the walls of the tube in the diffusing region thereof; (d) improved guidance of radially directed to axially directed flow at the inlet of the draft tube for efficient axial pumping by the impeller by maintaining generally uniform axial flow velocity radially of the impeller; and (e) separation of coarse and fine particles in suspension in the tank to allow selective draw-off of the coarse and/or fine particles thereby increasing efficiency of mixing.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a body of molded insulating material for fixedly holding a plurality of electrical conductors in the body. The connector body has openings with axial and radial passageways provided for axially or radially inserting or removing the conductors. A plurality of hinges are integral with the body and adjacent each opening for enlarging the adjacent opening in order to easily insert or remove conductors. The body is resiliently held in place by means of a seal disposed against an end wall of the body. Two or more elongated tabs are disposed opposite from one another and integral with an outer wall of the body for manipulating the outer wall to easily insert or remove the electrical connector from an electrical connector cavity.

Abstract: Improved draft tube mixing apparatus having one or more of the following features: (a) controlled circulation at the inlet of the tube which allows operation at reduced submergence by preventing formation of a vortex; (b) an additional passage for controlled flow into the draft tube along its length to allow operation without the tube being entirely submerged; (c) the recovery of dynamic energy from the flow at the outlet of the tube by wide area diffusion without separation from the walls of the tube in the diffusing region thereof; (d) improved guidance of radially directed to axially directed flow at the inlet of the draft tube for efficient axial pumping by the impeller by maintaining generally uniform axial flow velocity radially of the impeller; and (e) separation of coarse and fine particles in suspension in the tank to allow selective draw-off of the coarse and/or fine particles thereby increasing efficiency of mixing.

Abstract: A four position hydraulic valve having a first power, a hold, a float, and a second power position is adapted for pneumatic control by enclosing the ends of the power spool in pneumatic chambers. A three position pneumatic valve having its two output ports connected respectively to the pneumatic chambers, drives the power spool from the hold position to either power position and from the float position to the hold position. A detent retains the powers spool in the float position after a second power position and a centering spring biases the power spool toward the hold position from either power position and the float position.

Abstract: A main pump has a jet pump powered by the main pump output for forcing a portion of the cooler inlet fluid into the casing chamber of the main pump in order to cool the main pump during periods of low flow.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled wheel slip system for a train of railway cars receives wheel speed data, calibrates that data in accordance with a predetermined set of instructions, and indicates when a pair of wheels on an axle of a given car is slipping or spinning relative to the other wheels on the other cars of the train.

Abstract: In a pressure compensated steering valve, the effect of an input steering signal is cancelled by connecting the spool valve actuator to the reservoir. A shiftable spool valve is acted upon by end cap actuators, which are in turn controlled by a hand pump that is operated by a steering wheel. The spool valve is provided with internal passageways which place the pressurized end cap actuator in restricted fluid communication with the reservoir in order to cancel the effect of the input steering signal at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: The mixing impeller of the invention has a central, axial hub adapted for attachment to a rotatable driven shaft of a mixer motor. Mounted on the hub is a disc that extends radially from the hub. Circumferentially spaced around the disc are a number of impeller blades. Each blade has two different surfaces for mixing a liquid. One surface is flat and rectangular; the other surface is arrowhead-like, converging from the axial ends of the rectangular surface toward the middle of the rectangular surface of the next adjacent blade. When rotated at a given speed in a fluid in one direction, the impeller draws considerably less power than when rotated in the same fluid at the same speed in the opposite direction. Under certain operating conditions, the impeller has a higher mass transfer efficiency, in both directions of rotation when compared to other impellers. The blades of the impeller may be either open or closed, thereby further modifying the power characteristic of the impeller.

Abstract: A hydraulic system including at least one hydraulic cylinder is provided with an anti-cavitation and overload relief valve having a housing, a first chamber within the housing in fluid communication with one end of the cylinder, and a second chamber within the housing in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. A fluid passageway within the valve housing connects the first and second chambers. A movable valve assembly is positioned within the fluid passageway for operating in a plurality of modes for providing anti-cavitation and overload relief. The valve includes a stationary portion positioned within the fluid passageway between the first and second chambers having a valve seat. The movable valve assembly includes a poppet mechanism for sealingly engaging a valve seat of the movable valve element when the movable valve assembly is operating in first and third modes.

Abstract: A fluid gear pump or motor has a central housing with an end cover on one side and an adapter cover on the other. A pair of gears are rotatable inside the housing and one gear shaft extends through the adapter cover for attachment to another machine. The adapter cover is mechanically grounded to the attached machine. Internal loads on the gear shafts are transmitted to the bearings on either end of the shafts in the two covers. One centering plate transmits the loads from one pair of bearings in the end cover to the housing. Another centering plate transmits the loads from the housing and the other bearings to the grounded adapter cover.

Abstract: A gear pump for pumping hydraulic fluid includes housing, a pair of gears mounted for rotation within the housing, and a drive shaft affixed to one of the gears for transmitting a rotational input force to that gear. The drive shaft includes a portion extending outwardly beyond the housing. A bushing is provided surrounding the drive shaft and secured to the housing so that the drive shaft is free to rotate within the bushing. The bushing is positioned along the drive shaft between the driven gear and the portion of the drive shaft that extends beyond the housing. The bushing includes an end surface facing the driven gear and an annular recess in the end surface adjacent the drive shaft. A dynamic sealing member is positioned within the annular recess for minimizing the amount of leakage of the pumped fluid along the drive shaft.

Abstract: In a hydraulic brake system the fluid slack is maintained at a predetermined volume by a flow control valve that is positioned between a fluid reservoir and a slack adjusting cylinder. The flow control valve closes the fluid path to the reservoir after a chamber in the cylinder fills with a predetermined amount of slack fluid. The flow control valve can be held open with a detent mechanism to permit servicing of the brake system. The detent is automatically released when the brakes are applied.

Abstract: A variable displacement pump has a displacement control cam operably connected to a displacement control cylinder within a pump housing and a pressure and flow sensitive compensating valve is connected to the pump housing for regulating output of the pump. The compensating valve is secured to the pump housing through a spacer block. A lever is disposed partly in the spacer block and partly in a housing of the compensating valve responsive to positioning of the pump cam through a mechanical connection for actuating a sleeve in the compensating valve to incorporate torque-limiting feedback regulation of the pump. An adjustment is operable from an outer surface of the spacer block to limit torsional operation of the lever about a pivot point.

Abstract: This invention concerns a butterfly valve having a resilient, adjustable body seat for the pivoting disc. The seat comprises a T-shaped elastomeric ring which is confined at one end by the transverse wall of an annular groove in the valve body and that another end by a clamping ring which slides along the wall of the flow passage extending through the body. The clamping ring is forced against the seat ring by a plurality of individual screw actuators spaced around its circumference and therefore selected portions of the seat ring can be compressed as needed to produce a leak-free seal around the entire periphery of the pivoting disc. The T-shaped elastomeric ring is held in place solely by mechanical forces in order to permit removal, maintenance, and replacement thereof.

Abstract: To introduce and mix fluids, particularly gas (air) with liquid, which is called sparging, an airfoil blade impeller is used for pumping the liquid and for introducing the fluid to be sparged into the liquid through holes in the suction surface of the blade. The airfoil blades are characterized by camber, thickness and location of holes which result in high stripping efficiency of the gas into the liquid without significant decrease in power use efficiency over conventional sparging systems.

Abstract: A butterfly valve is provided having a disc adapted to be rotated between an open and a closed position. A valve seat made of resilient material is adapted to engage the disc in the closed position. The valve seat has an outer wall surrounding the disc and has an aperture therein. A shaft has one end affixed to the disc and extends outwardly through the aperture. A ring surrounds the valve seat and is permanently affixed thereto for preventing deformation of the outer wall of the valve seat. The ring is made of a material that is much stronger and more rigid than the valve seat and includes a cylindrical lip defining an aperture in the ring. This aperture is in line with the aperture in the valve seat wall with the lip projecting into the aperture in the valve seat wall. A cylindrical collar surrounds the shaft and is positioned within the cylindrical lip and supported thereby. The collar provides a bearing surface for the shaft.