Abstract: A composition useful as the core of fire resistant gypsum board and comprising a major amount of set calcined gypsum and minor amounts of whisker fibers, glass fibers and clay.

Abstract: A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct includes a rigid hopper mounted on the side of the mower proximate tha grass discharge duct. A substantially vertical chute mounted on the discharge duct communicates at its lower end with the duct and at its upper end with the front end of the hopper. Relative movement of the chute and the hopper as well as the selective disconnection and reconnection thereof is made possible by an oversized opening in the hopper for receiving the chute upper end and flexible seal means in the opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end. The hopper is supported on a lift arm pivoted at the rear of the mower. A cylinder provides selective pivotal movement of the lift arm to rotate the hopper into an elevated dumping position. A hinged hopper door of air-permeable material opens automatically when the hopper is elevated to its dumping position to permit discharge of the hopper contents.

Abstract: A fire-resistant article, for example, a fire door core comprising a major amount of expanded perlite in compressed form, an adhesive material, the major portion of which is starch, and preferably glass fibers, and a method for making the article by dry-mixing the ingredients substantially completely before water is added for the purpose of developing the adhesive characteristics of the starch.

Abstract: A free piston machine comprising a mounting, an inner movable mechanism comprising a central cross-member and guided in translation so as to be able to move with an alternating motion along the axis of the mounting and an outer movable mechanism comprising two outer cross-members connected by at least one tie-rod. The mounting includes a base (10) and a header (11) connected by at least one central one-piece structure. The inner movable mechanism comprises four inner drive pistons movable along drive cylinders (15a-15b) arranged at the corners of a rectangle and two compressor pistons sliding in compressor cylinders (17a-17b) whose axles pass outside of said rectangle.

Abstract: A composition useful as the core of fire resistant gypsum board and comprising a major amount of set calcined gypsum and minor amounts of whisker fibers, glass fibers and clay.

Abstract: A fuel tank cap having a fuel inlet passage therein includes an arrangement automatically closing the fuel inlet passage when the cap is removed from the tank. A valve in the fuel inlet passage is spring biased toward a closed position. A valve actuator engageable with the edge of the tank inlet serves to open the valve against the spring force when the cap is seated on the tank inlet.

Abstract: An exterior finishing system for a building, including particularly an exterior insulation system, which includes a fibrous mat-faced gypsum board, preferably a board in which the set gypsum core thereof is water resistant, and preferably one in which the set gypsum core is sandwiched between two sheets of porous glass mat, with the outer surface of at least one of said mats being substantially free of set gypsum, and means for preparing the board, including control of the viscosity of the aqueous gypsum slurry from which the set gypsum core of the board is formed. Also, the use of fibrous mat-faced gypsum board as the shaft liner panel in a shaft wall assembly.

Abstract: A turf aerator includes a wheel-supported frame and drive means for propelling the frame across the ground at a predetermined rate. A pair of substantially vertical tine arms each having a plurality of downwardly directed turf coring tines attached to the lower end thereof are mounted on the frame for alternate penetrating engagement with the ground. A tine arm actuating mechanism produces an essentially elliptical movement of the upper end of each tine arm, the major axis of the elliptical movement being substantially vertical. A rocker mechanism indirectly connects the lower end of one tine arm with the lower end of the other tine arm such that the horizontal movement of one tine arm with respect to the frame upon engagement of that tine arm with the turf produces an equal and opposite horizontal movement of the other tine arm and vice versa. The aerator produces a substantially vertical insertion and withdrawal movement of the tines and a resultant minimal disturbance of the surrounding turf area.

Abstract: A tine holder for turf aerating equipment includes a horizontal tine arm having a plurality of spaced apertures therein corresponding to mounting positions of the coring tines. The hollow tines are outwardly tapered at their upper ends and the apertures in the tine arm are of a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the upper ends of the tines. A tine holding bar disposed beneath the tine arm is provided with tapered apertures aligned with the apertures in the tine arm. The taper of the bar apertures corresponds to the taper of the tine upper end and permits the seating of the coring tines in the apertures with a small portion of each tine extending thereabove. A plurality of bolts passing through aligned bolt holes in the tine arm and tine holding bar permit a clamping of the tines against the tine arm in alignment with the tine arm apertures.

Abstract: An acidic aqueous coating composition comprising dissolved phosphate, dissolved aluminum, dissolved dichromate, inorganic colloidal particles and a water miscible organic component including an effective film-forming amount of a water miscible material comprising an ether of a polypropylene glycol, and preferably including also another glycol material, for example, a mono-ethylene glycol material or a monopropylene glycol material, for use as a glaze coating, or as a base coating which includes also a particulate material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple platen-multiple position press or injection blow molding apparatus for use in the blow molding of containers in which a preform is molded onto a core and is moved relative to the core to space a body portion of the preform from the core when the core is in the blowing station to facilitate the temperature conditioning of the preform to achieve a desired biorientation of the thermoplastic material from which the preform is made when the preform is blow molded to form a container. The temperature conditioning may be achieved by allowing stabilization of the temperature gradient through the material of the preform with or without the assistance of a supply of gas to the preform at a desired temperature.

Abstract: An over center tensioning and locking control for a cable actuated mechanism includes a control bracket on which an actuating lever is pivotally mounted. The cable to be controlled is connected to said actuating lever and rides on an arcuate cam surface thereon. A spring linkage pivotally connected at one end to the bracket and at the other end to the actuating lever passes over center to lock the actuating lever in a cable tensioning position.

Abstract: A mechanism for driving the upper ends of a pair of tine arms of a turf aerating apparatus comprises an engine-driven crank shaft having a pair of cranks extending in diametrically opposed relation therefrom. A pair of pitman arms are each pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of one of the tine arms and at the opposite end to an oscillating link suspended from the aerator frame. A crank is pivotally connected to each of said pitman arms at a point intermediate its end attachment points. Rotation of the crank shaft produces an elliptical motion of each of the tine arm upper ends with the major axis of the ellipse lying in a substantially vertical plane, thereby maintaining a substantially vertical attitude of the tine arms.

Abstract: A tine holder for turf aerating equipment includes a horizontal tine arm having a plurality of spaced apertures therein having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the upper ends of the tines. The hollow tines are substantially cylindrical at their upper ends and abut the tine arm in alignment with the tine arm apertures. A tine holding bar disposed beneath the tine arm includes a plurality of tapered apertures aligned with the apertures in the tine arm. The tines pass through the tine holding bar apertures and are secured in position by split collets having frusto-conical exterior surfaces which seat within the tapered apertures of the tine holding bar. A plurality of bolts passing through aligned bolt holes in the tine arm and tine holding bar provide a tightening of the split collets to secure the tines in position against the tine arm.

Abstract: A spa or bath is disclosed having a molded shell with a filter cavity molded therein, the cavity being proportioned and arranged to receive a filter, and the cavity further being open inwardly and upwardly of the shell, thereby simplifying removal and insertion of the filter.

Abstract: An improved die casting process for the production of castings which include metallic inserts. The process comprises the use of inexpensie non-metallic inserts in place of the metallic insert during the initial warm-up casting shots, said substitute inserts preferably being made of cardboard. The process is particularly well suited for the casting of die cast engine blocks wherein cardboard sleeves are substituted for the cast iron cylinder sleeves during the die warm-up casting shots.

Abstract: Method is disclosed for packaging rolls of compressible insulation, including partially compressing a multi roll assembly of rolls superimposed upon each other between upper and lower contoured panels, while restraining lateral spreading of the assembly of rolls, and thereby establish predetermined package dimensions in both directions transversely of the rolls. There is also disclosed a method for stacking and interconnecting a plurality of the partially compressed multi roll packages.

Abstract: Glass fibers are disclosed, the fibers being formed of a glass composition containing the following ingredients in the weight percentages indicated below:SiO.sub.2 : 25 to 54%Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 20 to 40%MgO: 24 to 40%ZrO.sub.2 : 1 to 5%P.sub.2 O.sub.5 : 0 to 10%TiO.sub.2 : 0 to 10%B.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 0 to 10%F: 0 to 5%Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 0 to 2%It is disclosed that the sum of 2MgO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is equal at least to 70% of the composition. The use of such fibers in cementitious products is disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for scrubbing effluent gases arising during the production of mineral fibers and particularly during the production of glass fiber insulation blankets or mats. The scrubbing is effected by the use of opposed jets of water, the interaction of which produces a planar dispersion of water droplets across the path of the effluent gases. The jets are preferably located within the gas collecting ducts closely adjacent the region of gas emergence to prevent buildup of glass fibers and binder on the duct walls. The water is separated from the gas, following which the water and gas are both subjected to further treatment before being recycled or released.

Abstract: The invention concerns the improvement of the fiber distribution in a web or mat, the attenuation of the fibers being effected by means of gas currents.The material delivered in the form of filaments is attenuated in a channel between two gas jets. At the outlet of the channel, the gas current carrying the fibers entrains the ambient air and passes through a guide apparatus containing two walls. The circulation of the air induced between the channel and the guide apparatus is modified by the interposition of baffles.The modification provides for improvement in the uniformity in the fiber web being made.