Abstract: A method for capturing working fluid which includes a hazardous component and is discharged from a power generating system, includes directing the discharge to a container. There, the discharged working fluid is combined with a liquid in which the hazardous component is soluble to form a less hazardous mixture.

Abstract: A tailstock assembly mountable on a machine tool and cooperable with a headstock assembly for retaining a workpiece inbetween.

Abstract: A machine tool generally consisting of a base member; a table mounted on the base member having a workpiece support surface, a plenum and at least one port in the support surface of the table communicating with the plenum; means communicable with the plenum for producing a vacuum therein; a check valve including a body disposable on the table in blocking relation with the port, having a passageway therethrough intercommunicating the plenum and the exterior of the table when the valve body is disposed in blocking relation with the port, and a valve element disposed in the body passageway of the valve body displaceable between a first position under a first condition blocking the body passageway and a second position under a second condition unblocking the body passageway; and a tool operatively engageable with a workpiece positioned on the table overlying the check valve when the valve element of the check valve is in the second position under the second condition.

Abstract: A wheeled system and a method for installing insulation from bound insulation bales. At least one movable wall that continually moves unbound insulation bales by a drive means toward a dispensing end of the base where shredding of the insulation from the unbound insulation bales occurs. The shredding is accomplished by a plurality of picker drums. Each of the picker drums has positioned on the circumference a plurality of abraders in the form of scoops that abrade and remove clumps of insulation from the unbound bales permitting the clumps to fall into a blender wherein the insulation material is formed into particulate material and then cast into an air blower formed with the hose and nozzle for dispensing the blowing material. A force measurer including a strain gauge is operatively connected to the shredder to determine continuously changes in the horizontally directed force exerted by the insulation bales against the drums of the shredder in order to adjust the force.

Abstract: A method of repairing a worn surface of a work piece especially but not exclusively a fin surface of a down hole stabilizer tool basically comprising placing an array of hard wearing trapezoids e.g. of tungsten on the surface to be repaired and occupying the space between the trapezoids by a filling applied by a relatively low temperature fusion welding process, preferably using a MAG welding technique. The welding temperature, for example less than 250.degree. C., can be well below the tempering temperature of the treated material e.g. steel, and this avoids harmful effects to the steel material. The worn surface can be dressed as a preliminary if necessary before the repair treatment proper. Additional layers are possible in the form of (a) matrix and (b) an initial buffer layer between the filling and the treated surface, the latter (b) again being applied by low temperature fusion welding but the former (a) can be applied by brazing.

Abstract: An encoded loss resilient message includes data items, first redundant data items, and second redundant data items. Each of the first redundant data items corresponds to one or more associated data items. Each of the second redundant data items corresponds to one or more associated first redundant data items. The number of data items is greater than the number of first redundant data items which is in turn greater than the number of second redundant data items, thereby providing a cascading series of redundant data items.

Abstract: A seed-containing growth medium comprising a flexible carrier sheet and a cover sheet overlying the carrier sheet, a plurality of non circular containment zones being defined by contact points between the carrier sheet and cover sheet, at least a selected number of non circular containment zones containing a seed, wherein the physical characteristics of the carrier sheet are different from those of the cover sheet at least in the following respects: the carrier sheet has a higher water retentive capacity than the cover sheet and the cover sheet is more easily penetrated than the carrier sheet.

Abstract: A rotary valve with a rotor shroud and a cylinder wall. The rotary valve is sealed by injecting a fluid to compress a packing seal into sealing engagement with the rotor shroud and the cylinder wall.

Abstract: A dust collector assembly for a toolhead assembly of a machine tool, having a base unit, a bracket supported on the base unit and pivotal relative thereto about a first axis and a tool unit supported on the bracket and pivotal relative thereto about a second axis, generally consisting of a first duct member supported on the base unit, having an inlet and an outlet communicable with a vacuum producing source; a second duct member supported on the bracket, having an inlet and an outlet communicating with the inlet of the first duct member through a first slip ring connection disposed coaxially with the first axis; and third duct supported on the bracket, having an inlet disposed adjacent a tool of the tool unit and an outlet communicating with the inlet of the second duct through a second slip ring connection disposed coaxially with the second axis.

Abstract: A machine for carving workpieces having substantially similar configurations generally including a base member, means disposed on the base member for retaining at least one workpiece thereon, means for rotationally indexing the workpiece disposed on the retaining means, about an axis, a working tool operatively engageable with a workpiece disposed between the retaining means, supported on the base member and displaceable along x, y and z axes pursuant to a programmed sequence of motions coordinated with the workpiece indexing means for shaping the workpiece in a selected configuration, and at least one means for successively positioning a plurality of similarly configured workpieces in a selected orientation including a support member, a jointed linkage supported on the base member, supporting the support member and manipulatable to position the support member into a support relationship with an initial one of the workpieces disposed in the selected orientation and held by the retaining means, means for fixin

Abstract: Apparatus (5) for playing a game which comprises a spindle (35), a playing surface, a spinner arm (25) rotably depending from the spindle and a rotatable body (80) at or near an end of the spinner arm. In use the rotatable body is contactable with the playing surface such that the body and arm are rotatable across the playing surface. In one arrangement the spinner arm is an elongate member (60) of a transparent plastic material, such as PMMA, which at a first end is mounted to the spindle (35) with the rotatable body (80) at or near it's second end. Also the playing surface may include a base board (10), a playing template (15) and a cover member (20).

Abstract: In a machine tool having a workpiece support table and a tool head assembly provided with a tool engageable in a cutting relation with a workpiece positioned on the table for removing particulate material from the workpiece, a system for monitoring the cutting operation of the tool includes a support assembly, a camera for producing video signals representative of the cutting operation of the tool, the camera being mounted on the support assembly such that its focus is on said tool and a cut made thereby, and a machine controller coupled to the machine tool for controlling its operation. The machine controller includes a video monitor connected to the camera for receiving and displaying the video signals representative of the cutting operation of the tool while simultaneously displaying program information.

Abstract: A distributed data accessing technique is disclosed. The technique is realized by storing, at a first network station, information identifying data which is available at a second network station, the second network station being different than the first network station. A signal is generated at the first network station representing the information identifying the available data and linking information to the second network station. The signal is transmitted to a third network station, the third network station being different than the first and the second network stations. The transmitted linking information is operable at the third network station to establish a network link over which the identified available data is transmittable from the second network station to the third network station.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a closed metallic canister with a gas under pressure comprising means for forming a gas filling opening in the canister, and dispensing means for sequentially injecting a high pressure gas through the gas filling opening to charge the canister, and depositing and fusing a fusible body in the gas filling opening, while continuing to inject gas into the canister and utilize the force of the gas to urge the dispensing means into sealing engagement with the canister being charged.

Abstract: A mandrel is fitted with a molded sleeve of low-temperature alloy for forming a rigid bulge along the surface of the mandrel. The sleeve is shaped to define the. internal surface of the shell at the bulge. After the mandrel has been so modified with the low-temperature alloy sleeve, it is wrapped with composite cloth containing any thermosetting resin. These resins heat to a known temperature, and permanently set when cured at the set temperature. The curing temperature of the prepreg cloth composite material is lower than the melting point of the low temperature alloy. After curing, the temperature in the curing oven is raised above the cure temperature until it reaches the melting point of the low-temperature alloy, and the alloy liquifies and drains out the drain passageways provided in the mandrel without melting the thermoset resin binder in the fiber cloth as well as leaving the bulge formed by the composite cloth in the shell without obstructing the removal of the mandrel.

Abstract: The static pressure within an air-supported structure is monitored and controlled in accordance with monitored environmental conditions. The static pressure is kept at the minimum value required to maintain the structures's integrity, thereby using a minimum amount of energy. As outside wind velocity incrementally increases, the static pressure is increased incrementally. Under certain weather conditions such as high winds and frozen precipitation, the static pressure is increased to a maximum limit. As a safety feature, a secondary inflation device is activated to assist a primary inflation device to quickly increase pressure in the structure in response to a sudden loss in pressure.

Abstract: An article for applying a liquid composition on a hard surface which may be allowed to dry and then be buffed to provide a lustrous finish generally comprising a handle, an applicator comprising a single strand of at least one continuous filament disposed in a winding pattern, providing a plurality of segments disposed in side-by-side relation having looped end portions and structure for securing such segments together, and structure for securing such applicator to the handle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for programming the motion of a machine tool in a three-dimensional machining space defined by an X, Y and Z coordinate system, the machine tool having a spindle linearly displaceable in three orthogonal X, Y and Z axes. A probe, mounted in the spindle and coupled to transducers, is moved by hand through a desired cutting path for an actual part. A computer connected to the transducers moves the machine in the direction that the probe is moved and/or rotates a workpiece mounted in the machining space and selectively records the position of the probe and workpiece to create an NC parts program that replicates the cutting path motions.

Abstract: An internal combustion catapult for loads such as an aircraft using much of the conventional steam system in that an existing elongated launch tube is utilized with an existing movable piston. The steam generation system may be replaced and a plurality of combustors positioned at the aft end of the launch tube facing the trailing end of the piston. Each of these combustors includes an injector assembly for supplying a combustible propellant. At least one igniter is operatively positioned with respect to the combustor to ignite the combustible propellant to form hot launch gases at high pressure to project the piston down the launch tube to launch the aircraft. A water manifold injects water into the combustion gases to cool them and form steam to propel the piston down the launch tube.

Abstract: An article for applying a liquid composition on a hard surface which may be allowed to dry and then be buffed to provide a lustrous finish generally comprising a handle, an applicator comprising an initially provided single strand of at least one continuous filament disposed in a winding pattern, providing a plurality of segments disposed in side-by-side relation having severed looped end portions providing free, loose end portions and devices for securing such segments together, and devices for securing such applicator to the handle.