Abstract: A mold for processing a food material, including a plug and ratchet take-up mechanism for accommodating expansion and contraction of the food product. The plug is provided with ratchet arms having ratchet teeth and the take-up mechanism includes spring biased pins or pawls coacting with the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming uniform patties from a mass of agglomerable edible material. The apparatus includes a supporting frame, drive means for operating the apparatus, a hopper, and a rotatable turret including a plurality of cavities radially aligned therein. Each cavity has a barrier means mounted for reciprocal movement therein including a working surface which together with a portion of the cavity forms a mold. Means in said hopper moves material therethrough and into each mold as it is rotated on the turret to a position in communication with the hopper. The patty is formed as the turret continues rotation and then the mold moves out of communication with the hopper. The barrier means reciprocates in the cavity and discharges the patty therefrom while maintaining its shape as formed The barrier means is removable and may be combined with a stationary core for changing the shape of the mold.

Abstract: A mechanical tamper-resistant interconnecting locking apparatus is connected to a top charge tiltable direct arc electric furnace which includes a refractory lined furnace shell and a removable roof covering a top opening in the shell.The apparatus includes a first locking mechanism which, when engaged, prevents the tilting of the furnace, and a second locking mechanism which, when engaged, prevents the swinging of the roof from over the shell top opening. A mechanical linkage interconnects the two mechanisms and prevents simultaneous disengagement of both of them. Also, once one of the mechanisms is disengaged and adjacent portions of the furnace are moved relative to each other, the entire locking apparatus is prevented from further movement until the adjacent portions are returned to the position providing lock mechanism engageability.

Abstract: Kinetic energy incident to the trip release and consequent rapid spinning and unwinding of rotating members in a chain operated railway car hand brake mechanism is substantially dissipated by energy absorbing means which frictionally engage the rapidly rotating members. The frictional engagement slows down the rotation of the members thus decreasing the shock to the members as they are rapidly stopped when the mechanism reaches full release. The rotation stoppage of the members is necessary to prevent the mechanism from winding in the wrong direction and thereby damaging the hand brake mechanism and brake components at opposite ends of the chain.

Abstract: A double-acting hydraulic cylinder unit imparts rocking movement to the walking beam of well pumping apparatus and has either (1) a stationary piston and a generally vertically reciprocating cylinder or (2) a stationary cylinder and a generally vertically reciprocating piston. Upper and lower piston rods of equal size extend from opposite sides of the piston and project through the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the cylinder. In one arrangement the lower end of the lower piston rod is pivotally anchored so as to pivotally absorb both compression and tension forces transmitted through the lower piston rod while the upper piston rod is not anchored and the primary function of the upper piston rod is to provide for equal displacement of fluid on opposite sides of the piston during vertical reciprocation of the piston.

Abstract: Detection of fault current flow in any conductor of a polyphase alternating current system is provided by a fault responsive device that is reset only when normal current flows in each conductor. A reed relay is latched in operated condition on the occurrence of a fault and is unlatched by application of a direct current source.

Abstract: A ball valve assembly including an easily replaceable stem seal capable of utilization as a primary or secondary seal in a closed circuit system such as a refrigeration circuit or the like where it is (a) not feasible to open the system for changing a leaky seal, or (b) not easy to remove a stem seal from a deep thin annular recess immediately adjacent the valve stem. In the assembly of the invention, the stem seal is located on the valve body between it and a control housing portion which encloses the outer part of the valve stem and packing. A part of the control housing portion may also be rotatably connectable to the valve stem and have external lever means for opening and closing the valve without separating the part from the valve body.

Abstract: A conveyer for indexing wheeled support magazines along a track or rail, including coacting moving and locking bars which alternately connect to the unit for either moving the unit from one position through a given distance to a next position or locking the unit at a position for a desired dwell time.

Abstract: An apparatus associated with a closed loop of indexing magazines, including a bottom transfer means for transferring a magazine from the closed loop outside of the closed loop to a work station, a center transfer means for transferring a magazine from the work station to an elevator which moves the magazine to a given point in the closed loop and a top transfer means for transferring the magazine from the elevator into the closed loop. A further elevator is provided in the closed loop for bypassing the work station outside the closed loop in the event that no magazine is being transferred from the work station to the elevator for reinsertion into the closed loop.

Abstract: A machine for packing bottles and other containers in an underlying carton includes a packing station having a removable drop plate assembly for transferring the containers in groups from parallel side-by-side rows into desired packing positions in the carton. The drop plate assembly includes a plurality of drop bar assemblies disposed under and aligned with respective ones of the rows of containers. The drop bar assemblies each include a drive chain which frictionally engages the containers to advance the containers into predetermined pre-packing positions corresponding to the desired packing positions in the carton. After the containers have advanced to the pre-packing positions, the drop plate assembly is shifted so as to position the drop bar assemblies between the rows to allow the containers to fall into the underlying carton.

Abstract: An improved variable resistor wherein the resistance element therein is readily removable for repair or replacement through the front of the resistor without otherwise dismantling it. The resistance element is carried on a control shaft which is rotatably journaled and releasably axially retained in the resistor. The resistance as carried on the shaft extends no further radially outward from the outer surface of the shaft than an amount sufficient to provide a proper electrical contact and yet allow the shaft to be axially removable through a journal at the front of the resistor. The resistance element may then be repaired or replaced without disconnecting leads to the resistor or further dismantling it or any framework in which it may be mounted.

Abstract: Washing and release agent application mechanisms, including a structure defining a chamber into which a magazine of loaf molds may be driven for treating the surface of the molds, wherein the structure includes doors opening for permitting the ingress and egress of a magazine in the chamber and the mechanism includes fluid distributing nozzles on wands for entry within the molds and treating the interior surfaces thereof. The mold washing mechanism also includes a U-shaped header which traverses the outsides of the molds for washing the outside surfaces.

Abstract: The operator of a motor vehicle is provided with a glove or hand-worn member to which one end of a cord or other flexible member is attached with the other end being attached to the operating member of a switch or the trigger of an attention-producing device mounted to a fixed elevated portion of the vehicle located generally above the steering wheel. The cord or other flexible member is of such length that it is not taut when the operator's hand is in a normal driving position on the steering wheel but becomes taut before the operator's hand drops to his or her thigh. The alarm-producing device may be the horn with which the vehicle is normally equipped and the switch for the horn may be electrically interconnected to the storage battery with which the vehicle is normally equipped.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling aqueous alkali metal hydroxide liquors such as, for example, caustic soda liquors, involving the vacuum cooling of a body of such liquor in an evaporating chamber having a overhead vapor outlet which communicates with a direct-contact barometric condenser supplied with a stream of cooled alkali metal hydroxide liquor. The cooled alkali metal hydroxide liquor has a vapor pressure below the absolute pressure of water vapor evolved from the body of liquor in the evaporating chamber and condenses the water vapor upon contact therewith. A stream of cooled concentrated alkali metal hydroxide liquor withdrawn from the evaporating chamber is, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, further cooled and solids contained therein, such as, for example, sodium chloride crystals, are then removed in a suitable liquid-solids separation device.

Abstract: A crystallization vessel is provided which includes an elutriation column having an outlet at an upper end thereof and an inlet at a lower end thereof which inlet is in communication with a body of slurry contained therein. Flow regulating means associated with the elutriation column outlet enables the flow velocity within the column to be regulated for controlling the size of crystal particles removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. A movable baffle in the column is also provided for selectively varying the cross-sectional area of the column and thereby independently regulating the quantity of slurry removed from the slurry body through the elutriation column outlet. In this manner, both the size and quantity of crystal particles removed from the slurry body are independently regulated, thereby providing product crystals of improved size uniformity.

Abstract: A fuse clip which accepts and retains the annularly grooved end cap of a current limiting ferrule cartridge fuse inserted therein, and which rejects the insertion of other classes of ferrule cartridge fuses. The fuse clip of the invention includes a central mounting portion and a pair of arm members extending in like direction from opposite sides of the mounting portion. The arm members include rejection means positioned on each arm member to co-act with the annular groove in the current limiting fuse end cap and allow it to be inserted and retained in the clip. The rejection means prevents the seating of a conventional fuse end cap in the clip and exerts a force on the cap tending to push it out of the clip.

Abstract: A fluid treating apparatus and method are provided which employ finely subdivided surface active particles arranged in loose bed form and confined within a treating tank by means which prevent the escape of such particles but which permits fluid flow therethrough at a high rate with a minimum pressure drop. In an important embodiment, the apparatus and method of this invention are particularly directed to the treatment of water with fine mesh ion cation exchange resin particles of below 50 mesh size, and preferably 100 to 200 mesh or smaller, measured on a dry basis.

Abstract: An orbital service bridge for positioning a work platform at desired positions within an overlying dome-shaped structure comprises inclined leg members pivotally mounted at one end near the top of the dome. A motor driven trolley positions the other end of the leg member along a track circumferentially disposed on the base of the domed area. A carriage movably supported on the leg members positions the work platform at the desired height, and a telescoping mounting assembly extends the work platform in either direction away from the leg members and into the desired position. The bridge may also be assembled with complimentary leg members to form a self-supporting bridge structure useful in assembling the dome and related systems.

Abstract: A miniature switch assembly includes a switch housing having a cover and end plate and includes a plurality of switch operating rocker arms extending outwardly from the switch cover. Each of the operating rocker arms is rotatably movable between a first closed position and a second open position and includes a spring mounted in the base which biases a ball contactor thereon to selectively bridge a pair of conductor terminals mounted within the housing to complete the switch action. Each pair of the conductor terminals is secured to the end plate which in turn is secured to the switch cover to hold the switch assembly in assembled relationship.

Abstract: The motion converting device includes a double-threaded power shaft having two right-hand channels, two left-hand channels, and which is driven by a piston connected thereto. A power gear positioned in the path of movement of the rod has a central bore through which the shaft is received. The power gear is mounted in a guide block which holds the gear against movement axially of the shaft and which permits the gear to rotate. The guide block also has a bore through which the shaft extends. A spline connection operatively connects the shaft to the gear and permits the shaft to move axially of the power gear. First and second directional sleeves are mounted in the guide block at positions spaced axially from the power gear and are adapted to receive the rod therethrough. Each of the directional sleeves has at least one cam therein adapted to engage in one of the channels. The guide block holds the sleeves against axial movement while permitting them to rotate.