Abstract: A method and apparatus for centrifugally forming thin semiconductor films or layers wherein centrifugal force is applied to a molten single-crystal forming material to overcome surface tension and evenly spread the material along a substrate surface substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. The material is thereafter cooled, uniformly or progressively from a seed single crystal, to form a thin layer or film of crystalline material. Desirably, the films or layers will be substantially single crystals. The process and apparatus are useful in forming thin, semiconductor crystal layers useful, for example, in solar cells. Semiconductor devices according to the invention have a porous graphite substrate, a thin film or layer of silicon and a gridwork plated onto the silicon. The interface between the silicon grid graphite substrate is substantially free from silicon carbide.

Abstract: A drying oven for painted surfaces wherein the work is heated and dried by heated, high pressurized air blown against the work as it passes through the oven. A plurality of elongated pipes, each of which have a plurality of nozzle openings therealong, direct the air against the work. The heat of incineration of the solvents stripped from the work is recovered for makeup heated air to the furnace. One or more ceramic rotary heat exchangers are used to transfer the heat from the incineration exhaust gases to the fresh air. Energy required for circulating air through the furnace is minimized by supplying makeup air with a fan to a cold side of the rotary ceramic heat exchanger.

Abstract: A metal roof construction of the type wherein elongated metal panels are joined together at upstanding vertical side walls by a crimped batten strip. Shallow step strengthening ribs are positioned closely adjacent to the side walls to strengthen the side walls and prevent buckling and to promote flexure of the panel central portions at the step strengthening ribs under high upward stresses on the panels. The panels are secured to underlying roof support means through a special clip having a radius of curvature between an upstanding body portion, positioned between side walls of adjacent panels, and a lower flange portion, positioned beneath a panel. The radius of curvature is sufficient to accommodate the head of a threaded fastener between the clipped lower flange and an overlying panel. Radius bends are also provided between the clipped body portion and top flanges which overlie inwardly directed flanges on the panel side walls.

Abstract: A waste and overflow plate assembly for a lavatory drain includes a plate with an aperture therethrough and a lever toggled in the face plate aperture. A U-shaped spring clip is retained by a securing pin on the back portion of the lever member between the securing pin and the face plate to toggle the lever into two positions. A retaining pin is positioned on the back portion of the lever between the legs of the clip to prevent pulling and twisting of the lever member with respect to the plate.

Abstract: A floor truss making apparatus having a pair of slightly curved rails, each with a plurality of positioning pads for retaining elongated truss plates forming the top and bottom of the truss, end truss plates for the end of the truss, and angle truss plates which are disposed at an acute angle between the elongated top and bottom truss plates. A pad is provided at each of the truss joints. The pads are adjustably fixed to the rails and the rails are adjustable with respect to each other so that a wide size range of trusses can be constructed with the apparatus. Adjustable nail plate positioning means are provided on each pad to properly locate and hold the nail plates under the truss. The nail plates are also placed on top of the assembled trusses. A gantry roller press rolls over the top of the truss (or other pressure means are provided) to at least partially force both nail plates into the truss plates.

Abstract: A piling alignment system having a pile setter and a quick release shackle for aligning interlocking edges of a set piling and a suspended piling which is being positioned for setting. The setter has an upper lip portion adapted to abut the bottom portion of a suspended piling and means for rigidly connecting the setter to the piling. The setter, when mounted onto the suspended piling, has a vertical groove in alignment with the surface of the female interlocking edge of the suspended piling. Prongs are mounted at the sides of the groove at a lower portion thereof and extend outwardly with a space therebetween for guiding the setter vertical groove into alignment with the male interlocking edge of the set piling so that the suspended piling can be lowered into interlocking relationship with the set piling. A quick release shackle has two vertically extending flanges adapted to receive the upper portion of a piling therebetween.

Abstract: An arc spray gun has a high pressure air nozzle. To the front of the air nozzle are two wire guides. A suitable metallic wire extends through each metallic guide. An electrical potential is placed through each wire within the nozzle wire guide. As the wire is heated by the electrical potential beyond its melting point, high pressure air is ejected from the air nozzle, atomizes the metal wire, and blows a metallic spray forward. A nozzle housing is within the path of the spray. The nozzle housing has two frusto-conical sleeves coaligned to direct the flow of the metal spray. An orifice plate is positioned in the path of the metal spray. The orifice plate has a plurality of fine apertures extending through another portion thereof, and in its center portion has a plurality of larger apertures extending therethrough. The atomized metallic spray passes through the two sleeves and the orifice plate.

Abstract: A bow stringing and unstringing device for a compound bow has a stop mounted on the outer ends of resilient limbs of a compound bow to prevent movement of the outer ends of the anchor wires of the bow back over the pulleys when the bowstring is removed from the ends of the anchor wires. A stringer wire has a suitable hook for attaching the ends thereof to suitable connector, for example, an eye-bolt, also at the ends of the resilient limbs of the bow for releasing the tension on the bowstring when pulled like the bowstring so that the bowstring may be removed from the bow. A novel brace which fits between the drawn stringer wire and the bow handle is provided for maintaining the tension in the stringer wire while removing and replacing the bowstring and for carrying the stringer wire when the same is not in use.

Abstract: A heating apparatus has a firebox, ash pit and flue enclosed in a casing wherein the fire is maintained toward the rear of the firebox and the ash pit is positioned at the front and below the firebox. The flue connects to a rear portion of the firebox and extends toward the front of the casing and then rearwardly where the fumes are exhausted to the atmosphere. Electrical controls adjustably open a vent located in the front of the ash pit to control the size of the fire by controlling the available oxygen. A fan mechanism circulates fresh air around the firebox and the flue inside the casing to provide a source of heated air for convection heating. The fan is controlled by a temperature controller to maintain the heated air within specified temperature limits.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding mineral ore or other objects to a point of use comprises a drum having a plurality of parallel, circumferentially extending grooves, and a driven endless belt which contacts or is disposed closely adjacent to the drum and which has a vertically extending and a horizontally extending run upstream and downstream respectively of the drum, objects which have been fed to the said vertically extending run entering the said grooves and being carried onto the said horizontally extending run to form parallel lines of objects thereon which travel towards the point of use.

Abstract: A disc filter assembly in which a plurality of filter discs are attached to a common shaft. The common shaft is a fabrication which has a central common mandrel. Saddles are rigidly attached to the common mandrel. Pipe segments are removably attached to the saddles. The pipe segments have at least one aperture which allows passage of filtrate from the filter to the pipe segments. The pipe segments are aligned and connected to form a continuous passage with an end piece which is mounted for rotation above a slurry container. The end piece has apertures therethrough aligned with the pipe segments. The end piece is operably connected to the pipe segments to form a continuous passage therethrough. The filter assembly is used to filter liquids from a taconite or other particulate slurry.

Abstract: The golf club washer has a liquid containing box structure. The box structure has a hinged upper portion. The upper portion has an open top surface. Two spongeous rolls are mounted in the upper portion of the box so that a narrow gap exists therebetween. The rolls are suspended so a club can have its top surface abut the lower portion of the rolls. The spongeous rolls have their outer surface lined with a synthetic grass. The synthetic grass has a web with a plurality of apertures therethrough and resilient grass-like bristles outwardly extending from the web. The bottom portion of the box structure is lined with a synthetic grass and a plastic container is placed therein. A solution can be placed within the plastic container. A golf club is manually washed by being inserted through the gap and rubbed against the synthetic grass bristled surface. The spongeous rolls are depressable by a club and allow passage of the club through the enlarged gap to the interior of the box structure.

Abstract: A conveyor lubricator for lubricating moving parts in a conveyor mechanism comprises an air operated oil injector that dispenses a measured quantity of oil on each part to be lubricated when such part reaches a predetermined position on the track; an air assist mechanism that generates an air flow across the oil outlet so as to urge the oil toward said predetermined position; and a cam operated actuator valve that provides air pressure to actuate the oil injector and air assist whenever a moving part reaches said predetermined position. A timed pulse valve connected to the actuator valve automatically deactivates the air flow after a predetermined period of time, even if the actuator valve still remains actuated by continued engagement with the conveyor. More than one cam operated actuator valve can be employed in the system in order to provide lubrication for an increased number of moving parts of the conveyor mechanism with a single set of oil injectors.

Abstract: A faucet handle assembly has a skirt attached to an insert which is in turn secured to a faucet stem. The skirt has a plurality of ribs each of which has a shoulder portion positioned so the top part of the rib extends over the lower part of the rib. The insert has two sets of different size notches. Each set of notches can be aligned in registry with the ribs. The shoulder portion of the rib engages the top surface of the flange adjacent the edge of one size notches. Another size notches are sufficiently large to fit the top part of the ribs within the notches. When the large notches engage the plurality of ribs, the top section of the skirt is supported by the flange abutting thereto. The skirt height can be adjusted through a choice of notches which engage the plurality of ribs.

Abstract: Die casting apparatus for casting parts such as rotors or the like comprises a three tie bar horizontally disposed die casting machine, with an indexing mechanism mounted on one of the tie bars for rotating the parts through six separate radially spaced work stations. The work stations include loading, casting, cooling, skew pin ejection, and unloading stations. The casting station includes a four plate die assembly comprising a runner plate, cover die, carrier plate, and ejector die. The die assembly employs pin-point gating and is formed such that the cast part is removed from the die and the runner system, and the runner system is ejected from the apparatus, while the part is at the casting station. A movable runner ejector plate having ejector pins ejects the runner from the runner plate. A compensating cylinder is provided for adjustment for variance in stack height.

Abstract: A bottle inspection apparatus has an inspection stand and sorter for sorting defective plastic bottles from conforming bottles. The inspection stand has an extendible rod. A conical shaped nozzle is mounted at the end of the rod. The conical nozzle seals itself against a bottle aperture when extended for a predetermined amount of time. A low pressure air stream is operably connected to the nozzle and passes through the nozzle and into the inspected bottle. A pressure sensitive switch means is operably connected to the low pressure air stream. A blocking solenoid valve is operably attached to the pressure sensitive switch means and controls a high pressure air stream sorter. The pressure switch is actuated when a sufficiently high pressure is built up within the bottle within the predetermined limited amount of time the conical nozzle is sealing the bottle aperture. The blocking solenoid is deactivated when the pressure sensitive switch means is actuated.

Abstract: An incinerator for combustible fumes in a mixture of such fumes and air wherein the fumes are raised to incineration temperature by combustion of a normally liquid fuel such as oil. The fumes and air mixture is first heated, preferably by heat exchange with the combustion chamber, to the vaporization temperature of the liquid fuel which is injected in atomized form into the heated fume and air mixture. The fume and air mixture along with the vaporized liquid fuel is then drawn through a fan which substantially homogeneously disperses the vaporized liquid fuel in the fume and air mixture and passes the homogeneous mixture to a combustion zone having a flame grid through which the liquid fuel-containing mixture passes. The liquid fuel in the mixture is ignited at the flame grid to form a flame curtain which raises the temperature of the fume and air mixture to incineration or oxidation temperature of the fumes. The fumes are thus oxidized and can thereafter be exhausted to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A front for a fireplace comprises a concealed fireplace door that slides into and out of a concealed door pocket formed at the side of the fireplace. The door completely seals the fireplace front when in its closed position and a fire is burning in the fireplace. An airvent is provided in a pocket behind the concealed door pocket for admitting fresh air to the fireplace from a source outside of the enclosure when the door is closed. The door is removably suspended from a carriage assembly that rides over the fireplace opening on a two-section track, which can be disassembled for installing and removing the track from the fireplace. The door can be mounted on the carriage assembly by means of studs on the door which removably engage slots in a frame carried by the carriage assembly. Alternatively, the door can be mounted by means of key-shaped slots in the door which engage flared projections extending downwardly from the carriage assembly.

Abstract: A parts washer having a tub, a cylindrical drain in the tub and a cover hinged to the tub so as to cover the tub when the cover is lowered. A novel overcenter linkage is mounted at one end in the sink and at the other end on the cover to hold the cover in a raised position as desired. The linkage has at least one link and preferably multiple links which are fusible at relatively low melting points such that the fusible link or links will melt quickly if a fire occurs in the tub. A solvent receptacle is pivotably mounted beneath the tub and has a drain opening at a side for quickly and easily draining and replacing the solvent used in the system. A splash plate extends above a back wall of the tub and covers the joint between the back wall and the cover to keep splashed solvent from leaking down behind the cover. A cylindrical drain tube depends from the bottom wall of the tub and has an open top into which is placed a compressible open-cell foam material for filtering the solvent which passes therethrough.

Abstract: A vehicle which is automatically driven along a predetermined guide path has easily accessible manually operated switches for arresting the movement of and for restarting the vehicle. The switches have elongated switch elements which extend along the sides of the vehicles. The elongated switch for restarting the vehicle is recessed with respect to the switch that arrests the movement of the vehicle.