Abstract: A railway track switch, also known as a switch machine, is controlled by a microprocessor switch lock connected to the electric switch lock of the switch machine and permits the switch machine to be unlocked so that the track switch points may be thrown, as by a hand-throw mechanism, to permit movement of a train between main and secondary tracks. The switch lock is connected to a cut section repeater of the track circuit adjacent to the track switch. An overlay track circuit connected to the main tracks indicates occupancy in the vicinity of the track switch. The microprocessor receives signals from the repeater, the overlay circuit and the electric switch lock of the switch machine indicating track occupancy and requests to unlock the track switch so that the switch points may be moved. Signals are also received from a timer as to specific, selected delay times set by the user before unlocking the switch.

Abstract: An interface system providing vital inputs to and vital outputs from a vital processor of railway signals for railway signalling and control purposes, utilizes non-vital components such as diodes and transistors. The input interface translates a railway signal, for example, from a relay contact closure of a track relay, into a multi-bit serial digital signal representing a restrictive state of the input railway signal in the event of any failure in the input interface. The output interface utilizes an absence of current detector having a saturable transformer coupled to an output line which provides operating current to railway signal and control devices, such as relays, switch machines and signal lamps.

Abstract: Mixing systems for liquids having fibers suspended therein wherein the fibers tenaciously adhere to and accumulate on the leading edge of the impeller, thereby increasing the drag of the liquid on the impeller as it rotates and the consequent increase in the power required to rotate the impeller. Axial flow of the liquid in a tank is produced by the impeller within a draft tube. The leading edge of the blades of the impeller are inclined with respect to radial lines extending from the axis of rotation of the impeller beyond the angle of repose of the fibers on the leading edge. Also, the coefficient of friction of the portion of the impeller, extending from the leading edge toward the trailing edge thereof, to which the fibers adhere is reduced by providing the surface thereof with a low coefficient of friction material.

Abstract: A railway signaling relay for use in vital circuits has a high percentage release (ratio of drop away current to pickup current between 70% and 80%) by arrangement of contact springs and their associated pressure and stop plates which provide trapped pressure in the contact springs affording the high percentage release characteristic without modification of the electrical or basic mechanical configuration of the relay and retaining its vital characteristics.

Abstract: A vital communication system includes a conventional, that is non-vital, communication link, a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is responsive to input data, and provides for encoding and transmission as well as checking of its own input arrangement. The encoding and transmission is effected by a program driven device, but as loaded the program is incomplete. The checking produces certain check words which are used to complete the program so that only in those instances in which the checks are passed, will an appropriate message be transmitted. The receiver includes a decoder logic as well as a decoder check logic. The messages are decoded and applied to an output device. The decoder check logic checks that the information supplied to the output device corresponds to the decoded information, and if the check is passed, the output device is enabled to output the information to the outside world.

Abstract: A shut-off valve for high temperature erosive flow is disclosed having a valve and a valve engaging or seating portion in which substantial erosion of an area beginning at its initial erosion point adjacent the valve seat does not erode the valve seating portion of the valve seat and the valve seating portion of the valve member to prevent closing of the valve or to cause leaks. The valve has limited but enough universal movement to be self-seating to accommodate thermal growth. The valve and valve seat can be removed from the valve without taking the valve off the line. A number of embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing particulate material carried in separable containers or process modules rotated with the longitudinal axis thereof at an angle other than 90.degree. to the axis of rotation thereof so that the container rotates asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof. The containers have mixing or process bars rotatably mounted therein and extending also at an angle other than 90.degree. so as to be horizontal when the container is in position for asymmetrical rotation during mixing operations. A docking station of the apparatus has a column connected to the drive shaft at the angle other than 90.degree., an upper arm and a lower arm which is connected to the column and to actuators which tilt the lower arm from a horizontal, container receiving position to a position essentially parallel to the upper arm for clamping the container therebetween.

Abstract: The mixing of liquid and liquid suspensions in vessels is obtained by a mixing impeller mounted on a shaft and rotated by a drive which delivers selected speed and torque. The torque and power needed to obtain given flow is minimized by a low-cost impeller having a plurality of blades, each formed from a plate of constant thickness except for a leading edge of rounded profile. Each blade has camber which decreases from the tip to the base thereof. The base can be flat to facilitate the attachment of the blades to the shaft. The blades are oriented and twisted to be at the threshold for flow separation along the width of the blades from the leading to the trailing edge thereof, thereby providing maximum flow in the axial direction before the onset of flow separation.

Abstract: In order to provide for automatic replacement of lamp bulbs (lamps) when they fail to illuminate and to enhance the reliability of signal lamps, such as those which signal oncoming trains as they move along railway tracks, a plurality of lamps are disposed angularly spaced from each other on one side of a turntable which is rotatable under spring bias to bring the lamps successively into positions in alignment with the lens of the signal lamp. A latching mechanism having a latch member incorporated into the turntable and a detent member operated by a solenoid provides for releasable engagement of the turntable so as to enable it to move between the successive positions.

Abstract: This invention concerns a butterfly valve having a resilient, adjustable seat for pivoting disc. The seat comprises an elastomeric seating attached to a clamping ring which slides along the walls of the first portion of the flow passage extending through the body. A plurality of actuators extend through the clamping ring and seat ring into an axial annular wall to initially compress the seat ring. The flow passage is configured so that the axial wall of the clamping ring is uniformly exposed to the fluid pressure in the first passage portion.

Abstract: A DME receiver is arranged to produce, at baseband, a linear replica of an RF input, over relatively wide dynamic range. The DME receiver receives a local oscillator signal from the associated transmitter which is mixed (in a first mixer) with the RF input to produce an IF signal which is a replica of the RF input. The receiver includes an IF amplifier and a bandpass filter serially coupled to the output of the first mixer. Coupled to the output of the bandpass filter is a signal processing circuit with two outputs. The signal processing circuit produces at one output a replica of its input, and at another output a phase shifted and limited replica of its input. Both outputs are coupled to a second mixer. The second mixer has two inputs and an output.

Abstract: The packing for elements of a valve subject to reversal of differential pressure includes a pair of spaced packings with a recess there-between connected to atmosphere to eliminate reversal of differential pressure across individual packings of the pairs.

Abstract: A display processor for displaying complex curves includes an initiating processor, responsive to indicia selection signals for producing signals representing at least one coordinate on said indicia, and recursive processor means responsive to said initiating processor for generating a sequence of signals, each signal in the sequence representing different coordinates of said indicia, and for also generating a corresponding sequence of signals representing rate of change of at least one parameter of said coordinates, a comparator responsive to the output of said recursive processor and to instantaneous sweep position for, at times, illuminating the display field when the instantaneous sweep position matches one of the sequence of indicia coordinates.

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: An audio frequency track circuit with improved security in the train detection function for rapid transit applications for use with uninsulated rails includes an improved transmitter and receiver. The transmitter modulates a track frequency carrier with a fixed code rate, regardless of the code rate employed to modulate the train information frequency. The receiver includes a decoder tuned to the track frequency modulation rate. By using such a sharply tuned decoder, the noise protection threshold is increased. Because of its application to uninsulated rails, with the associated lack of hard track circuit boundaries, adjacent track circuits have different track frequency modulation rates to insure that the modulated track frequency signal, from one track circuit, is not effective to operate a track relay in another circuit even under failure conditions.

Abstract: An electronic system which emulates the operation of a polar relay for applying coded pulses to railway tracks has separate signaling circuits having signaling devices responsive to a separate inputs which provide operating power to the circuits. The circuits are interlocked by connecting the inputs to the signaling devices in inverse relationship. One input excludes the other. The signaling devices may be light emitting isolators with switching transistors which control the application of current pulses through the rails of the track while isolating the track battery which supplies the current for these pulses from the local battery which provides the inputs to the signaling circuits. The signaling circuits establish current paths through the light emitting signaling devices at predetermined times after the inputs are applied to emulate the pickup and drop away time of the polar relay.

Abstract: An industrial furnace with insulating walls comprising side-by-side pre-formed panels each including a plurality of ceramic insulating modules. The side wall panels include vertical buckstays to which the modules are secured by retainer clips including sharp spikes inserted into side edge surfaces of the insulating modules. Modules with offset stepped side profiles are disclosed, arranged to provide for ready removal of a single module without disturbing adjacent modules. Atmosphere furnace insulation arrangements also are disclosed utilizing ceramic modules secured to the furnace shell by special retainer clips embedded in side edge surfaces of the modules.