Abstract: A system for converting a rich air-fuel mixture to a reformed gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and for feeding the reformed gaseous mixture to an internal combustion engine comprises a carburetor for producing the rich air-fuel mixture, a vortex combustion type burner for imperfectly burning the mixture to produce heat and partially oxidized gaseous mixture, and a reactor vessel provided therein with a catalyst bed of annular cross-section. The partially oxidized gaseous mixture flows radially inwardly through the catalyst bed into a central passage defined by the annular catalyst bed so that the partially oxidized gaseous mixture is completely converted into the reformed gaseous mixture during the passage through the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine having rotor and stator members and wherein each piston is driven through periodic power strokes in a cylinder in one member by combustion in the cylinder and is pivotally connected to a circular cam ring which surrounds the cylinder endwise and is rotatable about its center on the other member in eccentric relation to the rotation axis of the rotor member in a manner such that the combustion powered strokes of the piston drive the rotor member in rotation. The particular engine described is an opposed piston engine wherein each engine cylinder is on the stator and contains two opposed pistons connected to the rotor by two eccentric cam rings surrounding the cylinder with their axes located at opposite sides of the rotor axis. Air is supplied to the cylinder through an intake port controlled by one piston and combustion products are exhausted from the cylinder through an exhaust port controlled by the other piston.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle of the type having a carburetor which is operated by an accelerator pedal attached to the carburetor throttle valve by suitable linkage, a system is provided for comparing the actual intake manifold pressure to a predetermined intake manifold pressure setting. Means are provided for signaling the vehicle driver when the absolute intake manifold pressure increases above the predetermined setting for the desired operating condition to permit the driver to operate the vehicle in an optimum fuel-saving manner. The system comprises a control mechanism which senses intake vacuum and compares it to a predetermined intake manifold absolute pressure.

Abstract: An accelerator control linkage for the engine of a vehicle which maintains a maximum vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine. The linkage of the accelerator normally allows the throttle to open only when a predetermined vacuum is present in the manifold. This is accomplished by a bellows connected to the intake manifold so that the force of the bellows on the rod is proportional to the degree of vacuum in the manifold, with a tension spring, mounted to the rod to oppose the force of the bellows, in use, to accelerate by opening the throttle when intake vacuum is diminished, requires more force on the part of the foot of the driver, with less pedal force required under conditions of high vacuum to encourage driving the engine under most economical conditions.

Abstract: Addition of most fuel is electrically prevented during braking by the engine at a high engine speed. Below a certain engine speed, the electric signal is stopped and a vacuum operated valve allows additional air-fuel mixture to enter the engine, even though the throttle valves are closed.

Abstract: A speed regulator for internal combustion engines utilizing a diaphragm carburetor and utilizing pressure developed in the fan housing of the engine to act on the diaphragm to regulate the fuel supply at high speeds with the option of utilization of vacuum in the carburetor to influence the fan pressure to control the fuel mixture during high speed phase.

Abstract: An appliance for holding concrete reinforcing rods either in relation to each other or spaced relative to a mold surface while the plastic concrete is being poured and hardens. The appliance consists of a wire or rod having a portion helically preformed to have a pitch and internal diameter so that it can be wrapped around the reinforcing rod without exceeding it's elastic limit to tightly grip the rod and a laterally-extending portion which may either engage the surface or be helically preformed to be wrapped around another rod.

Abstract: A roof covering system comprises an array of panels, each panel having a recess along a first surface and a protrusion along another surface opposing the first surface, and at an opposite end thereof. The panels are disposed in an overlapping, end-to-end relationship such that the protrusion in one panel extends into the recess of another panel. A support pad is provided and joined with each panel, the support pad being positioned between the ends of the panel and extending from one surface thereof.

Abstract: A device for temporarily supporting a wall in an upright position during construction of a building is provided by a first and second collapsible triangular supporting structure having a common flexible cable base extending through the thickness of the wall. The first triangular structure includes a pair of flexible cable members connected at their upper ends to wall-engaging members in proximity to the top of the wall and secured to opposite sides of the wall. The second triangular structure includes a pair of rigid tubular strut members connected to wall engaging members at a point approximately midway between the top of the wall and the base and secured to opposite sides of the wall. A pair of ground plates connected to the bottom of the struts support the first and second triangular structures on the ground.

Abstract: A holder adapted for supporting an anchor insert to be embedded in a concrete slab, such insert including a shank having an enlarged disc-like foot on one end thereof, the holder comprising an enclosure, a plurality of legs extending from the enclosure, and a foot at the outer end of each leg and adapted with the remaining feet to support the enclosure in spaced relation above the floor of a concrete form, such enclosure including a seat adapted for supporting an insert with the foot of the insert seated thereon, and means adapted to engage the insert when supported on the seat for limiting tilting movement of the insert.

Abstract: A double-walled metal building is provided wherein the exterior walls snap into place. The exterior walls are formed of panels which have inturned lips at each side which fit into mating slots and the bottom is provided with clips to hold the bottom of the panel in place. The panel is secured by a top cap which covers the tops of both the interior and the exterior walls, locking the structure together. The only fastening elements which must be installed by workmen are self-tapping screws holding the top cap in place.

Abstract: A frameless housing composed of plates forming housing walls. Each plate is inwardly bent a number of times towards the inside of the housing along its side edges, possesses bevel-cut corners and the multiple angled or bent edges are each provided with a hollow channel-shaped section formed by bending, said section adjoining the associated plate side edge. A connection section bounds at the channel-shaped section and extends at an angle of approximately 45.degree. towards the inside of the plate. Upon interconnecting each two plates which abut one another at right angles at their connection sections a sealing member can be clampingly held between the channel-shaped sections which confront one another.

Abstract: A sign post for supporting a sign having a length of pipe of composite resin-bonded glass fibers material that is set in the ground with reinforcing therein and filled with cement and a second pipe of the material with reinforcing therein set in the upper end of said first pipe with cement therein, and with lengths of the pipe and reinforcing so disposed to the height desired for supporting a sign.

Abstract: A wood paneling product for assembly on a wall. Individual pieces of solid wood are joined end to end and side to side by complementary tongue and groove configurations which provide coplanar wood surfaces between raised finished panel sections. The specific joint configurations insure maintenance of a flat panel and accommodate the normal shrinkage and expansion encountered in wood products. A maximum wood thickness is maintained throughout the panel area to further insure against undesirable warping and bending. The end joints have a minimum tongue thickness which permits the boards to be joined end to end without a backing member being located behind the joints.

Abstract: A plurality of modular panels are joined together by easily installed fasteners to provide an enclosure, or the like. The fasteners pass through ribs of abutting modular panels and are retained in place, in part, by an elongated bead defined by the ribs. Each fastener applies pressure to adjacent ribs at three spaced-apart regions, unlike prior art fasteners which act at a single point.

Abstract: A removable added roof structure for a mobile home comprises a first pair of strips permanently mounted to extend along the sides of the existing mobile home near the roof line, a plurality of pairs of vertical posts spaced across from each other extending upwardly from the strips to support a pair of longitudinal stringer members above the existing roof and to support lateral brackets extending between each pair of the posts, with further vertical posts extending upwardly from near the centerline of the mobile home to support a pair of ridgepole extrusion strips, with aluminum roof panels extending from the ridgepole extrusion strips beyond the longitudinal stringer members to carry eavestrough members attached to the roof panels and connected to the first pair of strips by brackets between which a perforated sheet material extends.

Abstract: An insert comprising a body to be embedded in concrete and having a prong smaller in size than said body, connected at one end to said body by a frangible neck. The prong has external ridges and is adapted to be driven by a hammer into an undersized opening in a mold to securely mount the insert in place. After the concrete has set, the prong is automatically broken off, i.e., separated from the embedded portion of the insert, as an incident to the stripping of the mold from the work.

Abstract: A wall, such as a load bearing wall, and method for forming same. The wall comprises a core member having a substantial void therein and reticulated sheets of reinforcing material positioned on both sides of the core and spaced therefrom. The wall is formed as by spraying cementitious material through and around the sheet material thus to produce a composite wall comprising first and second panels of reinforced cementitious material in spaced relation, having a hollow core therebetween, said panels being joined together as a unitary structural member.

Abstract: An insulation strip made of closed cell plastic foam is formed in the center of a building block transverse to the webs thereof and parallel to the side walls. The insulation strip extends beyond the edge of the sidewalls by 1/4 inch on all four side edges of the block so as to provide a 1/2 inch space for mortar joints between blocks when the blocks are stacked to form a wall. In one embodiment, the edges of the insulation strip are grooved in a cross-hatched pattern which tends to make the edges compressible, thereby permitting minor dimensional changes in the size of the mortar joint to keep the blocks aligned.

Abstract: Facia plates are mounted on building structures through the agency of a suspension element in the form of a length of flexible wire rope (cable) with an externally-threaded sleeve at each end. One sleeve is threaded into a mating sleeve in the facia plate and the other is adjustably engaged with an element capable of hooked engagement with means on the building structure. This adjustable engagement allows for variation of the effective length of the rope.