Abstract: A balancing apparatus for counterbalancing an unbalanced load in a rotating or spinning drum such as a clothes basket in a washing machine. The balancing apparatus includes a drive plate fixed to the drive shaft of the spinning drum. Balancing tanks disposed at spaced intervals around the drum are connected to a fluid supply, such, as a self contained fluid tank, through passages controlled by valves mounted to the drum or supply tank. When the rotating drum tilts relative to the drive shaft as a result of unsymmetrical centrifugal forces produced by the unbalanced load, the valve or valves controlling flow into the balance tanks opposite the unbalanced load are moved into engagement with valve selector slides mounted on the drive plate to open the passages and allow water from the fluid tank into the balance tanks to balance the drum.

Abstract: A building is constructed substantially entirely from flat panel modules including a plurality of planar wall modules supported on a base and having at least one vertical load bearing member internal thereto extending from a bottom portion of the wall module to a top portion of the wall module in order to transmit the weight of a load above the module to the base. The load bearing member includes a conduit strut positioned between inner and outer surface members and free-standing conduit struts joining adjacent wall modules. The floor, ceiling and roof are each defined by a plurality of generally horizontal modules, each of which has either an upper or lower surface member, which is appropriately finished and at least one generally horizontal beam extending substantially the entire length of one module edge and positioned to support an unsupported edge of the adjacent module.

Abstract: The specification discloses a dispenser for liquid additives for use in an automatic clothes washer, particularly of the type having an upright agitator with hollow tubular internal portions. The dispenser structure is adapted to be mounted wholly within the hollow agitator interior, and comprises two separate but interconnected stages which are coordinated to complete dispensing operation only after predetermined amounts of agitator rotation at or above a predetermined spin velocity. The first stage of the dispenser apparatus is preferably of the centrifugal type, including a rotating cup which expels the liquid additive by the effects of centrifugal force, and the second stage, which receives the liquid expelled from the first stage, is preferably a siphon device arranged so that it can only be primed and actuated when a full charge of additive has been received from the first stage.

Abstract: According to the invention, elongate legs suspend a refuse engaging ram surface and guide reciprocative movement thereof between retracted and compacting positions. Adjustable pressure equalizing pads are spaced lengthwise on each of the legs and have flat contact areas for facial engagement with a guiding surface to effect distribution of forces transverse to the line of the ram compacting stroke over the guiding surface. The invention contemplates sufficient force distribution that the inside surface of a thin wall, typically forming the exposed shell of the compactor, is suitable as a sole ram guiding structure.

Abstract: A spring support clip is provided for mounting a condensate collection receptacle adjustably pivotally relative to an upright wall on a dehumidifier. The support clip has a free end cooperating with the receptacle and is configured to be readily deflectable vertically but more resistant to deformation in other than the vertical direction. The spring support clip is arranged to simultaneously support and guidingly control pivoting movement of the receptacle occasioned by an increase in the condensate accumulation. A shut-off switch is operated depending upon the orientation of the receptacle as dictated by the condensate level.

Abstract: A foldable refrigerator shelf is provided in which a lower shelf is nested directly beneath an upper shelf in a locked position and can be moved to a plurality of positions spaced from the upper shelf by means of sliding and pivoting links. The shelf is positively locked while in a folded position and is continuously biased into a stable position when in the open position.

Abstract: Structure for mounting a door to a cabinet for selective opening of the door from either side of an access opening provided in the cabinet. The door mounting structure includes hub portions which are removably associated with the hinge pins mounted on the cabinet. Positive locking structure is provided for positively maintaining the hub structures associated with the hinge pins about which the door is swung to prevent complete separation of the door from the cabinet. The positive locking structure includes a rigid element which is urged into interfering relationship with the hub structure associated with the cabinet hinge pin about which the door is being swung to prevent repositioning of that hub structure from a closed pin-engaging disposition to an open disposition wherein the pin is released. Overcenter detent structure is provided for maintaining the separable portions of the hub structure selectively in the opened and closed positions.

Abstract: A multipurpose culinary food processor having a support with a movably carried arm which is recessed in a base portion of the support in a retracted position and which extends in cantilevered fashion outwardly therefrom in use of the processor. The arm is arranged to carry the mixing bowl and the food processor blade device. The bowl is suspended from the arm with the drive being connected to the food treating device rotatably carried in the bowl. When used as a food processor, the cutting blades are provided in a carrier which is suspended from the arm. The carrier includes an integral chute and the cut food is delivered to a subjacent collecting space therefrom. The arm is swingably mounted to the base for movement about a vertical axis between the retracted and extended positions. In the retracted position, the arm is flush with the base housing.

Abstract: An improved structure for movably mounting a ram to a support in a refuse compactor. The mounting structure includes a plurality of threaded force transfer elements fixed to the ram and connecting structure fixedly associated with the driven sprocket of the motor drive. The connecting devices are threadedly associated one each with the force transfer elements and are mounted to the support structure of the compactor in such a manner as to dispose the driven sprockets in accurate spaced center-to-center relationship corresponding accurately to the center-to-center relationship of the force transfer elements as carried by the ram. A structural arrangement provides a binding-free drive of the force transfer elements by the drive mechanism of the compactor.