Abstract: A friction heater is provided which includes a rotor which rotates relative to a stator to generate heat which is transferred to a wall of a tank which contains a quantity of liquid to be heated. The outer surface of the stator and a surface of the tank are smooth surfaces which are in contact with each other substantially throughout their extent so that virtually no heat is lost at the interface between such surfaces. Baffles are provided in the tank to increase the dwell time of the liquid flowing through the tank.

Abstract: An improved friction heater with driveshaft that rotates one frictional part relative to another interfitted with it provides, on the driveshaft, screw-and-inertia member to release frictional force between the frictional parts when the frictional parts are being stopped, permitting use of a less powerful drive for start-up and lighter structural support. The interfitted frictional parts are conical in shape and also have automatic-driveshaft release to prevent overheating from wear at the frictional interface after long use. The release provision includes a slot in the lower part of the rotor and a transverse pin in the driveshaft, that engages the slot for normal driving operation. When as result of wear, the relative axial position of rotor and housing changes sufficiently to pass out of the range of normal operation, the slot and pin automatically and correspondingly pass from engagement with each other.

Abstract: A system for providing fire safety from burning ends of cigarettes includes a perforate tube with end caps, one of which has for receiving a cigarette there-through an aperture with a plurality of slits radiating from it; a cigarette so-received is held with burning end located in the perforate tube by a plurality of longitudinal ribs integrally protrusive along the perforate tube interior wall; the perforate tube perforations are arrayed in a plurality of circumferential rows; row to row spacing helps determine burning time of an unpuffed cigarette, which is extinguished after a short interval if unpuffed.

Abstract: A holder system for providing fire-safety of a cigarette being smoked and automatic extinguishment of it after a predetermined time includes a perforate tube with a spaced succession of internal rings that fit closely around a burning cigarette; in the absence of a puff on the cigarette within a predetermined time the burning end of the cigarette is extinguished as it reaches the nearest internal ring; the holder opens to receive a cigarette between identical halves separated along a longitudinal plane; an end cap and stud-in-hole structures provide for detachably securing the halves together.

Abstract: A friction boiler system has a rotary member frictionally engaging a housing having adjustable fit to the rotary member. The rotary member has a gray iron cover fixed on it and rotating with it. The housing is in two halves split longitudinally, each half has fixed therein a hemi-cylindrical liner of gray iron for fitting the circumference of the rotary member. To adjust the fit, a wedge on each side, driven by a screw-actuated cam, sets the spacing between the housing halves, against spring bias urging the housing halves together. The screw actuated cam has a straight portion guided by guideways and an angled portion inclined to the direction of wedge motion and riding in a recess in the respective wedge. A heat-transfer circulation system carries fluid heated by the frictional boiler system to point of use, and return, if a closed system is used. An electric motor may be employed as one form of power. Kinetic energy of other origins can be directly and efficiently converted to thermal energy by the system.

Abstract: An axially compact adjustable stock-bushing assembly for substitution for non-adjustable or solid bushings to hold stock in automatic screw machines and the like; stock is held by three radially pivotable fingers carried in equi-spaced protrusion from one end of an annular nut having at the other end provision for mounting to an automatic screw machine; the fingers are spring-biased outwardly and are positioned by means of inward urging of a cam ring assembly coaxially threaded to one end of the annular nut and carrying fitted over the respective fingers three circumferentially deployed cams which are radially pivotable to either of two stock-size range settings by respective cam-adjustment tabs; screwing of the cam ring assembly further toward the annular nut moves the cams along the finger inclines for tightening the fingers on stock; set screws through the cam ring parallel with the axis bear on a knurled face of the nut, when tightened, to maintain any desired stock-size setting of the assembly.