Abstract: The invention relates to improving the heat transfer properties in boiling liquids of tubes and other surfaces by applying a very porous reticulated organic foam layer in contact with the tube surface, and then plating a thin metal coating on the foam substrate. Preferably, the tube is copper and the plating consists of a first electrolessly applied layer of copper and a second electroplated layer. The foam is preferably in the form of a thin tape which is spirally wound about the tube. Pyrolization of the foam after plating improves the heat transfer performance of the tube.

Abstract: Multi-position armrest for a vehicle seat incorporates a parallelogram linkage which permits the armrest to be raised or lowered through a series of parallel positions and locked in any one against downward movement. A ratchet and pawl arrangement permits the armrest to be tilted while in various fixed positions of the linkage, or, simultaneously as the linkage is moved. Movements of the arm or linkage in a lowering direction are controlled by a pair of manually operated buttons which operate separate, spaced apart pawls which engage different teeth on a single ratchet member. The buttons are not required for upward movement. The armrest can function as such or can be lowered to be flush with the seat so as to extend the seat width. It can also be tilted downwardly to a hip supporting position or upwardly to a vertical storage position. Various cam and stop arrangements restrict movements of the armrest outside a preferred range.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in the vacuum-forming of sheet material in a mould comprises a clamping ring formed by a plurality of rollers mounted close to each other on an annular support which will hold the sheet material on the rim of a mould yet permit some movement of the sheet material to reduce stretching as the material is drawn down into the mould. Support members attached to the annular support are clamped to the table on which the mould is mounted.

Abstract: Angular vibration isolation is provided for a seat back member in combination with a mechanism for adjusting the seat back angle. Eccentrically mounted cylindrically shaped cam members located at each side of the seat back frame can be adjustably rotated within a guide channel carried by the seat back frame. The cams are positioned at a distance from a pivot axis on the seat frame around which the seat back can tilt in order to adjust the angle of tilt. One of the parallel, opposed flanges which define each of the guide channels is spaced from its respective cam member by a resilient means such as a thick pad of elastomeric material which fills the space between the cam member and said one flange. The elastomeric pads are compressed as the seat back is forced forwardly against the seat occupant's back due to vehicle vibration, thus permitting the seat back to be driven rearwardly while the occupant's position in space remains relatively fixed.

Abstract: A hinge device for supporting an armrest on a vehicle seat includes a ratchet mechanism in which ratchet teeth are disposed around the inside of a ratchet ring for engagement with a pawl carried by a rotor within the ring. A blocking ring coaxial with the ratchet ring is overlapped by the pawl and is carried along by engagement of the pawl in a recess of the blocking ring as the pawl ratchets over the teeth. After clearing the ratchet teeth, the pawl is lifted by cam action from the recess on to the inner surface of the blocking ring which masks the ratchet teeth and allows the pawl to be returned to its starting position where it is restored by cam action to its recess in the blocking ring wherein it can once again engage the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: Improved shock absorber for slowing down the descent of a control rod in a liquid cooled reactor core at a controlled rate uses a thimble tube which has a corrugated section at its lower end to distribute the control rod deceleration forces over an extended distance in a "scram" situation. In a preferred embodiment, the corrugations have a lesser internal diameter at the lower end of the thimble tube than at the top to increase the rate of deceleration as the control rod aproaches the bottom of the core. In several modifications, the corrugation pitch and/or depth is varied over the length of the corrugated surface.

Abstract: Oxygen sensor with a disc type solid electrolyte has the disc sealed in a shrinkable ceramic tube by the pressure which is developed and the surface glazing which takes place as the tube is fired. The tube is preferably formed of forsterite which can shrink about 25% during firing, thus causing the tube to become slightly bulged out in the region of the disc due to the interference fit produced by the shrinkage. The porous electrodes on the top and bottom surfaces of the disc are preferably omitted from a small region near one edge of the top and bottom surfaces but are continued as a stripe or band down the edge from a diametrically opposite portion of each surface, the stripes and unelectroded areas associated with the respective surfaces being spaced to prevent electrical shorting. The disc stripes are pressure bonded during firing of the tube to a pair of spaced lead stripes on the inside tube surface.

Abstract: Aneroid bellows assembly utilized in the emergency oxygen supply systems of aircraft includes a leaf spring mounted at its center to an adjustably positioned end fitting located on the axis of an evacuated bellows spring. The outer edges of the leaf spring are engaged with an adjustable ring threadedly mounted on the outer rim of a tubular housing member in which the bellows spring is mounted. The adjustable end fitting and ring permit elements having a substantial size tolerance to be assembled together and readily adjusted to achieve precise calibration.

Abstract: Improved heat transfer surface for nucleate boiling is produced by metallizing a reticulated organic foam layer placed in contact with a tube or other heat transfer surface so as to form a reticulated metal surface layer which is integrally bonded to the heat transfer surface. The metallized foam layer is then at least partially pyrolyzed to form hollow metal strand portions. The boiling surface so produced is then modified to enhance its long term boiling stability by deforming the hollow strand portions to reduce their minimum internal diameter. In one manufacturing process, suitable small solid particles, which may or may not be permitted to remain in the finished product, are worked into the porous surface of the reticulated metal layer after which the layer is compacted so as to cause the particles to deform the hollow metal strand portions and thereby reduce their ability to carry liquid flow which could "flood out" vapor bubbles trapped in the tips of the hollow strands during a boiling operation.

Abstract: Instrument for locating the depth of the lower end of a mild steel or cast iron well casing or a plastic casing attached to a mild steel well screen has an elongated weighted body portion containing one fixed magnet engageable with the casing and located at the upper end of the instrument. A radially movable magnet is encapsulated in the body of the instrument, preferably at a lower location than the fixed magnet. The movable magnet is normally magnetically biased toward the casing when a ferrous casing or well screen is present adjacent the instrument but is magnetically urged toward the ferrous metal contacts of a switch located internally of the instrument to actuate a signal device when there is no ferrous casing or well screen adjacent the movable magnet. The instrument is suspended in the casing by a cable containing electrical conductors attached to the switch contacts and to the signal device.

Abstract: In order to reduce the electrical resistance of entrained fine particles of fly ash resulting from the burning of low sulfur coal and to enhance the efficiency of their collection by an electrical precipitator means, there is a conditioning of the particles carried in the flue gas stream by having a vapor of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 condensed and adsorbed on the particles themselves. Sulfuric acid at ambient temperature is mixed with air in an acoustic nozzle to form a mist having an average particle size of about 10 microns which is injected uniformly into a cyclonically flowing stream of hot gas in a chamber located adjacent an upstream inlet duct portion of the precipitator unit. The hot gas in the chamber vaporizes the acid which is then injected into the precipitator inlet duct so that the acid can condense on the particles. The hot gas is preferably obtained from the combustion air preheater.

Abstract: Insertable armrest frame and mounting structure is designed so that an upholstered, pivotable armrest can be easily attached to an upholstered seat back in such a manner that the mounting elements will be concealed. The mounting and support structure is quite light in weight but very strong due to use of either a channel shaped arm frame member or a molded frame member. The arm frame pivots on one pivot pin anchored to the seat back frame and, in the channel shaped version, includes a strengthening rib incorporating a cup-shaped portion having a curved flat rim which is slightly resiliently deformed by a flanged retaining nut on a stop pin which is also anchored in the seat back frame. The resilient deformation of the rim, which also takes place in the molded arm version, provides uniform tension which tends to hold the arm in any position to which it is rotated.

Abstract: Vibration absorbing connector for use in high pressure fluid piping systems such as the refrigerant lines in an automotive air conditioning system incorporates a thin bellows member whose ends are restrained against axial movement by a restraining means such as a plurality of axially extending flexible cables or a braided metal sleeve which surrounds the bellows member. A molded-in-place elastomeric layer fills in the external bellows corrugations to prevent their deformation under load and encapsulates the restraining means. The design permits a 3 inch long bellows having a 0.005" wall thickness to perform as well as a 7 inch long bellows having a 0.020" wall which has a conventional configuration under internal fluid pressures that would collapse the thin wall bellows corrugations in the absence of the elastomeric layer.

Abstract: A support assembly is disclosed which is especially useful for supporting a plurality of tubular members such as the steel or fiberglass pressure tube assemblies used in a reverse osmosis water purification system. A molded, cast, extruded or pultruded hollow module element is formed with flat sides and a concave cylindrical tube receiving surface so that a plurality of modules can be stacked vertically and/or horizontally to support any desired number of tubes. Apertures in the flat sides permit the modular elements to be quickly attached and aligned to each other by nut and bolt or other type fastener elements. Various modifications of the shape and size of the modules permit the support by a single module of one-fourth of one tube, one-half of one tube, or one-half of each of two tubes.

Abstract: Improved method of attaching sleeve-like fittings to a wrapped wire well screen by welding is faster and stronger than prior methods, provides better mechanical sealing, and eliminates changes in the width of the screen slots. The fitting is axially slotted where it is intended to telescopically overlie several wraps of the well screen. The application of weld beads in the axially directed slots causes the fitting to shrink into tight mechanical contact with the well screen and prevents the enlargement of the slots in the well screen which is possible when a circumferentially oriented weld bead is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to finned heat transfer tubes and to a method for improving the heat transfer properties in boiling liquids of such tubes by plating the tubes in an electroplating bath containing graphite powder to produce a porous plated surface. The tips of the fins are covered before plating with a non-conductive coating to prevent plating of the tips. The non-conductive coating can be dissolved away or mechanically removed after plating.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat part mounted on a base part by a suspension which includes a gas spring. Valve means are provided to control the seat ride position by controlling the entry and exit of compressed gas into and out of the gas spring. The difference between the actual ride position and a selected ride position of the seat is sensed, and a control circuit is used actuating the valve means to raise or lower the seat to reduce this difference to zero. In order to prevent seat vibration, such as is caused by passage of a vehicle over rough terrain, from continually causing actuation of the valve means, the control circuit is provided with desensitizing means.

Abstract: An improved drawing die apparatus is disclosed for reducing the wall thickness of a thin wall metal tube in cooperation with a floating pin or a fixed mandrel. At least three, and preferably four, wall thickness sensors are positioned in the die body in angular relationship around the outer periphery of a carbide draw die nib for indicating the wall thickness, and thus the eccentricity, of the tubing as it is being produced. Preferably, the sensors are contact type ultrasonic transducers which are acoustically coupled with a viscous couplant to flats formed on the draw nib in regions overlying a land region of the die. The acoustic coupling between the draw nib and tube is achieved through the O.D. drawing lubricant.

Abstract: The hinge mechanism for supporting the back part of a vehicle seat for pivotal movement relative to a base part has first and second hinge arms secured respectively to the back part and base part and interconnected by an eccentric device. The eccentric device is rotatably supported on the first hinge arm and supports eccentrically a shaft integral with the second hinge arm. Rotation of the eccentric device by a handle moves the shaft laterally, and two sets of teeth secured respectively to the hinge arms are thereby moved into or out of mesh. A cam acting between the hinge arms maintains the teeth out of mesh while the back part is in a forward tilted position.

Abstract: Improved locking or keeper pin system for replaceably retaining digger teeth on large power excavator shovels includes a pair of wedge-shaped keeper pin members which cooperate to produce a seizing taper lock. The keeper pin members are easily installed and released from the top of the tooth. One of the keeper pin members includes a retaining spring which snaps into a recess in the tooth and base member to provide positive locking. The other keeper pin member has a hardened retaining hook which engages a lip on the base member. An access port in the top of the tooth permits a chisel to be brought into contact with the top of the retaining hook. The retaining hook is easily severed, using the lip as an anvil, to release the lock when the tooth is to be replaced.