Abstract: An improvement in a short circuiting arc welding apparatus comprising a single D.C. power supply causing a welding current to pass through a welding wire extending from a holder and between said wire and workpiece at a molten metal pool on the workpiece, wherein the current flows in response to an arc voltage and the welding wire is subjected to a succession of welding cycles. Each of the welding cycles includes an arcing condition during which said wire is spaced from the pool and the energy applied to said wire exceeds a given value raising the temperature at the end of the wire to a molten temperature to form a molten metal ball on the end of the wire and a short circuit condition during which the molten metal ball on the end of the wire first contacts said molten metal pool and then transfers from the wire to the workpiece by a necking action breaking the molten metal ball from the wire to initiate an arc in a subsequent welding cycle. The welding cycles have a generally fixed frequency of repetition.

Abstract: Open circuit emergency breathing apparatus is disclosed which includes a pressure demand valve selectively connectable to primary and secondary sources of breathing gas under pressure to direct breathing gas to a breathing hose attached to the valve and then to a face mask worn by a user of the apparatus. The pressure demand valve includes a diaphragm actuated flow control member and a tubular breathing gas sensor operable in response to inhaling and exhaling by the user to control displacements of the diaphragm and corresponding displacements of the flow control member in a manner which enables obtaining and maintaining the flow of appropriate volumes of breathing gas to the user of a wide range of low to high breathing rates and a wide range of breathing gas supply pressures.

Abstract: A low cost, improved convective heat transfer furnace is disclosed which includes a cylindrical casing to which is attached blanket insulation and the casing is closed at its ends to define a closed end cylindrical furnace enclosure. An annular fan face plate is positioned within the enclosure to define a pressure zone on one side and a work zone on the other side. A paddle wheel fan in the work zone develops a large mass of circumferentially swirling wind which is initially formed as a stationary swirling mass without an axial force component but which under pressure travels axially in the form of a swirling annulus through the non-orificing annular space. The under pressure zone established by the central opening in the fan face plate causes the swirling wind annulus in the work zone to expand radially inwardly and uniformly impinge the complete surface of the work in an effective heat transfer manner before being recirculated back to the pressure zone.

Abstract: A quick connect-disconnect coupling is provided for snow plows and like devices. The coupling includes a hitch ear plate and a retaining ear plate preferably attached to the plow. The hitch ear plate has a configured gathering surface and the retaining ear plate has a hitch pin opening extending therethrough. A bracket arrangement preferably attached to the vehicle contains a spring biased axially movable hitch pin. The hitch ear plate positions the retaining plate so that its opening is in registry with the hitch pin when the plow is to be coupled to the vehicle. Rotation of the hitch pin allows the spring to axially move the hitch pin and snap the pin through the hitch pin opening to lock the plow to the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotary control signal generating device, such as a resolver, which comprises an internal stator including a magnetic system having first and second ring-shaped pole pieces with generally cylindrical, axially spaced, outwardly facing first and second pole surfaces. These pole surfaces are generally concentric with respect to a central axis and have the same outer diameter. The two pole pieces each include a given number of equally spaced coil receiving slots with axially spaced pole pieces aligned to form sets of circumferentially spaced slots. The stator includes a multiturn or primary exciter winding between the two pole pieces and wound concentric with the axis, whereby an AC voltage magnetizes the pole pieces. The stator further includes two offset sensing windings on the same pole pieces and in the axially aligned sets of slots.

Abstract: A motor vehicle security system prevents unauthorized removal of a foot pedal-steering wheel lock by means of structural reinforcement of the steering wheel to prevent destructive severing of the wheel rim which would enable removal of the lock. A cut-resistant steel cable is embedded in the steering wheel rim to enhance the resistance of the wheel to severing.

Abstract: A tape dispenser comprising a molded plastic frame having a base wall portion with a tape cutting edge and a pair of flexurable side wall arm portions extending in generally parallel side-by-side relation from the base wall portion and provided with C-shaped wall portions having opposed arcuate hub portions extending inwardly therefrom and adapted to support a tape roll. The hub portions are provided with axially engageable and releasable locking means adjacent the free ends of the C-shaped wall portions for firmly joining the hub portions together thereat simply by relative pivotal flexure movement of the arm portions to rigidify the dispenser.

Abstract: A hybrid burner system is disclosed which incorporates features of continuous burners and pulse combustion devices. A combustion chamber is fitted with one-way air inlet valves, a restricted or one-way exhaust outlet valve and a pressurized, gas inlet which is externally actuated in a periodic manner to produce combustion pulses during operation. The combustion pulses generate heat, force the products of combustion from the burner chamber and cause combustion air to periodically enter the chamber in a self-aspirating manner. Combustion occurs silently during the entire time the fuel is externally pulsed. A spark plug electrode - stabilizing rod arrangement insures consistent ignition while a flame front is stabilized and propagated at the rod. The burner arrangement is self-contained in a recirculating heat exchange application where a pulse opening is provided at a precise position relative to the heat combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved hand held drain cleaning apparatus is disclosed which is of the type employing a flexible snake which is rotated and inserted into a waste line to remove blockage. The apparatus includes a housing in which the sanke is coiled and a guide tube extending from the housing and through which the snake passes for insertion into a waste line. A manually actuated sleeve assembly is provided on the guide for displacing resilient spring finger clamping elements into engagement with the snake to hold the snake against axial displacement relative to the housing during insertion and/or removal of the snake from the waste line and to clamp the snake against rotation relative to the guide tube and the housing during the drain cleaning operation.

Abstract: An anti-theft device that is adapted to be connected adjacent to or on a battery of a motor vehicle and including a power switch for disconnecting the battery from its standard battery cable when current flowing through the cable exceeds a preselected substantial amount of current associated with an attempt to start the vehicle. A lockout circuit is actuated by a remote transmitter for generating an external command signal to override the operation ofthe power switch. This device can be attached directly to a battery without external wiring and still provide the passive or self-arming anti-theft device.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling a power supply for arc welding in a manner to reduce spatter when the power supply is employed for depositing metal from a welding wire or electrode onto a workpiece by the short circuiting transfer mode wherein a welding current causes the welding wire to alternate between a short circuit condition and an arc condition with metal transfer occurring during a short circuit condition. This method and device includes the concept of shifting the welding current to a background current value in response to a short circuit condition, holding the welding current generally at the background current level for a preselected time, then allowing the welding current to reach the normal unimpeded current level, and causing the holding step to be terminated before the selected time in response to a detected arc condition.

Abstract: A food display and serving container is provided which display a perishable food, such as cheese, in a visible and easily accessible manner over a long period of time while still preserving freshness. A three side transparent cover fits over a rectangular tray and is adapted to slide transversely across the top of the tray.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for TIG welding by passing an alternating current between a non-consumable electrode and a workpiece to form an arc, which apparatus comprises a single reactor with first and second coil portions and a common core, passing a direct current from a direct current power supply through the first coil portion of the reactor and in a negative direction from the workpiece to the electrode for creating a heating cycle, switchably disconnecting the direct current power supply from the circuit and immediately connecting the second coil portion of the reactor in a positive direction across the electrode and workpiece for creating a short cleaning cycle for cleaning the workpiece preparatory to the next heating cycle. These heating and cleaning cycles are continued to create a TIG welding process.

Abstract: A lightweight pedestrian ramp assembly for bridging a span of open water between two marine structures is readily adaptable in length and width to meet existing site requirements. The ramp assembly is constructed of successive elongated ramp units, each of which is in turn constructed of adjacent, elongated channel shaped fiberglass modules defining a planar walking surface across the backs of the channel webs.

Abstract: Wire netting belt, more particularly for conveyors, screen belt presses or the like, which is closed at its belt ends by an insert-type join to constitute an endless belt and is strengthened in its plane in its end regions with reinforcing strips consisting of a solidifying composition, to obviate arching of the belt at its central zone in the end regions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a flat lid with a lower layer of heat bondable material onto the upper, generally flat surface of a flange extending around the periphery of an access opening in a container of the type used to store a substance susceptible to deterioration when exposed to atmosphere for a prolonged time such as prepared foods, which method and apparatus moves a separate and distinct heating unit with a downwardly facing heating ring in a preselected path, preferably circular in shape, between first and second positions, includes a generally fixed high frequency power supply for energizing said heating ring, connects this fixed high frequency power supply to the individual heating rings of the moving heating unit only when the unit is moving between the first and second positions, and energizes the power supply only while the heating unit is moving between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A compact retail display refrigerator for displaying refrigerated food packages maintained at super chilled temperature comprises a small cabinet with a refrigerated upper compartment containing a row array of package guideways formed of a plurality of vertically extending guide pins upstanding from a perforated base support plate. Self acting spring loaded lift devices mounted within the guideways support stacks of food packages therein and urge them upwardly step-by-step to automatically locate the existing topmost package in each stack at a predetermined selection level.