Abstract: A common rack system is provided for sequentially anodizing and painting parts. The parts (14) are mounted on rack bars (18) and secured in place with straddle clips (16). An anodization bar (20) that is substantially thicker than the rack bar (18) is clamped to each rack bar (18) to provide the current-carrying capacity needed for good anodization. After the parts are anodized, the anodization bars (20) are then unclamped and removed from the rack bars (18), and the parts are painted while still mounted to the rack bars. The rack bars (18) are quite thin so as to minimize paint shadowing. Only minor touch-up painting is necessary after the parts (14) are subsequently removed from the rack bars (18).

Abstract: An athletic shoe sole (10) includes a twist flex portion (18) positioned generally below the ball region of the user's foot. The twist flex portion (18) is defined by intersecting diagonal grooves (20, 22, 24, 26) and diamond shaped cleats (44, 46) between the grooves. A truncated pivot ball (28) is located in a toe portion (12) of the shoe. A similar pivot ball (38) is located in the heel portion (16) of the shoe. Grooves and ribs are provided in several regions of the shoe sole (10) for facilitating flexing of the shoe sole (10) in a direction perpendicular to the ribs and grooves, and for stiffening the shoe sole (10) in a direction longitudinally of the ribs and grooves.

Abstract: A wire stripper in accordance with the invention has a non-linear rate of blade closure where the stripper's blades first close quickly from an open position to near the wire that is to be stripped, followed by a slow rate of closure as the blades cut through the wire's insulation. The stripper also has a blade proximity sensor that involves placing a high voltage on the blades as they cut through the insulation so that a short-duration current pulse travels from the blades to the wire's center conductor as soon as the insulation is broken apart by the blades. Such pulse is sensed, and further inward movement of the blades toward the center conductor is immediately stopped, in order to prevent the blades from nicking or scraping the conductor.

Abstract: An assembly jig for making wing spars is adjustable in a manner so that it can be used to produce virtually any size of spar. The jig includes a plurality of vertical posts, each of which has upper and lower clamping mechanisms that are vertically adjustable. The upper mechanism holds the upper spar chord to the spar's web and the lower mechanism similarly holds the spar's lower chord. Adjustment of the clamping mechanisms relative to each other accommodates a variation in web width corresponding to different stations along the length of the spar, or alternatively, different spar designs. Each post is further adjustable in a transverse direction in order to construc spars which are not linear from end to end.

Abstract: A compressor bleed air passageway includes a duct having an upstream section (48) which terminates in a baffle (44) and a downstream duct section (54) having a forward portion (56) which surrounds the baffle (44). Bleed air flow through openings (58) in the baffle wall (52). This reduces velocity of the bleed air stream at the duct discharge port to a value equal to or less than Mach 1.0. The baffle (44) has virtually no effect on a low-velocity, low-pressure air stream. The downstream duct section (54) may be perforated and surrounded by outer wall (64) to form sound-absorbing chambers (66).

Abstract: An emission control unit is mounted in the exhaust line of a fossil fuel internal combustion engine and includes a tubular housing in which a lime sleeve is received. The sleeve has an axial opening through which a corona wire extends. Exhaust gasses pass through the sleeve along the wire. Placing a charge on the wire drives pollutants in the exhaust laterally outwardly into the sleeve at a direction which is 90.degree. to the direction of exhaust travel. The sleeve chemically interacts with the pollutants and neutralizes them with little hazard to the environment.

Abstract: A pair of wire guides or "centering jaws" for use in connection with the blades of a rotary wire stripper. Each wire guide has a gripping leg which, in cooperation with a similar wire guide on the other side of the wire to be stripped, tightly grips the end of the wire, but only on the portion of the wire's insulation which is actually stripped. This enables the stripped portion to function as a centering guide thereby keeping the wire's center conductor from coming into contact with the stripper's rotating blades during the stripping operation.

Abstract: Recovery boiler wind boxes are upgraded by providing an air nozzle and damper installation where the nozzle crosses through the inside of the wind box. Air is channeled from the box into the nozzle by the damper. The nozzle is convergent and jets air into the boiler's combustion chamber. The typical boiler has a plurality of combustion air ports leading into the chamber. Modifying each air port by using the nozzle and damper installation creates a surrounding arrangement of air jets about the chamber which creates turbulent mixing in the boiler's furnace gases.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a combination of hardware fittings and an elastomeric peripheral seal which are used to bond two halves of a single beam together. The beam has transverse openings extending through its width when its halves are joined. The fittings cover opposite ends of each beam opening and essentially convert each into a vacuum chamber. The peripheral seal surrounds the interface between the beam's halves. A vacuum is drawn through both the fittings and the peripheral seal, thus drawing a vacuum along the interface of the halves as they are bonded.

Abstract: An automatic test apparatus calculates the amount of heat released by a material. The apparatus includes a calorimeter having a heating or burn chamber in which a sample of test material is burned by subjecting it to preselected heat flux rates. A computer automatically controls the apparatus by governing sample insertion into the chamber, and monitors the amount of heat and smoke the sample releases. Heat and smoke release data is automatically generated and provided to the user after every test.

Abstract: A flat, ruler-like guide is shaped to be laid over the tables and scales set forth in a trucker's log book. The guide has cut-out portions which outline only those entries in the log book which the trucker needs for making certain calculations. Printed on the face of the guide are equations which the trucker follows in making these calculations.

Abstract: The invention is an improved clip for holding workpieces to racks during alodining, anodizing and/or painting operations. The clip is constructed of a torsion spring having a central coiled portion and laterally extending tines interconnected by the coil. The coil is biased so that the ends of the tines are normally forced toward each other for gripping a workpiece inbetween their ends. A handle is connected to the coil and extends laterally away therefrom. This may be rotated in a manner so as to oppose the coil's bias, thus causing the tines' ends to spread apart for releasing the workpiece.

Abstract: A wing camber command system (28) is provided for calculating the optimum camber of a wing (52) during aircraft operation. The wing (52) has at least one movable leading edge surface (42, 44) and at least one movable trailing edge surface (46, 48, 50) for varying wing camber, while maintaining smooth upper surface contours. Flight conditions and aircraft parameters including aircraft speed (30), normal acceleration (32), weight (34), and the dynamic pressure of air (36) are sensed during the aircraft maneuver. An onboard computer (40) monitors the sensed conditions and parameters and calculates a coefficient of lift therefrom. The computer contains stored data indicating the desired positions for the leading and trailing edge surfaces necessary to achieve a wing camber that optimizes the wing lift/drag (L/D) ratio during aircraft operation. The computer uses this stored data to command optimum wing camber.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the level of light at a distant location from a central location. A light sensor at the location to be monitored is comprised essentially of a photodiode and an operational amplifier and produces a high-level, analog output signal on an output signal line, the signal being linearly proportional to the level of light at the location. A control unit at a central location is electrically coupled to the sensor and comprises a power supply for providing electrical power to the sensor and a calibration device connected to the output signal line for providing a feedback signal to the sensor. The calibration device may be adjusted so that the output signal at the control unit bears a selected ratio to the light detected. A control unit having a single and power supply may be coupled to a plurality of sensors.