Abstract: An auxiliary heating system for providing energy to a furnace and a domestic hot water heater. A heat transfer fluid is contained within a storage tank and is automatically routed between a heat exchanger located in an auxiliary heater, such as a fireplace or a wood burning stove, and a furnace as typically employed in a home or the like. The furnace may be a forced air system or a hydronic boiler system. In response to the sensed condition of the fire within the auxiliary heater and the demands of the furnace control thermostat, the heat transfer fluid is automatically circulated through one of a plurality of flow circuits so that the available energy contained in the fluid is used in the most efficient manner. A preheat coil is immersed in the storage tank through which domestic water is passed prior to its being delivered into the water heater.

Abstract: Refrigerated containers and trailers comprised of structural members in the form of vacuum insulated sidewalls, ceilings and floors having a thickness of approximately one inch. Each structural member is divided into a plurality of individual airtight sections and for each section there is a conduit that leads from the interior of the section to a vacuum pump via a manifold. By means of the pump, air can be withdrawn from each section to establish a vacuum therein. The manifold into which all of the conduits lead is provided with a pressure switch that responds to an increase in pressure caused by a leak in any section and actuates the vacuum pump whereby air is withdrawn from the leaking section.

Abstract: A self adjusting release mechanism for disengaging a heavy duty friction clutch that is equipped with a clutch brake. As wear occurs on the facing of the clutch disc, portions of the clutch release mechanism are repositioned to compensate for wear without adversely affecting the operation of either the clutch or the clutch brake. The mechanism includes a sleeve that slidably supports a release bearing housing upon the drive shaft and a spider threaded onto the sleeve which is operatively connected to the pressure plate of the clutch via a plurality of release arms. Rearward movement of the bearing housing first disengages the clutch and then causes the housing to physically contact the clutch brake to retard the motion of the shaft. An adjusting mechanism senses wear on the clutch disc and automatically repositions the spider on the sleeve to compensate therefor without affecting the axial alignment between the release bearing housing and the clutch brake.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed circuit comprising printing a plating resist onto the clean surface of a layer of electrically conductive material on at least one side of a substrate so as to leave exposed only the required track areas of the surface; electroplating over the track areas a metal alloy, preferably a palladium/nickel alloy, which will act as an etch resist for the underlying electrically conductive material, which has good solderability, which has a melting point higher than 250.degree. C., and which will provide a base for gold plate; removing the plating resist; and removing the layer of electrically conductive material from the non-track areas by etching.

Abstract: A device for mechanically supporting a patient's foot in such a manner that surgery can be performed on the tibia or ankle without the need for medical personnel to hold the leg. In addition, a fracture can be reduced, held, X-rayed and casted by the surgeon without help. The foot support device permits the reduction of tibial and ankle fractures slowly, thereby avoiding muscle spasm, and holds the reduced fracture in place for casting. The support device also substantially eliminates the problem of controlling a heavy leg during surgery or trauma treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of and apparatus for imparting a required metering form to the longitudinal outer edges of axially extending grooves of cylindrical rotor members of rotary valves by moving an impressing tool or tools having the required metering form thereon against a said edge or edges of a rotor member or members generally in the direction of a chord extending between a point on said edge and a similar point on an adjacent edge of the nearest adjacent groove so as to displace the material of the edge being worked away from the groove.

Abstract: A variable pressure piezo electric generator comprised of a furnace chamber, a refrigerant chamber surrounding the furnace chamber in heat exchange relation thereto and a condensing chamber in communication with the refrigerant chamber. The refrigerant chamber contains a liquid refrigerant that is vaporized by the furnace heat and flows into and through the condensing chamber where it condenses. Piezo electric elements are mounted in the condensing chamber in the path of the pressurized refrigerant. An apertured plate is mounted in the condensing chamber between adjacent pairs of the piezo electric elements. The apertures in the respective plates vary in size which causes refrigerant pressure variations. As a result, the refrigerant exerts mechanical forces on the piezo electric elements causing them to produce electricity.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting an electrical musical instrument to a public address system that includes a speaker having a cone-shaped diaphram, a mounting bar positioned across the mouth of the speaker and a microphone supported in the bar that passes into the cone to pick up the audio passing through the speaker and transmit the audio to a public address system.

Abstract: Apparatus for viewing the interior of a working chimney so that smoke patterns and the condition of the chimney walls can be continually monitored without the need of discontinuing the operation of a connected stove. The viewing apparatus is rendered airtight so that a fire extinguisher operably connected thereto can fire dry chemicals directly into the chimney in the event a chimney fire is detected.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the opening combination of a safe lock including a dial turning device that is controlled by a programmable processor acting through a stepping motor to set selected combinations into the lock and to test the lock after each combination has been set to determine if the lock bolt has been withdrawn to a release position. A readout of each combination set into the lock is provided and the readout is automatically inhibited to identify the opening combination when the lock bolt has been withdrawn to a release position.

Abstract: A flexible gasket for sealing a concrete pipe within a hole formed in a concrete wall. The gasket contains a body ring having sufficient mass to support the gasket within the hole without sagging and a resiliency to allow the gasket to be collapsed inwardly upon itself whereby the gasket is passed easily into and out of the hole. The gasket further contains a finned section mounted inside the ring having circular fins that are disposed inwardly toward the center of the gasket. A series of fins increase in length from the front end of the gasket toward the back end thereof and are adapted to contact the outer surface of a pipe inserted into the gasket opening to compress the gasket in stages against the inside surface of the hole.

Abstract: A corrective and protective knee brace wherein the upper and lower portions of the brace are connected together in such a manner that the flexing movement of the brace closely simulates the rolling and sliding movement of the human knee. The simulated knee movement is accomplished in the brace by a novel roller and inclined plane mechanism which coacts with flexible interconnecting cables. The upper portion of the knee brace includes a pair of pressure pads for engagement with opposite sides of the wearer's leg above the knee, and the lower portion of the brace includes a pair of pressure pads for engagement with opposite sides of the wearer's leg below the knee. The brace is provided with a toggle mechanism that is operable after the brace has been positioned on the leg to cause the upper and lower pressure pads to exert inward pressure above and below the knee.

Abstract: Apparatus for placing steps in a concrete pipe or riser immediately after the pipe has been cast but before it is cured. A movable carriage is mounted upon a support column that is arranged to move a step driving mechanism vertically along the inner wall of the riser before the riser is removed from the casting jacket. The position of the carriage is automatically indexed to sequentially place the driving mechanism at the desired vertically spaced step locations. The drive mechanism is actuated at each location to drive a bifurcated member horizontally into the wall of the riser. In one embodiment of the invention the bifurcated member is a step that is automatically gravity loaded into the mechanism from an overhead supply magazine. In this embodiment of the invention the step is embedded in the riser and is set in place during curing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a composite flexible seal for providing a fluid tight joint between a pipe section and the inside surface of a receiving opening. The seal includes a slightly elongated tubular body formed of an elastomeric material and a spring-like metal snap ring encapsulated within the body. The ring can be collapsed inwardly upon iself reducing the outside diameter of the body and allowing the seal to be inserted into the receiving opening. Once situated in the opening the ring is expanded causing the seal to be locked in fluid tight contact against the wall of the opening. A pipe section is inserted into the seal opening to complete the joint.

Abstract: A system for detecting small leaks at low pressures in hermetically sealed units that includes a first flow circuit for connecting a test unit to a source of pressurized gas (air) to place the unit at a desired test pressure. The gas (air) is then rerouted through a second flow circuit containing a bubble chamber so that in the event of a leak, a stream of bubbles are produced in a liquid. The presence of bubbles in the liquid is detected by a doppler radar which provides an alarm signal in response thereto. The mass displacement of the bubbles within the liquid is controlled and the time period between bubbles is sensed to provide sufficient data to quantify the leak rate.

Abstract: A combination greeting card, ornament and seed germination receptacle which comprises an initially flat, scored blank that is foldable into a three-dimensional hollow ornament. A greeting message is printed on the blank and the latter in its flat form is adapted to be received in a mailing envelope and mailed as a greeting card. A relatively low profile seed germination packet is mounted on the blank and is located so that when the blank is folded into a three-dimensional ornament the latter forms an enclosure for the packet. The enclosure is provided with window openings located so that light can enter the enclosure and aid in the seed germination. The ornament with the seed packet therein can be hung on a Christmas tree or placed on any flat surface such as a table or mantle.

Abstract: Improved flue structure for domestic heating equipment such as a gas fired hot water heater. In conventional gas fired water heaters, the heater is directly connected to a chimney or the like by a single flue pipe and this results in a wasteful loss of heat and inefficient use of fuel. The invention provides a multiple, interconnected flue pipe arrangement whereby a substantial portion of the heat produced by the gas burner is trapped in the flue structure keeping it in the system longer and thereby materially cutting down on the heat loss. In one embodiment of the invention, a flue pipe from the heater is connected to the upper end of a second flue pipe that is closed at its top and a third flue pipe, concentrically mounted in the second flue pipe, conducts the heater flue gases to the chimney. Due to the arrangement of these pipes as will be described in detail hereinafter, heat is trapped at the upper end of the second flue pipe resulting in a substantial increase in efficiency.