Abstract: A fluid flow control device primarily intended for throttling the flow of liquid refrigerant between two flow rates. The device includes a disc which moves between two distinct positions with a snap action in response to changes in temperature of the refrigerant. The disc is connected at its center to a stem member having an axial bore aligned with and of smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet passage of a flow chamber wherein the disc and stem are positioned. When refrigerant temperature increases to a predetermined level, the disc moves the stem into contact with the chamber wall surrounding the outlet orifice, thereby limiting refrigerant flow to that which passes through the relatively smaller bore of the stem member. When refrigerant temperature drops sufficiently, the disc snaps back to the other position, moving the end of the stem away from the outlet orifice to permit flow at a higher rate.

Abstract: A stall-type enclosure for use by a golfer at a driving range having an under-floor plenum for receiving heated air and allowing it to rise through a grating covering the plenum in an area around a mat structure upon which the golfer stands. The plenum is surrounded by an insulating wall and heat either leaking or radiating from the sides of the plenum also rises through the grating from the insulated region. The enclosure has a rearwardly pitched roof providing a space behind the front wall and above the opening therein for collection of heated air which is returned to a rear compartment of the structure wherein the heater is located. The mat structure is preferably movable on the grating to allow positioning for optimum wind protection, and hinged flaps or dampers may be selectively placed in covering relation to portions of the grating to concentrate the areas through which heat rises. A ball container is preferably positioned adjacent the mat structure to receive heat rising through the grating.

Abstract: A one-piece, malleable iron, expansion shell, and a leaf of such shell, for use in an expansion to be installed in a relatively small (about 1") diameter bore hole with a conventional size (5/8") bolt. The expansion shell, and individual shell leaves have unique features contributing to the effectiveness of the anchor when used either with or without a resin grouting mixture. The slots or spaces between adjacent shell leaves include upper and lower portions, each of constant width, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion, whereby the leaves are narrower in the area where they are bent outwardly from the closed ring at the base than in the area where they are compressionally engaged between the plug and the hole wall. Upper portions of the inner leaf surfaces taper toward the shell axis and the side edges of such surfaces taper toward one another from the upper, free ends of the leaves toward the lower ends.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle having openings to receive a plug having either parallel or tandem (perpendicular) blades, and a safety shutter assembly having elements positioned behind the openings to prevent insertion into the electrical contacts of the receptacle of items other than the intended plugs. The shutter assembly includes three individual shutter elements, each positioned upon a spacer element in the back of the receptacle cover for sliding movement thereon. Two of the shutter elements each include a camming portion and a blocking portion, and are positioned for movement by insertion of the blades of a parallel blade plug to permit the blades to be received in the receptacle contacts. The third shutter element is positioned for movement, together with the other two shutter elements, by insertion of a tandem blade plug to permit the blades thereof to be received in the proper contacts.

Abstract: Milling apparatus for reducing the size of grain kernels or particles by impact with a solid surface as the grain is moved through the apparatus by an air stream created by rotation of a rotor within a stationary casing having an inlet opening at or near the center and an outlet opening at the outer periphery. The rotor comprises a circular disk having a series of elements affixed to a surface thereof in a circular configuration spaced outwardly from the center of the rotor. The elements comprise sections of hollow steel tubing of rectangular cross section or toothed blades so arranged that grain traveling radially outwardly from the inlet to the outlet opening of the casing impact with the elements with a force sufficient to break the grain. The particles may be passed through additional rotor stages, and the particle size or texture of the final product may be controlled by the speed of rotor rotation and the number of rotor stages through which the grain is passed.

Abstract: Methods of forming by polymerization reaction a silicate gel which exhibits intumescence upon application of heat and various products formed from the resulting ceramic foam materials. Specific formulations and processing steps best suited to particular applications are set forth, together with examples of various types and configurations of the resulting products. These include structural materials, such as sheets of wall board, very low density insulation materials, articles useful as a protective barrier from heat or flame, vitreous materials useful as heat resistant tiles or as abrasive wheels or blocks for grinding or polishing, and ceramic foam materials incorporating silica gel and processed solely with microwave heat.

Abstract: A rotary blade wire insulation cutting and stripping machine includes a pair of linear actuators respectively controlling the length and the depth of cuts in accordance with keyboard inputs to a microprocessor. The cutter blades are initially positioned with their cutting edges in mutual contact and provide the stop for wire insertion. The gripping jaws which hold the wire are relatively movable in a single horizontal plane to maintain the axis of the wire at a fixed point irrespective of its diameter. The rotatable elements include a yoke structure extending forwardly of the blades and holding a bushing through which the wire is inserted closely adjacent the blades to provide an accurate guide and centering device for the wire.

Abstract: A device to detect parturition of a pregnant livestock or zoological animal which may be inserted into the birth canal of the pregnant animal comprises a transparent housing having an internal cavity adapted to hold therein a photo-detecting element which is dormant while in the dark birth canal. When the housing is expelled from the birth canal by a fetus pushing it out at parturition, the brighter environment activates the photo-detector which drives associated circuitry which activates an integral tone generator to cause it to emit a pulsed, high frequency tone. A remotely located receive identifies the tone from the ejected device and activates any one of known, ultimate alerting devices, such as a radio paging system, for example.

Abstract: Methods of cutting and stripping insulation and other coverings from electrical wires, optical cables, and the like, using one or more blades while protecting the wire from undesired scoring or nicking. In one embodiment, two or more blades are moved radially inwardly to cut the insulation to a desired depth, close to the wire, and then moved apart by a short distance before being moved axially to strip the insulation. In a second embodiment, the blades are moved toward one another to cut the insulation to the desired depth, then moved apart by a distance greater than the depth of cut, moved axially by a distance less than the length of the cut, moved toward one another to grip or pinch the insulation and again moved axially to sever and strip the slug of insulation. In a third embodiment a pair of gripper members engage the insulation as the blade or blades cut to the desired depth and strip the slug off the conductor after movement of the blade(s) out of engagement therewith.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a crack in a bearing including a stationary element, a moving element, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the stationary element and the moving element. A crack sensor detects a signal characteristic of a crack in the bearing. A rolling element position sensor detects a position of the rolling elements. A moving element position sensor detects a position of the moving element. When an output signal from the crack sensor is supplied for the first time, based on at least one of position signals respectively supplied from the rolling element position sensor and the moving element position sensor, there is determined a condition of the at least one of position signals to be satisfied when the output signal from the crack sensor is supplied the next time.

Abstract: A tool for compressing and finishing the grout in joints between ceramic and mosaic tiles and the like. The tool includes a handle portion for gripping the device and a flexible yet resilient elongated shaft portion extending linearly therefrom. The shaft portion is bent about 20 degrees at a point approximately midway the length of the rod thereby forming two straight and distinct portions. The portion furthest from the handle, that is, the distal portion of the rod is placed atop the unhardened, exposed grout in the joints between tegular elements applied to a surface such that the entire distal portion is in contact with the grout material while the proximial portion of the rod assumes an approximately 20 degree angle with the surface. In this manner the user moves the tool along the grout joint while applying a desired amount of pressure such that the grout is compressed within the joints between tegular elements while it is also topically smoothed in an aesthetically appealing manner.

Abstract: A vane compressor has a communication passageway extending between a discharge pressure chamber and vane back pressure chambers. A valve is formed of a ball received within a ball-receiving bore and displaceable for opening and closing the communication passageway depending upon discharge pressure, a coiled spring urging the ball toward a valve opening position, and a stopper for stopping the ball in the valve opening position. The ball-receiving bore has an axial length smaller than an inner diameter thereof such that part of the ball is projected from the ball-receiving bore into the discharge pressure chamber when the ball is in the valve opening position.

Abstract: A novel spear-head and shank assembly for spearfishing small fish with a speargun or compound flashing bow wherein the spear-head is pivotally mounted to the shank. Cooperative engagement means on the proximal end of the spear-head and the distal end of the shank enables the spear-head to automatically release from a normal, striking position upon striking a fish and gathering in a cable attached to the spear such that the spear-head will pivot to assume a position which prevents the fish from withdrawing from the spear prematurely. The spear-head may be manually pivoted to a release position wherein the fish may be easily removed from the spear, and then back to its normal, striking position.

Abstract: Methods of forming layers of material upon or below the earth's surface and above the water table to prevent or effectively inhibit the flow of groundwaters through such laters of initially unconsolidated materials. Chemical components are added to materials such as incinerator ash or other waste materials deposited in a landfill operation to create alkaline conditions which, when contacted by water, induce precipitation of calcite in sufficient quantities to produce a cementing action which retards leachate formation. In another aspect, a site is prepared for use as a landfill with an essentially hydraulically sealed sub-base by choosing a site with alkaline soils or carbonate bedrock and adding appropriate chemical components to cause calcite to precipitate when contacted by water, which may be applied directly or by naturally occurring precipitation.

Abstract: A swimming pool structure for on-site assembly including a flexible liner supported by a surrounding wall of side-by-side, wooden staves. One of the vertical edges of each stave is formed as a concave and the other as a convex surface. When the staves are arranged side-by-side, the convex surface of each stave nests within and contacts the concave surface of the adjoining stave. A plurality of cables pass entirely around the wall, and the cables are tensioned to urge the staves into tightly engaged relation. A downwardly-facing, U-shaped track member extends around the upper periphery of the wall and snugly engages the upper ends of the staves. The track member includes supplemental wall portions forming open channels for releasably receiving bead portions on the pool liner and a removable cover. A closed-cell, polyethylene sheet is preferably interposed between the vertical wall of the pool liner and the staves to provide a protective layer for the liner.

Abstract: A crating method wherein the bottom member of an open, metal, switching equipment frame is placed upon a horizontal, rectangular, wooden base, within an opening provided by framing members on the base, and preferably bolted thereto. A side framing assembly is then placed outwardly adjacent each side of the metal frame, the lower ends of each assembly being fixedly attached to the base and a horizontal member extending across the top of each framing assembly having an inwardly facing notch snugly receiving the adjacent side member of the metal frame. The side frame assemblies are then attached to the top member of the metal frame. The metal frame and the side framing assemblies are then enclosed in a flexible covering material.

Abstract: A mechanical sludge dewatering system including a plurality of first rollers, one or more second rollers and a liquid-permeable, endless belt passing between the first and second rollers from an inlet to an outlet end. At least some of the rollers of the first set are tapered from their ends to a smaller diameter at the center, the amount of taper decreasing from the roller at the inlet end to that at the outlet end, the opposing one or more second rollers being of constant diameter. The sludge carried on the belt passes through the cavities defined by the tapered first rollers and the cylindrical second roller(s), which decrease in cross section from the inlet to the outlet end, thereby squeezing water from the sludge. The first rollers each have grooves around their periphery adjacent each end, and the belt carries a protruding strip along each side, the belt being laterally constrained by the strips riding in the grooves.