Abstract: The invention disclosed is a liquid constant flow, drainable solar energy collector system in which a manifold feeds several evacuated glass tube solar collectors disposed on an upward side of the manifold. The collectors are fed in parallel through an individual orifice which restricts flow rate to each solar tube. The normal outlet of each solar tube is via an axial glass pipe which extends to its top region. The orifices are all connected to a common header pipe in the manifold and the glass outlet pipes are all connected to a separate common header pipe in the manifold. For each solar tube the outlet pipe is of sufficient diameter in relation to the orifice so liquid that overflows the pipe does not completely fill it thereby always allowing an air vent passage via the same pipe. The restricted orifices are provided by inserts removably installed between their common header pipe and each of the solar tubes.

Abstract: An improved child resistant sifter fitment and closure for containers of harmful products includes an inverted cup-shaped body member formed of resilient plastic material and an integrally molded locking flap connected by an integral hinge to the periphery of the panel portion of the body member. The locking flap folds into a conforming recess in the top surface of the panel, and, in its folded position, all edges of the locking flap are flush with the adjacent top surfaces of the panel. Co-operating locking surfaces are provided on the flap and the body portion to retain the locking flap in its folded position, and to permit limited longitudinal movement of the locking flap relative to the panel. Dispensing openings are provided in the panel underlying the locking flap and an equal number of apertures are provided in the locking flap which are alignable with the dispensing openings by a longitudinal movement of the locking flap relative to the panel.

Abstract: A closure dispensing apparatus for dispensing closures one at a time from a stacked array. A crank mechanism pivoted at its center for rotation with a plurality of handles in radial alignment with the pivot point. The crank mechanism is positioned beneath the stack of closures so that movable lugs which are attached to each handle can one at a time interact with the rim of the bottommost closure in the stack and pull it from the apparatus. An inclined plane arrangement is used to cause each lug in its proper sequence to move into and out of a closure rim engaging position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an environmentally degradable plastic composition comprising an organic polymeric material having dispersed therein at least one ethylenically unsaturated alcohol or ethylenically unsaturated ester derived therefrom as a readily autoxidizable organic substance.

Abstract: A glass article such as a sham bottom tumbler with decorative air bubble encapsulated in its base is produced on existing automatic glass-forming machines by injecting a bubble of air into a charge of molten glass in the gob-forming section of a glass furnace as the charge is being formed into a gob. This is accomplished by providing an air supply tube in the gob-forming plunger. Preferably, the lower tip of the tube extends below the lower tip of the plunger. Puffs of compressed air are supplied in synchronism with the plunger cycle so an air bubble is formed in the lower end of the gob, and the gob is then formed by normal procedures into a finished article.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling the position of a stepping motor which is driven by a buffered translator. Commands calling for either forward or reverse motor steps are sent to the buffered translator, and the motor subsequently executes these commands. In order to determine if the motor executes all of the commands sent to the buffered translator, a signal representing the position the motor would assume if all of the commands were executed is compared to a signal representing the actual position of the motor. If they do not correspond, additional command pulses are caused to be generated to the buffered translator until the desired motor position is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular luminescent solar collector structure containing semiconductor photocells bonded to the surface thereof along the length of said tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly or matrix comprising an arrangement of integrally fused tubes forming a series of nonporous, longitudinal parallel passageways therethrough. The matrix is of a low-expansion ceramic material and the passageways therethrough have thin walls; a high proportion of the cross-sectional or frontal area of the matrix is free open area. Also disclosed are methods for making such a matrix from glass tubes that are thermally crystallizable; one method involves longitudinally bundling the tubes with their ends sealed and heating the assembly to soften, expand and fuse the tubes in a heat treatment schedule that also nucleates and thermally crystallizes the matrix to the final ceramic product. Another embodiment involves superimposing a plurality of layers of tubes, one layer above the other in successive parallel planes, with the tubes in each plane being essentially parallel to each other and transverse to the tubes in adjacent layers.

Abstract: This invention provides a machine for assembling cup shaped base members onto the bottom portions of bottle shaped containers. The assembly machine comprises a continuously rotating base transport table receiving successive bases in pockets on its periphery from a supply source of bases. A plurality of vacuum chucks are positioned above the base pockets and successively engage the side walls of containers supplied in timed sequence to such pockets. A plurality of vertically shiftable plungers are mounted above the position of the containers and actuated by a peripheral stationary cam to depress such plungers into engagement with the neck portion of the containers and to push the containers into engagement with the cup shaped bases disposed below the containers.

Abstract: A machine for testing a container such as a paper or plastic cup. The cup rests upon a platform and its stiffness is measured by applying a given load to the side of the cup by means of a motor driven load applying arm. The applied load and the resulting deflection are determined by the direct coupling together of the cores of a force cell and a linear variable displacement transformer. The load applying arm and the coil of the linear variable displacement transformer are coupled together to compensate for an initial preload condition. The ultimate load for the predetermined deflection is monitored by a force cell and the electrical signal thus generated is converted to a direct reading digitally displaced valve.A method for testing a cup-like container by supporting the container on a set of rollers and applying a first small force normal to the side of the container. A second greater force is applied to the side of the container until a preselected overall deflection of the container side is attained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for injection molding tubular plastic articles around cylindrical core pins at a molding station, for cooling the articles while supported on the core pins, and for then axially stripping the articles from the core pins at an ejection station. The article stripping step is accomplished by a horizontally reciprocable carriage which is selectively moved into and out of vertical alignment with a set of core pins and molded articles positioned at the ejection station. Sectional gripping members on the carriage are radially closable when in alignment with the molded articles, to grasp the articles for their axial removal from the core pins upon the horizontal displacement of the carriage. The stripped articles may be held in a horizontal cantilever position between the gripping members during an operational dwell time for additional cooling subsequent to their removal from the core pins.

Abstract: A tamperproof press-on, snap cap for closing a container having a neck defining the mouth opening. The container has an upper cap retaining bead and lower, enlarged annular ledge. The snap cap includes an enlarged end wall and a downwardly depending skirt inwardly of the end wall periphery which has an inwardly directed radial annular bead for cap retaining engagement with the container bead. A cylindrical tear sleeve depends downwardly from the peripheral edge of the end wall of the cap, is spaced radially outwardly from the skirt, is longer than the skirt and sized for encircling and snugly engaging the annular ledge. The tear sleeve has a peripherally weakened annular tear zone at the cap end wall juncture and includes an axial tear groove extending from the weakened tear zone to the lowered edge of the sleeve. Adjacent the tear groove is shortened section to enable grasping and tearing the sleeve.

Abstract: A hand tool for use in providing protective manual assistance in opening frangible hermetically sealed ampuls having an elongated main body portion and an integral axially projecting removable end merging with the body portion through a peripherally constricted and relatively weakened neck designed to fracture and separate the removable end from the body portion in response to a bending stress manually applied to the removable end portion. The hand tool comprises an essentially rigid one-piece construction which may be manually gripped within one hand of the user and which is designed to accommodate its reuse with widely varying ampul sizes. The hand tool features a pair of elongate protective finger grips arranged in side-by-side interspaced relationship at one end and integrally merging together at an opposite longitudinal end to define a generally U-shaped central recess within which to position the removable end of a sealed ampul.

Abstract: A process for forming organopolysiloxanes from hydrolyzable silanes and the resulting products are disclosed, characterized in that condensation of the silanes is carried out in the presence of a stabilizing amount of a weak organic base, such as quinoline, having an ionization constant in water no greater than about 1.times.10.sup.-7 at 25.degree. C. After hydrolysis of the silane, the resulting silanol is partially condensed to form the organopolysiloxane. During such condensation, the weak organic base provides improved stability to the organopolysiloxane solution against gelation prior to the time the organopolysiloxane is shaped and cured to a final thermoset form.

Abstract: A process for forming organopolysiloxanes from trialkoxysilanes and the resulting resinous products are disclosed, characterized in that the organopolysiloxane resins have increased abrasion and solvent resistance with good shelf life. The organopolysiloxanes are formed by dual catalysts that operate preferably in sequence. Hydrolysis and condensation of the trialkoxysilanes are carried out in an aqueous solution and catalyzed by formic acid at a relatively high strength, such as an amount greater than 700 ppm. Cross-linking of the resulting partially condensed, curable organopolysiloxane is then catalyzed by a hydrocarbyl substituted ammonium hydroxide in which the hydrocarbyl substituent may be alkyl or alkenyl up to about 6 carbon atoms. The resinous products are especially useful as coating compositions.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence and quantitatively determining the amount of ionic or nonionic surfactants on a surface, particularly for the rapid determination of the surfactants on glass surfaces. The method comprises the use of an enzyme-substrate combination, including an enzyme which binds the ionic or nonionic surfactant on the surface, but is not deactivated, or inhibited, by the nonionic surfactant's binding. An indicator molecule is also present which is responsive to the product of the enzyme-substrate reaction. In operation, an aqueous solution of the enzyme and indicator is applied to the surface to be tested and sufficient time is allowed for any surfactant to dissolve and bind the enzyme. A solution of a standard ionic surfactant is then added which will bind and deactivate the enzyme if the enzyme has not been bound by any nonionic surfactant present. Finally, a solution of the enzyme substrate is added.

Abstract: A high mobility wheeled vehicle for transporting long loads, such as trimmed tree trunks or whole trees, over roadless terrain. The vehicle has front and rear quad wheel assemblies pivotally connected to a centrally disposed elongated bed frame so as to permit lateral rotation of these assemblies about a roll axis disposed below and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame. A linkage type roll control interconnects the quad wheel assemblies and the bed frame to proportionately control the relative angular movement of the bed frame with respect to the quad wheel assemblies. The roll control includes a plurality of interconnected links plus a pair of power extensible links for selectively adjusting the steady state position of the vehicle bed relative to the quad wheel assemblies in either direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structure which in one apparatus converts a part of incident solar energy to electrical energy by the use of photocells mounted on a luminescent solar collector of tubular design while another portion of such incident energy is converted to thermal energy.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved cooling arrangement for the core pin of a commercially available injection molding machine permitting a significant reduction in the cycle time of such machine. The core pin is fabricated by the assembly of a plurality of concentric sleeve-like members, one of which is provided with six parallel helically disposed external grooves which respectively define three parallel passages for cooling fluid inlet and three parallel outlet passages for the heated fluid. The arrangement provides a significant increase in the quantity of cooling fluid flowing through the core pin, hence permits a significant decrease in cycle time of the injection molding machine.