Abstract: A coking oven having a coking chamber and a combustion chamber with a high temperature flue gas outlet connected to a first heat exchanger for heating cool air to cool the flue gases to an intermediate temperature, a coal dryer using the intermediate temperature flue gases for drying wet coal to a water content of a few percent by weight and preheating the coal to a temperature below the boiling point of water, a coal oiler to oil the partially dried and preheated coal, and a gas cleaner system for removing particulate matter from the low temperature flue gas coming from the coal dryer; also disclosed is an improved method of coking coal and apparatus for preheating and partially drying coal that can be added to existing coke oven structures.

Abstract: A floating roof storage tank having an upstanding tank shell for containing liquid to be stored and having therein a floating roof floating on the surface of the stored liquid, a metal shoe carried by the floating roof and extending around the tank shell, a primary seal interconnecting the floating roof and the metal shoe, a plurality of seal support members shiftably mounted upon the metal shoe at the upper end thereof, a secondary seal extending between the upper rim of the floating roof and the seal support members and beyond the seal support members and against the inner surface of the tank shell; the seal support members are shiftable away from the tank shell a distance to permit inspection of the primary seal therebelow; limit structure acting between the metal shoe and the seal support members limit movement thereof to prevent the seal support members from contacting the tank shell.

Abstract: A battery-operated smoke alarm includes an alerting signal means for indicating when the battery voltage is low by comparing a first signal which is a function of the battery output voltage with a relatively fixed reference signal and producing an alerting signal when the first signal is less than the reference signal. Means are provided for squelching the low battery voltage alerting signal for the first several nights after the onset of the low battery voltage condition by incorporating photosensitive means in the generating circuit for either the first signal or the reference signal for shifting the level of that signal away from the other signal under dark conditions.

Abstract: A hopper valve module is adapted to be removably mounted in the well of a hopper of a hopper dredge vessel and includes a housing and a valve member movable with respect to the housing for opening and closing the hopper outlet. A transmitter tube containing longitudinally spaced-apart magnetic switches and associated resistors is carried by the housing, the switches being connected in circuit with resistors and coupled to power supply and indicating means in the vessel. A hollow sleeve is fixedly secured to the valve member and is disposed in surrounding telescopic relationship with the tube, the sleeve carrying a permanent magnet therein for sequentially actuating the magnetic switches as the valve member moves between its open and closed positions, the varying current through the assembly of switches and resistors indicating the position of the valve member.

Abstract: The filter comprises a multiplicity of light polarizing elements which polarize light in a plurality of planes, and a multiplicity of filtering means associated with the light polarizing elements. In a polariscope, light is directed from a source through such a filter to the specimen to be analyzed. Light passed through the specimen once or twice is coupled through another such filter termed an analyzer. In certain embodiments, the polarizer and the analyzer are combined. Patterns representing the stress in the specimen are produced. The pattern includes isochromatics and a number of isoclinics.

Abstract: Starting and operating power is provided to a gas discharge lamp by a circuit which includes a constant-voltage current-limiting ferroresonant transformer connected to an AC source and having high and low voltage output terminals. A full-wave rectifying bridge is selectively connectable to either the high or low voltage output terminals by relay control means which includes a choke coil connected in series with the lamp and a magnet reed. On starting of the lamp the magnetic flux of the choke coil operates the reed for shifting to the low voltage condition, and on extinguishing of the lamp the collapse of the choke coil flux operates the reed for shifting to the normal high voltage condition. A transient high voltage starting pulse is applied to the lamp across a spark gap by a pulse generating starting circuit in which a capacitor, charged from the DC output, is discharged through a self-commutating SCR and an ignition transformer.

Abstract: The belt includes the usual flexible strip and buckle. Flashing-light means is mounted in the buckle and is powered by a portable supply which may be located in the wearer's pocket. Preferably the light means takes the form of two associated flasher circuits.

Abstract: A field transplant system including a machine for sequentially forming groups of polymerized soil plugs having seed receiving recesses in one end thereof and supported on a carrier, and in certain cases interconnected by strips, the carrier being used to transport the soil plugs through a seeding station and then to a germination station and then to a growing station either in the flat or on a plant turning machine in a greenhouse to grow the germinated seeds to transplant size, and then using the carrier to transport the soil plugs with the transplants growing therein to the field for transplanting by an automatic transplanter; several forms of soil plugs are disclosed, and several methods for supplying seeds to the soil plugs are disclosed, as well as an improved method of mounting a mat of soil plugs on the cylinder of a plant turning machine.

Abstract: A rectangular channel member has coplanar spaced-apart wall portions defining a slot therebetween and each having a flange extending from the slot inwardly of the channel member and away from the other wall portion at an acute angle. A generally U-shaped connector is disposable within the channel member across the slot and includes rectangular recesses receiving the flanges therein. A threaded fastener engageable with the connector extends through the slot for engagement with a support member, tightening of the fastener causing deformation of the flanges by the connector for wedging the flanges in the connector recesses. The support member may constitute a bracket for coupling the channel member to another channel member, several different bracket constructions being disclosed for coupling to different types of channel members and for different orientations of the channel members.

Abstract: A high power ultrasonic generator for driving a transducer/horn assembly includes a transistor bridge inverter power output circuit connected to a DC source for producing an alternating output current. A pulse generating circuit produces a bipolar train of pulses for controlling the switching of the transistors in the bridge inverter circuit. The pulse widths are adjusted to provide a dead time therebetween at least equal to the storage time of the inverter transistors to prevent any overlap in the conduction of the opposite legs thereof. Overload control means reduces the widths of the pulses when the output current exceeds predetermined levels, thereby to reduce the output current. A starting circuit in the pulse generator gradually increases the pulse widths during start-up of the generator, and other circuitry protects against unduly high current loads in the power supply during AC turn-on of the system.

Abstract: There is provided a protective and adjustable book cover for paperback books and magazines and the like, which has two complimentary sized cover sections having opposed and spaced apart plies connected along three edges thereof forming a pocket with the remaining edges open. The plies are spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive therebetween the cover of an associated book or magazine and are connected by a spine between the complimentary pocket shaped cover sections. The spine has a transverse dimension substantially coextensive with the open edges of the cover sections, and finally means resiliently connect the spine to at least one of the cover sections to provide an adjustable book cover for paperback books or magazines of various thicknesses and size.

Abstract: Article transfer mechanism or apparatus for changing the direction of movement of articles while maintaining the orientation of the articles, including an infeed conveyor conveying articles in a first direction while in a predetermined orientation, a transfer conveyor having a continuous belt with a plurality of groups of rollers thereon with windows therebetween receiving articles from the infeed conveyor, a plate disposed below the lower reach of the transfer conveyor and closing at least one of the windows to provide a container for an article deposited thereon, structure for rotating the groups of rollers to cause the rollers to move an article deposited thereon into the adjacent window, an article conveyor having a plurality of pockets open at the top for receiving articles from the plate of a transfer conveyor for conveying the articles in a different direction from that of the infeed conveyor; there also is shown conveyors for equally spacing randomly spaced articles and for laterally aligning articles

Abstract: An accumulating roller conveyor for conveying articles including a frame and a plurality of conveyor rollers, means rotatably supporting each conveyor roller on the frame and movable upwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto, each conveyor roller normally being positioned downwardly and forwardly with respect to the frame, a drive belt frictionally engaging the conveyor rollers for driving the same, the drive belt having a projection thereon of limited longitudinal extent disposed toward the conveyor rollers, stopping the movement of an article along the conveyor rollers causing the projection to move the conveyor rollers upwardly and rearwardly and out of contact with the remaining portions of the drive belt, and one-way clutch mechanism holding out of contact with the drive belt the conveyor rollers in contact with a stopped article in the upward and rearward positions thereof so long as the contacted article is stopped.

Abstract: A desk set of all plastic material with a base having front and rear surfaces and spaced apart openings therein with an instrument holder near one end of the base. The instrument holder has three hoops, one extending forwardly of the base and the other extending rearwardly of the base and each vertically spaced with respect to each other and a cone-shaped hoop at the bottom of the instrument holder extending forwardly of the base. A ledge extends rearwardly of the base at the bottom of the instrument holder providing a support surface. Two discs with indicia are rotatably mounted on the base so that a portion of each disc is in registry with a respective one of the openings in the base, and in one embodiment a rear brace maintains the discs in position. A brace extends rearwardly of the base to maintain the base in an upright position.

Abstract: An observation hive including a main frame containing a standard frame and a shallow frame and having a hinged cover closing the top thereof, the main frame having dovetail grooves on the inside thereof extending from the upper end and terminating at support surfaces spaced from the bottom, the standard frame having support extensions on the upper edge thereof extending into the dovetail grooves and resting upon the support surfaces, spacer blocks shaped complementary in cross section to the dovetail grooves and disposed therein and resting upon the support surfaces and supporting extensions on the shallow frame that extend into the dovetail grooves and overlie the spacer blocks, and spacers on the under side of the cover which when the cover is closed press against the top of the shallow frame.

Abstract: The loadlock and beam of the present invention are for use with a pallet rack structure in which the beam is connected to an upright of an end frame with the loadlock. The loadlock has a right angled-shaped bolt with a shank slidably extending through an aligned hole in the upright and in an end plate of the beam and has a headed handle portion extending through a contoured slot in the beam wall adjacent the end of the beam. The contoured slot defines three separate positions and cooperates with a generally cylindrical spring metal retainer positioned on the bolt handle having diametrically opposed projecting tabs engaging the innerface of the beam wall adjacent the slot and having projections engageable with the edges of the contoured slot to position the loadlock in any one of the three preselected positions.

Abstract: A self-adjusting engine timing pickup probe adapted to be received in a tubular engine mounting bracket, the probe extending into close proximity with a position indicator on a rotating engine part to provide an air gap. An elongated sensor assembly extends through the tubular member and has relative axial movement therewith for initial manual adjustment of the sensor assembly to provide an effective air gap. Interference means are provided between the tubular member and the sensor assembly, the interference means establishing substantial resistance to relative axial movement between the tubular member and the sensor assembly. The tubular member has a spring means which engages the engine mounting bracket and holds the two together in a yielding manner. The spring means urges the tubular member and associated sensor assembly inwardly toward the rotating engine part. However, during engine operation, the rotating engine part, due to tolerances, wear, vibrations, etc.

Abstract: The apparatus may be used to control heater elements for an over chamber. The heater elements are operated in accordance with the output of a comparator having on one input a voltage representative of the temperature in a chamber. The voltage on the other input is established in accordance with the desired or ultimate temperature in the chamber. As long as the volage on the second-mentioned input is greater than the voltage on the other input, the heater elements will be energized to heat the chamber. The voltage on the second-mentioned input is modulated with a triangular wave so that the heater elements are operated intermittently as the desired temperature of the chamber is approached. The amplitude of the triangular wave varies with the desired temperature so that at higher and higher oven temperatures, the heater elements start to become intermittent at higher and higher temperatures.

Abstract: A small container contains a frozen liquid or other coolant and is magnetically adhered to a metal microtome blade either by means of a permanent magnet disposed within the container or a magnetized metal wall portion on the container, for cooling the blade. The container may be sealed or refillable. There is also disclosed a container having inlet and outlet openings for permitting a continuous flow therethrough of coolant such as carbon dioxide from a dry ice source.