Abstract: Apparatus for automatically recording the rate of fluid absorption of the soil includes three subsystems which may be easily assembled on site. During a test procedure the rate of descent of a float is recorded on a tape by a timer controlled marker.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the residual force or tension in a bolt or stud is presented. The bolt or stud in a previously tightened joint is stressed by the imposition of a pulling force, the resulting strain on the bolt is measured to develop a force-strain relationship, and the measured force-strain relationship is compared to previously determined force-strain relationships for the joint to determine the residual force or tension in the bolt or stud.

Abstract: A calibration test stand and method is presented for calibration of hydraulically powered torque wrenches. A hydraulic wrench to be powered by a pump is directly calibrated with the pump so that the pressure level of the pump can be accurately set to obtain the desired output torque level.

Abstract: Material to be deposited on the hearth of a shaft furnace serially passes through a pair of temporary storage containers positioned above the furnace. The uppermost storage container is in the form of a bin open to the ambient atmosphere while the lower storage container is provided with valves at either end whereby it may be hermetically sealed and subsequently brought to furnace pressure. The lower storage container is loaded while at ambient pressure, by releasing furnace charge material previously delivered to the upper storage container into the lower container and subsequently by delivering material directly to the lower container from a conveyor system through the lower container. The upper container is refilled with material while the lower container is at furnace pressure and is discharging its contents into the furnace.

Abstract: A tactile snap-action element for use in keyboards, the element comprising an arcuately shaped invertible first dome and a second dome shaped actuating protrusion extending from the invertible second dome, the actuating dome protrusion being integral with the invertible dome and being non-invertible. The element is operated by an actuation force which acts directly or indirectly through the non-inverting second dome to invert the first dome and to provide tactile feedback. The keyboard includes a plurality of keys, each key comprising an element, a conductive circuit associated with the first dome and movable with the inversion of the first dome to electrically contact a second conductive circuit associated with the element.

Abstract: A high capacitance bus bar including at least two separated conductive plates between which a plurality of capacitive ceramic dielectric chips are positioned and adhered. Opposite faces of the chips are coated with a thin, integral and continuous film of conductive material and the coated chips are adhered to the conductive plates with a conductive adhesive.