Abstract: A building dome structure is formed by splicing long rafter sections into rafters and then lifting the rafters into positions extending meridionally between an upper compression ring and a lower tension ring. Then individual purlins are raised into positions between the adjacent rafters and attached thereto by purlin connecting means. Condensate channels along the rafter and purlin members collect condensation from glazing panels which are supported along their marginal edges by the rafters and purlins.

Abstract: An airvane for use with bluff vehicles and the like to reduce air drag thereon is disclosed wherein the airvane includes a curved portion and a generally planar portion. Such airvanes are mounted adjacent the corner edges of the vehicle, particularly the windward corner edges, and reduce separation of air along the rearwardly extending surfaces of the vehicle in a manner to reduce air drag and buffeting of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating objects according to size including conveyor means having an endless conveyor belt trained over a supporting surface and mounted on a frame with its transverse dimension disposed at a slope to the horizontal. A plurality of endless sizing belts are arranged in side-by-side, spaced apart relationship with each sizing belt including a run which extends above and longitudinally of the supporting surface. The distance between the sizing belt runs and the supporting surface varies from a maximum distance adjacent the uppermost edge of the conveyor means to a minimum distance adjacent the lowermost edge of the conveyor means. Means are provided for driving the conveyor belt means and the plurality of sizing belt means to the end that objects placed on the sizing apparatus adjacent the uppermost edge of the conveyor means are sorted according to size and discharged from the opposite end of the supporting surface at a location varying according to size.

Abstract: A push-button safety buckle, which is used to fasten together ends of safety belts about passengers, is constructed with an inverted channel-shaped, metallic, load-bearing buckle body encapsulated in a surrounding, nonload bearing plastic housing. Because the buckle body is encapsulated, the conventional and expensive chrome plating of the buckle body is eliminated. An overhead plate on the inverted channel-shaped body provides crush resistance to the buckle. An aperture formed in the overhead plates allows access to and operation of a unitary latch lever pivotally mounted within the buckle body.

Abstract: A polyethylene or polypropylene foam and a method for its manufacture in which polyethylene or polypropylene powder, is mixed with a liquid component, e.g. mineral oil, to a substantially uniform blend and placed in a container such as a closed mold. The mixture is heated to a temperature at which the polymer flows and is in a substantially liquid state such that the intimately mixed polymer and mineral oil enter into a solution, the solution forming in situ in the container. Thereafter, upon further heating, the mineral oil is caused to undergo a phase change from a liquid to a vapor at its boiling temperature, whereupon the mineral oil acts to expand the polymer into a foam. The temperature to which the solution is heated is maintained to less than the temperature at which the polymer foam collapses due to lowering of its viscosity, thereby ensuring that the foam structure is maintained. The foam thus produced is cooled and removed from the mold.

Abstract: A pop-up dimensional or specialty product which is designed for mass-production mechanical fabrication and assembly. A basepiece is formed from sheet material including a plurality of base panels, and a separate pop-up element is attached to two different base panels. Adhesive is applied to a subelement of one pop-up element, and after bringing the base panels into superposed relationship, as by folding, the subelement becomes adhesively attached to a subelement of the other pop-up element. Upon unfolding of the basepiece, the pop-up elements stand up out of the plane thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for converting an air flow into useful mechanical work by means of a reciprocating blade means. The preferred blade means comprises a plurality of lightweight, airfoil shaped blades mounted in a stack for moving a carrier associated therewith along a rectilinear path. A reversing means reverses the angle of attack of the blade at each end of the carrier travel. The wind machine is generally of rectangular shape and can be readily used in combination with high-rise buildings to provide a useful work output.

Abstract: Fibers are air laid on a twin-wire machine to form a composite pad. A pair of endless foraminous carriers are passed through a forming chamber where fibers suspended in air are directed between the carriers. A layer of fibers is built up on each of the carriers by applying pressure differential across the carriers in the chamber to force air from the suspension through the carriers. In one form of the invention the air is directed through the respective carriers in different patterns to form a respective fiber layers of different cross section. The carriers converge within the chamber in their direction of motion to join the facing surfaces of the respective layers to form a composite pad of non-uniform cross section. According to one aspect of the invention, excess fibers are removed from the facing surfaces just prior to their being joined.

Abstract: A welding cable is described in which a welding current conductor, switch wires and a gas conductor tube are all contained in longitudinal passages in a single cable jacket. The passages containing the gas conductor tube and the switch wires are accessible through longitudinal openings in the jacket coextensive with the passages to facilitate insertion and removal of the switch wires and the gas conductor tube.

Abstract: A method of making an oxide nuclear fuel compact of predominantly open porosity having a density between about 88 and 96 percent of theoretical density. A green compact is formed from a mixture of particulate nuclear fuel oxide and fibrous material and then heated under conditions sufficient to cause removal of the fibrous material. Sintering for a sufficient length of time produces a strong, open-pore structure which is resistant to in-reactor sintering.

Abstract: A device which reduces beat distortion caused by crosstalk between subchannel signals in a multichannel sound system. To effect reduced beat distortion, one component present in both the sum and difference subchannel is attenuated before the subchannels are modulated.

Abstract: A partitioned container and method and blank for making the same are disclosed wherein a partition panel is formed integral with one end of the blank and is foldable with and selectively adhesively secured to side wall panels to form a partitioned container having top and bottom forming flaps which are self-locking when in folded positions so that conventional stapling, stitching or taping of the top and bottom flaps is eliminated.

Abstract: Laminated blanks for forming moisture-resistant packages are produced from a substrate, such as cardboard. A continuous web of substrate is perforated and fold lines formed. Perforated regions are stripped therefrom prior to laminating with moisture-resistant heat-sealable sheeting using a heat-weakenable laminating material. Thereafter, a multitude of rows of individual blanks are profiled by die-cutting the laminated web. The blanks have unsupported sheeting regions disposed along an edge portion of the substrate which provide membranes or webs that are adapted for sealing to another portion of the laminated sheeting to form a continuous barrier that may be used to prevent wicking in an erected package.

Abstract: A cooling tower is described employing a heat exchanger and duct means defining a passage for directing the air over the heat exchanger for cooling same. The duct means have upper and lower air intake orifices, the former being positioned a substantial distance above ground level and the latter being positioned substantially at ground level. Means are provided for selectively drawing air into the duct means through either of said orifices.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a shaker conveyor is disclosed in which a drive unit is supported on a mounting beam and has an output crank connected through a pull rod to a conveyor trough such that the puller rod undergoes movement in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the trough. The drive unit is rotatable relative to the mounting beam in a manner to selectively vary the acceleration characteristics of the conveyor trough, and has a self-contained internal lubricating system which provides improved quiet operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for reducing crossover modulation distortion generated at a sub-channel and for minimizing phase differences between 4-channel signals that are recorded on a recording medium in a multiple-frequency manner. More specifically, the present invention is directed to reducing or eliminating the beat distortion that is caused by crosstalk between a sub-channel signal and a main channel signal when the main channel signal is recorded according to RIAA-TYPE recording characteristics.

Abstract: A syringe device having smaller and larger, coaxially aligned cylinder bores each provided with respective pistons. The larger rearmost piston is in slidable sealing engagement with its bore but is free-floating on the syringe plunger shaft so that as the forward piston is withdrawn the plunger shaft slips centrally through the rear piston. Thus, fluid drawn in by the forward piston is ultimately mixed with any contents of the large cylinder or bore associated with the larger piston. The rearward piston is free to adjust its disposition on the plunger shaft in response to positive fluid pressure existing forwardly thereof. At a predetermined point in the rearward travel of the plunger, during withdrawal strokes, the pistons are linked together by provided structure for enabling simultaneous, corresponding forward travel to eject the combined substances from the over-all syringe construction.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for measuring the level of gamma radiation contained in a plurality of biological samples which are located on the fibrous sheet member carried by a sample holder. The apparatus is adapted to count the radiation level of the number of closely spaced samples located in rows and columns on the sheet by automatically sequencing through the individual samples within the rows and to advance the holder to bring successive rows into proximity with the detector. The detector is moved from sample to sample within the rows, although a number of detectors can be employed. A plurality of sample holders are automatically advanced to the detector.

Abstract: A heat collector and diffuser is disclosed for superimposition over elongated fin tube radiators in building heating systems. Blower means induces airflow across an elongated fin tube heat exchanger and into collector ducts which channel the heated air into a diffuser area where the blower means forcefully discharges the heated air into the roomer space. In this manner, inefficient and out-of-date heating systems may be improved and modernized without substantial changes or modifications.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating ionomeric polymers so as to inhibit the tendency of the polymers to form films. A coating composition including the treated ionomeric polymer is suitable for coating glassware so as to provide glassware having improved resistance to abrasion. The ionomeric polymer coating on the glassware resists film formation when the coating is inadvertently applied to the interior surface of the glassware. The method includes the step of adding colloidal silica to an aqueous dispersion of an ionomeric polymer.