Abstract: A plunge valve for closing and for opening a connection in a hydraulic conduit comprises a plunge (37) which is slidably movable in the hydraulic conduit (5, 5A) under the influence of the pressure in a section (5A) of the conduit on the inlet side of said conduit adjacent to the plunge between a first, open position, when the pressure in said section (5A) is high, in which position the plunge is withdrawn and communication is established, and a second, closed position, in which the pressure in said section is low, in which position the plunge shuts off said connection.

Abstract: Bodies (3) such as tiles, plates, slabs or bricks of Refractory Hard Material (RHM) or other refractory composites are bonded to the cathodes or to other components, in particular to a carbon cell bottom (1), of a cell for the production of aluminium by electrolysis of a cryolite-based molten electrolyte, made of carbonaceous or other electrically conductive refractory material, by a non-reactive colloidal slurry (4) comprising particulate preformed RHM in a colloidal carrier selected from colloidal alumina, colloidal yttria and colloidal ceria. The slurry usually comprises preformed particulate TiB.sub.2 in colloidal alumina. The bodies (3) are usually TiB.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 composites. The bonding is achieved simply by applying the slurry and allowing it to dry.

Abstract: A laser light detector is provided which can be used to detect pulsed laser light that is produced by a rotating laser light source on a construction job site. The laser light detector provides an easily-read display which is indicative of the present level or elevation of the laser light detector with respect to the plane of rotating laser light. The laser light detector has a very large dynamic range, while maintaining a very good signal-to-noise ratio, and can, therefore, be used at both short and long distances from the rotating laser light source. The laser light detector is not dependent upon the energy level received of laser light, or by the spot size of laser light as it reaches the light detectors. Multiple discrete steps of elevation indication are provided, which can easily be increased to a larger number of discrete steps, if so desired. The laser light detector is available with several options, including dead band adjustment, normal or offset on-grade displaying, and averaging.

Abstract: An adherent protective coating of a refractory material is produced on the surface of carbonaceous, refractory, ceramic, metallic or other materials serving as components of electrolytic cells operating at high temperature, by applying to such surfaces a well chosen micropyretic reaction layer from a slurry, which when dried is ignited to initiate a self-sustaining micropyretic reaction, along a combustion front, to produce condensed matter forming such refractory protective adherent coating. The slurry is preferably applied in several layers, the first layer(s) to facilitate adherence and the last layer(s) to provide protection and may contain some preformed non-reactant materials. The electrolytic cells whose components require such coatings are especially those operating at high temperature with a molten salt electrolyte, particularly those for the production of metals, aluminum being the most important.

Abstract: A slurry for joining metallic or ceramic surfaces or for coating metallic or ceramic and refractory surfaces, comprising a liquid suspending medium and at least two constituents in particulate form suspended in the medium, the constituents being so selected and proportioned as to undergo combustion synthesis when ignited. A method for coating or joining metallic or ceramic surfaces comprises applying such a slurry to a surface to be coated or to surfaces to be joined, and igniting the slurry to cause combustion synthesis.

Abstract: A coating composition for use in protecting metallic substrates from corrosion, comprising in weight percent, based on the total weight of the composition: from about 7% to 35% of film-forming substance; from about 35% to 55% of zinc powder; from about 5% to 25% of zinc flakes; from about 1% to 5% at least one kind of amorphous silica; and up to about 30% particulate ferrophosphate.

Abstract: A valve has an on-off control member disposed about an independently rotatable dynamic control member. The on-off control member, which interfaces with a sealing means, may be rotated to a closed position for shutoff purposes. Throttling operation is achieved by rotating the dynamic control member with the on-off control member in a stationary, fully open position which protects the sealing means. Bearings are placed between the dynamic control member and the on-off control member to permit the dynamic control member to rotate freely and accurately.

Abstract: A controlled atmosphere container system for shipping and storing perishable products, wherein the container system includes a plurality of individual, transportable containers to be connected from time to time with a central source for providing a controlled atmosphere to those containers. A controller preferably enables the container system to optimally allocate the capacity of the central source of the controlled atmosphere based upon the relative atmospheric conditions of the containers attached thereto and the capacity of the source. Such control is provided in the form of a predetermined hierarchy of priorities for allocating the controlled atmosphere gas to the individual containers.

Abstract: A fluid rotor is disclosed for turning electrical generators or other mechanical equipment. The fluid rotor contains multiple curved blades which are in a single plane of rotation, and which are spaced closely together so as to maximize the efficiency of the captured fluid. The open blades are designed to overlap one another to an extent that there are always at least two blades positioned to capture the fluid regardless from which direction the fluid is flowing. The curved blades allow the rotor to always rotate in the correct direction regardless of the direction of the fluid without the use of moving vanes or housings to help direct the fluid at certain portions of the fluid rotor. If the rotor is made to turn in the incorrect direction, it will, as fluid from any direction flows against it, slow down, stop momentarily, and then begin to rotate in the correct direction.

Abstract: A refrigeration control system is disclosed for operating a refrigeration system in a very efficient manner by controlling the refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant line between the liquid receiver and the evaporator at a pressure which is just above that at which bubbles ("flashgas") occur. An electronic sight glass is used to detect such flashgas bubbles in that liquid refrigerant line thereby indicating that more cooling capacity is required to properly operate the refrigeration system. The system controller can efficiently control various refrigeration components such that the electrical power drawn by the compressor motor is at an optimal or near-optimal rate of consumption at any given cooling requirement within the refrigeration system's cooling capacity. Some of the devices that can be controlled by the system controller include condenser fans, pressure control valves, reciprocating compressors, and screw compressors.

Abstract: A tire-puncturing apparatus is disclosed which can be placed on a road surface in front of a moving vehicle such as an automobile. The apparatus has a collapsible outer cover which makes it safe to handle the apparatus before its use, yet being collapsible, does not impede the operation of the apparatus in puncturing the tires of the target moving vehicle. A special three-piece spike is used to first penetrate the tire's surface and then embed a hollow quill in the tread of the tire such that the tire will deflate at a controlled rate, rather than causing a blowout and subsequent loss of control of the vehicle. The tire-puncturing apparatus is designed to be easily carried in the trunk of a police vehicle, and has an optional mating connector such that two or more of the tire-puncturing devices can be rigidly connected together to cover a larger portion of the road surface.

Abstract: An electrostatic air cleaner is disclosed along with a method for removing particulate matter from moving streams of air. A high voltage ionizer is used as a corona source to ionize the particulate matter as it approaches the air filter portion of the electrostatic air cleaner. The air filter uses a pair of reticulated polyether foam filters for collecting the particulate matter. The foam filters are separated by a thin, grid-like layer of semiconductive material (carbon-impregnated polycarbonate) which is raised to a very high DC voltage. The foam filters are also surrounded by thin, grid-like layers of electrically conductive material which are held at ground potential, thus creating a high-voltage electric field through each of the foam filters. The polyether foam filter media is non-deliquescent, thus preventing the high-voltage electric field from being dissipated by such imbedded water vapor, which is the cause of filter inefficiency in the prior art.

Abstract: A fishing float is disclosed having a stem and a buoyant member. The stem includes a slot oriented toward the buoyant member for receiving a fishing line. When a fishing line is attached to the fishing float, the configuration and orientation of the slot keeps the fishing line attached to the fishing float, even when the person fishing jerks on the fishing line. A spring is mounted around a portion of one end of the stem, and resists the movement of the fishing line out of the slot. The spring can be located in two positions, one creating a slip line condition such that the fishing line can slide through the slot, and the other creating a fixed line condition such that the fishing line cannot freely slide through the slot.

Abstract: An improved vibration-free mounting system for sample cooling and low temperature and precision spectroscopy in which a closed-cycle helium refrigerator mechanism is to be mounted adjacent to a cold test chamber to enable efficient sample cooling. The system includes a first rigid support structure which receives and supports the refrigerator mechanism, and a second rigid support structure independently receiving and supporting a shroud having a cold test chamber for housing test samples on a sample holder. The second support structure is physically isolated from the first structure to prevent the transfer of vibrations therebetween, and the first and second structures are rigidly aligned with one another along a vertical axis. A gas envelope vibration isolating connection is provided between the refrigerator mechanism and the shroud for providing thermal communication for efficient sample cooling.

Abstract: A valve has an actuating shaft packing assembly for located in a valve enclosure cover for preventing leakage of process fluid into the space between the actuating shaft and the cylindrical sidewall of a bore in the cover. The assembly includes an annular lip located at the axial end of the bore proximal to the fluid control member. The lip extends axially away from the fluid control member. An annular sealing ring is positioned between the lip and the cylindrical sidewall of the bore and formed of a material having a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the valve body or actuating shaft. The annular ring shrinks when cooled and increases the sealing effectiveness between the sealing ring and the lip for enhanced suppression of fluid flow between the sealing assembly and the cylindrical sidewall.

Abstract: Bodies (3) such as tiles, plates, slabs or bricks of Refractory Hard Material (RHM) or other refractory composites are bonded to the cathodes or to other components, in particular to a carbon cell bottom (1), of a cell for the production of aluminium by electrolysis of a cryolite-based molten electrolyte, made of carbonaceous or other electrically conductive refractory material, by a non-reactive colloidal slurry (4) comprising particulate preformed RHM in a colloidal carrier selected from colloidal alumina, colloidal yttria and colloidal ceria. The slurry usually comprises preformed particulate TiB.sub.2 in colloidal alumina. The bodies (3) are usually TiB.sub.2 --Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 composites. The bonding is achieved simply by applying the slurry and allowing it to dry.

Abstract: A method and composition for stabilizing and isolating hazardous, radioactive or mixed waste materials of particulate and solid types, which comprises providing a non-toxic one component aqueous mixture of an acrylic polymer containing a thixotropic agent, a vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer containing a thixotropic agent, or a vinyl chloride copolymer latex containing a thixotropic agent, and applying the mixture over surfaces of hazardous material in an amount sufficient to form a flexible impermeable coating or foam. The mixture may be applied by spraying to form a coating having a thickness of about 0.5 to about 5.0 centimeters when dry. The coated waste material may then be disposed of in conventional manner.

Abstract: A primary-secondary circuit hydraulic interface is disclosed for use in chilled water and hot water systems in which a suction manifold header is used to tie in the secondary return water, the primary supply water, and the suction side of the primary and secondary pumps. The hydraulic interface is installed within the suction manifold at the location where the secondary return water enters the suction manifold. The hydraulic interface allows the bypass water (which is excess primary supply water) and the secondary return water to easily enter the hydraulic interface into a downstream portion of the manifold through large openings and forces the two streams of water to collide together, thereby ensuring a turbulent mixing to take place. The hydraulic interface forces the mixed water to exit the hydraulic interface through much smaller openings into a downstream portion of the manifold, thereby ensuring that the bypass water and secondary return water are thoroughly blended together as they exit.