Abstract: A modular lightweight structural panel is made of a lightweight, foil-faced expanded plastic filler reinforced by wire lattice structures. A number of long, narrow pre-coated filler elements are interleaved with a number of substantially flat lattice structures to form a laminated panel subassembly with corresponding reflective surfaces of the filler elements collectively forming substantially planar surfaces of the multilayered reflective panel core. The subassembly is laterally compressed, in a direction perpendicular to the planes of laminations, to thereby force each of the lattice structures to be pressed into and partially embedded in mutually contiguous surfaces and foil edges of adjacent ones of the filler elements.

Abstract: The method comprises providing an extremely strong and elastic alloy steel ring having a inner diameter substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the pipe to be joined, and an outer diameter much larger than such outer diameter of the pipe. Great axial forces are then employed to insert the pipe ends into the ring until an internal flange is abutted, thus stretching the ring without causing it to exceed its elastic limit. End seals are provided on the flange faces and are pinched off by the pipe ends, so that metal-to-metal contact results. Prior to forcing the pipe ends into the ring, it is mounted in an internal groove in a hinged clasp which aligns the pipe ends.The apparatus comprises the ring, the clasp and the seals, and further comprises the completed joint wherein the ring is under continuous great hoop stress.

Abstract: This invention provides an optical fiber connector that includes a tubular receptacle with a lens at its central portion and fiber termination units extending into its opposite ends. Each of the fiber termination units includes two elements, one telescopingly received in the other and resiliently biased toward the lens. A nut engages either end of the receptacle and the outer element of the fiber termination unit, biasing the latter element against a positive stop which limits its axial travel toward the lens. A single seal at each nut engages the receptacle and the fiber termination unit to preclude entry of foreign matter. The fibers are gripped by resilient members compressed around the fibers by crimped portions of the fiber holding units. An elongated tool, with spaced shoulders, positions the lens and its retention springs at the center of the receptacle.

Abstract: A plurality of wire trusses is employed in a three-dimensional wire matrix having a foam core to provide a light-weight structural building panel. Each truss, comprised of a sinuously bent strut wire having its apices welded to lateral runner wires, is formed by a continuous bending and wire processing apparatus which simultaneously withdraws three wires from wire supplies, sinuously bends the strut wire, assembles the bent strut wire with the runner wires, welds the joints therebetween, and severs desired lengths of completed truss sections. Several wires are fed to the bending station at different speeds and intermittently via three individually automatically controlled wire storage loops. The arrangement is such that even with the several different wire feed rates, all three wires are pulled from wire supply rolls by a single motor and all three are driven to the truss fabrication station by a single motor.

Abstract: A multi-image camera sequentially exposes upon a film sheet a number of images of an oscilloscope that displays images of a patient subjected to a scanning device. Camera optics and motion of parts are arranged to provide a lightweight and compact package. Fixed to the elongated oscilloscope body is an optical system having a folded optical path that provides an output leg parallel to and above and to the rear of the oscilloscope screen. A sheet film slide carrier is mounted for slidable motion backward and forward relative to and just above the oscilloscope body. The oscilloscope, together with the folded path optical system, is mounted for motion from side to side.

Abstract: This invention provides an electric motor for high speed operation that includes an inner housing assembly made up of two members having tubular walls having telescoped sections bonded together at the central portion of the assembly, with the field of motor bonded to the inside of the two inner housing members. The opposite ends of the inner housing assembly then are bored to provide precisely aligned bearing support surfaces. Ball bearings fit on these surfaces and rotatably mount the armature. An outer housing fits around the inner housing and is spaced from it, providing an unobstructed annular passageway for circulating coolant. The passageway includes inwardly directed portions around the bearings for efficient removal of heat from those areas.

Abstract: In a time-delayed device for opening a parachute, a spring-loaded cable is coupled to a cylindrical translational gear for conjoint movement. When the cable is released from a cocked position and spring-driven to a release position at which it opens the parachute, the translational gear is driven past the input gear of a gear train. As it moves, the translational gear engages and rotates the input gear along and through an effective gear engagement length which may be selectively varied by rotating the translational gear with respect to the input gear. An adjustable escapement contacts the gear train output gear and retards rotation of the input gear, and thus retards the rate of movement of both the translational gear and the cable, during engagement between the input gear and the translational gear through the selected effective engagement length.

Abstract: This invention provides a valve consisting of a body and rotatable valve member, both of which are made of plastic, the valve body having a passageway intersected by a frustoconical opening which receives the valve member. The valve member is rotatable for controlling the flow through the passageway, the rotation being accomplished by engaging a recess in the outer end of the valve member. The body includes an outwardly deflectable shoulder that fits over the outer end of the valve member to hold the valve member in the body. The valve member is made to a greater major diameter than that of the opening in the valve body to provide an interference fit. Deep annular grooves around the valve opening provide a thin wall for the valve body around the opening, allowing distortion-free molding of the valve body.

Abstract: An adjustable light and air-admitting thermal and acoustic barrier has a plurality of sound-attenuating blades pivotally mounted in a frame in a mutually spaced, parallel relationship. When the barrier is mounted at an open window, the blades may be adjusted to various open positions to allow desired amounts of outside light and air into a room, but cooperate in such open positions to form an effective sound trap for annoying outside sounds. Each of the blades functions as both a sound absorber and a sound transmission barrier, and comprises an elongated, relatively thin core of solid, sound-reflective material having longitudinally extending edge and intermediate flanges which define cavities on opposite sides of the core. Secured within the cavities by the flanges are strips of sound-absorbing insulating material, the core and insulating material being laterally enfolded by a cover secured to the flanges.

Abstract: A device for holding a recreational vehicle compartment access door in an open position includes a bracket plate having a pair or oppositely extending arms which are interconnected and offset by an intermediate bracket portion to which is attached a laterally projecting pin. The device is attached to a pinless hinge connecting the access door to its frame by opening the door and inserting the pin axially into an end of the hinge so that the arms contact radially opposed surfaces on the door and frame and hold the door open. The pin is adjustable along the intermediate bracket portion toward or away from the arm that contacts the frame, making the device readily adaptable to a wide variety of hinge and frame configurations.

Abstract: A rotary pipe bending machine employs a single hydraulic motor to drive clamp and pressure dies toward the bend die and to rotate the bend and clamp dies. The motor piston is connected via a chain to drive a clamp die carrier toward a rotatably mounted bend die and toward a bend die shaft actuator. Upon continued motion of the clamp die carrier, it engages the actuator to rotate the bend die together with a clamp die mounted on the carrier. The motor cylinder is movably mounted and connected to a pressure die carrier so that as the motor piston drives the clamp die carrier and the bend die, the cylinder, reacting to the driving force of the piston, drives the pressure die carrier, together with a pressure die thereon, toward the bend die with a force that is produced by reaction to the required bending force. Thus the pipe is frictionally tensioned according to the magnitude of the bending force.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention a part having an internally threaded section is formed by a progressive stamping operation in which there is only opposed rectilinear motion between the punch and die, and no mandrel is used. The part may include a U-shaped receptacle portion and a prong element for being bent over an object that is supported. In producing the part, grooves are formed in the surface of the workpiece, being progressively deepened to the depth of the screw thread and with side wall portions progressively given the inclination of the flanks of the screw threads. The threaded portion then is given a concave shape at either of its two opposite edges and a convex shape in between. The convex shape subsequently is made concave as the threaded section is closed up. In these steps the part is engaged by punch elements in the form of threaded members which have ridges corresponding to the grooves in the workpiece.

Abstract: An aerator for a spa, therapy pool, bathtub or the like is formed of a mixer body having side-by-side parallel air and water conduits and a mixture outlet port extending radially of the air conduit. A water jet nozzle extends from the water conduit into the air conduit to project water across the air conduit axially into the outlet port. A group of such mixers is connected to individual ones of a number of aerator nozzles that project through the tub walls of a spa or therapy pool and the mixer air and water passages are respectively connected to one another, in series, by pipes that extend between the mixers and circumscribe the tub.

Abstract: A roll of pretaped, laterally folded masking material is mounted on a dispenser which is attached to the legpiece of one of a pair of stilts worn by masking workers. When the stilts are secured to the feet and legs of a worker, the dispenser supports the roll generally vertically alongside the worker's body with the taped end of the roll facing upwardly and positioned approximately at the level of his shoulder. To mask the walls in a room, the worker unrolls the folded material and fastens the tape continuously along the tops of the walls around the perimeter of the room while moving along the walls. The unrolled material is then cut from the roll and the portion below the tape attached to the walls is unfolded downwardly to completely mask the walls. To subsequently mask the floor, the worker attaches the taped edge of another length of the material along one wall to the free edge of the material already taped to that wall.

Abstract: An elongated, generally hourglass shaped weight-cushioning device for attachment to the handles of a bowling ball carrying bag has an outer layer of relatively thin vinyl material and a somewhat thicker inner layer of foam padding material. The outer layer has a shape substantially identical to but slightly longer than that of the inner layer. In constructing the device, the layers are superimposed with an end of the first layer being aligned with an end of the second layer. The layers are then simultaneously bent longitudinally and attached by a continuous line of stitches around and adjacent the peripheral edges of the layers in a manner such that, subsequent to the attachment, the peripheral edges of the outer and inner layers are brought into congruent alignment. This imparts a slight longitudinal curvature to the device, the outer layer being curved outwardly of the inner layer.