Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a turbine engine having a turbine rotor consisting of a disc and plurality of blades attached to and extending radially outwardly from the disc wherein the outer tips of the blades are axially tapered at a predetermined angle. The shroud assembly comprises an annular shroud positioned around the turbine blades and tapered axially at the predetermined angle such that the shroud is evenly spaced radially outwardly from the turbine blades. A plurality of circumferentially spaced bell crank assemblies attach the shroud to a turbine support housing and, in response to thermal expansion of the shroud, axially shift the shroud in a direction to decrease the clearance between the shroud and the turbine blade tips.

Abstract: A conveyor system is provided and comprises an elongated frame having a plurality of rollers mounted to the frame in a spaced and parallel relationship so that the rollers define an elongated conveyor track along which a series of workpieces are transported. A plurality of work stations are defined at predetermined longitudinally spaced positions along the track while work stops associated with the frame selectively engage and hold the workpieces at the individual work stations. The rollers between the work stations are continuously rotatably driven at a constant speed while, conversely, a friction drive arrangement is used to rotatably drive the rollers at the work station. The friction drive permits the work station rollers to remain stationary when a workpiece is held at the work station.

Abstract: A soil penetrating and coring implement is provided and is adapted to be towed by a vehicle across the round surface to remove plugs of soil from the ground. The coring implement comprises a tubular and cylindrical rim having a plurality of circumferentially extending slots formed through it and the slots are both circumferentially and axially spaced from each other. The entire rim is rotatably mounted on an axle which in turn is connected to the towing vehicle. A plurality of elongated mounting assemblies are pivotally secured within the interior of the rim so that the mounting assemblies are circumferentially spaced about the interior of the rim and have their axes parallel to but radially spaced from the axis of the rim. A plurality of tubular coring elements are secured to each mounting assembly so that each coring element extends diametrically through and radially outwardly from one side of the tube.

Abstract: A device is provided for use in conjunction with a marine vessel having an engine, a transmission connected to the engine and having a portion extending exteriorly of the boat and an out drive which is connected to the exteriorly extending portion of the transmission by removable fasteners. The device of the present invention prevents the unauthorized removal of the out drive from the transmission. The instant device comprises a housing having a top wall, a back wall and opposing side walls which extend downwardly from the top wall and on opposite sides thereof. The top wall of the housing includes a slot through which the mooring eye on the out drive is positioned and, in doing so, the threaded fasteners which connect the out drive to the transmission are inaccessibly positioned between the housing side walls. The housing itself is removably secured to the out drive by a padlock having its bolt extending through the mooring eye in order to permit removal of the out drive only by authorized personnel.

Abstract: A device is provided for use with a vehicle having a body and a door movable between an open and a closed position for rigidly but detachably holding the door in a predetermined open position. The vehicle door is of a conventional construction having a latch mechanism in the door which engages a cylindrical striker pin secured to the vehicle body when the door is in its closed position. The device comprises an elongated rod having a striker pin secured to and extending laterally outwardly from one end of the rod. A pair of elongated tabs are secured to the other end of the rod so that the tabs extend perpendicularly outwardly from the rod with respect to the axis of the rod. In addition, the tabs are spaced apart from each other by an amount sufficient to receive the vehicle striker pin therebetween.

Abstract: An improved tool for removing burrs formed on the edge of drilled holes is provided and comprises a first and second elongated arm member. Each arm member includes arcuate cutting lobes formed on one axial end. The other axial end of each arm member is received within a collet so that the arm members are spaced from but substantially parallel to each other and with the cutting lobes positioned on the outer periphery of each arm member. The collet includes appropriate locking means whereby each arm member can be individually attached to and detached from the collet, and, preferably, the collet is adapted for attachment to the outwardly extending end of a tool holding rod of a tool holder.

Abstract: A unique thermal barrier is provided for use with a window in a building construction. The thermal barrier comprises a sheet at least the same size and preferably somewhat larger than the size of the window and one edge of the sheet is secured to the building above the window. A plurality of slats are secured to one side of the sheet so that the slats extend substantially horizontally and are parallel and adjacent to each other. In addition, the slats are constructed of a thermal insulating material such as a polystyrene foam. A decorative covering is also secured to the sheet so that the slats are positioned in between the decorative covering and the sheet. In addition, a cord is operable to move the sheet with its attached slats between a lower position, in which the sheet covers the window opening, and an upper position in which the slats are folded upon each other thus exposing a substantial portion of the window opening.

Abstract: A novel stand is provided for holding a hooked rug in order to facilitate the construction of the hooked rug. The stand comprises a pair of upright supports which extend generally vertically and in a spaced apart relationship relative to each other. A first elongated roller is disposed in between the upright supports near their upper end. A second elongated roller is also disclosed in between the upright supports at a position spaced downwardly from the upper roller and so the axes of both rollers are substantially parallel with each other. The free ends of a V-shaped strut are secured to each upright support so that each strut extends laterally outwardly from its respective upright support while an elongated rod is supported between the joined ends of the struts so that the rod is parallel to and laterally spaced away from the rollers.

Abstract: A composite burial vault is provided having a hollow liner constructed of a synthetic plastic material which is filled with concrete. In constructing the burial vault, a liquid bonding agent is applied against the liner. The bonding agent can be either an adhesive or a solvent which acts upon the plastic material or a combination of the adhesive and the solvent. Before the bonding agent dries, aggregate is applied to the surface of the liner preferably by a flocking gun. Alternatively, the bonding agent and aggregate can be simultaneously sprayed against the liner. As the bonding agent dries, the aggregate is bonded to the liner either by the adhesive and/or by a portion of the aggregate partially embedding in the liner. Concrete is then poured between a mold and the treated surface of the liner where it forms a mechanical bond to the coarse aggregate coating on the liner. Reinforcement strips are provided to strengthen the corner edges of the liner.

Abstract: An improved rotary device is provided which can be used either as an internal combustion engine or a compressor. The device includes a housing having an interior cylindrical chamber; a rotary piston with at least one, but preferably three protruding lobes, positioned within the chamber; and a shaft for rotatably mounting the rotary piston coaxially within the chamber. At least one and preferably two diametrically opposed planar seal members are slidably disposed within slots formed in the housing and open to the housing chamber. An elongated guide member is secured at one end to each seal member and, at its other end, is positioned within a guide slot formed in at least one and preferably both axial ends of the rotary piston. The guide slots are formed so as to maintain one end of each seal member in sealing contact with the rotary piston regardless of its rotational position.

Abstract: A turbine engine construction of the type having a support housing, a compressor and at least one turbine stage rotatably mounted in the support housing, said turbine stage having an annular rotating shroud secured around its outer periphery while a static shroud is connected to the support housing coaxially around and spaced radially outwardly from the rotating shroud thus defining a clearance space between the two shrouds. The novelty of the invention resides in a system for cooling both the static and rotating shrouds and for also simultaneously substantially reducing or eliminating the leakage of hot gases through the clearance space between the shrouds. In the preferred form of the invention, this system comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports formed through the housing and/or static shroud. Each port has one end open to the compressed air outlet from the compressor and its other end open to the clearance space between the shrouds.

Abstract: An apparatus to assist leg venous and skin circulation is provided and comprises a stocking which is secured around at least a portion of a leg of a person. The stocking includes a plurality of elongated and flexible tubular members so that each member defines an elongated and expandable fluid chamber. The stocking is arranged so that each fluid chamber extends substantially circumferentially around the person's leg and the members are axially adjacent each other. The apparatus further comprises an air distributor for sequentially fluidly pressurizing the chambers, maintained the pressure in each chamber for a predetermined period and thereafter exhausting the fluid pressure from the chambers. The air distributor performs this pressurization of the chambers in the stocking sequentially in a cephalad direction to thereby propel the leg venous blood towards the heart.

Abstract: A truss assembly is provided for the drive axle of an automotive vehicle in which the drive axle includes a differential having a pair of axle housings extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the differential and in which a drive wheel is connected to the free end of the axle mounted in each axle housing. The truss assembly comprises a first truss member which is rigidly secured to one of the axle housings and, similarly, a second truss member which is rigidly secured to the other axle housing. One end of each truss member is positioned adjacent the axle differential. An elongated bar is rigidly secured at one end to one of the truss members at its end adjacent the differential and extends toward the other truss member underneath the axle differential and so that a mid portion of the bar abuts along the bottom of the differential. The opposite end of the bar is externally threaded and positioned through an opening in the other truss member at its end adjacent the differential.

Abstract: A device for recording the flow rate through a flow meter over a period of time is provided for use in conjunction with a flow meter having a rotatable member, the rotational position of which is indicative of the fluid flow rate through the flow meter. The recording device comprises a housing in which a recording medium is mounted and rotatably driven at a predetermined. rate. An elongated scribe arm is pivotally secured at one end to the housing and, at its other end, has a writing instrument which engages the writing medium and produces a visible mark thereon. Similarly, an elongated actuating arm has an axle which is pivotally mounted to the housing and this axle in turn is connected to the flow meter rotatable member. The actuating arm and scribe arm are in turn connected together by a connecting arm which is pivotally connected to the actuating arm at one end and pivotally connected to the scribe arm at its other end.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle enclosure comprising a base, a first housing portion pivotally secured to the base and a second housing portion pivotally secured to the base about the same pivotal axis. The second housing portion is appropriately dimensioned so as to be telescopically retracted within the first housing portion when either housing portion is pivoted from a first pivotal position to a second pivotal position. A sealant is preferably disposed around the open ends of each housing portion to weatherproof the enclosure.