Abstract: The entire outer surface of a ground rod, including its pointed end portion, has a continuous and uniform electroplated coating. The rod has a blunt end portion shaped to minimize mushrooming when it is hammered for driving the rod into the ground. Jets of plating solution directed against the rod produce swirling motion of plating solution around the rod while it moves longitudinally through a plating bath. Uniformity of the plated coating may be enhanced by rotating the rod during longitudinal movement through the plating bath.

Abstract: A foundation for a retaining wall-type of structure acted upon by a principal force tending to slide same in a predetermined direction is anchored by a plurality of slide resisting walls. The slide resisting walls extend parallel to the predetermined direction in which the foundation tends to slide. The upper portions of the slide resisting walls are embedded in a concrete mass. The lower portions of the slide resisting walls project downwardly from the concrete mass into the earth, and are solely in engagement with the earth and not with concrete.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for attaching a plurality of two-piece connectors of varying configuration to a specified length of multi-conductor cable at precise locations along the length of the cable and in any sequence of connector attachment. A device is provided for storing and downwardly advancing a precise length of cable, cutting one end of the cable at a cutter station, and locating the cable between a connector assembly station where a pair of connector halfs are automatically attached to the cable at a precise, predetermined location. The cable is then laterally moved to one or more connector assembly stations where one or more additional connectors are attached to the cable. The cable is then moved back to the cutter station where the cable is cut flush against the top of the last connector to be attached to the cable. All drive and movement functions of the apparatus are controlled by a pre-programmed microprocessor.

Abstract: A furnace (A) defines a combustion chamber (10) in which a pair of burners (B) are mounted for oxidizing the fuel to heat the combustion chamber. An air blower (12) supplies air to the burners at a rate controlled by a rate control valve (18). A frequency modulated burner control system (C) controls the duty cycle of the burners, i.e. cyclically actuates the burner at a fixed burn rate and then deactuates them. The burner control system varies the actuation to deactuation ratio in each cycle to vary the thermal input to the combustion chamber. The burners provide two - stage combustion wherein a fuel rich mixture is partially oxidized in a first stage combustion area (44). Additional air which is thereafter introduced through air passages (50, 52) completes the combustion.

Abstract: An upper furnace portion (A) includes side walls (12, 14) extending along its lower edge. A dimensionally stable furnace hearth (B) is movably mounted adjacent the furnace lower edge and is displaced a small distance from the side walls, such that the hearth is movable without engaging the side walls, yet sufficiently close that relatively little heat tends to pass between the hearth and the side walls. The hearth includes a metal base plate (20) to which a plurality of vertically extending anchoring plates (26) are connected and supported by gussets (30). A plurality of wires (28) are welded to the anchoring plates and extend into peripheral refractory elements (24) which are integrally molded to the wires and the anchoring plates. A plurality of refractory slabs (34) and bricks (36) are supported by the base plate and are disposed within an area defined by the peripheral refractory elements to define a workpiece supporting surface.

Abstract: A steel strip (10) is conveyed through a galvanizing bath (20) of molten zinc, a zinc coating weight control device (12), and a minispangle box assembly (16). The steel strip emerges from the zinc coating weight control device (12) with a non-uniform temperature distribution across its width in which it is warmer in the center and cooler at its edges. A differential, pre-cooler assembly (18) cools the steel strip selectively and non-uniformly across its width in a manner which is complimentary to the temperature distribution thereacross. In this manner, the steel strip exits the pre-cooler assembly (18) and enters the minispangle box assembly (16) with a more uniform temperature distribution. This results in a more uniform minispangle appearance on the strip (10) as it exits the minispangle box assembly (16). The pre-cooler assembly includes a plurality of nozzle pairs (32a, 32b; 34a, 34b; 36a, 36b; 38a, 38b).

Abstract: A combustion controller (C) controls the relative rates at which a combustion component source (B) supplies fuel, air, and oxygen to nozzles (A). A fuel source (30) supplies fuel to the burners at a rate (50 in FIG. 2) which is appropriate to produce a desired amount of heat. A blower (32) supplies air at a fixed rate (52b) and an oxygen source supplies oxygen gas at a rate (54) in proportion to the fuel supply rate such that stoichiometrically balanced combustion is maintained. To decrease the combustion rate, the air supply rate remains constant (52b) as the fuel and oxygen rich gas supply rates are decreased. After the oxygen rich gas supply rate reaches zero, the combustion rate is further reduced by decreasing the fuel supply rate and the air supply rate (52a) in stoichiometric proportion. In this manner, a relatively high nozzle velocity is maintained over a wide range of combustion rates.

Abstract: A securing assembly for an axially rotatable body or workpiece such as a fluorescent lamp provided with a pair of pins which extend axially outward from at least one end thereof and into a socket in a lampholder. The securing assembly includes a generally C-shaped resilient body having a pair of radially inward extending locking members. These locking members are configured to prevent undesired rotation and subsequent disengagement of the lamp from the socket, even under severe vibration conditions. A securing or fastening device secures the resilient body to the holder.

Abstract: A steel strip (10) is conveyed through a galvanizing bath (20) of molten zinc, a zinc coating weight control device (12), and a minispangle box assembly (16). The steel strip emerges from the zinc coating weight control device (12) with a non-uniform temperature distribution across its width in which it is warmer in the center and cooler at its edges. A differential, pre-cooler assembly (18) cools the steel strip selectively and non-uniformly across its width in a manner which is complimentary to the temperature distribution thereacross. In this manner, the steel strip exits the pre-cooler assembly (18) and enters the minispangle box assembly (16) with a more uniform temperature distribution. This results in a more uniform minispangle appearance on the strip (10) as it exits the minispangle box assembly (16). The pre-cooler assembly includes a plurality of nozzle pairs (32a, 32b; 34a, 34b; 36a, 36b; 38a, 38b).

Abstract: An interlocking plug and receptacle mechanism which involves actuating means for operating an electrical device which is environmentally isolated from the atmosphere in an enclosure. The electrical device, specifically a circuit breaker, includes a toggle switch lever which is positionable in at least first and second positions. The enclosure includes a receptacle for receiving an electrical plug. An actuating linkage enables the electrical device to be operated from the exterior of the enclosure. An operating handle is connected with a first lever arm and a pin. A pivotally mounted slide plate has an aperture which receives the toggle switch lever and defines an elongated slot which receives the pin. A locking mechanism is connected with the actuating linkage and receptacle for locking the toggle switch lever in the second position in the absence of a plug fully received in the receptacle.

Abstract: An improved floatation-type pressure pad is described as having lines of jet nozzles which are so arranged at the opposing ends of the pad that streams or jets of gas, emitting from the nozzles and striking a strip of material passing nearby, tend to stretch the material in a crosswise direction to flatten the strip and eliminate any crosswise distortions in the strip. Ancillary to this, is vertically offsetting pairs of adjacent pads to momentarily form in the strip of material, an inclination or wave in a lengthwise direction to help flatten the strip and eliminate such distortions in the strip.

Abstract: A supply of steam is fed to a drying cylinder (10) from a steam line (20) through a steam pressure control valve (22). Condensate and steam are removed from the drying cylinder to a separator (32). The pressure of the removed steam is controlled by a steam pressure control valve (36) and the rate of condensate removal is monitored by a condensate removal monitor (48). A computer controller (16) adjusts the steam feed and removal pressure control valves to maintain the smallest differential pressure therebetween which will maintain the condensate removal rate substantially constant. The computer controller sets an initial pressure differential during an initializing step (50). In a first pressure differential adjustment step (52), the computer decreases the pressured differential in first increments until the condensate removal rate begins to decrease. In response to the decrease, the first pressure differential adjusting step increases the pressure differential by the first increment.

Abstract: A computer-controlled welding apparatus includes a phase-controlled resistance welding circuit (A) for selectively conducting pulses of a welding current to a workpiece (B) and a control circuit (C) for controlling the conduction of the welding current. The control circuit includes a line clock generator (30) for determining the beginning of each voltage half line cycle and a conduction sensor (34) for determining whether or not a contactor (14) is conducting current to the workpiece. A microcomputer (40) is preprogrammed with a plurality of power factor correction curves, each of which represents weld current vs. firing angle for a fixed hangover angle. The computer is programmed to select one of the power factor correction curves. If the preceding half line cycle was conductive, the program selects the curve which corresponds to the hangover angle of the preceding half line cycle.

Abstract: A nut retainer for use with a structural member having a nut entrance channel defined between a pair of opposed shoulders or flanges of some predetermined thickness and a nut receiving channel disposed beneath the shoulders. The nut retainer has a generally frusto-conical body constructed from a resiliently deformable polymeric material with the body smaller diameter end fixedly secured to a rectangular nut upper face in a surrounding relationship with a threaded fastener receiving opening. The body larger diameter end is spaced from the nut upper face by some predetermined distance and has a diameter greater than the width of the structural member entrance channel. The retainer body is conformed such that the body exterior side wall will engage the structural member shoulders at areas therealong which are spaced from the nut upper face by a distance which is less than the thickness of the shoulders when the nut is inserted width-wise into the entrance channel.

Abstract: The low profile integrated circuit electrical socket assembly includes a drawn metallic socket (A) into which a leaf spring insert (B) is press fit. The socket includes a hollow upper body portion (10), a hollow lower body portion (12), a transition portion (14) interconnecting the upper and lower body portions, and a radial flange (16) at the inlet end of the upper body portion. A lead receiving passage (18) is defined longitudinally through the upper body portion and into the lower body portion. The socket is inserted through an aperture (60) of a dielectric board (C) with the flange abutting one board surface (62) and the transition portion disposed outwardly adjacent the opposite surface (64). An axially compressive force is applied between the flange and the transition portion in such a manner that the transition portion is deformed radially outward into a retaining collar. In this manner, the flange and collar hold the socket securely in the dielectric board.

Abstract: An improved floatation-type pressure pad is described as having lines of jet nozzles which are so arranged at the opposing ends of the pad that streams or jets of gas, emitting from the nozzles and striking a strip of material passing nearby, tend to stretch the material in a crosswise direction to flatten the strip and eliminate any crosswise distortions in the strip. Ancillary to this, is vertically offsetting pairs of adjacent pads to momentarily form in the strip of material, an inclination or wave in a lengthwise direction to help flatten the strip and eliminate such distortions in the strip.

Abstract: A metal recuperator is described as having an exterior casing with a replaceable inner housing which forms with the casing a pair of separated fluid passageways through which two fluids, at different temperatures, are circulated into heat exchanging relationship. Special seals are provided to allow relative movement between the casing and the housing while sealing the passageways from each other and the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A process is described for the separation of gaseous atmospheres in heat treatment plants, under atmosphere, especially in dip metal coating plants; this process being characterized by the fact that the gaseous atmosphere separation is performed near the coating metal bath and the heat treatment furnace by injecting a gas flow into an enclosed space connecting the heat treatment furnace to the metal bath in such a way that a part of this gas flow is conveyed to the furnace and the other part sweeps the bath neighboring zone, collects coating metal vapors, and is then exhausted and treated. Also described is a device for carrying out the above process.

Abstract: A locking device for interfitting connector members, particularly an electrical plug and receptacle/connector, for automatically locking the members in an axially interconnected relationship. The members include interfitting cylindrical male and female portions with the female portion having a plurality of integral leaf springs spaced apart from each other around the interior surface thereof. In addition, this interior surface includes a plurality of spaced apart locking tabs. The outer surface of the male portion includes a plurality of spring activating grooves and a plurality of locking tab receiver grooves at circumferentially spaced locations therearound adapted to cooperatively register with the leaf springs and locking tabs, respectively.

Abstract: A switch including a housing in which a pair of electrical contacts are positioned for movement between open and closed positions. An actuator movably mounted in the housing moves between contacts open and contacts closed positions. The actuator includes a wiper wall movable between and across the contacts for opening same and wiping same upon movement of the actuator to its contacts open position. The entire switch is assembled without the use of mechanical fasteners or bonding of any kind.