Abstract: A flexible joint for conduit includes inner and outer conduit parts having a common longitudinal axis. The inner conduit part includes a spherically curved end portion received in the outer conduit part and having inner and outer surfaces. Inner and outer ring assemblies carried by the outer conduit part include inner and outer rings of low friction material engaging the inner and outer surfaces on the curved end portion of the inner conduit. The curved end portion is squeezed between the inner and outer ring assemblies with predetermined preloading force to provide the sole connection between the conduit parts. The conduit parts are pivotally movable relative to one another during which the ring assemblies and the inner and outer surfaces of the curved end portions slide past one another.

Abstract: A strobe light power source transfers a constant amount of energy to a capacitor bank for each flash of a strobe lamp by maintaining a constant energy transfer rate between a power source and the capacitor bank and allowing the capacitor bank to charge for a set period of time. The effective value of the input current to a charging circuit connected between the power source and the capacitor bank can be maintained at a constant value to provide an approximately constant energy transfer rate. Such constant current control is most effective for a source having a relatively constant output voltage. In sources where the output voltage varies over time, both the input current and voltage to the charging circuit are monitored, combined and integrated to generate a duty cycle output signal which controls the charging circuit. A timer circuit is provided to set time periods during which the capacitor bank is charged at the constant rate to provide constant energy for each flash of the strobe light.

Abstract: This welding control method and apparatus automatically adjusts the percent heat of a welding machine in response to the duration of the preceding welds. The duration of each weld is measured by counting the line cycles. The line cycle count is compared with a percent heat increase condition and with a percent heat decrease condition of a preselected percent heat algorithm. The percent heat is incremented in response to the percent heat increase condition being met and the percent heat is decremented in response to the percent heat decrease condition being met. The control detects the weld resistance at the peak of each line cycle and compares the detected resistance with a resistance condition of a preselected resistance algorithm. The weld is terminated in response to the resistance condition being met and the cycle count being between a low limit count and a high limit count.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for cooling the skid pipes of a continuous slab reheating furnace by the circulation of pressurized hot water, not cold water or steam, through the skid pipes where the hot water is heated to even higher temperatures. The heated hot water is relatively cooled by passage through a heat exchanger, after which the relatively cooler hot water is recirculated to the skid pipes. Means are provided for keeping the hot water under a pressure sufficient to maintain the hot water in a liquid state and prevent its evaporation into steam, as the hot water circulates through the apparatus, especially the skid pipes of the furnace.

Abstract: A water-tight housing (80) has a circuit breaker (71) mounted in its interior. A plug receiving structure (70) selectively receives an electrical plug (75). A locking pin (12) is slidably mounted through the housing to engage the electrical plug and undergo sliding movement upon receipt and withdrawal of the plug. The locking pin has a cam surface (42) for selectively camming a locking plate (10). An actuator rod (16) having a forward edge (21) is slidably received through the housing in operative connection with the circuit breaker for changing the circuit breaker between ON and OFF states. The actuator rod passes through an aperture (22) in the locking plate. The locking plate opening has a large region (23) for allowing free sliding movement of the actuating rod and a small region (24) for selectively engaging the forward edge in a locking relationship.

Abstract: A terminator connector for shielded cables includes a cylindrical base portion clampable against a cable shield, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced spring fingers extending outwardly from one edge of the base portion for engaging a metal housing to ground the shield.

Abstract: Workpieces are heat treated in a fluidized bed contained within a vessel having a central well surrounded by helical ramps along which the workpieces move into and out of the bed. A perforated platform connects the ramp and movement of the workpieces along the discharge ramp is achieved by vibrating such ramp.

Abstract: The cooling section of an annealing furnace is described as having the capabilities of maintaining, increasing, or decreasing the temperature of a strip of metal as it passes through the section. Moreover, special means are provided for forming around the cooling device, used in the cooling of the gas impinged against the traveling strip of metal, a cold sink which traps and prevents the backflow of cooled gas through the cooling device into the section, thereby eliminating the formation in the section of undesirable cold spots which adversely affect temperature uniformity in the section.

Abstract: A device is described for feeding bars and tubes into a treatment furnace. The device comprises a rotary drum positioned in front of a long horizontal opening provided in the sidewall of the furnace for receiving a bar and introducing it into the furnace through the opening. The device is characterized by a pair of arms which are articulated around an axis outside the furnace and parallel with the drum and which are designed to receive the bars supplied by the drum and to lay them gently down in the furnace, e.g. on the walking beams of a walking beam furnace.

Abstract: A liner plate for grinding mills includes a short integral lifter bar section having a bolt receiving hole therethrough for securing the plate to the shell of a grinding mill. A replaceable lifter bar section fits onto the liner plate in alignment with the integral lifter bar section. Aligned bolt receiving holes in the replaceable lifter bar section and the plate receive bolts for securing the liner plate and the replaceable lifter bar section together and to the grinding mill shell. Replacement of the replaceable lifter bar section is possible without releasing the entire plate from the shell of the grinding mill.

Abstract: A device is described for filtering zinc powder from an airstream which is exhausted from a galvanizing process. The device comprises an enclosed chamber to which the airstream is circulated for removal of zinc powder. The chamber has a horizontally disposed bottom surface in which there is a plurality of circular openings which are equally spaced about a vertical center axis and which lead to vertically disposed bag-type filters. An arm is coupled to a vertical drive shaft which is rotatable about the center axis. The arm is designed to move a circular cover from opening-to-opening to individually seal the openings from the chamber, so that the filters can be cleaned of zinc powder. The cover is freely mounted on the distal end of the arm such that the cover is supported on the bottom surface of the chamber as it moves in an arcuate pathway between the filter openings.

Abstract: A screw retainer comprises a substantially flat clip having a central resilient tang engaged by a screw for preventing withdrawal of the screw from an opening. Engagement of the screw with the tang also causes a reversely curved porton of the tang to engage an abutment for preventing withdrawal of the clip from a slot in which it is positioned adjacent a screw receiving hole.

Abstract: A tie wrap includes a toothed strap extending from a head having a strap receiving passage with a pawl for cooperating with the strap teeth to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the passage when the strap is inserted through the passage in one direction. False latching of the tie wrap is precluded by an abutment adjacent the free end of the strap which cooperates with the pawl to prevent insertion of the strap through the passage in a direction opposite to the one direction.

Abstract: A lining for grinding mills is formed by generally rectangular plates having integral raised lifter bars extending across diagonally opposite corners, and bolt receiving holes extend through the plates and lifter bars for securing the plates within a grinding mill. A lining formed by the plates has spiral ribs formed by cooperating lifter bars on diagonally adjacent liner plates.

Abstract: An overtravel indicator for a piston received in a cylinder having an end wall toward which the piston moves includes an elongated indicator rod slidably mounted through a dielectric bushing in the end wall. A conductive garter spring is compressed between the indicator rod and a groove in the cylinder end wall. An electric circuit including an electrically operated indicator is connected for completion through the indicator rod, end wall and garter spring. In an inward armed position of the indicator rod, dielectric material carried by the rod is interposed between the rod and garter spring for opening the electric circuit. In an outward operated position of the rod, a conductive surface on the rod engages the garter spring to complete the circuit and operate the indicator.

Abstract: A gas charged accumulator includes a gas chamber and a hydraulic reservoir on opposite sides of a movable member. A fill passage for pressurizing the gas chamber includes a movable operating device for operating an indicator when the accumulator is substantially discharged. Gas flows directly past the indicator operating device when the gas chamber is pressurized through the fill passage. A normally closed switch assembly is mounted in the fill opening outwardly of the indicator operating device subsequent to pressurization of the gas chamber. The indicator operating device holds the switch assembly in an open position when the accumulator is charged and provides closing of the switch when the accumulator is substantially discharged.

Abstract: A piston overtravel indicator for indicating overtravel of a piston from a rest position adjacent one end of a cylinder to working positions displaced from the rest position toward the other end of the cylinder. The indicator includes an elongated indicator rod slidably extending through a hole in the other end of the cylinder and having an inner rod end located within the cylinder adjacent the working positions of the piston. Overtravel of the piston beyond working positions causes engagement of same with the inner rod end for moving the rod outwardly through the hole. The indicator rod has a circumferential groove adjacent the inner end thereof for cooperation with a yieldable abutment extending into the hole for preventing complete outward displacement of the indicator rod through the hole.

Abstract: An overtravel indicator for a piston received in a cylinder having an end wall toward which the piston moves includes an elongated indicator rod slidably extending through the end wall. The rod has an armed position extending inwardly of the end wall and an operated position extending outwardly of the end wall. An electrically operated indicator is positioned in a circuit connected for completion through the indicator rod and end wall when the rod is in its operated position. In the armed position of the rod, dielectric material surrounds that portion of the rod extending through the end wall for opening the electric circuit. In the operated position of the rod, its outer surface engages the end wall for completing the electric circuit.

Abstract: An exhaust valve assembly includes a housing having a plurality of ports and a flexible diaphragm movable between opposite positions for selectively connecting the ports. A central elongated stem on the diaphragm extends tightly through a hole in the housing for minimizing vibration of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An air pressure regulator includes a housing having inlet and outlet ports extending along a common axis. A movable valve member and a piston are positioned in the housing on opposite sides of a housing flow passage. The movable valve member is adjacent the inlet port while the piston is adjacent the outlet port. The piston has a central stem extending through the housing flow passage in radially-spaced relationship thereto for engaging the movable valve member. The piston is normally biased in a direction toward the movable valve member for holding same displaced from a seat around the housing flow passage. When a predetermined pressure exists at the outlet port, the piston moves away from the movable valve member for allowing same to move into engagement with a seat around the housing flow passage for closing such passage.