Abstract: A method of lubricating the wall surfaces of a die cavity used in powder metallurgy involves spraying the wall surfaces with tribocharged particles of a lubricant material. The method is carried out by means of an apparatus centered about a plug member which has a three-dimensional shape conforming generally to that of the article to be formed. The plug member is slightly smaller than the article so that when the plug member is inserted into the die cavity there is a small, but uniform, gap created between the outer wall surfaces of the plug member and the walls of the die cavity. The plug member is secured to a closing plate which can be inserted into the die cavity so as to be sealed therewith. The closing plate is provided with vent holes and the plug member has a plurality of spaced apart tubes extending therethrough, which tubes exit at one or more of the wall surfaces of the plug member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing sintered parts of aluminum or aluminum alloy with improved mechanical properties using batch degassing, die compaction and liquid phase sintering. The batch degassing consists of holding a prealloyed aluminum powder at a temperature of about 350.degree. to about 450.degree. C. in a stainless steel autoclave in which the pressure is reduced to less than 5.times.10.sup.-6 torr. Once the desired pressure is reached the powder is cooled down within the autoclave while still under vacuum. The resulting powder is then compacted at a pressure of 20 to 50 tsi at between room temperature and about 250.degree. C., but preferably at a warm temperature of about 65.degree. C. The final densification is completed by liquid phase sintering in argon atmosphere at 625.degree. C. This method allows the production of sintered compacts characterized by a density close to 97% of theoretical, which makes it possible to eliminate the need for a hot working step.

Abstract: An atomizing nozzle primarily designed for agricultural spraying has a narrow and controlled droplet size distribution and the ability to shape the spray into a solid cone or fan for evenly applying the spray to the crops. The nozzle is able to operate at low air delivery pressures, in the order of 10 to 30 in. of water column. A central air delivery bore communicates with an air manifold within a boom. Near the exit plane of the throat there is provided an inlet conduit connected to the liquid to be sprayed, the conduit being at right angles to the bore axis. An outlet nozzle from the conduit is positioned on the bore axis and has its exit plane upstream of the exit plane of the bore so that atomization of the liquid will take place within the central bore between the two exit planes. A pair of shaping nozzles are connected to secondary bores that in turn communicate with the manifold.

Abstract: The present invention provides an engine air cut-off device which can be connected into the manifold air passage of an internal combustion engine. The device includes a valve body having a passage therethrough which is alignable with the manifold air passage, the valve body incorporating a gate which is reciprocally mounted therein for movement between a retracted position in the body and a closed position which blocks the manifold air passage. The gate is provided with at least one integrally formed cylindrical bore which has a piston face at one end thereof. Means are provided in the valve body for introducing fluid underpressure into the cylindrical bore so that when the device is actuated the fluid under pressure will be introduced into the bore and will act against the piston face to drive the gate from its retracted to its closed position. Means are also provided for normally biasing the gate to its retracted position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an engine air cut-off device which can be connected into the manifold air passage of an internal combustion engine. The device includes a valve body having a passage therethrough which is alignable with the manifold air passage, the valve body incorporating a gate which is reciprocally mounted therein for movement between a retracted position in the body and a closed position which blocks the manifold air passage. The gate is provided with at least one integrally formed cylindrical bore which has a piston face at one end thereof. Means are provided in the valve body for introducing fluid underpressure into the cylindrical bore so that when the device is actuated the fluid under pressure will be introduced into the bore and will act against the piston face to drive the gate from its retracted to its closed position. Means are also provided for normally biasing the gate to its retracted position.

Abstract: A floating cushion sub for connection to the rotary power head of a drill rig has a mandrel section connectable to a drill string and an outer housing section connectable to the power head. The mandrel and the housing have mating, axially extending splines permitting relative axial movement while also transmitting torque from the power head to the mandrel. Mandrel axial movement is limited by a cap member and by an internal shoulder in the housing. A resilient cushion adjacent the shoulder dampens vibrations when the mandrel and housing are compressed together and a similar cushion adjacent the cap member dampens vibrations when the mandrel and housing are at full extension. The axial movement of the mandrel relative to the housing improves the function of making or breaking the threaded connections with the drill string by permitting proper coordination of the mating thread pitches and reduces the chance of cross-threading.

Abstract: An automatic wicketted bag loader is suited to load one bag while simultaneously closing and sealing a preceding bag, each bag to contain a predetermined amount of a commodity. A hopper feeds the commodity when desired into a wicket bag which has been opened via mechanism connected to a retractable hopper-closing plate. A bag clamping mechanism simultaneously moves into position adjacent the sides of the opened bag and clamps the sides at about the midpoint thereof such that when the plate returns to its hopper-closing position the bag sides are drawn apart at the opening to bring the bag faces close together. The bag opening changes its configuration from generally square to a long rectangle. Clamping mechanism then moves laterally to encompass the bag opening and to clamp the two faces together and to then withdraw the clamped bag from below the hopper. The clamped bag may be heat sealed as it is withdrawn and then fed to an output conveyor. During withdrawal another bag may be loaded.

Abstract: A method for preventing greening due to chlorophyll formation in raw unpeeled cold-stored potato tubers exposed to light prior to and including retail sale which comprises spraying or dipping the tubers in an aqueous emulsion containing a single surfactant so as to form a thin continuous film in and on the surface of the tuber which is relatively impermeable to carbon dioxide thereby ensuring an atmosphere containing at least 15% CO.sub.2 within the film and in the tuber. The surfactant preferably contains long chain fatty acid moieties and polyoxyalkylene or polyhydroxy moieties, and has an HLB rating below about 15. A modified process involves the addition of an organic acid, selected from aliphatic mono- and polycarboxylic acids having from 2-6 carbon atoms and at least one hydroxy or oxo group, and lactones thereof, excepting those dicarboxylic acids which readily form internal anhydrides, to the surfactant mixture in order to "tighten" the surfactant film formed on the tubers under treatment.

Abstract: A humane animal trap has a pair of pivotally connected jaws each having a circular periphery, the jaws being spring-biased to a closed position. The jaws may be automatically set in an open position and to that end one jaw has a pair of rail members extending through the other jaw which members pivotally support a sear member provided with locking means in the form of a notch. The other jaw has a projection thereon extending to between the rail members. As the jaws are moved apart the projection will be brought into registry with the notch and will automatically engage therewith to hold the jaws apart. Bait is secured to a holder attached to the sear member and when an animal attempts to take the bait the notch disengages from the projection allowing the spring to strongly drive the jaws together, trapping the animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in the feeding of a wet web of paper from the fourdrinier wire of a paper making machine, at the couch roll thereof, to the felt of the adjacent first press section. A corner roll of the press section, with the felt entrained therearound is adjacent the couch roll, and a draw roll is positioned above the corner roll and slightly downstream thereof relative to the couch roll. The draw roll is in contact with the wet web on the felt and is driven thereby. This configuration results in fewer breaks and a cleaner web, thereby increasing productivity and reducing downtime.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for mounting the inner pipe within the outer pipe of a double-walled pipe used in reverse-circulation drilling so that torques imparted to the outer pipe will not be imparted to the inner pipe, in order to avoid failure of the inner pipe. The inner pipe has a bushing slidably received thereon at each end, the bushing being affixed, as by a plurality of welded circumferentially spaced ribs, to the inner wall of the outer pipe so that the inner pipe is free to rotate relative to the outer pipe. An annular locating sleeve is received on and welded to the inner pipe adjacent each end of each bushing so that axial, or longitudinal movement of the inner pipe relative to the outer pipe is restrained. Since the inner pipe is free to rotate it will not be affected by excessive torque applied to the outer pipe and, in fact, the double-walled pipe can be given a higher torque rating than it would merit if the inner pipe were non-rotatably fixed to the outer pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to variable output transmissions which utilize mechanical square wave generators. The square wave generator comprises a plurality of relatively rotatable driver gears mounted on a first common shaft, and a plurality of driven gears mounted to the bevel gears of a differential, the differential carrier and pinion thereof being fixedly mounted on a second common shaft. The driven and driver gear meshingly engage, the rotation of the driver gears imparting a relative pattern of rotation to the driven gears to cause the differential carrier and the second shaft to rotate with an angular velocity determined by the relative angle of mounting the driver gears. The output angular velocity of the generators is applied to the output shaft of the transmission such that by varying the relative angle of mounting the driver gears the output of the transmission may be varied.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is disclosed for loading a plurality of bales or containers containing pouches filled with a liquid such as milk into a rectangular open-top case. An empty case is located on the apparatus and a rotatable divider is positioned on the case to create suitable bale-receiving compartments. The bales are fed to a diverter which moves each bale to a position overlying an empty compartment so that the bale falls into the compartment. The divider then rotates to rotate the case to bring another empty compartment into registry with the diverter. This repeats until the case is full, at which time the divider is withdrawn vertically from the case and the full case is fed to an outlet conveyor. An empty case is brought to a position below the raised divider, the divider is lowered into the empty case and the filling process is repeated. The case has been filled symmetrically and is easy to handle thereafter.

Abstract: A swing down closet comprises a generally box-like closet body which can be swung from an upper rest position to a lower work position while remaining generally upright, the closet being especially adapted for mounting in the entrance to a stairwell. A pair of parallel support members are mountable to the end wall of the entrance and each pivotally carries one end of a corresponding support arm, the other end of which is pivotally attached to a corresponding side of the closet body proximate the top thereof. Spring return means connected to the arm and to the end wall or the support members provide a force to return the closet body to the rest position. Automatic latch means on the support members engage the support arm at the "work" position to prevent unwanted return motion of the body. The latch means are actuated by downward movement of the closet body and released by further downward movement, after which the closet body may return to its rest position under the influence of the spring return means.

Abstract: A cathode for use in a hydrazine/air fuel cell which comprises a sintered nickel substrate having a silver electrocatalyst deposited thereon and having, on one side, a semipermeable hydrophobic membrane, and on the other side thereof a hydrophilic microporous separator membrane. The silver-sintered nickel substrate may be wet-proofed by dipping in a solution of PTFE and in order to lower polarization of the cathode the silver-sintered nickel substrate may be amalgamated by treatment with a mercuric salt.

Abstract: A navigational apparatus for use in a piloted craft in which a map is displayed pictorially on a screen, representative of the terrain over which the craft is passing. The apparatus employs a moving film strip, a light source and known means to focus and project an image onto the screen. The light source is adapted for arcuate movement across the width of the film synchronously with an optical scanning device placed between the film and the screen and also adapted for arcuate movement so that N-S scanning of an individual film frame may be effected. E-W scanning of the film frame is effected by advancing the film in a suitable film transport. The film transport mechanism is suitably programmed to take into account a correction factor for the arcuate displacement of the N-S scanning device.

Abstract: A stabilizer for use in a blast hole drilling has a shaft connectable at each end to a drill string. A plurality of individual bushings are axially spaced along the shaft, and each bushing carries a roller reamer rotatable thereon. Each bushing has its inner bore eccentrically positioned relative to its outer surface, and each bushing is mounted to the shaft so that its major eccentricity is angularly offset from that of the other bushings. In this manner, large diameter roller reamers can be used and the rotational speed thereof is reduced thereby reducing wear and increasing life. There are sufficient rollers such that the stabilizer is centrally supported in the drill hole and will not waver as it rotates.

Abstract: A transportation system in which a vehicle is adapted for guided longitudinal movement along a prepared track having a transversely curved support surface. In addition to a body and propulsion means the vehicle has at least two support members flexibly connected thereto for limited articulation relative thereto, each support member having an outer surface curved to be complementary with the curved track surface. One of the curved surfaces will be generally concave in cross-section, the other generally convex. The concave surface has a plurality of nozzles therein for projecting pressurized fluid at an angle thereto to form a wedge of pressurized fluid between the mating convex and concave surfaces. The wedge diminishes in thickness in the direction of projection and supports the support members above the track. The wedge forces are balanced and the vehicle does not require additional guiding means. Also the wedge is dynamic and does not require a skirt for containment in its zone of influence.

Abstract: A drill steel idler guide having an internal sleeve rotatably supported in a base by means of ball bearings fitting in opposed annular grooves in the sleeve and base, said sleeve having a bore through which a drill steel can slidably fit. Means is provided for directing pressure air through the base and into an annular space between the base and the sleeve.