Abstract: The invention provides a separator blade for a mist eliminator of the kind comprising a plurality of parallel blades providing corresponding flow passages that change direction. A first direction change occurs immediately upon entry to the flow passage so that droplets are deposited on the blade front face. This part of the front face terminates in a primary collecting channel formed by a hook-like member protruding into the passage. The outer face of this hook-like member is convex curved and forms a venturi throat with the facing rear face of the adjacent blade. The blade is shaped to change the passage direction immediately after the throat and to provide an impingement surface at right angles to the gas flow that leads immediately into a secondary collecting channel formed by a respective hook-like member protruding into the passage from the rear face.

Abstract: A portable stove for camping and the like has a housing of sheet metal, comprising a dish-shaped lid and a dish-shaped base with burners accommodated in the base, the lid and the base being formed from identical workpieces with front, rear and side walls of the lid having the same length and height dimensions as those of the base to reduce manufacturing costs. The lid and the base are each formed with a curled rim for reinforcement and to facilitate pivotal connection of the base to the lid by tabs projecting from the base and wrapped around the lid rim. Windshields are pivotally connected to the base by tabs projecting from the windshields and wrapped around the rim at the side walls of the base.

Abstract: A wheel kit for mobilizing a picnic table and the like, comprising a handle assembly adapted to be attached to a horizontal member for lifting one end of the table and one or two wheel assemblies adapted to be attached to a leg or leg members at the opposite end of the table is disclosed. When the table is lifted by the handle assembly, the wheels of the wheel assemblies serve to move the table over the ground. The assemblies have thin sheet metal bracket members including L-shaped portions and channel-forming rims which are secured to the respective table members by fasteners such as screws and/or nails. Each bracket member has a horizontal part that is interposed between the respective leg end and the ground while the associated horizontal part carries the wheel at a fixed distance from the horizontal part and thus the ground. Thus the wheel is always properly positioned for ground clearance with the table horizontal and ground engagement when tilted.

Abstract: A probe for use in internally examining a gastro intestinal tract and adjacent organs includes a head connected to an elongate body portion. A plurality of ultrasonic crystals are spaced around the periphery of the head and the crystals are controlled to produce a real time scan of the tract which may be viewed or recorded. Fluid is delivered through lumens in the body portion to the external surface of the head to couple acoustically the crystals and wall of the tract. A see-head crystal array is provided on the probe to enable the head to be maneuvered within the tract. The probe is used to provide a method of internal examination which includes inserting the probe into the tract, energizing the crystals and acoustically coupling the crystals to the tract by supplying a fluid to the tract in the region of the head of the probe.

Abstract: Apparatus for the pelletization of heat-liquifiable materials, such as metallurgical slags, consists of feed means for the molten material, these feed means depositing the material on a downwardly-extending feed plate over which it flows while it is mixed with water, if water is necessary to promote the expansion of the molten material and for control of the cooling. The material then flows on to a first rotating radially-vaned drum or rotor by which it is projected into the air for simultaneous cooling and pelletization. The feed means comprises flow control means such that any flow greater than a predetermined maximum is fed onto a second feed plate disposed above the first, from which the excess molten material flows on to a second rotating radially-vaned drum or rotor operative in like manner to the first. The flow control means may comprise for example a dam over which the excess material flows.

Abstract: The invention provides a loading system for the charge of an annealing furnace of the kind intended for the treatment of a stack of coils mounted one on top of the other with their central cores in register with one another, a protective heat exchange gas atmosphere being circulated around the stack within a cylindrical bell-shaped muffle cover to heat and subsequently cool the charge. The system comprises a diffuser member having a gas impeller at its center that receives gas passing downwards through the coil cores and discharges it radially into the annular space between the stack and the muffle cover in a preferred helical path. The stack rests on a load member placed on the diffuser member, a convector plate is interposed between each pair of superimposed coils and the stack is completed by a top member and a plug member.

Abstract: A clamp consists of a clamp bolt cooperating with an arcuate saddle which together encircle an article to be clamped, the clamp bolt constituting tightening means for tightening the clamp on the article. The saddle terminates in two tubular portions which receive the bolt and provide respective bearing surfaces for the head and the clamping nut, or the two clamping nuts, depending on the nature of the bolt. The saddle is formed by stamping from a rectangular blank of thin flat sheet metal, the blank being formed into a hollow tube with the longer edges in contact with one another and bent to the necessary arcuate shape, the joint between the longer edges being disposed in the radially inner concave face so that it contacts the article to be clamped.

Abstract: In a new method and apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of objects each inspection device of the apparatus is fed by gravity with a supply of a liquid coupling medium, from which the device produces a flowing liquid column that is directed at the object. The device mounts a focusing ultrasonic transducer that generates an ultrasonic beam in the liquid focused at a downstream point not less than about 5 cm from the oscillation generating surface. The external envelope of the ultrasonic beam is contained wholly within the external envelope of the liquid stream with a separation between them at least until the object is impinged by the liquid column. The liquid feed is made as non-turbulent and entrained bubble-free as possible to avoid the generation of unwanted background noise and spurious signals. The increase in distance through which inspection can be effected simplifies the application of the method to testing pipe wall and laminar thickness and to the testing of bulky bodies such as aeroplane wings.

Abstract: In a portable traffic control system in which receivers are controlled from a central transmitter the carrier signal employed is modulated by two different modulation signals in order to command a green light to be shown, reducing the possibility of this happening accidentally. The receipt of a carrier signal with only a single pilot modulation causes production of a red signal. An amber caution light if present is lit automatically upon turning off green, and flashing amber is produced by switching on green and then turning it off before the green can be lit. A drop in battery voltage below a predetermined level will cause a flashing red signal to warn and conserve the battery power. A non-resettable link in circuit with the green light is broken upon existence of a malfunction condition whereby another light is lit while green is alight, so that the green can no longer be lit until the unit is serviced to remove the malfunction.

Abstract: Several embodiments of wall covering are provided all of which are directed to providing an insulated wall covering including panels commonly called "siding". The wall covering is attached, by starting at the bottom of the wall and working upwards and is intended to provide a continuous insulating covering and to resist rattling and separation caused by building shrinkage. A starter strip or board is provided at the bottom of the covering to permit some movement to relieve compressive forces in the siding caused by building shrinkage. These forces are either transmitted directly from one piece of insulation to an adjacent piece of insulation, via structure forming part of associated siding panels, or by use of separate load transfer strips.

Abstract: The invention provides an artificial horizon device having a light source of limited power which can be positioned remotely from the aircraft cockpit. A scanning mechanism is mounted in the cockpit to receive light from the light source and to project a light bar representing the true horizon by scanning a projected light beam along the perceived bar at a frequency sufficiently high that the bar is perceived as a continuous projection.

Abstract: A gas discharge tube is provided for use in a detector of the type capable of identifying ionizable species in a carrier gas. The tube contains an inert gas at reduced pressure and the gas is excited by an external circuit including a coil about the tube. The circuit generates a radio frequency which excites the gas and emits ultraviolet radiation. This radiation passes through a transversely located window at the end of the tube for ionizing the species in a chamber. Electrodes are also described for use in association with the chamber to sense ionization. These electrodes form part of a sensing circuit.

Abstract: A connector for windshield wipers of low silhouette type has a sideways-extending pin that is inserted into a cooperating transverse aperture in the wiper superstructure and is retained therein by a spring latch member engaging a circumferential groove. The latch member is of spring wire and has two spaced parallel arms joined at one end by a cross-member. Each arm consists of at least a connecting portion, a pin-engaging portion, a spring portion and a reaction or anchor portion in the order stated, the last two having a loop portion between them. The latch is inserted into a recess formed in the underside of the superstructure primary yoke, the loop portion passing between two columns until they can snap apart over the top of the columns. Each pin-engaging portion moves against two longitudinally-spaced side columns which control the engagement with the pin retaining shoulders, and both portions engage a transverse projection that controls the latch portion when the pin is absent.

Abstract: The invention provides a retainer clip for holding the backing member of a windshield wiper assembly against longitudinal movement in the claws of a superstructure in which it is mounted. In a first embodiment a claw-like body has a resilient tongue formed on its upper wall by two parallel slots, the tongue having on its underface a projection that cooperates with a recess in the backing member to retain them against relative movement. A longitudinally-extending transverse flexible integral arm has a hook portion at its end that can embrace a superstructure mounting claw, so that the claw is trapped between the clip body and the hook portion against longitudinal movement, and the backing member is thereby retained in the superstructure.

Abstract: A guide assembly for blown plastic tubes to guide and support the tube after its extrusion from a die consists of a frame carrying a plurality of pairs of vertically-extending members distributed circumferentially around the tube. Each of the vertically-extending members carries a plurality of vertically-spaced parallel radially-inwardly-extending arms. Each arm of one vertical member of the pair cooperates with a respective arm of the other member of the pair, each cooperating pair of arms having a flexible wire support member extending between these ends, the wire engaging the tube and conforming to its circumference. As the tube diameter decreases the arms are moved simultaneously radially inward by opposite rotation of the respective vertical members, whereupon the wire conforms to the new reduced diameter, and vice-versa. The actual contact of the support member with the tube is by side-by-side cylindrical rollers (e.g. of nylon) threaded on the wire.

Abstract: The invention provides an orthodontic arch wire of particular cross-section for use with an orthodontic bracket as disclosed in my earlier patent Ser. No. 3,772,787. This bracket has a mesial-distal extending slot to receive the arch wire, the labial face of which is closed by a sliding U-shaped spring retainer member, one end of which protrudes into the slot to engage the arch wire labial face. The wire cross-section has straight parallel occlusal and gingival sides with the occlusal longer than the gingival. The lingual side is also straight and at right angles to the occlusal and gingival sides. The labial side that is contacted by the retainer member is outwardly convex curved about a radius within the cross-section, the preferred ratio of occlusal side length to radius being from 1:0.4 to 1:0.76.

Abstract: The invention provides a probe set for use particularly in the canaliculus intubation of the lacrimal duct, the probe set comprising: a probe of a light wire which can be readily deflected through an angle of at least 90 degrees to permit the probe to pass from the nasolacrimal duct to the inferior meatus, the probe having an enlarged end portion which is rounded to limit the possibility of damage to tissue when the probe is inserted; and a very flexible tube of minimal rigidity having a first end attached to an end of the probe remote from the end portion and having an outside diameter comparable to that of the end portion so that in use the probe can be inserted and used to draw the tube into the lacrimal duct.

Abstract: A new sawhorse bracket for use with a rectangular cross-section cross-bar, usually of wood, is formed preferably by stamping and subsequent bending from a continuous strip of metal, the bracket comprising a central portion of truncated isosceles triangle shape so as to have two inclined edges, leg supporting portions extending at right angles to the central portion, return portions extending at right angles to the leg-supporting portions, and end portions which engage the sides of the cross-bar. The bracket is fastened to the cross-bar by screws passing through the central portion and a single relatively heavy bolt passing through the end members and the cross-bar. The legs are pivoted to the inclined leg-supporting portions and therefore move from a splayed support position to a stored position alongside the cross-bar to be stable when erected but occupying minimum space when stored.

Abstract: A roller entry guide for a rod mill consists of a body with a funnel shaped entrance leading to a through bore for the rod. The exit is provided with two guide rollers each mounted on a rocker arm for adjustment of their spacing. Each guide roller has a ring of fluid reaction recesses at which a nozzle directs a stream of pressurized fluid, usually air, to keep the rollers rotating at operative speeds and prevent excessive wear and possible bearing failure, which can lead to cobbles in the rod. Each roller includes an annular outer member mounted on a central member by two spaced bearings, the outer races of which have radially projecting flanges engaged in counterbores in the annular outer member to automatically locate the parts together for rapid assembly and disassembly.