Abstract: A sound absorption device in accordance with this invention includes an enclosure loosely containing hollow beads. Preferably, the hollow beads have openings, and differ with respect to the volume of the hollow space defined by the walls of the beads, the wall thicknesses of the beads, the size of the openings of the beads and/or the number of openings on the beads. Through Helmholtz resonance, vorticity and tortuous path scattering, the beads damp sound waves over a broad range of frequencies. Preferably, the beads are formed from a material able to withstand relatively high temperatures, such as ceramic or nickel. The beads can thus be used to damp sound in applications which generate significant heat in addition to sound, such as aircraft engines, rocket motors or other loud, heat-generating sources, for example. Also, by forming the beads from a material with a relatively low thermal conductivity, the beads can also be used for thermal insulation in addition to sound absorption.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for providing one hundred percent inspection of natural gas mains under operating flow conditions. The apparatus includes a scan unit assembly which is inserted into the gas main to collect data for the production of graphic images of the wall of the gas main. The scan unit includes a plurality of scan rollers, each containing an ultrasonic transducer, which traverse the surface of the wall defining the inner diameter of the gas main. The ultrasonic transducers transmit interrogating pulses into the wall of the gas main at a pre-determined spaced apart interval resulting in a helical scan pattern of interrogating pulses. The return pulses from the surfaces defining the inner diameter and outer diameter of the gas main and any imperfections and/or flaws within the wall of the main are received by the transducer and transmitted to a display unit for a visual indication (a tomograph) of the wall of the gas main.

Abstract: A store for work products conveyed along a storage line from an input station to an output station is disclosed. The input station and the output station of the store are constructed and arranged to be operated independently of the other. The store also has a plurality of gondolas, each gondola having a plurality of carrier plates for carrying work products thereon. A first generally circular and continuous conveyor at the input station lifts the gondolas off of the storage line, moves the gondolas through the input station for the placement of work products thereon, and then places the gondolas back onto the storage line for travel to the output station. At the output station a second generally circular and continuous output conveyor lifts the gondolas off of the storage line, moves the gondolas through the output station so that the work products may be removed therefrom, and then places the gondolas back onto the storage line.

Abstract: A first spiral-mode microstrip (SMM) antenna has an antenna element situated over and spaced from a parallel ground plane. The antenna element is a frequency-independent planar structure having a plurality of spiraling arms extending outwardly in a plane from a central portion, the arms having respective feed points to excite the spiral modes. Of particular significance, a shorting mechanism connects one or more arms to the ground plane element for influencing the shape of the electromagnetic radiation pattern. A second embodiment of the SMM antenna is constructed as the first, but has a center feed and an off-center feed, and further comprises shorting mechanisms situated well within the periphery of the antenna element. A third embodiment of the SMM antenna is constructed similar to the first, but has a concentric gap situated within the arms so that there is, in effect, a first antenna element having a first plurality of arms and a second concentric antenna element having a second plurality of arms.

Abstract: A locking mailbox (5) for receiving mail and other deliveries, to include newspapers and magazines, in a weather and theft resistant enclosure having a generally upright housing (7), a bottom compartment (8), and a separate top compartment (9), defined within the housing. An elongated mail slot (26) is closed on the bottom compartment by an elongated flap (28) through which mail and deliveries are passed into the bottom compartment. Bottom compartment (8) has a generally rectangular side opening (32) defined therein, opening (32) having a pair of parallel and spaced part recessed side edges (33) and a recessed top edge (34) for receiving lockable door (36) flush on the housing, the door being movable from an open position into a closed position locked on housing (7) for enclosing bottom compartment (8). Top compartment (9) is formed as an elongated tubular body above the bottom compartment and is completely separate from bottom compartment (8).

Abstract: A power surge protection apparatus (10) protects circuitry from electrical surges induced in an alternating current power connection to the circuity. The apparatus (10) comprises first, second, and third stages (16, 17, 18), which serve to clamp and dissipate superfluous energy, such as that from a power surge, on the power connection (12a, 12b). The first stage (16) comprises a metal oxide varistor MOV 1 and a capacitor (C1) for helping to clamp and dissipate large-duration continuous surges on the power connection (12a, 12b). The second stage comprises an RC-LC filter with resistor R1, capacitor C2, inductor L1, and capacitor C3. Moreover, the second stage (17) has a metal oxide varistor MOV 2. Importantly, the second stage (17) further comprises a bifilar transformer T1 situated between the connections (24A, 24b).

Abstract: A processing line for the defeathering of birds including a scrub washer (27) positioned upstream from the scalder (28) and picking station (29) of the processing line for precleaning the birds prior to scalding and picking the feathers from the birds. The scrub washer (27) includes a series of flexible fingers (63), which engage the bodies of the birds and ruffle the feathers of the birds to wipe dirt, loose feathers and contaminating material from the bodies of the birds. At the same time the flexible fingers tend to bear against the birds so as to urge contaminating material contained within the visceral cavities of the birds out of the visceral cavities. Spray nozzles (53) apply a fluid spray (54) to the birds to wash any loose feathers, dirt and contaminating matter from the birds. Thereafter, the precleaned birds are passed through a scalder (28) and through a picking station (29) where the feathers are moved from the birds.

Abstract: A packaging machine has a partition inserter and selecting apparatus suspended above a flow of articles. The partition inserter and selecting apparatus are mounted to an inner frame which can be raised or lowered to adjust the spacing between the partition inserter and selecting apparatus relative to the articles. In this manner, the packaging machine can package articles of different heights. The partition inserter and selecting apparatus are mounted to the inner frame on guide rails which allow a technician to move the partition inserter and selecting apparatus laterally away from the articles and over a maintenance deck so that the technician can easily perform necessary repairs or maintenance. The partition inserter and selecting apparatus are releasably engaged with each other to permit the technician to access more easily all areas of the partition inserter and selecting apparatus.

Abstract: Electrostatic transducers (10, 100) for generating and/or sensing percussion waves have an internal rigid unitary element comprising an insulating sleeve (17, 117), an electrode backplate (21, 121) situated within the sleeve (17, 117), and a dielectric layer (22, 122) which secures the electrode backplate (21, 121) within the sleeve (17, 117). The dielectric layer (22, 122) is a generally continuous layer and has support fingers (24, 124) protruding outwardly away from the electrode backplate (21, 121) for supporting an electrode diaphragm (26, 126), preferably a durable metal foil. The electrode diaphragm (26, 126) may be hermetically sealed to a housing (111), which encloses the unitary element so that the transducers (10, 100) are better suited for harsh, extreme high/low temperature, and/or extreme high/low pressure environments. Furthermore, the interior region (32, 132) of the transducer (10, 100) can be evacuated via a throughway (31, 131) so that the transducer power can be increased.

Abstract: Radiant emitting walls enclose opposite sides of a central combustion chamber in an oven where coated objects to be dried are placed or passed. The radiant emitting walls generate primarily infrared radiation and have a nonuniform temperature distribution so that the temperature of the lower portion of the oven can be selectively adjusted to be significantly higher than the temperature of the upper portion. An insulated outer housing surrounds the radiant walls and defines combustion chambers each having a linear burner which runs substantially the entire length of the radiant emitting walls. The lower portions of the radiant emitting walls receive energy primarily from radiation from the linear burners and the upper portions of the radiant emitting walls receive energy from primarily radiation from the interior radiant emitting surfaces of the insulated outer housing and convection from the linear burners.

Abstract: There is provided a basket type container 11 having a handle portion 12 for carrying a plurality of bottles 14. The container 11 has side walls 18 and end panels 24, 25. There are also retention panels 15 extending between the side walls 18 and the handle portion 12 for holding the bottles in the container 11 and preventing removal. Lines of weakening may be provided to disable the retention panels 15 and allow access to the bottles 14.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scan assembly for use in inspecting downhole gas pipes comprises a sensor section which rotates in relation to an end section that remains essentially level forming a rotating interface. The sensor section includes at least one ultrasonic transducer for transmitting interrogating pulses into a pipe wall and for receiving return pulses that are analyzed for determining the maintenance and repair needs of the gas pipe. Provided in the scan assembly is a rotary transformer for magnetically coupling signals, such as return pulse data or power, across the rotating interface of the scan assembly. The rotary transformer includes a primary winding on one section of the scan assembly and a secondary winding on another section of the scan assembly. The primary windings and secondary windings associated with respective sections of the scan assembly can be placed in parallel or concentric relationship.

Abstract: A pipe proximity warning device is operable for both cross-line and in-line digging operations to provide a warning to an operator that the bucket of a backhoe is in close proximity to a trace wire on a plastic pipe. The in-line system comprises two sensors located on the bottom of the bucket for detecting a signal on the trace wire. The distance to the wire is determined based upon a ratio of the signals detected by the two sensors. The cross-line system also has two sensors and also employs a ranging system that disables a geometry tracker when the bucket is outside an operable range of distances to the trace wire. From the angles of the boom, stick, and bucket, the geometry tracker determines the horizontal distance x and vertical distance z to the trace wire, both of which may be displayed to an operator in real-time.

Abstract: Carts successively installed in a transfer station, receives a cotton module from above and are successively transported by a tractor into a conveyor assembly which feeds the carts successively toward a stationary feeder head where the cotton of each module is removed progressively as the cart is passed under the feeder head fluffing the cotton and delivering it to a plenum chamber. An auger, which sweeps laterally over the empty portion of the cart forming a temporary bottom for the chamber delivers the fluffed cotton to an air box separator in which rocks and stones are removed by gravity and a suck pipe removes the fluffed cotton to convey it to the gin.

Abstract: Fire alarm extension apparatuses (30, 100) permit actuation of a fire alarm pull switch (11, 21) by persons with a handicap by lowering the position at which the fire alarm pull switch (11, 21) can be actuated. The fire alarm extension apparatuses (30, 100) each comprise a clip (33, 133) for attachment to a pull lever (14, 24) of the fire alarm pull switches (11, 21). An elongated member (32, 132) is attached to the clip (33, 133) for permitting movement of the clip (33, 133) and the pull lever (14, 24) while at a position remote from the pull lever (14, 24) in a direction to permit actuation of the fire alarm pull switch (11, 21). In a first embodiment (30), the elongated member (33) is a flat rigid shaft which is mounted to a wall (31) via a mounting block (36) and is guided by dual parallel rails (37a, 37b) situated on the mounting block (36). Further, the lever (14, 24) is engaged by a C-shaped clip (33), and the shaft (32) has a T-shaped handle (34).

Abstract: A continuous sidelight threshold and door sill assembly for use with entryways having at least one fixed sidelight panel and a hinged door panel comprises an extruded aluminum frame having an elongated channel and a sloped sill. A vertically adjustable threshold cap is shorter than the channel is configured to fit in and be selectively positioned at a predetermined location along the channel. A separate panel cap is also configured to fit in the channel and be selectively positioned therealong. The assembly is universally adaptable to be used either with left handed, right handed, or double sided sidelight door entryways simply by positioning the threshold cap and the panel cap at respective appropriate locations along the channel. A removable paint shield is provided to protect the threshold cap from paint during construction of a building in which the assembly is installed.

Abstract: A gear shifting device includes a frame, a shifting lever with a positioning pin pivotably attached to the frame, a locking member pivotably attached to the frame for preventing the positioning pin from falling when the shifting lever is in a Parking position, an actuator for operating the locking member and a hand-operated locking disengageable mechanism. The hand-operated locking disengageable mechanism has a disengaging member slidably attached to the frame for moving the locking member to the unlocked position, a compression spring for applying repulsive force on the disengaging member, a core pin removably attached to the frame so as to oppose the disengaging member, the core pin being rotatable between its locked position and unlocked position by aid of a tool and a lid member removably attached to the frame so as to cover the core pin.

Abstract: There is provided an interlocking arrangement for coupling two pieces 10, 11 of paperboard. Projecting portions 17 on one piece 10 and openings on the other piece 11 engage as the pieces are urged together. Parallel sided flaps 20 hinged to said one piece 10 and tongues 24 on said other piece 11 are provided on the pieces with said tongues 24 being pushed past the flaps 20 when the pieces are moved together. The free ends of the tongues 24 are bent back slightly and the flaps 20 engage below the bent back ends.

Abstract: An intubation tube stylet (10) is slidably received within an intubation tube (14). The stylet (10) comprises a handle (34), a flexible tube (24) and a performed tip (18) affixed to the flexible tube (24) such that the tip (18) extends beyond an insertion end (28) of the intubation tube (14). The flexible tip (18) comprises a general Z-Shape designed to facilitate insertion into the larynx and vocal cords of a patient regardless of any obstructing physical characteristics. Once the tip (18) is within the larynx, a plunger and cap (32), which is interconnected to a rod (30) through the handle (34), is activated to straighten the tip (18) allowing the intubation tube (14) to slide there along into the larynx. After the intubation tube (14) is within the larnx, the stylet (10) is removed to allow use of the intubation tube (14). The stylet (10) also provides for suction of the airway during insertion of the intubation tube (14) without the necessity of looking away from the insertion.