Abstract: A solar heating system adapted to provide heated air and water to a building structure with simple yet efficient components. The solar heating system comprises an air heating chamber which is exposed directly or indirectly to radiant solar energy, and air heated therein is directed to a heat exchange tank. The heated air from the air heating chamber is directed through bubble producing means, the bubbles rising through water contained in the heat exchange tank. Upon escaping from the heat exchange tank, the air may be directed to any one of three locations; firstly, the air may be directed back through the bubble producing means and into the water in the heat exchange tank, secondly, it may be directed to a building structure to provide heated, humidified air, and thirdly the escaping air may be directed to ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A main thrust link having a forward end connected to the engine core housing at a first forward location, and extending rearwardly and moderately upwardly therefrom to connect to a main support structure at a second rearward location. Connected to the rear of the engine core housing is a rear support device designed to resist vertical loads generally parallel to the vertical force component exerted by the main thrust link, and also to resist side loads. There is a forward connecting device interconnecting the fan casing with the support structure at a location forward of the forward connecting location of the main thrust link. This forward support device comprises a plurality of tangential links connecting to the fan casing at evenly spaced locations around the circumference of the fan casing, thus resisting not only vertical loads, but also resisting torsional loads and side loads on the engine.

Abstract: A refueling boom operator's seat located within the lower rear portion of the aircraft fuselage, the seat positioning the operator in a moderately reclining sitting position facing rearwardly to view the operating area of the refueling boom. A leg well structure which extends rearwardly through and beyond a rear pressure bulkhead to accommodate the operator's legs, and a viewing window provided in an aperture defined by the rear pressure bulkhead is positioned above the operator's legs at approximately the position of the operator's knees. These components are so arranged relative to the main rear pressure bulkhead and other components of the fuselage that the operator has a direct unobstructed view of the boom's normal refueling envelope. A pair of mirrors at the upper and lower portion of the viewing window envelope provide a view of the area into which the boom is able to move above its normal refueling area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for externally and conductively heating at least a portion of the sole of a ski boot and for convectively heating substantially the entire inner surface of the ski boot while the ski boot is firmly, but removably, clamped against a flat surface with the flat sole of the ski boot in extensive surface-to-surface contact therewith so as to permit drying of wet boots, warming of cold boots, and/or softening of the molded foam interiors of the boots, to render such boots more comfortable while maintaining the flat sole of the ski boot rigidly clamped in a flat planar condition to prevent warpage thereof. In a preferred form of the invention, methods and apparatus are disclosed for externally and radiantly heating at least a portion of the sole of each of a pair of ski boots removably carried by, and clamped to, a boot and shoe tree and for simultaneously convectively heating the inner surfaces of both ski boots.

Abstract: Two sheets of an air impermeable plastic coated fabric are placed horizontally, with a core of a resilient open cell foam material positioned between the two sheets. Heated platens are applied to this layup, followed by applying a vacuum to the interior, cooling the assembly, and then moderately pressurizing the then bonded assembly.

Abstract: A plurality of horizontally positioned plates stacked on top of one another, with thin film plastic sheets separating each adjacent pair of plates. Each plate is formed with a substantially identical, horizontally extending, vertically through passageway, with the sheets separating the passageways of each plate. Upper and lower pressure plates, provided with pressurized air bags, maintain uniform pressure across the plates to prevent leakage from the passageways. Manifold devices at opposite ends of the passageways direct a first heat exchange medium through a first set of vertically alternate passageways, and direct a second heat exchange medium through a second set of vertically alternate passageways positioned intermittently with respect to the first set of passageways.

Abstract: A shock absorbing ski pole having a hand grip mounted for up and down motion on the upper end of the ski pole. To cushion shocks imparted to the ski pole, a pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly is mounted in the upper end of the ski pole and operatively connected between the hand grip and the shaft. In addition, a compression spring is mounted in the upper end of the shaft to urge the hand grip to an upper position and also cushion impacts on the ski pole. An elongate friction and positioning sleeve is positioned securely within the hand grip and frictionally engages the outer surface of the upper end of the shaft to provide a frictional drag force and provide firm engagement between the hand grip and the shaft.

Abstract: A product dispensing measuring device especially adapted to be affixed to an axially deformed or non-linearly rotating dispensing shaft in order to measure the rate of rotation thereof. The device comprises a pick-up wheel having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting teeth securely affixed to a rotating shaft and a mounting affixed to the shaft adjacent the pick-up wheel and provided with a plurality of roller bearings which enable the mounting to remain stationary as the shaft rotates therein. A mounting arm extends radially from the outer circumferential edge surface of the mounting, and a sensor mechanism is affixed thereto. The sensor mechanism detects the passing of the radially outwardly projecting teeth and converts these impulses into a shaft revolution speed and displays it to an operator of the device. If the shaft rotational speed is observed to be other than that desired, the speed of the rotating shaft may be easily and quickly adjusted.

Abstract: A cleaning tub having therein a holding basket mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The basket has a lower section with circumferentially aligned holding and partition members to contain tubular-like members to be cleaned in circumferential alignment. There is also an upper section having radial partitions to contain other objects to be cleaned. During a first washing and rinsing cycle, the basket is caused to oscillate throughout the filling period, the washing period, the emptying period, and also through a final "shake-off" period. There is also a transfer tub to hold either a pasteurizing liquid (i.e. hot water) or a disinfect liquid. Subsequent to the washing cycle, the liquid in the transfer tub can be moved over to the cleaning tub either to pasteurize or disinfect the articles in the basket. Heat control means are provided to bring the transfer liquid to the proper temperature in the transfer tub, and also to maintain this proper temperature in the cleaning tub.

Abstract: A condenser/evaporator heat exchanger comprising a plurality of vertically oriented panel units spaced moderately from one another. Each panel unit comprises a pair of thin film plastic sheets bonded to one another along a plurality of vertically extending bond lines transversely spaced from one another at regular intervals. The two sheets form between adjacent pairs of bond lines a plurality of vertical tubular condensing chambers adapted to receive pressurized steam. Brine is directed onto the outer surfaces of the panel units at the upper ends thereof, the brine descending down the outer surfaces of the panel units to be in heat exchange relationship with the steam inside the tubular condensing chambers.

Abstract: A ruddevator assembly for controlling movement of an aircraft refueling boom, comprising two ruddevators mounted to the boom, each at a dihedral angle of about 42.degree.. Each ruddevator has an outboard section, which is an advanced technology cambered airfoil for high lift at transonic speeds, with a raked wing tip. The inboard portion of the airfoil has a forwardly extending strake-like member having a sharp leading edge which in planform comprises three sections. There is a curved forward edge section and two rearwardly extending edge sections, which in operation are positioned at high sweep angles. The side edge portions of the strake-like member create vortices which travel over the inboard portion of the ruddevator to augment lift over a wide range of surface deflection of the ruddevator (i.e., angle of attack).

Abstract: An engine particularly adapted to travel at high supersonic and hypersonic velocities. The engine has a forward turbine positioned at the engine inlet and a rearwardly positioned compressor driven by the turbine through an interconnecting longitudinal shaft. In a first embodiment, a cryogenic fuel, such as hydrogen, is introduced into the engine at a location between the turbine and the compressor, with vaporization and heating of the fuel causing a reduction in the compressor inlet temperature and a consequent increase in compressor discharge for a given turbine power shaft input. The resulting fuel/air mixture passes through the compressor and then into a rearwardly positioned combustion chamber where it is ignited, with the combustion products then being expanded from the compressor discharge pressure to atmospheric pressure through an outlet nozzle as jet exhaust.

Abstract: A process for preparing an improved asphalt mixture by adding coal materials thereto. Low carbon content coal materials are separated into first and second portions, the first portion being soft-burned at approximately 600.degree. F., and the second portion being exposed to a number of wetting and drying cycles, followed by a thorough leaching. The first and second portions are crushed and screened to produce a fine particulate coal material having a maximum diameter passing through a 200 mesh screen, and a larger size coal material having a maximum diameter of 3/4 of an inch. In a first embodiment, an asphalt paving material is produced by adding the fine particulate coal materials to an asphalt/aggregate mixture in a proportion of approximately 75% of the first portion and approximately 25% of the second portion of the fine particulate coal materials, such that the coal materials equal approximately 6 to 8% by weight of the total mixture. The resulting asphalt mixture is heated at approximately 300.degree.

Abstract: A power transformer connected to an amplifier, said transformer being adapted to operate at maximum power output at a relatively high frequency, in the order of 20 KHz. There is a control circuit which produces control pulses at a frequency of 20 KHz. The voltage level at the output of the transformer is compared to the amplitude of the audio signal to be amplified to produce a control signal related to the difference between the two. This control signal acts through a modulator to pass portions of each control pulse, with the duration of the pulse portions that are passed being generally proportional to the magnitude of the control signal. These pulse portions in turn open and close a switch connected to the primary winding of the transformer to control the duration of current pulses which flow through the transformer at a 20 KHz frequency.

Abstract: A sound reproducing system having right and left speakers which transmit right and left stereo sounds, respectively. The right signal, in addition to driving the right speaker, is inverted and delayed to produce a compensating signal which is transmitted to the left speaker to produce a delayed compensating sound pattern from the left speaker. The amount of delay and amplitude of the compensating sound pattern is selected so that the major sound pattern emanating from the right speaker is at least partially cancelled at the location of the hearer's left ear. The signal for the left speaker is inverted and delayed in a similar manner to produce a compensating sound pattern from the right speaker to at least partially cancel the major sound pattern emanating from the left speaker at the location of the hearer's right ear. The result is to give the hearer a greater dimensionalized impression of the overall sound patterns.

Abstract: Water at a very high pressure (e.g. fifty thousand psi) is directed through a nozzle orifice to produce a coherent high velocity water jet particularly adapted for cutting. Prior to pressurizing the water and directing it through the nozzle, the water is treated to remove dissolved solids, desirably to an extremely low level to provide very pure water (e.g. where the total dissolved solids are as little as ten parts per million or lower). This is done by directing the water through several ion exchange reactions to precipitate the solids which are then removed by filtering. The operating life of the nozzle is greatly extended by this process.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically aligned modular panel units, positioned adjacent to one another in a closed housing. Each panel unit comprises a perimeter frame and a plurality of vertical spacing elements. Two sheets of thin film plastic are placed on opposite sides of each panel unit and define with the spacing units vertical passageways within the panel unit. An evaporating liquid heat exchange medium, such as brine, is directed into the upper ends of the passageways against the inside surfaces of the sheets to form a falling liquid film. A gaseous condensing heat exchange medium, such as steam, is directed into the areas between adjacent panels to cause condensation in the form of water on the outside surface of the thin film sheets.

Abstract: A main engine support structure having a rear portion hinge-mounted at two laterally spaced locations to a leading edge of a wing in a manner to permit limited up and down swing movement of the engine relative to the wing. A generally vertically aligned forward support link connects a forward inboard side portion of the engine support structure to the airplane fuselage, thus providing vertical support for the engine at its forward end. At the rear of the support structure there is a laterally extending link, connecting the support structure to the wing and resisting lateral loads exerted on the engine. This mounting system reliably mounts the engine to the wing, does not interfere with the wing's ability to flex upwardly and downwardly, and properly transmits the loads from the engine into the aircraft structure.