Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide a pilot-valve-controlled safety valve for venting excess pressures without allowing any noxious gas to exhaust to atmosphere in the vicinity of personnel.This purpose is achieved by the provision of a safety valve and pilot valve combination with a connection from the pilot valve to an exhaust duct of the main safety valve. Control of the exhaust rate from the pilot valve is effected by the provision of a divergent nozzle at the downstream end of the pipe leading from the pilot valve.The invention is of particular value when applied to a storage vessel for natural gas or a natural gas pipeline.

Abstract: A geared belt provides for the positive transmission of motion between the belt and a sprocket. The belt has inwardly projecting gear teeth, with tooth faces that are contacted by sprocket teeth, and thin flexible portions bridging the space between successive gear teeth, with inwardly facing surfaces that define a dedendum line of the belt gear teeth. The belt gear teeth are substantially stiffer than the flexible portions between teeth. When the belt is in engagement with the sprocket and when transmitting motion therebetween, the belt is subjected to tension stress. The belt is also subjected to bending stresses that are induced by contact between teeth of both the belt and the sprocket upon entering or leaving meshing engagement. The belt is shaped along transverse sections, at the junctures of the tooth faces and the dedendum lines, with the neutral zones of the transverse sections being offset perpendicularly from the line of belt tension.

Abstract: A torsionally controlled swivel joint having at least one axis of rotation is provided with a torque element, either in the form of a helical torsion spring or one or more torsion bars, completely enclosed within the flow passage of the joint to counteract torsional forces applied to one section of the joint relative to another section. One end of the torque element is rigidly connected to one section of the joint while the other end is rigidly connected to a cylindrical adjustment disc rotatable with and sealed in fluid tight engagement to the other section of the swivel joint. In the preferred embodiment, torsional preloading of the torque element is achieved by a plurality of locking balls in a ball race formed in the mating surfaces of the adjustment disc and swivel joint section.

Abstract: A chain has alternately arranged center links and sidebars that are interconnected by pins of a predetermined diameter. An elongated opening is provided in each center link for receiving two pins. Adjacent each end of the elongated opening, lugs project from the center link to restrict the opening opposite the lug to a transverse dimension less than the pin diameter. Each lug is spaced from an adjacent opening end by a distance enabling one pin to fit between the adjacent opening end and the lug. Each pin has a transverse groove for receiving one of the lugs when the pin is in a predetermined rotational angular relationship with the center link. Thus, the pins can be moved past the lugs, in directions to and from the adjacent ends of the elongated openings, when the pins are in the predetermined rotational angular relationship for assembly or disassembly of the chain. The lugs prevent collapsing of the chain when the predetermined rotational angular relationship is not maintained.

Abstract: A multiple speed hoisting system has a first fluid circuit, with a maximum effective cross-sectional area for hoisting heavy loads at low speed, and a second fluid circuit, with a smaller effective cross-sectional area for hoisting lighter loads at higher speed. These circuits are separately actuated by a valve that is responsive to a regulating means for selectively positioning the valve. A pressure operated control, that is in flow communication with the second fluid circuit, automatically cancels the influence of the valve regulating means, in response to a predetermined pressure level in the second fluid circuit, and allows the valve to revert to a position actuating the first fluid circuit. Undesirable oscillations within the system between the pressure operated control and the valve regulating means are avoided.

Abstract: An overcenter door control device is disclosed for resiliently holding a door in a predetermined open position after being moved past dead center in one direction, and resiliently holding the door closed after being moved past dead center in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A fluid conducting swivel joint is disclosed which has a sealing system effective against the leakage of fluids of extreme temperature. The joint consists of two housings mounted for relative rotation about an axis, the housings having a fluid passage therethrough. A first annular sealing chamber, having a seal therein, surrounds the passage, and is located adjacent the passage at the interface between the housings. Each housing has a radial flange at said interface, said flanges spaced apart to define an annular tempering chamber therebetween. A second annular sealing chamber, having a seal therein, is positioned between the flanges outboard of the tempering chamber. A temperature controlling chamber is mounted on one or both of said flanges. One of the housings may have an annular insulating chamber, and insulating members may be used to additionally insulate the second sealing chamber.

Abstract: A bearing locking assembly has a sleeve that fastens an inner race ring of an anti-friction bearing of either a ball or roller design to a rotatable shaft. The sleeve is split longitudinally, enabling the sleeve to be compressed radially for slipping axially within a bore of the ring. Upon release of the compression, the sleeve expands in diameter so that a central portion of the sleeve keys the sleeve axially in place within the ring bore. The sleeve, with the ring mounted thereon, slips axially upon the shaft. External cylindrical surfaces at the end portions of the sleeve are eccentric, and internal cylindrical surfaces at the end portions of the ring bore are eccentric. Angular rotation of the ring relative to the sleeve causes engagement of the eccentric cylindrical surfaces to tighten the sleeve about the shaft, while the concentric portions of the sleeve and the ring maintain the ring centric relative to the shaft.

Abstract: A ball bearing retainer in the form of a unitary molded plastic ring has a central axis with an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge spaced about the axis. A base portion of the retainer ring extends between the inner and outer peripheral edges, and a plurality of ball bearing receiving pockets open axially of the retainer ring in a direction opposite from the base portion. Each pocket has a generally truncated spherical concave seat for retaining a ball bearing within the pocket. Each pocket has at least one generally cylindrical surface extending radially from one of the peripheral edges to intersect with the generally truncated spherical concave seat and thereby relieve the truncated spherical portion of the pocket adjacent the peripheral edge from which the cylindrical surface extends.

Abstract: A packaging machine for making sealed packages with articles contained therein includes seal bars and anvils mounted for relative rotation along circular paths so that both the seal bars and the anvils maintain their orientation in space constant. Resilient mounting of the seal bars and anvils allows for extended contact time with a thermoplastics web which forms the packages. The seal bars and other parts of the machine may be driven by a common variable speed motor through a drive chain which maintains constant speed ratios between the operative parts. The accuracy of the sealing may be improved by clamps mounted on the seal bar assembly which cooperate with the anvils to hold the web while sealing and cutting take place. The seal bar assembly may include two seal bars, one of which cuts and seals to form an edge of a package and also forms a handle cut-out and the other seal bar forms a transverse seal to seal off a main portion of the bag from a handle cut-out portion.

Abstract: Bushings formed by rubber rings bonded to the steel tubes having octagonal bores are inserted into or removed from two parallel groups of spaced cylindrical bores formed in a track shoe that is clamped in the machine. The machine includes a single hydraulic ram having an octagonal rod secured to its piston, which rod receives predetermined arrangements of bushings and/or spacers thereon that are first pivoted into alignment with the first group of bores to insert new bushings into the bores; and are thereafter pivoted into alignment with the second group of bores to insert another group of new bushings into the second group of bores. The radius and angle of the arc through which the push rod is pivoted is arranged to position corresponding flats of the two groups of octagonal bushings at the same but complementary angles to a reference plane having the axes of the bores lying therein. By placing an elongated spacer on the push rod, old bushings may be pushed out of each group of bores.

Abstract: A method of forming a torsion bar wherein steel, preferably an alloy steel of medium carbon content, is formed in the desired size and shape and is through hardened for providing a desired core hardness. The case of the bar is then hardened for transforming austenite in the case into martensite causing the case to expand thereby inducing high compressive stresses near the surface with the compressive stress decreasing radially inward of the surface. The core of the bar is retained below lower transformation temperature for resisting expansion of the case thereby inducing hoop and axial compressive stresses and radial tensile stressed in the case. The hardened bar is then cold worked by twisting and releasing the bar at least twice for applying a torsional stress in the angular direction of the bar loading which presets the bar by twisting it beyond its initial yield strength for redistributing the stresses and inducing a residual torsional stress therein in a direction opposite to the preset direction.

Abstract: A completely mixed system for controlling the return rate of activated sludge to the aeration tank in activated sludge sewage treatment system plants is disclosed wherein the return rate of activated sludge is controlled to maintain the density of the activated sludge in the aeration tank at an optimum value, which value will result in the optimum settling rate of the activated sludge in the secondary clarifier. The control system is continuous and requires the use of a computer, which continuously receives various measured quantities necessary to compute the control signal for the returned activated sludge pump. The carbon dioxide respired by the cells in the aeration tank is collected along with the aeration air and a non-dispersive infrared ray analyzer determines the percent of carbon dioxide in the collected gases. This determination is one of the factors entering into the computation of the rate of substrate consumption by the activated sludge.

Abstract: An inner ring of an anti-friction bearing has a central bore with a groove that extends radially outward and circumferentially about an axially intermediate portion of the bore. At the radially outermost portion of the groove is a bottom that is eccentric to the bore. A shaft is received within the bore and maintained centric with the ring. A longitudinally split locking sleeve having an eccentric external contour fits within the groove when the eccentric central axes of the groove bottom and the external sleeve contour are radially aligned with each other from the central axis of the bore. The sleeve has an unstressed bore diameter that is less than the shaft diameter to inherently grip the shaft when inserted therein. Relative rotation between the sleeve and the ring wedges the sleeve and inner ring into a locked position on the shaft.

Abstract: A housing is provided for mounting a bearing adjacent a wall to support a rotatable shaft that projects perpendicularly through the wall. The housing has a thin-stock stamping that forms on end cap having an axially extending hub and a mounting flange projecting radially outward at one end of the hub. An axial bore is provided within the end cup for receiving a first longitudinal portion of a bearing. A thick plate has an opening therein for receiving a second longitudinal portion of the bearing that projects axially outward from the hub end adjacent the mounting flange. One side of the plate is mounted flush with the wall, and an opposite side of the plate is mounted flush with the mounting flange of the thin-stock stamping. The plate has a surface adjacent the bearing opening that radially supports the second longitudinal portion of the bearing. This plate extends radially outward from the bearing opening.

Abstract: A chain for engagement with a double sprocket has alternate pin links and center, or bushing, links. The bushing links comprise a single center bar with two laterally extending bushings tightly received therein. The pin links have side bars parallel to the center bars, and the side bars are connected together by laterally extending pins. The pins of each pin link are rotatably received in the near bushings of each of the adjacent bushing links. Rollers are received on each bushing, on each side of the center bar, to define pockets with the side bars and center bars, on each side of the center bars, to receive the teeth of a double sprocket.

Abstract: An inner conduit is received in an outer conduit in overlapping relationship. A locking member is received in the outer conduit for lateral shifting into locking engagement with the inner conduit. There are two spaced apart abutment surfaces on the outer conduit, and a toggle member is received in the outer conduit. When the toggle member is expanded, a clamping force is exerted from one of said abutment surfaces to the other through the locking member and the inner conduit, to hold the conduit members tightly together. The locking member and the toggle member can be operated by manual screws, or by a piston powered cam. Seals can be inserted between the inner and outer conduits to establish a fluid-tight seal.

Abstract: A street sweeper hood has a transverse main compartment with an intermediate transverse partition that stops short of the swept surface and divides the main compartment into a front transverse air duct compartment and a rear broom compartment. Air and debris enter an inlet port at the curb end of the air duct and are withdrawn at the opposite end by a blower, the stream of air and entrained debris being accelerated along the air duct by an inclined top plate. A flexible scoop at the curb side of the inlet port and a windrower at the opposite side deflect debris into a tunnel that forms the inlet port.

Abstract: The hood for an air recirculation type of street sweeper forms a single, unidirectional air flow duct from the air inlet line to the air return. The top wall of the hood is formed to provide an air stream deflector that slants downwardly in the direction of the air return line and accelerates the air stream to insure that all debris is entrained in the air stream as it leaves the hood.

Abstract: A loading arm having an inner conduit section, an outer conduit section, and a manually operable arm extension, is disclosed. The entire arm assembly is rotatable about a vertical axis, and a motor is provided to raise and lower the inner conduit section about a horizontal axis. Two parallel rods are connected at one end to a fixed link at said horizontal axis and connected at the opposite end to the outer conduit section to maintain the outer conduit section in a fixed attitude at any position of the inner conduit section.