Abstract: An apparatus for storing electrically generated heat includes a sealed container holding a bed of fusible heat storage medium, such as an alkali metal hydroxide composition, and having an expansion space above the bed of material to accommodate the medium in its liquid phase. A generally horizontal main electric heating unit is located in the bottom portion of the container for heating the fusible medium above its melting point. A first vertical electric heater is provided in the bed of material in thermal contact with the main heating unit and has its active heating portion extends upwardly from the main heating unit only to the height of the heat storage medium in solid phase. A second vertical electric heater is located in the container in thermal contact with the first vertical heater with the active heating portion of the second heater extending only from the height of the fusible medium in solid phase to the height of the medium in the expanded liquid phase.

Abstract: A polarized electrical outlet of minimum size adapted to be fitted into a panel including a cap and a base, welded together and formed of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A photoelectronic smoke detector has walls around a dark chamber to which smoke, but not light, is admitted, and through which light is directed from a source on a path to a limited area of a chamber wall. A first photocell views light scattered from the through path by particles in the path primarily and also receives background light scattered from the chamber wall outside the limited area. A second photocell is disposed to receive background light substantially only from the limited area and other areas outside the source light path. The first cell produces a first signal in response to background and particle-scattered light. The second cell produces a second signal corresponding to background scatter. The first and second cells, preferably photovoltaic photodiodes, are coupled in opposition in a circuit whose output consequently is substantially independent of the background light.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical connector utilizing an electrical conducting wire sheathed in a highly elastic, stretchy, squeezable insulating material and embedding it within a thermoplastic material through the use of high pressure injection molding. In the method, the sheathed wire is fitted with a heat shrinkable sleeve of plastic material that is subsequently drawn about the sheathed wire to form a rigid pressure barrier. The assembly is then disposed in a mold with the sleeve disposed in an egress of the mold and the thermoplastic material is injected. The sleeve will form the rigid plug-like cover which prevents the plastic from oozing by the squeezable insulating material.

Abstract: A graphic recorder including a viewable well for holding a recording web in a moist condition. The recorder includes a demountable, transparent well cover and a transparent top. Walls are arranged on the sides of the top and they carry a linear electrode and a roller and simultaneously urge the well cover towards the well to seal the compartment and prevent the escape of moisture.

Abstract: A photoelectronic smoke detector has walls around a dark chamber to which smoke, but not light, is admitted, and through which light is directed from an exciter light source on a path to a limited area of a chamber wall. A first photocell views light scattered from the through path by particles in the path primarily to produce an alarm signal, and also receives background light scattered from the chamber wall outside the limited area. A second photocell is disposed to receive background light substantially only from the limited area and other areas outside the source light path. The first cell produces a first signal in response to background and particle-scattered light. The second cell produces a second signal corresponding to background scatter. The first and second cells, preferably photovoltaic photodiodes, are coupled in opposition in a circuit whose output consequently is substantially independent of the background light.

Abstract: A facsimile recorder for marking electro-sensitive paper including a housing with a base and a cover and a platform disposed within the housing for receiving a cassette which contains a web of paper stored as a roll. A scanning electrode is disposed within the housing in front of the platform and a linear electrode is operatively disposed relative to the scanning electrode. The linear electrode is arranged substantially normal to the path of the paper and parallel to the axis of the paper roll. The cassette is held parallel to the linear electrode by means of a plate which extends from the cover and engages the face of the cassette. Through this arrangement, the paper is withdrawn from the cassette precisely normal to the linear electrode and high quality graphic images are produced on the paper without jamming or misalignment.

Abstract: A facsimile recorder having the capacity to record signals at different sweep rates and a circuit to distinguish noise from synchronization pulses so that the correct sweep rate will be utilized. The circuit includes a grounded timer switch which receives a start signal and opens to the voltage of the circuit and another switch which is opened to ground during the period between each of the phasing pulses. Two capacitors are arranged in parallel to receive a charge simultaneously while the switch is opened but a diode between them allows discharge of only the first of them when there is an interruption due to either noise or the next synchronization pulse. Since the rate of charge on the capacitors is substantially linear with respect to time, the charge on the second capacitor will remain at the highest level seen between the end of one pulse and a burst of noise or the next pulse if there is no noise.

Abstract: A reuseable pressurized container and metering device for dispensing predetermined amounts of fluid. The device includes a metering chamber having two apertures with a central stem disposed therein. Two sealing rings are mounted on the stem, each adjacent an aperture, and are adapted to allow fluid to be forced into a reservoir through the metering device but are arranged to prevent the flow of fluids out of the metering device except when the stem is displaced by pressing a button attached at one end. One of the rings on the stem seals the metering chamber from an external charging and discharging passage and the other ring simultaneously seals the metering chamber from the reservoir while the fluids contained within the metering chamber are being discharged, thereby limiting the quantity of fluid which can be dispensed.

Abstract: A detector of a significant gas condition in the atmosphere comprises one or more elements for sensing the condition, the elements being connected to an alarm channel which sounds a warning alarm or controls a corrective device such as a gas valve in the event of an excessive atmospheric condition. The detector includes a threshold sensing and alarm amplifying channel, and a trouble sensing electronic valve or stage responsive to failure of one of the sensing elements both to enable operation of a trouble channel to cause the alarm to indicate the failure and also to inhibit operation of the alarm channel. The trouble channel may also relay power supply failures such as a decrease in battery voltage.

Abstract: A frame for simultaneously tensioning a web in two orthagonal directions including two spaced-apart primary members and two spaced-apart secondary members. Each of the members is disposed at right angles to an adjacent member to form a rectangle. They are linked together in a manner such that upon drawing the two primary members apart, they will simultaneously space the secondary members apart and stretch the web that is disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An optical smoke detector including a plurality of walls extending from a dark chamber in which an optical smoke sensor is located. The walls form passages in the detector which extend from smoke entrances on the outer perimeter to smoke ports that feed into the dark chamber. In construction, the smoke entrances extend substantially continuously around the perimeter of the smoke detector to allow the free entry of smoke into the dark chamber. Each wall is arranged to overlap the next so as to obstruct the direct rays of light from entering the dark chamber and a screen is disposed around the perimeter of the detector to prevent the entrance of insects into the dark chamber.

Abstract: The resolution of an image that is produced by a graphic recorder is related to the rate that recording paper passes through a recording zone and the sweep rate is related to the rate at which a scanning electrode contacts the recording paper. According to the present invention, both the sweep rate and the resolution are simultaneously coordinated through the use of a ratchet wheel and pawl that are interconnected between the scanning electrode and feed rolls. The ratchet wheel is indexed through the movement of the scanning electrode and as the scanning electrode makes a sweep, the feed rolls are indexed by successive or multiply successive teeth in the ratchet wheel. An anti-backlash device is associated with the ratchet wheel to prevent the ratchet wheel and the feed rolls from reversing themselves during operation of the recorder.

Abstract: An optical smoke detector with a clock pulsed light source and photodiodes responding to smoke scattered light includes an alarm initiating logic circuit which delays the initiating of alarm while several samplings of smoke are sensed and then latches the logic circuit in alarm condition.

Abstract: A flameless combustion burner and method for operating the device. The burner includes an ignition zone with a starting device, a catalyst zone, and a plenum. To obtain flameless combustion, a fuel and a combustion supporting gas is introducted into the ignition zone from the plenum and a flame is initiated by means of the starting device. The products of combustion flow over the catalyst to heat it to a temperature where it can initiate flameless combustion. Then the flow of either the fuel or the combustion supporting gas or both is momentarily stopped and the flame is extinguished. The flow is then resumed while the catalyst is still hot and flameless combustion will start in the catalyst zone. The products of combustion are withdrawn from the catalyst zone and the heat is utilized in the burner.

Abstract: A flameless catalytic combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber with a hydrogenous fuel inlet and a mass of catalyst in the chamber between the inlet and an outlet. Preferably the catalyst mass comprises porous pellet bodies supporting varying high and low concentrations of platinum family metals dispersed therein. For spontaneous starting of combustion the fuel is one of the lower alcohols and the high catalyst concentration is at the fuel inlet. The fuel may be in a container pressurized by air, or a lower ether or lower hydrocarbon which is also a fuel. Preferably separate, valved conduits from the fuel container first supply either atomized fuel droplets or air and fuel vapor to the high catalyst concentration for spontaneous ignition of combustion and vaporized fuel for continued combustion throughout the catalyst mass. The catalytic combustion apparatus may include a heat exchanger for fluids such as air, water or personal care foams and creams, or may be used in heating and cooking apparatus.

Abstract: A method of operating a heat storage-heat exchange system in a more efficient manner is described. The method comprises the steps of passing a heating fluid through a bed of heat storage medium to heat and create a hotter portion of the medium, passing a fluid to be heated through the medium counter-current to the heating fluid to create a cooler portion of the medium, and passing a fluid from within the system through an intermediate portion of the heat storage medium between the hotter and cooler portions to steepen the temperature gradient between the hotter portion and the cooler portion.

Abstract: A flameless catalytic combustion apparatus includes a combustion chamber with a hydrogenous fuel inlet and a mass of catalyst in the chamber between the inlet and an outlet. Preferably the catalyst mass comprises porous pellet bodies supporting varying high and low concentrations of platinum family metals dispersed therein. For spontaneous starting of combustion the fuel is one of the lower alcohols and the high catalyst concentration is at the fuel inlet. The fuel may be in a container pressurized by air, or a lower ether or lower hydrocarbon which is also a fuel. Preferably separate, valved conduits from the fuel container first supply either atomized fuel droplets or air and fuel vapor to the high catalyst concentration for spontaneous ignition of combustion and vaporized fuel for continued combustion throughout the catalyst mass. The catalytic combustion apparatus may include a heat exchanger for fluids such as air, water or personal care foams and creams, or may be used in heating and cooking apparatus.

Abstract: One type of smoke detector has a housing forming a dark chamber into which light is directed on a path viewed by a smoke sensing photocell. Smoke in the viewed light path scatters light to the cell exciting the cell to alarm state if the smoke is of density predetermined to be dangerous. The detector is tested for its ability to respond to the predetermined smoke density by means of an external owner-operated button. Depressing the button turns a lever or bell crank which intercepts the light path in the chamber and scatters light to one or more large areas within the dark chamber. These secondary areas in turn rescatter the scattered light to the photocell simulating smoke and exciting the cell to alarm state.The primary light scattering surface of the bell crank and the areas of secondary light scatter are large enough that the light ultimately scattered to the photocell is equivalent to that scattered by smoke of the predetermined density.