Abstract: A scatter type of battery smoke detector includes a clock circuit applying energy pulses to an LED light source which directs light pulses on a smoke sensing path. Smoke entering the light path scatters pulsed light to a photodiode whose output voltage varies with smoke density and corresponding light pulse level. A threshold stage responds to photodiode voltage above a threshold level to generate a detection pulse. The detection pulses and clock pulses are applied to a control circuit including a dual data-type flip-flop logic circuit, and thence to a threshold circuit driving an alarm horn. If the smoke density and hence the detection pulse amplitude exceed a predetermined level, coincident application of the clock and detection pulses to the control circuit will cause the control circuit to respond by energizing the alarm continuously so long as the detection pulses recur at the clock frequency.

Abstract: An X-ray tube including an envelope enclosing a flat-edged anode disc rotatable and axially reciprocable and further enclosing an electron beam source for projecting electrons along a beam axis toward the edge of the anode disc. The beam source is disposed to direct its beam at an acute angle of incidence to the edge of the anode disc and produce X-rays which are transmitted through a window in the envelope.

Abstract: An electrolytic facsimile recorder with a scanning helix cooperating with a blade electrode in a recording zone to mark a recording web drawn through the zone comprises a housing with a base and a cover. The base has a web support wall approaching the recording zone, and the cover has a compartment for receiving a roll of the moist, electrolytic web, the compartment overlying the web support wall on the base so to locate the moist web roll close to the recording zone.

Abstract: An electrical connector which can be mounted on a panel. The connector includes a self contained locking mechanism with a pair of integrally molded resilient arms that are spaced from the body of the connector by hinges and which are designed to oppose a shoulder disposed around the perimeter of the face of the connector and to grip the panel for a secure fit.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for panel-mounted components having apertures with a transverse dimension narrower than the elongate dimension, the mechanism including a pair of flanges adapted to fit through the aperture and engage one side of the panel and a backing surface with bosses that are designed seat in the aperture with the backing surface resting against the other side of the panel. A variety of electrical components can be secured with this locking device, such as female connectors, switches and lamps.

Abstract: A facsimile recorder for marking an electrosensitive web with a remote scanner signal including a periodically interrupted framing signal and a video signal comprises a scanning electrode and a cooperative electrode for marking the signals on the web during successive scans across the web. Scanning of the web is controlled by a framing circuit which compares the remote scanner framing signal with a recorder generated signal and uses the asynchronism of the two signals to control the scanning electrode until it frames the recorded scanner signal on the web. The recorder pulse generator comprises means sensing the voltage impressed through the web by the scanner signal. When the scan completes its crossing of the web the voltage drop across the scanning electrodes increases producing a recorder pulse which is delayed and applied to the framing circuit.

Abstract: A facsimile recorder using an endless scanning belt which carries styli for electrically marking graphic signals on a recording web has a pulley for the belt at the finish of a scan across the web. The belt includes conductive means connected to or integral with the stylus which contacts the pulley as the stylus passes over the pulley. During the pass the stylus touches a contact adjacent the pulley thereby completing a framing pulse generating circuit through the pulley and contact. This recorder framing pulse is compared with a synchronization (sync) pulse of an incoming facsimile signal and used to synchronize the scanning belt with the signal.

Abstract: An electrical heating element for ovens, furnaces and other infrared light applications comprises an elongate tubular envelope of thermally translucent refractory material such as pure alumina enclosing an elongate coiled refractory metal conductor which is capable of carrying a linear power loading of at least one hundred watts per inch. Refractory spacers along the coiled conductor and envelope hold the conductor spaced from the envelope and coaxial therewith so that the conductor attains heat in excess of the temperature limit of the envelope.

Abstract: Facsimile recording apparatus for electrically marking graphic signals line by line transversely of a recording web uses a scanning belt carrying styli which traverse a scan line along a recording zone through which the recording web is fed. The belt is composed of one or more sections each having identically spaced perforations or equivalent feed elements, and additional coupling perforations in the same predetermined relation to the feed elements in each section. By joining the belt sections with fasteners extending through the styli and coupling perforations of overlapping belt sections the styli are precisely positioned with respect to each other and to the feed perforations. The fasteners may also serve as signal conductors.

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 simplified smoke or other particle detector circuit includes a light emitting diode in series with a compensating photocell and a photocell sensing LED light scattered from particles. In parallel with the LED is a high resistance, and in parallel with the photocells is a low resistance, the resistances having a common junction coupled to a threshold circuit input as is the output of the photocells. Sensing smoke produces a photocell output which triggers the threshold device to generate an alarm signal. Failure of the LED produces a voltage at the resistance junction which similarly triggers the threshold device to alarm.

Abstract: In assembly of an incandescent lamp with a conventional glass envelope, filament and filament supporting lead wires, a wire, ribbon or like strip of metallic getter material is electrically connected between the lead wires in parallel with the filament. The getter strip is of a metallic material having a vapor pressure greater than one hundredth Torr at its melting point. After assembly electrical current is flashed through the lead wires and getter strip resistively heating the strip to vaporization and dispersing the getter metal in atomic state toward the interior walls and other locations within the lamp envelope. In transit to the walls the atomic metal adds to the gettering action at vaporization. And after flashing, the getter metal is deposited at reactive getter sites distributed throughout the interior of the lamp for continued gettering action during lamp operating life.

Abstract: A wood splitting attachment for a backhoe includes a guide track mounted on the backhoe main boom and a guide track follower attached to the backhoe secondary boom or dipperstick. The follower engages and follows the guide track as the main boom and secondary boom swing toward each other. A wood splitting wedge on the track is driven through a stick of wood pushed along the track by the dipper-stick.

Abstract: A graphic record such as a bank signature card with a signature portion of limited area is registered by a framing clip on a carriage moveable under a photoelectric facsimile line scanner. The carriage is manually moved to an inner, start-of-scan position where it is arrested by a stop and a motor drives it back to its initial outer position past the scanner. The stop is spaced with respect to the carriage the same dimension as the selected signature portion of the card so that only the signature is scanned in a minimum of time. The stop is adjustable out of the carriage path so that the card or other graphic record can be scanned beyond the selected signature portion.

Abstract: Bookbinding apparatus for applying glue to the backbone edge of collated book sheets conveyed through a gluing station comprises counter rotating applicator rolls for transporting glue from a rectangular glue pot to the backbone the rolls substantially completely spanning the parallel sidewalls of the glue pot so that glue can not flow between the ends of the rolls and the side walls. Doctor blades extend from the ends of the glue pot to respective rolls so as to confine the adhesive below the rolls. One of the doctor blades is linearly retractable from its roll to an extent limited by a linearly adjustable stop which meters a volume of glue carried to the book in direct linear relation to the adjustment of the doctor blade stop.

Abstract: A ballast for a rapid start fluorescent lamp with heated filaments has a secondary winding supplying lamp current, tertiary windings for supplying heater current to the filaments, and solid state switching circuits in secondary circuits through the filaments. Each switching circuit, which may be integrated with the ballast circuit or connected to a filament within the lamp envelope, comprises two voltage divider resistors having a common junction coupled to the gate of a triac whose primary electrodes are connected in parallel with the voltage divider. The triac is in series with the filament and supplies heating current to the filaments prior to lamp starting. When the lamp starts and conducts rated operating current the voltage divider reduces the voltage at its junction and at the triac gate below triac breakdown level thereby substantially eliminating heater current.

Abstract: A rapid start fluorescent lamp ballast with a secondary winding supplying lamp current and tertiary windings for supplying heater current, has a magnetic switch which senses current through the secondary winding and opens the heater current circuit after the lamp starts and draws operating current from the secondary winding. The current sensing magnetic switches shown are a slow acting relay with its coil in the secondary circuit and a magnetic reed switch physically disposed in the magnetic field of the secondary ballast winding.

Abstract: An attachment for a door latch housing which has a hand grip and a latch button, includes a bracket pivotally mounting a first order hand lever with an elongate handle, and clamping members on the bracket adapted to be secured to the hand grip of the door with the handle of the lever extending below the hand grip of the door and the other end of the lever opposing the latch button. When the lever handle is pulled away from the door the opposite end of the lever actuates the button releasing the latch, the lever handle then pulling open the door.

Abstract: A starting circuit for high intensity discharge lamps supplied from an alternating current line through a ballast inductance, and in some cases a pulse transformer inductance, includes a surge voltage protector (SVP) or like voltage responsive, current switching gas breakdown device connected intermediate the end of the inductance, a capacitor connected to the lamp end of the inductance, the SVP and capacitor being connected in parallel with each other and in series with a resistance across the lamp so that upon breakdown of the device in each half AC cycle the capacitor discharges applying a voltage surge to the lamp stepped up through the inductance. The charge on the capacitor follows the ignition voltage required to start or reignite the lamp as the ignition voltage varies during the life of the lamp.

Abstract: A high voltage xenon filled flash tube has a trigger conductor wire embedded in the glass envelope of the tube or in an aluminum reflector on the tube. The wire does not penetrate the glass envelope nor enter the gas filled volume through which arc discharge occurs.