Abstract: A decorative cover for smoke detectors and like devices mounted on a wall or ceiling provides a cover member of a generally opaque material approximately the shape of the device it is covering and somewhat larger than the device to be covered. The cover is provided with a plurality of connector resilient legs fixed to the inside of the cover and extending towards the device to be covered in the pattern to engage selected distributed points of engagement. Cam surfaces on the ends of the resilient legs are position to laterally deflect the respective legs when they contact the distributed points of engagement. Forces imposed by the resilience of the legs while deflected are directed in opposition to one another to maintain frictional engagement at respective points of engagement.

Abstract: An elongated waterproof enclosure for spliced telephone cables is provided by a two-part molded resinous housing that provides openings for one or more cables at opposite ends. A one piece resilient sealing gasket includes longitudinally slitted tubular gaskets at the ends to snugly receive individual cables side by side. The grommets at each end are formed integrally and connected by flat connecting pieces arranged to be transverse to opposed narrow edges of the mating opposed housing portions. The narrow edges when clamped together pinch and seal the flat pieces. Housing ends conforming to the grommets also have opposed narrow edges which, when clamped together, pinch the grommets and provide a seal. The housing pieces are preferably connected along one side by an integral molded hinge offset from the opposed longitudinal edges to give the seal clearance. At the opposite side of the housing, offset from the edges, are rigid flanges molded integrally with the housing parts.

Abstract: A bimetallic circuit breaker with a first or main set of movable and stationary contacts. The circuit breaker includes an electrical insulating slide restrained in one position by the movable contact and interposed between the contacts when these contacts are in the open position. The slide is carried by an insulator frame received within a housing of electrical insulating material. The frame is provided with a second or auxiliary set of movable and stationary contacts. The slide is positioned relative to the auxiliary contacts so that it keeps the auxiliary movable contact separated from the corresponding stationary auxiliary contact. When the bimetal flexes sufficiently, the slide is released and the main contacts open, and at such times the slide moves away from the auxiliary movable contact, permitting the auxiliary contacts to close for signalling, at a remote location, the opening of the main contacts. The circuit breaker includes a case having an end wall.

Abstract: A thermal machine includes a horizontal rotatable shaft extending through a cylindrical housing which contains the at least high and low pressure stages. The shaft carries a pair of cylindrical drum heat transfer means within the housing to rotate with the shaft. All or part of both drums contain an intermediate pressure stage, with pool collection capability within the drums using annular rims to retain the absorbent solutions. The outer housing has means to permit collection of absorbent solutions in separate pools in contact with the respective outer sidewall surfaces of the drums. Such contact provides thermal coupling between stages. Additional sections of the drums may contain pools for external circulants, which drum sections also contact the pools in the outer housing. Sealing means permits rotation of the respective drum means but isolates the vapors within the drums from the pools within the outer housing and vapors from the outer housing pools from one another.

Abstract: A greeting and toy device comprises an animal simulating toy including a main body member consisting of a closed flexible soft envelope containing a soft resilient filler puffing the envelope and an animal part simulating section joined to the envelope and swingable between open and closed positions relative to a corresponding surface of the envelope, the confronting faces of the envelope and swingable section in the swingable section closed position and having adherent overlying message carrying panels which are exposed for reading in the swingable section open position.

Abstract: A touch switchable lamp is provided having a base with conductive and non-conductive parts. A conductive coating substantially covers the non-conductive parts of the base and is in electrical contact with at least some of the conductive parts. A switching unit having a touch responsive control terminal is electrically connected with the conductive coating and the conductive parts of the base. A light bulb receptacle is also electrically connected with the switching unit so that whenever a human body is brought into close proximity to the conductive parts or the conductive coating of the base which are electrically connected to the touch responsive control terminal of the switching unit, the switching unit responds by switching the mode of operation of a light bulb between at least a first and second mode of operation.

Abstract: An electrical connection adapter and method for using the same is provided for connecting the fixed electrical terminals of a unit which are positioned in a regular matrix with an array of parallel electrical conductors. An intermediate adapter provides parallel passages through an insulating housing in which formed flat conductors across the width of the passages provide spring elements to engage the terminal contacts of the matrix in good electrical contact within the passages. Intermediate connector elements having adapter portions considerably narrower than the passages provided. The adapter portions are fixedly connected to self-cutting and connecting contacts laterally offset from the centerlines of their adapter portions.

Abstract: An integral switch means on a printed circuit board is provided by a plurality of parallel conductor segments having insulating gaps which are aligned in a column transverse to the conductor tracks. Posts supported on the printed circuit board support and align a rigid support member for an elastomeric member having a plurality of conductor strips positioned to separately bridge the respective gaps of the connector segments on a printed circuit board when the elastomeric member is positioned against the printed circuit board. Spring biasing means extends between support posts and the rigid support member for normally urging the elastomeric member into the printed circuit board in position to close the switches. Actuator means is movably supported relative to the printed circuit board to cooperate with the support member to move the elastomeric member against the bias of the spring away from the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A windshield wiper mechanism includes a motor driven gear and a drive plate positioned relative thereto but selectively rotatable to enable easy change of the effective wiper parts position. A park switch to automatically stops the arm and blade at a selected position on the windshield is located on the drive gear (driving rotatable member). Removal, rotation and reengagement of the drive plate relative to the motor driven gear then easily changes the wiper park position. The drive plate is provided with at least one opening located at a radial distance from the center rotating axis of the drive plate for receiving a pin of a connecting link that will provide oscillating motion to a shaft upon which a windshield wiper arm and blade is secured.

Abstract: High, intermediate and low pressure stages are provided in a thermal machine including sealed chambers permitting maintenance of respective pressures but permitting flow of vapor from one vessel to a second within a stage and providing for the flow of an absorbent solution among the vessels in different stages. The intermediate stage includes resorption and regeneration vessels which are thermally coupled, respectively, to a generation vessel and an absorption vessel in the high and low pressure stages, so that a variable fraction of the absorber heat may be transferred to the regenerator and of the resorber heat to the generator. The name Variable Effect refers to this variable internal heat transfer which permits the machine to adjust to a wide range of available heat source and heat rejection temperatures while maintaining high efficiency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and identifying one or more excessively vibrating blades of the rotating portion of a turbomachine utilizing analysis of the characteristic Doppler waveform that results as the rotating, vibrating blade passes a fixed sensor. The acoustic energy in the vicinity of the rotating portion of the turbomachine is sensed to generate a composite electrical signal representative of the broadband acoustic spectrum. Then, through both time domain and frequency domain signal manipulations, the undesirable noise components of the composite signal are removed. The resulting signal is then displayed to reveal the characteristic Doppler waveform of the blade vibrations, which may be analyzed to indicate the location of the excessively vibrating blade as well as its relative vibration amplitude. Changes in the latter with time indicate the initiation or propagation of a blade crack.

Abstract: A document separation device for separating documents in a stack employs counter-rotating drum and friction belt members to strip away and hold back more than a single document trying to pass between them. The structure employs a pair of friction drums and a free-wheeling pulley between them of slightly smaller diameter but on the same axis. Counter-rotating friction stripper belt is supported between two pulleys one of which is driven and is wrapped over the pulley between the friction drum members. A third rotatable pulley between the two supporting the friction belt is located opposite the free-wheeling pulley and has flanges which bear upon the friction drum surfaces such that the friction belt will normally not contact the third pulley when the friction belt is in direct contact with the idler between the friction drums. The friction belt is slightly slack.

Abstract: A transfer bus matrix provides a single channel of a plurality of conductors to which multiple inputs and multiple outputs are connected by ports or control gates which allow them to be selectively interconnected by control means. Individual matrices or groups of matrices may be involved, including a multistage matrix having individual substage matrices using a transfer bus. Each matrix may be monitored by monitor means having connections to each of the conductors and a multistage matrix may be monitored in each substage and arranged so that each single input may be selectively monitored at various stages throughout the multistage matrix.

Abstract: An electrical machine including an armature rotatable within a housing comprised of a section of tubular ferrous material and methods for producing the housing. At least two alternate magnetic field pole pieces are secured within the housing and at least two intermediate induced pole pieces are formed by deforming the housing to provide inwardly projecting pole pieces intermediate the magnetic field pole pieces, each of the pole piece conforming to the shape of and closely embracing the armature.

Abstract: An adjustable orthodontic screw assembly adapted to regulate the position of human teeth comprises two limbs (1a, 1b), the adjacent first ends of said limbs being articulated together, the limbs each being adapted to be embedded in an associated part of a two-part extension plate (16), the second end of each limb having attached thereto a rotatable head member (2a, 2b), each head member being provided with a threaded hole with the threads of the threaded holes of the two head members being of opposite hand. A twin screw (4b) is in threaded engagement with the threaded holes of said rotatable head members. According to the invention, also the first end of either of said limbs (1a, 1b) has attached thereto a rotatable head member (2c, 2d) provided with a threaded hole, the threaded holes of these two head members being of opposite hand. A second twin screw (4a) is in threaded engagement with the threaded holes of the head members (2c, 2d) attached to the first ends of said limbs (1a, 1b).

Abstract: A motion system is provided by a platform generally parallel to a base and connected thereto by a column and powered and controlled extensible members, at least three of which are connected between distributed points around the column. In a three degree of freedom device, the column is conical, rigidly supported at its base with a universal joint at its top. The points of attachment define triangles in the base and in the platform surrounding the column with one extensible member connected between each.In the four degree of freedom version, the column is modified by making it effectively a column which is pivoted or guided at the base or contains an extensible member, preferably retains its triangular shape and its universal joint connection to the platform at its apex. For stability four powered and controlled extensible members are provided between points in the base and platform distributed around the column, a preferred pattern of arrangement being a square with the column at the center.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel helium-speech unscrambler which can be located at a diver's location, and enables the helium-speech voiced by the diver to be subjected to waveform time expansion to reduce the bandwidth of the helium speech (e.g. to 2 to 3 KHZ) prior to transmitting the speech signals to a distant location on a carrier wave selected for optimum transmission through the water.

Abstract: Solid state control devices are placed in series with each field winding of a step motor having a field for each of two phases. Each control device has a control terminal selectively permitting stepping drive current flow through the series field winding and gate means controlling each terminal. Sequence control means selects the sequence of application of control signals to respective gate means to determine the sequence and direction of drive. A timed current chopper means applies a timed signal to the gate means to determine when the control signal and what part thereof may be applied to the control electrode of the control device to control and adjust the drive effect. In this environment, sensing means is provided to determine when and how much current is flowing in a given field winding and to provide a signal to a comparator which is used in controlling the chopper. Various control circuits are provided for sensing and control in this environment.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine is provided with a frame structure consisting of at least two fabricated sheet metal pieces of identical shape and size. The sheet metal members are formed to provide cavities to accommodate an armature structure and bearings, and the opposed sheet metal pieces enclose and support the armature and bearing when fixed together. The sheet metal pieces also support preferably a ceramic magnet field by providing formed bosses and tabs for locating and holding the magnets in position. If additional low reluctance flux path is required, a tubular jacket may be placed over the sheet metal housing. The bearings are preferably spherical bearings, and the invention contemplates providing the sheet metal pieces with formed bearing retaining areas and having grooves to retain a fibrous lubricant containing material formed either in the retaining areas or the bearings or both.

Abstract: A d.c. generator is connected in series opposed to the polarity of a d.c. power source supplying a d.c. drive motor. The generator is part of a motor-generator set, the motor of which is supplied from the power source connected to the motor. A generator field control means varies the field produced by at least one of the generator windings in order to change the effective voltage output. When the generator voltage is exactly equal to the d.c. voltage supply, no voltage is applied across the drive motor. As the field of the generator is reduced, the drive motor is supplied greater voltage until the full voltage of the d.c. power source is supplied when the generator has zero field applied. Additional voltage may be applied across the drive motor by reversing and increasing the reversed field on the generator. The drive motor may be reversed in direction from standstill by increasing the generator field so that a reverse voltage is applied across the d.c. motor.