Abstract: Open-cell foamed particles and molded shapes having up to 99% porosity are formed from fumed oxides, for example SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, TiO.sub.2, with or without functional groups, in 30-99%, by weight, and polymers, for example polyvinyl chloride and copolymers thereof, and styrene. The resulting structures are thermally insulating. The structures can be formed by beating small amounts of a liquid polymerizable monomer into the fumed oxide or by immersing a formed shape of the oxide in a liquid monomer and thereafter polymerizing the monomer to a solid polymer. The oxide is believed to have a microfibrous nature and the polymer is believed to coat the oxide, without destroying the open-nature configuration of the oxide, and cements the oxide particles together in the microfibrous condition.

Abstract: A horizontal rail assembly (10) on which a plurality of storage components (50) are hung is secured between vertical support members (34). The rail (10) carries hanger clips (24) which secure the rail in place on vertical supports. Flanges (32) on the clips are received by the vertical support members (34) to install the rail 10 at the desired height. The clips (24) are slightly loaded in tension between the rail (10) and the vertical members (34) to provide for a secure fit. The support system is provided with a cam surface (19) and screws (40), (42) for adjusting the angular orientation of the rail to level the storage components (50).

Abstract: An article of clothing is disclosed for use as an outerwear garment (100). The garment comprises a planar integral portion (101) having a elliptical configuration. Invertible sleeves (113, 114) are attached at armholes (107, 106) in the integral portion at a position allowing for use as shawl-length outerwear and additionally for inverted use as floor-length outerwear.

Abstract: A rotary heat exchanger (10) for a furnace or incinerator has a gap face seal structure which is adjustable during operation of the heat exchanger. A rotary wheel (40) is disposed between adjacent face seals (32, 34) in a housing (15). The face seals (32, 34) are spaced from adjacent side surfaces of the wheel (40) by a predetermined gap. The wheel (40) is carried on a shaft journalled in bearings (48, 54) mounted to a first section (11) of the housing (15). The bearings (48, 54) are coupled to the shaft (41) to permit axial displacement of the shaft (41) relative to the housing (15). The first section (11) of the housing is joined to a second section (12) by an adjustable coupling (26) to permit relative displacement therebetween. In this way, the gaps between the wheel (40) and the face seals (32, 34) can be adjusted while the wheel is hot to maintain the gaps at a minimum to reduce the thermal gradients across the wheel which may induce stresses and cracks in the wheel.

Abstract: A flight performance data system comprises a control and display unit operably connected to a computer. The computer has input means responsive to real air mass parameters and real aircraft dynamic measurements. The computer is programmed to respond to the incoming signals and automatically generate various output signals representing flight profile data. A mode selector is operably connected to the computer to direct the computer in different modes to determine the different flight profile data for the climb, cruise, descent and other modes of the aircraft. For various modes, a different flight schedule can be determined corresponding to the most fuel efficient flight, a long-range cruise flight, or the most economical flight. In addition, the computer produces output signals corresponding to the maximum rate of climb and the maximum rate of descent in the climb and descent modes, respectively. A display screen selectively displays the desired flight profile data.

Abstract: A furnace (10) has a preheater zone (12) into which exhaust gases of a combustion chamber (14) are recycled for preheating of articles passing through the furnace. The exhaust gases are supplied to the preheater zone (12) through jet pipes (18) which create a turbulent flow about the articles in the furnace (10). The exhaust gases are withdrawn by a fan (30) which is disposed in a duct (34) adjacent to the furnace entrance (13). To prevent the introduction of ambient air into the furnace (10), a pressure chamber (56), which is maintained at an elevated pressure relative to the ambient air, is provided within the preheater zone (12), with the chamber (56) pressurized by gases supplied by the jet pipes (18). A sealing arrangement defined by the pressure chamber (56) and the articles passing through the furnace prevents the introduction of cool air through the preheater zone (12).

Abstract: An automatically guided vehicle wherein a guide line is positioned in a predetermined path on the floor and the vehicle has a sensing head positioned over the guide line to detect the position of the guide line with respect to the vehicle and to generate an error signal representative of the vehicle position with respect to the guide line. A control circuit is also provided on the vehicle to steer the vehicle responsive to the error signal generated by the sensing head. The sensing head includes a scanning head to scan across the guide line and to generate an output signal representative of the detected light values at discreet positions of the scan. The control circuit is adapted to steer the vehicle along the right edge, left edge or center of the guide line and is responsive to control codes positioned on the floor adjacent the guide line.

Abstract: A ureteric stone extractor (100) is disclosed wherein an inner dislodger catheter (101) is slidable within a relatively larger outer dialator catheter (102). The dislodger catheter (101) comprises a lumen (104) having a stiffening metal stylet (106) therein to allow it to easily pass beyond a stone arrested within a ureter. A dislodger balloon (107) is eccentrically attached to the inner catheter (101) and can be inflated once the inner catheter (101) is positioned above and beyond the arrested stone. Nylon strings (110) positioned along longitudinal axes of the dislodger balloon (107) are manipulable by an attending physician to ensure that the dislodger catheter (101) and the strings (110) entrap the stone and to apply a downward force by the dislodger balloon (107) to the stone sufficient to dislodge it from the ureteral walls.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling integrated circuits to a printed circuit board wherein integrated circuits with protective carriers are selectively dispensed from a rotary magazine, are removed from the carriers and positioned by the leads on magnetic holders on a continuous conveyor which moves the integrated circuits, thus mounted on the holders, to a lead-forming and trim assembly wherein the leads are bent downwardly and outwardly to form feet and trimmed. Thereafter the integrated circuits are moved, thus mounted on the holders, to a flux-applying assembly wherein flux is applied to the lead feet, then to a solder-applying assembly wherein solder is applied to the lead feet, and then to a program activated X-Y axis table which mounts the printed circuit board. The integrated circuits, with tinned leads, are transferred through magnetic fingers to the printed circuit board wherein electrodes solder the leads to pads on the Board.

Abstract: A drawer glide assembly has a positively actuated locking mechanism which prevents accidental disengagement of the drawer (10) from the cabinet rails (12). The locking mechanism includes a lever arm (20) pivotally mounted on a bracket (18) on the drawer rail (11). The lever arm slides along the lower wall (14) of the cabinet rail (12) and is received within a slot (25) in the rail (12). The locking mechanism includes a handle (32) which pivots upwardly to disengage the stop member (30) from the slot (25), allowing easy removal of the drawer (10) from the cabinet (8). Additionally, the rails are provided with an offset guide track in which rollers (21), (22) are guided in order to facilitate movement of the drawer (10). The use of such an offset guide track permits the rails (11), (12) to be mounted to the drawer (10) or cabinet (8) by means of pan-head screws (50).

Abstract: A showerhead which provides for a reduced flow volume through the showerhead includes a replaceable decorative cover. The showerhead has a skirt housing (24) which is swivelably mounted on a ball joint (10) connected to a water supply pipe. A generally cylindrical spray director (32) is welded to the skirt member (24) to provide a spray pattern emitting from the showerhead. An orifice plate (44) which reduces the flow volume and a face plate (50) which defines a spray pattern are disposed within the spray director (32) downstream of the ball joint (10). The face plate (50) is axially adjustable in order to vary the spray pattern as well as provide for a self-flushing showerhead. The decorative cover includes an annular shell (58) coaxially disposed about the spray director (32) and an end plate (64) which is snap-fit into the outlet of the spray director. In this way, decorative covers of different styles can be used with the same functional assemblies.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension for connecting an axle to the frame wherein the suspension has a spring which is mounted between the axle and the frame and a reaction bar is connected between the axle and the frame to dampen vibration of the axle with respect to the frame, the reaction bar having an annular end portion with an articulating pin concentrically mounted in the annular end portion with an annular resilient elastomeric spring which allows universal rotation and axial articulation of the pin with respect to the central axis. The reaction bar is connected to the frame at one end through an articulating pin and at the other end to the axle through another articulating pin similarly mounted in the other end of the reaction bar.

Abstract: A light fixture incorporating a motorized insect exterminator includes a frame, a light source, and a motor mounted on the frame. A drive shaft of the motor is connected to an end of a clear and pliable plastic impeller. A translucent plate is mounted between the light source and plastic impeller. The free end of the impeller is rotated between 2,000 and 3,600 RPM's by the motor, sweeping out a circular area in the proximity of the plate on the opposite side from the light source. Flying insects, attracted to the light source, fly toward the light source, slow down to land on the plate, fly through the circular area at a relatively slow speed, and are fatally hit by the rapidly revolving impeller. The impeller is flexible enough and light enough to not injure or cut a finger which comes in contact wih the rotating impeller.

Abstract: A folding container construction has a wooden reinforcing framework which is attached to the side (74, 75) and end walls (98, 99) of the box. The side walls (74, 75) of the box are provided with vertical struts (82, 84, 86) disposed at the peripheral edges of the walls and a single, horizontal brace (79, 80) disposed adjacent to the top of the wall. At least one horizontal reinforcing member (104, 105) is provided on each end wall of the box with the horizontal members being received by slots defined by the struts on the side walls and the horizontal brace to maintain the box configuration. The end walls (98, 99) are maintained on the base (60) of the container by the bottom surfaces of the vertical struts which seat against a bottom flap (92, 93) on the end walls when the box is constructed. In this way, the need for separately attaching the end walls to the container base is eliminated.

Abstract: A cam shaft manufacturing process wherein a cam shaft is cast from a heat-treatable gray cast iron having a high carbide microstructure, is annealed while retaining the carbides and then cooled to room temperature. Surfaces, such as cam lobe surfaces, are then surface hardened and the cam shaft may thereafter be machined. The heat treating process comprises heating the cam shaft at 1600.degree. F. (871.degree. C.) in about twenty minutes, holding the cam shaft at 1600.degree. F. (871.degree. C.) for about twenty minutes and thereafter heat treating the cam shafts at a temperature of 1600.degree. to 1640.degree. F. (871.degree. to 893.degree. C.) for about eighty minutes. The cam shafts are then cooled rapidly to about 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.), for example, within about an hour and a half, and thereafter air cooled.

Abstract: An aerator for bodies of water having a housing with a concave top wall, an annular buoyant core and a plurality of aerator pumps which draw water from beneath the core and spray the water in vertically spaced sheets onto the top wall of the housing. A telescoping tube extends from the central opening of the top wall down through the core and down near the bottom of the lake. An impeller is provided in the telescoping tube for driving the water down through the tube and out through the outlet opening thereof. A heater is provided below the top wall and on the outside edges of the aerator pump to prevent ice formation thereon. A screened enclosure is provided beneath the buoyant core through which filtered water can be drawn by the aerator pump. A plurality of legs are adjustably secured to the housing for supporting the housing on the bottom of the lake bed.

Abstract: A disc filter assembly in which a plurality of filter discs are attached to a central shaft. The central shaft is a fabrication which has a central mandrel. Pipe segments are removably secured around the mandrel with their longitudinal axes parallel to the mandrel's longitudinal axis. The pipe segments have walls which define a trapezoid in cross-section. The walls are positioned such that two side walls define planes which converge relatively close to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. Each pipe has at least one aperture through which filtrate from the interior of the disc filter segment passes to the interior of the pipe. The pipe is in fluid communication with an end piece having apertures therethrough. The end piece apertures have a trapezoidal cross-section corresponding to the trapezoidal shape of the pipe interior. A wear plate is attached to the outer end of the end piece and has trapezoidal apertures therethrough which are aligned with the apertures of the end piece.

Abstract: An elastomeric suspension system for wheeled vehicles includes an equalizing beam pivotably mounted about its center to a trunnion tube which is rigidly mounted to the frame of the vehicle. The trunnion tube is press fitted into an aperture in a trunnion rubber bushing which, in turn, is press fitted into an aperture in the equalizing beam. Near each end of the equalizing beam is an axle mounted transversely to the beam. Each axle has mounted thereon one end of a cylindrical elastomeric spring which is connected at its other end to the equalizing beam. A rebound shaft is slidably connected at one end to each axle and at the other end to each end of the equalizing beam to prevent excessive rebound of the equalizing beam with respect to the axles. Each axle is pivotably connected to a central portion of the equalizing beam through radius rods. The elastomeric rubber spring isolates a substantial amount of vibrations of the axle, particularly vertical vibration, from the equalizing beam.

Abstract: A fireplace heater having a central grate and a U-shaped container with two side sections and a rear section substantially surrounding the central grate. An air inlet is at the upper portion of a front end of one side section. A fan is mounted adjacent the intake for circulating air into and through the container. At the front portion of the second side section is an outlet for the passage of heated, circulating air. The bottom portion of the U-shaped container holds water which is heated by a fire on the grate. The water evaporates and humidifies the circulating air before passing into the room through the outlet.

Abstract: A vertically swingable control arm has a pivotal connection with a bracket on the vehicle frame and another connection to a bracket on the axle. One or more of these connections includes a bolt passing through aligned apertures in the bracket and control arm. The bracket apertures have a larger cross dimension than the bolt to facilitate alignment of the axle relative to the frame. The axle is initially secured in aligned relation by tightening a nut on the bolt. A plate carried by the bolt is then welded to the bracket to fix the relative alignment of the axle and frame.