Abstract: Vertical blinds having commonly housed and traversely movable controls for controlling the traverse and rotation of the vanes are disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, the vanes are supported by carrier members, and a rotation rod extends through the carrier members. The carrier members are slideable along the rotation rod. A control assembly is mounted to slide along and also rotate the rotation rod. Sliding of the control assembly along the rotation rod slides the carrier members to thereby traverse the vanes, and actuation of the control assembly rotates the rotation rod and the vanes. The control assembly includes meshing bevel gears, one of which is coupled to an actuating rod or wand and the other to the rotation rod whereby rotation of the wand causes rotation of the vanes. The control assembly is slid by means of the wand which is universally connected to the control assembly. The wand is thus a unitary control for actuating both traverse and rotation of the vanes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a transistor wherein a control voltage and a cut-off voltage are applied to the base of the transistor to cause the transistor to conduct current and to cut-off, respectively, and wherein, preceding the application of the cut-off voltage, a further voltage is applied to the base of the transistor for a predetermined desaturation time interval .DELTA.t which depends upon the storage or delay time of the transistor. In accord with the invention, the aforesaid further voltage corresponds to the voltage at which the current at the base of the transistor is approximately zero.

Abstract: A dynamic compression nail for intramedullary compression nailing in treating the fractures of long bones includes a proximal part having at its distal end a central cylindrical recess open on the distal end and a central bore through the remaining portion of the part; a distal part having a tip portion and a portion attached thereto for insertion into said cylindrical cavity, the distal part also containing a central bore; a central axial compression shaft extending through the bores in the proximal and distal parts; a spring surrounding the shaft and acting between the proximal end of the cylindrical recess and the distal part biasing the distal part distally; at least one pair of sliding blades having on the side thereof pointed projections in each of the said proximal and distal parts, the sliding blades operatively coupled to the shaft by means of pins so that retraction of the shaft proximally will result in an outward projecting movement of the said sliding blades thereby permitting their projecting sp

Abstract: A right-angle spray nozzle, intended for a squeeze bottle containing a liquid product with air above the product, provides for forming an aerosol spray from an orifice supplied by a swirl chamber having two tangential injection inlets separately fed by air and product respectively when the bottle is squeezed to pressurize the air above the product in the bottle. The spray is ejected in the form of an aerosol at right angles to the axis of the bottle.

Abstract: A solar cell with semiconductor body consisting of single crystal semiconductor whiskers which are grown on a substrate surface permitting relatively inexpensive manufacture and high efficiency of the solar cell is disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is a ferritic chrome-molybdenum-nickel steel, containing specified amounts of niobium, zirconium and aluminum, of high chemical resistance against general and intercrystalline corrosion attack, as well as against pitting, crevice and stress corrosion in chloride-containing solutions. The described steel is useful for the fabrication of articles which must exhibit a 0.2-limit of at least 520 N/mm.sup.2 at room temperature; a notched bar impact strength of at least 40 J at 0.degree. C. and at least 70 J at 20.degree. C. in 3-mm U-notch impact specimens; and guaranteed for flat stock such as sheet or strip material up to at least 10 mm thickness and for bar material of at least 60 mm diameter, round of square.

Abstract: A dual dome structure comprising a first hemispherical dome of smaller diameter and a second hemispherical dome of larger diameter, the second hemispherical dome being of a material such as glass which will pass the rays of the sun to thereby create a highly heated space between the two domes. In accordance with one embodiment copper tubing is wound helically on the inner dome and salt water supplied thereto whereby the salt water will be evaporated and can be condensed to form fresh water. In a second embodiment the use of the dual dome structure to form a habitable space inside the inner dome is disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure control device for processing machines having at least one roll which has a stationary core around which a hollow roll which forms the roll proper revolves with radial spacing from the core, the hollow roll supported at its ends on the core and supported on the core in between in the radial direction by a fluid pressure medium disposed in a chamber formed at the core, the fluid pressure medium generating a force acting on the inside of the hollow roll to provide the operating pressure of the roll, with a loading device operated by a fluid pressure medium also applied either to the roll or a counter-roll, either the loading device or roll forming a controlling element, with a control pressure which is derived from the pressure prevailing therein used to adjust a pressure in the other controlled element which has a definite predetermined pressure ratio to the pressure in the controlling element, which pressure control device includes a pressure ratio monitoring device having as inputs the control pre

Abstract: An improved nozzle for a portable air/water fire extinguisher which includes a head portion having a plurality of small openings to result in a fog spray permitting better fire extinguishing and longer operating times for the extinguisher.

Abstract: A transducer assembly includes a first half wavelength double-dummy section having a pair of quarter wavelength ultrasonic horns and a driving element sandwiched therebetween. A second half wavelength stepped amplifying section extends from one end of the first section and has a theoretical resonant frequency equal to the actual resonant frequency of the first section. When used as a liquid atomizer, the small diameter portion of the stepped amplifying section has a flanged tip to provide an atomizing surface of increased area. To maintain efficiency, the length of the small diameter portion of the second section with a flange should be less than its length without a flange. A decoupling sleeve within an axial liquid passageway eliminates premature atomization of the liquid before reaching the atomizing surface. In a fuel burner incorporating the atomizer, ignition electrode life is increased by locating the electrodes outside the normal flame envelope.

Abstract: A pulse generator is used to emit a pulse train of specific frequency while two pick-ups--one adjacent a circumferential array of control lugs on the rotor and the other adjacent the blades--emit start counting and stop counting pulses. The number of pulses generated by an external pulse generator are counted during the time interval for the passage of two lugs past a pick-up and the time interval for the passage of two adjacent blades past a pick-up for each revolution of the rotor. A quotient is then obtained from the two pulse numbers for each revolution and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the quotients obtained during continued rotation is determined. If the difference exceeds a preset critical value, an activity signal is generated, for example to set off an alarm.

Abstract: A battery booster cable clamp includes first and second members each containing an arm and a jaw joined in the nature of pliers with one arm containing an upwardly extending flexible member containing a plurality of teeth engaging a projection on the end of the other arm to achieve a ratchet action, electrically conductive teeth being disposed at each of the jaws whereby bringing the arms together will bring the jaws together to permit clamping the teeth on a battery post or terminal.

Abstract: A continuous flow of material is separated in a continuous centrifugal classifying method into at least one fraction of coarse material and at least one fraction of fine material using a deflected flow with the stream of material introduced in a thin layer into a classifying flow which is deflected in a classifying region, the classifying flow being internally adjacent a curved inner deflection wall having an inner deflection angle greater than approximately 45.degree.

Abstract: An impregnated sintered material for making electrical contact members which have a low fusing force and little burning in which a powder mixture of W, Ag and/or Cu, a wetting promoting metal, and 2 to 5 percent by weight graphite is granulated thermically, and another 1 to 6 percent by weight graphite admixed to the granules, after which the mixture is compacted to form a skeleton and impregnated with Ag and/or Cu. The carbon contained in the finished material is partly in bound form as WC and partly free carbon in a 1:5 to 5:1 ratio.

Abstract: A hydraulic positioning drive with a physically separated work cylinder which is connected via pressure oil lines, comprises a follow-up cylinder mounted at the positioning drive or in the immediate vicinity thereof, of the same type and the same volume as the work cylinder, which is hydraulically connected in series with the latter, so that its piston moves synchronously with that of the work cylinder. The piston position of the follow-up cylinder is sensed electrically and used as the positioner position. For synchronizing, both cylinders are connected in parallel from time to time and their pistons are run into the end positions.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for use with pressure contacts wherein the mechanism is provided with a drive means for opening and closing the contacts and wherein the drive means undergoes a driving stroke in bringing the contacts to a closed position. The mechanism is further provided with a closing spring means for actuating the drive means to initiate closing of the contacts and a second spring means responsive to the aforesaid actuation of the drive means and which is cocked there during for actuating the first means to initiate opening of the contacts. In accord with the invention, a pressure spring means for applying pressure to the contacts is also provided; the latter pressure spring means being responsive to the drive means and cocked thereby during a substantial portion of the closing driving stroke.

Abstract: An improved reversing valve for use in hydraulic actuators of electric high-voltage circuit breakers wherein the valve is of the type comprising: a ball for controlling the path to be reversed; means for continuously subjecting the ball to a pressure force; a movable plunger for loading the ball; a valve body for controlling the path to be reversed connected to the plunger; and a hydraulically movable piston connected to the plunger. The improvement comprises placement of the ball in a first stable end position by the continuous pressure force and the further inclusion in the valve of a roller toggle means responsive to the loading of the ball by the plunger for causing the continuous pressure on the ball to be reduced and the ball to be placed in a second stable condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are described herein for positioning the pile threads found on textile webs manufactured from synthetic fibers which become pliable upon exposure to heat. Means are provided for first routing the textile web through heating means which generally would be a hot water bath. The pile threads are softened by the heat of the hot water bath and become sufficiently pliable as to enable them to assume any position. Because of their buoyancy in water the pile threads tend to orientate themselves perpendicular to the web backing. In order to maintain the pile threads perpendicular until given a chance to cool, the web is removed from the heating apparatus in substantially a horizontal plane. Suction means are provided to cool the textile web as it leaves the heating portion of the apparatus thereby speeding up the set time of the piles. The suction means can also be used to remove a substantial portion of the hot water saturating the textile web.

Abstract: Apparatus for the rapid monitoring of an alternating (a-c) variable with respect to amplitude, frequency and phase which includes a generator circuit for forming, from an actual a-c voltage imaging the monitored a-c variable, a reference a-c voltage of predetermined amplitude and frequency which is linked to the former in rigid phase relationship, and comparators for comparing individual signals of the generator circuit with the instantaneous values of the actual value a-c voltage, permitting recognition of disturbances in a time which is substantially shorter than one period of the a-c variable monitored.

Abstract: The column employs a head section with a counterflow column, a bottom section with a counterflow column and a plurality of reaction stages for stripping metal salts via steam from ammoniacal solutions or suspensions. Each reaction stage has a floor, a pipe defining a laterally confined chamber, an outlet and a valve in the outlet to control the discharge of liquid. At least one steam line communicates the upper end of each stage with the pipe in the next uppermost stage. Incrustation of the column by the stripped salts is reduced by the high velocity of flow in the bubble bed in each stage.