Abstract: The agglomeration of gold or silver ore fines is improved by the use of a water-soluble vinyl polymer as the agglomerating agent.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate arm electrical lamp system provides two flashing lamps and one continuously operated lamp. Each of the lamps has an internal electrical circuit with the internal electrical circuits being identical for each lamp. This permits the lamps to be interchanged in position with the lamp positions determining the function of the lamp. Each lamp electricl circuit has a three-wire input connection and a three-wire output connection. There are identical and reversible three-wire cables connecting the first flashing lamp with the second flashing lamp and the second flashing lamp with the continuously operated lamp. The input for the first flashing lamp includes two power supply terminals and a third common terminal. The lamps are connected in series across the power supply and a relay alternately shunts the lamps to obtain flashing of two of the lamps. The third lamp is connected across the power supply for steady light.

Abstract: A faucet for automatic operation defining a base and an elongated cantilevered spout body provided with a discharge outlet. A sensing means for automatic operation in the form of an emitter an detector are mounted on the spout body intermediate the base and discharge outlet. The emitter and detector are positioned on the longitudinal center of the spout body and provide a concentrated zone of effective detection disposed intermediate the area of discharge from the faucet and the base. The zone shape is transversely elongated relative to the longitudinal center of the faucet spout body.

Abstract: A seal system is disclosed for sealing a housing and rotatable shaft against leakage of high vapor-pressure liquids. The method of sealing contemplates phase change of the liquefied hydrocarbon fluid across a first module. The gas so formed is contained by a second seal module which operates as a dry running gas seal. The seal system has plural, axially spaced spiral-groove seal modules mounted between the shaft and housing. Each seal module has a primary ring affixed to the housing and a mating ring affixed for rotation with the shaft and the modules define an intermediate cavity. The rings have opposed, radially extending faces, one of which has a plurality of downstream pumping spiral grooves extending from one circumference. The grooves of the grooved ring of the upstream module are of a depth not to exceed about 100 micro-inches. In a preferred form, the depth of the grooves of the upstream module do not exceed 50 micro-inches.

Abstract: An impeller pump including a housing defining a seal cavity having a shaft rotatably mounted therein, and an expeller to pump fluid from the seal cavity. A dynamic seal provides a fluid tight seal between the housing and the shaft. The seal comprises an axially movable primary seal ring which rotates with the shaft and a mating stationary seal ring, both rings disposed annularly of the shaft and each defining a generally radial sealing face adapted to seal against the other. A biasing device urges the primary seal ring into sealing engagement with the mating seal ring. The radial face of the mating seal ring defines a plurality of spiral grooves and a sealing dam area which is at the periphery of the ring exposed to high pressure. When the pump is not operating, the seal ring faces contact one another and the dam provides a seal against the opposing face.

Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a tubular waterway and an enclosing cover. There is a space between the cover and waterway. In the method of manufacturing such plumbing fixture, a foam material consisting of a base and a catalyst therefor is positioned within the space between the cover and the waterway, with the foam material growing in the space until the space is completely filled and the waterway is secured to the cover. The foam material not only is the securing agent for the waterway and cover, but provides temperature, noise and vibration isolation therebetween.

Abstract: This invention is in the nature of a clamp to be used to clamp, for example, parts on a work piece for machining and the like. The clamp has a clamp bar and a handle bar and a roller and cam arrangement so that the clamp bar can be releasably held in an up-lock position by the cam but may be released and then the cam applied to clamp the clamp bar to the work piece.

Abstract: A flush valve handle assembly includes a collar adapted to be attached to a flush valve body. There is an opening in the collar and a flush valve handle extends through the opening. A piston is movable within the collar and in contact with that portion of the flush valve handle extending through the opening. An operating rod is attached to and movable with the piston and is integral with a flexible diaphragm which is in sealing contact with the flush valve body. A spring member is attached to the pisotn and is effective to urge the operating rod and piston to a normally unoperated position.

Abstract: A wire management assembly for mounting on a wall or panel of a work station or office for supporting and concealing communication wires, power plug-in cords and extension cords of electrical equipment and devices. It consists of an extruded aluminum housing having a downwardly facing opening for receiving wires to be supported in the housing. Metal clips connect to the aluminum housing and in turn are connected to brackets which mount in slots formed in standards located at the ends of the panels. A cover is provided for mounting on the aluminum housing and to extend downwardly to the work surface to conceal wires and equipment located on the work surface below the aluminum housing. The cover has a hook that fits into a groove formed in the aluminum housing to hingedly lock the cover to the housing.

Abstract: A method and machine for making screw-on connectors is disclosed. The connectors have an insulating shell with a bore open at one end and a wire coil in the bore of the shell. The method includes the steps of heating the coils sufficiently so that it in turn heats the bore of the shell in contact with it to soften the interior of the bore, and applying a compressive axial thrust between the shell and coil while the interior of the bore is still soft to force them together to a predetermined axial relation. A suitable machine for accomplishing the steps of this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously forming pointed terminals from a length of wire. The length of wire is moved to a position where a portion of the wire is positioned between a pair of opposed swedges. The pair of swedges is closed to engage and deform the portion of wire. The wire is then moved to position the deformed portion of wire at a wire severing location and another portion of the wire is positioned between the pair of opposed swedges. The wire is twisted relative to the deformed portion to separate the portion of the wire ahead of the deformed portion to form a terminal. The pair of swedges are closed simultaneously with the twisting to deform the next portion of wire and these steps are repeated.

Abstract: In a machine which cleans or buffs a floor by rotating a cleaning or buffing pad against the floor at high speed, simplified means are disclosed for supplying a controlled amount of cleaning fluid to the floor at the center of the cleaning pad. Vacuum which is created within the pad housing by the centrifugal action of the cleaning pad draws cleaning fluid out of a reservoir and into the central region of the pad. Flow is controlled and flow rate is set by limiting atmospheric vents. There is precisely controlled flow to the center of the pad, which may be continuous or on demand, no pump or moving parts of any kind are required, and the system is self-cleaning.

Abstract: A resulfurized and rephosphorized free-machining steel bar formed by cold drawing a hot rolled steel bar has the composition, by weight, C up to 0.08%; Mn 0.6% to 1.4%; Si up to 0.1%; P at least 0.03%; S 0.25% to 0/50%; Cb 0.02% to 0.10%; the sum of Ni, Cr, Mo and Cu up to 0.15%; balance iron. The ratio of %Mn/%S is from 1.6 to 4.0, and the ratio of [%Mn-(1.62.times.%S)]/%Cb is from 2 to 50. The yield strength of the steel bar is further determined by the draft in cold drawing the bar from the hot rolled state and the size and cross section of the bar after draft. The relationship between strength and ductility is further improved by heavy drafting in cold drawing the bar from the hot rolled state.

Abstract: In a hydraulic control device having at least one distributing valve (2m, ) connected upstream of a consuming point (35), a more effective energy utilization is achieved by means of a pressure step (D) provided for the input pressure of a second throttling point (15), which can be switched in stroke-dependent fashion by means of a control element (17, 17') of the distributing valve (2, 2') so that the maximum difference in pressure between the pump line pressure P.sub.(4) and the consumer pressure P.sub.(3) is only controlled shortly before the need of a high conveying amount. Before this the difference in pressure is kept smaller.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette has an improved reel spring, slack limiter and tape guide. The reel spring has a generally rectangular shape with first and second parallel edges extending substantially along its entire length. A flat, central base portion of the spring is bounded by a pair of transition portions which extend at an angle out of the plane of the base. A pair of outer end portions set at a sharper angle to the base complete the spring configuration. A polypropylene slack limiter applies a preloaded tension on the magnetic tape. The polypropylene eliminates the need for laminating a separate bearing material to the slack limiter. The tape guide has a semi-cylindrical, stainless steel insert attached to a plastic mounting core. The core is fastened to the cassette housing. Another form of tape guide has a corrugated surface to minimize contact with the tape.

Abstract: A surge/transient protector for an N-line data cable (e.g., N=16) or other group of N data lines having two data conductors and a return conductor for each line includes individual conductor segments for each data line conductor; conventional multi-pin connectors are used to connect the protector in series in the lines. The protector has a positive bus, a negative bus, and a ground bus; each data conductor segment is coupled by a pair of oppositely polarized diodes to the positive and negative buses, and each return conductor is coupled to the reference bus by two oppositely connected diodes. Two large capacity energy storage devices (e.g. 10,000 microfarad capacitors) are connected between the reference bus and the positive and negative buses, each paralleled by a Zener diode to establish a discharging threshold just slightly greater than one-half the voltage range for the data lines.

Abstract: A skirtboard member is adjustable and replaceably mounted on a wall above a belt conveyor by a mounting assembly including a cam member molded from a tough, durable resilient resin (e.g., urethane); a key aperture and two radial keyways in the cam member are aligned with two cam ramps that each end in a key latching depression. A key including a shaft and two radial key elements is inserted through the cam member aperture and keyways and twisted to drive the key elements along the ramps to latched position, where a head on the key clamps the skirtboard member on the wall.

Abstract: A machine distributable gypsum-based pesticide pellet in which the gypsum is a solid formed by the bonding of plaster of paris and water which includes, prior to formation of the solid, by weight, no more than the minimum water required for substantial hydration of the plaster of paris. The pellet includes approximately five percent of a pesticide with the balance being plaster of paris. The pesticide, water and plaster of paris are generally uniformly mixed to provide a pellet which has a generally uniform release of the pesticide over its life. The pellet after setting has essentially no free water in that substantially all water is absorbed in the chemical reaction between the plaster of paris and water. The pellet has a maximum surface area of about 180 mm.sup.2, a maximum weight of about 0.3 gram, and has been compressed in the extrusion process to eliminate porosity and external and internal voids.

Abstract: A recess attachment with preset quick change tooling for use on a multiple spindle automatic machine includes a base formed and adapted to be mounted at a work station on an automatic machine. The base is movable in a defined direction during a machining operation and has a slide mounting surface in a plane forming a small acute angle with the direction of movement. A slide is positioned on the slide mounting surface and there are springs attached to the base and the slide inhibiting relative movement therebetween. A tool holder is removably mounted on the slide and there is an adjustment member positioned on the tool holder and a cooperating stop on the slide. The tool holder has a tool receiving opening and there are means for fastening a cutting tool in the opening. The base and slide move in unison to a precutting position.

Abstract: An automated guided vehicle uses a scanning laser unit having a laser transmitter and receiver to transmit laser signals and receive them reflected back from a series of targets. The reflected signals are used to guide the vehicle along a desired path. The laser unit includes a photodetector mounted near the laser receiver such that any extraneous light, such as sunlight, that strikes the laser receiver will also strike the photodetector. The photodetector converts the extraneous light into an electrical signal proportional to the amount of such light. The photodetector signal is compared to a threshold value which generally is slightly below an amount of extraneous light sufficient to confuse the laser unit. If the threshold value is exceeded, the photodetector signal is used to stop the vehicle or take other appropriate action.