Abstract: A knockout device for removing a taphole sleeve from a furnace wall. The device is comprised of a pneumatic hammer having an elongated body and a weight reciprocally movable by air pressure along the body. The body has a first end with an air inlet for receiving air under pressure from an external source and a second end. A metal block is attached to the second end of the body. The block has a planar surface dimensioned to rest upon an upper end of a taphole sleeve. A locating pin extends from the block. The pin is dimensioned to be received within an axial bore defined by the taphole sleeve. A housing surrounds the hammer and defines a cavity therearound. The housing has openings therethrough to allow air from the hammer to vent from the cavity.

Abstract: The invention provides an in-line low supply pressure alarm device preferably housed together with a gas pressure regulator and a gas flow controller, thereby eliminating the need for the operator to monitor gas availability. The alarm device is designed to be inserted in-line and includes a hollow housing with a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and an elongate internal chamber. A piston is disposed within the chamber for axial sliding between an alarm-on and an alarm-off position. The piston includes a piston head sealed in sliding engagement with an actuating compartment of the chamber. The actuating compartment of the chamber is filled with pressurized gas in flow communication with the gas inlet in operation. The piston includes an axially extending valve stem with a lateral alarm port in flow communication with the gas inlet. The valve stem is in sliding engagement with axially spaced apart seals defining an alarm plenum within the chamber.

Abstract: A flexible laminate for packaging a polymer electrolytic cell or battery, comprising: a first metallic foil layer; a second metallic foil layer; an intermediate separation layer disposed between the first and second metallic foil layers, the intermediate separation layer establishing a predetermined spacing between the first layer metallic foil and the second metallic foil layer; a first layer formed of a first self-sealing polymer on the first metallic foil layer.

Abstract: A roof flashing assembly is disclosed, comprising a body member having a base portion, adapted to be rigidly sealingly mountable upon a roof surface in surrounding relation to projection therefrom, a boss portion extending from the base portion, having an inner boss surface which defines a passageway, extending through the boss portion, and adapted to receive an elongate member extending upwardly from the roof, an annular resilient gasket, having circumferentially extending first, second and third upper surface contours. The first contour defines a sealing surface adapted for resilient sealing contact with an outer surface of the elongate member at a location axially adjacent said base portion. The second contour defines a concave body portion, and the third contour defines a mounting surface which is rigidly sealingly mounted to the inner boss surface.

Abstract: An electrodeposition cell for electrodepositing metal onto a surface of a rotating drum that is partially immersed in an electrolytic solution. The cell includes an anode comprised of a main anode body portion and an anode extension portion. The main anode body portion has an arcuate main anode body surface having a radius of curvature slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the drum. The main anode body portion is totally immersed in the electrolytic solution adjacent the drum wherein a generally uniform gap is formed therebetween. The anode extension portion has an anode extension surface facing the drum and at least one opening extending therethrough. The anode extension portion is disposed within the electrolytic solution wherein a portion thereof extends above the electrolytic solution and the electrolytic solution can flow through the opening.

Abstract: A battery is comprised of a rigid, plastic housing defining a generally rectangular interior cavity, and an essentially flat interior surface. A battery rechargeable electric cell has a flexible outer packaging, an electrically conductive thermoset adhesive film, and is contained within the cavity. The cell is generally rectangular in shape and has a flat outer surface and two leads extending through the housing. The cell has a normal configuration when experiencing normal operating conditions, and an abnormal configuration when experiencing abnormal operating conditions. A membrane switch is disposed between the flat interior surface of the housing and the flat outer surface of the cell. The switch has at least one lead extending through the housing. The switch has a first electrical condition when the cell has the normal configuration and a second electrical condition when the cell has the abnormal configuration.

Abstract: A sealing grommet is for use in coupling in sealed relation a drain pipe depending from a roof and a co-operating leader pipe. The bottom end of the drain pipe is inserted into the top end of the co-operating leader pipe. The outside diameter of the drain pipe is smaller than the inside diameter of the co-operating leader pipe by an unspecified distance. The sealing grommet comprises an annular base portion having top, bottom, radially inner side and radially outer side surfaces. An annular interior wall portion extends upwardly from the base portion to terminate at a top edge, and is defined by opposed inner and outer wall surfaces. The interior wall portion has an overall inside diameter defined by the inner wall surface. A substantially resilient annular exterior wall portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the base portion in spaced apart relation to the annular interior wall portion, to terminate at a top edge, and is defined by opposed inner and outer wall surfaces.

Abstract: Method of forming a flexible circuit laminate for use in the production of flexible circuits, comprising the steps of electrodepositing a continuous layer of copper on a first side of a generally continuous strip of polyimide having a layer of metal on the first side, modifying a second side of the polyimide strip to increase the surface energy thereof, applying a preformed adhesive film on the second side of the generally continuous strip of polyimide, the adhesive strip being formed of a substantially uncured polymeric material, and curing the adhesive film wherein at least the outmost layer of the adhesive film is only partially cured.

Abstract: A method of packaging a rectangular electrolytic battery, comprising the steps of forming a sleeve from a flat, rectangular sheet of a laminate material by overlapping and joining opposite edges of the sheet; inserting a rectangular battery into one end of the sleeve, the battery having two electronic contacting leads extending from one side thereof and the battery being positioned within the sleeve wherein a portion of the leads is within the sleeve and a portion of the leads is outside said sleeve; joining the ends of the sleeve to form a seal along each end thereof, hermetically sealing the interior of the sleeve, one end of the sleeve forming a seal about the leads and the other end of the sleeve sealed adjacent the battery.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a peddle powered aquatic vehicle with a propeller driven by pedal cranks, a flywheel, and water-cooled belt drive transmission, the vehicle hull including T-bar steering handles, a saddle seat and lateral outriggers to enable a passenger to ride the vehicle like a bicycle on water. The aquatic vehicle has a buoyant hull with a central longitudinal body with the saddle seat allowing a passenger to be supported in a startling position. To provide lateral stability two elongate outriggers are disposed laterally from the central hull body with outrigger arms connecting the body to the outriggers. A manual steering mechanism is attached to the hull for steering by the passenger; preferably in the form of a T-bar journaled to the hull connected with cords to a rear mounted rudder. Pedal powered drive means are mounted in the hull for driving a stern mounted propeller. A pair of pedal cranks are journaled for rotation about the transverse axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to dual hull kayak, with a one piece elongate moulded body of a continuous outer membrane enclosing an internal cavity. The kayak body has two lateral side walls and a concave bottom wall joined laterally with a bottom edge of each side wall to define two laterally spaced apart parallel pontoons each with a downwardly pointed keel. The top wall of the kayak body is joined laterally with a top edge of each side wall, to complete the hollow body. The top wall together with the bottom wall define a bridge platform spanning a central longitudinal tunnel between the pontoons. The pontoons support a top portion of the tunnel above the waterline. The top wall has a recessed open cockpit with a self-draining floor, side gunnels, and front and back cockpit walls formed into transverse reinforcing ribs. The simple easily moulded structure is very stable against lateral tipping, whereas conventional kayaks and canoes are very unstable laterally.

Abstract: A switched reluctance motor comprised of a stator having a plurality of evenly spaced, radially oriented, like stator poles that define a gap between adjacent stator poles. Windings for three phases are wound about the stator poles wherein a stator pole of a first phase is disposed circumferentially between a winding and an associated stator pole of a second phase and a winding and an associated stator pole of a third phase. A rotor is mounted for rotation relative to the stator. The rotor has an even number of rotor poles, the rotor poles being dimensioned such that when one of the phases is energized, the rotor poles operatively interact with the energized stator poles such that the motor moves from a first state wherein half of the rotor poles are magnetically coupled to a like number of the stator poles to a second state wherein all of said rotor poles are magnetically coupled to a like number of stator poles.

Abstract: A method of forming a multi-layer laminate from a plurality of individual laminates comprised of copper clad on a polyimide.

Abstract: A fusible element for an electrical fuse comprising a generally flat, strip-shaped body having a generally uniform cross-section; a constricted area formed in the body has a cross-section less than the cross-section of the body; an indentation formed in the body at least bordering on the constricted area; a solder coating disposed within the indentation; and a first solder stop coating on a first surface of the body that is disposed adjacent the solder coating to prevent migration of the coating along the surface.

Abstract: A switched reluctance machine includes a first element having a plurality of uniform poles and a second element having a first pole and a second pole. The first pole has a wide face and the second pole has a narrow pole face. The first and second elements are disposed for movement relative to each other such that the wide and narrow poles are moveable in spaced relation to the plurality of uniform poles.

Abstract: A method of securing a metal lead of a polymer battery to a flexible circuit, comprising the steps of positioning a metal lead of a polymer electrolyte battery onto a connection pad of a circuit; clamping the metal lead and the connection pad between two weld fixtures of an ultrasonic welder; compressing the metal lead and connection pad between the two weld fixtures to establish a pressure of about 44.9 psi to about 30.8 psi; and vibrating the weld fixtures at a frequency of about 20 kHz for about 0.1 seconds to about 2.0 seconds.

Abstract: The invention provides tongs for manually grasping items having two elongate tong members pivotally joined together with a hinge pin. The tong members pivot between an open position and a closed position, each member having a forward grasping end, a hinged portion adjacent and projecting rearward of the hinge pin, and an inner channel extending forwardly and rearwardly from the hinge pin. A novel bow spring has two arms each sliding in the channels between a forward position engaging the channels forward of the hinge pin, and a rearward position engaging the channels in the hinged portion adjacent the hinge pin. The spring resiliently biases the tong members to the open position when the bow spring is in the forward position, and retains the tong members in the closed position when the bow spring is in the rearward position.

Abstract: A method of applying a high alumina, low cement refractory castable to the surface of a refractory structure, comprising the steps of:a) preparing an intimately mixed castable for application onto the surface of a refractory structure, the refractory castable including by weight the following components:80% to 86% alumina aggregate,about 6% to 11% thermally reactive calcined alumina,about 4% to 8% calcium aluminate cement;b) conveying the refractory castable under pressure through a delivery hose to a dispensing nozzle for applying the refractory castable; andc) adding calcium chloride to the refractory castable prior to application by the nozzle at a rate wherein the calcium chloride comprises about 0.05% to 0.15% by weight of the refractory castable applied by the dispensing nozzle.