Abstract: A ball valve is provided including coupled outer casing elements adapted to enclose a rotationally movable valve body having an axial flow passageway therethrough. An annular casing groove having an anular seal member mounted therein is located adjacent each of the opposite ends of the flow passageway for sealingly engaging the movable valve body. Each of the annular casing grooves includes an annular casing wall projecting toward the movable valve body, and each of the seal members includes a flexible leg extending between its associated casing wall and movable valve body. A first surface of each flexible leg engages the movable valve body and a second, opposed surface of each leg is spaced a predetermined distance from its associated casing wall to accommodate a flexion of the flexible leg. Each of the seal members has a secondary sealing surface extending from the first surfaces thereof, and the secondary surfaces are spaced from the movable body a distance less than the foregoing predetermined distance.

Abstract: A rotary machine such as a pump has a vertical driveshaft suspended from the upper end and provided at the lower end with an impeller surrounded by a casing in which provision is made for a suction chamber fitted with stationary radial vanes integral with the casing. The driveshaft is rotatably mounted in a hydrostatic bearing placed beneath the impeller, a removable sleeve being mounted coaxially with the shaft between the suction chamber and the impeller.

Abstract: Cooling apparatus is disclosed for drives of the type having a housing containing a sump for a fluid which is heated by the generation of heat energy during operation of the drive. The heat energy is generated by relatively moving torque transmitting members, such as clutch and brake units, connected between the drive input and output shafts. A centrifugal pump located within the housing below the level of the fluid is driven by the input shaft and circulates fluid to a heat exchanger disposed about the outside surface of the housing. The cooled fluid is returned to the fluid sump and a brake reservoir which assures an ample supply of fluid to the brake at a relatively low pressure. A fan carried by the input shaft blows ambient air over the heat exchanger and exterior surface of the housing to enhance the level of heat dissipation.

Abstract: A stacker blender for bricks is disclosed in which a plurality of pallets move progressively down an inclined conveyor and are progressively positioned in a series of course receiving positions. The angle of inclination of the conveyor is arranged so that, after indexing, the uppermost course of a stack on each pallet is positioned at a predetermined horizontally aligned level to receive a subsequent course. A gripper transfer simultaneously grips a plurality of courses from a supply conveyor and transfers a course to each stack at each stacking location. Because each partial stack has one more course than the preceding partial stack the courses transferred during a given transfer operation appear at different levels in the different stacks. This assures complete blending. A void course is transferred at a predetermined location during each cycle so a simplified void course forming system is utilized.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner is disclosed providing a belt lifter operable to connect and disconnect the floor brush belt from the motor drive shaft. The belt lifter combines a viewing window allowing the user to easily observe the position of the belt and/or its operation. The belt lifter is provided with a tubular shaft portion pivotally mounted in the forward wall of the floor nozzle housing and a transparent plastic cup shaped member positioned within the tubular shaft section in which the end wall provides the viewing window. A face plate is keyed to the tubular shaft section to rotate the belt lifter for connecting and disconnecting the belt. A pair of triangular shaped snap rings secure the belt lifter assembly in its assembled position.

Abstract: The device comprises a photocathode for converting light phenomena to photoelectrons, means for focusing the photoelectrons emitted by the photocathode in the form of a large number of separate beams each corresponding to the photoelectrons emitted by a well-localized fraction of the photocathode, and means for detecting and localizing the beams of photoelectrons in a surface which is secant therewith.

Abstract: A panel for elevated access floors is disclosed in which the panel is formed of reinforced expanded lightweight concrete. The reinforcing is provided by a grid including two arrays of parallel reinforcing rods which extend parallel to the associated panel edges and perpendicular to the rods of the other grid. A frame is provided by the grid around the two arrays. The grid is located adjacent to the lower surface of the body and divides the body into a plurality of square zones. Located in each zone, excepting the zones at the corners, is a pyramid-shaped cavity which extends from a base at the lower surface of the panel upwardly at about 45.degree. to an apex spaced from the upper surface of the panel. The presence of the pyramid-shaped cavities does not materially reduce the strength of the panel when compared to a similar panel without such cavities, but reduces the weight of the panel and the material required to manufacture the panel.

Abstract: The present invention is related to new basic enol ethers having the general formula ##STR1## and to the pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. The invention is further related to process for the treatment of spasmodic conditions in humans by administering a compound of the above general formula or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof to a human suffering from such conditions.

Abstract: A quick connect coupling is disclosed providing a body assembly having a tube end receiving passage proportioned to closely fit the forward end of a tube. A seal is located in the body assembly to provide a fluid tight joint between the end of the tube and the body assembly. The body assembly also includes a lock ring retaining groove within a nut with an expandable lock ring positioned therein. Mounted on the tube at a location spaced from the end thereof is a locking sleeve which is crimped inwardly toward a tubular insert to lock the locking sleeve in position. The forward end of the locking sleeve is formed with a camming ramp which extends toward a lock ring groove. Assembly of the coupling requires the mere axial movement of the tube end assembly into the body assembly until the seal engages the outer surface of the tube and the lock ring bridges between the nut groove and the lock sleeve groove to permanently connect the tube end and the nut.

Abstract: A ball valve including coupled outer casing elements adapted to enclose a rotationally movable valve body having a flow passageway therethrough is provided. An annular sealing member is disposed adjacent each of the opposite ends of the flow passageway between the movable valve body and the outer casing elements. An annular resilient member having a U-shaped cross-section and opposed walls comprising a plurality of resilient segments is loaded in each of the sealing members to spring-load each of them into sealing engagement with the movable valve body and outer casing elements. The movable valve body is supported by a cone spring which is in point contact with the outer casing elements and line contact with the movable valve body.

Abstract: A self-starting, high running torque, synchronous motor is disclosed. The motor has an annular stator and a cylindrical rotor mounted within and spaced from the inner cylindrical periphery of the stator. The rotor is provided with a plurality of evenly spaced rotor poles about its cylindrical periphery. Spaced, axially tapered poles are provided about the inner periphery of the stator. One stator pole is angularly and circumferentially offset to serve as a starting pole, while the remaining stator poles are evenly spaced about an arc which does not include the offset pole.

Abstract: This invention relates to incinerators for the disposal of urban waste. More particularly, it relates to incinerators of the type comprising a rotary furnace of highly heat-resistant steel, having a horizontal axis of rotation and comprising a drying chamber and an incinerating chamber; drive means for rotating the furnace; charging means for feeding refuse to the drying chamber; a burner projecting into the drying chamber; afterburner means for recombusting any incompletely burned refuse leaving the incinerating chamber and for ridding combustion gases of solids; means for supplying preheated comburent air to the furnace; and means for cooling and exhausting the combustion gases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming shouldered tubular rivets is disclosed in which three forming operations are provided, two of which are performed in a single die station. In the first operation, the head end of the blank is squared and the inner end is trapped extruded. In the second operation, both the shoulder and the inner end of the blank are squared. During such second operation, the volume required to form the entire shank is confined within the die and the projecting portion of the blank is headed so that variations in blank volume appear as variations in the head. In the last or third operation, the tubular section is extruded on the inner end of the blank. An apparatus for performing the method is disclosed which permits the accurate positioning of a sleeve and an extrusion pin with respect to the die during the second operation to insure proper squaring of the inner end of the blank and the confinement of the exact volume of material required to form the entire shank of the rivet.

Abstract: The present invention is related to new imidazole derivatives having the general formula ##STR1## The invention is further related to a process for controlling fungi, yeasts and bacteria in humans and animals by administering orally or externally a compound of the above general formula to a human or animal suffering from such fungi, yeasts or bacteria.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a pulley having at least two grooves from a cup-shaped metal blank having an axially extending sidewall. The blank is rotated about its longitudinal axis and is crushed between axially closing dies. As the blank is being crushed, an inner forming roll positioned within the cup is translated radially away from the longitudinal axis of the cup and into contact with the inner periphery of the cup. A rough forming roll is translated radially into contact with the outer periphery of the cup and applies forming pressure at a location radially offset from the area of contact of the inner forming roll. A finish forming roll is radially aligned with the rough forming roll and is translated radially toward the outer periphery of the cup.

Abstract: A reversible mechanical unit of the "slave" type comprising a motor element and position detector is controlled by an assembly which delivers command signals relating to the positions of the motor element. Means are provided for delivering an error signal .epsilon. which is proportional to the difference between the signals delivered respectively by the detector and the control assembly. A signal delivered by a generator and having an amplitude which is proportional to the signal .epsilon. produces direct action on the torque of the motor element; the error signal and the torque are thus in one-to-one correspondence, the error signal being fed back into the control assembly.

Abstract: A secondary heat transfer circuit for a nuclear reactor comprises a steam generator module, an intermediate heat exchanger, and a pump which circulates a heat transfer liquid, e.g. liquid sodium, between the heat exchanger and the steam generator module. The steam generator module includes a central return duct for cold heat transfer liquid and the pump intake is directly connected to the central duct. In a modification, a plurality of steam generator modules are connected to a single duct.

Abstract: An air heating and cooling system for a building includes an expansion type refrigeration circuit and a vapor power circuit. The refrigeration circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is communicated with a source of indoor air from the building and the other of which is communicated with a source of air from outside the building. The vapor power circuit includes two heat exchangers, one of which is disposed in series air flow relationship with the indoor refrigeration circuit heat exchanger and the other of which is disposed in series air flow relationship with the outdoor refrigeration circuit heat exchanger. Fans powered by electricity generated by a vapor power circuit alternator circulate indoor air through the two indoor heat exchangers and circulate outside air through the two outdoor heat exchangers.

Abstract: In the core of a fast breeder reactor, an inner zone having a heterogeneous structure and a given enrichment is surrounded by a zone of fertile material constituting an outer blanket. The inner zone is made up of coaxial cylindrical layers arranged alternately in the radial direction and formed by vertical assemblies of fissile and fertile material in succession.

Abstract: An exhaust brake valve assembly structurally arranged to provide reliable operation with relatively quick response. The assembly includes a sliding gate valve member driven by a power actuator through a lost motion connection which generates a desirable impact force on the gate to overcome static frictional forces. The lost motion connection cooperates with a relief port in the gate to relieve peak pressure forces on the gate just prior to opening movement to additionally improve opening reliability and response. Still further, the actuator includes a spring return arrangement in which the force rate adjacent the closed gate position is substantially greater than the force rate at the open position so that adequate reserve return force is developed for opening while only a minimal spring force resists piston movement in the initial opening movement.