Abstract: A solar heating system for preheating water which may be used in conjunction with an existing hot water heater. The use of potable water as the heating fluid renders the use of a heat exchanger unit unnecessary. A novel collector unit is disclosed which includes a molded plastic collector frame with integral fluid passageway and a thermally compatible absorber plate bonded to the frame. The use of thermally compatible collector components serves to minimize bondline strains due to uneven thermal expansion of the materials. Reliable and continuous operation of the system is, therefore, possible over a wide range of temperature conditions. Diagonally opposite standoff regions provide even liquid flow across the collector surface regardless of which way the collector is turned. The durable unitized collector design eliminates the need for frame members, additional fluid conduits, specially manufactured collector plates and multiple collector sealing layers.

Abstract: A system and method of determining the angular displacement of one or more members is disclosed. A reference laser beam is diffracted, reflected and impacted upon a face of a display as a light pattern in which the pattern spacing is representative of a determinable angular displacement relative to a reference pattern.

Abstract: A solar heating system for preheating water which may be used in conjunction with an existing hot water heater. The use of potable water as the heating fluid renders the use of a heat exchanger unit unnecessary. A novel collector unit is disclosed which includes a molded plastic collector frame with integral fluid passageway. The durable unitized collector design eliminates the need for frame members, additional fluid conduits, specially manufactured collector plates and multiple collector sealing layers. The invention provides an exceptionally low cost, material intensive solar heating system. Pumping systems are provided to facilitate collector operation in conjunction with high or low pressure preheating systems.

Abstract: A hand tool for locating and measuring the location of inaccessible rafters and studs from the outside of a roof or wall. The tool has a base plate and a tubular guide fixedly mounted at an angle to the base plate. A measuring rod appropriately marked with measurement indicia is a sliding fit into the bore of the guide. The tool is used by drilling a hole through the roof or wall, using the tubular guide as a drill guide, and then inserting the measuring rod into the guide and moving it until the tip of the rod encounters the side of a rafter or stud. After noting the measurement indicated on the rod, the rod and base plate are removed. The noted measurement will be the distance from the center line of the drilled hole to the centerline of the rafter or stud.

Abstract: A downwind rotor wind turbine having a rotor with a horizontal axis carried for operation on the downwind end of a pod or nacelle pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot located upwind of the rotor on the top of an elevated structure. Each blade is provided at its tip with a tip plate. The tip plates have a surface area large enough to provide an aerodynamic force on the rotor when the wind shifts away from the rotational axis of the rotor such that a restoring moment is furnished about the turbine pivot to turn the turbine automatically back into the wind.

Abstract: A torsional damper integral with a torsion bar wherein the damper is not directly connected to any support structure. Torque applied by the torsion bar to the damper on one side of the damper's mid length is equilibrated by torque exerted by the torsion bar to the damper on the opposite side of its mid length. In this manner, a part of the torsion load is transmitted to the energy dissipating damper.

Abstract: Passive, self-energizing means for increasing the load carrying capabilities in the depressurized condition of a banded radial run-flat tire system. In this invention, an inner tube inflated to a pressure of about 3-5 psi is positioned on the wheel rim inside the tire which is inflated to its normal pressure of about 30 psi. Because of this pressure differential, the inner tube is compressed to about one-sixth its volume at ambient pressure and in normal operation it rides out of contact with the inside walls of the tire casing without interaction therewith. If the tire is depressurized because of a puncture or other cause, the release of tire pressure on the inner tube results in the expansion of the tube outwards to maintain the curvature in the sidewalls, which curvature enhances the load capacity of the tire in the depressurized condition.

Abstract: A tool that will accept an insulated conductor and spring bias same against an edge of a scribing tool such that the conductor will not be damaged so that known characteristics thereof remain unchanged in scribing insulation for its removal from the conductor.

Abstract: A pipe fitting fabricated out of an electrically non-conductive material for use in the coupling of pipe sections, the fitting being provided with integral conductor means for bonding, grounding, or shunting purposes. In this design, the conductor is a metal strap or strip which extends across the fitting body to the coupling ends thereof. The bottom portion of the conductor strap is substantially embedded in the wall of the fitting and the exposed surface of the strap is provided with sharp edges or similar means which are used to scrape clean the faying surface in the bore of the pipe when a connection therewith is being made to insure a good electrical contact therebetween.

Abstract: A braking system for a reel for a hose used to dispense fluids. The reel end of the hose is provided with a fluid connection on the reel itself and a supply line for the fluid is connected into the reel such that a flow can be established through the hose even though hose is still wound on the reel. A brake with actuating means is provided for the reel. Various types of brakes such as a caliper-disc type, a band and drum type, or a double-shoe type can be used. Brake actuation is by means of a pressurized hydraulic or pneumatic fluid or by an electrically operated solenoid. A flow sensor is incorporated in the fluid supply line to the hose and the output of the sensor is used to enable the brake actuator to brake the reel. In this system, when the flow sensor detects a flow through the hose, the sensor produces an output signal which is used to cause the actuation of the reel brake.

Abstract: An integrated composite structure 100 that uses fasteners 116 or bonds in shear and stitching 104, 106 in tension to assemble the structure and provide for load transfer from one to the other that is assembled by a process of orienting the various structures while tacky and warming same to accept stitching 104, 106 with the structures so joined being thereafter cured.

Abstract: A VTOL airplane having a stub wing integrating a powerplant to either side of an airplane fuselage to rotatably relate the powerplant means to the airplane fuselage for uniform rotation, allow for flexible interconnecting design and lower the use of gravitational and aerodynamic moments in assistance of rotation of this powerplant/stub wing assembly.

Abstract: A split table with portions to either side of a contoured mold and movable away from each other while hugging the contour of the mold so as to transfer a laminate from the split table onto the mold with application rollers from each portion forcing the laminate against the mold as it leaves each portion.

Abstract: In a coupling of members subject to rotational uncoupling forces, a lock key that unites the members and holds them from relative rotational movement with a fastener for the lock key to not only secure the lock key to one or the other members, but by its size insure proper locking with the lock key of the members.

Abstract: A blower control system for the evaporator blowers employed in the climate conditioning system for a motor vehicle passenger compartment. Maximum blower efficiency for the various conditions of operation is attained by using blowers having two operating speeds, the proper operating speed in this invention being dictated by engine water temperature, outside temperature, passenger loading, and system return air temperature. The passenger load sensing circuit has a pressure switch associated with the suspension springs system of the vehicle for switching the blowers from low to high speed operation when load conditions so dictate. A zero speed controller is used to lock in a blower speed selected when loading or unloading passengers to avoid unwanted repetitive cycling of the system.

Abstract: An integrated system and the process of its manufacture for the absorption of solar energy and for the release of that energy for utilization as required using modular elements that are pre-cast out of low-cost building materials and which can be designed for use with others of the like kind to form structural components of buildings, patios and walkways, and other areas of human activity. Each of the modules has labyrinthine integral passageways cast therein through which a fluid is circulated for the transfer of absorbed energy therefrom. The modules can be combined into a system forming walls of a building in which the outer elements act to absorb solar energy which is transferred to intermediate elements for thermal storage with means being provided to transfer stored energy on demand into interior elements for release of the energy into the interior of the building.

Abstract: Apparatus for deflecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation controllably such that the beam can be used for scanning and other purposes. In this invention, the output beam of the apparatus is deflected by a dispersion element such as a diffraction grating, the angular deviation induced by the grating being a function of the wavelength of the radiation. Variations in the deflections induced by the deviation element to thereby cause a controlled angular movement of the output beam are produced by varying the wavelength of the radiation. These variations in the wavelength of the radiation are produced in several embodiments by a multiplicity of radiation sources, each having an energy output of a discrete wavelength, and in further embodiments by means such as a parametric converter which vary the wavelength of the source.

Abstract: In a coupling of members subject to rotational uncoupling forces a lock key that unites the members and holds them from relative rotational movement with a fastener for the lock key to not only secure the lock key to one or the other members but insure proper locking with the lock key of the members.

Abstract: A system having a tube-in-tube heat exchanger comprising three coaxial tubular members fitted one within the other with manifolding at each longitudinal end of the exchanger for the circulation of fluid through the outside tubular member in a counterflow direction to fluid passing through the inside tubular member such that heat is exchanged therebetween. A fluid is provided in the intermediate tubular member such that a leak in either the outer or inner tubular members can be detected. Each of the tubular members has integral radially inwardly projecting fins in its bore, the fins of the outer member being in good thermal contact with the intermediate member whose fins, in turn, are in good thermal contact with the inner member such that an effective heat flow path therebetween is provided.

Abstract: A passive system for protecting a structure against high temperatures which consists of a thin protective foil of heat-resistant material such as stainless steel fastened to the face of the structure to be protected. When subjected to high heating rates, the local thermal expansion of the foil forms a blister bulging away from the structure to thereby create an air space which thermally insulates the structure.