Abstract: A storage heater of the kind which is heated from a source of electricity made available only over an off-peak (low tariff) period, and of the kind which does not require a supply of power during operation outside the off-peak period. The heater comprises a body, a heat store within the body, electrical heating means for the store, air passages extending through the store from an inlet to an outlet, through which air is caused to flow in the operation of the heater solely by convective pressure, and a flow control damper or flap mounted adjacent to the outlet for controlling flow of air from the heater.

Abstract: A liquid storage tank for storing a liquid at a temperature substantially above or below atmospheric temperature comprising a primary liquid containment vessel capable of storing liquid; an outer vessel spaced outwardly from and surrounding a substantial portion of the primary vessel; a liquid conduit communicating with and joined to the primary liquid containment vessel and extending through an oversized hole in the outer vessel; a flexible expansion and contraction unit surrounding the liquid conduit, in spaced apart arrangement, exterior of the outer vessel with the expansion unit having an end joined to the outer vessel around the oversized hole and another end joined to the liquid conduit; at least one closeable access port in the flexible unit for feeding insulation into the flexible unit and around the liquid conduit; and insulation around the liquid conduit and inside the flexible unit.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and machine for applying a decal to a generally cylindrical article, particularly an article having a handle on one side thereof. A series of decals are attached to an elongated web and are spaced a generally constant distance apart in the direction of the length of the web. The machine includes supply and takeup spindles for rotatably supporting reels for the web, and a web drive for moving the web from the supply reel to the take-up reel. A mandrel rotatably supports the article and a movable head presses the web and the decal against an article on the mandrel. The web passes from the supply reel, between the mandrel and the head, and to the take-up reel. The machine further includes a brake which, when engaged, holds the web against movement, and a decal sensor assembly. After the machine is actuated to cause the movable head to press the decal against an article, the brake is actuated to release the web, and the web is then pulled across the article.

Abstract: Process for detecting the under-inflation of a tire of the landing gear of an aircraft in the course of taxiing, said landing gear being formed by at least one bogie comprising a beam provided with a pair of twin wheels at each of its ends provision is made of two bridge assemblies of four strain gauges disposed on each of the parts of the beam located between the median spindle for articulation of said beam to the leg and the corresponding pair of wheels, each bridge being supplied by its diagonal transverse to said beam, while the torsion signal is taken from the diagonal longitudinal with respect to the beam.

Abstract: A connector for a liquid tight, flexible electrical conduit formed of a plurality of interlocking, thin, arcuate metal ring sections having an interior wall of alternating ridges and grooves. The connector includes a ferrule end insertable into the conduit with a plurality of spatially separated arcuate segments matching the conduit grooves for threadable engagement. A resilient seat member snug fit onto the ferrule is engaged by the conduit end as the conduit is threaded onto the ferrule to sealingly terminate the full perimeter edge of the conduit end, thereby enabling the conduit and connector assembly to be air and liquid tight. One or more ramp formed barbs are provided on one or more of the ferrule arcuate segments to lock and secure the connector on the conduit and prevent undesired loosening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for checking a plurality of indicator lights, wherein the intensity passing through each indicator light is sequentially measured and the measurements are compared with nominal intensities. The invention is more particularly applicable to the checking of the indicator lights of devices monitoring functional members.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blade end for rotary wing of an aircraft, whose span is between 5 and 15% of the span of said blade. According to the invention, this blade end is charaterized in that, between points A and B', there is a stagger which, measured parallel to the span of the blade, is between 5 and 25% of the chord of the profile of the blade adjacent said blade end and in that the leading edge line of said blade end is curvilinear and such that its angle of sweep .phi. varies progressively and continuously from a low value .phi..sub.o near the blade, of between 0.degree. and 30.degree., up to a high value .phi..sub.E towards the outside of the blade, of between 60.degree. and 90.degree.. The invention leads to increased performances and to a reduction in the noise level of rotary wings.

Abstract: In order to keep the opening for inserting a catheter into a blood vessel as small as possible, a catheter insertion tube is used which coaxially surrounds the puncturing canula and consists, at least in a circumferential area and/or at least along a portion of its length, of one or several dilatable or expandable areas permitting enlargement of its internal diameter. The diameter of the catheter insertion tube, at the front end where it is inserted into the blood vessel, is approximately equal or smaller than the outer diameter of the catheter. The catheter insertion tube is expandable at least over the front or forward portion of its length by the catheter. The catheter insertion tube i removable from the puncture over the catheter while the catheter is advanced into the puncture and is tighty sealed by the catheter because the catheter has an external diameter equal to or larger than the puncture previously occupied by the insertion tube.

Abstract: A seat for a baby's push chair, which can be removed from a wheeled support structure of the push chair and used separately if desired. The seat comprises a support surface with two upstanding side panels, an adjustable rake backrest and an adjustable foot rest. The back rest and foot rest are interlinked by a parallelogram linkage which automatically changes the foot rest inclination when the back rest is adjusted. This linkage abuts the foot rest but is not pivotally attached to it thus premitting the foot rest to be folded right up to a collapsed configuration, and also allows a wide range of adjustment of inclination of the foot rest to be effected.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of cooling and condensing exhaust steam from a power plant which rejects heat to air and uses a peak shaving water based cooling system to supplement a primary cooling system. During regeneration of the cooling water, which is heated during peak shaving, the hot water is fed directly to the boiler.

Abstract: A concentrated stillage with a high solids content may be recovered in such a manner that starch or starch-containing raw materials in a suitably crushed form are coaxially introduced into the center of a homogenizer together with enzymes, which are suitable for making alcohol, while simultaneously introducing steam and are suddenly gelatinized therein mechanically and thermally at temperatures of not less than 50.degree. C. and not more than 115.degree. C. while ultrafinely dividing the enzyme; the starch paste after liquefaction is converted to the glucose and the resultant mash is fermented in such a manner that the stillage obtained with reduced dry matter, after removal of merely the coarse contaminations by, for example, centrifuging is repeatedly recycled without further purification and reused as process liquor.

Abstract: A support for maintaining concrete reinforcement at a pre-determined level during the pouring of concrete there around comprises an assembly of at least a pair of adjacent inverted `U` shaped metal yokes 10. Each yoke comprises a pair of spaced substantially parallel limbs 12 interconnected by a bridge element 14 and adjacent limbs of adjacent yokes of the assembly are frictionally connected together by intermediate couplings 16 and foot connectors 18 whereby the angle between adjacent yokes may be initially pre-selected and thereafter frictionally maintained.

Abstract: A web guide device particularly adapted to be mounted on a cigarette-making machine, in which at least one web is automatically advanced along a substantially U-shaped path. The path includes first and second end parts joined by an intermediate curved section; at least the second part, disposed downstream of the said curved section in the direction of advancement of the web extends at least partially along a web transport device for conveying the said web material. A guide element, movable at the same speed and in the same direction as the conveyor device, defines in combination therewith, upstream of the second end part, a passage for the web material.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermosetting, cathodically depositable, aqueous electrocoating compositions which are produced by reacting a nitrogen base-containing binder, which contains tertiary amino groups and primary and/or secondary OH groups, with metal compounds, which are sparingly soluble or insoluble in water, of cobalt, copper, lead, nickel and/or manganese at temperatures between 100.degree. C. and 150.degree. C. under an inert gas. The resultant products are subsequently protonated with an acid and diluted with water in a manner known per se to yield electrocoating paints having a solids content of from 5 to 25% and pH values of 5 to 8. Octoates, naphthenates, borates, and also acetyl acetonates are preferred to be used as the metal compounds which are sparingly soluble or insoluble in water.

Abstract: A cigarette-making machine in which tobacco, in part from a carding unit and in part from a plurality of channel elements, is supplied to the upper end of a shaft. The channel elements, to which recycled tobacco can be supplied, are located alongside one another and communicate laterally with the shaft below the shaft top. A vibrator device is associated with each channel element. The frequency of vibration of each vibrator is a function of the level of tobacco within the shaft beneath the tobacco delivery end of each channel element in communication with the shaft.

Abstract: A falling film freeze exchanger having a shell connected to vertically spaced apart horizontally arranged circular upper and lower tube sheets; a plurality of vertically positioned parallel tubes, with each tube extending through and connected to a hole in each tube sheet; an inlet to feed a liquefied refrigerant gas to the lower part of the shell side of the heat exchanger and an outlet to withdraw refrigerant vapor from the upper part of the shell side of the heat exchanger; a liquid distribution box positioned above the upper tube sheet and a conduit to deliver an aqueous feed liquid to the liquid distribution box; a solid walled sleeve, surrounding and spaced outwardly from each tube, joined to the upper tube sheet and extending downwardly a short distance below the refrigerant liquid/gas interface on the shell side thereby providing a refrigerant vapor space between each sleeve and tube; and a hole in and through the upper part of the sleeve wall near the upper tube sheet.