Abstract: Novel solid fuel combustion and heat transfer geometry/process and illustrative embodiments, which include log burning space heaters, a boiler and a hot air heat exchanger are described. The illustrative boiler embodiment depicts a standard module that when joined with other similar modules makes the construction of any size boiler possible. The combuster is designed to burn nearly any solid fuel, depending on price and availability, and also incorporates an auxilliary fuel oil combuster to either aid in the combustion of certain solid fuels or to convert over entirely to fuel oil. This novel geometry/process consists of solid fuel dispersed over two nearly intersecting surfaces with a third adjustable surface introduced to provide control of the combustion rate by a mutual radiant feedback. The fuel retaining surfaces are so constructed and positioned to enhance radiant heat interchange which maintains highest combustion temperatures along fuel surfaces that are directed toward the heat absorbing medium.

Abstract: Noise signals from a relatively moving object, such as those caused by eddies in a fluid or by protrusions and recesses or gradation on the surface of paper or an iron plate, are sensed at two or more points spaced in the direction of the motion. A difference signal is then obtained from the resulting two noise signals. The relative velocity of the object is detected from the difference signal by utilizing the autocorrelation function or the frequency spectrum of the difference signal.

Abstract: A dispenser is designed to provide a visual indication whenever the remaining quantity of contents to be dispensed is less than a predetermined amount. The dispenser is particularly suitable for dispensing vaporizable material such as room deodorants or insecticides. The dispenser is made of lightweight plastic material and has internal space to hold the vaporizable material and air openings for permitting the material to slowly dissipate into the surroudning environment. It is designed, however, to be physically unstable in the absence of a predetermined weight of the vaporizable material. Thus, when the dispenser is full, or partially full, it will stand up, but when the vaporizable material is almost depleted, that is, below the predetermined weight, the dispenser will not stand and falls over, indicating to the user that either a refill is needed or the dispenser must be replaced. The dispenser includes a housing and a supporting base.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for making cushioned shipping packet bags. A pocket within the cushioned bag is defined between two resilient, lightweight, flexible cushioning layers of polypropylene microfoam material which advantageously exhibits a relatively "non-slip" frictional gripping action on the item or items contained within the sealed packet bag. The cushioned bag is produced on a continuous motion machine having capability for adjusting the length and width of the cushioned bags produced. Two packages can be simultaneously produced end-to-end when their combined lengths do not exceed the overall width of the machine. To enable the protective outer kraft paper layers of the bag to be sealed together in spite of the intervening polypropylene material, this material is burned away from between the outer layers during the heat sealing of a polyethylene coating on the inner surfaces of the kraft paper enclosure by heat energy conducted through the kraft paper.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for reducing undesired transmission of acoustic energy from a loudspeaker cabinet into the structure of a building in which the loudspeaker is located, and also for reducing the undesired acoustical feedback from the loudspeaker into the turntable assembly. A high-Q resonant external suspension apparatus is positioned beneath the cabinet of the turntable or the cabinet of the loudspeaker. This suspension apparatus includes compression springs having a predetermined taper and a very high-Q which are arranged to provide resonance in all three directions (X, Y and Z axes). The mass of the supported structure and the spring constant of the tapered springs are proportioned to provide a resonant frequency in the range from approximately 3 to 6.5 Hertz with approximately 4 Hertz being shown as the presently preferred value.

Abstract: An improved pre-closed slide mount is described having two sides or masks which are secured together for defining an internal pocket to retain a film transparency which is inserted edgewise through an opening or entranceway in one edge of the mount and defining a window for viewing the transparency in the mount. An elevated border region formed in one mask of the mount extends transversely across the entranceway and has a sloping outer surface to provide a funnel for directing a transparency into the entranceway, and this border region has laterally sloping ends which define two spaced valleys the purpose of which is to receive the outer edges of a longitudinally bowed film strip serving as pusher for the inserted transparency. The outer edges of the valleys are defined by lateral transparency guides. The border region of the other mask forms an elevated roof over the elevated border region with inverted steps over the laterally sloping end portions of the border region.

Abstract: An attractive dynamic star burst display is provided in which a plurality of light sources preferably of different colors, are mounted behind a translucent enclosure, and relative movement is provided for effectively changing the distances between the light sources and the regions of the surface where their various rays are being viewed. The translucent enclosure includes a layer of intrinsically transparent material having a smooth inner surface facing the light sources and an embossed outer surface having a multifaceted pyramidal prism system for directing rays of light from the light sources in dynamically changing light patterns in accordance with the optical and geometric relationship involved, including the position of the viewer's eyes, the multi-facets on the embossed outer surface and the effective distance between the respective light sources and the respective regions on the embossed outer surface where the rays of light are being seen.

Abstract: A magnetic phonograph pick-up cartridge having a fixed assembly portion and a replaceable assembly portion wherein the replaceable portion includes self-contained, longitudinally-extending stylus pole pieces surrounding a pivotally mounted stylus magnet. One end portion of the magnet has a stylus-containing shank connected so that movement of the stylus by a phonograph record groove will cause a related pivotal movement of the magnet. The stylus pole pieces, which could include one or two pole piece pairs, are positioned to define a longitudinally extending pole gap. The magnet has a longitudinal dimension less than that of the pole pieces and is positioned within the pole gap. A resilient collar is attached to the stylus pole pieces and is used to pivotally mount the magnet so that movements of the stylus will alter the magnetic flux coupled from the magnet to the stylus pole pieces.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated band-gap reference of the type employing two transistors operated at different current densities to develop a positive TC current. This current flows through a first resistor of nominal TC to develop a positive TC voltage which is connected in series with a negative TC voltage developed by the base-to-emitter voltage of a transistor, to produce a composite temperature compensated output voltage. The circuitry further includes a second resistor connected in series with the first resistor and having a positive TC to produce an additional compensating voltage having a temperature coefficient following a parabolic expression. This additional voltage, when connected with the other components of the output voltage, reduces the small residual inherent TC of the band-gap reference to provide a more stable reference source.

Abstract: An industrial furnace with insulating walls and roof comprising side-by-side pre-formed panels each including a plurality of ceramic insulating modules. The roof modules are suspended by a structure comprising a support grid embedded in situ in the ceramic module. The grid includes four holding rods each parallel to the corresponding side of the module. Hanger rods are attached to the grid at the corners thereof, and extend out from the module to pass through holes in the furnace roof member where the rods are secured in place by nuts. The module may also carry electric heating coil embedded in situ in the ceramic material adjacent the surface thereof facing the furnace interior.

Abstract: A flow metering apparatus is disclosed which includes a dust in which a fluid to be measured flows, a pillar-shaped vortex generator inserted into the duct, and a force detector fixed firmly to the vortex generator substantially in an integrated manner, and capable of directly detecting an alternating force applied to the vortex generator due to Karman's vortex generated by the vortex generator, and converting the alternating force into an electric output signal.

Abstract: A web of moving material is successively scanned by a light source, such as a laser beam, and changes of intensity of the transmitted, reflected or scattered light from the material is detected to provide an indication for discerning flaws in the web. A once per scan line digital signal from the scanner controls a voltage controlled oscillator connected in a phased locked loop which is used for controlling the generation of a precision ramp analog voltage that follows the angular scan position of the light source on the material. The light signal from the web is applied to a comparator for providing a digital pedestal signal in which the first light passing the comparator is the leading edge of the web while the last light passing during a scan line is the trailing edge or the end of the web. If no pedestal signal is present indicative of a break in the web, a synthetic maximum width pedestal signal is substituted to enable the inspection system to continue to function.

Abstract: An industrial furnace with insulating walls comprising side-by-side pre-formed panels each including a plurality of ceramic insulating modules. The side wall panels include vertical buckstays to which the modules are secured by retainer clips including sharp spikes inserted into side edge surfaces of the insulating modules. Modules with offset stepped side profiles are disclosed, arranged to provide for ready removal of a single module without disturbing adjacent modules. Atmosphere furnace insulation arrangements also are disclosed utilizing ceramic modules secured to the furnace shell by special retainer clips embedded in side edge surfaces of the modules.

Abstract: An instrument for holding a writing implement includes an elongated housing having a recess for retaining the writing implement and a closed bottom annular chamber surrounding the recess. The annular chamber serves to hold a liquid such as a perfume or cologne. A pump including a plunger and an associated spray nozzle is mounted in the open top of the annular chamber. Reciprocating motion of the plunger varies the pressure within a pump chamber to draw liquid into the pump chamber and to expel it through the nozzle. The instrument may be used for writing or for dispensing the liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making particle-containing plastic coatings on articles comprises cascading onto prepared surfaces of the articles a mixture of powdered resin and particulate material and adhering and curing the mixture onto the prepared surfaces by heating.

Abstract: A process is provided for reduction in the amount of free acrylate monomer from compositions consisting of or containing polyacrylate. The process involves addition to the composition of an alkanolamine or an alkanediolamine, preferably one of the ethanolamines, which scavenges the free acrylate monomer present into an inert form.

Abstract: A flexible tape is releasably wound into a coil within a housing. Optically sensed encoded markings along the length of the tape are illuminated by a light source through fiber optic bundles. The light reflected from the illuminated markings is transmitted by additional fiber optic bundles to two light detectors for sensing the markings as the tape is wound or unwound from the coil. The markings are counted as they pass the fiber optic bundles by electronic logic circuitry the output of which controls a digital display on the housing.Two sets of markings are provided along the tape so that the display may be switched between metric and feet and inch units without making substantial changes in the electronic logic circuitry. The electronic count may be reset to zero at any extension of the tape and subsequent readings would then be plus or minus from that extension.

Abstract: Firing of a seismic source of the type called an air gun is detected by means of a fluid pressure sensor located in the housing of a solenoid actuated control valve. Through a pressurized gas support port the pressure sensor is in fluid contact with a shuttle-operating chamber of the air gun, and the sensor detects a surge in fluid pressure resulting from rapid motion of the shuttle. if a misfire or malfunction of the air gun is detected by means of the fluid pressure sensor, the malfunctioning air gun can be shut down by actuating the solenoid valve, which is a novel dual action solenoid valve, thereby preventing pressurized gas from being supplied to that particular air gun. The valve includes a valve stem with radial gas inlet ports and radial triggering ports. A solenoid plunger is movable to close one or the other of the sets of ports.

Abstract: An improved capacitive braking system is provided for fractional Horsepower induction motors in home appliances, for example in a food processor of the type having a working bowl mounted on a housing containing the induction motor, with a shaft in the bowl for removably supporting a rotary food processing tool to be driven by the induction motor. The new braking system rapidly halts the coasting motion of the motor rotor and tool after the motor has been disconnected from the electric power line. A first switch is provided to control the application of electrical energy to the induction motor for sustained operation, and a second "pulse" switch is provided to control the application of electrical energy to the induction motor for brief surges of momentary operation. The braking system includes a second capacitor which is external to the induction motor and distinct from the starting capacitor normally associated with an induction motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically loading film transparencies into pre-closed slide mounts either of plastic or of cardboard material and having an internal pocket for receiving the film transparency which is inserted through an openable region near one edge of the mount. In loading operation, wedge means temporarily spread the openable portion of the slide mount, defining a passageway for the film transparency to pass through into the mount, and then the two sides of the mount are allowed to spring back to their closed position after loading. Advantageously, the film transparency is cut off from the filmstrip before loading, with the freshly cut end of the strip serving as pushing means for pushing the film transparency into its mount, and thus low inertial forces are involved, because the individual cut transparency has only a small mass to be accelerated and moved. The film strip is bowed into a longitudinally extending arch for providing longitudinal stiffness for pushing the transparency.