Abstract: A device which detects a displaced position by generating an ultrasonic signal in a magnetostrictive wire and measuring the propagation time of the signal generated. The device includes an exciting means to generate an ultrasonic signal in a magnetostrictive wire, first and second receiving means to receive the ultrasonic signal generated in the magnetostrictive wire by the exciting means, a means for changing the distance between the exciting means and each of the first and second receiving means in accordance with a mechanical displacement, and a circuit means for producing a signal representative to the time periods required for the generated ultrasonic signal to reach the first and second receiving means.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for converting relatively low temperature heat energy, for example, up to approximately 212.degree. F., into useful work. A heated zone having a temperature range including a first predetermined temperature and a cooled zone having a second temperature range including a second predetermined temperature are provided. A meltable wax material whose melting and resolidification occur within a preselected temperature range positioned along the thermal gradient between said first and second temperatures is alternately placed in heat exchange relationship with said heated and cooled zones for producing cyclic melting and resolidification of said wax material. The wax material may be separated into multiple discrete units for increasing its surface-to-volume ratio for augmenting the rate of heat flow into and out of the material during its melting and resolidification.

Abstract: A water-insoluble thermoplastic composition for rigidly holding and supporting elements or parts during machining comprises a composition of a natural wax, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, hydrogenated glyceride and a water-insoluble thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin. The composition may also contain filler materials. Compositions of this invention are characterized by improved adhesion, longer stability, better viscosity control and faster set times.

Abstract: A metal wire or rod is passed between two rolls one inside the other but with offset axes. The larger outer roll which may be ring-shaped has a smooth inside contact surface. The smaller internal roll has a smooth outside contact surface. Together, these two eccentrically disposed surfaces form a long converging throat between them through which the wire or rod is passed as it is being rolled into a strip. The opposing, smooth surfaces have a separation at the closest point which is less than 1/3 the diameter of the metal wire or rod to be fed between them. The distance between the point where the wire first contacts the opposing, smooth contact surfaces of the converging throat and the closest point of separation between the opposing surfaces is preferred to be at least four times the original diameter "D" of the wire or rod being fed therethrough.

Abstract: A powerful seismic impulse is generated in a body of water by a slug of water propelled from a seismic source by expanding pressurized gas, but the gas is retained in the source for use in subsequent firings. The seismic energy source, which is called a "hydro gun", is recharged by pumping an incompressible liquid, preferably, water, at high pressure into the gun to compress the retained pressurized gas. The hydro gun includes a firing cylinder, and a piston follower in the firing cylinder divides it into a liquid-charge chamber and a gas-propulsion chamber. The liquid-charge chamber is closed from liquid discharge ports by a shuttle which is held closed by the high pressure of gas in an operating chamber. By pumping an incompressible liquid into the liquid-charge chamber, the follower is forced to compress the pressurized gas which is trapped in the gas-propulsion chamber.

Abstract: A servo-system includes a high-gain direct-coupled direct current (dc) differential amplifier to which a dc input signal is fed. An adder adds the dc amplifier output to a comparison voltage, and the adder output is applied through a filter circuit to a second input of the differential dc amplifier. A servo-amplifier drives a servo-motor in accordance with the dc amplifier output. Means are provided for zero-balancing the dc amplifier output while varying the comparison voltage by the servo-motor.

Abstract: An oxygen gas analyzer is provided having a solid-electrolyte partition wall generating a detection signal proportional to the difference between the oxygen concentrations on each side of the wall. Electrode films attached to each side of the wall are comprised of a metal powder having a particle size which becomes gradually smaller toward the partition wall. Platinum screens are bonded to the electrode films and leadwires are welded to the platinum screens for providing a detection signal therethrough. Advantageously, this structure provides improved bonding strength between the electrode films and the leadwires while also providing a short response time.

Abstract: A heat resistant, structurally stable member is provided for in high temperature, heat treatment processing. It includes a core which has a high melting point higher than the processing temperature but which crystallizes, and so becomes frangible, at temperatures lower than the processing temperature. It is encased in a covering of a weldable, non-crystallizing alloy which may begin to soften at lower than processing temperatures, but is thick enough to be welded and to prevent loss of strength of the core due to crystalline shattering. Consequently, this structural member retains rigidity during high temperature usage.A plurality of structural members are welded together to form racks or baskets for holding parts during heat treatment in high temperature processing.

Abstract: A rotary food processing tool is provided for use in a food processor of the type including a housing containing an electric motor drive, a bowl mountable on the housing for enclosing the tool, said tool being rotated by said motor drive, and a removable cover on the bowl with a feed tube for feeding food items onto the rotating tool and into the bowl. The rotary tool has an elongated hub with a head on one end and coupling means adapted to be coupled to the electric motor drive. The head of the hub is offset from the coupling means such that it revolves around the axis of rotation of the coupling means. The tool includes a horizontal disc-like member mounted on the hub head at a location radially offset from the center axis of the disc-like member. Cutting means on the disc member extends from near the axis to the periphery.

Abstract: An integrated high volume method and system for transporting and dynamically storing articles, such as luggage, baggage, identified items of cargo, parcels, and the like, for sorting and routing them is provided. The method and system are completely integrated, synchronized, and controlled to facilitate sorting and routing and to permit stopping of the entire system without loss of position or timing of any of the designated articles in the system. The article handling system includes a series of individually operable intermediate conveyors arranged in a continuous path between an input station and a coding or routing station. These intermediate conveyors are individually operable and have article-sensing means and control means which activate and deactivate the individual conveyors. When the system is operating in the conventional operating mode, all the conveyors are activated to transport articles. The buffer conveyors near the coding station are selectively stopped as articles become stored thereon.

Abstract: A feed tube protector for a food processor having a motor, with a working bowl, a motor-driven shaft in the bowl for receiving rotatable tools, and with a removable cover positioned on the bowl during operation. Food processors normally include a feed tube and a manual food pusher used to feed items through this feed tube to the rotating tool. The feed tube protector has an outer sleeve carrying an actuator for enabling machine operation only when this sleeve is properly positioned over the feed tube. This sleeve is associated with a movable food pusher mounted for movement within the sleeve. When the cover is positioned on the bowl and this sleeve is mounted over the feed tube, the food pusher is manually movable within the passageway in the feed tube, and the actuator on the sleeve is operatively associated with control means to permit operation of the motor drive. Thus, inadvertent insertion of a hand or a foreign object through the feed tube is prevented when the tool is being driven.

Abstract: A self-cleaning invertible gutter system is provided in which a gutter having a projecting downspout connector positioned on the end thereof is mounted on the facia board of a building for roll-over invertible movement thereon. The gutter extends beyond the end of the building with a cooperating downspout being positioned near the corner on the adjacent wall of the building such that the downspout connector is adapted to be swung into and out of the cooperating downspout. A single, continuous support line is attached near the ends of the gutter or near the ends of the facia board and is laced alternately through fixed supports spaced along the facia board above the rear of the gutter and through supports mounted on the lower surface of the gutter and positioned toward the front of the gutter such that this support line passes back and forth around the lower rear corner of the gutter.

Abstract: An integral two level feed tube is provided for a food processor having a working bowl for enclosing a rotary tool, and a removable cover adapted to be locked on the bowl with the two level feed tube forming a passageway through the cover into the bowl through which a food pusher can be plunged. The feed tube has an upper portion forming an upper passageway having a first (smaller) cross-sectional area and a lower portion forming a lower passgeway having a second (larger) cross-sectional area. The lower portion has a horizontally, inwardly projecting flange at its upper end where the smaller upper passageway enters the larger lower passageway. The pusher is plungable through both passageways for pushing food items toward the tool. The upper portion is substantially shorter than the lower portion. Accordingly, longer food items desired to be sliced lengthwise are inserted in the upper tube diagonally and come to rest horizontally ready for lengthwise slicing in the lower passageway.

Abstract: The invention concerns an improved apparatus for removing interior material coatings in various containers such as sanitary bowls. The apparatus may be partially or completely immersed or introduced into liquid in a container to be cleaned and due to an improved arrangement of high frequency vibrator elements in the interior of an immersed apparatus housing, a particularly efficient and uniform power emission may be achieved from the oscillating housing walls, said power providing cavitations at the container walls to be cleaned whereby coatings may be loosened in an effective manner without damaging the container walls.

Abstract: Packaging apparatus for making hermetically sealed vacuum packages from two continuous webs of plastic packaging material supplied as roll stock. The lower web is formed into product receptacles, and the upper web is applied over the receptacles to serve as the top. The apparatus includes a single-station evacuate-and-seal head where the two webs are initially sealed together around the flanges of the receptacle. The resulting package is then evacuated through a slit in the lower web, and the evacuation slit is sealed off to complete the package. During evacuation, the upper web is shifted up to engage a heated plate to raise the web temperature to a level permitting forming of the plastic material. After final sealing, the spaces above and below the packages are sequentially vented to atmosphere so as to control the formation of the upper web to produce a crowned effect, wherein a portion of the product extends upwardly a small distance above the flanges of the package.

Abstract: An improved heat exchange tubing and blade assembly and a method for fabricating the same are described. The heat exchange assembly comprises an elongated tube and an elongated heat exchange blade strip positioned thereon, said strip including an array of integrally formed blade segments which extend from a U-shaped support segment. Surfaces of the blades extend at a favorable angle of attack to the incident fluid flow stream, and in a preferred embodiment the chords of the blades extend substantially normal to the length of the tube. The strip is supported on an outer surface of the tube, and means integrally formed with the tube maintain the support segment in thermal contact with the tube.

Abstract: A pressure measuring instrument of the vibrating-wire type comprising an elongate base on which is pivotally mounted an elongate lever parallel to the base. A vibratory wire in the form of a very thin flat ribbon of tungsten is held tautly between the lever and the base. A pair of bellows are supported on the base, on opposite sides of the pivot mounting for the lever, and apply a torque to the lever proportional to differential pressure. Counterbalance means are provided to prevent errors with changes in spatial orientation of the instrument. The lever support-structure is formed of a composite of elements providing a match of temperature expansion characteristics with the vibratory wire. An overrange protection mechanism prevents the application of excessive force to the wire.

Abstract: An improvement in a food processor of the type having a housing enclosing a motor, a drive shaft extending from the housing, a working bowl which is detachably mountable on the housing in position to surround the shaft for receiving the various rotatable food processing tools which are removably installed on the shaft, with a removable cover on the bowl. Food processors of this type normally include a hopper or feed tube which is carried by the cover, and a manually operated pusher or plunger which is used to feed food items down through the hopper onto the rotating cutter blade, slicing disc, rasping tool, etc.

Abstract: A tire protector device with a covering, especially formed by plates, which exhibits at its ends next to the outside of the tire connector parts for fastening a chain net which covers the side wall of the tire. The edge of said chain net remote from the connector parts being connected to a holding strand via connection parts which are formed of tension devices which have at least one tension spring forming a store of tensional force and/or which exhibit each a connector member carried movably on the holding strand.

Abstract: An improvement in a photoelectric intrusion detector unit of the type designed to resemble a duplex electrical outlet. An angled mirror and a collimating lens are supported on a common mount which is rotatable about an axis of rotation which is angularly displaced from the optical axis of the lens but passes through its focal point. The optical axis of the lens describes a conical surface about the axis of rotation.