Abstract: A process and apparatus for casting semi-finished metal products in which a molten-metal-proof plunger is disposed at the top of a cavity in a permanent mold. A thin band of metal is attached to the plunger and extends above its top. Inside the metal band on top of the plunger is insulation and on top of that is a barrier to the molten metal. A reservoir of molten metal is created and maintained in a pouring cup over the plunger, and the plunger is caused to descend in the cavity at a controlled rate so that the molten metal enters and fills the cavity above the plunger. Promptly after the plunger reaches the bottom of its stroke, it is reversed to lift the casting and pouring cup at least slightly out of the mold. The shim band, barrier, and insulation are expendable, but the plunger is used again.

Abstract: A brick setting machine is disclosed which is operable to face set, stack without inverting or flat set. The machine is also operable to laterally space each brick from the next adjacent brick so that the faces and edges of the brick can be separately textured. The stacking, face setting and flat setting of the brick are performed by a plurality of elongated trays or turners which are operable to simultaneously rotate substantial numbers of brick through 90.degree. so that they rest on their sides and then when stacking or face setting is required to rotate adjacent rows of brick through an additional 90.degree. to form pairs of vertically aligned brick one resting on the other. The stacking is provided without gripping the brick so as to avoid damage to the brick.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of glass fiber-reinforced polyester products is disclosed. A ready-to-mold resin and reinforcement composite is prepared using an initiator which has been microencapsulated in order to prevent initiator-induced cross-linking of the resin reactants. The initiator is released during the molding of the composite by rupture of the microcapsules due to internal vapor pressure developed at a preselected molding temperature. The encapsulation of the initiator provides improved homogeneity and increased flowability of the composites during molding, and enables the provision of molded polyester products having higher degrees of cure and more defect-free finish surfaces.

Abstract: A suspension ceiling system is disclosed which combines snap-up pans and lay-in panels. Such system includes runners formed with channels at the lower edges thereof formed by opposed lateral flanges, depending side walls, and inturned lips. The inturned lips terminate at inner edges which are spaced apart to provide a longitudinal opening on the lower side of the channel. Lay-in panels are positioned in some of the grid openings, and provide peripheral edges supported by the flanges. Snap-up panels formed of sheet metal are provided with peripheral flanges having inwardly directed ribs extending lengthwise of the flanges and spaced from the lower pan surface. The flanges are positioned in the openings beween the runner lips with the ribs snapped over the associated lip to secure the snap-up panels in position. The lips provide a delineation between the lay-in panels and the adjacent flanges of adjacent snap-up panels are spaced by substantially the same distance to provide a similar delineation.

Abstract: An accumulator tank for pressurizing and supplying liquid to a system comprises a pressure vessel having a wall defining a closed pressure chamber. The pressure vessel is provided with an internal flexible air cell which divides the pressure chamber into first and second variable volume compartments containing pressurized air and water, respectively. Perforated conduits are provided in the second compartment in fluid communication with a port, and extend between the wall of the pressure vessel and the flexible air cell. The perforated conduits provide fluid communication between the port and portions of the second compartment when the air cell seals against the wall to otherwise isolate those portions of the second compartment in fluid communication with the perforated conduits.

Abstract: A low cost automatic ice cube maker of simplified construction for use in the freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator. The ice maker includes a onepiece, molded plastic bail or sensing arm for monitoring the level of ice cubes in an underlying storage bin. The movable bail includes a fingerlike resilient projection extending radially from one of the end portions of the bail. The distal end of the projection engages a portion of the ice maker fixed in position relative to the movable bail wherein the resilient projection functions as a springlike member biasing the bail toward a lowermost position. The ice maker also includes a pivotally mounted ice tray that can be easily snapped out of its ice making position for removal and cleaning at a location outside the freezer compartment. An externally accessible mechanism for actuating a test switch of the internal control circuit of the ice maker is provided to facilitate servicing of the ice maker.

Abstract: An orthotic device which includes a resilient member having a perimetral outline conforming to a predetermined portion of the human foot. This resilient member includes a plurality of segments, each of these segments having a perimetral outline conforming to a predetermined different portion of the human foot. All of the segments are of the same uniform thickness. The durometer of the segments are selected from one of a group of ranges of durometer 120 BHN or less, 140 BHN, and 180 BHN and greater.

Abstract: A coil winding apparatus is disclosed which is capable of readily adjusting the traversing of an oscillating arm and wire delivery means to carry out the coil winding with good precision. The coil winding apparatus includes a traverse mechanism for traversing the oscillating arm and wire delivery means in the direction of axis of a coil wound article at a predetermined cycle. Also, the apparatus also includes a detector for electrically detecting motion of a main shaft to actuate the traverse mechanism according to the detected motion of the main shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting leaks within a vacuum system by narrow band detecting and amplifying a particular ultrasonic frequency peculiar to such leaks is disclosed. The device is formed as a hand held probe having a transducer and amplifier both peaked to the particular frequency sought along with a visible display and audible alarm for indicating the level or intensity of the particular frequency sought and audibly notifying the user when that sound level reaches some prescribed intensity. Appropriate shielding and filtering to prevent spurious actuation of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: The device comprises at least two ultrasonic transducers emitting focused radiation and a circuit making it possible to measure the difference between the sampled signals supplied by these two transducers. This difference is cancelled out when the probe faces the object.Application to metrology and the position control of objects.

Abstract: A progressive forging machine is disclosed in which a tool pack is removably mounted on the machine to facilitate tool changeovers and the like. The tool pack includes tool carriers guided in bearings on the tool pack for reciprocating movement by a bolster mounted on the machine frame. Because the tools are guided by the tool pack itself, inaccuracy of bolster alignment does not adversely affect the position of the tooling. The tool pack also provides a shear, a transfer, strippers, and kickouts for both the dies and the tools. The drives for the various components on the tool pack are provided on the main machine frame and are either automatically connected during installation of the tool pack or are easily connected at the time of such installation. Because the tooling is guided by the tool pack itself, deflections within the main machine frame created by forming loads do not adversely affect tooling alignment.

Abstract: Improved thread rolling dies are disclosed forming fasteners with a cylindrical threaded portion and a threaded pointed portion. Such dies provide a polished rise angle surface for forming and threading the pointed portion of the fastener so as to promote slippage between such surface and the pointed portion of the fastener. The polished rise angle surface improves point formation, provides better filled threads, reduces burning of the fastener and increases die life. The dies also provide a match point spaced from the end of the short die so as to reduce the likelihood of improper timing when the dies are set up in the thread rolling machine. Further the dies provide an angulated top of the rise surface to break off any whiskers or tails which might otherwise project beyond the end of the point of the fastener being formed.

Abstract: An ice cube storage bin located beneath an automatic ice maker of a domestic refrigerator contains a pair of elongated ice dispensing rams that reciprocate along parallel lines, one of the rams moving toward the front of the bin, as the other moves toward the rear. The rams are interconnected by a pulley mounted belt that pulls one ram to the rear of the bin, as the other ram is pushed toward the front of the bin by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a pair of cam discs eccentrically mounted in opposed relation on a common motor shaft located outside of the bin adjacent its rear wall. A pair of resilient lever arms, having their top ends pivotally mounted to the outside of the rear wall of the bin and their bottom ends pivotally connected to the rearward ends of the rams which extend from the interior of the bin, are engaged at their intermediate portions by the rotating cam discs wherein the rams are alternately pushed by the bottom ends of the lever arms toward the front of the bin.

Abstract: A small, single cylinder, hermetic refrigeration compressor of the fractional horsepower type has a cylinder block with a piston and cylinder at the lower end. Above the cylinder block is mounted the motor stator. A bearing hub is centrally mounted on the cylinder block, and provides a single radial bearing for the crankshaft, which extends upward through the bearing hub and has the rotor mounted on the upper end. The crankshaft is journaled directly in the bearing hub, while the thrust is taken up by a small ball bearing mounted between the rotor and an end face on the bearing hub. The thrust bearing uses a pair of flat thrust washers as races, while the balls, which are widely spaced and minimum in number, are mounted in a plastic cage.

Abstract: A method for making flexible, corrugated rubber tubing with internal reinforcement. An extruded sleeve of uncured rubber is slid axially onto an elongated internal forming member, after which an external forming means is placed around the assembled sleeve and used to form corrugations. The resulting product is heat-treated to set the corrugations and thus to form a flexible corrugated tube length. A helix formed of flexible, resilient wire rod is pulled through the corrugated tubing in an axial direction and simultaneously rotated in a direction to thread the helical rod into the internal helical groove in the corrugated product. At the same time, the helix is axially extended to reduce its helix diameter. When the helix has been completely extended through the corrugated tubing, it is released to that it expands radially into tight conformance with the internal helical groove.

Abstract: A mechanical dial indicating gauge or meter that, without mechanical loading, optoelectronically detects and encodes the pointer position as a digital signal by use of a technique of distributed point position latching. Counter means drives a circuit which cylically sequentially lights LED's along a scale and the count is latched that corresponds to current counter position when a detector on the scale pointer is activated during the sequential lighting. This latched count provides the digital signal of pointer position. This digital signal may then by transmitted to remote indicators, controllers, computers, and/or may be compared to preset values yielding set point outputs. An electrical lead for the detector includes a spiral loosely surrounding the pointer stem.

Abstract: Process for the combustion of bitumen, wherein the bitumen is softened by preheating and is then introduced into a combustion chamber, traversed by oxygen in excess subject to ionization by an intense ultra-high frequency field, so as to raise the surface of the bitumen to a temperature above 1000.degree. C., thereby ensuring its vaporization and rapid combustion in the thus produced oxygen plasma.

Abstract: A low cost automatic ice cube maker of simplified construction for use in the freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator. The ice maker includes a one-piece, molded plastic bail or sensing arm for monitoring the level of ice cubes in an underlying storage bin. The movable bail includes a fingerlike resilient projection extending radially from one of the end portions of the bail. The distal end of the projection engages a portion of the ice maker fixed in position relative to the movable bail wherein the resilient projection functions as a springlike member biasing the bail toward a lowermost position. The ice maker also includes a pivotally mounted ice tray that can be easily snapped out of its ice making position for removal and cleaning at a location outside the freezer compartment. An externally accessible mechanism for actuating a test switch of the internal control circuit of the ice maker is provided to facilitate servicing of the ice maker.

Abstract: A flame insert for reducing the NO.sub.x emissions of a range top burner is disclosed. The flame insert comprises a rigid framework provided by disjuncted support members connected to a pair of ring members. The support members engage the burner head to mount and accurately position the ring members adjacent the burner ports for engaging the flames during combustion and reducing the peak flame temperature by radiating heat energy away from the flames.