Abstract: Disclosed is a valve used in the water drainage system of an aircraft having a pressurized cabin. The valve includes a housing with a water inlet and outlet and in which a float is mounted by a spring. The float includes a stopper element adapted to engage the water outlet in the housing. The water inlet is in communication with the cabin pressure and the water being discharged and the outlet is in communication with atmospheric pressure outside the aircraft. The spring normally biases the float so that the stopper element is away from the water outlet when the plane is on the ground. As the plane gains altitude, the differential in pressure between atmospheric pressure and cabin pressure closes the valve, with the spring moving the stopper element into engagement with the water outlet. This occurs in response to the changing differential in pressure between the cabin pressure and atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for manufacturing bakery products wherein a main drive motors powers feeding means for advancing rows of individual dough packets step-wise along an assembly line to a Ferris-wheel type conveyor including rows of cups into which individual dough packets are deposited row by row. The Ferris-wheel type conveyor is driven by the main drive motor to advance the rows of cup means step-wise row by row. The novel machine includes an inclined table with a surface over which the individual dough packets slide as the dough packets are advanced by the feeding means to the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. The table terminates at a lower end thereof near the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. A gate comprising a roller member with receptacles is positioned to receive the individual dough packets as the packets fall off the table member and into aligned receptacles. The roller has three rows of receptacles, with each row spaced apart from adjacent rows by 120.degree.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 3, the sloping roof (250) of a building (10) incorporates inner and outer juxtaposed metal panels, (15, 16) spaced from each other to define passageways (20) which serve as heat exchangers. A closed-loop water circulation system (18) connects the passageway (20) with low, medium and high grade heat store chambers (21, 23, 25) disposed within the building foundation structure (13). The water circulation system (18) employs sub-systems (22, 29 and 31) which comprise, respectively, primary, secondary and tertiary sub-systems. The heat store chamber (21) comprises a portion of the primary circulation sub-system (22) whereby water is re-circulated through the panel passageways (20) so as to be raised in temperature 20 by solar heat. In addition to the heat store chamber (21), the primary sub-system (22) comprises a heat pump unit (27).

Abstract: There is disclosed a solids collection and removal system for a settling tank. It is particularly designed for installation in generally rectangular, in-ground settling tanks such as is commonly used for water treatment. The collection device includes a plurality of bottom-travelling collectors which have elongated, open-bottomed channel housings, each with a scraper blade pivotally supported by a pin-in-slot attachment to provide a modified pendulum suspension. The collectors, which span the width of the tank, are mounted on a track or other suitable mechanical linkage for oscillatory travel across preselected portions of the bottom of the settling tank. Each collector is divided by a longitudinal baffle into a lowermost collection chamber and an upper evacuation chamber. The latter is connected through a conduit to a vacuum system for the evacuation of the solids from the collectors.

Abstract: There is disclosed an instrument for the continuous monitoring of emergency stand-by batteries during operation of the batteries. The invention monitors the emergency batteries during all discharge operations and records the usage and conditions of the batteries as well as alerts the operators when the discharge voltage of the batteries falls below the minimum required for the particular application. The instrument includes voltage, current and temperature sensors which generate signals that are applied through gain amplifiers to an analog to digital converter and then to a central processing unit. The central processing unit receives a reference voltage and has an independent emergency power supply. The central processing unit outputs signals to a liquid crystal display as well as to a printer and receives commands from a key pad. The central processor unit is supplied with a software operating program which is recorded on a ROM and has system RAM for non-volatile storage and a clock.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the treatment of confined bodies of water such as a swimming pool to remove scale deposits from the surfaces of the vessel containing the water. The water is acidified with a mixture of hydrochloric acid, sulfamic acid and sodium bisulfate to eliminate its total alkalinity, as determined by a standard neutralization test. The water is continuously or repeatedly monitored for total alkalinity following the initial addition of acid, to insure that sufficient acid has been added. The acidified water has a tendency to gain total alkalinity as the scale deposits are removed during the treatment, and monitoring detects this change, permitting correction by addition of acid. After the treatment with the acid, which can last from several hours to several days, any excess treatment acid is neutralized by the addition of a neutralizing agent which is preferably magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a retractable sun screen for a motor vehicle. The sun screen can be provided for any or all of the windows of the vehicle and is used in combination with a head liner which has a storage recess for each sun screen. The sun screens can be manually operated. In its most preferred embodiment, however, the operator for the sun screens includes a motor driven actuator to extend or retract the sun screens. The sun screens are formed of thin film plastics, preferably of Mylar.RTM. having thickness from 1 to about 10 mils, preferably from 2 to about 5 mils, which are mounted on rollers that are slidably positioned in roller tracks located in the leadliner of the motor vehicle. The invention also includes a sun visor of expanded width and length which is foldable for full retraction from the windshield or side window.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for locating the open side of an electrical outlet box comprising a flat locater plate having a pair of positioning pins extending outwardly from one side of the plate and a pair of template alignment pins extending outwardly from the other side of the plate. The template alignment pins are offset inwardly from the marginal edges of the locater plate to allow for clearance.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tracing light for a saber saw in which the light source is located on the shoe of the saber saw, immediately adjacent the cut line marked on the work piece. In one embodiment, the light source is the terminal end of a fiber optic transmission tube which communicates with a light source mounted at another location on the saber saw. In an alternative embodiment, the light source is within a housing that is secured or supported directly on the shoe of the saber saw, with the light emitting element, either an incandescent bulb or a light emitting diode, located immediately adjacent the cut line of the work piece.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wall bed within an enclosure that looks like a fireplace when the bed is in a vertical position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a back exerciser including a table having first and second separate, but adjacent sections aligned with each other so that the first section supports the torso of the person reclining on the table and the second section supports the lower body of such person. The second section is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis which is nearest the first section and positioned so that, with the person reclining on his or her sdiee on the table, the vertical axis intersects the greater trochanter of the person's leg. Means for securing the person to the table so that said person, while reclining on his or her side, may cause the second section to rotate about a vertical axis by bending the lower body relative to the torso. The second section is adapted to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise about a vertical axis. A dynamometer is coupled to the table for measuring the muscular performance of the person's back muscles during rotation of the second section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for advancing bakery pans in a step wise fashion along a production line. A rotary indexer having three radially extending arms mounted on a common shaft and spaced apart 120.degree. relative to adjacent arms is used to advance the pans step-wise one cup at a time. Each arm has distal ends at which rollers are mounted which engage the upper portion extending about the perimeter of each cup. A single stroke air cylinder has a wedge mounted to its piston. The wedge engages a cam assembly mounted on the shaft to which the rotary indexer is mounted. Retraction of the wedge allows the pans to push against the rotary indexer to rotate it. The wedge returns to a position to stop rotation of the shaft, only allowing the shaft to rotate through a 120.degree. turn. The pan moves step-wise along the assembly line path into a position to receive a dough packet from a conveyor that deposits dough packets into the cups.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automotive clutch in which frictional engagement faces of a clutch are provided with an organic composite facing and a sintered metal facing. By this combination, the benefits of both types of facings are obtained without any of the disadvantages that formerly plagued the use of these facings. In the invention, the organic composite facing provides the low temperature service for the clutch with a suitably high coefficient of friction which is relatively constant from ambient to several hundred degrees F. The sintered metal facing provides high temperature service for the clutch. Thus, when the organic composite facings reach their maximum service temperature of around 500 degrees F., the sintered metal facings provide their optimum coefficient of friction, resulting in a subassembly in which the overall or average coefficient of friction remains substantially constant from ambient temperatures to the maximum service temperature of the sintered metal coatings, in excess of 900 degrees F.

Abstract: There is disclosed a golf putter having a unique shape that improves putting performance. The putter has a more or less conventional head with a flat, ball-striking surface. The shaft of the putter has a rectangular cross section and is formed of a visibly opaque material. A highly visible marker is located on the shaft band to be shielded from the player's view by the shaft when the club is properly oriented, and visible to the player when the club head is open or closed, thereby indicating to the user whether the putter face is open, closed, or properly aligned. The shaft can be tapered and is rectangular in cross section and terminates with a handle which is also rectangular in cross section. The preferred putter has front surfaces for the handle, shaft and putter face which are parallel. Most preferably, the rear surfaces of the handle, shaft and putter face are also parallel and, most preferably, are also co-planar, thereby permitting reversal of the putter between left and right handed players.

Abstract: There is disclosed the combination of an inflatable inner sole and a supporting underlayment for footwear, such as a shoe, boot or sandal. The inflatable inner sole is formed of upper and lower plastic sheets having the shape and size of a sole and bonded together in a continous seam about their peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior. A plurality of this continuous seams are formed between the upper and lower sheets to create within the sealed interior a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways. The inflatable inner sole is provided with an air pump that preferably is mounted at the heel of the inner sole. The air pump is a flexible bulb with an inlet valve and discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole. The pressure relief valve is manually adjustable to control the pressure within the inflatable inner sole.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hanging basket liner for lining wire and other types of hanging baskets designed to hold live, growing plants and flowers or artificial plants or flowers. The liner is of a construction which incorporates a covering of sphagnum moss on its outer surface, so that it has a natural appearance. The flexible material from which the inner liner is made is adaptable, by cutting and trimming, to fit various sizes and shapes of hanging baskets. The liner, which has a diameter in the range from 17 inches to 48 inches and a thickness in the range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch, has a inner lining with sponge like properties which retains moisture, reduces the drying out of the growing medium and is durable, long lasting and reuseable. The liner has a number of vanes emanating from its center so that side slits, through which trailing plants can grow, are created as the liner conforms to the shape of the hanging basket.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the removal and recovery of hydrocarbons which are contained within the air/vapor mixture in bulk oil or gasoline storage tanks using fractional condensation with cryogenic cooling. The air/vapor mixture is flushed from the tank with fresh air and passed, successively, through several stages of a portable condenser train. When necessary, the first stage of the treatment comprises a caustic wash stage where the air/vapor mixture is contacted completely with a caustic solution to remove sulfur compounds. The desulfurized air/vapor mixture is then passed to the first condenser stage which condenses and removes substantially all moisture within the mixture. The de-humidified, desulfurized mixture is then passed to an intermediate stage where the heavier hydrocarbon fractions are condensed and separated and is then passed to a final condenser stage where it is cooled to a temperature of at least -100 degrees F., sufficient to condense substantially all hydrocarbon component therein.

Abstract: A device for aspirating liquids which is operable from any position or orientation includes a hollow housing which communicates with a source of carrier gas and a source of gas under pressure. A nozzle is disposed within the hollow housing through which the pressurized gas is directed to produce a high speed stream of gas. An entrainment member defining an aspiration chamber for the liquid is disposed in the housing with the aspiration chamber immediately adjacent to the nozzle outlet in the housing. A multi-directional liquid flow path communicating between the housing interior and the aspiration chamber is defined by the entrainment member and the edges thereof to provide fluid communication between the aspiration chamber and any point in the housing regardless of the orientation of the device.

Abstract: An illuminating device comprises a tubular outer sleeve (12) provided with an elongated transparent window (13), with an inner sleeve (22) formed with an aperture (27). The inner sleeve (22) houses a pair of self-luminous light sources (30). Relative rotation between the inner and outer sleeves (22, 12) determines the shape illustrated by the sources (30) and visible through the window (13). The inner sleeve (22) thus serves as a shutter in controlling light emission.