Abstract: Sheet glass is heated during conveyance on a conveyor within a furnace. A vacuum holder is positioned within the furnace housing above the conveyor and has a downwardly facing surface with spaced openings in which a vacuum is drawn to receive a glass sheet from the conveyor and support the sheet above the conveyor. The holder surface is disclosed as being both planar and curved and as having a porous cover of ceramic fibers so as to distribute the vacuum and prevent marring of the glass as it is supported. Auxiliary lifters positioned between the rolls or vertical movement of the vacuum holder facilitates glass pickup. A carrier mold ring moves under the supported glass and the vacuum is then terminated so the glass drops onto the ring and bends under the bias of gravity in a manner that allows thin glass to be accurately bent. Subsequently the mold ring is moved from the furnace to a quench unit that temper the bent glass.

Abstract: A hollow mirror head assembly including a thin wall mirror supporting shell, an internal bracket member secured between angularly related walls of the mirror head shell to reduce the tendency of said shell to vibrate.

Abstract: A luggage carrier is adapted to be removably secured to the trunk lid of an automotive vehicle. The carrier includes a frame section, carried on the outside surface of the trunk lid and having a plurality of leg members that extend through aligned apertures in the trunk lid into engagement with fastening devices that are carried on the inside surface of the trunk lid. The fastening devices releasably secure the luggage carrier to the trunk lid. Covers are provided to enclose the apertures to provide a pleasing appearance when the luggage carrier is removed from the trunk lid.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for controlling the charging of a battery by the regulation of the output voltage of a generator. In normal operation, the voltage regulator senses the output voltage of the battery through a first sensing line, and enables or disables the energization of the generator field winding if the battery voltage is respectively below or above a desired regulated value. In the event of an interruption in the electrical connection between the battery and generator, a second sensing line, comprising a resistance, senses the generator output voltage and causes the voltage regulator to become operative to regulate the generator voltage at a predetermined upper voltage limit.

Abstract: A roadway sealed expansion joint between roadway sections spaced by an expansion slot, the roadway sections having recesses adjacent and extending longitudinally of the slot. A metal plate bridges the slot and is secured to the bottom of the recess in one of the sections and is movable relative to the bottom of the recess in the other of the sections. Overlying the metal plate is a unitary elastomeric slab with its upper surface aligned with the upper surfaces of the concrete sections and with its edges bonded to the sides of the recesses, this elastomeric slab having a center premolded portion of relatively high elasticity and edge portions which are molded in situ and which are of relatively low elasticity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for closing and sealing the end of a container having a tubular body wherein the container and closure portion includes front, rear and side panels each extending axially from the tubular body in the open position of the end closure. Each of the end closure panels may have a sealing strip defined at its outer end by a scored line with the rear panel including a closure flap-extending from the outer edge of its sealing strip. The end closure panels are folded to a flat closed position by closing jaws with the sealing strips and closure flap projecting axially from the tubular body, after which the sealing strips are sonically welded together. The closure flap and sealing strips are then folded flat, and the closure flap is welded to the outer surface of the front end closure panel.

Abstract: A stanchion assembly for an automobile luggage rack is defined by a stanchion and a locking pad providing for hidden features. The stanchion is mounted to a surface of the automobile by the fasteners which are secured thereto through apertures provided in the stanchion.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided an alloy having high hardness and wear resistance even at elevated temperatures, the alloy consisting essentially of from about 35% to 65% nickel, 15% to 25% chromium, 5% to 20% cobalt, 2% to 5% molybdenum, 1.5% to 4% titanium, 1% to 12% iron, 0.5% to 2% aluminum, 0.3% to 2% silicon, 0.7% to 2% carbon and 1% to 4% boron.

Abstract: A water purifier having its principal utility in medical, biological and chemical laboratories comprising a housing having a water inlet and three water outlets and containing a charcoal layer which strips the water of absorbed and non-ionized dissolved impurities, and an ion-exchange resin layer which strips the water of ionized dissolved impurities, and a submicron pore size filter membrane which strips the water of bacteria and other solid impurities, two of the three water outlets being for withdrawing water from the housing after it has passed through the aforesaid layers and the membrane, and the third of the three water outlets being for withdrawing water from the housing after it has passed through the aforesaid layers not through the membrane.

Abstract: The composite of the present invention comprises a layer of ceramic having completely imbedded therein a metal grid, such composite having been made by coating a metal grid with a viscous ceramic slurry and thereafter firing to form the ceramic to a unitary structure. At the temperature to which the composite is fired to form the unitary structure the metal grid is in an expanded condition because of its high coefficient of thermal expansion, and upon cooling the metal grid is put into tension thereby putting the ceramic in compression. The composite has particular utility as thermal insulation for internal combustion engine exhaust systems.

Abstract: A self-contained, self-propelled air-conditioning system is provided for supplying air to structures, such as aircraft on the ground at airports. The aircraft are of the type having an inlet duct for conveying the air through the structure. The system includes a suitable truck having a frame or chassis mounted on wheels. The system also includes a diesel engine separate from the engine of the truck mounted on the chassis for supplying mechanical energy and an electrical generator mechanically connected to the diesel engine for changing the mechanical energy into electrical energy. A ventilation system is mounted on the frame and is electrically connected to the generator for moving air from the ambience to the inlet duct. A pair of independent refrigeration systems, each including a compressor, are mounted on the frame. The compressors are electrically connected to the generator. Each refrigeration system cools the moving air independently from the other refrigeration system.

Abstract: A boiler in which the combustion unit includes a fluidized bed which may be fluidized in a non-uniform manner to effect circulation of the bed material. Heat exchange takes place between the combustion products and working fluid located in tubes located above the fluidized bed and also, optionally, within the fluidized bed.

Abstract: An address sign, especially for houses and other buildings, is provided with full time lighting so that the sign is easily readable under both day time and night time conditions from long distances. The lighted sign also provides low intensity illumination in a localized area such as a house entrance. The sign comprises a back plate and a translucent box-like cover having a length about four times greater than its width. A plurality of at least four miniature lamps are disposed on the back plate along the center line of the cover with certain spacing from each other and the front and side panels of the cover to provide uniform illumination of the cover. Opaque numbers are secured to the front panel of the cover and are preferably black to provide high contrast for easy day time and night time reading.

Abstract: A cartridge is disclosed for an audiovisual filmstrip projector. The cartridge holds a filmstrip and a standard magnetic tape cassette. Spring hooks are provided on a mounting plate of the cartridge for releasably attaching the cassette by a single motion of pressing the cassette toward the mounting plate and for allowing removal of the cassette from the cartridge by a single motion of pulling the cassette away from the mounting plate.

Abstract: A method of disposing of waste products from the chemical process industries, especially as a result of the re-refining of oils. The waste products are burnt in a fluidized bed in which the bed material is fluidized in a non-uniform to effect circulation thereof so as to complete combustion at such a low temperature that the formation of sulphur trioxide and the volatilization of metals is avoided.

Abstract: A forming machine (10) is disclosed as including a rotary drive mechanism (30) that provides accurate control of the degree to which forming is performed. The drive mechanism includes a pair of drive members (34) mounted for movement with a pair of elongated dies that are preferably embodied as die racks (22, 24) mounted on lower and upper bases (12, 14) of the machine. A toothed drive gear (32) is meshed with drive teeth (52) on each of the drive members and is rotatably driven by a drive spindle to thereby move the drive members and hence the dies in order to form a workpiece mounted between the dies. The drive mechanism has particular utility in a machine for forming a thin-walled annular sleeve of a workpiece mounted on a toothed mandrel (38) between the dies. An automatic loader is preferably utilized to mount the workpiece on the mandrel such that movement of the dies engages the die and mandrel teeth with the workpiece sleeve therebetween in order to provide the forming.

Abstract: A bracket for association with an article carrier, such as a luggage carrier is adapted for sliding adjustment or positioning in a carrier track. The bracket includes a tool-operated locking mechanism for locking the bracket anywhere along the length of the track wherein unauthorized adjustment of the bracket is prevented. The bracket may include suitable openings which receive tie-down straps or the like. The bracket is, also, contemplated as including suitable projections for detachably mounting a cross-strap thereto.

Abstract: A load bearing cross-slat for association with an article carrier, such as a luggage carrier, is adapted to extend transversely across a vehicle roof between a pair of carrier tracks. The cross-slat is anchored to the tracks at its ends and is cambered upward toward the center of the vehicle. The camber of the slat spaces the slat above the vehicle roof, and allows the weight of an article placed thereon to be supported at the ends of the slat and, thus, by the tracks.

Abstract: A boiler wherein the combustion unit includes a fluidized bed which may be fluidized in a non-uniform manner to effect circulation of bed material by means of dual air distributors located within the bed.