Abstract: A flow rate sensor includes a diaphragm operated switch coupled to a Venturi in a flow conduit. The apparatus includes a housing having a diaphragm defining a chamber. The chamber has a first port connected to the Venturi and a second vent port. A valve connected between the first port and the diaphragm is spring loaded so that the first port is normally open. In the absence of fluid flow, the Venturi pressure is zero under the diaphragm and the diaphragm is at rest in an up position so that the valve is open. With fluid flow through the Venturi, vacuum will build under the diaphragm so that the diaphragm will travel down until the valve closes the first port. With the valve closed, pressure under the diaphragm will increase due to flow through the vent port and the diaphragm will move up. The valve will remain closed until the diaphragm up stroke is equal to the valve stem lost motion.

Abstract: A bobbin case, which is loosely confined within the looptaker of a sewing machine, is biased both into engagement on one side against the looptaker and about the looptaker axis toward a position of engagement with a stop by a continuously engaging light force applying resilient member, and a shock absorber is disposed for engagement with the bobbin case only upon movement thereof through a predetermined distance in opposition to the bias of said resilient member.

Abstract: A hand operable chain stitch sewing machine including a pivoted cam and looper assembly with a limited axial position has the looper mounted on the cam so as to deflect axially away from the cam when engaged by the needle of the machine and leave the cam in its limited position wherein cam tracks and a gate therefor are disposed for cooperation with an actuator for the pivoted assembly and a gate spring respectively.

Abstract: A button sewing machine is provided on a fabric and button positioning plate with a thread supporting tongue to extend longitudinally in a needle hole into engagement with the underside of fabric and enable thread to be sewn under and across the tongue to prevent the fabric from slipping on the plate during a button sewing operation.

Abstract: The electrically operated clutch controlling operation of the compressor is regulated by a damped pressure switch. The pressure switch has a diaphragm which moves in response to pressure variation to actuate the switch. The force acting on the diaphragm is opposed by spring force. The housing is provided with a damping chamber between the diaphragm chamber and the restricted passage in the inlet. The restricted passage is the clearance between the hole drilled in the metal insert and the wire fixed in the hole. The restriction is selected relative to the damping chamber so the switch will not cycle more than four times per minute when sensing pressure at the outlet of a finned coil evaporator in an automotive air conditioning system operating under light load.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based electronic controller for a dishwasher utilizes a motor driven timing cam for selectively energizing the electromechanical components of the dishwater. An internal diagnostic routine in the microcomputer insures that the timing cam is advanced when the microcomputer calls for power to be applied to the motor.

Abstract: Opposing plates of a thread tensioning device for use on a lock stitch sewing machine in a thread handling system wherein needle thread is caused to pass between elongate members of a thread holder which meters thread to the looptaker of the machine are formed with recesses through which the thread can fall without restraint to supply thread to the looptaker during the movement thereof from a loop seizing to a cast-off position.

Abstract: An adjustable tangent assembly for a positive displacement diaphragm gas meter is provided with a pair of concentric face gears coaxial with the axis of rotation of the crank shaft and accessible through a small plug hole in the meter cover. An adjusting tool inserted through the plug hole allows independent self locking adjustment of the timing and stroke with high resolution.

Abstract: A needle for use in a sewing machine having a one-way needle clamp, in which the needle is formed with a shank having a minor portion adjacent the free extremity which cooperates with the one-way needle clamp to properly orient the sewing needle, and a major portion extending between the minor portion and the blade which includes a reference surface for locating the blade with respect to the sewing machine looptaker.

Abstract: A device useful with robotic fabric manipulating systems for forming hemfolds in fabric panels and comprising a slotted mandrel simultaneously accommodating the entire fabric edges to be hemmed and a drive rotating said mandrel within a sheath which frictionally constrains the folded fabric being drawn from the mandrel during stitching.

Abstract: A handle construction is provided in which a handle tube is affixed to a main housing by providing for a D shaped configuration on one end of the handle tube having holes therethrough normal to the flatted portion of the tube; a handle mounting plate supported on the flatted portion of the tube having tapped holes therethrough aligned with the holes in the D shaped configuration on the end of the handle tube; reinforcement tubes extending internally of the D shaped configuration of the handle tube from the internal flatted surface thereof through the opposite side of the tube to the main housing; and screws extending through the main housing, the internal bore of the reinforcement tubes and holes in the flatted portion of the D shaped configuration of the handle tube into the tapped holes of the handle mounting plate to firmly retain the entire assembly affixed to the main housing.

Abstract: An axially movable plunger in a bobbin, and a cam for disposing the plunger in a position resulting in rotation of the bobbin for bobbin winding are formed with engageable planar surfaces, one of which includes a sharp edge hole, and the other of which includes an elongate slot to provide for the cutting of thread between the edges of the hole and slot at the outset of a bobbin winding operation.

Abstract: A floor care appliance having a filter bag with an inlet chamber accessed by an inlet aperture, and a quiescent storage chamber connected to the inlet chamber by an opening adjacent the top thereof. The filter bag is formed of filter sheet material as an elongate tubular member having the opposite ends folded and sealed to define an air impermeable seal. An inlet aperture extends into the interior of the tubular member adjacent one end thereof and the tubular member is folded upon itself spaced from the other end thereof with confronting portions of the tubular member being sealed together and including an opening adjacent the fold between the confronting portions to maintain an open air path from the inlet aperture to the other end of the filter bag.

Abstract: A power tool in which feed rate information is used as a means of changing cutting implement speed to maintain an optimum chip rate removal. As the tool is loaded by a feed rate increase, the motor speed will increase to that point empirically determine to provide a good finish for the material and cutting implement size selected. If the load decreases, the motor speed will correspondingly decrease to that speed which will provide a good finish for the material and cutting implement size selected with out overheating of the material. A limit would be set to indicate to an operator when he is at the upper limit of the speed and feed rate range and turn off the tool after a short period of time to prevent destructive overheating.

Abstract: A pilot adaptor for a flat wood boring bit having a shank extending to two parallel flattened sides and with an axially aligned orifice extending therebetween, the pilot adaptor being implemented by an elongated rectangular sheet metal member folded over centrally thereof for two parallel legs for receiving the parallel flattened sides of the flat wood boring bits therebetween, in which the parallel legs have diagonally opposite edges spaced apart the diameter of the pilot hole so that they are received in the pilot hole. At least one centrally aligned aperture may extend through one of the parallel legs coaxially with at least one portion punched and lanced out to form a single thread so that a sheet metal screw may extend through the aperture and orifice in the flat wood boring bits and into the lanced out portion to retain the pilot adaptor to the flat wood boring bit.

Abstract: A floor care appliance having a main housing with a handle extending from an upper portion thereof, and having a motor blower assembly affixed thereto with an inlet tube extending from a lower portion thereof. The main housing is fashioned with a rearwardly open cavity portion for receiving a filter arrangement including a paper filter bag having connection to an outlet tube of the motor blower assembly, and a second stage of filtration implemented by an air permeable closure covering the rearwardly open cavity portion. A floor unit carries a brush actuated by a reversible motor, a dry chemical carpet cleaning powder receptacle and dispensing arrangement for selectively dispensing the powder adjacent the brush, and a plenum chamber extending from adjacent the brush to a swivel having an outlet tube connected and affixed to the inlet tube of the motor blower assembly. A switch assembly is carried by a cover for the main housing and provides for operator selection of one of several modes of operation.

Abstract: A plurality of like fabric layers, each of which is formed with a concavely curved edge, a convexly curved edge, and a straight edge, are held together at one end with a metal grommet. A selected edge and selected numbers of layers are disposed under a presser foot against a thickened edge of material to be sewn to support and maintain the presser foot level, and to thereby prevent stitch shortening.

Abstract: An electronic control board implemented by a printed circuit board is supported on a flexible lens or bezel which may be flexed to allow insertion, so as to be retained. The edges of the bezel are received in the interior periphery of an opening in a support housing, which opening is closed off by the bezel and by a cap which retains the exposed periphery of the bezel in its interior portion. Lugs may extend from the support housing and the cap against the printed circuit board to provide better support. The entire assembly is maintained unitary and retained to a power tool by fastening means such as screws extending therethrough and into the power tool.