Abstract: A fluid flow control disc has a central passage for the flow of fluid. The disc has a peripheral lip seal that insures that the fluid flow will not by pass the central passage.

Abstract: A fluid status detection system includes a plurality of probes connected to a controller. The controller includes a microprocessor, a digital memory, relays, and progammed so that selected alarm and relay latching conditions may be stored, and alarms activated and relays latched according to the alarm and latching conditions. The microprocessor is programmed to provide an alarm acknowledgement signal upon the alarm being acknowledged. An operator may select one or more release conditions individually for each relay from a plurality of possible relay release conditions and store the conditions in the memory. The possible relay release conditions include: the condition that the probe signal indicates that the event that caused the alarm has cleared; the condition that the alarm acknowledgment signal has been provided; the condition that the probe signal indicates that the event that caused the alarm has cleared and the the alarm acknowledgment signal has been provided.

Abstract: A tantalum electrolytic capacitor utilizes a tantalum liner in place of previously used silver liner thus permitting the capacitor to withstand a reverse dc voltage up to 3 VDC continuously with no serious degradation of electrical characteristics.

Abstract: A line leak test probe for use in a liquid storage and dispensing system which includes a pump. The probe is electrically connected to a central monitor. A pressure transducer may be mounted in mechanical contact with the liquid to provide a pressure signal to a microprocessor-based circuit which disables the pump when a leak is detected. An manually operated reset switch is electrically connected to the reset input of the microprocessor through an inverter. Manually pressing the reset switch causes the microprocessor to shut off causing the central monitor to output an error signal. The monitor may be programmed to either enable or disable the pump in response to the error signal. Thus, by programming the monitor to disable the pump, the user may prevent the system from being abused by the placing of a brick or other object on the reset switch to continuously provide a reset when there is a leak. When the reset switch is released, the microprocessor turns back on and resets itself.

Abstract: A pressure operated valve includes an inlet and an outlet connected by a main valve having a valve diaphragm member that communicates with an operating pressure chamber. A pilot valve inlet port and a pilot valve outlet port also communicate with the operating pressure chamber. The inlet port is configured in the form of four circular slits of 0.004 to 0.007 inches width. The slits are formed by four pins of a pilot valve insert which fit into four bores in a valve body. Each pin has a ridge on its surface parallel to the pin axis, which pin locates and spaces the pin in the bore to form the slit. The slits are located flush with wall of the main inlet so that water rushing through the inlet washes particles off the slit. The pilot valve outlet port is sealed by an armature comprising a ferromagnetic sleeve and a flexible rubber core. A groove in the core receives the end of a lever which seals the pilot valve inlet port whenever the pilot valve outlet port is open and vice versa.

Abstract: A leak test probe includes a pressure transducer which may be mounted in mechanical contact with liquid in the conduit. The pressure transducer provides a pressure signal to a microprocessor-based circuit which, following software stored in its memory determines if there is a leak in the conduit by measuring the time rate of change of the pressure. The software also analyses the pressure signal and compensates for the effect of gas in the conduit by determining the time rate of change in the pressure immediately after the pump turns off and adjusting a sliding time scale for the leak test depending on the result.

Abstract: A valve includes a rigid washer seated in the valve inlet conduit and supporting a flexible flow control washer having an flow control orifice that constricts with increasing pressure. The washer aperture is axially aligned with the flow control orifice. A cylindrical expansion chamber axially aligned with the orifice and aperture is located immediately downstream of the washer aperture. The expansion chamber has four cylindrical exit ports parallel to the chamber axis and communicating with the valve's valving chamber. Each port has a raised lip about the periphery of the port and extending into the expansion chamber. A bullet is integrally formed with the valve body along the axis of the expansion chamber and extends into the downstream portion of the flow control orifice at all pressures. The bullet has a flared base that directs the water radially into the expansion chamber.

Abstract: A relay is enclosed between a cup-shaped cover and a plate. The cover includes a bottom and side walls. The interior circumference of the distal end of the side walls is notched a rim. A first flange is formed on the plate a distance from the edge of the plate that is smaller than the thickness of the rim. The height of the first flange is less than the length of the rim. A second flange extends from the first flange generally perpendicularly to the plate, sloping away from the outer circumference of the plate. As the cover is moved toward the plate, the second flange engages the inner surface of the wall and forces it outwards moving the rim toward the first flange. When the rim and first flange meet, ultrasound is applied. The rim and first flange melt at their point of contact and air is compressed in a pocket formed by the wall, rim, and second flange as the rim moves toward the plate, forcing the flash from the enclosure. Any flash which is not forced from the enclosure is trapped in the pocket.

Abstract: A fluid status detection system includes a plurality of probes connected to a controller. The controller includes a number of relays that may be programmed to latch either open or closed upon receipt of any one of several different alarms from the probes. The system includes a function that if a relay is latched and a second alarm occurs, then the relay releases for a second, then relatches. The system permits an operator to select the release and relatch latch function individually for each of the relays and to store the selection in a digital memory.

Abstract: An automobile brake switch assembly including a mounting clip and two brake switches, each brake switch including a threaded, cylindrical plunger housing. The mounting clip includes two hollow, cylindrical sleeves, each having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the threads on one of the brake switches. The sleeves are integrally molded, together with a plate that joins them, out of acetal plastic. Each sleeve includes a thread-like tooth molded about the inner circumference and located approximately centrally in the cylinder. Four slots are formed in each sleeve parallel to and spaced about the cylindrical axis, the slots cutting the tooth to form four teeth. The slots permit expansion of the teeth when the threaded plunger housing of the corresponding brake switch is pressed into the sleeve so that the threads may ratchet on the teeth.

Abstract: A housing that includes a cup shaped member and a cover carries a printed circuit board through a plurality of posts. Openings in the housing permit lead wires to be fed to the printed circuit board. The lead wires are leak tightly sealed in the openings by way of shouldered plugs which carry the lead wires. The plugs are sealed with respect to the housing through pliable sealing rings and E-rings secure the plug axially at their shoulders. Locator tabs insure that the plugs engage the openings in a proper orientation. The cover of the housing is sealed with respect to the cup shaped member through a sealing ring carried in a groove of the cup shaped member with pressure being applied through an interference fit with the ring. A leak tight window in the housing permits viewing from the outside. The shouldered plug holding the window is sealed with respect to the housing by a sealing ring and is held axially by the plug being threaded to the housing.

Abstract: A timing mechanism has a segmented shaft one segment of which carries a camstack while the other segment carries a drive member coupled to an actuator for a momentary switch. The actuator is coupled to the drive member such that the shaft is free to rotate independent of the actuator, with the actuator being restrained from rotation. The actuator moves axially in response to movement of the drive member to open and close the momentary switch. A positive snap action breaking of the electrical contacts of the momentary switch is achieved by holding the movable electrical contact of the switch to the actuator so that it positively disengages from the other contact when the actuator is positively indexed.

Abstract: A u-shaped timer housing body has a pair of elongated legs, a closed end, an open end, and a pair of open sides. There are a plurality of electrical switches, each switch including a pair of contacts, one of which comprises a terminal-switch blade combination passing through and secured to the closed end of the housing body. A cylindrical cam assembly, including a cam shaft, is rotatably supported by a pair of side panels, one end of the shaft mounted in a bearing in each of the panels. The panels and the housing body have a tongue and groove construction which permits the panels to be slid into the housing body along the legs, the panels closing the open sides and the cam assembly entering the housing through the open end, in a direction along a radius of the cam axis. A cover plate snaps onto the housing body, closing the open end and locking the panels and the cam assembly in place.

Abstract: The electrical terminals of a plunger switch are held in slots and extend into a housing for the switch substantially along the entire length of the housing. An electrical bridging contact operates between the terminals through movement of a plunger axially movable in the switch. A cap assembly for the housing includes a seal to seal the switch elements from the environment. Spring biased ears extend from the cap of the cup assembly and have notches which engage lugs formed on the housing to secure the cap assembly to the housing. Spring tabs extend from the housing to engage a base member to hold the switch. The spring tabs also trap the ears in their engaged position when the tabs engage the base.

Abstract: A housing includes a switch chamber and a plunger chamber communicating with the switch chamber. A plunger is slidable within the plunger chamber. Cam surfaces on the plunger operate electrical switches in the switch chamber. There is an axial channel in the plunger, and a slot through the plunger wall communicates with the channel. A vacuum passageway passes from one side of the housing, into the channel, and a solid extension of the passageway passes through the slot, and into a hole in the opposite wall of the housing. As the plunger moves in and out, the slot slides on the extension to guide to stabilize the plunger. A vent hole in the vacuum passageway opens into the channel. A sealing member slides in the channel along the axis of the plunger, alternately sealing and unsealing the vent hole as the plunger moves. A spring seated between the plunger and the sealing member permits the plunger to continue moving when the sealing member is seated in the passageway vent hole.

Abstract: A snap switch is enclosed in a cup shaped housing with an open end. The open end is closed by a diaphragm. The snap action of the switch is provided through a member which has a reactor member and two reaction members which are formed by providing parallel slots in a contact blade. The switch is actuated by a switch actuator which is mounted on the cup shaped housing to provide circular lever pivoting of the actuator.

Abstract: A process for producing capacitors (9) of the stacked type envisages, in the order stated, a reel (4) being formed by simultaneously winding two superposed dielectric films 1, 2, around a support, the films being offset transversely and metallized on one side, the separation of the reel from the corresponding support e.g. by transverse shearing the reel (4), with the creation of one or more capacitive rods (6) extending rectilinearly, the metallization of the longitudinal end faces (6a) of each rod either before or after separation from the support (3: 10: 12: 14), and finally the transverse shearing of the metallized rod in order to produce individual capacitors 9, each of which of a predetermined capacitance. The rods (6), extending rectilinearly, have little or no internal pressure so show little tendency to delaminate and, furthermore, are readily handled for production of individual capacitors.

Abstract: A piezoelectric signaling device that produces a predetermined number of audio signals when activated. The device includes a timer, a pulser, an audio oscillator, and a piezoelectric transducer. The timer enables the pulser for a predetermined time. While enabled, the pulser produces pulses at a predetermined rate, thus producing a predetermined number of pulses. The oscillator is enabled during the pulses to produce a predetermined number of pulses of audio frequency electrical oscillations which are applied to the piezoelectric transducer to produce the predetermined number of audio signals.

Abstract: A timing mechanism controls various functions of an ice maker through cams carried on a camshaft. A harvest rake that removes ice from a receptacle is coupled to the camshaft to be rotated thereby. The camshaft is driven by a motor which is coupled to the timing mechanism through a pair of non-circular meshing gears. The gears are programmed such that a slower speed is imparted to the camshaft when ice is being removed from the receptacle by the harvest rake. This provides a slower speed but higher torque to the harvest rake during ice removal and a faster, more accurate timing rate during filling of the receptacle.

Abstract: A switch is mounted on a plate within a housing having a housing body with a port and a removable housing cover. A switch actuator rod is mounted on a pivot within a sleeve that may be coupled to the housing so that the rod extends through the port and engages the switch within the housing. A linear actuator rod is slideably mounted within a sleeve which also may be coupled to the housing so that the rod extends through the port and engages the switch. A spring is mounted on the housing cover in a direction traverse to the arc through which the swing actuator rod pivots so that it engages the end of rod and biases it away from the switch. By removing the cover, moving the rod to the opposite end of its arc, and replacing the cover, the direction of engagement of the rod with the spring may be changed. The switch plate is movable along the rod's arc of pivot so that the switch trip point along the arc may be adjusted.