Abstract: A continuity/leakage tester for cardiac catheter probes of the type having plural spaced surface electrodes thereon. The apparatus includes a block having an open ended blind bores provided therein sized for receiving catheters of different diameters. A port is provided in the bore or bores adjacent the opened end and a spring loaded electrical contact provided therein which is grounded. Four plural bores are provided in the block, a common electrical conductor bar extends transversely across the ports which are formed at a common longitudinal station on each of the bores. The catheter is inserted in the bore and as each surface electrode contacts the spring biased electrode in the bore, a continuity test may be performed by an ohm meter connected to the probe lead for that particular surface electrode. As each subsequent surface electrode on the probe enters the bore, its corresponding electrical lead may be switched to the ohm meter for continuity testing of that electrode.

Abstract: A control system for generating a pulse width modulated control signal for an electrically operated refrigerant valve. The controller receives inputs from evaporator inlet and outlet temperature sensors (T.sub.in, T.sub.out) and "fuzzy" logic to compute the discrete value of pulse width change needed, based upon the difference .DELTA.T=T.sub.out -T.sub.in and the time rate of change of .DELTA.T.

Abstract: A right angle thermally responsive expansion valve having an integrally formed valve actuator rod with an enlarged head contacted by a pressure responsive diaphragm and the rod is guided for sliding movement in the valve body. The actuator rod has a reduced diameter end which contacts a valve member for effecting opening of the valve. The reduced diameter end is sealed by a seal ring between the rod and the body.

Abstract: A valve and method of making same with a valve body defining an inlet and outlet and which communicate with a valving chamber. A cup-shaped glide member in the chamber is sealed over the outlet and has cross-ports over which slide a valving sleeve attached to a ferromagnetic armature. The armature slides in a guide tube which is sealed on the body and closes the valving chamber. The guide tube preferably has a magnetic pole piece attached the end remote from the body. The valving sleeve is attached to the armature in a manner which allows frictional slippage in the direction transverse to the armature motion to permit the sleeve to be guided by the glide member and the armature to be guided by the guide tube. A solenoid coil is received over the guide tube and preferably retained by engagement with the pole piece.

Abstract: An integrally formed metal burner ring has a coil spring with a reduced center coil inserted in the burner inlet. Upon insertion of a fuel supply tube into the coil spring the center coil frictionally engages and seals over the supply tube and the spring is expanded to engage and seal against the burner inlet. An ignitor with a hollow tubular refractory holder has a hollow tubular electrode disposed in the hollow of the holder. The holder has a flat end face as an arc discharge surface with the end of the electrode flush with the discharge surface. The holder is secured in an aperture provided in a recess in the burner ring by orbital staking.

Abstract: A method for remotely controlling flow of gaseous fuel to a burner having an electrically operated electromagnetically actuated modulating valve. The electromagnetic actuator comprises a coil having about one thousand turns of fine wire disposed proximate an annular permanent magnet. Either the magnet or coil may be attached to a moveable valve member which has a resilient poppet biased to close on a valve seat to shut off gas flow. Upon energization of the coil, a magnetomotive force is generated and moves the poppet off the seat to permit flow. Increased current flow in the coil proportionately increases opening of the poppet and movement of a metering member which throttles flow. When the poppet is fully open, flow is reduced to minimum metered level. A single user operated, remotely located potentiometer can be used to effect the proportional control of flow to the burner. In the preferred embodiment the metering member is cylindrical with a varying area grove or recess.

Abstract: A butterfly valve having a plastic body with a one-piece valve member formed of thermoplastic elastomer with an integral hub with torque transmitting surfaces which are engaged by lugs on a rigid shaft received in the hub and the shaft is journalled for rotation in the valve body. The valve member has integral thin blade portions extending in opposite directions from the hub with a thickened rim formed about the periphery of the blade with the edge of the rim preferably chamfered. The preferred butterfly member has integral stiffening ribs extending centrally from the hub along the blades to the rim.

Abstract: A receiver/drier/filter assembly for a refrigeration system such as a vehicle air conditioner and having a canister containing desiccant welded to a header having an inlet and outlet port. A tubular elbow with an annular convolution adjacent one end is received in the inlet and outlet port with the convolution sealing against a resilient seal ring in each port. A bracket with generally oppositely disposed bent up flanges has an L-shaped slot in each flange. The bracket is attached to the header with each slot having one of the elbows received therein and the edges of the slot bearing against the annular convolution for retaining the elbow in the port. The opposite end of each elbow extends through the vertical portion of the L-shaped slot and is oriented generally radially with respect to the port by the sides of the bracket slot.

Abstract: A programmer/timer for appliances having cam actuated switches with a cam drum advanced by a motor driven four-stage speed-reducing gear train with a missing teeth type intermittent device. The third step gear is readily interchangeable for changing the rate of cam advance. An auxiliary housing with auxiliary cam drum and switches may be added without altering the basic configuration of switches and advance mechanism.

Abstract: A switch assembly having a rocker type actuator user moveable for actuating plural switches in a housing. The rocker type actuator includes first and second rocker members journalled together for rotation about a common axis. The first member has a paddle extending out of the housing and a first cam portion for actuating a first switch upon initial rotation in one direction. Upon continued rotation in the same direction, overtravel of the first switch is absorbed by a torsion spring which permits resiliently biased lost motion of the first cam with respect to a second cam for subsequent actuation of a second switch. The torsion spring provides a significant increase in the force required to move the actuator between the first and second switch actuation to provide tactiley discernable feedback to the user of the state of switch actuations.

Abstract: A generally straight elongated lever tool is insertable through the notch between the ribs in the end of a heavy duty truck brake shoe. A notch in the end of the tool engages the wire between the coils of the return spring when the tool is inserted between the shoe ribs at the end of the shoe. The tool is fulcrummed about the end of the brake actuating S-cam or roller for stretching the spring. One side of the notched end of the tool is concave or cupped to contact one of the spring coils for direct axial lift or stretch to cause the spring end hook to snap over an anchor pin up installation. The opposite side of the notched end of the tool surface is inclined for spring removal such that upon reversed insertion of the tool with the inclined surface against the spring coil and fulcrumming about the S-cam or roller, the coil is deflected laterally upon stretching of the spring to cause the end hook to clear the anchor pin upon relaxation of the spring.

Abstract: A pressure switch has a housing with a mounting bracket and a flexible diaphragm defining a wall of the pressure sensing cavity in the housing. Movement of the diaphragm operates an electric switch. The diaphragm is spring biased and an adjustment arm is frictionally mounted in a pair of guide surfaces on the mounting bracket. The arm contacts a cap on one end of the bias spring and is movable in the guide surfaces for adjusting the position of the spring cap for calibration. The mounting bracket is mounted to the housing by inserting a lug on the bracket in a recess in the housing and crimping a folded tab on the bracket to engage another recess in the housing. In another embodiment using a housing of all molded plastic, the adjustment arm frictionally engages a slot molded in the housing and is moved in the slot for calibration.

Abstract: A filter for a valve inlet is drawn into a flat-bottomed cup shape from a blank of fine mesh woven screen and formed with an outwardly extending mounting flange of material folded back on itself. The region of the cup-shape proximate the flange is enlarged to a predetermined diameter for closely interfitting the flow passage into which the cup-shaped member is installed.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel burner having an annular base with a tubular inlet and enlarged diameter flange remote from the inlet deferring a cavity communicating with the inlet. A cap is registered against the flange rim to close the cavity and define a plurality of peripheral flame-generating ports. A pocket is formed in the periphery of the flange with an aperture formed in the pocket. A tubular ceramic igniter body with an enlarged flanged end is registered in the aperture. An elongated strip electrode is received through the igniter body in guideways; and, one end of the electrode is bifurcated and extends beyond the flange and is found at generally right angles to extend in spaced parallel arrangement with the face of the ignitor body flange for sparks discharge to the burner cap.

Abstract: An improved actuator (10) wherein movement of an external potentiometer (R.sub.x) to drive a bi-directional motor (50) and move an attached member starts a timer (68). When a predetermined time period has elapsed, the actuator cuts power to the drivers (U1) of the motor, thereby putting the system into a "sleep" mode in which a minimum amount of current is drawn. If the external potentiometer was moved so as to cause an end of travel position of the member and the motor stalls, the actuator maintains this stall condition only until expiration of the predefined time period at which time the sleep mode is initiated. This sleep mode is thereafter maintained until power is reset or until the position of the external control potentiometer is changed. The time-out period is set to allow for full movement of the vane as well as to compensate for any uncertainty as to whether an end of travel position has been reached.

Abstract: A heat exchanger or condenser for a refrigerant system having an inlet tubular heat exchange surface and an enlarged tubular outlet. A cartridge type filter/drier has a shell or canister containing desiccant secured to a header with an outlet. In one embodiment the header is welded in the condenser enlarged outlet; and, in another embodiment the header is sealed in the enlarged outlet by an o-ring and retained by deforming the outlet tube over the header.

Abstract: A lever type switching assembly having a pair of generally U-shaped spring blade contact members disposed in oppositely spaced-parallel arrangement for alternate actuation by a common paddle lever frictionally contacting the contact members for effecting switching upon user movement of the lever in a clockwise direction. Each contact blade member has one end pivoted on a center contact for rocking motion to cause the U-shaped region and the opposite end of the blade member to make and break contact with side-contacts on opposite sides of the center contact. Overtravel of the paddle in one direction after actuation causes the contact blade member to break from the side contact and make contact with an auxiliary contact. A spring biased plunger on the paddle lever engages a detent surface on the base to give a tactiley discernible indication.

Abstract: An ignitor for fuel gas burners formed of a plurality of spaced parallel filaments of SiC coated Carbon (C) high temperature brazed with Chromium Silicide in grooves provided in a refractory base block of Aluminum Oxide and Silicon Oxide. Terminal posts of IVIoSi are embedded in the high temperature braze. Stainless steel lead attachment pads are nickel-chrome brazed to the posts at a lower temperature. Removable notched graphite bridges and graphite hold-down blocks position the filaments during the high temperature brazing.

Abstract: An integrally formed metal burner ring has a coil spring with a reduced center coil inserted in the burner inlet. Upon insertion of a fuel supply tube into the coil spring the center coil frictionally engages and seals over the supply tube and the spring is expanded to engage and seal against the burner inlet. An ignitor with a hollow tubular refractory holder has a hollow tubular electrode disposed in the hollow of the holder. The holder has a flat end face as an arc discharge surface with the end of the electrode flush with the discharge surface. The holder is secured in an aperture provided in a recess in the burner ring by orbital staking.

Abstract: A direct connection for printed circuit boards where a primary board has a slot therethrough with slight edge projections which control the width of the slot to close tolerances. Spaced parallel conductive strips on the surfaces of the primary board terminate at the slot. A secondary board has an insert portion sized and configured for insertion into the slot in a close fit with the edge projections to maintain the boards mutually perpendicular. Spaced parallel strips on the insert are disposed adjacent the termination of the primary board strip. The strips are interconnected by soldering to provide direct circuit interconnection between the primary and secondary boards.