Abstract: In a turbine potentially threatened by particulate material and having upstream and downstream stages enclosed within a housing, each stage employing stationary and rotating components, the stationary components including at least one spillstrip holder, at least one spillstrip and at least one tip seal on the spillstrip, the at least one tip seal depending from the spillstrip adjacent the rotating component, the improvement which comprises, a slanted outer side wall on the at least one spillstrip holder, a small scoop on the spillstrip adjacent the tip seal and a small through opening in the tip seal so that the particulate material is discharged relatively quickly from the space adjacent the tip seal either to a special chamber in the stationary component for capturing and storing the particulate material for protecting downstream stages therefrom, or to rejoin the normal steam flow entering the following stage.

Abstract: A biopsy needle which contains a rotating and axially removable inner cannula housed within an outer cannula in the form of a penetrating needle, the configuration allowing for the removal of multiple tissue specimens with a single needle insertion, with a minimized risk of trauma to surrounding tissue, the distal ends of the outer and inner cannulas containing coextensive open channels, the outer and inner cannulas having operative distal piercing ends defined by converging lateral piercing edges interconnected inferiorly by a semiconical transverse base surface, and superiorly by trailing semicircumferential cutting edges, angled with reference to the needle horizontal axis, the inner cannula having an operative 180.degree.

Abstract: A tip seal arrangement is provided for steam and gas turbines that allows the tip seals to be mounted on shrouds in such a way as to be easily replaceable while ensuring a minimum of contact between tenons and particles carried by leaking turbine fluid.The invention is practiced by multiple segments that clip to the shrouds so as to provide a full circle with a stand-up radial seal that projects outwardly from the shroud to provide a small clearance with the stationary diaphragm or casing that surrounds the rotating blades with the individual segments being relatively easy to remove and replace.

Abstract: A main-frequency electrically powered fluid heater which includes a coreless transformer and an electrically conductive jacket through which flows the fluid to be heated; the coreless transformer comprises a primary winding electrically insulated from the jacket but at least partially surrounding it, and a secondary winding arranged so as to be linked by magnetic flux from the primary winding; secondary winding being electrically insulated from the primary winding, but electrically connected to the jacket, so that the jacket is heated both by resistance heating and by eddy current heating.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of making articles and items with one or more surfaces with a solid stone-like appearance by filling a space with two materials, one of which is a finely cut-up material and the other of which is a filler. The method includes steps which eliminate the apparent thickness of the transparent medium through which the finely cut-up material is seen, thus enhancing the stone-like appearance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for improving the performance of vapor turbine diffusers by preventing flow separation from the diffuser walls. Such separation from the diffuser walls is decreased or eliminated herein by chilling the diffuser walls below the saturation temperature, causing some condensation to occur and insuring vapor flow toward the walls to eliminate the natural tendency toward separation in diffusing vapor passages.

Abstract: A filter apparatus for use with an aquarium tank comprises a filter housing with opposite front and rear walls and opposite end walls and a bottom wall defining an open topped construction. A hanger means is for suspending the filter housing in coplanar relationship with one of the aquarium tank walls. A J-shaped hanger clip defines a long leg extendable into the tank interior and a short leg extendable into the filter housing interior. Bolting is engageable through the short leg for bringing the wall of the tank and confronting wall of the filter housing into tightenable clamping position relative to each other. In the filter housing is an upper seat for upwardly supporting a splash box having an apertured bottom wall for water drainage and a filter compartment therebelow filled with a biological fiber wool for the filtering of the water charged thereinto and a return hose and complementary motorized pump for the return of the filtered water from the filter housing to the aquarium tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming shaped edges which includes a support table, means for securing components to be shaped to the support table, and shaping means which are mounted upon the table and can be moved relative to the table. The shaping means is guided for at least part of its travel by cam means which are arranged to guide the shaping means so as to cut profiles of pre-determined shape in the components to be shaped.

Abstract: In an annular pulley for driving a belt having a series of spaced openings therein, the improvement comprising, a series of circumferentially-spaced annular openings in the pulley periphery, a series of spherical balls in the openings in the pulley periphery, the balls being retained in the openings only by a press fit and extending protusively outwardly from the pulley at spaced intervals therearound in defining a series of rounded teeth engageable in the spaced openings of the belt.

Abstract: An improved catheter applicator package includes a catheter container or storage cartridge, a dilator separate from the container until usage is desired, and a separate interconnecting tubing ready for connection at one end to the container and at the other end to the dilator as the assemblage is made ready for use.

Abstract: Start-up particulate separating apparatus for the inlet steam flow to a steam turbine, where particulate material can be a cause of internal damage and erosion, comprising a steam inlet pipe to the turbine, a centrifugal separator, and means for directing the inlet steam from the inlet pipe to the separator for removing particulate therefrom.

Abstract: A device for use in ice fishing including means for paying out a line so that, upon the hooking of a fish, the line is swayed so as to effect a rotative motion in a horizontal plate to a reel and a reel support. The rotative motion releases a signalling device from a ready-to-operate position to an operative signaling position.

Abstract: A method of embroidery on a fabric and an embroidery tool enable the production in a simple manner of decorative effect on knitted or other garments. The tool has a tubular needle portion with a handle at one end and a closed curved point at the other. The handle has an entry aperture for continuous work material such as yarn, which passes from the entry aperture through a smooth duct in the tool to an exit aperture formed on the convex surfaces of the curved end adjacent the point. The method of embroidery using the tool comprises the initial steps of passing the point, carrying a loop of yarn, through the fabric from the front to the rear and back again at a different location, the handle remaining at the front, and the repeated steps of retaining the loop of yarn at the front while withdrawing the point from the fabric, and then passing the point, carrying a fresh loop of yarn, through the previous loop, and then through the fabric as before.

Abstract: Apparatus for retrieving objects from the ground has a ground-engageable drum rotatably mounted on an axle extending between opposite side plates, the drum having a plurality of drum fingers extending radially outwardly from the drum for piercing the objects as the drum is pushed over the ground, and a slotted comb oriented for the in seriatim passage of the drum fingers through respective slots of the comb as the drum is rotated for dislodging the objects as the drum fingers are pulled away therefrom.

Abstract: A connector torquing system useful for tightening or loosening a pair of interthreaded components is shown. A torque receiving means is spaced about each of the interthreaded components concerned. A gimbal is disposed at the opposite extremity of each torque receiving means and includes inner and outer pivot blocks swingable with respect to each other in mutually perpendicular axes. Each torque receiving means is connected to its respective gimbal. A screw is extendable between and through each gimbal. A pair of nuts are threadedly engaged on the screw outboard of an adjacent one of the gimbals and the nuts of the pair are tightened. A single nut is threadedly engaged on the screw within an adjacent one of the gimbals and aids in the rotation of the screw responsive to the tigthening of the nuts of the pair. In this way concomitant angular deviation of the inner and outer pivot blocks of the gimbals achieves the displacement of the torque receiving means as they are driven toward each other.