Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the in situ strength of concrete containing aggregate particles of varying sizes in which a test member having at least one reacting surface is placed in the path of the concrete when the concrete is in the plastic state so that when the concrete is hardened, the test member is embedded therein. A force is then applied to the test member after the concrete has hardened tending to move the test member so as to cause the reacting surface to exert a compressive force on a portion of the hardened concrete of sufficient magnitude to create a rupture surface in the concrete. The large aggregate particles are screened out of the expected location in the concrete of the rupture surface so that large aggregate will not affect the test results.

Abstract: An improved construction for a thermal engine, particularly a Stirling engine, comprising a two-part drive shaft. One part of the drive shaft contains the swashplate mechanism and is journaled on the engine housing so that the component of force acting on the swashplate which induces bending of the drive shaft is reacted on the housing by the journaling of the one part of the shaft. The second shaft part is separate from but operatively coupled with the first-mentioned shaft part and has its own journal mounting on the housing. The operative coupling in the disclosed embodiment is by means of a spline connection between the two shaft parts which are in coaxial alignment. The second shaft part is journaled on a housing part which is separable from other parts of the housing on which the first shaft part is journaled.

Abstract: An improved windmill mechanism for adjusting the position of a wind responsive assembly in relation to wind is disclosed. The preferred embodiment comprises a fabric sail mounted on the end of an arm which extends from a power output shaft. A torque sensor is disposed on the arm to sense the torque contribution through that arm to the power output shaft in response to wind acting upon the fabric sail on that arm. The position of the fabric sail is adjusted on the arm by means of a control processor which controls a trim-motor and a magnetic brake. The control processor receives the torque signal provided from the sensor and provides adjustment of the fabric sail in accordance with the torque signal. The control operates to position the sail in a running mode over the semi-circular path segment of rotation of the arm which has a leeward component of motion.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing conduit in a confined wall space are disclosed. A tape is introduced into the confined space behind the wall and is extended to an outlet point by moving a tool along the exterior wall surface. The tool has an electromagnet which attracts a metal roller on the end of the tape, drawing the roller against the interior wall surface. The tool has rollers, or wheels, allowing it to roll on the exterior wall surface, and hence the extension of the tape is by means of combined roller action on both surfaces of the wall. At the outlet, conduit is attached to the tape and is pulled into the confined space by retracting the tape. Retraction of the tape may be accomplished by a drum onto which the tape is wound.

Abstract: An improved heat pipe comprising a duct having disposed at opposite ends thereof an evaporator with wick-lined hollow fins in the form of extended corrugations thereon, and operable to supply heat to the evaporator comprised of a gas combustor having an internal volume for containing the evaporator and combustion air for supply to a combustion chamber located therein; a wick capable of transporting liquid by capillary action lining substantially all internal surfaces of said heat pipe; an external heat sink operable to remove heat from the condenser; and a heat transport medium contained by said heat pipe. The evaporator is further comprised of a coarse porous material lining and completely filling the spaces within the hollow fins open to the evaporator for increased structural stiffness and ease of fabrication; and a porous mass completely filling the evaporator for increased compressive strength.

Abstract: An insulated edge guard comprises for the insulating liner superimposed layers of polyvinylchloride and polyvinylfluoride with the former adhered to the body of the edge guard and the latter being on the exterior to present a desired color.

Abstract: A method for making an edge guard wherein insulating inserts are fitted onto the beaded ends of the legs of a metal U-shaped edge guard channel with the inserts interlocking with the crevices provided by the beads in certain embodiments. In one embodiment the metal channel is pre-coated with insulation, by spray or roller coating for example, before the insulating inserts are applied. In another embodiment, a one-piece insert is provided which covers the entire exterior of the U-shaped channel, extends around the beads including interlocking portions interlocking with the beads and continues to extend around the beads on the inside of the legs of the channel so as to leave a gap at the base of the inside surface of the channel. The invention provides color-coordination with simplified inventory and manufacturing requirements.

Abstract: In order to realize a device for the deflection of a continuous film web folded in its axial midline in a packaging machine for wrapping a number of sequentially fed objects in which the two film web halves, making flat contact with each other, are fed in a vertical plane located parallel to the feed direction of the objects and are separated in a roof-like manner along a ridge edge extending parallel to the feed direction--and in order to obtain an adaptation to objects of different size vertical to the feed plane on the edges of a guide extending parallel to the feed direction, it is proposed that the guide comprise two guide rails parallel to the feed direction which are inserted opposite to the feed direction into the space between the two roof areas and the top layer and which by their free ends define the lower corners of the triangular area, and that the spacing of the guide rails as well as the vertical distance between the guide elements defining the ridge edge and the guide rails are adjustable.

Abstract: A turbine power plant comprises a rotor and a stator with chambers arranged at intervals around the outer periphery of the rotor. Nozzles are provided at intervals around the stator and direct working fluid toward the periphery of the rotor. Each chamber comprises an intake opening in the outer periphery of the rotor and an inflow path which extends from the intake opening to a reaction surface. Working fluid entering a chamber passes through the inflow path to impinge upon the reaction surface. The direction of flow is such that work is produced on the rotor producing rotation. At the reaction surface, flow is subdivided into two parts extending into two outflow passages on opposite axial sides of the inflow path. The outflow paths extend to exhaust openings in the outer periphery of the rotor on opposite axial sides of the intake opening. The exiting flow of fluid passes through the outflow paths and exhaust openings toward the stator.

Abstract: A Doppler radar sensor is disclosed for use as a true ground speed sensor for a ground vehicle. The sensor comprises novel features resulting in a more efficient construction and improved performance. The sensor comprises an ellipsoidal reflector and when used as a true ground speed sensor in a ground vehicle the far focus is at the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A roll clamp for handling of rolls or other loads carried by a lift truck. The clamp includes a rotator having a rear base plate for being mounted upon the lift mast of the truck, permitting it to be raised or lowered to a vertical position. A frame is gimballed to the rotator front plate. Extending forwardly from the clamp assembly is a pair of clamp arms which are swingably disposed, or pivot relative to the frame for closing and opening by movement toward and away from each other. The rotator rotates the frame relative to the mast about a clamp rotation axis. Hydraulic cylinders selectively open and close the arms, which have clamp pads at their distal ends for engaging the load surfaces. The rotator base plate carries a swash ring defining a plane skewed relative to the axis of clamp rotation.

Abstract: EDM apparatus has a servo drive under the control of a main control system for advancing a machining electrode toward a conductive workpiece. When the electrode arrives at a surface of the workpiece to commence EDM machining, the main control system causes a sudden deceleration of the servo. The depth controller detects this sudden deceleration by means of a sensor and sets a zero reference plane from which machining depth is measured. The depth controller can also detect electrode breakthrough by detecting servo acceleration occurring when the electrode breaks through a surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A decorative cover for the end of a drawbar comprises top and sidewall portions overlying top and side surfaces of the drawbar member. The cover is a bright shiny metal which dresses up the drawbar member. The cover mounts without the use of any additional fasteners, the cover top wall comprising an aperture aligned with the hole in the drawbar member for the towing ball mounting and the cover being held in place by the towing ball mounting. The top wall of the cover contains a further aperture allowing viewing of hitch load rating data on the drawbar; alternatively said further aperture may be omitted and instead a blank space provided for the installer to inscribe the load rating data directly on the cover.

Abstract: A combination bearing removal and installation tool provides for the removal and installation of an annular bearing assembly from and in a spindle-receiving bore of a strut type vehicle wheel spindle supporting system without the need to disassemble any of the supporting system from the vehicle. The tool comprises a threaded shaft having a head at one end and a cup threaded onto the shaft from the other end. In the bearing removal mode of operation the open end of the cup faces the head end so that when the head is actuated to remove a bearing from the bore the bearing passes into the cup. In the bearing installation mode of operation the cup is reversed on the shaft so that an end wall of the cup bears against the end of the bore.

Abstract: In a sofa bed mechanism which includes a foldable bed frame, a support member on which the bed frame is movably supported, a linkage assembly operable to govern movement of the bed frame and a control member for guiding movement of the mechanism into and out of a storage position in a supporting framework.

Abstract: The invention relates to hologram synthesis using a two-dimensional lattice of basic holograms, each basic hologram being formed from a two-dimensional transparency. It provides a synthetic field hologram that has a diffraction efficiency unimpared by the number of basic holograms employed. The hologram may be reconstructed in white light. The method and hologram are useful in making and reconstructing holographic land maps.

Abstract: A vehicle seat track assembly comprising a lower frame member secured to the vehicle floor, an upper frame member secured to the seat and slidably supported on the lower frame member for relative movement fore and aft of the vehicle and a seat position control member supported on the frame members for movement in transverse directions among three positions: a locked position, in which the seat position control member is secured to both of the frame members to prevent relative movement thereof, an indexing position, in which the seat position control member is locked to the upper frame member but movable relative to the lower frame member so that the seat can be adjusted to discrete positions according to the desire of the user, and a slide position, in which the seat position control member is locked to the lower frame member but not to the upper frame member so that the seat can be slid forwardly a specified distance to facilitate passenger access to the back seat and then rearwardly to the previously adjust