Abstract: An optical sighting instrument having a main optical path including an objective lens, an eyepiece lens and a beamsplitter for combining or superimposing images. At least three image planes are defined with reference to the main optical path and the beamsplitter, and at least one of the three image planes is optically superimposed with the other two by the combining effect of the beamsplitter. Movable indicia elements are positioned in two of the image planes, and a fixed indicia element is positioned in the third one of the image planes. As a result, images of all three of the indicia elements are superimposed for viewing through the eyepiece lens, and the image of the fixed indicia element serves as a sighting reference. Illustratively, one of the movable indicia elements is a magnetic compass, the other of the movable indicia elements is a magnetic declination adjustment, and the fixed indicia element is a cross-hair sight.

Abstract: Boiler tube studs of composite construction, particularly for protecting waterwall tubes in pulp mill recovery boilers. The studs include an inner solid cylindrical core of a material having thermal conductivity sufficient to provide proper heat transfer to the boiler tubes during operation, and an outer cylindrical sleeve of a material resistant to destructive conditions within a boiler during operation, such as chemical attack and abrasion. The sleeve surrounds the cylindrical surface of the core, but leaves an end surface of the core exposed. The core may be made of low carbon steel, and the sleeve of stainless steel. In order to avoid melting of the stainless steel sleeves when the studs are welded to the tubes, the cylindrical sleeves do not extend all the way to the attachment end such that axial gaps are defined where the sleeves do not cover the cylindrical surfaces of the cores.

Abstract: A tandem quadrupole-based mass spectrometer including a highly efficient intermediate fragmentation stage. The disclosed fragmentation stage employs collision-induced dissociation (CID), in an electrodynamic focus device, which may be a quadrupole operated in a broad band filter mode. The disclosed CID process occurs at low energy (e.g., less than 1 keV, but preferably 2 eV to 100 eV), and is quite different from the high energy (e.g, greater than 1 keV, and typically 3 keV to 10 keV) CID process in prior tandem instruments such as mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry (MIKES) systems. The efficiency of the present CID fragmentation is as high as 65%.

Abstract: A suction line/capillary tube assembly which provides improved heat exchange between the cool gaseous refrigerant conveyed by the suction line and the warm liquid refrigerant conveyed by the capillary tube in a refrigeration system. The assembly is generally characterized by the capillary tube being within and in direct thermal contact with the suction line wall along a substantial length thereof, which length is at least approximately two feet. In a first specific embodiment, the capillary tube is soldered to the inside of the suction line, as opposed to merely being loosely passed therethrough. In a second specific embodiment, an aluminum suction line is fabricated with an internal extruded channel defined between a pair of ridges extending from the interior surface of the suction line. A copper capillary tube is snugly positioned in the channel and preferably the ridges are deformed toward each other so as to substantially surround the capillary tube.

Abstract: A microwave oven circuit includes a magnetron power transformer and a duty cycle controlled switching element connected to periodically energize the power transformer from an AC power source. Due to the effects of power source loading, the available AC voltage drops during those intervals when the power transformer is energized. This undesirably causes cyclical variation in the operation of certain constantly energized load devices such as the oven lamp and the motor for the blower which provides cooling air for the magnetron. To minimize the undesirable voltage variation, a low voltage secondary winding on the magnetron power transformer is connected in series with the constantly energized load device and properly phased to provide a voltage boost upon energization of the power transformer. Preferably, the low voltage secondary winding is an otherwise unused winding originally intended to be a magnetron filament winding. As a result, very little additional cost is involved.

Abstract: A refrigerator structural support is provided by permitting polyurethane foam reactant material to impregnate a body of fibrous material and to subsequently harden. The result is a third material having desirable stiffening and support characteristics. Various means are disclosed for controlling and advantageously using the result of the impregnation of fibrous material by foam reactant material.

Abstract: A substantially constant voltage is maintained across a negative temperature coefficient thermistor having an exponential resistance-temperature characteristic. The resultant current through the thermistor is an exponential function of sensed temperature. In response to this current through the thermistor, current is supplied to a forwardly biased decoder diode having a corresponding exponential current-voltage characteristic so that the resultant voltage across the decoder diode is a substantially linear function of sensed temperature.

Abstract: A tracked support having a large load-bearing area is provided for movably supporting a cabinet. The support comprises an elongated horizontal carrier mounted to the cabinet and a continuous flexible track is formed into an encircling band and rotatably mounted around the carrier. The cabinet may be supported by a plurality of such supports.

Abstract: A household refrigerator having a condenser and a fan for passing air over the condenser. The fan is positioned in a fan orifice of an air channel which is of a construction to reduce the foreign substance in the air-stream and thereby reduce the labor of cleaning the condenser and maintain the efficiency of the condenser at a high value.

Abstract: A capacitive touch switch device includes a panel in the form of a dielectric sheet element, a touch pad on the front of the panel, and at least a sensing pad on the rear of the panel. A conductive grounded shield plate is also disposed generally upon the rear side of the panel and substantially surrounds the sensing pad.

Abstract: The defrost pressure control system for a refrigerator includes a reservoir connected in communication with the evaporator of the refrigerating system. The reservoir is placed in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the refrigerator which remains at a relatively low temperature during defrosting so that a portion of the refrigerant in the system condenses in the reservoir during defrosting, thereby being effectively removed from the refrigerating system. A suitable heat sink may also be employed in the heat exchange relationship with the reservoir. Because of withdrawal of the aforementioned refrigerant, the pressure in the refrigerating system at the end of the defrosting operation is substantially below that which would otherwise be present. As a result the torque required to start the compressor is significantly reduced, thereby insuring effective starting of the compressor even when driven by an electric motor having a relatively low starting torque.

Abstract: A food temperature-sensing probe assembly for monitoring the internal temperature of food while it is being cooked in a microwave oven includes a disc-like reflector either slidably or fixedly mounted on the probe housing adjacent to, but spaced from, the food. The reflector serves to prevent overcooking of the food in a region immediately adjacent the probe.

Abstract: A fastener clip is adapted for removably mounting a plate-like member to a side wall, the plate-like member including a leading edge perpendicular to the side wall. The fastener clip comprises a base member adapted for secure mounting to the side wall and a pair of spaced resilient parallel legs projecting outwardly from the base member generally perpendicularly to the side wall. The gap between the parallel legs is generally parallel to the installed position of the plate-like member. A head is formed on the end of each leg, extending generally away from the gap. Each of the heads has at least a first inclined surface, with the first inclined surfaces oriented with respect to each other so as to form a generally "V" shaped channel for guiding the leading edge and bead of the plate-like member into the space between the parallel legs.

Abstract: A device for controlling the opening and closing movement of a duct seal door of an automatic ice maker which requires a regulator for slowing down the closing of the door. The movement of the door about its rotational axis is transmitted via connecting linkages to the closure regulator which comprises a rotor positioned within a stator housing. The rotor's movement is coupled to the connecting linkages via a one-way clutch which decouples the rotor when the door is being opened, and causes positive coupling therebetween when the door is being closed. Disposed within the stator housing in a fixed-volume compartment is a viscous fluid, such as silicone gum. The rotor and stator include opposed rippled surfaces between which the viscous fluid is coactively disposed. The fluid acts as an impedance to the motion of the rotor, which motion occurs only upon the closing of the door, to thereby provide a controlled slow closure thereof.

Abstract: A recess-type, screw-receiving fastener is formed directly into a thermoplastic sheet, preferably during the same operation which forms the plastic sheet into a useful configuration, such as a refrigerator inner liner. The fastener, when viewed from the rear side, resembles a plurality of "pinches" forming gusset-like folds. From the front side, it comprises a central recess in communication with side recesses formed by the interiors of the gusset-like folds. The central recess is adapted for receiving a male fastener such as a screw and the gusset-like folds distribute the load into a sufficient surrounding area of the plastic sheet.

Abstract: In a side by side refrigerator-freezer appliance, thermal leakage between the compartments is reduced by forming the liners separately for each compartment, but without the partition wall. Adjacent edges of the liners are spaced apart and desirably out-turned to form a truncated V groove. A partition wall is separately formed and foam insulated; edges of the partition are upset to form a tongue slidable along the groove whereby the partition is retained in position.

Abstract: A batch type automatic icemaker adapted for installation in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator is provided with a water-carrying member having first and second ends. The first end of the water-carrying member is in fluid communication with at least one of the ice-forming cavities and positioned to be wetted by water therein. The second end projects into cold air within the freezer. A small quantity of water is thereby carried out of the ice-forming cavity to the second end of the member and exposed to cold air within the freezing compartment. Because the small quantity of water is of small mass and is thermally isolated from the mold, it is rapidly lowered to a temperature sufficiently low to reliably form a seed ice crystal. The seed ice crystal initiates freezing of the bulk of the water in the ice-forming cavities with a minimum of supercooling.

Abstract: An airflow distribution arrangement in a side-by-side refrigerator includes a cover which is located in the freezer compartment and which has an inner surface against which cool evaporator airflow is directed. A portion of the airflow travels down the inner surface of the cover to emerge through openings in the bottom of the cover into the freezer compartment. Additionally, the inner surface of the cover forms a part of a lateral duct in communication with the fresh food compartment. In order to force a sufficient quantity of cool evaporator airflow through the lateral duct into the fresh food compartment, a horizontally-extending, inward bulge is formed in the cover and located generally between the region on the inner surface of the cover against which airflow is directed and the bottom of the cover. The inward bulge serves to interrupt the otherwise smooth downward flow of air to produce an air eddy which in turn produces back pressure.

Abstract: A batch type automatic icemaker adapted for installation in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator includes a means for retaining a piece of ice throughout an entire icemaker operating cycle. The retained ice piece is in communication with at least one of the icemaker mold ice-forming cavities and reliably provides a seed ice crystal to initiate freezing of the water in the ice-forming cavities with a minimum of supercooling.

Abstract: A household refrigerator has a compartment divided into a freezer portion and a fresh food portion. Instead of a solid partition, a moving invisible layer of air isolates the two portions from each other.