Abstract: A safety device for a drilling rig of the type wherein a drill-carrying cradle is caused to move upwardly or downwardly on a tower by a chain which traverses sprockets at opposite ends of the tower. Shock loads and vibration cause premature failures in the chain when withdrawing a drill string as the cradle is pulled upwardly on the tower. The present invention minimizes shock loads on the chain to minimize the possibility of a chain failure and, at the same time, prevents a fall of the cradle and drill carried thereby if the chain above it should break, this latter function being accomplished with the use of spring-loaded toothed dogs on the cradle which engage the tower and prevent movement of the cradle in the event of a chain failure.

Abstract: A labyrinthine mechanical seal in a bore of a casing for a rotatable shaft which is substantially free of axial forces and mounted for axial movement while carried by bearings in the casing. The seal includes a first group of discs arranged in an axial spaced-apart relation on the rotatable shaft and a second group of discs arranged in a non-rotatable manner at axial spaced-apart locations in the bore of the casing to extend around the shaft and mesh with the first group of discs in a manner of a labyrinth. The axial clearances between the groups of discs is 0.2 millimeter or less and the radial clearance between the groups of discs is only slightly greater than the radial clearance in the bearings. The discs are resilient and consist of hardened steel. Alternatively, the discs of one of the groups consist of hardened steel and the other consists of bronze.

Abstract: An equal diameter cam is mounted on the output shaft of an internal combustion engine or drive shaft of a piston-type compressor. A piston is joined by a connecting rod to a frame carrying two equal diameter follower rollers engaging the surface of a cam and located at diametrically-opposite points on a line through the center of rotation of the cam. A control arm can be used to control the position of a follower roller. The rotational axis of each follower roller is spaced by the cam surface from the rotational axis of the drive output shaft to transmit torque by converting reciprocating motion impressed by the follower rollers on the cam surface according to the equation:R=r+1/2S sin (.theta.)+1/2S' sin 3 (.theta.+a)+1/2S" sin 5 (.theta.+b)+1/2S'" sin 9(.theta.+c)+1/2S"" sin 15 (.theta.+d)+1/2S""' sin 45 (.theta.+e)where:R is the radial distance between the rotational axes of the shaft member and a follower member at angle .theta.

Abstract: A non-porous, sound-absorbing panel which can be readily cleaned and which is intended for use in high humidity, sanitary environments. The panel comprises two non-porous membranes or panels bonded to opposite sides of a honeycomb structure. At least one membrane is formed of sound-absorbing material with the membrane natural frequency, the membrane/honeycomb cavity natural frequency and the standing wave natural frequency of the honeycomb cavities being closely matched. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the membrane comprises a polyurethane panel; while the honeycomb structure is formed from phenolic impregnated paper.

Abstract: Cooling of one or more clutch disks (23), to extend service life by avoiding overheating, is provided for by directing a jet of oil into the central opening of the annular pressure plate (29) of the clutch (11). Centrifugal force impels such oil outwardly towards the inner end of the annular clutch disk friction facing material region (46) between the pressure plate (29) and the drive input member (12) where the fluid then passes along grooves (27) in the friction facing material (26). To assure a high volume flow by reducing scattering of the fluid to other regions of the clutch (11) and to reduce turbulence and foaming, an annular deflector member (56) is seated at a beveled inner surface (57) of the pressure plate (29) and forms an annular flow path (59) which continuously increases in diameter toward the friction facing material region (46). Aided by centrifugal force, the deflector member (56) entraps a volume of oil and guides the entrapped oil into the region (46 ) of the friction facing material (26).

Abstract: A composition for compressing and sintering to produce high-wear resistant articles essentially includes between 2% and 10% by weight, preferably 5% by weight, basalt powder and the remainder being metallurgical powder. The metallurgical powder is preferably comprised of austenite steel powder of high commercial quality and the basalt powder is a commercial quality basalt. The article of manufacture is for an internal combustion engine supplied with lead-free fuel wherein the article is comprised of compressed and sintered metal powder having the entire resulting pore space filled with basalt. The article takes the form of a cylinder liner, a valve seat and/or a valve-seat ring.

Abstract: A spray nozzle for use in the elbow interconnecting a coke oven ascension pipe and a main, characterized in having frusto-conical nozzle orifices which generate sprays which completely cover the elbow cross section only when they reach the transition between the elbow and the coke oven main.

Abstract: Steering apparatus for a reversible vehicle of the type adapted to travel on a guideway having at least one guide means extending parallel to the desired course of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle includes front and rear guideaxle means adapted to follow the guide means together with front and rear wheel assemblies each having a pair of steerable wheels interconnected by tie rod means. The invention resides in the provision of a novel gear and linkage mechanism interconnecting respective wheel assemblies with the guideaxle means such that when the direction of movement of the vehicle is reversed, so also is the direction of rotation of the wheels about vertical axes in response to movement of the guideaxle means in one direction or the other.

Abstract: Clamp means for securing a printed circuit board to a chassis or "cold wall" with improved heat transfer characteristics. The chassis, which acts as a heat sink, is provided with elongated slots which receive the opposite edges of a heat conductive metallic plate sandwiched between insulating printed circuit layers of the printed circuit card. Disposed within each slot is an elongated clamp which, when set, not only forces the heat conductive plate into contact with a first wall of the elongated slot but also exerts a force against, and is in abutting relationship with, a wall normal to the first wall. This maximizes the cross-sectional area of the path through which heat can flow from the heat conductive metallic plate to the chassis, thus improving the heat transfer characteristics.

Abstract: Washing fluid is distributed in a scrubber or a stripper to treat a countercurrent gaseous or vaporous stream by spigots receiving fluid from a tray for discharge onto spray pipes underneath a nozzle at the end of the spigot. A casing surrounds the spigot in a concentrically-spaced relation to a point where slots in the spigot discharge fluid onto a spray plate carried on the lower end of the spigot above the nozzle. The spray plate on the spigot includes a base section with a slotted edge section having some of the slotted portions bent upwardly and others bent downwardly while others are completely removed. The base section supports downwardly-extending fingers that extend into space. A frame carried by the casing supports an upper and smaller spray plate above a lower and larger spray plate all beneath the nozzle in the spigot. The upper and lower spray plates each have upwardly- and downwardly-bent edge portions carried by a base plate.

Abstract: An elongated cylinder is essentially comprised of a continuous side wall with a narrow weak wall segment along the length thereof for fracturing by the application of a small force to permit access to the interior of the cylinder along the fractured side wall. The weak side wall segment is in the form of a very thin web section produced by grinding or in a molding operation which may additionally include the filling of the hollowed area of the side wall with a dissimilar material. The article is used for cable placement, varmint protectors for tree trunks, protectors for wire harnesses, protectors for cable splices, and a mold for concrete.

Abstract: A motor drive system for direct current motors and other similar loads in which the power factor presented to the line by the system remains close to unity for all operating conditions (e.g., all motor speeds). This is accomplished by rectifying an alternating current input voltage and thereafter chopping it to vary power input to the load. An important feature of the invention is the use of a choke at the output of the rectifier of sufficient size to insure that current pulses flowing from the rectifier will be continuous (i.e., will not drop to the zero voltage level) during the sequential ON periods of the rectifier elements.

Abstract: High-speed, rotary tablet-forming apparatus wherein dies are filled with product material to be compressed on one turntable and are thereafter transferred to one or more turntables where the said product material is formed into tablets between upper and lower punches. The dies are then returned to the filling table in a closed-loop arrangement. Vacuum is introduced under empty dies on the filling turntable to facilitate rapid filling and elimination of tablet capping and laminating. Further means are provided for direct-die lubrication, eliminating the need for incorporating a lubricant into the product itself, to further enhance cohesiveness of material being compressed and increase the life of the punches and dies involved.

Abstract: Walking beam assemblies used to advance workpieces in a reheat furnace include upper and lower runs of coolant pipes spaced and joined together by web plates to extend along each of the opposite lateral sides of a body of refractory that contacts the workpieces. The web plates support clip members that have a bent midportion to wrap around the upper run of the coolant pipe. A leg section of each clip member extends along the side of the refractory material to an elevation spaced below the workpiece-engaging face of the refractory. Support members including gusset plates are carried by the refractory support member to engage the lower run of the coolant pipe and extend along the web plates for support.

Abstract: A casing formed of flexible and durable plastic or leather forms an enclosed compartment having therein a filling of sand or other finely-divided material. The casing is elastically deformable and the sand is redistributed within the compartment to substantially conform to the contoured area of a wheel cover at a site selected to receive an impact force for installing the cover onto a wheel rim of an automobile or the like. The casing defines a force-receiving area approximately corresponding to the size of a human hand. A strap member is used for retaining support of the casing by the human hand.

Abstract: A screwdown is replaceably inserted in the window of a rolling mill housing between a bearing chock and a surface defining the window of the housing. The screwdown which is provided for each of the pair of rolling mill housings includes a screwdown housing carrying a nut member which receives a screw which is locked against rotation by a lock plate supported by the screwdown housing. Gear teeth are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of the nut and these teeth mesh with the teeth of a worm gear on a shaft which is supported by the screwdown housing for rotation. The shaft of one screwdown housing is coupled to a torque shaft which extends through and supported by the other screwdown housing. The shafts are releasably locked together for synchronous or independent rotation.

Abstract: A system for supporting an overhead trolley rail which requires a minimum of simple parts and wherein the trolley rail is supported from washer-like elements each having a centrally-disposed opening therein and at least one curved portion depending downwardly from the element. A bolt extends across the curved portion and supports two L-shaped keepers each having one leg through which its associated bolt extends and a second leg which underlies a flange on a trolley rail, which in most cases comprises an I-beam. A single roof bolt extends through the centrally-disposed opening of the washer-like element and into a mine roof or the like, the single roof bolt comprising the sole support for the washer-like element.

Abstract: A system for supporting a bundle of tubes against lateral movement in a heat exchanger, such as a nuclear power plant steam generator, wherein spring collar devices positioned at intervals along the tubes permit lateral movement of the tubes but prevent any relative movement between the tube and its associated spring collar device. Any lateral movement is between adjacent spring collar devices. With this arrangement, fretting and corrosion between the outer surfaces of the tubes and their lateral support members are substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A lightweight solar cell array for space vehicles powered by solar electric propulsion. The array incorporates a plurality of hinged solar cell units which can be folded for stowage and thereafter extended into a planar configuration. Light is directed onto the solar cell array by a flexible reflector assembly which is carried below the array. The reflector assembly preferably comprises sheets of flexible material stowed on rolls whereby the sheets can be pulled from the rolls into extended positions. The solar cell array and the reflector are carried between two frames, one of which can be moved away from the other to deploy the array and the reflector assembly.

Abstract: A system for automatic cold-junction referencing of thermocouples in temperature controllers wherein a differential amplifier is used to amplify the thermocouple signal prior to establishing the cold-junction compensation and measuring range. This permits the use of command signals from any floating or single-ended source, making the controller compatible with existing traditional command generators and with computer systems with digital-to-analog converters. The amplifier isolates the thermocouple from the remainder of the circuitry such that it can be grounded on the heated part.