Abstract: An integrated heat pump and hot water system can be operated in a space heating mode, a space cooling mode, or a water heating mode, with or without space heating or cooling. In the event that water heating is demanded without either space heating or cooling, a flow restriction arrangement in the liquid refrigerant line is actuated to limit the capacity of the compressor, and thus match the water heat exchanger capacity as much as possible. The selective restrictive arrangement has a valve arrangement selectively blocking the full flow of refrigerant along the condensed refrigerant line, and a restrictive bypass arrangement bridging around the valve arrangement. This can comprise one or more capillary tubes. A quenching branch line extends between the selective restricting arrangement and the suction line that returns evaporated refrigerant to the suction port of the compressor. This quenching branch line favorably comprises a solenoid valve and a flow restricting device connected in series.

Abstract: An improved wrench has clamping or gripping jaws at each end of an elongated handle, and is configured as an open-end type, ring or polygonal socket wrench. The clamping jaws are disposed in two separate, non-parallel planes and are extended into the handle, intersecting therein at an angle varying from 90 to 170 degrees, such that handle has a biplanar structure of greatly enhanced strength.

Abstract: A flexible, hollow, lift-developing airfoil has a frontal air inlet, and a valveless air-filled chamber between upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface is impermeable to air. The lower surface has a permeable section which permits air to freely flow therethrough in either direction depending on differential atmospheric pressure inside and outside the chamber. When the airfoil is in horizontally advancing flight, the permeable section is not exposed to the relative wind. Under such conditions air enters the chamber through the frontal opening, and excite through the permeable section. When the airfoil is descending in a substantially vertical direction, the permeable section is exposed to relative wind, and air enters the chamber therethrough, flowing out through the frontal opening, to automatically maintain a desired aerodynamic profile.

Abstract: An auxiliary double frame for a rotary vacuum mold unit or rotary thermoformer has a center auxiliary frame member and one or more auxiliary transverse frame members. The thermoformer has several identical frames that carry the plastic sheet workpieces from a load/unload station to a heat station or an oven, then to a vacuum molding station, and then to the load/unload station where the molded product is removed and replaced with a blank plastic workpiece. A center auxiliary frame member is mounted onto the front and back main frame members, and can be positioned on center or to the right or left of the center of the frame. Auxiliary transverse frame members are employed with the standard transverse clamping frame members. Pneumatic cylinders mount on the transverse clamping frame members and on the longitudinal frame members for operating pinbars. This system permits two or more molds to be employed at the same time.

Abstract: An engine and lift unit for rotary wing aircraft together with means for balancing of the rotational torque of the said wings is shown. The rotational torque is balanced by a blower propeller, disposed horizontally below the rotor, inside an enclosure including a vertical duct surrounding the blower propeller and whose lower open end exits under the fuselage of the aircraft. A horizontal duct opens into an intermediate zone of the vertical duct and exits out the rear of the aircraft. An adjustable shutter assembly is disposed in the junction of the two ducts allowing the creation of two adjustable air flows, one directed vertically downwards and the other directed towards the rear of the aircraft. The aircraft also has fixed wings, flaps, rudders and controls so the pilot can operate the aircraft in flight.

Abstract: An articulated air vane air or hydraulic motor has a rotor core disposed coaxially in a cylindrical housing, with a plurality of articulating vanes that seat in axial sockets or slots in the rotor core. A crescent shaped insert defines a cam surface in the chamber between the housing and the core. Inlet and exhaust ports are formed either in the housing cylinder or in the end plates. Vane wear is significantly reduced and injected lubricant is not required. The vanes can be generally P-shaped in cross section, with stop structure to limit the articulating motion.

Abstract: A method for non-destructive evaluation of a conduit, gallery or similar structure as shown which involves mechanical tests using an apparatus for applying forces to the walls of the structure in one or two opposite directions and measuring the displacement and or deformation resulting from the application of the forces. The applied forces and the displacements are measured, received, processed and stored in memory for further processing analysis and diagnosis to determine the condition of the structure over the length evaluated. A suitable expert computer system is utilized to establish the overall condition of the structure and classify the structure into zones of risk for maintenance and or repair.

Abstract: An improved radially expandable stent formed from a fine wire bent into a serpentine flat ribbon which is wound around a mandrel into a cylindrical sleeve for mounting on a balloon catheter for transluminal insertion in a vessel such as a blood vessel is provided. A very small diameter fine platinum wire is used to form the basic cylindrical sleeve and it is welded to a pigtail of the wire forming the sleeve to provide longitudinal stablility.

Abstract: A combination valve and clamping device is provided in which a flexible elastic inner lining is secured in a tubular outer shell having a port for introducing a fluid therebetween. A source of pressure such as a hypodermic syringe is used to cause the inner elastic sleeve to collapse and deform internally upon itself to surround and form a seal about a catheter located therein, positioning it within the shell. Alternatively, if nothing is present in the shell, the sleeve is collapsed on itself to prevent leakage of a fluid through the valve mechanism.

Abstract: A building having a plurality of spaced apart concrete pilasters vertically disposed in the ground and having their tops in a common horizontal plane carry thereon a similar plurality of roof truss members which are generally vertically disposed on the pilasters and which join at the crown that leads to one other truss member to form a roof enclosure for a frame structure for a building. Truss members are covered with sheeting panels to enclose the building above the top of the pilasters and the barrier wall is provided from a series of panels mounted on the inside of the pilasters. The truss members are arranged to provide a triangular interior roof profile and a hip roof exterior profile eliminating the need for vertical wall sections on a circular building and on a rectangular, except for the end walls.

Abstract: Combination self-storing table/leg-rest for a reclining chair is shown in which a hinged table top is hooked onto a leg-rest frame member and covered with a padded upholstered cushion to match the decor of the reclining chair. Pivoted legs are mounted on the underside of the folded table and are adapted to fit into receptacles formed in the ends of the arms of the reclining chair for positioning the table in convenient position for use by a person sitting in the chair.

Abstract: An economical portable patient moving system is provided that can be simply and easily erected within a room to form a pipe frame on which is mounted a travelling bridge and hoist trolley allowing complete x,y movement throughout the room and lifting and lowering at any position within the room. The hoist is powered with a battery for safety reasons, and the travelling bridge and hoist car are mounted on low-friction wheel and bearing assemblies so that the entire apparatus can be simply and easily moved about the room by a physically impaired person sitting in the patient carrying platform and moving the feet along the floor to guide the travelling bridge and car members.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for continuous production of a covered elastane-based yarn is shown in which a partially stretched multi-filament yarn is twisted about a tensioned bare elastane yarn, at less than 500 revolutions per meter, and then heated and stretched again to complete the residual stretching of both parts of the covered yarn.

Abstract: A tire compacting machine has a pair of compactor plates mounted on hydraulic cylinders formed around the tie bars of the frame to move the compactor plates from the ends of the machine toward the center of the machine to compact therebetween a number of tires positioned about a mandrel hinged to one of the compactor plates. The tires are positioned in the machine about the mandrel and are captured between the compactor plates about the mandrel as the plates are moved together to compress the tires into a dense compacted uniform cross section bundle for efficient storage, handling and/or disposal. The machine can compact a wide range of numbers of tires from a few to twenty or so and the degree of compaction can be varied to suit the application, i.e., usable tires compacted slightly, unusable tires tightly compacted. The mandrel is pivotally mounted on one compactor plate and slidably received in an aperture in the other compactor plate so that tires are completely contained during the compaction cycle.

Abstract: A novel earplug comprising a stack of thin flexible plastic discs bonded together about a central hole and loose at the edges is formed with a central core or plug forming a nose or bumper and a handle tail. The configuration described permits easy insertion and removal from the ear and the multiple disc structure forms a barrier to the entry of acoustic noise into the ear canal.

Abstract: A circular cutting blade is provided in which the body is a synthetic fiber glass reinforced material which has a metallic hub and an outer cutting ring made from high speed steel, tungsten carbide, ceramic material or other cutting materials for a particular application. The outer cutting ring has an inwardly projecting tenon portion that has periodic trapezoidal recesses. The body of the blade is integrally molded about the tenon filling the recesses with the molded body to form torque projections to ensure that the outer ring is driven integrally with the blade body during cutting operations.

Abstract: A convertible battery handle is provided in which an extended end cap contains a drive spring electrically insulated from the battery circuits to physically hold the rechargeable battery pack or non-rechargeable battery cells in proper position and a coaxial helical spring electrically connected into the battery circuit. The helical spring has a length insufficient to make electrical contact when the handle is utilized with a rechargeable battery pack, but when a pair of non-rechargeable dry cells are positioned in the handle the electrical circuit is completed through the spring. A safety diode is placed in the series with the electrical circuit for the non-rechargeable cells to prevent inadvertent charging of the cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of a person or persons inside a room having a door. The apparatus comprises a pyroelectric infrared sensor and a piezoelectric air pressure sensor. The infrared sensor detects movement of a person and produces a signal indicating the movement. The air pressure sensor detects opening and closing of the door and produces a signal indicating the opening and closing. A logic device including monostable multivibrators, AND gates, and an OR gate is connected between the outputs of the two sensors. When the signal indicating the movement is applied to the logic device later than the signal indicating the opening and closing, the logic device produces a signal indicating the entry of a person. When the signal indicating the opening and closing is applied to the logic device later than the signal indicating the movement, the logic device produces a signal indicating the exit of a person. These signals are processed by the logic device to know the presence or absence of a person.