Abstract: A heat engine driven heat pump system including a coolant fluid circulation subsystem further includes an automatic purge system to provide purging of air gases and vapors during initial filling and subsequent on-line operation to eliminate trapped and accumulated gases and vapors which decrease heat pump system efficiency and reliability, and interfere with waste heat recovery.

Abstract: In a combustion engine driven refrigerant vapor compression heat pump system, an integrated heat exchanger is provided which recovers and uses waste heat from the combustion engine coolant and exhaust stream, further produces auxiliary heat when the heat pump system is operating in the heating mode of operation, and uses some of the same components to cool the combustion engine coolant when the heat pump system is operating in the cooling mode of operation. Additional features are integrated into the heat exchanger to provide engine oil cooling and heating.

Abstract: A means to increase the reducing potential of natural gas used in the reduction of sulfates such as gypsum. A reducing mixture of natural gas and air (or oxygen) is heated prior to reduction of the sulfate. For gypsum reduction, heating the reducing mixture to 1500.degree. F. (816.degree. C.) prior to gypsum reduction increased the gypsum conversion to calcium sulfide to above 65% at a reactor temperature of 1400.degree.-1500.degree. F. (700.degree.-816.degree. C.) verses less than a 40% conversion rate when an unheated reducing mixture was used.

Abstract: Thermally-reversible polymer compositions are obtained by reacting compounds with isocyanate and labile-hydrogen functionality. High-performance characteristics are incorporated into the polymer by using aromatic polycarbonate, aromatic polyester, polyarylsulfide, and polyarylimidazolidine oligomers. The compositions are useful as hot-melt adhesives, coatings and especially finish surface coatings on composite materials such as polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate, moldings and in injection reaction molding applications and composite and laminate fabrication.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing for limited roller oscillation incorporates a pair of oil slots which clear debris from the roller/pin interface and provide oil to readily lubricate the entire load bearing surface of a pin. The preferred oil slots each extend lengthwise along the pin, and widthwise generally across respective chords of the pin circumference. The oil slots are positioned in spaced relationship such that their respective chords define an angle whose vertex is beyond the circumference of the pin, and their spacing defines an upper load bearing zone along a portion of the circumference of the pin, and opposite therefrom, a larger, lower load bearing zone defined along another portion of the circumference of the pin.

Abstract: This invention is a simulated headlight wiper and is used as a novelty or amusement device. The wiper may be detachably mounted to the vehicle or, in another embodiment, it may be attached directly to the headlight by suitable means such as a double-sided adhesive tape. For additional realism, a simulated control block and fluid dispensing tube can be added as well as simulated wiper components such as a wiper arm, head, wiper blade holder and wiper blade.

Abstract: A seat leveling apparatus for levelling the seat on a vehicle when the vehicle turns onto an inclined surface which includes upper and lower members that pivot relative to each other on a longitudinal axis parallel to the path of the vehicle. Apparatus is provided with a facility to latch the seat in a preselected tilted position as well as a facility to adjust the frictional restraint on the operation of the mechanism as a means of control.

Abstract: A coolant fluid circulation subsystem for engine driven heat pump systems including a coolant fluid loop through the engine and a recouperator, and through a thermostatic control valve operable to convey and to modulate flow from a coolant reservoir during engine operation, with the coolant fluid being selectively switchable, between first or second heat exchangers in heat exchange relation with the indoor and outdoor ambient condition selectively. An auxiliary pump and coolant fluid heater are provided in the subsystem to increase the heat contained in the coolant fluid and to exchange heat to the indoor ambient condition.

Abstract: An automatic corrosion measurement system and method enables rapid measurement and evaluation of corrosion on significant portions of straight and curved pipe sections and other surfaces from several square inches to several square feet, using a laser instrument which projects laser light across a scan area which includes corrosion, and detects reflected laser light therefrom. A positioning mechanism advances the laser instrument along the surface to permit evaluation of a large area, and a processor controls both the operation of the laser instrument and positioning mechanism. Automatic processing by the processor converts surface condition signals into readily usable output in the form of displays, printouts or maps, for immediate use.

Abstract: A gas-fired, double-sided griddle apparatus for high-volume commercial cooking comprises double-sided griddles, each having a lower platen having a horizontal lower cooking surface and an upper platen having an upper cooking surface; a positioning mechanism for moving the upper platen of each griddle into a horizontal position in contact with the food, permitting the upper platen to press downward against the food until the cooking surface reaches a predetermined level above the cooking surface of the lower platen, stopping the downward movement at that level, and lifting the upper platen away from the food after a predetermined cooking time; a counterflow heater for heating a supply of oil to desired temperatures; and apparatus for circulating the heated oil through a serpentine path wherein the oil contacts, and transfers heat to, a first region of the lower platen and a similar path wherein the oil transfers heat to a second region of the upper platen that is positioned directly above, and parallel to, the

Abstract: A method of inhibiting corrosion in ammonia-water absorption machines that includes adding to an ammonia-water solution soluble silicon compounds. Examples of these silicon compounds include sodium silicate (Na.sub.2 SiO.sub.3), potassium silicate (K.sub.2 SiO.sub.3), lithium silicate (Li.sub.2 SiO.sub.3), silicic acid (H.sub.2 SiO.sub.5), and tetramethoxysilane (CH.sub.3 O).sub.4 Si. Sodium silicate is revealed as the preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A refrigeration and heating system has been made in which improved efficiencies are obtained by placing helical concentric coils of at least two generators (80 and 81) and recuperators (86 and 95) on a common axis (232) with a heating unit (84) at the center and allowing the hot combustion gases (245) to circulate in serpentine fashion through separate concentric chambers containing the coils. Further efficiencies are obtained by placing an absorber (97), condenser (100) and recuperator (107) in a single module (270) and by using tube-in-tube or tube-in-cylinder construction with fluted inner tubes. A general purpose, divided-flow, tube-in-cylinder, heat-transfer device (400) is used to reduce the pressure drop in the circulating fluid.

Abstract: A method is described for the recovery of high yields of monomers from waste and scrape polymeric materials with minimal amounts of char and tar. The process involves heating the polymer at a heating rate of at least 500.degree. C./sec in a flow-through reactor. Heating is accomplished by contacting the polymer with a heat transfer material such as hot incandescent sand. A flow-through reactor is used to provide the high heating rates and short reactor residence times for the monomer product. The flow through reactor may be a circulating fluidized bed reactor, an entrainment reactor, a cyclonic reactor or a gravity reactor.

Abstract: A container support has two legs attached on opposite sides of a container with a third leg attached to one of the legs attached to the container. The third leg pivots to minimize its projection when carrying the container from place to place with the support attached. By making the pivoting leg slightly longer than the leg to which it is attached, the third leg can be set in its extended position by merely rotating the container. Attaching brackets provide for the correct leg angle and easy attachment and detachment of the legs using a force fit between the back of the bracket and the container wall. The use of square tubing and mating attachment bracket for the container-attached legs maintains the correct angles for the support structure.

Abstract: The cylindrical enclosure 12 of a recuperator 10 as in FIG. 2 contains an annular coaxial heat exchanger 50 full of cooling liquid 22 circulating therethrough. Exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine flows from an inlet end 32 through the heat exchanger 50, first in an axial region 15 via a conduit 14, then back through a surrounding annular region 18, then through tubes 37 to an outlet end 34. The inlet 30 and outlet 31 for the gas are in the side wall 40 of the cylindrical body 12, and the exhaust gas 11 enters and leaves via conduits 14 and 19 that are perpendicular to the side wall 40 at the inlet 30 and at the outlet 31. So the ends 41 and 42 of the body 12 are free of adjacent obstruction, and at least one of them is removable, as in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 . Thus, the recuperator 10 can be opened and closed to make the interior accessible for inspection, cleaning, or other desired purpose.

Abstract: A process for obtaining long, continuous, thermoplastic welds on large structures. A series of tabs are used in pairs and especially in alternating, overlapping pairs to obtain resistance heating of a strip material placed in the bond line. The resistance of the tabs is less than that of the strip material. Conducting braid-tubes afford continuous welding when the bond line is curved. Alternatively, an electromagnetic field is used to take advantage of the induction heating. A wide susceptor is used to weld a current conducting substrate while avoiding bulk heating of the substrate. The unexpected property of current-conducting braid-tube susceptors, in which induction heating takes place at the center rather than at the edges of a flattened braid-tube susceptor, is used to obtain long continuous curved welds.

Abstract: A portable personal computer that utilizes a combination of an open ended card cage and a passive backplane with a double-sided staggered array of connectors that allows for the horizontal placement of a large number of computer circuit boards in a low profile design as well as allowing easy access to the circuit boards for repair and replacement The open ended cage design also affords adequate cooling of the circuit components in the confines of a portable case. By hinging the card cage to the portable case, increased accessibility to the circuit boards is afforded. A welding data acquisition and control system embodiment is described that utilizes the portable computer for the acquisition of welding data for use in either operator or automated welding control. The system is capable of utilizing a wide range of welding programs for a wide rang of welding processes.

Abstract: An improvement in an absorption refrigeration and/or heating system including apparatus (157) to convert the pressure energy and/or phase change energy in the solution and/or refrigerant of the absorption system into mechanical energy, with additional apparatus to replace or supplement the externally supplied mechanical energy motive device (152) in the system with the converted mechanical energy. The system includes a first positive displacement pump (98) for conveying the absorbent solution from the absorber to the generator with first positive displacement apparatus (98) driven by a motive device (152) that is activated by the externally supplied energy. A second pump (158) is provided that is driven by the system pressure energy. Each of the pumping apparatus is being independently driven and connected to the other only by fluid connection.

Abstract: An integrated three-chamber absorption refrigeration and heat pump system with improved defrost capabilities having a solution pair including a material of .[.unusable.]. .Iadd.unusual .Iaddend.fluid stability at higher temperatures when manipulated in an apparatus and system to take advantage of its properties. Disclosed materials of a solution pair for operation as part of the system of this invention are ammonia as the refrigerant and sodium thiocyanate as the absorbent. A heat transfer sub-system is provided, for conveying a working fluid between the components, having multiple switchable valve means, including first, second, and third valve members selectively switchable to convey the working fluid from the cooling mode to the heating mode and vice versa, as well as to the defrost mode.