Abstract: A gas-fired apparatus for high-volume commercial cooking comprises double-sided griddles, each having a lower platen with a horizontal top cooking surface and an upper platen with a bottom cooking surface. The upper platen of each griddle is moved into a horizontal position in contact with the food, presses downward on the food until it reaches a predetermined level above the lower platen, and stops there. It is lifted away when the food is cooked. Heated oil (maintained at substantially constant pressure by a weight controlled valve) is circulated through a first heat exchanger, which contacts, and transfers heat to, the lower platen, and through a second heat exchanger, which contacts, and transfers heat to, the upper platen. Each heat exchanger comprises three contiguous flat metal layers. The inner layer has a spiral-like passage for the oil to flow through, to heat an outer layer and maintain a substantially uniform temperature over its outer surface.

Abstract: A photochromic composition for incorporation into a light-transmitting polymer is described. Silver halide crystallites are capped with an organic capping group using multivalent metal ions integrated into the surface of the silver halide crystallite to provide crystallite surface sites that provide a handle between the organic capping group and the silver halide crystallites. The size of the capped silver halide crystallites are less than about 1000 .ANG.. A reverse micelle technique is used to control the size of the silver halide crystallite while integrating the multivalent ions and bonding the organic capping group. The capped crystallites are soluble in organic solvents and, as such, are readily incorporated into a polymer matrix.

Abstract: A coolant fluid circulation subsystem for engine driven heat pump systems including a coolant fluid loop through the engine and a recuperator, 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: Polyarylimidazolidines with a degree of polymerization of about one to twenty and having phenolic hydroxyl end groups and a novel three-step process for their preparation are described. In the first step of the process, an excess of hydrogen cyanide is reactive with an aryl diisocyanate. The excess hydrogen cyanide promotes polymerization and avoids the reaction of the imino hydrogen on the heterocyclic range with the diisocyanate to form cross linkage and associated gel formation. In the second step, a stoichiometric amount of diisocyanate is added to react with the excess hydrogen cyanide and one hydroxyl of a phenolic dihydroxyl end capping group. In the final third step, the dihydroxyl end capping group is added and the remaining diisocyanate reacts with one of the two phenolic hydroxyls on the end capping group.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration system generator assembly is provided with a centrally positioned, generally vertical boiling pot element having a lower portion and an upper portion, with an annular primary combustion chamber surrounding the boiling pot element lower portion exclusive of the boiling pot member bottom surface, and with an optional contiguous secondary combustion chamber surrounding the boiling pot element upper portion. An included fuel/gas air supply and ignitor cooperates with the primary combustion chamber and causes combustion products to swirl over the lower and upper portions of the boiling pot element.

Abstract: A distributed fiber-optic sensor is obtained by using cladding that produces a change in the intensity of scattered light in the cladding of an optical fiber in response to a change in the environment of the cladding. The change in clad scattered light is coupled into the core causing a change in the intensity of backscattered light in the core. A sensing means such as an optical time domain refractometer is used to determine the change in intensity of the core backscattered light at a specific location along the fiber. The change in intensity of the scattered light in the clad is caused by overall changes in the amount of light in the cladding and changes in the number, size or both of the refractive index inhomogeneities in the cladding. These inhomogeneities can be, but are not limited to, composition variations, density variations of the same composition, phase separations, voids, or particulate inclusions.

Abstract: Diamond and ceramic whiskers 712 are grown on diamond, ceramic, or metal coated 714 fibers 710 (e.g. carbon, glass, ceramic or metal fibers) and used in composites 700. The whiskers 712 1) increase fiber-matrix bonding, 2) maintain fiber separation and 3) provide uniform fiber distribution. The coating 714 1) improves the mechanical properties of the fiber and 2) protects the fiber 710 from corrosive attack by the matrix material 720. A catalytic process for growing whiskers 712 allows fiber strength to be maintained during the whisker growth process. Composite materials made with whiskered or coated and whiskered fibers are useful whenever light-weight and high strength materials are required.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cooking and indicating the doneness of food products immersed in a hot liquid cooking medium such as deep hot fat. An indicator circuit that cooperates with an acoustic detector produces a first control signal indicating that acoustic activity in the cooking medium has fallen to below a threshold level for a predetermined first period of time, and afterwards produces a second control signal correlated to the doneness of the cooked food product a predetermined second period of time following said predetermined first period of time.

Abstract: A pallet assembly is disclosed that consists of two sets of interlocking runners. The first set of runners has at least one opening capable of receiving a plurality of second runners. The second runners have slots that mate with the upper and lower members of the first runner so as to secure the first and second runners in fixed relation with each other. Typically the second runner is brought in fixed relation with the first runner by rotation of the second member. Locating bosses serve to locate the position of the second set of runners and assist in their rotation into fixed relation with the first runners.

Abstract: A cooler tote that is easily attached and removed from a picnic cooler permitting easy wheeling of the cooler to its destination and thereby eliminating the need for carrying. The tote consists of a wheeled support to support the cooler and to which are attached straps that are secured lengthwise around the bottom, ends, and top of the cooler. Large wheels provide mobility over rough terrain. Angled supported brackets and cross straps prevent the cooler from repositioning or disengaging itself from the tote. A handle provides a convenient way of pulling the cooler.

Abstract: A method of determining fracture mode transition behavior (FMTB) of solid materials by using stress field modified miniature specimens. The method is an improvement in the method of determining mechanical behavior information from specimens only so large as to have at least a volume or smallest dimension sufficient to satisfy continuum behavior in all directions. FMTB of the material is determined from the measurements taken during the loading of the specimen resulting in the formation of cracks and/or the further propagation of cracks in the miniature specimen and/or fracture. The specimens are provided with grooves that induce additional stress field modifying stress components in the specimens during the test. These additional stress components result in a desired stress state in the specimens which could not be achieved otherwise. The methods are useful in determining FMTB for the material, when the specimen thickness is smaller than previously thought necessary for valid FMTB determinations.

Abstract: A jack for forcing adjoining boards or sheathing into close proximity or contact with one another and holding them in such a position while they are fastened to supporting joists or rafters. The device consists of a housing that is adapted to engage the joist or rafter. A slot is formed lengthwise in the housing and adjoins a side of the joist or rafter. A wedge is positioned in the slot so as to wedge itself between the housing and the supporting joist or rafter and hold the tool in a fixed position relative to the supporting joist or rafter. A lever is pivotally attached to the housing and has an attached pusher to engage the edge of a board or sheathing and move it into proximity or contact with an adjoining board that has been already affixed to the joist or rafter. A simple wedge or inclined plane minimizes the number of moving parts in the invention and produces a wedging force proportional to the force being used to move the board in contact with an adjoining board.

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 pyrolysis in a circulating fluid bed (CFB). The polymer is heated to a temperature of about 650.degree.C. to about 1000.degree.C. at a rate of more than 500.degree.C./sec in less than two seconds. Heat is supplied to the CFB by a stream of hot sand heated in a separate combustor. The sand is also used as the circulating fluid bed material of the CFB. The process is essentially devoid of solid carbon char and non-monomeric liquid products.

Abstract: A special elastic pantyhose construction particularly suitable for corpulent women, wherein a single pair of pantyhose leg apparel is provided with a substantially concealed anti-chafing thigh shield portion, so formed as to extend upward from each opposing inward thigh region thereby merging at the crotch area in one essentially contiguous saddle-like formation; said saddle or thigh shield being constructed principally of natural cotton so as to be comfortably absorbent of common body perspiration, while most compatible with the skin; including a preferred embodoiment whereby the saddle is sewn integrally into an otherwise conventional pantyhose, or alternate embodiments whereby the saddle is set forth as an insert portion of the pantyhose; the preferred embodiment substantially concealing the presence of the cotton thigh shield saddle by virtue of the contiguous coverage of the internal applique arrangement.

Abstract: A practice golf putting cup is disclosed that eliminates the inclined ramps and ball trapping leaves found in the prior art by taking advantage of in-floor air ducts found in many homes. The invention consists of a cover for the air duct passage and has an opening in it blow which is attached a ball receiving cup that extends into the air duct. A ball retrieval basket with an attached flag pole is placed in the collecting cup and is used to retrieve putted balls. Aligning air holes in the receiving cup and retrieval basket permit the passage of air into or out of the air duct. By rotating the retrieval basket in the receiving cup, the amount of alignment of the air holes can be changed so as to control the amount of air flow.

Abstract: A heat pump system selectively operable in cooling and heating modes of operation and having an internal combustion engine prime mover which produces refrigerant vapor compression, and which produces excess heat for rejection, is provided with a first heat exchanger that evaporates compressed refrigerant in the system heating mode of operation, with a second heat exchanger which uses prime mover rejected heat to heat a working fluid, and with a fluid distribution arrangement which is selectively operable to flow the heated working fluid in heat exchange relation to said first heat exchanger also, in the system heating mode of operation to provide a defrost capabilities and to improve heat pumping heating capacity at low ambient temperatures.

Abstract: A direct contact condensing heat-exchanger is provided with a water heat transfer medium in which combustion product gases are dispersed in finely divided bubble form against a relatively low hydrostatic pressure differential for efficient sensible heat and latent heat recovery purposes. In one actual application, a warm-air furnace system having a burner that produces combustion product gases as a heat source is provided with the novel direct contact condensing heat-exchanger as a seondary heat-exchanger that advantageously recovers both sensible heat and latent heat from the combustion product gases.

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 polyimide, aromatic polycarbonate, aromatic polyester, polyphenylene sulfide, and poly(parabanic acid) oligomers. Low-temperature flexibility and toughness are imparted to the polymers by using prepolymers such as polycaprolactone diols, polytetramethylene ether glycols and polyaliphatic carbon diols. Ionic bonding and liquid-crystal functionality may also be incorporated into the compositions. The compositions are useful as hot-melt adhesives, coatings, and moldings and in injection reaction molding applications and composite and laminate fabrication.

Abstract: An absorption refrigeration system having an absorber, a generator, and a refrigeration solution pump which flows relatively dilute refrigeration solution received from the absorber to the generator includes a novel purge subsystem which purges un-wanted, non-condensed gases along with some refrigerant vapor from the absorber and flows such gases to the pump inlet for subsequent flow to the generator at system operating pressures substantially greater than atmospheric pressure. The so-flowed gases are separated from the refrigerant in the generator, are isolated in a collector unit, and afterwards periodically either manually or automatically vented from the collector unit to the atmosphere at the system high side operating pressure.