Abstract: An improved end bracket is provided for a high velocity low pressure blower assembly. The end bracket includes a pair of members, each heat sink having several vanes. The bracket further includes a bearing boss having heat dissipating vanes radiating from it. The heat sink members and vanes serve to dissipate heat from a bearing which is mounted in the bearing boss. The bracket also includes a tangential exhaust horn having a threaded hose coupling. The exhaust horn communicates with a tapered scroll passage which serves to direct air to the exhaust horn. The scroll passage is tapered to allow the high velocity air to expand as it becomes hotter, thereby reducing turbulence at the exhaust.

Abstract: A molded impeller fan assembly has a backing plate and a plurality of blades extending generally orthogonally upwardly therefrom. A V-shaped buttress is formed at the transition of each blade to the backing plate. Each buttress is defined by a pair of opposed walls which are formed where the backing plate curves gradually upward toward the blade apex. A V-shaped indentation is disposed between the walls in a side of the backing plate opposite the blades. The walls of the buttress serve to transfer centrifugal and impact forces from the blades to the backing plate.

Abstract: A blower fan assembly is provided which includes a blower housing, an exhaust port having an air passage connected to the housing and an impeller assembly rotatably received within the housing. A sound attenuator is also provided to be received in the exhaust port. The attenuator includes at least one edge which extends into the housing to provide a gradual cutoff point. Air moving ahead of the rotating impeller vanes is partially redirected through the exhaust port by the attenuator. Remaining air is directed over and around the attenuator and is forced out of the housing at the cutoff point created where the exhaust port joins the housing. The redirection of air alleviates compression/decompression at the cutoffs thereby reducing the pulsing noise associated therewith.

Abstract: A water faucet apparatus for use with a sink or countertop faucet assembly includes a replaceable filter cartridge which is mounted in a cartridge housing formed as an integral part of the main body of the faucet assembly and positioned directly below the faucet spout below the level of the sink or countertop. The base to which the faucet spout is attached is easily removable to access the filter element inside the housing for replacement.

Abstract: A bearing retaining device is provided to maintain a shaft bearing within a housing. In one embodiment the device has a housing with a central bore into which is received a bearing. The bearing rests upon a bearing seat and is maintained in the housing by a retainer clip. The retainer clip is generally disc shaped with a number of spring tab members extending at an angle therefrom. When the retainer clip is rotated within the housing, the spring tab members are compressed by brush holders protruding into the housing and above the retainer seat. The spring tab members spring back to position after clearing the protrusions and dimpled ears formed in the retainer clip body frictionally engage the brush holders. The trailing edge of each spring tab member grips the side of each brush holder. The bearing is thereby locked into the housing and displacement and vibration thereof are eliminated.

Abstract: A bag filter assembly utilizing a conventional housing and end cap construction includes a unique filter bag retaining cage and end cap adaptor which allow the use of replaceable bag filter elements of widely varying construction. The assembly will accommodate bag filter elements of the type having a shape retaining opening of rigid construction and including a shape-retaining bottom end cap or of the type comprising a generally continuous flexible tubular sleeve. The system is tolerant of the latter type of bag filters of substantially varying thicknesses.

Abstract: A vacuum motor bearing protection system includes a barrier wall interposed between a motor assembly and a fan assembly. A shaft interconnecting the assemblies is rotatably received within a bearing received by the barrier wall. In order to prevent moisture and debris from attacking the bearing, apertures are position in the top plate of the fan assembly nearest the bearing and in juxtaposition thereto for drawing air away from the bearing and into the fan eye. Accordingly, this scavenging action draws any moisture or debris from the area of the bearing. To assist in the pumping action, the barrier wall, fan top plate, or a spacer interposed therebetween may be provided with vanes positioned and configured to direct moisture laden air to the apertures in the fan top plate and into the fan eye.

Abstract: An improved gas flow meter which measures the time of travel of a soap film through a fixed volume to compute gas flow rate. A portable meter includes infrared sensors which detect the passing of a soap film, a timing circuit to determine the time of travel between the beginning and end of the fixed volume and a method of blocking the infrared portion of ambient light to allow for use outdoors. The device has a unique method of generating the soap bubble and for breaking the soap bubble at the end of the fixed volume. The unique flow unit, including flow cell and fixed sensors, is calibrated to determine the fixed volume which is stored in a nonvolatile memory location as a part of the flow unit.

Abstract: An angular momentum mass flowmeter for measuring the mass flowrate of a fluid stream includes a flowmeter housing having an inlet or upstream end for receiving the fluid stream and an outlet or downstream end for discharging the fluid stream. A rotatable impeller is provided for measuring the mass flowrate. A swirl cap is disposed downstream of the impeller for imparting angular momentum to the fluid stream passing thereover and for causing the angular momentum to rotate the impeller. A control valve, disposed intermediate the impeller and the swirl cap, modifies the flow area of the fluid stream passing over the swirl cap to regulate the angular momentum of the fluid stream.

Abstract: A high temperature optical probe for an optical gas temperature sensor includes a support, a generally conical hollow tip, and a joint physically interconnecting the support and the tip. The tip includes as an electromagnetic radiation emitter a sapphire-free ceramic selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride. An optical lens supported in the tip is removable from the tip for repair and replacement. The joint is of a material and geometry to accommodate the thermal stresses caused by differences in thermal coefficients of expansion between the tip, joint and support, and the mechanical stresses caused by the interaction of the probe and the gas stream during high velocity movement of the gas stream past the tip. The joint sidewall is welded to the support and has a thickness of 0.008-0.012 inch where it overlaps the tip.

Abstract: An exhaust fan assembly for implementation with a hot water tank. The assembly includes a generally elliptical housing having a large end maintaining a fan and a smaller opposite end having an exhaust port. The fan is rotatable about a vertical axis and is positioned to be maintained over the exhaust vent of a hot water tank. The configuration of the housing as such is to be received between the inlet and outlet pipes of the hot water tank. A motor cup is press fit onto a lid which is formed as a portion of the housing on a top portion thereof, while a cover plate is press fit or snap fit into a circumferential flange about a bottom portion of the housing. The cover plate has an aperture therein in alignment with the fan to allow the fan to communicate with the flue pipe of the hot water tank. The cover plate and housing define a cavity within which the fan rotates, while further defining a path for movement of the exhaust gases and motor venting air to the exhaust port.

Abstract: A high temperature optical probe for an optical gas temperature sensor includes a support, a generally conical hollow tip, and a joint physically interconnecting the support and the tip. The tip includes as an electromagnetic radiation emitter a sapphire-free ceramic selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride.

Abstract: A monolithically fabricated magnetically-actuatable opto-mechanical on/off switch includes a pair of planar optical waveguides, the first waveguide of the pair being fixed in position and the second waveguide of the pair being movable between a conducting orientation wherein it is in optical alignment with the one waveguide and a non-conducting orientation wherein it is not in optical alignment with the one waveguide. A ferromagnetic component is fixedly secured to the movable second waveguide for movement therewith as a unit. A magnet may be provided for moving the ferromagnetic component, and hence for moving the movable second waveguide between the conducting and non-conducting orientations.

Abstract: A faucet-attached filter apparatus for filtering drinking water includes a unitary filter cartridge subassembly which provides a housing for the filter media, inlet and outlet porous media retainers, the filtered water outlet passage, and a quarter-turn connector with seal for simple cartridge insertion and removal from the filter housing.

Abstract: A pour-through pitcher filter assembly includes a compact filter element including a thin annular disk of molded activated carbon and a peripheral annular seal element. The seal element allows the filter to be replaceably mounted in the lower end of a plastic reservoir, which reservoir is adapted to be supported in the top of a pitcher for receiving filtered water. The reservoir may be made by a blow molding process and includes an integral bellows member which is manually collapsible to pressurize the interior of the reservoir to initiate gravity flow through an initially dry filter element. The seal element utilizes a synthetic rubber material and is preferably insert molded around the carbon filter disk.

Abstract: An iron removal system for a drinking water supply includes a synergistic combination of an oxidation/filtration unit and an activated carbon filter unit. The oxidation/filtration unit utilizes a manganese-treated zeolite in the form of normally undesirable fines. The problems of high pressure drop and difficult handling of zeolites fines are eliminated by utilizing a more porous radial tubular flow construction in which the fines are confined in a packed bed. The filter cartridge is made for disposal when exhausted. The series connected activated carbon filter continues to remove iron from the outlet of the zeolite filter long after the capacity for iron removal of the latter has exceeded desirable limits. The combined filter system is less expensive and easier to operate and maintain than a comparable regenerable prior art oxidation/filtration system for iron removal.

Abstract: An air sampling device comprises a pump assembly including a pump and a motor operably associated with the pump, the air flow rate of the assembly being substantially characterized by a function having a plurality of measurable variables; sensors for periodically automatically monitoring the variables; a programmable computer operably associated with the sensors for periodically estimating the instantaneous air flow rate of the pump from the function and the monitored variables and for camparing the calculated instantaneous air flow rate with a previously programmed desired air flow rate; and a DC-DC converter responsive to the computer and operably associated with the motor for modulating the motor speed in response to the computer to thereby cause the instantaneous air flow rate of the pump to approach the desired air flow rate.

Abstract: A composite cartridge type filter of the kind utilizing a hollow cylindrical body of bonded activated carbon and an interior filled with a particulate filter media bed is disposed within a housing such that raw unfiltered water passes radially inwardly through the carbon body, into the interior media bed and then axially through the media bed to an outlet in one end. To balance the radial flow of water through the carbon body and maximize contact with the particulate media bed, a flow distribution device is disposed in the interface between the carbon body and the particulate filter media bed to distribute a portion of the flow toward the end of the media bed which is remote from the cartridge outlet. In this manner, short circuiting of the water through the filter is eliminated, radial flow through the carbon body is balanced, and a substantial portion of the flow is forced to follow a path which carries it through substantially the full length of the particulate media bed.

Abstract: A composite cartridge-type filter effective to substantially reduce low but hazardous concentrations of lead in drinking water to acceptable levels utilizes a porous activated carbon block filter and a powdered deionizing resin which is converted to an ion exchange resin in situ and during use of the filter. The method of operation of the filter results in a substantially extended life for lead removal as compared to similar disposable cartridge filters. The composite filter is also affective in removing dissolved metals which are leached from the soluble ash fraction of the carbon block itself. Powdered deionizing resin, having a greatly enhanced active surface area as compared to the resin beads from which it is formed, is formed by fracturing the resin beads in situ in a slurry filling and drying process which provides a stable packed resin bed.

Abstract: A self-erecting, coiled metal tube comprises a helically wound ribbon of spring material having an inside surface and an outside surface, the ribbon having adjacent turns stressed to coil in tight overlapping and telescoping engagement, and a textured surface formed on the outside surface of the ribbon so that when the ribbon is extended, the textured surface of an underlapped turn of ribbon bears against the inner surface of an overlapped turn of ribbon to create friction between the adjacent turns of ribbon and control the length of extension of the ribbon tube and strengthen the tube.