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: A system for measuring the magnitude component corresponding to the once-per-revolution frequency or a multiple thereof of the vibration signal generated by a body rotating at a non-uniform rate. The output of a sensor detecting the acceleration of the vibration motion of the rotating body is decomposed into its frequency components. Simultaneously, the information contained in the output of a tachometer sensor for detecting the rotational speed of the rotating body is used to determine the variation of the rotational speed during the measurement interval. The speed variation information is selectively combined with the frequency components of the acceleration spectrum to yield the magnitude result that would be measured if the rotating body had a constant rotational speed. This method yields vibration information in select frequency bands that is corrected for the non-uniform rate of rotation of the body.

Abstract: A digital ratiometric tracking filter provides superior measurement of the magnitude and phase of vibration of a rotating body, at uniform or non-uniform rotational speed. The sensed speed and vibration signals are concurrently processed and subsequently combined to produce the absolute magnitude and relative phase measurements. The concurrent processing of the sensed signals assures that any system-introduced errors are found in both signals and can be uniformly eliminated by the ratiometric processing thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making an aluminum silicon carbide composite material in strip form. The process comprises blending a powdered aluminum matrix material and a powdered silicon carbide material, roll compacting the blended powdered materials in an inert atmosphere to form a green strip having a first thickness, and directly hot working the blended and roll compacted materials to bond the aluminum matrix material particles and the silicon carbide particles and to form a thin strip material having a desired thickness.

Abstract: A repairable cable assembly includes a corrugated metal tubing backshell secured at one end to the end of stiff preferably electrically shielding cable sleeve and at the other end to a coupling assembly which is detachable from a connector and retractable along wiring extending from the cable sleeve through axial collapse of the corrugated metal tubing to provide access to the connections of the wiring to electrical contacts housed in the connector. Where the cable sleeve is braided wire, a waterproof thermosetting polymer cover is provided over the braided wire and its connections to the corrugated metal tubing backshell. The coupling assembly can include a straight, right or other angle tubular member to which the corrugated tubing is secured.

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 ground lead connection is provided to electrically ground a motor armature shaft. In one embodiment the device has a motor housing in which is mounted a bearing. An armature shaft is journaled in the bearing and a ground lead is attached to the bearing. The bearing is provided with a counter bore socket which receives a terminal from the ground lead. The terminal includes a ferrule and a plug which has flared fingers. When connected, the plug engages the bore of the socket and the fingers engage the counter bore to permanently prevent removal of the terminal from the socket. The shaft is thereby grounded via the bearing without the need for numerous parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a copper-molybdenum composite material having utility in electrical applica- tions and the process for forming the composite material. The composite material is characterized by a continuous copper matrix having a plurality of discrete molybdenum particles embedded therein. The molybdenum particles have an aspect ratio in the range of from about 1:1 to about 4:1 so as to create a thermal path through the matrix from a first side of the composite material to a second side of the composite material. The resulting composite material exhibits improved through-thickness thermal conductivity as a result of the molybdenum particles being within the aforementioned range.

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 Coriolis type flowmeter is described having 12 parallel flow tubes joined to a hub whose geometry is chosen to also perform the function of an inlet and outlet manifold. Plates are provided to interconnect and average the motion of the flow tubes as well as providing a platform for sensing Coriolis induced motion and inducing harmonic oscillations. Because of its symmetric geometry and balanced characteristics, the flowmeter is insensitive to vibration in any axis perpendicular to the axial axis of symmetry.

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: A low torque magnetic pick-off assembly has both a stationary magnet and a magnet mounted on a rotating member. The stationary magnet is oriented parallel to the axis of the rotating member and is used to establish a magnetic field in a field guide passing through a coil. The magnet on the rotating member modulates the magnetic field passing through the coil thereby inducing an output voltage in the coil. The output voltages indicates the passage of the magnet on the rotating member past the stationary magnet.

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.