Abstract: A smoke generator is adapted to be used with other apparatus for testing the peripheral seal integrity of a package. The smoke generator heats a fuel within a chamber and then aspirates smoke into a conduit through which fluid is flowing. The apparatus includes additional conduits operatively arranged to selectively flush the chamber of ash and other accumulated particulate material.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for achieving interference-free fluid velocity distributions in the plane of the walls of a subsonic wind tunnel. Adjustable slats having longitudinal baffles therebetween make up the test section walls, excluding the ground plane, and extend upstream and downstream of the vehicle to be tested. Static pressure measurements along the centerline of each slat provide information that enables calculation of the slat contour required to achieve close matching of the streamlines within the tunnel to those occurring on the road.

Abstract: An electromagnetically controlled pneumatic valve includes a chamber having a first nozzle of magnetic material in opposed relation to a second nonmagnetic nozzle. A cylindrical, permanent magnet, valve member may become seated upon one or the other of the nozzles in response to an electromagnetic field generated by a coil surrounding the first nozzle. A conduit from the chamber between the nozzles connects to a pneumatic load such as an air tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus which enables thread to be wound onto the motor driven storage drum of a thread storage and feeding device for a thread processing machine strictly continuously and uniformly with the aim of ensuring that the thread as wound off the thread supply bobbin is wound onto the storage drum in such a way that variations in the tension of the thread as pulled off the storage drum are eliminated. This is achieved by controlling the number of revolutions of the motor in response to a control signal which is derived from the thread intermediate supply on the drum and the actual thread consumption, i.e., the average speed of the thread leaving the drum.

Abstract: A resettable overrun control valve includes a housing with a throughbore defining an inlet, an outlet and an intermediate valve seat. A valve disc is normally biased from the valve seat by a coil spring projecting the disc toward the inlet. An actuator stem connects to the valve disc and is responsive to a manually operable control rod projecting through the housing to engage the stem. Normal pneumatic pressure through the inlet permits air flow about the valve disc and through the outlet. If the pressure drop on the downstream side of the valve disc exceeds a predetermined limit, the valve disc is forced against the valve seat. This terminates air flow. Once the reason for the excessive air flow through the valve is corrected, the valve may be reset by actuating the manual rod against the stem. The biasing force on the valve disc is adjusted by means of a telescoping housing that cooperates with the valve body. The housing serves as an adjustable platform for the coil spring which biases the valve disc.

Abstract: A sequential inhibitor (NOT) fluid logic device has a control input (a), a supply input (b), and an output (c). The output signal is terminated through output (c) from supply input (b) only when a control signal at control input (a) precedes a supply signal at supply input (b). The device includes a series of three plate members defining a connected cavity and chamber. An arrangement of valve seats in the cavity and chamber cooperate with a poppet and diaphragm. The area of the seats cooperative with the diaphragm and poppet insure the sequential operation of the device. An exhaust passage (d) may be actively integrated into a circuit utilizing the device to provide a combined OR fluid logic device and sequential inhibitor having an input (d), a supply input (b), a control input (a) and an output (c).

Abstract: Fluid logic elements are combined in various ways to provide staging, shift register and binary flip-flop functions. The elements used to provide the complex functions include a flip-flop element, sequential AND and sequential NOT elements in various combinations. For example, two sequential AND elements or two sequential NOT elements may be arranged with a single flip-flop element to provide a shift register or a binary flip-flop function. A single sequential AND element or a single sequential NOT element in combination with a single flip-flop element provide a staging function. Combinations of the multiple element devices provide enhanced control functions.

Abstract: An improved fitting for releasably connecting a plastic tube to a fluid logic element includes a ring member and a cooperating collet member. The collet member is generally cylindrical with a rigid collar at each end connected by an elastically deformable body section. A throughbore through the collet member includes barbs within the throughbore for gripping a plastic tube inserted in the throughbore. Outwardly extending projections from the middle of the body cooperate with cam surfaces of the ring member as the collet member is inserted into the ring member thereby controlling release of the plastic tube and insuring retention of the tube in the throughbore.

Abstract: A sequential AND fluid logic device has a first input (a) and a second input (b) with a single output (c). An output signal results whenever the input signals are provided sequentially to the first input (a) and the second input (b). The device includes a body member with a throughbore. An actuator is placed into the throughbore for cooperation with a first seat at one end of the throughbore. A diaphragm is arranged in opposed relation to the actuator and cooperates with the actuator. Another seat is cooperative with a poppet member at the opposite end of the throughbore. The area associated with the first seat is less than the active area associated with the diaphragm which, in turn, is less than the area associated with the other seat to assure sequential operation of the device.

Abstract: A hand-held grinder including a motor, a motor output shaft and a grinding tool mounted on the motor output shaft. Water is supplied from a source through a port into a sealed annular chamber surrounding the output shaft. A bore extends concentrically through the shaft between a point adjacent the annular chamber and the end of the shaft remote from the motor. Communicating bores extend radially through the shaft and through a collar keyed to the shaft from the concentric bore to the annular chamber. Additional bores, adjacent the end of the shaft remote from the motor, provide communications between the concentric bore and the outside of the shaft. Preferably, the sum of the cross-sectional areas of these last-mentioned bores is relatively less than the cross-sectional area of the concentric bore. Water dispensed through these communicating bores is atomized by rotation of the motor output shaft and grinding tool.

Abstract: A follower plate assembly for industrial drums includes an improved lip seal construction. The follower plate assembly has a projecting ledge to support a circumferential seal. The seal has a U-shaped cross section. The legs of the seal project radially into engagement with the container wall. The crown of the seal engages the follower plate. The ledge prevents axial movement of the seal. A circumferential band in combination with a ring or locking pins retain the seal on the follower plate.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for testing the strength of a seal provided between an underlying substrate material and an overlying sheet material of a container. The package is inflated through an inflation needle inserted into the container. The pressure in the container is sensed through a sensing needle inserted therein. The apparatus may be used to test the tensile strength of the seal, and the location of any leaks therein.

Abstract: A clip for an earring or the like comprising separate jaw members pivotally attached for movement towards and away from each other. A first jaw member includes an ornamental portion and is provided with contact means adapted to contact outer portions of the wearer's earlobe. A second jaw is provided with a generally C-shaped loop having base, root and terminal segments. A pair of spaced smooth bore openings are respectively provided through the root and terminal segments for receipt of a screw provided at one end thereof with contact means adapted to cooperate with the contact means of the first jaw member and for engaging the opposite side of the earlobe, and at the other end, with means for manually rotating said screw for movement relative to the first jaw. The terminal segment of the loop is angularly disposed with regard to the screw so that as the screw passes through the opening therein, the front top edge and the bottom rear edges of said opening make threaded engagement with the screw.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ear clip for earrings and the like in which a pair of pivotally connected members move relative to each other against the action of a pronounced frictional drag provided by a spring member. The spring member is a reversely bent generally U-shaped leaf spring having opposed free ends. A looped end portion of the other member generally encircles said free ends and maintains them under tension such that the force attempting to move the free ends apart provides the aforementioned frictional drag upon the looped end of the other member. The looped end is generally circular in configuration although it may include one or more lobes such that the members will snap into open or closed position. Also, adjustment means may be provided to increase or decrease the spring tension exerted, and thus vary the frictional drag upon the members as they move relative to each other.

Abstract: A speed sensor is attached to the output shaft of the rotary vane air motor. The speed sensor includes a body member which is pivotally mounted at one end on the output shaft for movement about an axis parallel to the shaft axis. The opposite end of the body member is biased into engagement with a locking pin. So long as the shaft of the air motor does not exceed a threshold speed, the body member remains in the described position. Upon exceeding a threshold speed, the body member disengages from the locking pin due to centrifugal force acting thereon and then engages a movable shutter. In this manner, the shutter is moved by the body member to close air flow passages to the air motor.

Abstract: A muffler is integrally incorporated with a pneumatic tool by cooperating with the tool housing intermediate the air exhaust chamber for the air motor and atmosphere. An inwardly dished muffler shell includes an exhaust inlet for receipt of exhaust air from the air motor. The shell is selectively positionable and may be combined with screen and additional muffler material as well as a retaining plate in any of a number of combinations to provide distinctive muffling characteristics for the air tool.

Abstract: Apparatus for heat sealing a thermally-sensitive material to a substrate material includes a frame, and a pair of internally heated shafts mounted fast on the frame. A roller member is rotatably mounted on each shaft, and is arranged to be heated by the heating element within the shaft. The rollers are rotated in opposite angular directions so that an object interposed at the nip will be translated therebetween. The facing peripheral portions of each roller member have a sinusoidal cross-section, with the peaks of one roller member being aligned with the valleys of the other. The roller members are spaced from one another to provide a degree of frictional resistance with the materials to be bonded together. The cross-sectional configuration in the roller members serves to provide a plurality of ribbon-like seals between the materials, without propagating a bubble as such materials are passed between the roller members.

Abstract: An improved flip-flop fluid logic circuit device is made from a body block having a through bore and adapted to receive a pair of identical inserts, a composite valve member in between the inserts, pressure responsive diaphragm members for engaging the opposite ends of the valve member to drive the valve between extreme positions within the bore and means for sealing the ends of the bore to retain the operating mechanism. A manual override button is included at each end of the bore to operate the composite valve member.

Abstract: The present invention provides improvements in a control valve adapted to be used by a tracheotomy patient or in a laryngeal prosthesis. In one form, the control valve has a housing provided with a control opening, and a flapper mounted within the housing and operable to move toward and away from the control opening. In this form, the improvement includes a thumbscrew mounted to penetrate the housing to engage the flapper, such that the thumbscrew may be selectively rotated to vary the operational characteristics of the valve. In another form, particularly adapted to be used by a tracheotomy patient, the control valve is provided with a first control opening communicating with ambient atmosphere and a second control opening adapted to communicate with the trachea of a patient.