Abstract: A system for moving a filter or a retainer into or out of a fluid pathway without halting the movement of the fluid in the pathway. When acting as a filtering device, the system includes a filter frame and a drive mechanism for slidingly moving the filter frame on stationary rails that remain in the duct through which the fluid is transferred. When a retainer device, the system includes a retainer and a drive mechanism for slidingly moving retainer on stationary rails that remain in the chamber through which a fluid under treatment passes. The system includes isolation means permitting the filter frame or retainer to pass into or out of the duct or chamber without exhausting the fluid within the duct or chamber. The drive mechanism may be a guillotine damper gate drive, a spindled drive, a hydraulic actuator or other drive means. The filter or the retainer may include a plurality of bays that are rigidly, hingedly, or detachably connected together.

Abstract: An actuation system for causing movement of a fluid flow diverter. The actuation system includes a drive frame assembly, a crank arm assembly and a ball screw assembly working in combination as an electromechanical device suitable for movement of diverter devices of a wide range of sizes. The drive frame assembly is connected to the diverter. The crank arm assembly is attached to the diverter's diverting component, such as a damper flap. The crank arm assembly is connected to the ball screw assembly such that movement of the ball screw forces pivotal movement of the crank arm and, in turn, the diverter's diverting component. A variable speed motor causes linear movement of a ball screw along a fixed rod, with the crank arm assembly connected to the movable ball screw. A drive lockout assembly ensures that movement of the ball screw occurs only under controlled conditions.

Abstract: A model railroad track assembly having a substantially rigid, one-piece molded plastic body with an upper surface molded to generally replicate at least a portion of a railroad track bed is provided. The track assembly has depending side walls extending generally downwardly from the upper surface to define a lower side having a hollow cavity. The body has at least two ends, with each end including a male latching member and a matingly complementary female engagement structure. The upper surface includes a molded-in guiding structure to receive and locate a preassembled piece of model railroad track, including at least two metal rails molded in place on a ladder-shaped member simulating a plurality of spaced-apart ties. The ends of the molded body are adapted for mating engagement with the ends of similar track assemblies having a similar piece of preassembled model railroad track with the rails on the engaged track ends being aligned.

Abstract: A non-burnout controller for a switching coil is disclosed. The controller has a pulse timer, a relay switch, and an actuation switch. After being reset and actuated, the pulse timer defines a pulse having a predetermined pulse period. The relay switch has a switch actuation input for receiving the pulse and first and second switch outputs for being electrically coupled to first and second taps of the switching coil. The relay switch places a switching voltage across the outputs during the pulse period such that the switching coil has a switching current running therethrough. The relay switch places a substantially zero voltage across the outputs before and after the pulse period such that the switching coil has substantially no switching current running therethrough. The actuation switch has first and second positions. Upon being changed to the first position, the actuation switch resets the timer, whereby the switching coil has substantially no current running therethrough.

Abstract: A magnetically actuated coupler assembly for model railroad rolling stock is provided. The coupler assembly includes a drawbar having first and second ends. The first end includes an aperture defined therethrough adapted for mounting in a coupler pocket on model railroad rolling stock. The second end includes a coupler head. A coupler knuckle is pivotably mounted to the coupler head by a magnetically actuated pivot post. A first coil spring alignment pin is located on the second end of the drawbar. A second coil spring alignment pin is located on the coupler knuckle. A coil spring is mounted between the coupler head and the coupler knuckle on the first and second coil spring alignment pins for resiliently urging the coupler knuckle to a coupled position.

Abstract: A model railroad track assembly having a substantially rigid, one-piece molded plastic body with an upper surface molded to generally replicate at least a portion of a railroad track bed is provided. The track assembly has depending side walls extending generally downwardly from the upper surface to define a lower side having a hollow cavity. The body has at least two ends, with each end including a male latching member and a matingly complementary female engagement structure. The upper surface includes a molded-in guiding structure to receive and locate a preassembled piece of model railroad track, including at least two metal rails molded in place on a ladder-shaped member simulating a plurality of spaced-apart ties. The ends of the molded body are adapted for mating engagement with the ends of similar track assemblies having a similar piece of preassembled model railroad track with the rails on the engaged track ends being aligned.

Abstract: Model railroad track assemblies are formed from preassembled track sections, each including a pair of spaced-apart parallel metal rails molded in place in a one-piece ladder-like body, and a track accessory in the form of a one-piece molded plastic body having no undercuts to permit fabrication of the body by simple two-piece open and close molds. Male latching members and female engagement structures are integrally molded at each end of each track body, side-by-side for releasible latching engagement with like structures on the ends of like bodies. Each molded body including its latching members and engagement structures is adapted by the provision of suitable openings, spaces and recesses to permit top to bottom nesting engagement of identical track assemblies with one another for protection and reduced storage size.

Abstract: Valves of the diverter and isolating types have their ports which are to be opened and closed surrounded by seats each of which is inclined inwardly towards the surrounded port. The hinged blades are surrounded by tips in support of seals of which there are two for each port to be closed. The seals are metallic and resiliently flexible and the seals of each pair are disposed to engage spaced apart, transverse zones of a seat when a blade is operatively positioned to close the surrounded port. As a diverter valve has two ports to be closed by opposite sides of its blade, there are two like but oppositely disposed pairs of seals, one pair for each port. With both types of valves, the seals of a blade are in substantially linear engagement with a seat when the blade is positioned to close the associated port and are in scraping engagement with the seat as the blade moves into and out of that position.

Abstract: Fabric expansion joints suitable for use in the exhaust systems of gas turbines are of three types definable with reference to whether a frame is to be connected to a duct section which is externally insulated or one which is internally insulated. In joints where only the outlet frame or where both the inlet and outlet frames are to be connected to internally insulated sections, the flanges of the liners are connected to their frames in a manner preventing movement of the liners relative to the axis of the flow path through the joint but permitting thermal flange growth relative to the frames. Where a frame is to be connected to an externally insulated duct, the frame includes structure spaced from the flange of the liner which defines therewith an inwardly opening, thermal distribution channel. In each type, the free ends of the liners overlap in a spaced apart relationship and are interconnected in a manner permitting relative lengthwise movement between them.

Abstract: A gas flow diverter receives large volumes of hot gases from a gas turbine and has a blade adapted to close either the outlet port to a heat recovery steam generator or the outlet port to the stack. Each port is surrounded by an open channel the two side walls of which are each provided with a seal with both exposed, one beyond the other. The surfaces of the blade are stainless steel cladding and are connected through insulation to a reinforcement in a manner permitting but confining the expansion of the cladding. The frame has a border providing first and second ledges on each side which are spaced and positioned so that each may engage a different one of the two seals bordering an outlet port when closed thus establishing the channel as a closed passageway surrounding the closed port which may be sealed against leakage by discharging sealing air into it.

Abstract: The proximate ends of spaced apart sections of duct systems for fluid media are interconnected by expansion joints having a sleeve of flexible material surrounding and isolating the flow path in the area between the sections. The flexible material consists of at least one reinforcing substrate to which surface layers of a media resisting material having a degree of elasticity are fused and bonded. Each substrate in one embodiment consists of two series of strands oriented to present a criss-cross pattern with the strands of both series diagonally disposed with with respect to the flow path when the material is formed into a sleeve. In another embodiment, there is an additional series of strands which are longitudinal.

Abstract: A guillotine damper for use in exhaust or like duct systems which must be entered by men for servicing has its frame provided with guides extending about the flow path from one end of the opening by which the blade enters an air tight bonnet to the other end thereof and enclosed by resiliently flexible metal seals. The blade has marginal channels coextensive with the guides with the channels closely fitting the guides and compressing the sides of the seals with zero leakage attained by sealing air discharged along the channels during movement of the blade and while the damper is closed.

Abstract: A double louver damper for use in a duct system conveying hot gases and particles in order to permit safe entry to be made therein when servicing is required has a frame to be incorporated in the system. The frame has two parallel seals surrounding the flow path, one spaced downstream relative thereto and to the other. The frame pivotally supports two sets of the same number of blades, one set for each seal and with the axes of the corresponding blades of the two series in the same plane. Each blade is in the form of an elongated, centrally pivoted diamond and is provided with coplanar lengthwise and end sealing portions of the same radial extent. When the damper is closed, the long axes of the blades are substantially in the same plane with the proximate lengthwise sealing portions overlapping and the remaining lengthwise and end sealing portions engaging the appropriate one of the seals.

Abstract: A magnetically actuated coupling and uncoupling system for model railroads comprised of a drawbar pivotally-mounted to one end of a railroad car, wherein the drawbar contains an integral leaf spring extending from the first end of the coupler to tend to center the drawbar, a coupler body with cantilever springs secured to the second end of the drawbar, a magnetically-actuated post pivotally-secured to the drawbar extending downward from the drawbar, and a pivotally-mounted coupler knuckle secured to the post and pivotally secured to the drawbar such that the pivotally-mounted coupler knuckle will interact with the cantilever spring.