Abstract: A fluid pressure--activated warning system for a crane comprising a plurality of signal device actuators each further comprising a valve spool, shiftable in response to a dangerous condition, and adapted to permit the emission of an alarm on the occurrence of such dangerous condition.

Abstract: A holding or checking means for holding the control rod of a reciprocating drill feed control apparatus in position after each advancing movement of an automatic drilling machine during a "peck drilling" operation. The holding means includes a cylindrical body adapted to be fastened over the end of a drill feed control apparatus and with the control rod of the feed control apparatus extended through said body. A pair of pivotally mounted yoke arms are mounted on a cylindrical body and have semi-circular recesses adapted for friction holding engagement with the feed control rod to hold it in an advanced position when the reciprocating drill apparatus is retracted. The holding means includes a biasing means for biasing the yoke arms into friction engagement against the control rod.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner having at least one blade yieldably mounted on a blade support assembly for scraping an endless belt. The blade support assembly includes a spring support and a spring cradle pivotally mounted within and angularly adjustable upon and secured to the spring support. A helical spring is mounted within the spring cradle and has one end anchored thereon. The other end of the helical spring terminates in a spring arm for supporting the blade.

Abstract: A conveyor belt cleaner having at least one blade mounted on a blade carrying member for scraping an endless conveyor belt. The blade carrying member substantially encloses and is telescopically received on an arcuately pivotal elongate support member. A plurality of rollers are located between the blade carrying member and support member for rolling the blade carrying member on and off the support member to service the conveyor belt cleaner. An adjustment mechanism is provided for arcuately shifting the support member to change the amount of pressure with which the blade engages the endless belt. The tubular support may be segmented to facilitate removal in confined areas and to permit repair by replacement of individual segments.

Abstract: A thermostatic valve including a housing that defines a housing inlet and a housing outlet and a valve body having an end wall and a side wall that define a valve chamber within the housing. The end wall defines an annular valve seat and a valve inlet opening encircled thereby while the side wall defines a plurality of valve outlet openings communicating with the valve chamber. Retained within the valve chamber is a resilient, annular seal encircling the valve inlet opening and a bi-metallic disc substantially parallel to the valve seat and normally spaced therefrom by a distance greater than the thickness of the annular seal. In response to a predetermined ambient temperature the bi-metallic disc deflects concavely into the valve chamber and into fluid sealing engagement wih one end of the annular seal forcing an opposite end thereof into fluid sealing engagement with the valve seat.

Abstract: In a structure utilizing a pair of accelerometers vibrating in a direction normal to their force sensing axes, a circuit utilizing voltage-to-frequency converters is utilized to convert the analog output signals from the accelerometers to digital signals representing the translational motion and the angular rate rotation of the structure.

Abstract: Apparatus employing ultrasonic pulse production at a transmit transducer at a known frequency is received at a receive transducer for sampling a liquid slurry of known composition, but unknown ratio, makeup of liquid, gas and fine, suspended particles. The transmission time is converted to digital form and an adjustable velocity-density slope factor is applied from empirical data to result in a readout voltage that directly relates to the density of the liquid slurry.

Abstract: A panel having a cellular core and an acoustically semi-transparent facing is provided. The core, which may be a honeycomb, has cells opening to a face of the core. The facing is bonded to the face of the core such that pillow-like portions of the facing extend into the open cells of the core to provide a mechanical interlock between the facing and the core and to improve the absorption of acoustic energy directed upon the panel. The panel may include a layer bonded to the core opposite the facing for reducing the transmission of acoustic energy through the panel or for increasing its strength and rigidity. Preferably, the facing is non-homogeneous such that the density of the pillow-like portions is less than the portions of the facing adjacent the structure of the core. The panel may be formed by heating and compressing an uncured fibrous element of relatively uniform thickness and density against a cellular core. A heated platen may be used to produce a relatively flat, hardened outer surface of the panel.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed in connection with a valve, preferably a sliding gate valve. The seal assembly includes a retaining ring having a surface contour complementary to that on a resilient, replaceable seal element, in order to positively hold the seal in position during use. The ring also includes a threaded portion that may be received in a threaded section either in the valve body or in a separate valve seat collar secured within the valve body. In one embodiment, the seal includes an annular metallic component having an annular groove, into which a resilient component is secured.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a hinged proof mass constrained from movement by a beam resonator force transducer. To afford greater movement of the proof mass and greater latitude in positioning mechanical stops, one end of the force transducer is connected with the accelerometer base through a compliant mount. The other end of the force transducer is connected with the proof mass at the center of percussion of the proof mass. Adjacent surfaces of the proof mass and base provide squeeze film viscous gas damping. A pair of proof mass-force transducer systems are mounted on a carrier in opposite positions with the sensitive axes of the proof masses aligned and the proof mass hinge axes parallel and opposed to each other.

Abstract: An RF filter connector with a one-piece housing formed of conductive material, a plurality of contacts, insulating spacers, high frequency filter elements on selected or all contacts, a conductive ground plane in conductive engagement with each filter element and the housing, and a spring clip member for clip mounting on the connector housing. When mated with another connector, the RF filter connector housing and the other connector housing will be maintained in conductive engagement to effect reliable EMI grounding of undesired signals. An RF filter connector having components which may be readily hand asembled or be automated machinery.

Abstract: An hydraulic cylinder for driving a reciprocating pump at 5000 to 10,000 psi pressures having a separate spool casing which serves as a detachable extension of the cylinder. The detachable spool casing houses in a single grouping seals for the fluid being pumped, seals for the hydraulic fluid driving the piston, a bearing for the piston rod, and lubricating means for the seals and bearings. This construction provides ready access to these parts for repair and assures concentricity between the piston rod and the bearings and seals in which it reciprocates.In one embodiment a wiper ring is provided between seals to scrape from the piston rod abrasive material in the fluid being pumped and discharge it from the cylinder. In another embodiment an external shock absorber decelerates the piston at one end of its extended stroke, the shock absorber also serving to actuate a valve controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder.

Abstract: A voltage controller for use with a fluorescent-lighting system, the controller including a three-phase transformer having three auto-transformer windings each for developing two reduced voltages, three contactors for selectively coupling the full voltage and the reduced voltages to the lighting system, the contactors being switched in closed-transition fashion to avoid power interruptions, and another contactor for opening the winding-neutral connections during voltage switching to avoid shorting the transformer.

Abstract: An apparatus for inertially determining the rate of angular rotation and translational motion of a structure is provided which utilizes a pair of vibrating accelerometers vibrating along a single axis with their force sensing axis located normal to the axis of vibration and rotated 90.degree. from each other. Signals from the vibrating accelerometers can be processed to provide indications of angular rotation about two axes and translation motion about two axes. Two of the sets of vibrating accelerometers can be combined to provide a three axis inertial reference system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proportional-flow electrohydraulic control which includes both an electrohydraulic valve (36) and an electronic control (382). The electronic control includes an offsetting circuit (622) and is effective to produce an effective driving voltage, for an electrical force-motor (52) of the electrohydraulic valve, that is pulse-width modulated and that is greater than a fixed proportionality to an input signal (410) by a manually adjustable offset voltage. The offset voltage may be adjusted to provide a null force that exactly balances a spring (129) which presses a valve spool (54) to an overlapped position; so that fluid flow is proportional to an input signal irrespective of the initial load of the spring. Or, the offset voltage may be adjusted to provide a basic flow voltage; and then the rate of fluid flow that is delivered by the valve is greater than a given proportionality to the input signal by a substantially constant rate of fluid flow.

Abstract: A probe for the measurement of the level of conductive materials within a conductive vessel is disclosed which is particularly suitable for the measurement of the level of conductive granular materials such as coal or other minerals or plastics or vegetable matter which are conductive. In a preferred embodiment the probe comprises a conductive steel core covered with a layer of insulating plastic and covered further with a layer of a semi-conductive material which preferably comprises a plastic which has been partially filled with a conductive material such as carbon black. Other embodiments wherein the probe may comprise a conductive plate covered by insulation further covered by a similar semi-conductive layer are also disclosed. Reference is made to prior art disclosures of circuitry and theory which enable the use of the probe of the invention.

Abstract: Motor vehicle wheel alignment measuring apparatus, which enables measurement of toe-in, lateral offset and out of square conditions with respect to any given set of tires, comprises pairs of frames adapted to be hung by hooks against the side walls of the exposed tires of a set of tires. A combination of spring and elastic members are provided for engaging the frames with tire sidewalls. Methods include measuring the toe-in of a set of tires, the alignment of all the tires, and vehicle bearing wear, all while the tires are supporting the vehicle.

Abstract: In an inertial system for sensing the angular rotation and translational motion of a structure utilizing a pair of accelerometers in a back-to-back arrangement vibrating substantially linearly along an axis normal to their force sensing axes, a mechanism utilizing a parallelogram structure is used to impart the vibratory motion to the accelerometers.

Abstract: A machine forms tortillas into cooked taco shells using a conveyor with a plurality of complementary, vertically extending forming elements which shift from a nested to an open condition as the conveyor sprockets are traversed for feeding and discharging the product. On the lower conveyor run the forming elements pass through a channel of cooking oil and then on to a station where cooked taco shells are discharged. A loading conveyor feeds tortillas in a spaced column towards the forming elements and an acceleration conveyor operates between the loading conveyor and forming conveyor for positioning the tortilla for engagement with a forming element.

Abstract: A weight and balance system which automatically compensates for loading errors while the aircraft is stationary. A weight signal is generated from the outputs of a pair of inclinometers mounted on adjacent opposite ends of a landing gear member which bends in response to aircraft weight. The weight signal generated just after no movement of the aircraft is detected is held in a latch. The held weight signal and a subsequently generated weight signal are combined to provide a signal representative of the difference therebetween. The difference signal is scaled by an error correction coefficient to provide a loading error compensation signal which is combined with the subsequently generated weight signal to provide a corrected weight signal. The system further includes means for performing reasonableness tests in response to the restoration of power to the system after power has been down.