Abstract: An air pollutant and/or fire combustion sensing apparatus includes a capacitive sensor having spaced sensing electrodes producing a free space mounted within an environment subject to possible fire or the like. One of the sensing electrodes has an outer dielectric layer for absorbing contaminating gaseous products. The electrodes are connected to a high voltage power source for producing a charged capacitor with a high intensity static electric field of substantially 5.times.10.sup.5 V/M up to the dielectric breakdown of air in the free space or gap. The electric field reacts upon the contaminating gaseous products of combustion and environmental pollution and produces an opposing electric field with a net change in the electric field and the summated voltage appearing across the electrodes. A high input impedance detecting circuit with good electrometer characteristics responds to the change in the field.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat for use with air conditioners or heat pumps.Two (2) programmable timer-counters determine the respective amounts of time that the compressor will and will not operate. Both timers are consumer controlled. The "on" timer initiates compressor operation at the beginning of its cycle, and activates the "off" timer at the end of its cycle. The "off" timer stops compressor operation at the beginning of its cycle and activates the "on" timer at the end of its cycle.Operation of the "off" timer can be overridden by a "satisfied/not satisfied" means which re-starts the "on" timer at the end of its cycle if certain monitored conditions have not attained a preselected threshhold value.Filtering means are also provided so that the "on" timer responds only to genuine calls for service from the thermostat.

Abstract: A heater vent having a temperature responsive damper such as a bimetallic element is disclosed. A shroud-like structure is positioned to cooperate with the temperature responsive element to close the vent at an elevated temperature and thereby reduce loss of residual heat while permitting the combustion gases to be completely purged from the firebox. For safety, movement of the temperature responsive element is uninhibited in all positions with complete vent closure occurring at ambient temperature and with the damper open during heater burner operation.

Abstract: A microcomputer for installation in one vehicle for computing and displaying the average speed of another vehicle in which display and data input are actuated simultaneously to minimize peripheral connections and in which provision is made for measureent of speed in real time.

Abstract: A gas cleaning and heat transfer apparatus has a plurality of gas cleaning units that concurrently operate to separate foreign matter from the gas and reduces the temperature of the gas. Each cleaning unit has a heat conducting wall surrounding a tubular passage for carrying gas and foreign matter. A plurality of helical elements located in the passage are positioned in angular relationship relative to each other so that the gas moving through the passage is divided into separate helical gas streams. Heat from the gas in the passage is transferred through the wall to the fluid. The jacket around the cylindrical wall has a generally spiral rib in one embodiment which directs the flow of liquid in the chamber in a spiral path. The heating liquid is pumped to a location where the heat in the liquid is utilized. In another embodiment a spiral fin surrounds the heat conducting wall and a relatively airtight jacket surrounds the fin. Air cools the heat conducting wall as it circulates in the jacket.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting the quantity of a specific gas hereinafter simply called "gas" in a carrier gas when water vapor is present. The gas and the carrier gas are passed through a whistle chamber which produces a resonating frequency. The resonant frequency changes as a function of the fraction of the gas, temperature and water vapor. An output signal is produced which is a function of the resonant frequency. A correction device senses water vapor and temperature and produces an output signal which is a function of the water vapor and the temperature. A receiving means receives the output signals and produces a resultant signal which is a function of only the fraction of the gas.

Abstract: A digital data recorder has a microprocessor control which directs data to the read/write transducer and actuates the tape drive. The recorder accepts data in serial digital form and has an analog-to-digital converter-multiplexer which receives analog data and adapts it for digital recording. Data is read from the tape through an output connector to one of several retrieving devices. An identifying input to the microprocessor from the retrieving device provides for control of the read transducer and the tape drive to direct the appropriate data to the retrieving device.

Abstract: A tachometer comprises a magnet having north and south magnetic poles and a magnetically operated switch for sensing movement of the magnet and for producing an output signal in response thereto. The magnet is supported on one end of a shaft which is supported for rotation in a bearing. The other end of the shaft is threaded into the rotating member, the output of which is to be measured. The bearing is mounted on a plate so that the plate and shaft are independently movable. The switch is mounted on the plate in proximity to the magnet to detect movement of the magnet. The frequency of the output signals produced by the switch indicates the rate of rotation of the rotating member.

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 air lock has a chamber and a pair of doors in respective walls of the chamber. Operators associated with the doors include closers normally biasing the doors to closed positions and fluid powered openers associated with the closers capable of overriding the bias of the closers. A control system, operation of which may be initiated by initial opening displacement of one of the doors or (in one embodiment of the invention) by manually operable remote switch means, provides for opening of one of the doors and latching of the other to prevent simultaneous opening of both doors. The latch means for the doors may be overriden by direct displacement of the doors for safety purposes. The control system also triggers air handling apparatus associated with the chamber.

Abstract: Control system for indicating which, of a plurality of sensed functions, first malfunctions. The system includes a plurality of series connected devices, each such device includes a shiftable valve which, in one position activates an indicator, and, in another position deactivates said indicator. Signalling connections link the devices such that all indicators, save the one governing the first malfunction, remain in the indicating condition they were in prior to such malfunction occurring.

Abstract: The roll winding machine for alternately forming a web roll on two driven arbors. It has a splicing device for receiving a continuously running web from a web accumulator. The splicing device has a splicing carriage for receiving and holding the distal end portion of a leader web and including cutting means for severing the running web so that a severed end portion is provided on the wound web roll and on the continuously running web. A web clamping means is provided to grip and prevent movement of the running web and to release both the severed end portion of the web of the wound roll and the running web. The splicing carriage is operative to cut the running web and affix the severed end portion of the running web to the distal end portion of the leader web so that the running web is wound on the other driven arbor upon movement of the clamping means to release the running web and leader web.

Abstract: The system includes a damper plate equipped with a draft controller or sensing switch and a motor for positioning the damper plate to control the furnace draft. Upon generation of a call-for-heat signal, an initialization signal drives the damper off its closed position. From then on, draft must be sensed by the draft controller switch to complete the cycle to open the damper plate. When the damper plate is fully opened, a fuel and ignition control circuit is energized to supply fuel to the furnace, and an electronic timer is energized to generate a signal which establishes a trial-for-draft period. When the fuel is ignited, the draft will increase and energize the motor to move the damper plate off the fully open position during the trial-for-draft period, and thereafter, the position of the damper plate is controlled by the draft controller switch to achieve a proper draft within design range.

Abstract: A direct fired fryer includes a combustion chamber heated by burner means and heats a vat of cooking oil through a partition wall as well as through a network of heat conducting tubes arranged in the vat and communicating with the combustion chamber. A wiper conveyor sweeps fines from the bottom of the vat to a sump for discharge outside of the conveyor and also cleans the upper surfaces of the heat conducting tubes to minimize the carbonaceous burnoff.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for processing food products such as potato chips and the like. A frying medium mist is contained in a vat in which the water vapor or steam being released from the product and the frying medium being generated rises upwardly through a pre-treatment chamber in which a pair of superposed perforate conveyors are mounted. The product is sliced or cut into parts which are conveyed to the feed end of the upper conveyor. The upper conveyor moves the product in a path along the length of the vat for discharge onto the lower conveyor, which moves the product along a reverse path for discharge into the vat. The product passes through the chamber in an atmosphere of the frying medium mist and steam. The speed of the conveyors is selectively controlled at a rate which causes the product to remain in contact with the atmosphere for an optimum dwell time for partial cooking as the frying medium mist and steam deposit on the product.

Abstract: A system for controlling registration in a Printing press between the moving web having repetitive print patterns and a work station operated cyclically in synchronization with the press. The system includes a photoelectric scanner having a variable sensitivity, a position pulse generator with a backup accumulating device, a motorized compensator for controlling the longitudinal position of the web relative to the work station and a digital control circuit for driving the compensator to correct misregistration. The control system counts position pulses during each cycle of the work station, defines a monitoring period during which marks and repetitive print patterns are scanned and signals differences between the cycles of the print markings and the work station by sampling at the occurrence of each mark, a digital number which corresponds to the instantaneous position of the work station and its cycle.

Abstract: A gas cleaning and heat transfer apparatus associated with a cooking hood assembly to separate foreign matter from gas moving through the hood assembly and transferring heat from the gas to a liquid. The apparatus has a plurality of gas cleaning and heat transfer units. Each unit has a heat conducting wall surrounding a tubular passage accommodating a plurality of helical elements that divide and direct the gas into separate helical gas streams. A spiral ribbed jacket having a liquid accommodating a chamber surrounds the cylindrical wall and directs the flow of a liquid in the chamber in a spiral path. The foreign matter is separated from the gas as it moves in the spiral path through the passage by the combined mechanisms of centrifugal force, adhesion, condensation, and impaction. The liquid surrounding the wall lowers the temperature of the gas adjacent the inside of the wall causing condensation of vapors carried by the gas on the wall.

Abstract: When a call for heat is established, a flame relay is actuated for a predetermined time by means of a cycling timer. Upon this initial actuation, the flame relay inhibits a checking relay and initializes a trial-for-ignition (or simply "ignition") timer. After the cycling timer times out and the flame relay has been completely cycled, which establishes operativeness of the flame relay and flame sensing circuitry, the checking relay is enabled and actuated for the ignition period. The checking relay then actuates the pilot valve and a spark generator to start a pilot flame. If a flame is sensed, before the ignition timer times out, the flame relay actuates the main valve and establishes a holding current for the ignition timer so that the checking relay continues to be energized. If a flame is not sensed during the trial period, the ignition timer disables the checking relay, thereby de-energizing the pilot valve before the main valve is opened.

Abstract: A light control system includes a transmitting unit (10) having a receiver unit address (22) and an output address switch (24) for pulse modulating a digitally encoded transmission signal broadcast by a radio frequency oscillator (26). A remotely located receiving unit (28) controls the power supply to an electrical load (42) such as an electrical light in response to digitally encoded data signals transmitted by said transmitting unit (10). The receiving unit (28) includes a radio frequency receiver (32) to apply a signal to digital transmission decoders (34) and a receiver unit address decoder (36). Upon detecting a transmitted signal encoder for said receiving unit (28) an output latch (38) sets an opto-isolated relay circuit (40) to connect or disconnect power to the electrical load (42).