Abstract: A multivariable circulation heater. In one embodiment, the invention is a multivariable circulation heater comprising: (a) a heater having a bundle of configurable heating elements, a plurality of heating elements having selectable electrical terminations, wherein the heater may be configured for a plurality of heating capacity and/or power supply configurations by configuring the selectable electrical terminations; (b) a chamber having an insulated vessel for surrounding the bundle of configurable heating elements, wherein the vessel has a threaded screw plug opening and a plurality of bosses for adapting to inlet and outlet connections; (c) a screw plug adapted to screw into the threaded screw plug opening, the screw plug having two ends, wherein a first end is secured to the bundle of configurable heating elements and a second end is secured to the selectable electrical terminations.

Abstract: A rotatable integral wiring enclosure. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a rotatable integral wiring enclosure comprising: (a) an enclosure base having an opening larger than the diameter of an external threaded plug affixed to or forming the base of a heater; (b) a locknut having an inner and outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter is larger than the enclosure base opening and the inner diameter is threaded to screw onto the external threaded plug; and (c) a cover adapted to attach to the enclosure base, wherein after inserting the external threaded plug through the enclosure base opening and screwing the locknut onto the external threaded plug the enclosure base is both captive and capable of rotating about the external threaded plug independently of the heater and locknut prior to fully tightening the locknut.

Abstract: An adjustable hinge assembly is provided for use on a ventilator apparatus, wherein the ventilator apparatus includes a curb, a removable curb cap covering the curb and presenting side and rear edges, and a ventilator supported on the curb cap. The assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced curb cap support plates that each include a first arm adapted to be secured to the curb cap and extending along one of the side edges of the cap, and a second arm adapted to be secured to the curb cap and extending along the rear edge of the cap. The assembly also includes a back plate connected to and between the support plates along the rear edge of the cap, and a pair of laterally spaced curb plates adapted to be secured to the curb. The curb plates support the curb cap support plates, and define a pivot axis about which the curb cap support plates pivot between a first position in which the cap covers the curb, and a second position in which the cap is raised from the curb.

Abstract: A screwplug type water heating unit (10) has a body (12) through which ends (14a, 14b) of a heating element (14) extend. Separate terminal quick connects (22) have tabs (38a, 38b) which engage the ends of the heating element. Electrical leads (L1, L2) which connect with the ends of the heating element are separately engaged in slots (50) of each terminal quick connect by an engagement tab (60) so the heating element is electrically connected in a circuit supplying power to the heating unit. A terminal block (24) attaches to an outer face (26) of the screwplug. The terminal block has openings (94a, 94b, 96a, 96b, 98a, 98b) in it by which the terminal quick connects are installed in the terminal block. The terminal quick connects each have a tab (70) received in a slot (98a, 98b) formed in the terminal block to attach the terminal quick connects to the terminal block.

Abstract: A cam follower mounting assembly in which a cam follower has a cam follower stud that is not threadedly mounted to a mounting plate, but rather, is secured to the mounting plate via a set screw having a spherical tip that securably interfaces with a complementary annular groove in the cam follower stud. The annular groove is located near an end of the cam follower stud opposite the follower wheel.

Abstract: Improved overflow protection for washing machines and other applications in which a liquid from a controllable valve fills a tub is achieved by a circuit in which a single pulse train generated cooperatively by a pressure sensor and a controller is monitored by a lockout timer. If an interruption in the train of pulses occurs that is longer than a predetermined time-out period indicating a failure of either the pressure sensor or the controller that would otherwise prevent the valve from shutting off the flow of liquid into the tub, the lockout timer will cause the valve to turn off. The controller is also able to override the lockout timer and cause a relay to shut off power to the controllable valve to force it off if the pressure sensor detects a continued rise in liquid level after the controller has signalled the controllable valve to shut off.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) supports an electrical heating element (H) which is mounted in an oven (O). When supplied with electricity, the element heats the oven to cook food. During an operating cycle, the heating element expands and contracts along its length. The apparatus comprises a support bar (12) including an elongate plate (16) and bracketry (14) for mounting the plate to an inner wall (T) of the oven. The support bar extends orthogonally of a longitudinal axis of the heating element when the heating element is installed. The plate has spaced openings (18), each of which is sized for a length of the heating element to be fitted in an opening. Each opening comprises a slot one end of which extends into the body of the plate for a portion of the plate to cover the slot. The other end of the slot is open to receive the heating element, the portion of the heating element received in each slot being fitted into the covered end of the slot.

Abstract: A screwplug type water heater (10) has a heating element (12) immersible in a water heater tank (T) to heat water (L). Electrical terminals (28) on the outer end of the heater connect the heating element into a heater circuit (H) for a control unit (14). The control unit also includes a sensing circuit (S) for the unit to be responsive to water temperature inputs to turn-on the heater to heat water to a desired temperature and maintain it there. A thermistor (16) provides a temperature input to the control circuit. The thermistor is encapsulated in a bracket (32) mounted in, or integrally formed with, the screwplug to sense water temperature. Terminals (36) on the outer end of the heater allow the thermistor to be connected into the control circuit.

Abstract: A heating unit (H) for a cook top includes a ribbon-type heating element (E). The heating element is mounted on the upper surface of a cake (I) of microporous insulation material. The heating element is arranged in a predetermined pattern on the material and a plurality of staples (10) are used to attach and hold the heating element on the material surface. Each staple is a microwire staple and the staples are spaced along the length of the heating element to mount the heating element to the insulation. The microwire staples have a small thermal mass and so do not create heat sinks at their locations of use. Thus, they do not affect the efficiency of heat transfer between the heating element and that which is being heated. The staples are also preferably of the same metal alloy as that from which the heating element is formed so the staples can withstand high temperatures and numerous temperature cycles to provide a long service life.

Abstract: A modular radiant heater unit (10) is for use in a stove top (RT) designed for installation of a tubular coil type heating unit (C). The heater can either use a coil (12), or a ribbon heating element (14). The element rests upon a cake (20) of an insulation material fitted within a pan (16) sized to be installed in an opening (6) in the stove type in which a coil type heating unit is normally installed. The heating unit has an electrical connector (24) adapted to readily connect with the electrical connector installed in the stove top. A radiant glass cover (30), sized to fit over the heater unit, is fitted over the pan and held in place by an annular ring (34) which fits about the circumference of the pan and a shield (38) which covers a gap (6) between the heater unit and stove top. Utensils for cooking food are placed upon the glass top. The heater control (K) normally used to control the temperature of a tubular, coil heater, is now used to control the temperature of the radiant heater unit.

Abstract: A structural member end cap and method, the end cap having a gripping portion and a recessed socket portion sized to snuggly engage a structural member, the end cap including integral engaging means to permit key and keyway engagement to restrict radial movement of assembled parts and fastening means to restrict longitudinal movement of assembled parts.

Abstract: A detector plate for an overload clutch, the detector plate having at its peripheral edge a flat metal spiral retaining ring for providing improved detection by an adjacent proximity switch device. The spiral retaining ring provides an appropriate metal motion detection surface, for the customary plastic detector plate, any movement of which can be detected by the proximity switch. As an alternate embodiment, a metal surface coating can be formed onto the plastic detector plate to permit proximity switch detection of any movement of the detector plate.

Abstract: A deodorizing element (10) for use in a refrigerator (1). The element acts to remove food odors from the air circulating through the refrigerator which has a refrigeration system (5) by which air is circulated throughout a food storage compartment (2-4). The deodorizing element comprises a metal rod (14) at each end of which are electrical connections (16a, 16b) for connecting the heating element into an electrical circuit by which current is drawn through the rod. A layer (24) of a coating material is formed on the outer surface of the rod. This coating material is an odor absorbing material which is activated by the heat generated when current flows through the heating rod. The heating rod is mounted in an air circulation path of the refrigeration system by which air flowing through the system is drawn over the heating element and odors in the air are absorbed by the coating material.

Abstract: A non-contact switch movs from an off position to an on position when a lossy material enters a sensitive area of the switch. The non-contact switch comprises a transmitting element and a sensing element. The transmitting element is capable of radiating a signal. A portion of the signal passes through the sensitive area of the switch. The sensing element is capable of receiving the signal. When the received signal is less than a predetermined level, the received signal represents the lossy material entering the sensitive area of the switch.

Abstract: An electrically conductive system including an apparatus and method wherein an electric current is sealingly passed through at least two spaced insulatively sealed zones with an insulatively sealed void space provided therebetween under a vacuum and serving as a discharge zone for possible inadvertent preignition brought about accidentally by outside external factors.

Abstract: A feed control device particularly suited for mounting on a hand held, power driven drain cleaning apparatus having an elongate rotatable snake comprises a tubular housing having a transverse wall therein provided with a passage for the snake, a pair of driving rolls mounted on the wall for rotation about axes skewed relative to the housing axis and a drive actuating roll mounted on the housing for radial displacement to engage the rotating snake against the driving rolls. The actuating drive roll provides the inner end of an actuating drive unit having an outer end engaged by a pivotal lever on the housing for displacing the actuating drive roll against the snake.

Abstract: A thread cutting die or chaser for use with a power driven thread cutting machine is provided with a protective coating of an ultra hard material such as titanium nitride which is initially excluded from or is subsequently removed from the faces of the thread cutting teeth such as by a regrinding thereof after application of the coating to the die.

Abstract: A reluctance machine system including a reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator including at least one phase winding and a full pitch auxiliary filed winding where constant currents are established in the auxiliary field winding to assist in the establishment of a magnetic field in the machine so as to improve the machine's performance. Alternate embodiments are disclosed wherein the auxiliary field winding is positioned in a conventionally-shaped stator with phase windings of different types (e.g., short-pitched and fractional-pitched).

Abstract: A power driven pipe threading machine is provided with a coolant system by which an oil free, glycol based coolant is dispensed onto the workpiece during thread cutting in the area thereof adjacent a thread cutting die at a rate which provides for the coolant to completely evaporate and for the workpiece to be cooled to a temperature which provides a good quality thread. The coolant is pumped from a reservoir to a coolant outlet on the die head of the machine and through a needle valve by which the discharge rate is adjustable, and a torque responsive shut-off valve is associated with the die head for controlling the flow of coolant from the reservoir to the needle valve and coolant outlet in response to initial threading engagement between the workpiece and cutting dies on the die head.

Abstract: Portable apparatus for inspecting the interior of a pipe comprises a battery operated television camera connected to one end of a coaxial cable which is adapted to be stored in a rotatable storage drum. The battery is mounted on the storage drum for rotation therewith and the drum is rotatably mounted on a stand. Relatively rotatable inductive coupling components are provided between the drum and stand for transmitting the camera output signal to a camera monitor such as a television receiver.