Abstract: A solar collector is connected to a storage tank. A thermo-siphon heater is connected to the storage tank. A pressurized tank is connected to the upper portion of the storage tank. A vertically moveable insulated divider floats in the storage tank to separate hot and cold water in the storage tank. Means are provided to withdraw water from storage and feed it out under pressure.

Abstract: Solar heating system. A solar collector. A double storage device connected to the collector to provide coolest possible heat transport medium at beginning of each day's collection and to control collector input temperature at minimum temperature and hence maximum collection efficiency. The first storage device has a capacity for approximately one days operation. The second storage device has a capacity for several days operation. The operation of the storage devices are controlled so that the first storage device is heated first and when the first storage device is heated sufficiently then the second storage device is heated. The operation of the storage devices are also controlled so that the first storage device is used first for heating and when the first storage device is depleted of useable heat then the second storage device is used.

Abstract: Paper gripper improvement in a printing press of the type having a frame, a large paper carrying impression cylinder drum mounted on the frame and a plurality of retractable printing stations mounted on the frame and spaced around the drum. Each gripper has a stationary finger and a second finger reciprocatable with respect to the stationary finger. A cam is connected to operate the reciprocatable finger to grip the paper as it is fed onto the drum. To detect a missing paper, an electrical circuit is completed by contact between the stationary finger and the reciprocatable finger in the absence of a paper between them insulating them from each other, whereby the need for photo-cells or other detectors to detect missing papers is eliminated. The inking rollers are driven separately from the drum to facilitate retracting the printing stations in the event of a missing paper.

Abstract: Solar heating system. A solar connector. A double storage device connected to the collector to provide coolest possible heat transport medium at beginning of each day's collection and to control collector input temperature at minimum temperature and hence maximum collection efficiency. The first storage device has a capacity for approximately one days operation. The second storage device has a capacity for several days operation. The operation of the storage devices are controlled so that the first storage device is heated first and when the first storage device is heated sufficiently then the second storage device is heated. The operation of the storage devices are also controlled so that the first storage device is used first for heating and when the first storage device is depleted of useable heat then the second storage device is used.

Abstract: A low reflection coating for windows. A coating of silicone rubber is applied on one surface of the window and preferably also on the other surface. Each coating preferably has a thickness of several wavelengths of light and has a minimum thickness of two microns. The coating is low cost and is suitable for large areas, for instance solar heat collectors. Reflectivity is reduced by approximately one-third. The coating has no relation to a quarter wavelength or any multiple thereof of incident light.

Abstract: Uni-directional radiation vanes for a solar heating system for passing solar radiation and suppressing reradiation in the opposite direction. A plurality of parallel vanes are pivotally mounted. Drive means are connected to the vanes to rotate said vanes in parallel relation to follow the sun so that the sun's rays pass between said vanes. A plurality of grooves on the lower part of said vanes suppress reradiation between said vanes in the opposite direction to the sun's rays.

Abstract: High speed document processing and sorting apparatus. A stream of documents is guided along a path at high speed. A detector is mounted along said path to detect identifiable documents. A magazine is mounted to receive the detected documents. A vacuum wheel is mounted to remove the detected documents from said path to said magazine. The vacuum picker comprises a vacuum wheel mounted a predetermined spacing over said path, the vacuum wheel having a surface speed equal to the high speed document speed. A solid wheel is movably mounted below said vacuum wheel and below said path. A detector control moves the solid wheel and document up into contact with the vacuum wheel when it is desired to remove a document moving at high speed.

Abstract: A fluid manifolding system. A main flow line is connected to a plurality of branch flow lines. Adjustable control means are connected to each branch point to control the flow in that branch line independently of the pressure drop in that branch line and independently of the hydrostatic pressure in the main flow line at that branch point. The control means consists of a fixed constriction in each branch flow line and an automatic valve in each branch flow line responsive to the pressure drop across the fixed constriction and which may be biased by a force to maintain a fixed preassigned pressure drop across the fixed constriction.

Abstract: Roofing means including a roof panel. Means are provided for securing the roof panel onto a roof frame including elastic clamping means joining the panel in tensioned relation to the frame and a deformable elastic sealing member secured between the clamping means and the panel and covering the clamping member. The roof panel may be a thin translucent plastic sheet.

Abstract: An air-heating solar collector having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, substantially coextensive translucent sheets and a convoluted air passage passing in succession between successive pairs of said sheets, the air finally passing over a blackened absorber plate, whereby heat escaping from the absorber to the sheets is picked up by air flowing in the convoluted air passage.

Abstract: An auxiliary system for cooling a solar collector of the type having circulating fluid when normal circulation fails, comprising direct mechanical temperature responsive means for admitting domestic water to the collector automatically when a predetermined safe temperature is exceeded.

Abstract: A solar collector for collecting radiant energy and transferring it as heat to a moving air stream. A housing has means to provide an air stream through the housing. At least one translucent cover is mounted on the housing for the entrance of radiation into the housing. A plurality of spaced apart partially translucent sheets in said air stream, substantially parallel to and coextensive with the cover, whereby a portion of said entering radiation is absorbed by each successive partially translucent sheet and transmitted to said air stream as heat.

Abstract: An absorber plate for water heating collectors. A cover sheet has a blackened upward surface for absorbing sunlight and a plurality of ridges on its lower surface. A back sheet has an equal number of grooves, the spacing of said grooves matching said ridges, the cover sheet and the back sheet being assembled so that the ridges nest in the grooves, the grooves being wider and shallower than said ridges so that a plurality of water passages partially bounded by the ridges and the grooves are formed when the cover sheet and the back sheet are assembled in nesting relation.

Abstract: Document conveying apparatus without roller contact on the documents. An upper chain is mounted on upper sprockets and a lower chain is mounted on lower sprockets. A plurality of equally spaced friction grip members are mounted on the chains so that the upper and lower grip members contact each other in the absence of a document. The leading edges of the documents are gripped by the upper and lower sets of grip members and the documents are conveyed by the chains without roller contact on the documents.

Abstract: A heat storage tank suitable for solar house heating systems. The tank includes a rigidly supported bottom panel covered with a layer of stones of substantially uniform size which are bonded together thermally and mechanically at their points of contact with each other, but which have voids forming air passages remaining between them, bottom insulation below said bottom panel, a bottom air passage between the bottom insulation and the bottom panel, and at least one opening in the bottom panel whereby air can pass from said bottom air passage into said layer of stones.

Abstract: A reflecting solar heat collector. A stationary cylindrical receiver surface absorbs sunlight. An array of reflecting mirror strips are rotatably mounted in substantially parabolic arrangement having the receiver surface substantially at its focus. Motor means are connected for pivotally rotating said mirror strips substantially in unison about spaced-apart axes parallel to said receiver surface and substantially in said parabolic arrangement, to track the sun's apparent motion.

Abstract: An air-heating solar collector having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, substantially coextensive translucent sheets and a convoluted air passage passing in succession between successive pairs of said sheets, the air finally passing over a blackened absorber plate, whereby heat escaping from the absorber to the sheets is picked up by air flowing in the convoluted air passage.

Abstract: A feeder hopper for documents. A pair of guide rods are slidably mounted in a base member. A rear plate is mounted on the guide rods. A second plate pivotally and slidably mounted on one side of the guide rods. The plates are adapted to nest together. Means are provided to push back the rear plate back from the second plate when it is desired to add a new supply of documents to the hopper. The second plate holds the stack in position. After the new sheets are added the second plate is rotated out of the stack.

Abstract: A heat-conducting joint suitable for solar heat collectors. A tubular metal member carries heat-transfer fluid. A sheet metal member is in thermal contact with said tubular member and one of the members is pre-curved in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the sheet into a wave shape substantially consisting of a plurality of long radius arches joined by short radius cusps. Means are provided for first securing the other member while straight to the one member near its ends in a manner to prevent sliding of the other member on the one member. Means are provided for then securing said other member against the one member at the short radius cusps, whereby the two members are pressed together elastically along at least one line of contact for efficient heat conduction between them.

Abstract: A heat storage tank suitable for solar house heating systems. The tank includes a rigidly supported bottom panel covered with a layer of stones of substantially uniform size which are bonded together thermally and mechanically at their points of contact with each other, but which have voids forming air passages remaining between them, bottom insulation below said bottom panel, a bottom air passage between the bottom insulation and the bottom panel, and at least one opening in the bottom panel whereby air can pass from said bottom air passage into said layer of stones.