Abstract: Heat treated spring steel, electroplated with zinc, is formed into clips having a base portion that passes under the base of a railway rail and upstanding end sections that respectively engage and forcefully snap over the opposite lateral edges of the rail base flange. One clip has confronting semi-cylindrical extensions for overlying a section of bond wire to secure the latter in a bight configuration wrapped over the edge of the rail flange. Another clip has a semi-cylindrical extension for securing a section of bond wire to the base flange at the junction with the web of the rail. Angled notches in the edges of the clips provide small barbs that are bent out of the plane of the clip body to bite into the rail when assembled thereto for avoiding creep.

Abstract: An article of manufacture, such as an electrically actuable light gate structure, includes a substrate which may comprise an electrooptically active solid-state light gate material. Spaced parallel electrodes are subdivided on that substrate into first and second electrode arrays alternating along an elongate region of the substrate. Individual terminals for the electrodes in each first electrode array are distributed along a line on one side of the elongate region, and individual terminals for the electrodes in each second electrode array are distributed along a line on the opposite side of the elongate region of the substrate. Any individual terminal of any one of the electrodes is spaced from the individual terminal of any other electrode by a center-to-center distance greater than the center-to-center spacing between that one electrode and the latter other electrode.

Abstract: Two-part turbine-blade retainer structures are disclosed for axial retention of each of a plurality of turbine blades to a rotor wheel, wherein radial retention is via fir-tree engagement of individual blade roots to the wheel. In a preferred embodiment, a male or bolt element of the retainer has a shank which is characterized by a smoothly cylindrical portion adjacent at one end to one of the heads; this cylindrical portion terminates at a shoulder, beyond which the shank is reduced and externally threaded. A sleeve or nut element of the retainer has an elongate threaded bore and is characterized by an outer cylindrical surface which extends to the second head. The two elements are proportioned to be inserted through opposite ends of a passageway and to be screwed together into firm engagement at the shoulder (i.e., at a location intermediate the two heads), with the sleeve covering the threads of the male element and the heads preventing the turbine blade from axial motion with respect to the wheel.

Abstract: A ball clutch mechanism couples a faucet knob to the splined end of a valve stem for releasing the valve stem when the knob is fully depressed. A dashpot damped return spring urges the valve stem toward valve closed position when the clutch mechanism releases. The same dashpot controlled return spring closes the valve if the knob is released either before or after full travel inward. Rotation of the knob rotates the valve stem to determine water temperature by mixing hot and cold supplies. Check valves control passages that are provided to vent the lines during fluid flow and to drain the lines when the system is serviced.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement is herein disclosed for use in a high energy centrifugal pump and the like wherein a chamber is defined about the discharge portion of the pump wheel which is attached to a shaft to form a rotor which rotates with respect to stationary parts and has limited axial movement as determined by the thrust bearing clearance. An annular seal is disposed operatively about the outside diameter of the pump wheel with sufficient clearance for the pump wheel to clear the seal regardless of the extent of the axial movement of the wheel. The seal acts to retard the shock waves of transient pressure differentials developed across the wheel. the seal further operates to define a dashpot arrangement wherein the wheel comprises a piston which automatically equalizes any pressure differential developed across the wheel and by-passing the seal.

Abstract: Fully integrated self-contained connectors for standard tubes include a first annular member having an axial bore preferably of a continuously hollow-cylindrical configuration for receiving ferrules of those standard tubes. A locking arrangement peripheral of the first annular member carries locking members extending through openings in that first annular member for retaining a ferrule at a tube retention shoulder in a locking position. At least one further annular member is axially slidable on the first annular member and houses the locking arrangement outside that first annular member. The locking members are actuated to a locking position upon axial sliding of the further annular member in one direction. Conversely, the locking members are actuated to a release position upon axial sliding movement of the further annular member in another direction. The further annular member may define one or more internal ramps for that purpose.

Abstract: A system for pressure letdown and flow control of high-pressure erosive fluid streams containing gas, liquid and solid particles, such as process slurries used in coal gasification and liquefaction. Throttle valves presently used for this application suffer excessive impingement erosion and corrosion damage, leading to short valve lifetime even with super-resistant valve materials. The present invention uses pairs of fixed-geometry opposing nozzles whose jets meet head-on with consequent energy dissipation and stream containment at the reduced pressure. The only erosion encountered here is scouring of internal nozzle surfaces which is minor and permits long lifetimes to be attained with conventional materials. This system provides flow control by (1) varying the number of nozzle pairs which are on-line by use of on-off shutoff valves for stepwise flow increments, and (2) low-pressure-drop operation of a conventional throttle valve in the main line for proportional control within one step increment.

Abstract: Biaxial strain gage and similar systems include or provide a substrate of semiconductor material having cubic unit cells and an absolute value of piezoresistive coefficient in a first direction different from an absolute value of piezoresistive coefficient in a second direction transverse to said first direction. A first strain gage has a dominant dimension oriented in the above mentioned first direction and is diffused into the substrate. A second strain gage has a dominant dimension in the above mentioned second direction and is diffused into the substrate. A pressure responsive diaphragm having a central area displaying essentially symmetrical biaxial strains is provided, and the substrate is attached in said central area to the diaphragm to expose the gages to the biaxial strains.