Abstract: An apparatus and method for refrigerant recovery which removes refrigerant in liquid form from an air conditioning unit by cooling the refrigerant, thereby creating a temperature gradient between the air conditioning unit and the recovery apparatus which urges the refrigerant from the air conditioning unit into the apparatus, and then storing the refrigerant in a tank. Refrigerant vapor is pumped from the tank back into the air conditioning unit, thereby avoiding pressure buildup in the tank and also preventing the liquid refrigerant from being retained in the air conditioning unit due to vacuum created therein by the refrigerant removal. Cooling apparatus within the recovery apparatus uses a separate supply of refrigerant to cool the refrigerant, and neither the air conditioning unit itself nor the removed refrigerant is used for this purpose, allowing refrigerant removal from an inoperative air conditioning unit.

Abstract: A rod guide remover is provided for splitting rod guides away from a sucker rod without risk of damage to the rod. A set of opposing blades are used which are kept a selected distance apart by stop members that abruptly contact a set of rod supports for preventing injury to the rod. The gap distances are selected over a relatively narrow range to insure complete splitting of all types of guides yet provide sufficient tolerance to protect the rod.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the use of inexpensive volatile fuels in the calcining zone of a cement kiln during the manufacture of cement clinker in a rotary vessel.

Abstract: Synthesis gases are produced by reaction of steam, oxidant, and a major portion of fresh hydrocarbon feed in an exothermic catalytic reforming zone to a first reformed gas having very low methane content. The balance of the fresh feed is reacted with steam in an endothermic catalytic reforming zone to a second reformed gas having a low methane content. The first and second reformed gases are combined and passed in indirect heat exchange with reactants in the endothermic reforming zone to provide all of the heat required therein and are then recovered as product synthesis gases.

Abstract: A doctor is provided on a coating device and is fashioned as an oblong doctor bar which from the cross section, transverse to its longitudinal expanse, features an irregular cross section and a coating surface of bow-shaped design which is provided with grooves, as dosing grooves, which extend crosswise or perpendicular to the longitudinal expanse of the bar. The grooves flatten out from their bottom toward the leaving edge of the doctor bar by 10 to 25%, preferably in bow-shaped fashion. Furthermore, they widen in this area making the ribs provided between the grooves disappear. The doctor bar consists preferably of oxide ceramic material, or features on its coating surface a layer from such material.

Abstract: A heat transfer method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring heat across a cylinder surface, in order to maintain the cylinder surface at a uniform temperature for drying, rolling or otherwise processing a work piece. The apparatus comprises a rotatable cylinder wall with a plurality of heat pipes bent near their evaporator ends and disposed within and around the periphery of the cylinder wall, at least one end wall, and a plurality of hubs interconnecting the cylinder with a drive shaft. The heat transfer cylinder, itself, may comprise a large rotating heat pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing mobile stations in a cellular mobile radio system to different sets of control channels, depending on whether the land system and the mobile stations have digital capabilities. The mobile stations operate to initially scan the same primary set of control channels and to read one of them, and to make a determination, based on the value of certain bits transmitted over the control channel and also the digital capabilities of the type of mobile station involved, whether to continue operation on the primary set of control channels, or whether to scan and read any secondary set of control channels. If a mobile station with digital capabilities decides to scan the secondary set of control channels, but does not find such channels, the mobile station determines that there are no secondary sets of control channels. In this case, if the mobile has analog capabilities, the mobile station will return to scanning the primary set of control channels.

Abstract: A method for use in a cellular radio telephone system for controlling, in at least one mobile station, rescanning operations of paging channels in the system, wherein the mobile station is operationally connected to at least one base station. The method involves broadcasting a rescan message from the base station to the mobile station at predetermined intervals during operation of the base station. Pages to be sent to the mobile stations are stored immediately following broadcast of the rescan message until such time as all mobile stations have had an adequate opportunity to carry out the rescanning operation.

Abstract: A press blanket for a press device in a paper making machine, or the like, is formed of an elastomeric blanket material and fully embedded layers of reinforcement threads. The radially inner layer is formed of longitudinal threads which extend parallel to the axis of the press blanket. The radially outer layer is formed of circumferential threads which are wound in the direction of blanket motion and are wound generally helically. The threads are fully surrounded by the layer of elastomeric material which is of homogeneous, that is formed from a single pouring. The circumferential threads have a diameter of at most 1/500 of the outside diameter of the fully rounded press blanket. In a unit area of the press blanket, the tensile strength of the circumferential threads is at least 40% greater than the tensile strength of the longitudinal threads.

Abstract: A free access floor panel including a flat top plate and a bottom plate which are crimped at the upper peripheral edges into a single unit, the bottom plate having an upright wall along the peripheral edges and projected props inside thereof. The top and bottom plates may be made from surface-treated metal sheets so as to prevent damage thereto, and the floor panel thus formed can be filled with porous inorganic materials to upgrade sound proofing.

Abstract: A reversing plate is provided between a depressing barrel which is engaged with a key top and a membrane contacts on a frame, wherein the reversing plate is bent toward the depressing barrel and, when a depression force applied by the depressing barrel exceeds a predetermined buckling limit, the bending direction of the reversing plate reverses toward the membrane contacts. The reversing plate is made of a plate spring and is composed of a slim peripheral piece which is bent by being provided a bending portion at several positions, a central piece astride in the approximate center of the peripheral piece, and a contact pressing piece provided at the central piece. When the key is depressed, the central piece of the reversing plate is moved under pressure transmitted through the depressing barrel, twisting the peripheral piece.

Abstract: A process for producing a seat element from a portion of an outfit (1) including a relatively compact plastic covering layer, a network formed by a continuous sheet of metal springs (5), the intermingled turns of which, on one side, come substantially flush against the lower face of the covering (1), and an intermediate connecting layer (3) made of a plastic foam which partially encases the turns of the sheet of springs (5).According to the invention, the peripheral edge (7) of the said outfit portion is gripped in an injection mold (11), this mold having a cavity (9) into which the said edge (7) penetrates, a thermoplastic to which an expanding agent has been added is injected into the said cavity at low pressure, and this thermoplastic is allowed to harden there.

Abstract: A method of playing an educational game concerning the environment in which a student enters a domino trail, takes a number of domino steps along the trail, stops at a domino to read educational information and takes an additional number of domino steps unless the student arrives at a stop sign. The student stops at the stop sign to enter an educational center staffed by a person who reviews educational facts with the student. The student has a plate with a portion corresponding to the educational facts reviewed and receives a cover piece for the corresponding portion.

Abstract: An improved plastic laminated structure, a method to make that structure and use of that structure as a cover for a moisture-resistance electronic utility meter register. The structure is formed by providing a plastic layer to which is laminated on one side by means of an adhesive a water vapor barrier film of polychlorotrifluoroethylene.

Abstract: A phased array acoustic transducer apparatus has a controller and an array of ultrasonic transducers mounted in a water tight housing. Also included in the water tight housing are a transmitter circuit which sends phased excitation signals to the array of ultrasonic transducers so as to generate a directed beam of acoustic energy. A receiver circuit, located in the water tight housing, processes and combines signals received by the array of ultrasonic transducers to generate an output signal. The controller sends both power and control signals via a cable to the transmitter and receiver circuits. The cable uses a simple serial data line and a clock signal line to transmit beam angle control signals, thereby minimizing the size of the cable. The controller sends transmitter gating signals over a gate signal line on the cable to enable and disable operation of the transmitter circuit, such as is required for a pulse-echo mode of operation.

Abstract: A mining bolt for holding rock comprised of an elongate shaft at least a portion of which has threads. The threads directly thread into the rock and are capable of supporting the bolt under tension in the rock. The mining bolt is also comprised of a flange system disposed about the shaft in proximity to one end thereof such that when the shaft is threaded into the rock, the flange system abuts under tension the rock's face. A method for holding rock in a mine comprising the steps of drilling a bore hole into the rock; and inserting the shaft of a mining bolt into the bore hole. The shaft has a flange system disposed about the shaft in proximity to the end thereof. The shaft has threads and is of a length longer than the length of the bore hole. There is also the step of screwing the shaft into the rock at the top of the bore hole such that the threads of the shaft penetrate into the rock and the flange abuts under tension the rock face.