Abstract: A high speed spindle preferably of the motorized type is described having means for axially preloading the spindle bearings and hydraulic preload locking means for locking the preload against diminution by expected axial pull-out forces exerted on the spindle shaft counter to the preload during machining. The hydraulic locking action is released in the event unexpectedly high, potentially damaging axial pull-out forces are encountered during machining.

Abstract: A safety controller comprises a comparator and two identical subcontrollers operating on the same input signals. The comparator provides error detection by comparing the outputs of the two subcontrollers. Each subcontroller includes combinational devices and memory registers for providing exhaustive testing of the registers and of the truth tables of the combinational devices of each of the subcontrollers. Controllers of the present invention are particularly useful as railway safety devices.

Abstract: A procedure and means for lubricating the bearings in equipment comprising a plurality of oil-lubricated bearings (7). The oil is conducted to each bearing separately through a volumetric meter (4) which meters the oil quantity going to the bearing. The oil is conducted to a unit (14) comprising a plurality of volumetric meters (4), where it is distributed through a branching tube (2-3) comprised in the unit to each meter. A signal proportional to the flow passing through each meter can be conducted electrically further to a monitoring point.

Abstract: A robot joint including a housing, dual inputs on opposite sides of the housing, an eccentric driven by each inputs and adapted to both planetate around an inner surface of the housing and to drive a first pair of bevel gears, a second pair of bevel gears, each of which meshes with both of the first pair of bevel gears, and a single cylindrical output member secured to one of the second pair of bevel gears. If the dual inputs and, hence, the first pair of bevel gears are driven in the same direction at the same speed, the cylindrical output member is caused to be raised or lowered, whereas if driven at the same speed in opposite directions, the output member is caused to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Variations in speed and direction will result in desired combinations of "pitch" and "roll" movements.

Abstract: A grinding machine is provided with a workhead support means having pivotable shaft means on which the support means is pivoted by a servomotor/pinion arrangement controlled by a programmable controller and a position indicating means on the pivotable shaft means that inputs angular shaft position signals to the controller. Adaptive control components may also be included in the control arrangement. The workhead support means is thereby pivotable to vary the angular relationship of the workpart axis to the grinding wheel axis to effect a desired taper or contour grind or to compensate for changes in grinding parameters causing out of tolerance ground workparts. Special releasable clamps are provided to fix a desired position of the workhead support means and yet release same for pivoting movement. Fluid lift mechanisms are also provided to reduce friction between the workhead support means and the adjacent machine base member during pivoting.

Abstract: An aspirating horizontal mixer for aerating and liquid mixing includes a float with tiltable supports extending downwardly into a body of water and an air delivery conduit which are connected to a mixer unit supported below the liquid surface by the supports and tiltable therewith. The mixer unit includes a submersible motor powering a propeller and a nozzle member situated in the flow path of liquid from the propeller. The nozzle member has an internal venturi for mixing air from the air delivery conduit with the liquid flowing therethrough and includes a converging wall formation forming a constriction and a diverging wall formation leading downstream and merging with the interior wall of the nozzle member. An air injection port extends through the diverging wall formation adjacent the constriction and is in communication with the air delivery conduit for mixing air with the liquid as it flows through the venturi.

Abstract: An electromagnet is disposed between a pair of bearings rotatably mounting a spindle in the housing of a machine workhead, such as the workhead of a grinding machine. The magnetic flux from the electromagnet is guided by the spindle extending therethrough to its workpart driving end located outside the housing. Bearing shoes engaging the workpart are connected to the housing so as to complete the magnetic flux path to the electromagnet through the housing. Non-magnetic shields are disposed between the bearings and the electromagnet and housing to prevent wear debris accumulation and etching of the bearing components from magnetic flux effects.

Abstract: A thermography machine applies thermography powder to the printed surfaces of sheets. Excess powder is vacuumed from the sheets under the influence of suction generated by a cyclone separator which separates the excess powder from an air stream in which the powder is entrained. A static charge eliminator is provided for neutralizing the electrical charge on the powder particles to facilitate a smooth flow of the particles through the separator. The static charge eliminator includes a plurality of electrical charged pins across which is conducted a flow of outside air which is sucked through the static charge eliminator by the suction pressure from the separator. As the air flows across the charged pins, oxygen is converted to ozone and the ozone is conducted into contact with the powder particles within the separator. The pins have a contoured profile along their length to maximize the ozone-producing process.

Abstract: A heat exchanger wherein the tubes are connected to the headers by soldering. Specifically, the tubes extend through and a predetermined distance beyond vertically flanged openings in a header. The tubes include vertical slits formed in a spaced relationship in opposite side walls thereof in the end portion which extends beyond the header flanges. The wall portion between the slits is folded in a curled configuration toward the vertical flanges until the edges of the curled wall contact the flanges. Solder is applied by capillary action between the tubes and the inner surfaces of the flanges and in the space between the outer surfaces of the flanges and the curled tube portions.

Abstract: An adjustable over-the-top agitator for a liquid manure tank. To periodically break up the crust on liquid manure stored in an open top tank, the liquid manure is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank and is discharged through a nozzle on the end of an external delivery pipe into contact with the crust. The upper end of the delivery pipe is connected by a swivel coupling to a vertical end of a connecting pipe, while the opposite horizontal end of the connecting pipe is connected by a second swivel coupling to the discharge nozzle. By rotating the connecting pipe about the axis of the delivery pipe, the nozzle can be moved in a horizontal path, while swiveling the discharge nozzle about the horizontal end of the connecting pipe moves the nozzle in a vertical arc. A torsion spring is associated with the second swivel coupling to bias the discharge nozzle to a horizontal position.

Abstract: A controller for a water heater having a plurality of individual electrical heating elements changes the number of energized elements to maintain a predetermined minimum temperature. The number of "on" elements is related to the difference between sensed water temperature and a preset water temperature divided by a dead band factor. The heating elements are turned "on" and "off" in a programmed sequence whenever a change is required to optimize the equalization of operating time of the elements. The controller includes a microprocessor which monitors turn "on" or "off" of each element to continuously develop the "on" operational period of each element in relationship to all of the other heating elements since system initialization. The operation period is made relative to the load with the shortest period by substracting the lowest "on" time from all other loads so as to reduce the required memory size.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing free descent of a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit is mounted within a manure-containing pit for vertical sliding movement on a fixed column, and an elevating mechanism is employed for raising and lowering the pump within the pit and includes a cable having one end which is coiled on a drum while the opposite end of the cable is connected to the motor-pump unit. The weight of the motor-pump unit normally applies substantial tension to the cable. A mechanism is incorporated which is responsive to slackening of the cable and acts to arrest free descent of the motor-pump unit, as well as discontinuing operation of the cable drum mechanism.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle has an engine and a drive train connected to drive wheels with tires having a tread configuration that produces a water propulsion effect when the vehicle is driven through water. An auxiliary propulsion unit is selectively positioned in driving relationship to each of the wheels to improve water speed of the vehicle. The propulsion unit includes a gear box with its input connected to the wheel hub; its output connected to a propeller and an anti-torque strut is pivotally connected to the gear box and anchored to the vehicle hull whereby the propeller speed is increased by the gear box a desired amount as compared to axle speed to rotate the propeller at a speed to propel the amphibious vehicle.

Abstract: A signature analyzer for testing digital circuits. The analyzer includes a memory which is initially programmed with a set of signatures characterizing the digital signals on the nodes of a correctly operating circuit. The nodes of a test circuit are then sequentially applied to a signature generator formed by a multi-stage shift register having the outputs of selected stages fed back to a gate to which the digital signal is applied. The signature generated by the shift register is compared to each of the signatures stored in memory until a signature match is found, thus indicating that the digital circuit, at least as far as the test node is concerned, is operating correctly. The signature generated by the shift register consists of twenty-four bits to provide a probability of error which is comparable to the probability of error in comparing a sixteen-bit signature with the signature from a specifically identified node.

Abstract: Disclosed are invert oil emulsion drilling fluids containing a non-toxic, biodegradable oil having a viscosity at 25.degree. C. of less than 1.5 centipoise, a flash point of at least 60.degree. C., an aniline point of at least 80.degree. C., and a content of aromatic hydrocarbons of less than 1% by volume. These drilling fluids have a low viscosity at the high shear rates imparted to a drilling fluid at the bit during drilling. This low bit viscosity provides for faster penetration rates. Such drilling fluids containing a temperature stabilizing additive exhibit superior thermal stability.

Abstract: An axial flux induction electric motor and method and apparatus for the production thereof, said motor having a rotor and stator, each formed of a core consisting of metal strip having holes punched therein at longitudinally spaced locations so that holes on the core form radially extending slots on a radial face of the core, and wherein said core has the radially inner coils and the radially outer two coils fixed together by deformations thereby preventing unwinding of the core.

Abstract: A boring tool is disclosed capable of positioning a tool element between a radial cutting position and a radial retracted position out of contact with the finished workpiece bore to avoid tool mark formation on the finished bore during tool withdrawal. The boring tool is simple and low cost in construction and includes a resilient tool-carrying member which extends transversely of the spindle axis in cantilever fashion for deflection by a spindle draw bar relative to a stop means on a fixed support member attachable to the spindle. During boring, the tool-carrying member is in deflecting engagement with the drawbar and, in conjunction with stop means, positions the tool thereon in a radial cutting position. For tool withdrawal, deflecting engagement is released so that the resiliency of the tool-carrying member positions the tool in a radial retracted position out of contact with the finished workpiece bore.

Abstract: There is disclosed a coaxial lightning arresting structure comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor surrounding the inner conductor and an arrester tube located between the inner and outer conductors perpendicularly to the direction of transmission and connected at its ends to the inner and outer conductors, respectively. The portion of the inner conductor provided with the arrester tube has a reduced effective sectional area as compared with the other portions of the inner conductor so that the ratio of the outer conductor inner diameter to the outer diameter of the inner conductor portion having the reduced effective sectional area is greater than the ratio of the outer conductor inner diameter to the inner conductor outer diameter at the other portions of the inner conductor which latter ratio provides the coaxial transmission line with a given characteristic impedance.

Abstract: Mechanical fastener means for blocking off an opening in an intake manifold gasket when the latter is used with a fuel injected engine. The fastener means includes two mating metal members whose outer edges are oppositely bowed to extend past and confine the oppositely disposed edge portions of the gasket opening therebetween, with one of the members having a central opening formed therein for receiving a "button" extension in the shape of a substantially cylindrical cup formed on the other member and, once extended through the central opening, such button extension being mechanically impacted to be caused to assume a dished shape and a flanged connection with the edge portion of the central opening in the one member.