Abstract: A flush mounted panel fastener is provided for use in aircraft or the like of the so-called stealth type designed to avoid detection by radar. The panel fastener comprises a fastener element such as a threaded bolt having a head and shank for fastening a panel onto a substrate or frame. The head is sized for recessed seating within a counterbore formed in the panel, and a fastener cap is mounted and magnetically retained on the head of the fastener element. The fastener cap has a surface coating or finish thereon disposed substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the panel, wherein the surface coating is formed from a suitable nonreflective radar material and cooperates with the panel to present a substantially uninterrupted surface of low radar signature.

Abstract: A dual component dispenser gun is provided for controlled dispensing of flowable dual component materials, such as adhesives, sealants and the like. The dispenser gun is designed for use with a dual component cartridge having dual barrles respectively filled with the two flowable components, in combination with a mixing nozzle through which the components can be mixed and dispensed. The cartridge is supported on top of a main pressure cylinder adapted for controlled connection to a pressurized fluid source, such as compressed air, for displacing a power piston in a first direction. The power piston is connected to a pair of flexible piston rods which extend through curved guide channels in a guide head and are connected in turn to a pair of piston plungers receivable into the cartridge barrels to dispense the dual components.

Abstract: An improved adhesive mounted nutplate assembly and related installation method are provided for secured mounting of a nutplate or the like onto a substrate, particularly at a blind side of the substrate in alignment with an access opening. The nutplate assembly includes a nut member having a resilient fixture pin received therein, with the nut member being adapted for adhesive mounting onto the blind side of the substrate with the fixture pin extending through the access opening. A pulling force applied to the fixture pin draws the nut member with a positive force against the substrate. The fixture pin is sized to bind within the access opening when released to maintain this positive force for the duration of an adhesive cure period, after which the fixture pin can be forcibly drawn through and removed from the nut member. A preferred nut member comprises a nutplate having a floating nut carried by a base which is adapted for adhesive mounting onto the substrate.

Abstract: Improved adhesive attachments and related mounting fixtures and methods are provided for secure mounting of an adhesive attachment to a substrate. In one preferred form, the adhesive attachment comprises an enlarged attachment base locked in sandwiched relation between multiple laminations of prebonded composite material to define an enlarged composite footplate with an extended composite material surface for secure bonding onto a substrate of composite material. The attachment is pressed against the substrate with an appropriate bonding agent at the attachment/substrate interface by a mounting fixture which is connected at least temporarily to the substrate and includes a spring member applying a positive force pressing the attachment toward the substrate. Alternative adhesive attachments formed from multiple components are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved attachment fixture is provided for securely mounting an adhesive attachment such as a threaded screw, patch, or the like onto a substrate. The improved fixture, which is adapted for construction as a one-piece plastic molding, is temporarily secured to the substrate in a first position with the attachment substantially out of bearing engagement with the substrate and then switched to a second position applying a positive force urging the attachment into bearing engagement with the substrate. The fixture is allowed to remain in the second position for a period of time sufficient for curing of an adhesive material applied to the attachment/substrate interface, after which the fixture may be removed. In some forms, the improved fixture maintains the orientation of the attachment during movement into bearing engagement with the substrate thereby preventing uneven distribution of or uneven application of forces to the adhesive material.

Abstract: A musical tea kettle is provided for playing a selected tune or the like when water within the kettle is heated to a boiling condition. The tea kettle includes a kettle body having an upper opening within which is mounted a steam driven whistle unit having a steam powered shuttle valve assembly for supplying steam to a plurality of steam whistles. When water within the kettle is boiled, the shuttle valve assembly drives a rotatable valve plate having valve ports therein for discharging steam to the plurality of steam whistles mounted on the shuttle valve assembly, wherein the valve ports are arranged in position and size to operate the steam whistles in a timed pattern to play the selected tune.

Abstract: Improved adhesive attachments and related mounting fixtures and methods are provided for secure mounting of an adhesive attachment to a substrate. In one preferred form, the adhesive attachment comprises an enlarged attachment base locked in sandwiched relation between multiple laminations of prebonded composite material to define an enlarged composite footplate with an extended composite material surface for secure bonding onto a substrate of composite material. The attachment is pressed against the substrate with an appropriate bonding agent at the attachment/substrate interface by a mounting fixture which is connected at least temporarily to the substrate and includes a spring member applying a positive force pressing the attachment toward the substrate. Alternative adhesive attachments formed from multiple components are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved attachment fixture is provided for securely mounting an adhesive attachment such as a thread screw, patch, or the like onto a substrate. The improved fixture, which is adapted for construction as a one-piece plastic molding, is temporarily secured to the substrate in a first position with the attachment substantially out of bearing engagement with the substrate and then switched to a second position applying a positive force urging the attachment into bearing engagement with the substrate. The fixture is allowed to remain in the second position for a period of time sufficient for curing of an adhesive material applied to the attachment/substrate interface, after which the fixture may be removed. In some forms, the improved fixture maintains the orientation of the attachment during movement into bearing engagement with the substrate thereby preventing uneven distribution of or uneven application of forces to the adhesive material.

Abstract: An improved freezeproof valve assembly is provided for a water hydrant, such as an outdoor drinking fountain or the like. The valve assembly comprises a sump housing for installation below the ground frost line and for connection between a water supply pipe and a standpipe, the latter being coupled in turn to a fountain bubbler head or the like. A control valve within the sump housing is opened pneumatically upon depression of an actuator button on the fountain to permit water flow from the supply pipe through a main jet pump which draws an induced water flow from within the sump housing through an induction port thereby providing a combined water flow through the standpipe to the bubbler head. This combined water flow is maintained substantially constant by a float-activated refill valve which permits a refill water flow from the supply pipe into the sump housing sufficient to maintain the housing water level above the main jet pump induction port.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for separating and lifting units, such as insulated glass window or door units, one at a time from a stack of units. The apparatus comprises a frame which supports a movably mounted suction platen for vacuum engagement with an upwardly presented surface of the uppermost unit in the stack and a push block for bearing engagement with a peripheral edge of the unit immediately below the uppermost unit. A pneumatic cylinder assembly reacts between the frame and the suction platen to displace the platen and the engaged uppermost unit with respect to the push block and the underlying units in the stack whereby the uppermost unit is separated from the underlying units. The suction platen remains in vacuum engagement with the separated unit to permit lifting and carrying thereof to an alternative location. Controls facilitating operation of the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for cleaning radioactively contaminated articles, including tools and like items of hardware. The system includes a cleaning chamber for receiving and sealing therein the contaminated articles, a high pressure spray gun disposed within the cleaning chamber for spraying the contaminated articles with a clean solvent to dislodge and dissolve the contaminants, and a system for decontaminating the solvent for reuse. The cleaning chamber includes a drain having the capacity to remove contaminated solvent at a rate at least as great as that at which the solvent is sprayed into the chamber, such that substantially no contaminated solvent collects in the cleaning chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus making use of that method for applying pressure to an element to be adhesively or comparably secured to a substrate. An example of such an apparatus is found in an adhesive patch and means for applying the patch to a surface which may have been ruptured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus making use of that method for applying pressure to an element to be adhesively or comparably secured to a substrate. An example of such an apparatus is found in an adhesive patch and means for applying the patch to a surface which may have been ruptured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus making use of that method for applying pressure to an element to be adhesively or comparably secured to a supporting member. An example of such an apparatus is found in a patch and means for applying it to a surface which may have been ruptured.

Abstract: Garments are deposited in a cleaning drum and the drum is agitated during a wash cycle. A dry cleaning solvent is continuously added to the drum during the wash cycle and continuously removed from the drum during the wash cycle to flush the radioactive particulate material separated from the garments into a sump. The solvent is pumped from the sump for addition to the drum during the wash cycle and the pumped solvent is filtered to remove substantially all of the radioactive particulate material suspended in the solvent.The apparatus for decontaminating the radioactive garments comprises a sump for supporting a dry cleaning solvent. A drum for supporting the radioactively contaminated garments during a wash cycle which separates the radioactive particulate material from the garments means are provided for continuously pumping the dry cleaning solvent from the sump to the drum and for continuously removing the solvent and separated particulate material from the drum into the sump.

Abstract: A removable, portable door-locking device engages a recess in the door frame conventionally provided to receive a latch built into the door. A hook that engages this recess extends into the room from between the door and door frame and coacts with wedges that press against the door and frame to hold the door tightly closed.

Abstract: Means for exhausting the fumes arising from material being mixed in a mixing bowl, the fumes being drawn off and passed through a filter that removes the noxious materials and returns the air to the room in which the bowl is located. The device is particularly adapted for use in surgical operating rooms where the utmost precautions must be taken to prevent the inhalation of any fumes by the patient and where sterility must be maintained at all times during the operation.

Abstract: A combination of substantially unmixed fluid materials which are flowing under conditions which normally result in laminar (non-turbulent) flow are mixed by passing the fluids upwardly into a chamber containing a heavy ball which is levitated above the chamber inlet by the flow of the fluids, resulting in an intimate mixing of the fluids.

Abstract: Small particles to be sorted are entrained in a stream of fluid and particle differences are detected to control a sorter located downstream. The sorter is effective to switch the particle carrying fluid to one of two different paths determined by the particle differences to thereby accomplish the sort. A particle detector is positioned to detect the passage of particles through one of said paths in order to verify that the sorting operation has occurred.