Abstract: A controller for controlling an electrode boiler steam humidifier, of the type operable from a source of polyphase alternating current, is provided. A plurality of current loop transformers, coupled to the boiler electrodes, sense the individual currents drawn in each phase of the polyphase alternating current. A plurality of full-wave bridge rectifiers individually couple the secondaries of the current lube transformers to the input of a voltage amplifier such that the output of the amplifier is indicative of the highest of the currents sensed in each phase of the boiler electrode current. When the output of the voltage amplifier exceeds a predetermined threshold, a control effect is produced such that operation of the humidifier is controlled in accordance with the highest of the individual phase currents drawn through each of the boiler electrodes.

Abstract: A solid waste magnetic separator having a material transport belt, a mechanism for generating a magnetic field, and a mechanism for supporting the belt so magnetic materials can be attracted to the belt and transported therewith as the belt moves through the magnetic field. The magnetic field generating mechanism comprises at least two magnetic assemblies aligned relative to each other in the direction of travel of the belt. A ferromagnetic pole shoe is disposed between the belt and the magnetic assemblies, thereby creating a relatively uniform combined magnetic field along the magnetic assemblies so that heavy magnetic materials attracted to the belt remain attracted to the belt as the belt moves through the combined magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing circuit boards, the apparatus comprising a plurality of hand manipulable baskets adapted to contain a plurality of generally planar circuit boards. Each of the baskets includes a plurality of first electrical connectors adapted to engage electrical connectors on the circuit boards, and a second electrical connector electrically connected with each of the first electrical connectors. Air can flow freely through the baskets and over the circuit boards supported therein. The apparatus further comprises a test chamber for enclosing the baskets and including an electrical connector electrically connectable with the second electrical connectors on the baskets, and walls within the test chamber cooperating with the baskets to define an air plenum directing air flow through the baskets and over the circuit boards supported therein.

Abstract: A dust collector comprising a hopper, an exhaust chamber, a wall separating the hopper and the exhaust chamber and including an opening, a hollow filter assembly for filtering contaminated air flowing through the opening from the hopper, the filter assembly comprising filter medium and having upper and lower ends, the upper end of the filter assembly registering with the wall opening such that the hopper is generally sealed from the exhaust chamber except through the wall opening and the filter medium of the filter assembly, an inlet into the hopper for introducing contaminated air into the hopper so that the contaminated air is caused to flow to the exhaust chamber through the filter medium whereby airborne contaminants are accumulated on the filter medium, a nozzle for selectively directing reverse pulses of air into the wall opening from the exhaust chamber whereby the reverse air pulses enter the filter assembly and generate airflow through the filter medium in the reverse of the direction of contaminated

Abstract: A fluid particle sensor for measuring and counting particles contained in a fluid. The fluid particle sensor comprises a first bundle of generally parallel elongated fiber optics, the first bundle having a longitudinal axis and opposite inside and outside ends, and a second bundle of generally parallel elongated fiber optics, the second bundle also having a longitudinal axis and opposite inside and outside ends. The sensor also comprises means for supporting the first and second bundles such that the longitudinal axes of the first and second bundles are approximately colinear, and such that the inside end of the second bundle is closely spaced apart from the inside end of the first bundle to form a gap through which the particle containing fluid flows. The sensor further comprises means for transmitting light to the outside end of the first bundle, and means for sensing the amount of light emitted from the outside end of the second bundle.

Abstract: A non-rotatable, axially movable control ring is connected to the ring on the clutch input through a thrust bearing to control engagement and disengagement of the clutch input with the output. The control ring is biased to the clutch disengaged position by springs which are weaker than those biasing a loading plate to a stop cancelling out of the loading spring force. Energization of the magnet coil fixed on the control initially causes movement of the coil towards the armature fixed on the loading plate. That causes the clutch to engage before the magnet air gap is closed. Therefore, the armature moves to the coil and this lifts the loading plate off its stop against the loading spring. When the armature engages the coil, the loading spring acting on the plate acts through the magnet to the control plate to load the clutch and determine torque capacity which is adjusted by adjusting the load on the torque spring.

Abstract: An electronic control for positioning the damper in the air supply duct of a variable air volume system having a motor to open and close the damper, a thermostat circuit sensing temperature in a conditioned space and developing a voltage signal indicative of the temperature in the space relative to the thermostat setting, an electronic air flow sensing circuit sensing air flow into the conditioned space and developing a voltage signal indicative of air velocity, a circuit processes both signals and applies the difference between them to an electronic variable timer which effectively varies the motor speed (by varying the motor duty cycle) so said damper is moved slower as equilibrium between the space temperature and the set point of the thermostat is approached. The same voltage signals are fed into a logic circuit to determine the direction of motor rotation to determine whether the damper opens or closes.

Abstract: The invention provides a dust collector for use in air pollution control which includes at least one hollow filter assembly disposed in a hopper and having an open upper end registering with a wall opening. The filter apparatus also includes a nozzle spaced above the filter assembly for selectively directing a reverse pulse of air into the open upper end of the filter such that the reverse air pulse enters the filter assembly and flows through the filter medium in the reverse of the direction of contaminated airflow to thereby remove accumulated contaminants from the filter medium. The dust collector further includes a sleeve positioned inside the hollow filter assembly with the outer surface of the sleeve adjacent the filter medium, the upper end of the sleeve registering with the wall opening and the lower end of the sleeve opening into the filter assembly.

Abstract: A test chamber device comprising a generally enclosed chamber, a first duct communicating with the chamber and including therein selectively operable heating coils, a second duct communicating with the chamber and including therein selectively operable refrigerating coils, and a damper for closing the second duct when the heating coils are operating so that the refrigerating coils are isolated from air flow in the chamber.

Abstract: The compressed spring acting on one end of the lever urges the lever in the direction to apply force to a pressure plate guided by the fixed bushings to apply pressure to the brake pads and discs to prevent rotation of a motor shaft received in the coupling. When the solenoid coil is energized, the armature lifts the end of the lever to relieve the pressure and release the brake. If the plunger at the other end of the lever is depressed, the lever will tilt to release the brake and the brake will remain released as long as the plunger is depressed. The same spring which biases the plunger upwardly biases the plunger in a rotational sense so the plunger can be rotated against the bias of the spring and cause the projecting pin to work against the cam on the end of the lever to tilt the lever in the direction allowing the brake to release.

Abstract: An energy recovery ventilator adapted to be mounted on a roof and adapted to be connected to the outlet of an exhaust air duct of a building ventilation system and the inlet of an air supply duct of a building ventilation system. The energy recovery ventilator includes a housing having an exhaust air chamber and a supply air chamber separated by a divider wall. A circular heat transfer wheel is position in the housing, a portion of the wheel being housed in the exhaust air chamber and a second portion of the wheel being housed in the supply air chamber, and the heat transfer wheel is caused to rotate about a central axis. An exhaust fan is housed in the exhaust air chamber and causes exhaust air to be pulled through the exhaust air duct and the heat transfer wheel and to be exhausted from the housing.

Abstract: An air diffuser includes first and second walls disposed in spaced side-by-side relationship and cooperating to define a passage for the flow of air in one direction between said walls. A pair of flanges extend towards each other from the downstream edges of the walls and defining an elongated outlet slot narrower than the width of said passage. A deflector vane is narrower than the passage and is disposed in the passage in a plane spaced upstream from the slot and generally parallel to said flanges. The deflector vane includes an inverted U-shaped central channel and flanges extending away from each other from the down stream ends of the U-shaped chanel and arranged generally parallel to the flanges defining the slot. The opposite ends of the vane are engaged in a U-shaped support with a spring engaging one wall of the U-shaped support and biasing the vane flanges into sliding engagement with the other wall.

Abstract: A hydraulic press is provided including a frame having a pair of spaced-apart vertical side members and a crown, and a mold box rigidly supported between the vertical side members and including a vertical mold cavity. A lower plunger assembly is positioned below the mold box and includes at least one plunger adapted to extend upwardly into the mold cavity, and an ejection cylinder assembly is provided for causing selective vertical movement of the lower plunger assembly. An upper plunger assembly is positioned above the mold box and includes an upper plunger adapted to extend downwardly into the mold cavity, and a hydraulic ram is provided for supporting the upper plunger assembly for vertical movement with respect to said mold box and with respect to said lower plunger assembly. The hydraulic ram includes a cylinder fixed to the lower plunger assembly and a ram housed in the cylinder and adapted to selectively drive the upper plunger assembly downwardly.

Abstract: A hydraulic press for refractory material including a mold box rigidly supported by a press frame. A lower plunger assembly positioned below the mold box and includes a lower crosshead and at least one plunger adapted to extend upwardly into a vertical mold cavity in the mold box. An ejection cylinder assembly supported by the press crown is provided for causing selective vertical movement of the lower crosshead. An upper plunger assembly is positioned above the mold box and includes an upper crosshead and at least one upper plunger supported by the crosshead and adapted to extend downwardly into the mold cavity. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for supporting the upper crosshead for vertical movement with respect to the mold box and the lower crosshead. The hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the lower crosshead, and a ram is housed in the cylinder and adapted to selectively drive the upper crosshead downwardly.

Abstract: A wear protected belt comprising an elongated, generally flexible belt having a plurality of plates attached to the face of the belt. The plates extend across the belt at an angle to its longitudinal axis, and substantially cover a longitudinal portion of the belt. Each plate has a first plate portion, or rib, which projects laterally from the face of the belt. Attached to the rib is a second plate portion, or top which projects from the rib and extends over a portion of the belt parallel but spaced from the face of the belt. Disposed between the top of the plate and the belt surface is a shock absorbing bar means, or bar. When heavy objects impact the top of the plate, the top of the plate engages the bar and the bar absorbs the force of the impact. The bar also resists shearing or bending forces on the plate by bearing against the top of the plate and thereby resisting turning motions on the plate.

Abstract: The steam generator includes a cylindrical tank, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced electrical terminals extending through the tank top wall. To afford the capability of adjusting the horizontal distance between adjacent electrodes while maintaining the sides parallel and uniformly spaced, the underside of the tank top wall is provided with a radially extending row of radially-spaced bosses in conjunction with each terminal and each boss includes an aperture radially aligned with the corresponding terminal. The upper end of each electrode includes a radially-extending row of apertures which are adapted to receive the inner end of a terminal and are spaced so that, when a terminal is positioned in one of the electrode apertures, at least one other is in registration with a tank boss aperture to receive a metal screw or the like for anchoring the electrode on the tank.

Abstract: The electrode steam generator includes a cylindrical water tank including mating top and bottom cylinder halves molded from an electrically insulative synthetic plastic material as substantial mirror images of each other so that both can be molded from dies of the same design. The open mating ends of the cylinder halve includes substantially identical, alternating tongue and groove sections which fit together when the halves are brought together. The closed, concave ends of the cylinder halves have a plurality of circumferentially-spaced circular bosses projecting externally and internally at locations corresponding to desired locations of the electrical terminals for the electrodes. The terminal bosses on both cylinder halves are the same, except at least some of the top half includes an electrode terminal integrally molded therein.

Abstract: A press is disclosed for use in the manufacture of refractory products and particularly including means for causing reciprocal movement of cores into the mold cavity to thereby permit holes to be formed in the compressed refractory product. The core moving apparatus is conveniently attachable and removable from the press to permit removal or replacement of the mold box or to facilitate modification of an existing press to incorporate the means of the invention for causing movement of reciprocal cores. The core supporting structures of the core moving apparatus are also adjustably supported so as to accommodate varied numbers of cores or various arrangements of the cores.

Abstract: Cartridge type filters are suspended in hopper. Contaminated air flows into the hopper, passes through the filters and clean air is removed through an exhaust duct. Periodically a reverse stream of compressed air is directed through an inductor unit into each filter from the exhaust side to pressurize the filters and clean contaminants from the outer surface of the filter medium. With reference to the flow of the reverse stream, the walls of the inductor flare generally on a taper upstream from a restricted throat to a generally bowl-shaped section which flares to a diameter greater than the diameter of the throat. The bowl-shaped section extends upstream to merge with an arcuate section of a bell-mouth inlet which is convex to the exhaust chamber and terminates in a lateral flanged end. The throat is generally arcuate and convex to the inductor interior.

Abstract: A press is disclosed for use in compressing refractory material in the manufacture of bricks and the like, the press including means for supporting a mold box in the press in such a manner that the mold box is easily and quickly removed from a supporting mold table, and wherein the hydraulic clamping apparatus of the press can also be used to provide the motive force for separating the mold box from the supporting mold table.