Abstract: A refrigerated appliance cabinet for a chest-type freezer is formed from prefinished materials. The side walls of the shell and the liner are formed as a single piece, with the evaporator and condenser coils assembled before bending and after a thermal mastic has been applied to the places where the tubing contacts the sheet metal. The tubing is held in place by a hot melt adhesive. After the side walls are folded, bottom walls are attached mechanically and the liner inserted into the shell, with the space at the top being covered by a breaker strip arranged with the top edge of the liner and shell to provide air venting during foaming so that the foam can expand directly into contact with the underside of the breaker strip and adhesively hold it in place. The compressor compartment is attached mechanically to the shell around an opening, and the weight of the machinery is supported by that connection and the surrounding foam.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting vegetation with a rotatable head carrying a non-metallic cutting line extended into a cutting plane. Additional line is extended from a supply line coil within the head into the cutting plane without independent operation action. A mechanism in the head feeds a certain incremental length of line whenever the free end of the cutting line is reduced to this length by wear, or otherwise. After the cutting line length is extended to its original preset length, the cutting line is secured automatically against further extension from the head. The incremental line feeder mechanism is actuated by sensing an operating condition of the head, e.g., angular velocity of rotation.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine of the vertical axis type has a self-cleaning lint filter integral with the spin tub. The spin tub is formed as a unitary piece from plastic material, and includes a central hub and radially outer bottom wall which are interconnected by a plurality of radially extending ribs. The ribs have spaces between them defining an annular gap, and an annular perforated lint filter is secured in the gap. An oscillating agitator within the spin tub has downwardly projecting vanes on the lower outer surface of its skirt portion which, as the agitator oscillates, cooperate with the spin tub ribs to form a pumping action to pump liquid upwardly through the lint filter and out to the interior of the spin tub. When the agitator and spin tub go into a spin mode, the centrifugal force washes the lint on the underside of the lint filter off into the fluid being pumped to drain.

Abstract: A single cylinder internal combustion engine in a portable power tool is provided with a flywheel counterweight member which functions to substantially reduce engine vibration attributable to linear inertial and reactive forces of the engine's reciprocating mass (including its piston, piston pin, piston pin bearing, and connecting rod) when the piston is adjacent its top dead center and bottom dead center positions. The counterweight member is slidably mounted on the crankshaft, and is captively retained thereon closely adjacent the flywheel, by a retaining sleeve also slidably mounted on the crankshaft. Alignable dimples on the counterweight and the flywheel facilitate the installation of the counterweight in the correct rotational orientation on the crankshaft.

Abstract: A gasoline engine driven flexible line trimmer is provided with a modularly constructed power head section which significantly facilitates the original manufacturing assembly, and subsequent service disassembly, of the power head. In a clutch drive embodiment thereof, the power head has four readily separable modules--an engine module comprising a main engine shroud to which the engine is internally secured; a fan housing module; a starter module comprising a starter housing and a recoil starter mechanism retained therein; and a coupling module comprising a clutch housing carrying therein structure for operatively interconnecting the engine's clutch to the flexible drive shaft disposed within the trimmer shaft. In a direct drive version thereof, the power head has two separable modules--the engine module and a combined fan housing, starter and coupling module defined by a single housing within which the starter and coupling structure is carried.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting vegetation with a rotatable head carrying a non-metallic cutting line extended into a cutting plane. As the line extension decreases from an established preset length an actuator in the head permits additional line to be extended automatically from a supply source within the head. The actuator imposes a back pressure against the line of magnitude correlated to the sensed pull tension wanting to extend the line outward of the head. After the cutting line length is extended to its restored original preset length, the actuator in response to the operational forces imposed thereon secures the cutting line against further extension until a subsequent decrease in line extension is incurred. In one embodiment an inertial drag brake is activated during the course of line feedout and is deactivated after the length of cutting line has been fully restored.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance cabinet for a chest-type freezer is formed from prefinished materials. The side walls of the shell and the liner are formed as a single piece, with the evaporator and condenser coils assembled before bending and after a thermal mastic has been applied to the places where the tubing contacts the sheet metal. The tubing is held in place by a hot melt adhesive. After the side walls are folded, bottom walls are attached mechanically and the liner inserted into the shell, with the space at the top being covered by a breaker strip arranged with the top edge of the liner and shell to provide air venting during foaming so that the foam can expand directly into contact with the underside of the breaker strip and adhesively hold it in place. The compressor compartment is attached mechanically to the shell around an opening, and the weight of the machinery is supported by that connection and the surrounding foam.

Abstract: A vibration-damping control handle connectble to the shaft portion of a portable power tool, such as a flexible line trimmer or the like, has an elongated, generally tubular vibration isolation section which coaxially circumscribes the shaft. A first end portion of the vibration isolation section is clmaped to the shaft so that the balance of the section is cantilevered relative to the shaft and defines therewith an annular clearance space. The inner end of a handgrip connecting section is secured to a second end portion of the vibration isolation section, the connecting section projecting laterally outwardly from the vibration isolation section and having an operator handgrip secured to its outer end. During operation of the tool, transverse shaft vibration is absorbed by the vibration isolation section to thereby isolate the handgrip from a substantial portion of such vibration.

Abstract: A refrigerated appliance cabinet for a chest-type freezer is formed from prefinished materials. The side walls of the shell and the liner are formed as a single piece, with the evaporator and condenser coils assembled before bending and after a thermal mastic has been applied to the places where the tubing contacts the sheet metal. The tubing is held in place by a hot melt adhesive. After the side walls are folded, bottom walls are attached mechanically and the liner inserted into the shell, with the space at the top being covered by a breaker strip arranged with the top edge of the liner and shell to provide air venting during foaming so that the foam can expand directly into contact with the underside of the breaker strip and adhesively hold it in place. The compressor compartment is attached mechanically to the shell around an opening, and the weight of the machinery is supported by that connection and the surrounding foam.

Abstract: The cutting head assembly of a motor-driven flexible line trimmer has a line feed mechanism which includes a housing member connected to and driven by a drive shaft from the prime mover and having a centrally located cylindrical wall for receiving a compression spring. A locking plate and cup member is reciprocably disposed around the cylindrical wall and compresses the spring substantially to its normal running position where it is held in position relative to the housing member by suitable retention structure. A spool is disposed around the cup portion of the locking plate and cup member and unless restrained, is free to rotate relative to the housing member to pay out line through an aperture in the housing member. A cover ring member has a central opening which is coupled to the housing member and holds a ground engaging button member against the lower end of the cup member.

Abstract: A sensing arrangement for sensing the level of a bulk material, such as the paving material fed by a paving machine, comprises an ultrasonic transducer spaced from the paving material for controlling the feed of material.

Abstract: A vibration-damping control handle connectable to the shaft portion of a portable power tool, such as a flexible line trimmer or the like, has an elongated, axially tapered body which coaxially circumscribes the shaft and has an operator handgrip section secured thereto. A first end portion of the body is spaced laterally outwardly from the shaft and is interlocked with a free end portion of a resilient damping member which circumscribes the shaft and is secured to a clamp member releasably locked on the shaft. The opposite end of the handle body is connected to the shaft in a slip-fit relationship therewith so that the body may be laterally pivoted or flexed relative to the shaft against the resilient resistance of the free end portion of the damping member which may be a coiled spring or an annular elastomeric element.

Abstract: A soot blower lance for power generation boilers and the like, particularly for high temperature operation, in locations exposed to radiant heat. The lance is of multi-section tubular construction, with high temperature alloys used in the sections exposed to maximum temperatures. The lance is provided with a thin outer coating of ceramic, such as fused silica and zirconia. Significantly extended operating life is realized, along with significant energy savings from reduced usage of cleaning fluids for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A pair of cardboard blanks are each folded and glued to provide opposite sides of an appliance shipping container, each side including a pair of vertical corner posts integrally formed from folded portions of its associated blank. The two sides are fastened at their bottom ends to opposite edges of a rectangular base element supporting an appliance. Flaps at the tops of the two sides are folded to overlap each other, and are glued together to constitute the top of the container. One of the flaps includes an integrally formed handling flange to facilitate lifting and moving of the container. A transparent plastic film is stretch wrapped about the sides to complete the container, the resultant container having four generally transparent sides to allow a substantially full view of the appliance contained therein.

Abstract: A self-leveling leg assembly for use as the rear legs of a household appliance includes a pair of legs at each rear corner rigidly interconnected by a bar. Each leg carries a projecting pin which fits within a slot and a bracket at each corner, with the slots in both brackets sloping upwardly and outwardly toward the outer wall of the appliance. One of the brackets includes a horizontal slot connected to the top portion of the diagonal slot and positioned so that when the adjacent leg pin is moved from the diagonal slot into the horizontal slot and the other leg pin is at the bottom of its slot, movement of the other leg pin toward the top of its slot causes the one leg pin to move to the inner end of the horizontal slot.

Abstract: A room air conditioner unit is disclosed having a molded polymeric chassis consisting primarily of two chassis members. A sheet metal wrapper is removably installed with four corner fasteners and gives an external appearance of a metal unit, as well as assisting in holding the two chassis members together. All of the operative components of the unit are positioned and supported on the lower chassis member and can be operationally tested prior to installation of the upper chassis member or the sheet metal wrapper. The two chassis members are interconnected without separate fasteners and the only operational component requiring separate fasteners is the compressor itself. The unit is therefore well adapted for automated manufacture with a minimum of labor content during either manufacture or repair.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling magnetic serpentine coils on a magnetic sheet includes a carriage movable vertically and horizontally and supporting on its lower side a plurality of elongated electromagnets. Permanent magnets are arranged to have an upper surface engageable with the electromagnet and a lower surface having indentations to conform with the tubing. The movement of the carriage and the energization of the electromagnet are controlled so that the electromagnet is energized with a first polarity to attract the permanent magnet members and the serpentine tubing to lift the tubing from a predetermined position and, by movement of the carriage, pick up the tubing, transfer it horizontally to the sheet, and vertically deposit it on the sheet. The electromagnets are then reversed in polarity to cause the permanent magnets to separate from the electromagnets and clamp the tubing on the sheet so that the tubing can be fastened by other methods.

Abstract: The pivotally mounted throttle lever on a gasoline engine powered flexible line trimmer has a flexible arm portion which is linked to the engine's pivotally mounted carburetor throttle arm by an elongated cable structure. When the linkage structure is in a "short" portion of its lengthwise dimensional tolerance range the throttle lever stroke distance is greater than that required to move the throttle arm to its fully open, actuated limit position in which it is stopped by an abutment surface. The throttle lever, when the throttle arm has been moved to such limit position, thus still has an unused position of its total available stroke distance. When the lever is forcibly driven through this remaining stroke portion, the flexible connecting arm is resiliently bent relative to the balance of the throttle lever to thereby avoid undesirably high stress levels in the throttle lever, the linkage cable and the carburetor throttle arm.

Abstract: A high performance butterfly valve utilizing a thin sheet metal annulus to provide sealing between a valve casing and a rotary disc type valving member. The design of the sealing element provides for a self-sealing at all pressures, with augmentation of the sealing action as a result of applied pressure differential. As maximum stresses in the thin metal sealing element are approached, the element becomes supported at an intermediate region, enabling effective performance at both low and high pressure limits.

Abstract: A hand held portable blower/vacuum assembly includes a gasoline engine mounted on a blower housing that is interchangeably operable as a blower or vacuum unit and is symmetrically arranged for right or left hand use. A U-shaped carrying handle is secured to an upper housing enclosing the engine by means of a mounting structure that includes anti vibration elements. For eliminating the effect of both gyroscopic and centrifugal forces, the engine is arranged with the piston and crankshaft in horizontal and vertical orientations respectively, while both exhaust and cooling air are discharged from the front of the unit away from an operator so as to provide a balanced unit operable with either the right or left hand. A multi-position throttle located on the backside of the unit removed from the handle is incrementally settable for operating the unit at preselected fixed speeds.