Abstract: The embodiment of the clothes dryer disclosed herein shows apparatus which operates on a vacuum principle to dry clothes or other material rapidly and economically. A rotary vane vacuum pump is incorporated into the dryer to efficiently exhaust the clothes holding compartment during rotation of a double drum assembly. The pump which is affixed to the stationary center shaft has a rotor which rotates with the double drum assembly. A radiant heating element can be mounted on the stationary horizontal center shaft directed into the clothes holding compartment to expedite the drying process.

Abstract: The present invention includes a solar energy collector for concentrating the sun's rays on a conduit having a fluid flowing therethrough. A primary reflector is oriented in a north-south direction. The sun's rays are reflected from the primary reflector to a smaller secondary reflector located thereabove, which further reflects the sun's rays onto a conduit recessed below the primary reflector. The concentrated sun's rays on the conduit heats the conduit. The heated conduit further heats a fluid flowing through the conduit. The heated fluid is used to generate energy, directly or indirectly. An automatic control device, including a light sensor, continually adjusts the primary and secondary reflectors to insure that the sun's rays are striking the primary reflector at the proper angle. Adjustments of the primary and secondary reflectors are made by pivotal movement about the conduit which does not move.

Abstract: Heat pipes are employed to capture energy normally lost in the form of heat in the gases in flue-stacks and to transfer the captured heat to water in a water jacket. The heated water is pumped from the water jacket to a storage tank where it is kept until needed. Control of the system is governed by heat sensors in the flue-stack and in the storage tank which provide control signals to a pump, or pumps, used in controlling the flow of water through the pipes between the water jacket and the storage tank.

Abstract: My continuous drier comprises an inclined tubular casing having a feed tube concentrically disposed therein via which the product, such as grain or seed, to be dried is delivered to the lower end of the casing. Circumscribed about the feed tube and in a fixed relation thereto is an auger having its peripheral edge secured to the interior of the tubular casing. Most of the flights of the auger are perforated, the holes being of a size sufficiently small so that the granular product will not pass therethrough, yet large enough to allow a heat conductive media, such as salt particles, to sift downwardly as the drier is rotated about its inclined axis. Whereas most of the auger is perforated, two flights adjacent the closed lower end of the casing are imperforate.

Abstract: A meat cooking apparatus which includes a container having a closable lid thereon and a fire grate in the bottom. The grate holds the coals of a charcoal fire. Meat is supported on a grill thereabove. The cylindrical housing has a lid which is selectively closable. An improved feature of the present apparatus is the incorporation of a removable baffle plate positioned between the fire grate which supports the charcoal fire and the grill which supports the meat. Preferably, it comprises a circular baffle plate which is inserted therebetween, resting on sidewall located supports and includes a few openings drilled therein to enable smoke rising from the fire to impinge directly on the meat. In addition, it is sized to define a peripheral slot enabling access of smoke through the slot to the meat to be cooked.

Abstract: Eyelets are positioned through openings from one side of a circuit board so as to make electrical connections with circuit runs on the board, flash lamp lead-in wires are positioned through the eyelets, and shank portions of the eyelets extending from the other side of the board are bent over to hold the wires and secure the eyelets to the board. One or more of the eyelet shanks are bent so as to extend farther from the board than other eyelet shanks to make contact with a shield member and/or prevent the other eyelet shanks from contacting the shield member.

Abstract: An elongated cryogenic envelope includes a support-spacer for locating a plurality of refrigeration tubes at selected radial and circumferential locations within a vacuum chamber formed between inner and outer coaxial tubes. The support-spacer includes a high-thermal-conductivity ring surrounding the inner tube and a plurality of hollow epoxy-fiberglass, titanium-tipped spokes extending between the outer tube and the high-thermal-conductivity ring surrounding the inner tube.

Abstract: A superconducting power transmission line is comprised of sections of rigid cryogenic envelope and sections of flexible cryogenic envelope. The rigid sections are comprised of rigid inner and outer tubes having a refrigeration shield located in a vacuum chamber therebetween. The flexible sections are comprised of flexible inner and outer tubes surrounded by reinforcing braid. The rigid and flexible inner and outer tubes are joined together and a refrigeration tube which is in contact with the rigid section's shield is coiled about the inner flexible tube.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for gas turbine engines or power plants having devices for the gaseous processing of the fuel which is introduced therein, characterized by the combination of the following features:A. The fuel ejection cone of at least one fuel nozzle arranged upstream of the flame tube back wall of the combustion chamber extends exteriorly along the flame tube backwall, the latter of which is conically shaped in conformance with the ejection cone;B. The combustion chamber has an air infeed hood essentially encompassing at least partially the flame tube backwall as well as the fuel nozzle, forming an annular or ring channel narrowing in the direction of the downstream end of the flame tube backwall and which, by means of plurality of apertures located immediately behind the flame tube backwall in the side walls of the flame tube, is in communication with the interior of the flame tube.

Abstract: A fuel burner sequencing device is disclosed which utulizes cam operated switches in conjunction with relays to program the initiation and safe operation of a fuel burner. The sequencing device or means provides for a normal start up and ignition of a fuel burner, and then provides for a postpurge pilot operation for a normal shutdown of the burner. The postpurge pilot operation activates the pilot burner during the time the main burner is on thereby lighting the pilot burner before the main burner is turned off. The pilot burner is retained in a burning state for a short period after the main burner has been turned off to burn off any residual fuel before the sequencing device or means completes its sequence and is ready for the initiation of a new operating cycle.

Abstract: Plural pressure-displacement type air diffusion modules have separate diffusion means between a control plenum and a space to be conditioned. A single control valve between a source of pressurized air and the control plenum regulates the volume of air admitted into the plenum, whereby laminar flow of air is uniformly produced by pressure displacement through each of the modules. The control valve is either a gate-type valve or a valve head and seat arrangement.

Abstract: A device for distributing conditioned air over a row of chairs, especially over a row of individual chairs, while at least a portion of the seats of a row of seats is mounted on a common supporting beam. The conditioned air is passed through the supporting beam designed as a hollow body. Provided on the supporting beam are air outlet devices for discharging the conditioned air into the space or room to be air conditioned.

Abstract: A drying apparatus for wet paper webs which employs a rotary drum having a foraminous cylindrical wall and being located between but spaced apart from two parallel drying rolls with foraminous or impermeable cylindrical walls. The major part of the drum is surrounded by a hotair hood, and an endless wire screen is trained over the rolls as well as over that part of the drum which is surrounded by the hood. The screen forms a loop which surrounds a stationary suction chamber extending into the space between the rolls and having an open side facing the drum as well as the spaces between the drum and the rolls. The suction chamber has one or more sealing strips which are closely adjacent to the screen upstream of the first roll (as considered in the direction of transport of a web) and downstream of the second roll. The leader of the web is threaded between the screen and the first roll, thereupon around the drum between the screen and the hood, and finally between the screen and the second roll.

Abstract: A thermally responsive valve having dual operating temperatures comprises a main body having two openings which are connected through passages in the body to an internal operating space in the body, two dish-shaped bimetal elements disposed in spaced relation to each other within the internal operating space to divide the operating space into three sections, the bimetal elements being movable in response to variations in temperature to engage and disengage respective valve seats to close and open passages between the internal operating space and the openings, and an annular wave-shaped spring arranged between the two bimetal elements holding the elements in said spaced relation.

Abstract: A reverse cycle heat pump is provided with a heat exchanger which provides refrigerant subcooling with no thermodynamic losses. The heat exchanger is arranged such that it is operative only during the heating cycle to permit optimum charging of the system and allow operation during the cooling cycle with no excess refrigerant in the system accumulator. The heat exchanger is bypassed when the system is converted from heating to cooling operations.Liquid refrigerant will be mixed with oil in the accumulator during the heating cycle, but not the cooling cycle. Then since refrigerant liquid returning with the oil from the accumulator to the compressor should be evaporated to avoid harm to the compressor, heat applied to the suction line, with no thermodynamic loss, vaporizes this refrigerant. During the cooling operation, no liquid refrigerant is returned from the accumulator, so heat added to the suction gas would be undesirable.

Abstract: A solid fuel burning heater has an inner combustion chamber housing enclosed within an outer housing with a fuel feed door in the inner combustion chamber housing being aligned with an outer housing door; an air inlet in the bottom of the combustion chamber housing has a thermostatically controlled air inflow closure valving member connected to a wire bail having an upper end encircling a cam rod connected to the outer housing door. Opening movement of the outer housing door moves the cam rod so that the air inflow closure valving member is opened to provide combustion air into the combustion chamber and prevent blowback upon the subsequent opening of the fuel feed door.

Abstract: A portable barbecue having brackets for adjustably supporting the barbecue grid removably attached to the barbecue bowl solely by interengagement between the bowl and the brackets without any additional fastening or mounting members. Each of the brackets is insertable through a horizontal slot in the vertical upwardly extending sides of the barbecue bowl. The brackets are formed so as to provide biasing means which urge an upper notched portion of the bracket into vertical alignment with the sides of the bowl and the other end of the bracket into engagement with the bottom of the barbecue bowl. In one embodiment the other end of the bracket is extended so as to form short legs which are integral with the grid supporting bracket for maintaining the barbecue a short distance above the ground or other supporting surface such as a picnic table. Another embodiment has a separate tripod leg assembly for supporting the barbecue bowl above the ground at approximately the user's waist level.

Abstract: A portable heating unit which may quickly and easily be installed in an existing fireplace construction is described. The heating unit, with a controlled adaptable damper system, greatly increases the burning efficiency of the fuel and is designed to provide a circulating warm air stream for heating a room. The heating unit can quickly and easily be moved from the fireplace opening to restore the fireplace to its original operation when the extra heat is no longer needed.The portable heating unit may also be installed in a self-contained enclosure. This enclosure incorporates a triangular-shaped flue that interconnects with a nearby chimney. The triangular flue is constructed so as to connect with a chimney to the right or to the left of the heating unit enclosure thereby allowing one chimney to service more than one heating unit at the same floor level.

Abstract: Operative starting ignition of charcoal briquettes is achieved in a relatively short period of time by a charcoal burner constructed to provide a frusto-conical flue with diametrically opposed intake openings properly proportioned to the cross-section of the upper exhaust opening, and also by properly distributing apertures of different sizes in a grate that transversely intersects and divides the flue into upper and lower chambers. A novel construction for securing the grate in position is effected by formed elements on the periphery of the grate cooperating with selectively removable elements that attach exteriorly of the grate to extend interiorly thereof, the grate being manually selectively positionable in the flue through the open bottom thereof. A simple extension selectively attachable to the upper end of the flue provides a combination support and grate for receiving thereon items to be heated.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the loose trailing end of a strip of paper passing through a photographic dryer and includes soft, readily yieldable retarding elements mounted in inclined relation to the downward run of the path of the paper strip through the dryer in generally opposed relation to the discharge of hot drying air from a pressurized distribution plenum. In paper processors individual strips of photographic prints are transported therethrough by being attached at their leading ends to a transport belt which carries the strips through a tortuous path including a downward run with the hot drying air being blown against the surface of the paper to be dried. Since only the leading end of the photographic paper is attached to the transport belt, the trailing end is loose and tends to fall down within the downward run portion of the drying chamber.