Abstract: A trash removal system for space stations has a disposable trash bag member and an attached, compacted large, lightweight inflatable balloon element. When the trash bag member is filled, the astronaut places the bag member in space through an airlock. Once in the vacuum of space, the balloon element inflates. Due to a large cross-sectional area of the balloon element relative to its mass, the combined balloon element and the trash bag member are slowed by atmospheric drag to a much greater extent than the Space Station. The balloon element and bag member lose altitude and re-enter the atmosphere and the elements and contents are destroyed by aerodynamic heating.

Abstract: An orbital debris sweeper is provided for removing particles from orbit which otherwise may impact and damage an orbiting spacecraft. The debris sweeper includes a central sweeper core which carries a debris monitoring unit, and a plurality of large area impact panels rotatable about a central sweeper rotational axis. In response to information from the debris monitoring unit, a computer determines whether individual monitored particles preferably impact one of the rotating panels or pass between the rotating panels. A control unit extends or retracts one or more booms which interconnect the sweeper core and the panels to change the moment of inertia of the sweeper and thereby the rotational velocity of the rotating panels.

Abstract: Removal of tightly encircling bands from coiled strips is accomplished by transversely engaging a spaced pair of pinch rolls against the band on a coil and then severing the band therebetween and moving one pinch roll into engagement with the other pinch roll to pinch the severed band end therebetween, and at least one roll is driven to feed the pinched band outwardly away from the coil into a scrap chopper. The device used for severing the band is provided with a band shear which is movable along a track that runs transverse to the band. The shear is driven along the track to lodge a sharp leading edge thereof under the band and the shear is then actuated to sever the band, and thereafter the band severing means is removed from between the pinch rolls.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing a stationary member to a rotatable member wherein a neck of the rotatable member is coaxially received in a sleeve secured for rotation therewith and the sleeve is journaled for rotation in the stationary member. An extension ring is annularly secured to one end of the sleeve with a normally flat annular thrower seal of elastomeric material annularly engaged between this extension ring and the one end of the sleeve to provide a seal therebetween with inner and outer annular peripheral portions of the thrower seal radially protruding. The inner peripheral portion of the thrower seal annularly engages the neck of the rotatable member under elastic deformation to provide an annular static seal and a peripheral side face of the outer peripheral portion of the thrower seal annularly engages an annular seal rubbing surface of the stationary member under elastic deformation to provide an annular rubbing seal therebetween.

Abstract: A taper journal bearing for rolls for use in rolling mills including a keying arrangement for keying the roll neck sleeve to the roll neck. The bearing includes a bushing housed in a roll bearing chock, a sleeve closely fitted onto a tapered journal or roll neck of the roll, an oil film deposited between the bushing and the sleeve, and a key arrangement for fixing the sleeve to the roll wherein a flat is machined on the outer end of the taper on the surface of the taper journal of the roll in parallel to the taper with this flat underlying one end of the sleeve at the outer end of the load zone of the roll neck. A keyway is provided in one end of the sleeve such that it is open to and in registration with the flat machined on the roll neck taper. A key is slidably received in the keyway and has a tapered flat surface in sliding engagement with the flat on the roll taper to create a wedging action against the flat when the key is urged into the keyway.

Abstract: In a mill roll bearing assembly, wherein a mill roll neck is coaxially received in a bearing sleeve journaled for rotation therewith in a housed bearing, and which further includes a sleeve retainer secured to the annular outside end of the bearing sleeve, an inspection passage is provided through an upper end portion of the bearing housing, which reveals the then rotatably positioned uppermost end portion of the sleeve end retainer where it annularly mates with the bearing sleeve and a removable closure is provided for the passage. A second inspection passage is also provided through the end of the sleeve retainer near the outer peripheral edge thereof, which reveals a portion of the outside ends of the sleeve and roll neck where they annularly mate. A feeler gauge is then inserted through the passages when aligned, to check whether the roll neck is fully seated in the bearing sleeve.

Abstract: A strip mill entry guide mechanism having upper and lower platens positioned to receive and clamp strip material passing therebetween. One of the platens is driven by a first drive mechanism toward the other platen into clamping engagement with the strip. This first drive mechanism is locked in this clamping position to prevent its forced retraction therefrom while this same driven platen is further driven into heavier clamping engagement with the moving strip with a second drive mechanism disposed between the locked first said drive mechanism and the platen being driven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coil handling at a mill entry and more particularly a method and apparatus providing improved sequencing and more positive handling in the preparation of the head end of the strip and in guiding and feeding the strip to mill production equipment.

Abstract: A tension reel for strip coiling which includes a continuous double expansible mandrel rotatably supported at opposite ends to a frame. The double expansible mandrel consists of two expansible mandrel sections joined endwise in axially separable drive engagement such that rotation of one mandrel section for strip coiling also drives the other mandrel section when they are axially joined in driving engagement. Means are provided to axially engage and retract the mandrel sections relative to each other to remove the coiled strip from between the divided and collapsed mandrel sections.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement is disclosed for sealing a stationary member to a rotatable member and comprises a pair of rubbing seals mounted on one of the rotatable and stationary members in rubbing engagement with the other of the members. The rubbing seals are relatively closely spaced to form a sealant space therebetween extending radially from the rotatable member to the stationary member and circumferentially and continuously about the rotatable member. The stationary member has a sealant passage extending therethrough in communication with the sealant space. An arrangement is provided for injecting fluid sealant through the sealant passage and into the sealant space so that the sealant space is completely filled with sealant to form a continuous sealing band of fluid sealant extending circumferentially about the rotatable member.