Abstract: A windmill is disclosed, the windmill including a vertical shaft mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a number of blades spaced circumferentially around the longitudinal axis, and being disposed generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the vertical shaft, and supporting arms extending radially outwardly from the vertical shaft for supporting the blades. The windmill also includes a first member connected to an upper end of one of the blades and defining a first surface having a leading edge with respect to the direction of movement of the blade and a trailing edge rearward of the leading edge, the leading edge being lower than the trailing edge. The first surface also includes an inside lateral edge and an outer lateral edge spaced radially outwardly from the inside lateral edge, the inside lateral edge being higher than the outer lateral edge.

Abstract: An improved seal is disclosed for hydraulically sealing a piston-cylinder assembly used in activation of a floating caliper disc brake. The improved seal comprises an annular groove circumscribing the cylinder wall within which a ring type elastomeric seal is seated so as to sealingly engage the piston. The floor of the annular groove has a flat portion and sloped portion. By varying the ratio of the flat portion to the sloped portion a desired axial force resisting retraction of the piston into the cylinder may be pre-determined thereby preventing excessive brake shoe drag upon the rotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tool for lifting a component such as a building block and comprises a support having a contiguous lower abutment surface, a plurality of engaging members extending beneath the support and adapted to be entered into a recess in the component, at least one of the members being movable and a handle means movable with respect to the support and operatively connected with the movable engaging member, so that on lifting the handle the engaging members engage the adjacent wall of the recess with a force proportional to the weight of the component.

Abstract: A brake shoe assembly is disclosed for use in an automotive disc brake of the floating caliper type. The brake shoe assembly comprises a backing plate and a friction material pad secured thereto. The backing plate is configured to receive riveted, bonded or molded friction material thereto. The friction pad leading and trailing edges may be chamfered to vary the pad surface area in the event of uneven wear and thereby modify the pad surface loading to correct for same.

Abstract: A monolithie multijunction solar cell is modified by fabricating an integrated circuit inverter on the back of the cell to produce a device capable of generating an alternating current output. In another embodiment, integrated circuit power conditioning electronics is incorporated in a module containing a solar cell power supply.

Abstract: Cascades and associated blocker doors are provided in the lower section of a turbofan engine nacelle such that when the blocker doors are closed the bypass flow is diverted through the open cascades to produce vertical thrust. Vanes are provided in the cascades to assist in directing the diverted airflow in the downward direction. The upper section of the bypass duct is isolated from the lower cascade section by way of horizontal struts extending across the bypass duct. A pair of outer doors may be provided over the cascades such that, when opened, they act to provide side skirts to guide the downward flow of air.

Abstract: A pin type floating caliper disc brake for an automotive vehicle is disclosed in which the brake shoe assemblies transfer the braking torque directly to the anchor plate support. The caliper containing the hydraulic actuation piston is slidably supported upon pins extended inboard of the anchor plate support and carries no braking torque. The caliper assembly in combination with the anchor plate support are configured to permit brake shoe assemblies of varying areas and thickness and to accommodate solid or vented rotor designs without modification to the caliper or anchor plate support. The rotor may readily be removed without removal of the anchor plate support.

Abstract: A pulse generator bar unit adapted to be substituted for the totalizer bar unit of a conventional mechanical fuel pump register to modify the register for providing an electrical pulse train with an electrical pulse for each predetermined amount of fuel delivered.

Abstract: A sealing boot of elastic material for use in a cylinder and piston assembly of an automotive vehicle brake system is disclosed. The boot seats upon the piston and has a radially extending bellows terminating at an annular ring adopted for retention in an annular groove circumscribing the cylinder opening. The boot annular ring is preferably enclosed or otherwise coated with elastomeric material to prevent corrosion thereof and resist disengagement from the receiving groove once seated therein.

Abstract: An anti-rattle or biasing member is positioned between the torque receiving member of an automotive disc brake and the brake shoe backing plate urging said backing plate into an anti-rattling engagement with said torque carrying member.

Abstract: A coil spring having fixedly attached washer members at each end encircles a mine roof bolt and is retained between radially projecting ears on the bolt and an expansion anchor threaded on the bolt. The washer member which engages the bolt ears is slotted to receive the ears so that rotation of the bolt is transmitted to the spring and the other washer member. The washer member at the other end has a pair of stepped shoulders on the face opposite the spring which engages the lower end of the anchor shell. The latter is also provided with a pair of stepped shoulders which cooperate with those on the washer member to transmit rotation from the bolt to the anchor in one direction and allow relative rotation in the other. In this manner, a resin grouting cartridge placed in the drill hole ahead of the anchor may be broken and its contents mixed by rotation of the bolt and anchor as a common unit, and the anchor expanded to tension the bolt as the resin sets by rotation in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The distribution of a coating composition, e.g., a binder composition, on a carpet structure is determined by illuminating the coated carpet surface with light and measuring the intensity of the light returned therefrom. The intensity of the returned light relates to the distribution, i.e., (1) the amount of the illuminated surface which is coated and (2) the depth of said coating, of the coating on the carpet structure.

Abstract: A heterojunction or Schottky barrier photovoltaic device comprising a conductive base metal layer compatible with and coating predominately the exposed surface of the p-type substrate of the device such that a back surface field region is formed at the interface between the device and the base metal layer, a transparent, conductive mixed metal oxide layer in integral contact with the n-type layer of the heterojunction or Schottky barrier device having a metal alloy grid network of the same metal elements of the oxide constituents of the mixed metal oxide layer embedded in the mixed metal oxide layer, an insulating layer which prevents electrical contact between the conductive metal base layer and the transparent, conductive metal oxide layer, and a metal contact means covering the insulating layer and in intimate contact with the metal grid network embedded in the transparent, conductive oxide layer for conducting electrons generated by the photovoltaic process from the device.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing machine in which electrical signals are recorded on a recording medium while the medium is driven forwardly along a predetermined path. Recording and reproducing means are switched between record and reproducing modes. Detecting means are associated with means for switching electrical connections in the machine between record and reproducing modes. The detecting means assume a predetermined condition when the end of the last recorded signal on the recording medium is adjacent to the recording and reproducing means. The driving means can then be operated to drive the medium forwardly only if the switching means are in the record mode.

Abstract: A hinged toilet seat and cover assembly has at least two magnetic latches positioned to control the movement of the seat and cover. A first magnetic latch positioned between the hinge and cover serves to hold the cover in a vertical position once the cover has been raised to such position. A second magnetic latch positioned between the cover and seat at a point spaced from the hinge serves to hold the cover and seat in contact with each other once they are brought into such contact.

Abstract: A transparent, conductive collector layer containing conductive metal channels is formed as a layer on a photovoltaic substrate by coating a photovoltaic substract with a conductive mixed metal layer; attaching a heat sink having portions protruding from one of its surfaces which define a continuous pattern in combination with recessed regions among said protruding portions to said substrate such that said protruding portions of said heat sink are in contact with the conductive layer of said substrate; andHeating said substrate while simultaneously oxidizing the portions of the conductive layer exposed to a gaseous oxidizing substance forced into said recessed regions of said heat sink, thereby creating a transparent metal oxide layer on said substrate containing a continuous pattern of highly conductive metal channels in said layer.

Abstract: A heterojunction or Schottky barrier photovoltaic device comprising a conductive base metal layer compatible with and coating predominately the exposed surface of the p-type substrate of the device such that a back surface field region is formed at the interface between the device and the base metal layer, a transparent, conductive mixed metal oxide layer in integral contact with the n-type layer of the heterojunction or Schottky barrier device having a metal alloy grid network of the same metal elements of the oxide constituents of the mixed metal oxide layer embedded in the mixed metal oxide layer, an insulating layer which prevents electrical contact between the conductive metal base layer and the transparent, conductive metal oxide layer, and a metal contact means convering the insulating layer and in intimate contact with the metal grid network embedded in the transparent, conductive oxide layer for conducting electrons generated by the photovoltaic process from the device.