Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a cut edge of a foam board is disclosed. The foam board has a top surface, a bottom surface, a first cut edge and a second cut edge. Each cut edge extends between the top and bottom surface. The method includes heating of at least one of cut edges to raise the surface to a first temperature, applying pressure to the at least one of the cut edges by a pressure source at a first pressure, and cooling the at least one of the cut edges to a second temperature. The first temperature is above the foam glass transition temperature and the second temperature is below the glass transition temperature.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a water inlet connectable to a water source. A dishwasher element is operable on water received through the inlet. A flow sensor is in fluid communication with the inlet and is operable to generate a control signal indicative of water flow through the inlet. A control apparatus is connected between the dishwasher element and the flow sensor and is operable to inhibit operation of the dishwasher element in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A machine controller having start and time delay functions activated and set by a single switch. There is a cycler for activating and deactivating machine functions in a timed sequence. There is a manually operable start/delay-set switch and an electronic circuit responsive to the switch which produces a start signal upon initial closing of the switch, and which produces a delay signal after the switch is held closed for a predetermined time. An electronic control circuit responds to the start and delay signals to store a delay time and activate the cycler after the stored delay time has expired.

Abstract: A control system for an appliance having a plurality of different operational cycles, provides cam operated switches for controlling the coupling of electrical power to the appliance, the switches including a plurality of rotatable cams for operating the switches in response to the rotational position of the cams, the switches being adapted for electrical rotation of said cams, a digital electronic control circuit for controlling the electrical cam rotation, the control circuit including circuitry for receiving a selection of any one of the cycles for the operation of the appliance, and a second circuit coupled between the switches and the control circuit and responsive to the circuitry for receiving for supplying information on the rotational position of the cams to the control circuit to enable control of the electrical rotation in accordance with a cycle selection.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit having a variable duty cycle for controlling the power level of a microwave oven provides an adjustable RC time constant circuit including a capacitance branch and a resistance branch and coupling means therebetween, the resistance branch including a pair of alternately selectable current paths for the charging and discharging of the capacitance branch, the coupling means including semiconductor switch means for selecting and coupling either of the current paths to the capacitance branch for changing the charging and discharging of the capacitance branch in accordance with the selected current path, and one of the current paths including a pair of parallel connected portions with each of the parallel portions having a diode connected therein for controlling the direction of current flow, the diodes being connected with opposite respective polarities for allowing current flow only in opposite directions in the respective portions, the one current path further including a potentiometer hav

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of an appliance of the type having a plurality of machine functions to be activated and deactivated in accordance with a control strategy includes a plurality of selectable cycles each made up of a series of events and an array of user actuatable membrane switching devices for selecting at least one cycle of operation for the appliance. The array of membrane switching devices also allow the user to program an optional event within the selected cycle and to select a time period for at least one of the events of the selected cycle. A control logic includes a resident program with a series of instructions for the operation of the applicance and a memory for storing data which is retrievable in response to actuation of the membrane switching devices so that the appliance operates in accordance with the resident program and the retrieved data.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the application of alternating current power to an apparatus provides a triac having a pair of main terminals adapted for being coupled in series between the apparatus and a source of alternating current power, the triac also having a gate terminal, nonregulated direct current power supply adapted to receive alternating current power from the source thereof, the power supply including a rectifier and a filter and having a pair of output terminals for distributing direct current power, circuitry for maintaining an approximately constant load on the nonregulated direct current power supply and for switching current therefrom to the triac gate terminal including a semiconductor junction switch having a gate terminal, a first main terminal coupled to one output terminal of the power supply and the triac gate terminal and a second main terminal coupled to the other output terminal of the power supply, and circuitry coupled to the switch gate terminal for activating and deactivating curren

Abstract: There is described a process for preparing large crystals of basic aluminum nitrate (BAN) from a nitric acid feed solution containing Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 values comprising the steps of:(1) evaporating water and nitric acid from the solution in a single step evaporation performed at a temperature of between about 270.degree. and about 450.degree. F. and at a pressure of between about atmospheric and about 60 psig to produce an evaporated liquor comprising at least about 16% alumina by weight;(2) holding the evaporated liquor in a quiescent state for a period of between about 20 minutes and about two hours within the temperature range of about 270.degree. F. to about 340.degree. F.;(3) injecting water into the product of step 2, the water being added in an amount sufficient to adjust the composition of the conditioned liquor to a composition expressible as the sum of two components(1) ANN (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.6HNO.sub.3.15H.sub.2 O or Al(NO.sub.3).sub.3.9H.sub.

Abstract: Alumina values are extracted from clay by the steps of pelletizing into spherical particles, calcining the pellets in a fluidized bed reactor, extracting the clay in about 30-40% nitric acid, purifying the basic aluminum nitrate produced, crystallizing aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, decomposing the nonahydrate in at least three steps, calcining the produced alumina and reconstituting the NO.sub.x gases to nitric acid.

Abstract: There is described a method for the decomposition of aluminum nitrate crystals to alumina comprising the steps of:(a) melting the aluminum nitrate crystals;(b) evaporating from the melted crystals in a once through evaporator at the boiling temperature of the mixture and for a time sufficient to remove water and associated nitric acid and to provide a fluid having an alumina concentration of at least about 18% by weight;(c) decomposing the product of step (b) at a temperature of between about 150.degree. and about 200.degree. C. and recovering the heat of condensation of the resultant vapors;(d) further decomposing the product of step (c) in a fluidized bed decomposer at a temperature of between about 300.degree. and about 400.degree. C. to reduce the residual nitrate concentration in the product to between about 5 and about 10 weight percent;(e) decomposing the product of step (d) in a fluidized bed decomposer at a temperature of between about 500.degree. and about 800.degree. C.

Abstract: A control system, for a machine and the like having at least one cycle made up of at least two events, utilizes momentary switching devices to actuate each cycle. The control system includes a control circuit having momentary switching devices, digital circuitry for latching the control circuit in various modes of operation, and timing circuitry responsive to the digital circuitry for timing at least one event of the cycle; and gate circuit means controlled by semiconductor switching devices for regulating at least another event of the cycle in response to the control circuit.

Abstract: A control system for a machine and the like having at least one cycle made up of at least two events utilizes at least one momentarily operable switching device to actuate the cycle and digital circuitry including a plurality of NAND and AND gates to implement a momentary zero potential signal produced by the switching device. The control system includes a control circuit having programming means, digital circuitry further including at least two NOR gates for latching the control circuit in various modes of operation, and timing circuitry for deriving a selectable timing period for at least one event of the cycle; and gate circuit means including additional digital circuitry for regulating at least another event of the cycle in response to the control circuit.

Abstract: A timer wherein the timing means of said timer includes an improved patch cord control which consists of the electrical coupling of at least two patch cords and two terminal means to individual power switching means and the grouping of timing resistors into at least two groups each of which consist of timing resistors of equal value for preselecting a maximum number of time intervals utilizing a minimum number of resistors.

Abstract: A solid-state delay timed switching circuit includes a delay timing means for delaying the start of an operational sequence. A function timing means is provided for timing the operational sequence, an alarm timing means for timing an audible alarm at the completion of an operational sequence, a power switching means, a power supply and a power turn-off means to de-energize the power switching means.

Abstract: A push button has successive adjacent stations to receive push rods of switches, the first station being disposed a predetermined distance from the button case, the next two stations being disposed at distances which are at predetermined ratios based on the location of the first station.

Abstract: A timed switching circuit includes timer means for timing an event, timer means for timing the length of an alarm signal, and timer means for timing delays prior to and immediately after an event is timed. The circuit also includes an appliance control/indicator means for controlling an appliance in response to a timed event and indicating the operational state thereof.

Abstract: Two timing means are connected by a switching means, one of the timing means being operable to de-energize a load, the other energizing another load for a predetermined time after the first load has been de-energized.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing peroxide contamination from acrylonitrile. The process includes contacting the acrylonitrile with an activated alumina adsorbent and separating the acrylonitrile product from the alumina. The contaminated acrylonitrile is contacted with the activated alumina adsorbent for a time sufficient for the peroxide contaminate to be adsorbed by the activated alumina. The activated alumina may also be used to selectively remove color promoting contaminates in an acrylonitrile product.