Abstract: A machine to fast cook individual servings of spaghetti and the like, particularly spaghetti which has a microscopic bore through the center of each strand, comprises a pressurized boiler to heat water to a temperature of about 155 degrees Celsius under pressure of about 7 atmospheres or about 105 psi, a first cooking chamber to receive an individual serving of spaghetti for cooking and to thereafter receive the heated and pressurized water from the boiler to cook the spaghetti for about thirty seconds, a second cooking chamber to which the partially cooked spaghetti is then transferred through a conduit whose passage is controlled by a food transfer valve for further cooking in water at a temperature of about 90 degrees Celsius for a duration of about twenty seconds.

Abstract: A machine to fast cook individual servings of spaghetti and the like, particularly spaghetti which has a microscopic bore through the center of each strand, comprises a pressurized boiler to heat water to a temperature of about 155 degrees Celsius under pressure of about 7 atmospheres or about 105 psi, a first cooking chamber to receive an individual serving of spaghetti for cooking and to thereafter receive the heated and pressurized water from the boiler to cook the spaghetti for about thirty seconds, a second cooking chamber to which the partially cooked spaghetti is then transferred through a conduit whose passage is controlled by a ball valve for further cooking in water at a temperature of about 90 degrees Celsius for a duration of about twenty seconds.

Abstract: A machine to fast cook an individual serving of pasta and similar foods in the short time span of a minute or less, comprises a single cooking chamber in which to complete both of a two phase cooking cycle. The first phase exposes the pasta in the cooking chamber to very high temperature water, 300 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, under very high pressure, sufficiently high to substantially prevent vaporization thereof, for a period of about thirty seconds. Such pressurized high temperature water is provided by a boiler connected by a conduit to the cooking chamber, and after the first phase of the cooking cycle it is discharged from the cooking chamber into an expansion tank. The second phase of the cooking cycle exposes the pasta in the cooking chamber to hot water below the boiling point but at a cooking temperature of about 190 degrees Fahrenheit for about twenty seconds.

Abstract: A weatherproof junction box cover assembly, comprising a structural member for mounting relationship with a junction box and a cover hingedly mounted on the structural member with cooperative inter-acting hood means at the top and sides of the cover assembly. A shiftable bias means is provided to normally bias the cover toward a closing position, the bias means being shiftable between an over-center station in relation to the pivot means whereby the cover will stay open when moved to the fully open position and a direct-closing-bias station whereby the cover will be constantly biased toward the closing position. The same cover assembly may therefore be used as a stay-open device or as a self-closing device, merely by shifting the anchor point of the bias means.

Abstract: A captive fastener assembly, comprising a guide rail structure, a screw mounted thereon for linear movement relative to the guide rail structure but restrained from rotational movement, and a captive nut mounted in a cooperative bracket for rotational movement but restrained from linear movement relative to the bracket. The invention is particularly useful in fastening various work pieces together, such as an electric terminal box and a meter cabinet, the guide rail structure being mounted on one of the work pieces with the screw captively in place and the bracket secured to the other work piece with the nut captively mounted therein.