Abstract: An adaptor assembly for mounting auxiliary tools and attachments on vehicles includes a plate having a rectangular tubular mounting sleeve extending at right angles from one side thereof and a pair of receiving channels defined by parallel spaced apart sidewall members extending from the other side thereof. The receiving channels receive and engage the mounting blades of a conventional vehicular snow plow hitch, so as to support the rectangular mounting sleeve in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of a vehicle. The mounting sleeve, thus securely attached to the vehicle, allows auxiliary apparatus or "tools" having rectangular mounting "prongs" to be quickly and easily attached to and separated from a vehicle in place of a snow plow, without precluding rapid repositioning of a snow plow when desired.

Abstract: Document detector and collector for detecting and collecting identifiable documents from a high speed stream of documents. A plurality of documents including identifiable documents are fed along a path. A detector detects the identifiable documents. A table is mounted above the document path to receive the identifiable documents. A first vacuum wheel responsive to the detector, removes the identifiable documents and feeds the removed documents to a second vacuum wheel. The second vacuum wheel delivers the documents to the delivery table.

Abstract: A low reflection coating for windows. A coating of silicone rubber is applied on one surface of the window and preferably also on the other surface. Each coating preferably has a thickness of several wavelengths of light and has a minimum thickness of two microns. The coating is low cost and is suitable for large areas, for instance solar heat collectors. Reflectivity is reduced by approximately one-third. The coating has no relation to a quarter wavelength or any multiple thereof of incident light.

Abstract: Uni-directional radiation vanes for a solar heating system for passing solar radiation and suppressing reradiation in the opposite direction. A plurality of parallel vanes are pivotally mounted. Drive means are connected to the vanes to rotate said vanes in parallel relation to follow the sun so that the sun's rays pass between said vanes. A plurality of grooves on the lower part of said vanes suppress reradiation between said vanes in the opposite direction to the sun's rays.

Abstract: A solar heating system. A roof mounted panel collects heat from the sun. The panel having an upper sunlight-absorbing surface. A translucent cover is mounted above the panel to protect it from the weather. The panel has a lower surface for heat transfer to a stream of water. The panel is mounted in cooperative relation with a roof to form a passage for the stream of water. Means are connected to the panel for maintaining the stream of water in substantially uniform contact with said lower surface of the panel. Insulated tank means connected for receiving and storing the stream of water. Means are provided for controlling the stream of water under the panel in response to the temperature of the panel and the water in the tank, whereby the water collects heat from the panel only at useful temperatures. Air stream means are provided for preventing the roof from overheating.

Abstract: Roofing means including a roof panel. Means are provided for securing the roof panel onto a roof frame including elastic clamping means joining the panel in tensioned relation to the frame and a deformable elastic sealing member secured between the clamping means and the panel and covering the clamping member. The roof panel may be a thin translucent plastic sheet.

Abstract: A fluid manifolding system. A main flow line is connected to a plurality of branch flow lines. Adjustable control means are connected to each branch point to control the flow in that branch line independently of the pressure drop in that branch line and independently of the hydrostatic pressure in the main flow line at that branch point. The control means consists of a fixed constriction in each branch flow line and an automatic valve in each branch flow line responsive to the pressure drop across the fixed constriction and which may be biased by a force to maintain a fixed preassigned pressure drop across the fixed constriction.

Abstract: An air-heating solar collector having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, substantially coextensive translucent sheets and a convoluted air passage passing in succession between successive pairs of said sheets, the air finally passing over a blackened absorber plate, whereby heat escaping from the absorber to the sheets is picked up by air flowing in the convoluted air passage.

Abstract: An auxiliary system for cooling a solar collector of the type having circulating fluid when normal circulation fails, comprising direct mechanical temperature responsive means for admitting domestic water to the collector automatically when a predetermined safe temperature is exceeded.

Abstract: A solar collector for collecting radiant energy and transferring it as heat to a moving air stream. A housing has means to provide an air stream through the housing. At least one translucent cover is mounted on the housing for the entrance of radiation into the housing. A plurality of spaced apart partially translucent sheets in said air stream, substantially parallel to and coextensive with the cover, whereby a portion of said entering radiation is absorbed by each successive partially translucent sheet and transmitted to said air stream as heat.

Abstract: A heat storage tank suitable for solar house heating systems. The tank includes a rigidly supported bottom panel covered with a layer of stones of substantially uniform size which are bonded together thermally and mechanically at their points of contact with each other, but which have voids forming air passages remaining between them, bottom insulation below said bottom panel, a bottom air passage between the bottom insulation and the bottom panel, and at least one opening in the bottom panel whereby air can pass from said bottom air passage into said layer of stones.

Abstract: A reflecting solar heat collector. A stationary cylindrical receiver surface absorbs sunlight. An array of reflecting mirror strips are rotatably mounted in substantially parabolic arrangement having the receiver surface substantially at its focus. Motor means are connected for pivotally rotating said mirror strips substantially in unison about spaced-apart axes parallel to said receiver surface and substantially in said parabolic arrangement, to track the sun's apparent motion.

Abstract: An air-heating solar collector having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, substantially coextensive translucent sheets and a convoluted air passage passing in succession between successive pairs of said sheets, the air finally passing over a blackened absorber plate, whereby heat escaping from the absorber to the sheets is picked up by air flowing in the convoluted air passage.

Abstract: A heat-conducting joint suitable for solar heat collectors. A tubular metal member carries heat-transfer fluid. A sheet metal member is in thermal contact with said tubular member and one of the members is pre-curved in a plane perpendicular to the surface of the sheet into a wave shape substantially consisting of a plurality of long radius arches joined by short radius cusps. Means are provided for first securing the other member while straight to the one member near its ends in a manner to prevent sliding of the other member on the one member. Means are provided for then securing said other member against the one member at the short radius cusps, whereby the two members are pressed together elastically along at least one line of contact for efficient heat conduction between them.

Abstract: A heat transfer block has a center core of substantially equally sized stones. The stones are grouted together with voids in between. Upper and lower panels are grouted to the center core. At least one of the panels is a heat transmitting panel. A plurality of heat transfer blocks may be laid end to end to form a heat transfer duct. A building air heating system may comprise a plurality of heat transfer blocks connected together, a means of circulating air through the blocks, and a heat reservoir connected to the outer surface of said heat transfer blocks.

Abstract: A heat and moisture exchanger consists of a folded sheet of water permeable paper having a plurality of folds. Separators are placed between said folds to provide air passages. Air is directed in one direction through the folds on one side of said folded paper. The return air flows in the opposite direction through said folds on the other side of said folded paper. Water and heat are transferred through the paper from one air stream to the other air stream flowing in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A solar heat collector. A thin evacuated tank has upper and lower parallel sides, the upper side having a black exterior surface, the tank being mounted at an angle to the horizontal. A small amount of vaporizable fluid is contained in the tank. A fluid conduit is connected in heat exchanging relation with the upper end of the tank. Solar rays striking said upper tank surface will vaporize the fluid in the tank and the vapor will flow to the upper portion of the tank where it will be condensed and transfer its heat to fluid in the conduit.

Abstract: Connecting means to connect first and second printing presses in tandem. A support member is mounted on a first printing press. A curved plate is mounted on said support member, said plate bridging the gap between an output of the first printing press and the input of a second printing press.An endless belt is mounted on said support member over said curved plate and runs in contact with said curved plate. One of the printing presses is connected to drive the belt the same linear speed as the linear paper feed speed of the printing presses.

Abstract: A heat storage tank suitable for solar house heating systems. The tank includes a rigidly supported bottom panel covered with a layer of stones of substantially uniform size which are bonded together thermally and mechanically at their points of contact with each other, but which have voids forming air passages remaining between them, bottom insulation below said bottom panel, a bottom air passage between the bottom insulation and the bottom panel, and at least one opening in the bottom panel whereby air can pass from said bottom air passage into said layer of stones.

Abstract: A solar heating system. A roof mounted panel collects heat from the sun. The panel having an upper sunlight-absorbing surface. A translucent cover is mounted above the panel to protect it from the weather. The panel has a lower surface for heat transfer to a stream of water. The panel is mounted in cooperative relation with a roof to form a passage for the stream of water. Means are connected to the panel for maintaining the stream of water in substantially uniform contact with said lower surface of the panel. Insulated tank means connected for receiving and storing the stream of water. Means are provided for controlling the stream of water under the panel in response to the temperature of the panel and the water in the tank, whereby the water collects heat from the panel only at useful temperatures. Air stream means are provided for preventing the roof from overheating.