Abstract: The addition of a small amount of plastic fibers to a mix of inorganic magnesium compound, water and other substances adapted to be extruded to form a synthetic construction panel will significantly reduce the degree of slumping which the extruded material will exhibit.

Abstract: The addition of a small amount of plastic fibers to a mix of inorganic magnesium compound, water and other substances adapted to be extruded to form a synthetic construction panel will significantly reduce the degree of slumping which the extruded material will exhibit.

Abstract: A wedge and spring assembly for use in electromagnets or dynamoelectric machines having a housing with an axis therethrough and a plurality of coils supported on salient poles that extend radially inward from the housing toward the housing axis to define a plurality of interpole spaces. The wedge and spring assembly includes a nonmagnetic retainer spring and a nonmagnetic wedge. The retainer spring is formed to fit into one of the interpole spaces, and has juxtaposed ends defining between them a slit extending in a direction generally parallel to the housing axis. The wedge for insertion into the slit provides an outwardly directed force on respective portions of the juxtaposed ends to expand the slit so that respective portions of the retainer spring engage areas of the coils adjacent thereto, thereby resiliently holding the coils against their respective salient poles. The retainer spring is generally triangular shaped to fit within the interpole space, and the wedge is generally T-shaped.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising first and second mateable connectors is disclosed herein. The first connector includes a collet having an expandable mouth in a concave interior, and the second connector includes a convex member, such as a sphere, which is substantially complementary in shape to the concave interior surface of the collet. The concave interior of the first connector, and the convex member of the second connector surround a male pin and female barrel connector, respectively. The male pin and female barrel mate when the convex member of the second connector is inserted into the concave interior of the first connector. Additionally, the collet is split along its longitudinal axis in order to form a plurality of collet fingers which are closeable by means of a collet which is movable along the outside surface of the collet. A water-tight seal between the male pin and the female barrel of the connectors is accomplished by an O-ring disposed in the mouth of the female barrel.

Abstract: A thermostatically controlled heater for heating metal work pieces to within a selected temperature range prior to and during a welding process is disclosed. The heater comprises an electric heating element thermally connected to a heat conductive shoe and electrically connected to a source of electric power via a thermostat assembly. The thermostat assembly includes a heat conductive housing mounted on the heat conductive shoe in intimate thermal contact. The housing contains a thermostat having a thermal sensing area in thermal contact with an area of the heat conductive housing for regulating the amount of electricity conducted to the electric heating element. Accurate control of the temperature of the workpiece is accomplished by constructing the heat conductive housing so that the temperature gradient between the shoe and the thermostat matches the temperature gradient between the shoe and the workpiece itself.