Abstract: A voltage converter circuit and method are provided. The circuit includes an input and an output, and has one or more stages that operate to increase the voltage between the input and the output. In one embodiment, each of these stages includes a first and second charging capacitor, and a transistor interposed between the first and second charging capacitors. In addition, a plurality of diodes are interconnected among the transistor and the first and second charging capacitors. The diodes are specifically configured to respond to a voltage applied to the input so that when a voltage is present at the input, the first and second charging capacitors are effectively connected in parallel across the input. However, when the voltage applied to the input is near zero, the diodes serve to effectively connect the first and second charging capacitors in series relationship through the transistor, so that the voltage across each of the first and second charging capacitors is added and applied to the output.

Abstract: An insulation system (10, 180) is placed in ceilings or walls of buildings which are typically exposed on one side thereof to relatively large temperature changes and on the other side to relatively small temperature changes. The insulation system (10, 180) includes a first inner layer of insulative material (18, 184) and a second outer layer of insulative material (19, 186), with an intermediate layer of phase change material (20, 182) sandwiched therebetween. The phase change material undergoes a change of phase between solid state and liquid state during the course of a typical day due to the outside temperature ranging higher and lower than the phase change temperature. When undergoing a change of phase, the phase change material maintains a constant phase change temperature, thereby moderating the temperature gradient across the inner layer of insulative material (18, 184).

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a roof structure of the type having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement is disclosed. The space between the vertical portions of adjacent purlins defines an insulation cavity that is generally rectangular in cross-sectional shape. The apparatus includes a carriage movable in a first direction along the length of the purlins for paying out a support sheet for support of insulation material as the carriage travels along the length of the purlins. The apparatus also includes at least one roller guide extending downward on top of the support sheet, rotating along the length of the support sheet, causing the support sheet to substantially conform to the shape of the insulation cavity. The roller guide is attached to the carriage and has two ends having wheels positioned at the sides of the insulation cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a roof structure of the type has a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement. The space between the vertical portions of adjacent purlins defines an insulation cavity which is generally rectangular in cross-sectional shape. The apparatus includes a carriage movable in a first direction along the length of the purlins for paying out a support sheet for support of insulation material as the carriage travels along the length of the purlins. The apparatus also includes a platform attached to the carriage and extending in the direction opposite the first direction and placed in the insulation cavity. The platform is mounted on the carriage by two pairs of hinges for vertical movement.

Abstract: A method for providing a roof structure having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement the purlins having top portions is disclosed. A carriage is providing upon which is mounted a roll of support sheet. A first section of the roof structure comprising purlins, a support sheet, insulation material, and hard roofing material is completed. An insulation support sheet having side edges which enable the support sheet to be laid on adjacent purlins is then provided. The side edges are aligned with the top portions of adjacent purlins so that the support sheet can depend from the adjacent purlins. The carriage is moved along the length of the purlins and away from the first section of the roof structure, in which the movement of the carriage pays out the support sheet in a pleated condition having a first width so that the edges of the support sheet are aligned with the top portions of adjacent purlins and the support sheet depends from adjacent purlins.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a roof structure of the type having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement, is disclosed. A carriage moves in a first direction along the length of the purlins and pays out a support sheet for support of insulation material as the carriage travels along the length of the purlins. The support sheet depends from the top portion of adjacent purlins. At least one guide member guides the carriage along the length of the purlins and prevents the carriage from moving in a direction lateral to the first direction when the guide member is in a first position. The guide member is pivotally mounted on the carriage so that the guide member can be elevated into a second position to avoid obstructions encountered as the carriage moves along the length of the purlins. The guide member includes a movable arm which is pivotally mounted on the carriage and has a roller for rolling against a purlin while the guide member is in the first position.

Abstract: An insulation system (10) is placed in ceilings or walls of buildings which are typically exposed on one side thereof to relatively large temperature changes and on the other side to relatively small temperature changes. The insulation system (10) includes a first thicker layer of insulative material (18) and a second thinner layer of insulative material (19), with an intermediate layer of phase change material (20) sandwiched therebetween. The phase change material undergoes a change of phase between solid state and liquid state during the course of a typical day due to the outside temperature ranging higher and lower than the phase change temperature. When undergoing a change of phase, the phase change material maintains a constant phase change temperature and therefore avoids exposure of the interior space (22) from the much higher or much lower temperatures of the exterior surface (21), thereby reducing the power requirements to maintain the desired temperature within the interior space (22).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing insulation material within a roof structure (11). The apparatus includes a carriage (26) which is urged along the purlins (18) of the roof structure (11). A roll of insulation material (43) is mounted to the carriage (26) and dispenses a substantially continuous sheet of blanket insulation material (39) over the purlins (18) as the carriage (26) is progressively moved along the length of the purlins (18). A radiant barrier dispenser (70) dispenses a layer of radiant barrier material (72) over the dispensed blanket insulation material (39), and a cross-wise layer of insulation (86) is applied across the length of the purlins (18) in a direction normal to the direction of application of the blanket insulation material (39). Thereafter, sheets of hard metal roofing material (24) are attached to the purlins (18) over the cross insulation (86) to form the insulated roof structure (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing insulation material within a roof structure (11). The apparatus includes a carriage (26) which is urged along the purlins (18) of the roof structure (11). A roll of insulation material (43) is mounted to the carriage (26) and dispenses a substantially continuous sheet of blanket insulation material (39) over the purlins (18) as the carriage (26) is progressively moved along the length of the purlins (18). A radiant barrier dispenser (70) dispenses a layer of radiant barrier material (72) over the dispensed blanket insulation material (39), and a cross-wise layer of insulation (86) is applied across the length of the purlins (18) in a direction normal to the direction of application of the blanket insulation material (39). Thereafter, sheets of hard metal roofing material (24) are attached to the purlins (18) over the cross insulation (86) to form the insulated roof structure (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distilling water in combination with a home use refrigerator (11) includes a water source (29) which feeds water into a preheater (23) in which the water is passed by a portion of the condenser coil (22) in heat exchange relationship. The water exiting the preheater (23) moves to a solenoid valve (31) which controls the flow of water into a boiler (32). Heated by a hot plate (33), water in the boiler (32) generates steam which is condensed in a condenser conduit (36) chilled by the refrigerator (11). The condensed purified water runs into a water collection chamber (34) for storage until either the water dispenser (12) or ice maker (15) requires water, at which time the appropriate valve (39, 41) will open and a pump (38) will pump the water to the appropriate device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing insulation material within a roof structure (11). The apparatus includes a carriage (26) which is urged along the purlins (18) of the roof structure (11). A roll of insulation material (43) is mounted to the carriage (26) and dispenses a substantially continuous sheet of blanket insulation material (39) over the purlins (18) as the carriage (26) is progressively moved along the length of the purlins (18). A radiant barrier dispenser (70) dispenses a layer of radiant barrier material (72) over the dispensed blanket insulation material (39), and a cross-wise layer of insulation (86) is applied across the length of the purlins (18) in a direction normal to the direction of application of the blanket .insulation material (39). Thereafter, sheets of hard metal roofing material (24) are attached to the purlins (18) over the cross insulation (86) to form the insulated roof structure (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing insulation material within a roof structure (11). The apparatus includes a carriage (26) which is urged along the purlins (18) of the roof structure (11). A roll of insulation material (43) is mounted to the carriage (26) and dispenses a substantially continuous sheet of blanket insulation material (39) over the purlins (18) as the carriage (26) is progressively moved along the length of the purlins (18). A radiant barrier dispenser (70) dispenses a layer of radiant barrier material (72) over the dispensed blanket insulation material (39), and a cross-wise layer of insulation (86) is applied across the length of the purlins (18) in a direction normal to the direction of application of the blanket insulation material (39). Thereafter, sheets of hard metal roofing material (24) are attached to the purlins (18) over the cross insulation (86) to form the insulated roof structure (11).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with an air vibration suction nozzle for application to a workpiece, whereby air vibrations produced by a transducer supported and sealed in the nozzle housing vibrate the workpiece, or debris with respect to the workpiece, and any loose particles on the workpiece are then drawn into the vacuum cleaner through the suction nozzle. The suction nozzle is provided with an elongated nozzle opening, a plurality of wheels to guide the nozzle over the workpiece, a stationary brush adjacent the nozzle opening, and a viewport and interior light for illuminating and viewing the workpiece through the nozzle opening. Controls for adjusting both the frequency and amplitude of the airwaves produced by the transducer are also provided.

Abstract: The fiberglass blanket (11) is fed into contact with the adhesively coated surface (18) of the backing sheet (12) and the two layers are adhesively bonded together. Sound emitters (68, 71) vibrate the fiberglass, causing separation of the loose glass from the blanket. A vacuum system (51) draws off and collects the loose fiberglass particles (66), to clean the blanket of loose particles of fiberglass.

Abstract: An insulated roof structure which has improved fire resistant capabilities is formed on building systems structures by mounting a plurality of purlins (12) on inclined metal rafters (11) and supporting fire resistant panels (32) from the purlins (12). A plurality of support beams (25) are attached to the downwardly facing surface (51) of the purlins (12) and support the fire resistant panels (520. The fire resistant panels (52) are mounted to the support beams (25) and arranged in edge-to-edge contact with one another with the side edges (47) and (48) of adjacent fire resistant panels (52) in sealed engagement with one another.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying flexible strips of insulation to purlins during the construction of a roof has a carriage 10, front and rear rollers 15, 16, a spindle 24 and a sheet support 30 that extends from the carriage in cantilever arrangement beneath the rear roller to a position between and along the top surface plane of the purlins to support the sheet material as the roof's constructed.

Abstract: A flasher circuit for providing intermittent pulses of light in response to the presence of a ringing signal on a telephone subscriber line. The circuit is powered solely from the energy available in a ringing signal on the telephone line and requires no external source of power. The circuit includes a voltage doubler (38, 39) arrangement for charging a storage capacitor (40). The voltage across the storage capacitor in turn is applied to a timing circuit (60, 62) which controls the triggering of a thyristor switch (55) which, when turned on, provides a high voltage output pulse from a pulse transformer (48). This pulse is applied to break down a xenon flash tube (45) of the type normally used in electronic photo flashes to provide a visible indication of the presence of a ringing signal on the phone line. The circuit provides multiple light pulses 12 during any given on interval (15) of the ringing signal on the telephone line.

Abstract: A simplified combination of privacy circuit (U1) and holding circuit (U2) for use on a telephone subscriber loop (11). The circuit arrangement includes a diode array (31-34) within a conventional full wave rectifier bridge (21-24) having a pair of interchangeable terminals (28, 29) and a third differentiated terminal (39) for connection in the loop. The interchangeable terminals are connected in series with either the tip or ring conductor with the remaining terminal connected to the other conductor. The combination of diode array and bridge assures that, irrespective of the connection arrangement, the hold circuit always shunts the series combination of telephone and privacy circuit. A novel self limiting amplifier stage including a plurality of diodes (76) shunting the collector to emitter output of a transistor (90) is disclosed for injecting a music-on-hold signal when the hold circuit is active.

Abstract: A simplified combination of privacy circuit (U1) and holding circuit (U2) for use on a telephone subscriber loop (11). The circuit arrangement includes a diode array (31--34) within a conventional full wave rectifier bridge (21--24) having a pair of interchangeable terminals (28, 29) and a third differentiated terminal (39) for connection in the loop. The interchangeable terminals are connected in series with either the tip or ring conductor with the remaining terminal connected to the other conductor. The combination of diode array and bridge assures that, irrespective of the connection arrangement, the hold circuit always shunts the series combination of telephone and privacy circuit. A novel self limiting amplifier stage including a plurality of diodes (76) shunting the collector to emitter output of a transistor (90) is disclosed for injecting a music-on-hold signal when the hold circuit is active.

Abstract: A simplified combination of privacy circuit (U1) and holding circuit (U2) for use on a telephone subscriber loop (11). The circuit arrangement includes a diode array (31-34) within a conventional full wave rectifier bridge (21-24) having a pair of interchangeable terminals (28, 29) and a third differentiated terminal (39) for connection in the loop. The interchangeable terminals are connected in series with either the tip or ring conductor with the remaining terminal connected to the other conductor. The combination of diode array and bridge assures that, irrespective of the connection arrangement, the hold circuit always shunts the series combination of telephone and privacy circuit. A novel self limiting amplifier stage including a plurality of diodes (76) shunting the collector to emitter output of a transistor (90) is disclosed for injecting a music-on-hold signal when the hold circuit is active.