Abstract: A barrier mechanism for providing selective access to a passageway on the floor of a lobby, room or pavilion. It utilizes a frame and carriage assembly thereon, a panel which is swivelable to selectively overlie and block the passageway, and an electric motor which powers the carriage assembly and moves the panel. A group of power components, including a driver operated by the motor and other linkages on the frame, provide simultaneous translating movement of the carriage assembly and panel and swiveling of the panel, synchronized to bring about a “wrap-around” effect to the latter. Optionally, the panel can be locked in either its blocking or its access position. Important safety features are incorporated in the mechanism, to prevent inadvertent injury to passageway personnel.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a fluid flow valve, including: an elongate body having an axially extending cavity defined therethrough and having fluid inlet and outlet ports; a hollow seat assembly disposed in the body for the passage therethrough of a fluid; a shaped first aperture defined through a wall portion of the seat assembly; and a plug selectively axially moveable in the hollow seat assembly and along the shaped first aperture such that the fluid flows into the hollow seat assembly, upwards past the plug into the first aperture, through the first aperture, downwards past the plug, and out of the hollow seat assembly, the position of the plug along the aperture determining rate of flow of the fluid through the valve.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method and apparatus for forming thin-wall tubing for later welding of the seam thereof which includes tightly rolling upon itself a sheet of thin metal stock about a roller between layers of a flexible fabric. When released from the roller, the sheet metal springs back to form a near-perfect tube without the kinks, scratches, and/or dents commonly caused by conventional rolling methods.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method and apparatus for hydroforming thin-wall metal corrugated tubing which include first preforming the corrugated tubing in a conventional hydroforming operation of the type in which each convolution is formed separately. Semi-resilient spacers are then inserted between the sides of adjacent internal convolutions, while non-resilient washers are inserted between the sides of adjacent external convolutions. The corrugated tubing with the inserted spacers and washers is then highly compressed to the total thickness of the individual elements, with the spacers and washers controlling the radii formed at the crests and troughs of the convolutions. The resulting corrugated tubing has trough and crest radii on the order of 11/2 to 2 metal thicknesses, has an extension/compression ratio of 4 or greater, and can be compressed nearly flat.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a snap switch which employs a conical contact mounted at the free end of a spring blade. The contact completes an electrical circuit by contacting and electrically joining two, round, spaced apart terminals. The resulting dual radii contact provides high unit pressure and a minimum of polymer-forming wiping action. The switch introduces little resistance into the electrical circuit, since the spring blade carries no current. The terminal wires are of nickel with sleeves of oxidized nickel bonded thereto in the region where the wires pass through the base of the switch. The oxide provides a tenacious surface for the adherence thereto of sealing glass to insulatively bond the wires to the base.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a compound gasket including a relatively nonresilient base member having an opening therethrough and a relatively resilient member disposed about the opening. The resilient member has a thickness somewhat greater than at least a portion of the base member so that mating surfaces between which the gasket is placed can be drawn together to contact the thickened portion of the base member so that the resilient member is compressed to a precise degree. The resilient member is freely movable with respect to the nonresilient member to better accommodate differential expansion and nonuniformities in the mating surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming thin-wall tubing in a funnel die or with a series of sets of forming rollers. The tubing is then welded by a method and apparatus which includes simultaneous guiding of the both the inner and outer peripheries of the tubing during the welding operation by a mandrel and a sleeve, respectively, so that lack of rigidity of the tubing is not a limitation. The edges of the tubing are not clamped, but are allowed to "float" during welding in one embodiment, a water-cooled heat sink is used to remove the heat of welding. The resulting tubing is highly uniform. A wide range of tubing materials can be welded and thin-wall tubing of nearly any desired length or wall thickness can be produced.