Abstract: A suspension mounts a tub to a housing in a clothes washer. The suspension includes a coil spring having first and second loops at opposite ends thereof, and an integral rod joined thereto. A one-piece snubber has a resilient middle portion and opposite first and second lugs disposed inside the coil spring, with the first lug being aligned with the first loop, and the second lug being aligned with the second loop. The snubber middle portion includes a sidewall defining a cavity which changes in volume in response to excursions between the first and second lugs. The rod has a proximal end for joining one end of the spring to the washer housing, with the other end of the spring being joinable to the tub so that the snubber and spring cooperate together to provide a variable spring and damper suspension supporting the tub.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for converting rotary oscillation of a washing machine clothes agitator to unidirectional rotation of an adjoining clothes auger includes a one-piece ratchet wheel, and a cooperating one-piece pawl wheel. The pawl wheel includes integral pawls, with each pawl having an elastically flexible arm supporting a bulbous distal end. The pawl wheel is fixedly joined to the agitator for rotary oscillation therewith, and the ratchet wheel is fixedly joined to the auger. Rotary oscillation of the agitator correspondingly rotates the pawl wheel for intermittently engaging the pawls with the ratchet teeth which drive the ratchet wheel in a single direction for correspondingly rotating the auger joined thereto.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for converting rotary oscillation of a washing machine clothes agitator to intermittent unidirectional rotation of an adjoining clothes auger includes a ratchet wheel and cooperating ratchet pawls. The wheel includes axially oppositely facing top and bottom sides, with the top side having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart ratchet teeth, and the bottom side being configured for being fixedly joined to the clothes agitator. The pawls are vertically suspended from a support disk for allowing gravity to engage the pawls with the ratchet teeth as the ratchet wheel oscillates with the agitator, with the support disk being driven in a single direction by the pawls for correspondingly rotating the auger joinable thereto.

Abstract: A novel ball-type auger ratchet mechanism which may be used with washer agitators and augers. More particularly this mechanism comprises a top cap, a simplified cam, and a plurality of balls. The structures described have fewer parts than conventional auger ratchet mechanisms, and ultimately are easier to assemble and cost less. Furthermore, both embodiments of the instant invention, use mechanical means to achieve a positive locking and non-slipping action, rather that the conventional frictional force mechanisms.

Abstract: A horizontal axis clothes washing machine. A rotatable clothes basket has a generally longitudinally extending and generally horizontally disposed axis of rotation. The clothes basket is rotatably attached to a generally surrounding first member (which is a tub). A second member (which is a cabinet) generally surrounds the tub. At least two spaced-apart tub suspension subassemblies each include a cylinder, a rod, a piston, and a spring. The cylinder is attached to one of the first and second members. The rod has a first end positioned within the cylinder and has a second end attached to the other of the first and second members. The piston is positioned within the cylinder and is attached to the first end of the rod. The spring is positioned within the cylinder between the first and second ends of the rod. Preferably, a pair of balance rings are attached to the clothes basket.

Abstract: A novel dispenser cup which may be employed in washing machines or other mechanical devices. More particularly, this dispenser cup mechanism comprises a top cap fixedly positioned above a bottom cup. This dispenser cup uses a parabolic shape in order to fully dispense a laundry additive placed within.

Abstract: A plurality of snubbers for a washing machine dampens and isolates unbalanced load excursions by using the positive displacement pumping action of air being forced through an orifice in each snubber. One end of each snubber is attached to the washing machine housing and the other end attached to the tub or mounting platform and has a resilient middle portion sidewall defining a cavity that changes in volume to minimize the effects basket excursions caused by unbalanced loads. The snubber sidewall defines an orifice providing a passageway for egress and ingress of air during the change in volume. The orifice meters air so that the resiliency of the snubber is greater for low frequency excursions than for high frequency excursions to thereby function as a damper for low frequency excursions and as a gas spring for high frequency excursions.

Abstract: A novel auger clutch mechanism which may be used with washer agitators and augers. More particularly this mechanism comprises an outer clutch housing and a clutch, wherein the clutch is positioned within the housing. The clutch has a number of outwardly extending ligaments which are flexible enough to be rolled up. When rolled up, the ligaments restrict movement in one direction, yet allow the clutch to move freely in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A suspension spring assembly for a washing machine employs a coil spring in compression. The suspension spring system uses a snubber mounted inside the coil spring to help dampen and isolate unbalanced load excursions by using the positive displacement pumping action of air being forced through an orifice in the snubber. A second snubber may be employed with the coil spring.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism is provided which is adapted to convert the continuously oscillating rotation of a clothes washing machine agitator to periodic rotation in a single direction for a clothes washing machine auger. The mechanism comprises a cap and a cam disc, each configured such that they may be fabricated by a single-draw mold and wherein the cap comprises a plurality of reeds that either deflect around or mechanically catch on a plurality of cam teeth disposed on the cam disc dependent upon the direction of cam disc rotation such that the rotation of the cam disc is transmitted to the cap in only one direction wherein the transmission of the rotation does not depend solely on friction. The cap serves a further function of sealing the top of the auger and thereby preventing the ingress of matter associated with a clothes washing machine, such as water or detergent, into the ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which may be adapted for use as a washing machine agitator which isolates an agitator drive unit from the peak torques exerted upon vanes of the agitator due to irregularities in the rotational oscillation of the agitator which would result from a typical washing machine transmission apparatus. The apparatus isolates the peak torques by providing an inner and an outer agitator post wherein the inner post attaches to the drive unit and the outer post has integrally formed to it agitator vanes and an agitator skirt, the apparatus further provides a flexible connecting means attaching the inner post to the outer post such that the resonant frequency of the outer post, the agitator vanes and the agitator skirt taken as a unit will be close to that of the agitator stroke rate. The flexible connecting means comprises a plurality of webs extending continuously along all or portion of the posts in an axial direction such that the apparatus may be formed by a single-draw mold.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for directly measuring the bottom pour flow rate from heated ceramic crucible, hearth/tundish combinations used in metals refining/processing industry, plasma arc melting process (PAM), a cold hearth process or other similar processes such as for pouring ingots. Such structures of this type generally allow the bottom pour flow rate to be accurately measured in relative real time without adversely affecting the flow while withstanding the hostile surroundings typically associate with a heated crucible, tundishes, PAM, cold hearth process or other similar processes.

Abstract: This invention relates to strontium titanate, hereinafter referred to as SrTiO.sub.3, films of the type produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) that are oriented so that the film's (100) face is parallel to the surface plane of the substrate. Such structures of this type, generally allow the SrTiO.sub.3 film to be deposited such that a high density capacitor or a buffer layer for a superconductor can be created.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for generating an RF plasma plume wherein hydrogen gas is introduced downstream of the means for injecting plasma gas in order to increase the coupling between the RF coil and the plume and to decrease heat loss to the plasma containment walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a tape superconductor of a compound superconductor type wherein the apparatus includes a first wire constructed of the superconducting compound material which is melted to form a bead. The bead is then wiped on a tape substrate to form a layer as the substrate is fed by the bead. Finally, the layer is cooled and a tape superconductor is formed.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for forming an electrode-lead assembly. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of aligning the energy outlet of an energy source with an end portion of the lead, operating the energy source so that the emitted energy heats the end of the lead and so that a melt is formed at the end portion of the lead, and allowing the melt to solidify. The solified melt is bullet-shaped and serves as an electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for generating an RF plasma plume wherein hydrogen gas is introduced downstream of the means for injecting plasma gas in order to increase the coupling between the RF coil and the plume and to decrease heat loss to the plasma containment walls.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the powder deposition and deposit pattern in a plasma spray process are provided in which an infrared imaging detector and associated processors are employed to provide an image of the temperature distribution of the deposit and to provide an identification of the impact point of the most recent powder deposit, and in which a cyclone separator or other device is used to modulate the flow rate of the carrier gas in which the powder is entrained at the point where the powder and gas are injected into a plasma plume, in order to move the impact point of the powder from the sensed location to a desired location. An injector tube is provided in a cross-flow injection system which may be sized to compensate for variations in the desired injection velocities of particles of different sizes, and the variations in the rate at which such particles are accelerated in the injection tube.

Abstract: A self purging dual fuel injector has a valve which is pressed down, as opposed to lifting, to provide a pilot charge to the combustion chamber. As the valve further extends from the injector the pilot fuel flow is cut off and coal water slurry flows through the valve to the combustion chamber. During shut off of the slurry the retracting valve allows a shot of pilot fuel to purge the valve passageways.

Abstract: An injector nozzle is provided which provides a pilot charge of fuel followed by a charge of coal/water slurry. The injector nozzle has a valve which is moved by coal/water slurry pressure to introduce pilot fuel followed by coal/water slurry. After the coal/water slurry is introduced the valve and valve seat are purged by pilot fuel.