Abstract: A solar collector comprises a solar absorbing tube comprising enclosure enclosing an absorbing section, comprising a radiation absorbing plate and a tube, containing a working fluid in thermal contact with the plate. The tube extends out of one end of the tube and connects with a condenser wherein the thermal transfer fluid when in a vapor phase communicates with a fluid to be heated within an end fitting. The condenser of a tube is inserted into a thermal pocket sealingly engaged with a gasket within the pipe receiving portion of the fitting, whereby heat transfer can take place between the condensers of the pipes and a fluid flowing via path in the fitting. The pocket is sealed against ingress of heat exchange fluid flowing through the fitting.

Abstract: A solar collector comprises a solar absorbing tube comprising enclosure enclosing an absorbing section, comprising a radiation absorbing plate and a tube, containing a working fluid in thermal contact with the plate. The tube extends out of one end of the tube and connects with a condenser wherein the thermal transfer fluid when in a vapour phase communicates with a fluid to be heated within an end fitting. The condenser of a tube is inserted into a thermal pocket sealingly engaged with a gasket within the pipe receiving portion of the fitting, whereby heat transfer can take place between the condensers of the pipes and a fluid flowing via path in the fitting. The pocket is sealed against ingress of heat exchange fluid flowing through the fitting.

Abstract: Industrial gas customer station components comprising a plurality of cryogenic storage tanks each having top and bottom nozzles in flow communication with first and second tank piping connection points, respectively, disposed at a defined distance apart, thereby providing standardized first and second tank piping connection points, and a plurality of piping skids each comprising first and second pipe sections having first and second ends, the first ends thereof defining first and second piping skid connection points disposed at a defined distance apart, thereby providing standardized first and second piping skid connection points. The defined distances between the respective first and second piping skid connection points and the first and second tank piping connection points are essentially equal.

Abstract: Method of designing a customer station adapted to receive a cryogenic liquid, store the cryogenic liquid, discharge the cryogenic liquid after storage, and either provide the cryogenic liquid as a liquid product to a user or vaporize the cryogenic liquid to provide a gas product to a user. The method comprises selecting design parameters including product type, range of product flow rates, and required pipe diameters and piping types. Standardized piping skids are designed for one or more of the combinations of product type, pipe size, and pipe type. The product requirements of a user are defined, the type of cryogenic liquid storage tank is determined, and a piping skid design for the required service is selected from the standardized piping skid designs. The customer station then is designed using the selected standardized piping skid design and the selected type of cryogenic storage tank.

Abstract: A combined blousing, stripping and sealing operation is disclosed for providing increased speed and efficiency to a form, fill and seal packaging system. An AC/DC brushless servo motor is utilized for driving the stripping/sealing carriage, as well as operating the sealing jaws to form the bags from a continuous film tube. Each servo motor drives a crank that is coupled for oscillating movement in response to a programmable index controller. Drive linkage connects the crank to the carriage/sealing jaws. The blousing function is provided by a pair of plates on the top of the sealing jaws. On the return movement of the carriage, the plates contact the bottom of the bag next in line to bulge the sides for receipt of the product. The programmable index controller provides a signal to the carriage/sealing jaws in dependence on an external signal indicative of the selected bag size being packaged.

Abstract: A combined blousing, stripping and sealing operation is disclosed for providing increased speed and efficiency to a form, fill and seal packaging system. An AC/DC brushless servo motor is utilized for driving the stripping/sealing carriage, as well as operating the sealing jaws to form the bags from a continuous film tube. Each servo motor drives a crank that is coupled for oscillating movement in response to a programmable index controller. Drive linkage connects the crank to the carriage/sealing jaws. The blousing function is provided by a pair of plates on the top of the sealing jaws. On the return movement of the carriage, the plates contact the bottom of the bag next in line to bulge the sides for receipt of the product. The programmable index controller provides a signal to the carriage/sealing jaws in dependence on an external signal indicative of the selected bag size being packaged.

Abstract: An improved product filler collar is provided including an upper funnel portion for receiving charges of product from separate sources, guide ribs on the funnel portion for directing and controlling product flow and a neck portion for forming a single stream of product for filling a package or the like. The guide ribs may take the form of raised flanges forming a wall to confine relatively large product pieces. The flanges terminate in reduced extensions in the neck portion angled slightly back toward the product flow. The filler collar eliminates the bridging and swirling of product to prevent jams and decrease the residence time of the changes within the collar, thus improving the overall efficiency of the packaging operation.

Abstract: A combined stripper and bag sealing apparatus for use in a form, fill and seal packaging machine includes a pair of sealing jaws operated in reciprocating fashion to close and seal a package film tube. A pair of stripper plates are mounted on the sealing jaws for movement into and out of contact with the packaging film tube to strip any product from the area of the package film tube to be sealed prior to sealing by the sealing jaws. The sealing jaws are mounted on a carriage for limited oscillating movement in the longitudinal direction of the package film tube to perform the stripping and sealing functions. The stripper/plates sealing jaws are sequentially moved by one or more crank assemblies having drive links connected to the sealing jaws. Each crank assembly is actuated by means of opposed pneumatic operating cylinders functioning in concert to move and positively stop and accurately position the stripper plates/sealing jaws.

Abstract: A form, fill and seal packaging machine includes a tube former for forming a film having spaced apart registration marks thereon into a tube around a hollow mandrel. A pair of endless belt devices driven by stepping motors, located at the sides of the hollow mandrel advances the film through the machine. A stripping and sealing apparatus is located beneath the mandrel, for stripping product from the area of the film tube to be sealed, and sealing and cutting a filled package from the tube. A photoelectric cell located upstream of the tube former senses the passing of each registration mark as the film is fed. The photoelectric cell is operatively associated with the belt drive and the actuator for the stripper and the sealer through an index controller. The index controller deactivates the stepping motors. A master controller activates the stripper/sealer actuator at a predetermined point in each packaging cycle.

Abstract: An acoustic destructive aerial target seeker having recognition-guidance cuitry which is adapted to detect and recognize the characteristic sound emitted from an armored vehicle and to launch and direct the system toward destructive impact with the target.