Abstract: A method, and an apparatus for carrying out that method, for making roofing from a stretchable and deformable sheet material. The roofing sections are made from sheet material which has a preformed laterally sinu-soidal configuration which is reconfigured with longitudinally spaced steps (or folds). The finished sheet is a roofing section having the configuration of stepped tile roofing which is a substitute for true roofing tile. The sinu-soidal sheet is clamped (or pressed) in a tool between two adjacent pairs of complimentary shape clamping jaws. In that tool apparatus the two pairs of clamps are then moved relative to each in parallel paths normal to longitudinal and lateral planes through the sheet, which movement stretches the sheet to form a step (or fold) between the portions held in the two sets of clamps.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing kinks in steel cable includes two transverse members coupled together in spaced relationship and each supported by a pair of legs. A striking member is supported by and pivotably coupled to the transverse members. Compressed air is coupled through an air valve to an air can which, when activated, forces a portion of the striking member down towards the transverse members. A damaged cable is positioned on the transverse members so as to be struck by the striking member at a desired point.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the velocity of the rate of flow of a flowing fluid, comprising a vortex-generating element disposed in a flow tube to create a Karman vortex street in the fluid flow, a hot wire element disposed in the flow tube, transducer means for producing first flow rate signal based on the frequency of shedding of Karman vortices from the vortex-generating element and second flow rate signal based on the cooling effect of the flowing fluid on the hot wire element and signal selection means for selectively putting out the first signal under steady flow conditions and the second signal under pulsating flow conditions. Preferably the hot wire element is made to serve also as the probe element for detection of the vortex generation frequency, and the first signal under steady flow conditions is utilized also to calibrate the second signal.

Abstract: A hot deformation tester to determine the ability for a sand and binder combination to withstand high ambient temperature without deforming excessively. An insulated chamber receives an elongated core sample on two spaced supports, and applies a weight to the center of the sample. The sample is subjected to ambient temperature of about 600.degree. F. A deflection probe in engagement with the bottom of the sample measures the deformation of the sample.

Abstract: An intake air density sensor for an internal combustion engine comprises a receptacle in the form of a flask including a spherical chamber and a tubular portion having a very fine diameter, a pressure responsive casing at least whose part is made of an elastomeric membrane and communicated with the receptacle, a gas and a conductive liquid hermetically sealed in the receptacle and pressure responsive casing, respectively, so as to locate a boundary surface between the gas and liquid in the tubular portion, and a resistor longitudinally arranged in the tubular portion so as to form short-circuiting means by the conductive liquid for the resistor, thereby detecting densities of a fluid to be measured by converting variations in pressure of fluid into variations in volume of the pressure responsive casing or sealed gas and further converting variations in position of the boundary surface of the conductive liquid into values of electrical resistances of the resistor without affecting the positional movement of th

Abstract: In measuring the rate of leak from a test object, a conduit system including branch lines interconnects the test object with a measuring tank, a pressure gauge, a vacuum pump and a device for removing vapor from the measuring tank. Valves in the conduit system permit the various parts to be selectively interconnected or separated. By measuring the pressure in the measuring tank under various conditions it is possible to determine the rate of leak.

Abstract: A problem with tanks for storing liquefied gases is the development of cracks in the heat-insulating lining of the tank. Methods have been proposed for the detection of cracks occurring in the lining comprising passing a purging gas, for example nitrogen, through a channelled layer in the heat-insulating lining to a gas-analyzer. Contamination of the purging gas by the contents of the tank, which can be detected by the gas-analyzer, indicates the presence of a crack in the heat-insulating lining. The invention is directed to an improved design of the channelled layer, so that a uniform distribution of the purging gas along an area to be watched for the development of cracks is obtained.

Abstract: A quantity of flow meter, includes two electrical conductors which are traversed by current and are physically traversed by a flowing medium to be measured. The increase of the current required for maintenance of the temperature difference between the two conductors is evaluated as a measurement of the quantity of flow. The meter is particularly versatile and can be employed for a wide voltage range and includes resistors as the electrical conductors which are thin resistor layers applied upon a thin carrier.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in thermocouple apparatus for indicating liquid level in a container, particularly a continuous casting mold. The conventional apparatus includes a plurality of thermocouple elements of first polarity connected to the container at spaced levels above and below the liquid and to corresponding spaced points on a slide wire resistor. The container wall acts as the thermocouple element of opposite polarity. A conductor probe is connected to the wall and to a point on the resistor above the uppermost thermocouple element to provide a reference voltage at that point. The probe and thermocouple elements extend to locations adjacent the exterior face of the container which may be subject to substantially variable ambient temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the flowability of particulate materials from a vessel through a die metering means.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for determining the dry and submerged weights of a large volume of water-bearing food material on a more or less continuous basis. The determinations enable the calculation of the density of the food material and, therefore, its solids content.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system that measures either the impedance of a fluid or liquid level utilizes moderately directional, bulk SV mode sound waves generated by a transducer and propagated in a homogeneous, flaw-free solid member. The SV wave propagates in the solid along a zigzag path that reflects at a solid-fluid interface in at least two areas and at an angle of incidence that exceeds the first critical angle by at least five degrees and is less than the second critical angle by at least ten degrees. The attenuated amplitude of the wave due to acoustic coupling between the solid and the fluid measures the impedance or an impedance related parameter of the fluid. The system preferably includes a second acoustic path that serves as a reference to compensate for changes in parameters such as temperature, the nature of the fluid, the transducer, the transducer coupling, and residues or corrosion at the solid-fluid interface.

Abstract: An imaging system, particularly useful for acoustic medical diagonsis of a human subject, utilizes an array of radiating elements or sonic transducers located side-by-side and positioned along the subject. Signals received by the transducer are applied to a pair of pattern generation circuits which weight the individual signals by factors of +1, -1 or 0. Graphs of the weighting factors as a function of transducer location have the likeness of cosinusoidal and sinusoidal Fresnel patterns, these patterns being produced by the two circuits. Upon reception of signals, the weighted signals of each pattern are summed together, multiplied by cosinusoidal and sinusoidal reference signals and then summed together to provide a radiation pattern which converges from the array to a focal point in front of the array while eliminating a diverging pattern from a virtual focus behind the array.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer for exciting selected modes of ultrasonic vibration in a tubular body. The transducer includes a plurality of rows of permanent magnets of alternating polarity with a coil provided about the magnets whereby a current is conducted through the magnetic fields. The rows of magnets are provided in carriers which are yieldably biased towards the inner surface of a tubular body during inspection.

Abstract: A speed measuring device is provided for use as a diagnostic tool to analyze the sub-cyclic dynamic performance and to monitor the condition of moving elements within a mechanical or electromechanical system. Substantially instantaneous, absolute speed measurements are derived from elapsed time measurements between successive sensing of fixed, equal, position events such as generated by incremental position pulses of a shaft position encoder; said encoder being attached to one of the moving elements within the said system. An assessment of the dynamic performance and condition of the system is ascertained by comparing the speed profile with previous speed profiles obtained during normal system operation. Comparative differences in the said profiles provide an indication of changes of the driving and friction forces within the system which, in turn, can provide an indication of faulty elements.

Abstract: A solar energy plant comprises a solar energy boiler having pre-heating, evaporation, and superheating stages, and a control system for maintaining constant the temperature and the volume of the superheated steam at the boiler outlet upon variations in the incident solary energy. The flow of water entering the boiler is divided into a main flow, passing through the preheating, evaporation and superheating stages, and a secondary water flow. A first part of the secondary water flow is injected directly into the evaporation stage and a second part of the secondary water flow is injected directly into the superheating stage. The control system includes valve means for varying the rate of flow of the main water flow, and the first and second parts of the secondary water flow such as to maintain constant the temperature of the output superheated steam.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor employing the piezoresistive effect of single crystal silicon resistors to measure the flexure of a semiconductor diaphragm. In the preferred embodiment, a Wheatstone bridge composed of a first pair of resistors disposed on the center of the diaphragm and a second pair of resistors disposed on the periphery of the diaphragm is employed. Due to the nature of the diaphragm flexure, the first and second pairs of resistors exhibit piezoresistivity in opposite directions enabling pressure measurement with greater sensitivity. The diaphragm is mounted on and supported by a silicon clamp ring. The diaphragm and the clamp ring together form a unitary semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A Pitot tube is provided for measuring fluid momentum in a transmission line. A signal is transmitted through the Pitot tube to the fluid, and return energy is detected to determine the gas or liquid phase of the fluid at the point of momentum measurement, thus providing a more accurate measurement of fluid flow. Two Pitot tubes may be employed to determine absolute pressure or momentum and static pressure, from which the dynamic pressure is determined. The transmitted signal may be ultrasonic, electrical, or optical.

Abstract: Fluid flow measuring apparatus comprises two ultrasonic transducers (1, 2) between which an ultrasonic energy beam is transmitted through the fluid. The beam is frequency modulated (4, 5) by an audio signal, and the relationship between the frequency or phase of the received modulation signal (6, 7, 8) and that of the transmitted modulation signal gives a measure (10) of the speed of flow of the fluid. Beams of ultrasonic energy are preferably fed in two mutually opposite directions, for example by switching (3) the transducers to act alternately as transmitter and receiver, and the measurement is computed from the two relationships. An anemometer (FIG. 7) comprises two such systems arranged to produce mutually perpendicular ultrasonic beams, and a computer (25) to compute wind speed (28) and direction (29) from the frequency or phase relationships.

Abstract: A load transducer includes a hollow body and a movable control element mounted in the body and extending through the body to an external surface of the body so that an external mechanical load can be applied to the control element to move the control element in one direction. Resilient means separate from the control element urges the control element in the opposite direction such that, in use, the control element is displaced by an amount dependent on the magnitude of the applied load. Coupled to the control element is a variable capacitor including a first electrode supported by a first carrier member in which the first carrier member is mounted so that the carrier members are capable of relative sliding movement in a direction perpendicular to a pair of parallel mutually presented surfaces of the electrodes.

Abstract: A sub-lance assembly for sampling and temperature-measuring of a molten metal during refining thereof in a top-blowing oxygen converter, which comprises: a sub-lance having a concentric three-pipe structure comprising a gas supply pipe, a water supply pipe and a water discharge pipe with said gas supply pipe as the center, said sub-lance being rotatably and releasably fitted to a sub-lance carriage in the substantially vertical position; a probe fitted to the lowermost end of said gas supply pipe, for sampling and temperature-measuring of a molten metal during refining thereof; an inner cylinder fixed to the upper end portion of said sub-lance; an outer cylinder, having a water supply branch pipe and a water discharge branch pipe, rotatably engaging with said inner cylinder, said outer cylinder being connected to said sub-lance carriage; said water supply pipe, said inner cylinder, said outer cylinder and said water supply branch pipe communicating with each other in a water-tight manner, said water discharge

Abstract: A two degree of freedom gyro having an axial gap, permanent magnet motor. The gyro motor includes a stator having two sets of series connected coils wound in quadrature. The motor further includes a rotor which is adapted for continuous rotation about a spin axis, and for rotational displacements about the two orthogonal input axes. The rotor includes a set of permanent magnets supported so that the moment of each of the magnets is substantially parallel to the spin axis, with the magnetic moment of adjacent magnets being oppositely directed. The rotor is positioned with respect to the stator so that flux from the magnets is coupled to the coils. The rotor also includes a return ring for establishing a magnetic flux return path for completing a circuitous path for flux passing through the coil. An excitation network for the coils detects back emf in the respective coils, and generates control signals for driving alternating currents in the respective sets of coils. The alternating currents have a 90.degree.

Abstract: A shift interlock mechanism of a vehicle power transmission has a shift lever fixedly mounted on a control shaft. An interlock plate, which is formed with a slot, axially slidably engaging the shift lever, is further provided on its both sides with a pair of cylindrical members. The cylindrical members are coaxial with the control shaft and formed with slots which are contiguous with the slot of the interlock plate. As the shift lever is rotated to effect selective engagement of desired speed gears, the cylindrical members provide increased supporting area of the shift lever to withstand excessive bending moment applied thereto.

Abstract: Mechanism for counterbalancing a crankshaft, connecting rod and piston assembly. Carried by the shaft are the typical or conventional counterbalancing mass means. The invention provides additional counterbalancing mass means which are rotatable relative to the shaft and relative to the regular counterbalancing means in a manner to counterbalance through 360.degree.. The additional counterbalancing means are driven by a gear means coaxial with the shaft and additional driving planetary gear means mounted on a shaft which planetates, the planetary gear means not rotating about their axes. The additional counterbalancing mass means are driven at a speed twice that of the regular counterbalancing masses. The conventional counterbalancing masses and the additional counterbalancing masses take relative positions throughout the 360.degree. to counterbalance at all positions.

Abstract: An independent unit including a multi-speed transmission mechanism and a driving device both assembled on a main fixed shaft of a bicycle in detachably mountable relation with respect to a hub shell for receiving the unit thereby making it very easy to repair any damaged portion of the mechanism and the device merely by exchanging the unit for a new one.Also disclosed is a similar unit comprising a brake shoe and a brake cone integrally formed in detachably mountable relation with respect to a hub shell adapted for a coaster brake type multi-speed transmission hub.

Abstract: A control device for an automatic drive of an automobile having an adjusting device that is actuatable by an accelerator pedal comprising a deflector roll with which transmission means for a slide unit of the drive and for a spring-loaded throttle valve of an internal combustion engine are connected. The transmission means includes a cable that is connected to the adjusting device and is led to the slide unit and to the accelerator pedal. The cable is held in the deflector roll by a securing means. The transmission means is also connected with a rotatable actuator lever for the throttle valve. According to a preferred embodiment, the deflector roll has a guide groove for the cable and a recess in which a clamping sleeve is fastened to the cable, the clamping sleeve being held within the recess under the tensioning of the cable, whereby the clamping sleeve is released from the recess upon a rupturing of the cable.

Abstract: Screw-holding device for receiving a screw are supported from three directions around the device and incline, whenever necessary. The screw-holding devices move in parallel at times. There are also provided engaging devices that are combined with the screw-holding devices and transmit a rotational torque to the screw-holding devices. A space is secured between these two devices for allowing the inclination of the screw-holding device.

Abstract: In a mandrel for the coaxial external machining of workpieces with internal toothing, a reception sleeve with an external toothing corresponding to the workpiece toothing and having openings along the clamping length extending only on a portion of the circumference of the reception sleeve is provided wherein the reception sleeve is integral over the entire clamping length. A clamping member is disposed with tangential and radial play in the reception sleeve for engaging the workpiece toothing and is thereby turnable with respect to the reception sleeve by which the internal toothing of the workpiece can be brought to bear against the external toothing of the reception sleeve in a circumferential direction. The ends of the clamping member extend through the openings for engaging the workpiece toothing and circumferential parts of the reception sleeve and the ends of the clamping member alternate. The clamping member is turned between a clamping and an unclamping position by a rod.

Abstract: There is herein described a blanking press in which a punch is moved upwardly under pressure to engage a sheet workpiece and pass through a punch-conforming die plate aperture, the press housing including a product retrieving and operator-viewing opening in the upper end thereof to allow an operator to directly view the alignment of the workpiece relative to the die opening and the operation of the press by looking in a downward direction.

Abstract: A driving system of the type wherein a driving screw shaft is used and one or more units can be selectively moved along the shaft is disclosed.

Abstract: A portable saw table having an elevated, adjustable track for accommodating various cutting tools such as sabre saws, circular saws and routers, a guide mounted beneath the conventional saw table slot for guiding a cantilevered type blade, such as a sabre saw, during the reciprocatory movement thereof, an adjustable guide member connected to the arm of a protractor mounted on the table, and a pressure block adjustably mounted on the table for biasing the workpiece against the protractor guide member during the cutting operation.

Abstract: Support for holding a chain saw in a vertical aspect, the support having a slidable table to move a log across the blade.

Abstract: A cutting assembly, when mounted on a base, is used to cut a fruit or the like along a circular cross section to form two substantially equivalent sections having serrated edges. The cutting assembly comprises a rotatable cup that may be held in a fixed position by a marker. A knife supported by the cutting assembly is inserted into and withdrawn from the fruit. Repetition of the rotation of the cup and the insertion of the knife produces the serrated fruit sections.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup device for stringed musical instruments using metallic strings has a planar permanent magnet with one of its two main surfaces exposed for facing the instrument strings during use and a pickup coil mounted on the other main surface with the plane of the planar magnet perpendicular to the axis of the coil.

Abstract: An improved envelope generator circuit for an electronic organ provides a musically correct attack rate, i.e., the volume of a musical note is increased by an equal number of decibels for equal increments of time. The envelope generating circuit comprises a constant current source for charging a capacitor to generate a linearly increasing voltage signal upon the initial activation of any one or more keys of an electronic organ keyboard. A regulator circuit comprising an operational amplifier and a matched pair of transistors with one transistor connected into the feedback path for the operational amplifier generates an anti-logarithmic control signal in response to the linearly increasing voltage signal. The antilogarithmic control signal is used to control the amplification of a controlled amplifier to which music signals from the organ are passed.

Abstract: An asynchronous interface includes two memories which store multiplexed keyboard information such that while one memory is writing in newly acquired key information from one musical instrument system at the clock rate of that system, the other memory is reading out previously acquired key information to a second musical instrument system at the clock rate of the second system. Periodically, based on timing signals derived from both systems, the read/write roles of the two memories are reversed. Any number of asynchronously clocked systems, each connected to an associated asynchronous interface, may be keyed by a single key multiplexing device or by the multiplexing information from another asynchronous interface.

Abstract: A guitar having a body formed from a wood top plate and a one piece plastic molded side and bottom section. The sides of the molded body section are formed with a plurality of distinct inwardly and downwardly directed steps that are adopted to enhance sound projection and tone in a manner heretofore possible only with expensive handcrafted guitar bodies.

Abstract: A guitar having a split level top of its sound box which thus is formed at two different (vertically separated) levels and connected by an angular cross bridge to which one end of the strings is anchored so as to directly vibrate the chamber. The result is an increased sound volume and resonance persistance which is achieved without the distortion that may result from electronic amplification when applied to conventional guitars or other stringed musical instruments.

Abstract: A wind instrument having a mouthpiece connected to the inner end of a tube forming an elongated resonating chamber, the tube being provided with a slot along virtually its entire length, and an elongated flexible strip closure member having its inner end fixed to the tube adjacent to the mouthpiece and the strip overlying the slot, the outer end of the strip being fixed to the tube structure adjacent to its outer end. Resilient sealing means are provided between the lower face of the strip and the slot walls whereby the closure strip closes the chamber from the mouthpiece end to a selected point where the user digitally depresses the strip into sealing relation with the slot walls, thus creating a resonating chamber of selected length, as determined by the positions of the user's finger.

Abstract: An elliptical cymbal or gong. The cymbal structure has a platelike configuration bounded by a continuous edge defining opposite elliptical areal surfaces about its periphery. The foci of the boundary ellipse are visually indicated at the outer surface of the cymbal or gong to guide the user in striking the cymbal at one of these locations.

Abstract: A synthetic drumstick, including a method of producing the same, so as to provide the feel, handling and contour of a natural wooden drumstick, the synthetic drumstick being formed from a central hollow core having a predetermined length, short of the normal striking area of the stick, at which point a flexible tapered stud member is inserted in the core end. A glass-filled nylon skin is molded over both the central core and the flexible stud member, a striking tip being formed from the molded skin as an integral part of the drumstick. A second embodiment is also disclosed wherein the neck portion of the flexible stud extends outwardly of the outer skin body, whereby various sizes of striking tips may be secured thereto.

Abstract: A combined pick and stringed instrument tuning device includes a relatively flat, substantially rectangularly shaped housing having a pick attached thereto and is small enough to be easily held in one's hand. A momentary contact push-button switch mounted on top of the housing controls an electronic tuning circuit by selecting one of several predetermined frequencies from a frequency generator. In one embodiment, the tuning circuit is mounted in the housing so that the tuning device is totally self-contained. Alternatively, the tuning circuit is remotely located and is controlled by a cable connected to the housing or by radio signals. The frequency selected is displayed on the housing and the frequency generator drives a strobe light located near the pick. In another embodiment, a microphone mounted on the housing converts sounds from the string being tuned to a signal which is compared to the preselected frequency.

Abstract: The present invention integrates the entire body of musical knowledge relating to key signatures, basic chord structure, the logical progression of chords within a key signature according to the cycle of fourths, identification of the root tone both of scales and of chords, the replication of chord and scale structure over the keys of a piano or the like for each consecutive octave, and the display of the most suitable inversion to use in any particular instance for a particular chord in the selected key signature.

Abstract: A hydraulic system (9) includes a hydraulic motor (10), a main control valve (17) for controlling said motor (10), a make-up valve (78,79) operatively associated with said main control valve (17) and a vent line (93,94,95,99) for selectively venting said make-up valve (78,79). In such hydraulic systems, and in particular, in prior art hydraulic systems used to raise and lower a load, there is always the possibility that should hydraulic pressure not be maintained in the vent line the make-up valve could come open and the load could unexpectedly move. Such a situation could occur with, for example, air trapped in said vent line and the simultaneous failure of a pump of the system. The present invention solves this problem by providing pressure maintaining arrangement (200) in fluid communication with said vent line (93,94,95,99).

Abstract: An annulus (19) is integrally rotatable with a shaft (13). First and second pistons (22), (23) are disposed between the shaft (13) and the annulus (19) in diametrically opposed relation. A plurality of pistons (17) are circumferentially spaced around the annulus (19) and are sequentially supplied with high pressure hydraulic fluid to exert driving force on the annulus (19) and shaft (13) in proportion to the eccentricity of the annulus (19). High pressure fluid is selectively applied to one of the first and second pistons (22), (23) to shift the annulus (19) and thereby vary the eccentricity thereof and the motor speed and torque. A pair of diametrically opposed, semicircular shoes (49), (51) are retained by the shaft (13) and movable perpendicular to a direction of movement of the first piston (22). An inner end of the first piston (22) is formed with a circular cutout (54).

Abstract: An arrangement for adjustments on carburetor control devices by which the adjustment is sealed to prevent unauthorized readjustment, leakage or accidental movement out of adjustment by the use of a heat shrinkable tube or cap shrunk into contact with both the adjustment and associated structure to prevent relative movement.

Abstract: A hydraulic manifold assembly includes a body (20) having an end face (28). Bolts (26) and a flange (22) are employed to mount the body (20) within a sealed chamber (14) in nominally aligned relation with an enlarged opening (30) from the chamber (14). External threads (50) adjacent the end face (28) extend through the opening (30) and a fluid conduit (32) terminates in a port (36) in the end face (28). A nut (52) is sized to cover the opening (30) for any position of nominal alignment of the body (20) to the opening (30) and is disposed on the threads (50) such that a side (64) of the nut covers the opening. A seal (62) is carried by the nut for sealing the interface of the nut (52) and a side (10) of the chamber (14).

Abstract: An air diffuser for spreading and feeding out an exact amount of conditioned air, comprising an inlet 3 and a stationary hood part 6 connected thereto cooperating with an adjustable hood part 7 for variation of a spreading or feeding gap for the conditioned air. A spring 14 is provided between both hood parts, which are kept at a selected spacing by means of an adjusting screw. Said screw extends through the adjustable hood part via an opening with large allowance, so that the adjustable hood part can be tilted such, that a certain enlargement of the spreading gap on the one side is corresponded proportionally by a corresponding diminution on the diagonally-opposite side. Adjusting the screw changes the total flow through the gap. Tilting the hood part changes the distribution of the air without changing the total flow.

Abstract: An air blowing outlet for air-conditioning systems has an inner ball able to be moved towards and away from a ball seat in a middle opening in a valve plate for controlling the rate of air outlet through this opening.In addition it is possible for the air direction to be radial.To this end the valve plate is able to be moved axially clear of the outlet, this opening a ring gap between it and the outlet. The plate is moved by the ball pushing against it, that is to say with the middle opening shut.

Abstract: A chimney ventilating cap for the evacuation of combustion gas from chimneys. The cap comprises a spherical hollow dome body defined by a forward and a rear partly semi-spherical body portion. The front and rear body portions are secured together in a spaced-apart manner to define an opening between their circumferential edges. A shield is associated with the opening. A wind governor is secured to the rear body portion. The hollow dome body has a vertical pivot connection secured to an open-ended attachment base whereby the dome body is pivotal on the vertical pivot to rotate on the base by change in wind direction.