Abstract: The novel lawn mower has a blade which comprises an elongated body, capable of rotating about a substantially perpendicular axis to the ground, provided, at the operative edges thereof, with cutting members for cutting grass and, at the opposite edges with respect to said cutting members, with unsharpened lugs capable of directing the cut grass into the collection container and chopping the cut grass, immediately after the grass has been cut.

Abstract: Cable core unit forming apparatus having a plurality of wire guide means, each for stranding wires together. The guide means are laterally spaced and each extends along a longitudinal axis to be non-rotatable about the axis at its upstream end. It is rotationally flexible to be torsionally twisted by rotatable twisting means at its downstream end. Each guide means are disposed at one of two or more twisting stations. Feedpaths for wires from other twisting stations converge to a stranding station for the core unit. Wire separation tubes prevent the wires from stranding into pairs until immediately before the stranding station. Each separation tube is rotated about its axis which is maintained curved to follow one of the converging paths and the tube is flexible to enable its curved axis position to be maintained during rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus for stranding two or more wires together comprising a wire guide means extending in a wire pass direction to a twisting station, the guide means held against rotation about an axis at its upstream end and being rotationally flexible to be torsionally twisted by a rotatable twisting means in the twisting station connected to the downstream end of the guide means. A wire separation tube extends from the twisting means along a fixed curved path section to a stranding station to prevent wires stranding together until they reach the stranding station. The separation tube is rotatable about an axis coinciding with the fixed curved path section and has flexibility to enable the tube to be maintained in its curved configuration along the path with torsional rigidity to avoid build-up and retention of twist.

Abstract: A device for SZ-stranding, which includes a tube store mounted in a frame for rotation on its axis, at least one stranding disk associated with the tube store and a device for rotating said tube and disk in a reversing fashion characterized by a tubular sleeve being concentrically disposed on a portion of the tube store and being mounted in the device to rotate at a speed different than the speed of rotation for the tube store. The tubular sleeve can be disposed either adjacent the input which is usually defined by a guide disk or adjacent to the exit and the stranding disk. In one embodiment, two tubular sleeves are provided with one being adjacent the entrance and the guide disk and the other being connected to rotate with the stranding disk at a speed different than the speed of rotation for the tube store.

Abstract: An open-end spinning machine having an open-end spinning unit with novel apparatus for withdrawing impurities released in the spinning unit. An impurity releasing duct outlet of the sliver separation housing of the open-end spinning unit extends from said housing and has substantially the same cross-sectional inner height dimensions as those of the cleaning aperture, while a connecting tube inlet joined to said outlet is substantially conically flared, a gap being provided between said outlet and said inlet for the sucking-in of additional air.

Abstract: A process for making a fasciated spun yarn by drafting and pneumatically false twisting a bundle of staple fibers is disclosed. In the method, the width W (mm) of a bundle of fibers measured just upstream of the nip point of a pair of second rollers of a drafting zone and a yarn count N (Nm) of the spun yarn are set to satisfy the following equation: ##EQU1## and the overfeed ratio of the bundle of fibers during the false twisting operation is 5% at most. The fasciated spun yarn made by this process has a straight shape, resembles a ring-spun yarn and has sufficiently stable strength.

Abstract: A false-twist device of the type in which a pair of crossing belts engage and twist the yarn between them utilizes magnetic means to press the belts together and apply a uniform force to the yarn.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for connecting and disconnecting links in a multi-strand roller chain by exerting on the roller link plates discrete, laterally-spaced, longitudinal forces in one direction on a first row of roller links, and simultaneously exerting equal forces but in an opposite direction on a longitudinally-spaced apart second row of roller links, thereby relaxing the intervening chain links disposed between the first and second rows of roller links which are being drawn together by the application of the equal but opposite forces. The apparatus includes yokes having a first and a second two-prong fork operable for the prongs to become mounted transversely on both sides of the pin plates, at their narrow waists, and to bear against the rounded heads of their adjacent, interconnecting roller plates. The prongs have end portions which project outwardly of both sides of the chain.

Abstract: A suspension chain head for mechanically assembled sling chain systems is proposed. The suspension head has a U-shaped suspension member with two legs and a web provided with a central portion and two lateral fork portions. A connecting member is pivotally mounted on the web of the suspension member and has two legs received in slots of the web and a bracket connecting the legs with one another, wherein the connecting member has a receiving opening with a width corresponding to the thickness of the chains to be suspended. The central portion of the web of the suspension member has a thickness at most equal to the thickness of the chains to be suspended, and the forked portions of the web of the suspension member have at least the thickness of the central portion of the web.

Abstract: A turbine engine having a combustor premix system for mixing fuel and air to provide increased efficiency by reducing temperature peaks in the combustor. The system includes a primary mixing chamber for mixing compressed air and atomized fuel and a secondary mixing chamber located between the primary mixing chamber and the combustor for mixing additional compressed air to the fuel-air mixture. The secondary mixing chamber comprises a plurality of tubes with air metering ports in the walls thereof and a control assembly to vary the air flow to the ports for off design engine operating conditions, and optimizes fuel-air mixtures for the combustor at all engine operating speeds improving fuel economy and exhaust pollution control. The primary mixing chamber is located adjacent to and between the compressor for the air and the combustor so that the fuel-air mixture flowing therethrough tends to cool the compressor and the chamber itself shields the compressor from radiant heat from the combustor.

Abstract: An emergency fuel control system for an aircraft engine, which emergency fuel control system comprises means for supplying emergency fuel to the engine such that the fuel supplied to the engine is proportional to engine speed and pressure, first fluidic means which is controlled by a pilot's throttle lever giving a throttle demand and which includes fluidic sensor inputs for limiting engine performance, second fluidic means which has an acceleration control for generating a signal pressure as a particular function of engine compressor ratio, a fluidic mixer for mixing an acceleration control signal and a pilot's control signal such that the pilot cannot demand more fuel than it is safe for the engine to accept, and a fluidic output device which receives signals from the fluidic mixer and which generates a signal which has substantially the same shape as the acceleration control signal but which is at a lower level and which is used to define the minimum amount of fuel that is safely required by the engine in

Abstract: Disclosed is a compact rotating hydraulic drive comprising (a) a housing, (b) a pumpshaft mounted in the housing for both linear translational and rotational movement, (c) a plurality of pumping units operated by rotational motion of the pumpshaft, (d) a valve spool mounted on the pumpshaft but rotatable relative to the pumpshaft, and (e) means selectively operative upon linear translation of the pumpshaft to rotate the valve spool back and forth between a first angular position in which the output of the pump is directed in one manner and a second angular position in which the output of the pump is directed in another manner.

Abstract: A torsionally flexible seal formed with alternating layers of elastic and reinforcing material provides a gas-tight barrier between a drive shaft and a portion of the Stirling engine housing surrounding a passageway through which the drive shaft extends. The shaft is connected to a series of mechanical linkage devices located within the housing which transmits power between the linearly reciprocative power piston and rotationally reciprocative drive shaft and which eliminates substantially the side forces exerted on the piston.

Abstract: A brake or clutch master cylinder has a slightly stepped bore with angularly equispaced grooves extending from the large diameter step into the small diameter step across the seal of the piston in its rest position. The fluid reservoir communicates with a groove of the large diameter step via a radial port.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for temporarily converting a turbocharged engine into a compressor that can provide compressed air for various uses, such as for pneumatic unloading of cargo. In a preferred embodiment a compression release engine brake is used to load the engine. That increases the turbocharger speed, thereby increasing the pressure and flow of air to the inlet manifold of the engine. Surplus boost air may then be withdrawn from the manifold.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine supercharged by exhaust turbochargers, with the engine being provided with an auxiliary combustion chamber, the exhaust gas of which is temporarily fed to a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger for improving acceleration characteristics of the internal combustion engine. The combustion air for the auxiliary combustion chamber is derived from a stream of supercharging air produced by the exhaust turbocharger. At least two exhaust turbochargers are provided with compressors thereof both conveying or feeding into a supercharging air conduit, to all cylnders of the internal combustion engine. Each of the compressors are equipped on an intake side with one check valve. During an idling or partial load, the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is fed to only one of the two exhaust turbochargers, wherein a conveying air stream produced by this exhaust turbocharger effects an automatic closing of the check valve of the other exhaust turbocharger.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a spark ignition engine that is fueled by methanol. Liquid methanol is first heated in a heat exchanger and then vaporized in a vapor generator. The vapor is decomposed in a catalytic reactor and expanded in an expander having an output shaft coupled to the output shaft of said spark ignition engine. A carburetor on said engine mixes air and the expanded decomposed methanol vapor to fuel said spark ignition engine.

Abstract: A system for reducing silica scaling in a geothermal power plant energized by high temperature, high silica content geothermal brine from a source such as the Salton Sea geothermal field or the Brawley geothermal field. Particulate material capable of seeding silica precipitation thereon is injected into one or more zones in heat extraction equipment such as steam separators where substantial temperature drops occur, so as to seed the precipitation of dissolved silica from the brine in suspended, particulate form rather than as scaling in the heat extraction equipment. The silica precipitation seeding may be accomplished in flash crystallizer type steam separators, and the particulate seed material may be silica particles recovered from a reactor clarifier downstream of the heat extraction equipment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power generation system, using refrigerant as an agent to circulate between a warm heat source and a cold heat sink, thereby producing electric power and alleviating the thermal pollution in the environment, gasifying liquid natural gas, and heating the produced natural gas toward ambient temperature.

Abstract: A fuel combustor consists of an elongated casing 16 with an air inlet conduit portion 27 at one end, and having an opposite exit end 18. The casing is formed with an intermediate combustion space 19. An elongated heat pipe 29 is mounted longitudinally in the casing and is offset from and extends alongside the combustion space 19. The heat pipe 29 is in heat-transmitting relationship with the air intake conduit 27 for heating incoming air. Guide conduit structure 25 is provided for conveying the heated air from the intake conduit into the combustion space. A fuel discharge nozzle 26 is provided to inject fuel into the combustion space 19. A fuel conduit 32 from a fuel supply source 37 has a portion 33 engaged in heat transfer relationship of the heat pipe for preheating the fuel. The downstream end of the heat pipe 29 is in heat transfer relationship with the casing and is located adjacent to the downstream end of the combustion space.

Abstract: A gas turbine combustor comprising a combustor inner-pipe for forming a head combustion chamber and a rear combustion chamber having a diameter larger than a diameter of head combustion chamber. A combustor outer-pipe covers the combustor inner-pipe, and a fuel nozzle is disposed at an end part of the head combustion chamber for supplying fuel to said combustor inner pipe. A first group of ports are arranged for swirling and feeding air in an axial direction of the combustor inner-pipe. The first group of ports are around the fuel nozzle. A second group of ports for swirling and feeding air in a radial direction of said combustor inner-pipe are disposed in a side wall of the head combustion chamber near the fuel nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat pump device comprising a pair of chambers and a plurality of elements extending within both chambers. A working fluid is disposed in both of the chambers and a displacer means is positioned in each of the chambers such that they are movable within their respective chambers. Both of the displacer means have a wall that divides their respective chambers into two zones, a regenerator material that is housed therein, a plurality of elements extending outwardly from and in proximity to the elements extending within the respective chamber, and at least one passageway communicating through each displacer means and through the respective regenerator material for the working fluid to flow therethrough between the zones. There is a drive means for reciprocably moving both of the displacer means in their respective chamber between the respective zones of the chamber.

Abstract: A multiple-stage pump compressor is disclosed for utilization in a heating or cooling system which comprises separate hot and cold containers connected to flexible members within pressure chambers in each of a plurality of pumping stages.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a refrigerator of a type having a capacity control mechanism adapted to control the capacity of the refrigerator in such a manner as to make the temperature of the cold water supplied to an air conditioner coincide with a predetermined set temperature of cold water. The apparatus is adapted to vary the set temperature of the cold water in accordance with the level of the load imposed on the air conditioner, and to determine the difference of the new set temperature of the cold water with the actually measured temperature of the cold water. The apparatus effects the control of the capacity control mechanism of the refrigerator such that the above-mentioned difference of the temperature is nullified. In consequence, the efficiency of the refrigerator during partial-load operation is remarkably improved.

Abstract: A method of freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like which has the steps of containing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like in a buffer solution at an irregular position in a tube, and cooling the same so that a buffer solution contained in an area containing no fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like become lower in temperature than the buffer solution containing the fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like with a desired refrigerant to freeze the second buffer solution to produce crystalline nuclei, and then cooling the nuclei so that the nuclei grow to the first buffer solution. And, an apparatus for freezing fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like which can carry out the above method. Thus, the survival rate of the fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like can be raised, and the fertilized ova, spermatozoa or the like can be readily frozen under an automatic control by simple cooling means.

Abstract: Ice-making apparatus having an evaporator including a helical tubing section, means for supplying water to the exterior surface thereof and means for supplying refrigerant to the evaporator to cause freezing of a helix of ice on the exterior surface thereof. An elongated driver is located axially within the helical tubing, and hot gas from the compressor frees the ice helix from its bond to helical tubing following discontinuation of supply of refrigerant thereto. The driver is rotated to slide the ice helix along the tubing and fracture the leading end of the helix into smaller ice pieces at a discharge point, preferably at the top of the unit.A star-wheel driver may be located coaxially within the helical tubing and have four radially extending fins for engaging grooves in the interior surface of the ice helix. The four fins are warmed so as to obviate formation of a strong bond between them and the ice helix.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for effectively managing the refrigerant charge in a heat pump, and for separating a gaseous refrigerant from liquid refrigerant and oil mixture in a manner that allows oil entrapped with the refrigerant to transfer to the compressor, and to insure that only refrigerant in gaseous phase is allowed to enter the compressor through the suction line.

Abstract: A solar heating system including a flat plate solar collector having a heat absorber woven basket fashion across a riser grid system containing suitable flow medium for being heated by the solar radiation. A heat exchange column is coupled to the riser grid system for extracting the heat from the flow medium to provide it to heating, hot water, and the like. The heat exchange column includes a number of continuous coils placed within a tank and having a circulating loop pass a liquid from the bottom of the tank to the top of the tank where it will flow over all of the coils transferring heat from one coil to the other. The flow is controlled by means of the load demand and the available supply of heat. Excess heat is stored in a heat storage system having a plurality of blocks of Glauber salt containing matrix material through which pass pipes containing the heated liquid.

Abstract: In a gas compression system, heat rejected from the prime mover and the compressor is transferred from them to the loads driven by the compressed gas. This heat transfer reduces the energy required from the prime mover for delivery of a given amount of energy by the output load, and hence increases the efficiency of the gas compression system.

Abstract: In a heat pump plant, a hot gas heat exchanger (8) is connected to the refrigerant circuit between a compressor (4) and a condenser (5) having a built-in sub-cooler (6), the heating medium side of said hot gas heat exchanger being connected to a domestic water heating device (9). An extra sub-cooler (10) having its heating medium side connected to a separate low temperature heating circuit is interconnected between the built-in sub-cooler and an expansion valve (11). An ejector (12) is connected to the supply line from the hot gas heat exchanger to the domestic water heating device, said ejector being also connected via a domestic water heating pump (13) to the heating medium outlet of the condenser-sub-cooler combination (5, 6). The return line from the domestic water heating device to the hot gas heat exchanger is connected via a line (15) to the heating medium inlet of the condenser-sub-cooler combination.

Abstract: A cover for refrigerated display cases formed from a plurality of flexible, transparent, PVC strips attached together in side by side relation to form panels which extend across the display case access opening to provide a barrier which substantially reduces the heat transfer between the store environment and the display case contents.

Abstract: A domestic ice-cream maker has a vertical cylindrical evaporator flanked by other parts of a refrigeration unit and a drive motor. A freezing support is removably located in the evaporator and a paddle in the freezing container is connected to the drive motor by a drive in a hinged lid covering the evaporator. The support is locked in place by freezing of moisture between it and the evaporator and released by a defroster associated with the evaporator which melts the moisture when ice-cream making is completed. The evaporation coil is situated in the space between inner and outer cylindrical vessels, the space being filled with a heat exchange liquid. The material being frozen may be aerated by providing air passages exiting at the trailing edges of the paddle adjacent the bottom of the container.

Abstract: An icemaker comprising a freezer mold having an ice piece forming cavity, ice ejecting means including means to release the ice piece from the cavity and a pad mechanism for raising the ice piece from said cavity to a position above the top of the cavity, a sweep pivotally supported above the mold for movement from a first position rearward of the cavity to a second position overlying the cavity for engaging and sweeping the raised ice piece from the mold. There is included drive means for rotating a drive element in one direction and then in the opposite direction. A torsion spring is arranged to store energy during movement of the sweep from its first position to its second position. There are means coupling the drive element to the sweep to drivingly engage the sweep and move the sweep from the first position to the second position and for coupling the torsion spring to the sweep to return the sweep from the second position to the first position upon release of the stored energy.

Abstract: In an auger type icemaker comprising an auger in a refrigeration cylinder, an extrusion head disposed in the upper end of the auger, and a plurality of bosses disposed in the extrusion head ice compressing passages and extending axially downward and radially outward, to prevent choking of ice particles in the refrigeration cylinder, the bosses extending further downward at a predetermined distance from the lower end surface of the extrusion head and partially overlap the auger. The diameter of the auger corresponding to the overlapping portion is smaller than that of the other portions.

Abstract: A refrigerant expansion device for use in a vapor compression refrigeration system is disclosed. The device has a body portion with a bore extending therethrough. At least that portion of the body portion which forms the bore walls is made of a shape memory alloy which undergoes a metallurgical transformation at a predetermined transformation temperature to change the bore size of the device in response to the temperature of refrigerant flowing through the device. In this manner, the bore size of the device is adjusted in response to different operating conditions of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A cam-support carriage for a knitting machine comprises movable cams for controlling knitting needles. The cams are adapted to be put out of operation by an electro-magnetic positioning device. The electro-magnetic device comprises a permanent magnet having a low coercive field associated with a magnetization/demagnetization coil and a moving part of ferromagnetic metal, integral with the cam to be positioned. The coil is connected to an excitation and control circuit ensuring magnetization and demagnetization of the permanent magnet by a current pulse in the coil, in order respectively to attract and release said moving part and its integral cam in order to being the cam out of or into operation.

Abstract: A bilateral key for a cylinder lock which has more than one row of tumbler pins thereby requiring a key having a number of generally parallel tumbler activation edges corresponding to the number of rows of tumbler pins. The key is formed of blade components having an exterior end and an operative end with an edge containing projections and depressions and a means for attaching the blade components securely together so that the edges are aligned to cooperatively form the lock combination of the cylinder lock.

Abstract: A revolving cylinder lock having a locking pin extending parallel to the axis of rotation of a barrel part within a cylindric passage and, in the locked condition, received in both a first cavity part extending into the wall of the passage and a second cavity part extending into the barrel and unlocking means angularly displaceable about the axis by a key to an unlocking position and retained between inner and outer guide surfaces and having an edge surface operatively associated with the outer guide surface and the pin and configured normally to retain the pin in the locked condition and, in the unlocking position to release the pin from engagement in the first cavity part and allow the barrel part to be rotatable relative to the housing, means being provided to urge the unlocking means away from the unlocking position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a knob control arrangement or system whereby the status of a knob associated with a lock mechanism can be controlled from exteriorly of the lock housing and can be selectively rendered active-operable or passive-inoperable. In this regard, when in the passive-inoperable condition, the knob will merely rotate relative to the housing without imparting force or stress to the lock components. This mode of operation is achieved by providing a knob hub rotatably mounted to the lock housing to which a knob member may be affixed. Interiorly of the housing, the knob hub will move relative to a main cam member used to effect operation of the lock mechanism. The knob control arrangement includes means for selectively interconnecting and disconnecting the knob hub and the main cam member, such that when connected, an active-operable condition is attained, and when disconnected, the passive-inoperable mode is achieved.

Abstract: A holder for keys and the like comprising a pair of plates which are disposed in abutting relation and which have aligned openings therethrough. The openings are defined by peripheral bars on the plates which have passages therethrough which are normally disposed in nonaligned relation. The plates are slidable relative to each other to move the passages into registry so that a key or the like may be positioned on the bars. The plates are thereafter returnable to their normal positions to secure the key on the holder.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for fabricating a spiral fin in which a strip of material is bent with rolling by a pair of rolls while being imparted with a tension to reduce the speed at which the strip is drawn between the pair of rolls to reduce a compressive force applied to a portion of the strip corresponding to an outer edge portion of the spiral fin, thereby improving the forming limit of the spiral fin.

Abstract: A recirculating strip processing apparatus is described comprising a recirculating stripper chain, a recirculating tool chain, a recirculating carrier follower chain and a recirculating die chain in a removable cassette for continuous processing of integrated circuit packages and leadframes. The processes described include deflashing an integrated circuit package, removal of the dam bar from the leadframe and cutting and bending the leads of the individual integrated circuit packages. When repair or replacement is required, the cassette involved is simply removed from the apparatus and replaced by another cassette thereby minimizing "down time" of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for making a transition plate for a mine roof truss from a strip of metal includes a die set having a first and second station. In the first station the strip of metal is bent downwardly at its sides, a notch is sheared in both sides of the strip and two holes are pierced through the strip. In the second station the transition plate is completed by bending the leading portion of the strip into an "M" shaped saddle portion, the strip is sheared transversely and bent downwardly at its trailing end.

Abstract: A mandrel for the production of internally profiled, specially threaded tubes or cylinders (2) by the cold forging of tube shaped forging blank (2) around a profiled mandrel (3) by cold forging the workpiece (2) from its one end to the opposite end. The threaded mandrel is parted at or near its axial center and both halves (3a, 3b) are held together axially free under a given radial play. Both ends (8, 13) of the mandrel halves are shaped for the application of a spanner. The mandrel halves can be shaped slightly conical from the ends in towards the parting line, and the flanks of the mandrel threads (14, 15) can be ground so that the threads thicken slightly and continously from the parting line and outwardly towards the mandrel's ends. The thread depth in the mandrel can be slightly deeper than the required thread height on the cold forged tube or product.

Abstract: This auto body dent removing puller and anchor may be inserted through a drilled hole or existing hole in the body of automobiles or other vehicles. The hole having to be only as large as the modified cylinder shaped part of the tool. It can be made in various lengths and diameters. Once inserted this uniquely modified cylinder shaped portion may be tipped by a rod attached to the outside of the tool and to the cylinder allowing a flattened V-shaped surface area to abut against the inside of the material for the purpose of pulling a damaged area out with common pulling devices or with an impacting device such as a slide hammer. Once the damaged area is pulled out it may be removed from the hole easily by the same rod it was tipped with after being inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the operation of a mechanical snubber having first and second engaged sections, the first section including linear motion input means and the second section including drive means coupled to motion limiting means. A tester housing is coupled to the snubber and has actuator means rotatably supported by the tester housing for engaging the drive means. The actuator means is adapted for engagement by test means for driving the actuator means to drive the drive means for testing the operation of the motion limiting means.

Abstract: A vibration type density meter includes a mechanical oscillator or resonator having a resonance frequency variable with the density of a specimen fluid around the oscillator. The resonator is of a cylindrical configuration with flanges at the ends thereof, at least one of the ends being open for introducing specimen fluid into the resonator. The meter also includes means for exciting the resonator, means for detecting oscillations of the cylindrical resonator, a cover coupled to the flanges of the resonator in surrounding relation to the latter, and circuit means for processing a frequency signal from the oscillation detecting means, and by arithmetic operations derive and display the density of the specimen fluid being measured.

Abstract: A knocking detecting apparatus for an internal combustion engine with a knocking detector for detecting a factor of knocking in the engine and a circuit for generating a knocking discrimination level in response to the output signal of the knocking detector, for detecting knocking by comparing the output signal of the knocking detector and the knocking discrimination level. The knocking detecting apparatus comprises a circuit for clamping the output of the knocking discrimination level generator circuit such that the knocking discrimination level does not exceed a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A method of testing for leaks in tubing and tube joints comprises placing within the tube to be tested a tool having spaced seals so that the seals are arranged on opposite sides of the joint to be tested in engagement at a constant pressure against the internal surface of the tubing. A search fluid such as 1 to 2% helium in air is passed through the tool under pressure and then out from the tool into the annular space between the outside surface of the tool and the inside surface of the tubing between the two seals. The presence of any helium is detected by means of a helium detector for example a mass spectrometer which has a probe extending to a gas trap surrounding the joint to be tested.

Abstract: A cigarette testing apparatus wherein a rotary drum-shaped conveyor has axially parallel peripheral flutes for cigarettes and is flanked by two swash plates which rotate therewith and carry annuli of elastically deformable sealing elements for the respective ends of cigarettes on the conveyor. Each sealing element has a socket facing the adjacent end of the cigarette in the corresponding flutes of the conveyor when the cigarette is inserted into the flutes. The swash plates thereupon move the sealing elements nearer to the ends of the cigarettes therebetween whereby the ends of the cigarettes enter the corresponding sockets and displace transversely extending partitions of the sealing elements with attendant radial contraction of those tubular sections of the sealing elements which surround the respective sockets.