Abstract: A packaging method and apparatus for making a package which comprises a generally rectangularly shaped article or group of articles encircled by a broad band of a highly-stretched, resilient, elastic plastics material. The method and apparatus use a plurality of elongated flat rigid arms to stretch the band, permit the article to be placed therein, and to then transfer the high compressive force of the stretched band from the arms to the corners of the article by moving the arms in the flat planes of the inner surface of the stretched band from the article corners toward the centers of the stretched band panels. Low compressive forces between the arms and the inner surfaces of the band then permit the arms to be easily longitudinally slid from the package.

Abstract: The mower is equipped with a pulley and a stationary belt which rapidly stops rotation of the shaft carrying the cutting blades. When this braking system is functioning, the belt and pulley system connecting the engine with a drive pulley mounted on the same shaft is disconnected. When the braking system is released, the pulley system between the engine and the drive pulley is connected.

Abstract: A crop retainer unit is presented which prevents crop material from blocking the entrance throat of a cylindrical bale forming machine. The crop retainer unit mounts in the entrance throat of a baler having a fixed size horizontally oriented baling chamber. The gate comprises a shaft which spans the length of the chamber at a location near the top of the entrance throat. A plurality of rod-like elements project outwardly at spaced intervals from the shaft. All elements are in line. All extend radially outward from the shaft in a single direction. The shaft is mounted for rotation in the sidewalls of the machine. However, motion is restricted so the free ends of the elements are able to readily swing inward into the baling chamber but their outward motion is stopped at the point where the elements are tangentially in line with the circumferential periphery of the baling chamber.

Abstract: A wire rope, particularly a non-twistable wire rope, wherein an annulus of outer strands surrounds a wire rope center with a central strand and one or more annuli of neighboring strands surrounding the central strand. The wires of the strands in the center do not intersect each other. The entire center or at least some of its strands are densified prior to or during application of the outer strands. Alternatively, or in addition to such densification, at least some strands of the center are assembled of wires having an other than circular outline to thereby reduce the combined cross-sectional area of voids in the center.

Abstract: A cable structure having a stranded inner conductor and an insulating layer over the conductor is formed by feeding a tape of semiconducting material onto the wire as it enters an extruder head. The tape is not spirally wound on the conductor but rather is fed longitudinally along with the wire into the extruder head so as to dispose the tape about the wire and beneath the insulation layer extruded thereon. The product formed has a good concentricity and the tape element conforms generally to the stranded wire to provide a minimum thickness of the tape composition to permit the cable to function effectively at medium voltage. The tape employed is preferably a semiconducting tape which can serve to distribute the electrical stresses emanating from the conductor when it is at high voltage. The tape may be formed of a crosslinkable material and the outer insulation may also be crosslinkable.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to produce a continuous filament textured yarn with unusually low crimp contractions and intermittent crimp along its length. This is accomplished by the use of an electromagnetic tension device to control the draw in the yarn being supplied to a false twist device driven at a speed to provide low false twist in the yarn being twisted. The apparatus includes a control between the electromagnetic tension control and the yarn supply package to prevent the yarn coming off the package from rotating in a full balloon path and consequently prevent entanglement of the yarn in the yarn guides to a yarn consuming machine.

Abstract: A self-aligning fuel nozzle assembly is provided for maintaining the alignment of a swirler member and a fuel nozzle upon displacement of the combustor liner relative to the combustor housing of a combustion chamber assembly in a turbine engine. The self-aligning fuel nozzle assembly mounts the swirler member to the combustor liner by a device having six degrees of freedom including a ball and socket joint which is placed within a structure so as to permit movement in the three main Cartesian directions of a rectangular axis system. The combustor liner is installed within the combustor housing in such manner that the fuel nozzle is slidably received within the swirler, with the swirler being biased against the fuel nozzle by a helical spring member forming part of the assembly. The self-aligning fuel nozzle assembly reduces the development of local stresses between the swirler and the fuel nozzle so that wearing between these parts is reduced.

Abstract: An external combustion engine has at least two axially spaced banks of radially disposed cylinders formed in a rotating engine block. A reciprocating piston is mounted in each cylinder. The block is rotatably mounted in an external engine housing and rotates about a first axis. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the external housing along a second axis parallel to but displaced from the first axis. The drive shaft extends through the central portion of the engine block and has a polygonal cross section with as many faces as there are pistons in each bank. Each piston engages a respective face of the polygonal drive shaft so that as the drive shaft and the engine block rotate together, the relative eccentric motion therebetween causes the pistons in each bank to reciprocate within their respective cylinders. A first bank of pistons is dedicated to the intake and compression of air drawn in from an air intake port in the external housing.

Abstract: A fuel metering system for a gas turbine engine with a low pressure drop fuel vaporizing system includes an engine driven centrifugal pump (10) supplied with fuel at a given absolute pressure (Pi) from a tank. The pump discharges fuel to a rapidly pulsed, solenoid operated ball valve (20) which functions as a metering valve in controlling flow to the engine. The solenoid (38) of the metering valve receives periodic voltage pulses of appropriate width from an electronic control which senses selected engine parameters and computes the required fuel flow and the pressure differential (Pr-P.sub.D) across the metering valve. Since the pressure differential across the metering valve increases with engine speed, favorable flow turndown ratios may be achieved without operating the metering valve at high or low values of duty cycle.

Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning device for internal combustion engines, comprising an exhaust system having an exhaust port, a secondary air supply system having an upstream secondary air supply passage communicating with the atmosphere and a downstream secondary air supply passage communicating with the exhaust port for supplying the exhaust system with secondary air, and a reed valve device disposed in the secondary air supply system and adapted to open and close in response to the pulsations of the exhaust gas pressure in the exhaust system. The reed valve device includes a valve housing constituted by a housing structure formed on the cylinder head cover of the engine and a cover member secured to the housing structure, the cover member having a plurality of projections projecting inwardly from the inner surface thereof. The reed valve device also includes a reed valve member clampingly held between the upper surface of the housing structure and the projections of the cover member.

Abstract: A fluid control system (10) has a first fluid pump (12) for supplying pressurized fluid in interrupted series to first and second work elements (14,16). The first work element (14) in the series has priority which prevents simultaneous full power operation of the first and second work elements (14,16). A second fluid pump (24) is capable of supplying pressurized fluid to the second work element (16) only upon receiving a signal indicating that pressurized fluid from the first pump (12) is being directed to the first work element (14). The subject fluid control system (10) is especially useful with a tree harvesting machine where it is beneficial to propel the machine and at the same time rotate the upper structure.

Abstract: A hdydrostatic load sense vehicle steering system which directs fluid from a source to a hydrostatic steering circuit that includes a steering controller, and to an auxiliary circuit. Fluid control means responds to fluid pressures in a pilot circuit to direct priority flow to the steering circuit and excess flow to the auxiliary circuit. The pilot circuit includes a first pilot conduit that communicates with a load sense port of the steering controller. The steering controller controls fluid pressures in the pilot circuit in accordance with the condition of the steering circuit. A second pilot conduit communicates a pressure signal in accordance with the condition of the auxiliary circuit to the fluid control means. The second pilot conduit also communicates through a bleed orifice with the load sense port of the steering controller. When the controller is in neutral, it directs the pilot fluid from its load sense port to a reservoir.

Abstract: In a power steering system, for a vehicle, including a reservoir, an engine-driven pump, a double-acting hydraulic piston-and-cylinder assembly and a steering-wheel-operated hydrostatic steering unit which can function as a manually-operated emergency steering pump, sufficient oil for emergency operation of the hydrostatic steering unit must be retained in the system if the connection between the outlet of the engine-driven pump and the inlet of the hydrostatic steering unit should fracture. The reservoir accordingly comprises an outer casing adapted to breath air at its upper end and having an outlet at its lower end adapted to communicate with the inlet of the engine-driven pump, and an inner casing having a port at its lower end adapted to communicate with a port of the hydrostatic steering unit and an oil outlet at its upper end communicating with the interior of the outer casing.

Abstract: In a turbocharged, carbureted internal combustion engine, a safety control system including a vacuum motor responsive to vacuum created in one barrel of the carburetor to control fluid flow through a second barrel in the carburetor and a vacuum control valve responsive to turbocharger output fluid pressure for communicating air at atmospheric pressure to the vacuum motor to reduce fluid flow through the second barrel of the carburetor when the output fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle body. The engine includes a supercharger comprising an exhaust turbine coupled to an exhaust passage of the engine and a compressor is coupled to an intake passage of the engine. The exhaust apparatus comprises an exhaust passage having one end coupled to the exhaust turbine. A first muffler is coupled to the other end of the exhaust passage and a diverging member has one end coupled to the exhaust passage at a point upstream from the first muffler. A second muffler is coupled to the other end of the diverging means.

Abstract: An open Rankine cycle heat pump that utilizes a multistage compressor having interstage desuperheating wherein process fluid in the form of water drawn from a waste heat producing process is used as the working fluid in the heat pump thereby eliminating the need for heat exchangers at the conventional evaporator and condensor locations. Heated return water drawn from the process is flashed to a vapor and the vapors passed through the compressor to provide thermal energy that is used in compatible process related equipment.

Abstract: A constant-pressure air-storage cavern wherein the floor and the roof of the cavern are inclined at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal and the transition portion from the cavern into the air riser and into the water tunnel is expanded to form a dome and a sump, respectively. In the sump a vortex generator is provided.

Abstract: For a given temperature differential between a refrigerated heat sink (28) and frontal cryopanel array (46), the mass of the entire cryopump array is minimized by providing thermal struts (54) between the heat sink and the frontal array. The thermal struts extend through, but are isolated from, the primary pumping surface to minimize their lengths. The struts support the frontal array independent of the side radiation shield to facilitate fabrication. To further reduce the temperature differential to the frontal array, heat pipes may be provided. Parallel heat pipes or solid thermal struts may provide the thermal path during cooldown of the system. By reducing the temperature differential between the frontal cryopanel array (46) and refrigerated heat sink (28) through the use of solid thermal struts or heat pipes the load carrying capability of a cryopump can be improved.

Abstract: Fresh produce is loaded into an enclosed trailer, and the doors closed. Chilled water is pumped through overhead sprinkler pipes to chill the product to about 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Liquid nitrogen is used to maintain the trailer cold during transit and storage. Nitrogen tanks within the trailer are filled during the water chill operation. The nitrogen tanks are bled during the filling operation and the bled nitrogen extends through expansion tubes which are located co-axially within the water sprinkler tubes in the ceiling. From there the nitrogen is fed through exhaust pipes along the floor of the transport to purge the product of atmosphere and respiration gases. During transport, the liquid nitrogen is fed into the overhead expansion tubes for refrigeration and again the evaporated nitrogen is fed to the exhaust pipes along the floor to purge the product of respiration gases and to maintain the product oxygen-free.

Abstract: The invention comprises solution compositions suitable for absorbing and desorbing useful quantities of water vapor at high boiling point elevations, and, hence, which are useful in conjunction with H.sub.2 O as the absorbent pair in absorption cycle heat pumps. The nonaqueous component of the solution is comprised of at least 35 mole percent LiNO.sub.3 and at least 35 mole percent alkali nitrite. The absorbent is particularly useful in high temperature absorption cycles, i.e., with maximum temperatures in the range of 130.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. or even higher.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for operating a series compression refrigeration circuit with supplemental heating means are disclosed. The supplemental heat source is arranged to supply heat energy to the refrigerant being supplied to the high stage compressor suction line. A quench conduit is provided for effectively regulating the temperature of the refrigerant entering the high stage compressor. This arrangement allows for the simultaneous heating of the refrigerant for supplying supplemental heat energy and for continued utilization of the outdoor heat exchanger for absorbing heat energy from the outdoor ambient air for transfer to a space to be conditioned.

Abstract: In an absorption type cold and warm water system, a solution pump and a refrigerant pump are operated when a heat source serving as a drive source of the absorption type cold and warm water system is rendered inoperative as a result of the temperature of cold water and warm water produced by the system reaching an OFF value set beforehand for the heat source. This enables refrigerating and heating abilities stored in the cold and warm water system to be effectively utilized.

Abstract: A concentrated solution to be utilized for dehumidification is housed in a concentrated solution tank and is supplied to a dehumidification room to dehumidify the air. The resulting dilute solution is collected in a dilute solution tank and is condensed into a concentrated solution by a vacuum vaporation process. The resulting concentrated solution is returned to the concentrated solution tank. In the vacuum vaporation process, the dilute solution housed in the dilute solution tank is converted into a heated dilute solution through a heat exchanger. The heated solution is heated by solar energy in a low temperature vaporizer and a high temperature vaporizer in which the pressure is reduced by a source of vacuum. The heated dilute solution is returned to the concentrated tank through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: An air conditioning system including at least one water-cooling type air conditioning unit, a heat pump chilling unit, an ancillary heat exchanger in said water-cooling type air conditioning unit, and a cold and heat accumulating tank divided into two tank sections differing from each other in volume and the temperature of water contained therein. In a cooling mode, cold water of relatively high temperature and cold water of relatively low temperature are accumulated by operating the heat pump chilling unit at night, and when a normal heating operation is performed, the cold water of relatively high temperature is used as cooling water for a condenser of the water-cooling type air conditioning unit and when the water-cooling type air conditioning unit is inoperable as when power failure occurs at peak load, the cold water of relatively low temperature is supplied to the ancillary heat exchanger to carry out cooling.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine, in particular for knitting hosiery, is disclosed, wherein the dial is rotated by the needle cylinder through a rod extending coaxially with the cylinder and dial and rotatively connected to the latter. The rod can be shifted axially from a position of engagement with a drive element rigid with the cylinder, to a position of disengagement therefrom, and viceversa. In the former condition, the dial will be rotated in timed relationship with the cylinder, whereby the fabric is knitted normally, whereas in the latter condition, the knitted fabric is discharged. The rod axial movement may be obtained by pneumatically or hydraulically operated cylinder, whose piston is rotatably connected to the rod itself. It is further possible to make the dial raisable vertically through a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, such as to make the loop formation area fully accessible.

Abstract: A hosiery handling apparatus for separating individual hosiery articles from a continuous tubular hosiery string and thereafter transporting the separated articles to a remote location includes a control circuit for interrupting operation in the event of a malfunction in the separation of the hosiery string. The control circuit preferably includes an advance switch for detecting passage of a separated article to the remote location and a stop action switch connected in series with the advance switch and responsive to movement of the separating assembly. When a separated article fails to be transported to the remote location, the control circuit terminates operation of the machine.

Abstract: This invention relates to a knitted fabric spreader device for flat knitting machines which have spiked rotatable rollers (14) disposed beneath the comb gap (12) of the needle beds of the machine. The spiked rollers (14) are mounted over the full length of the needle beds (10, 11) on a common carrier rod (13) concentric with this rod, and the common carrier rod (13) can be moved transversely to the longitudinal direction of the needle beds to provide for clearance of the comb gap (12) of the machine. To cater for this adjustment the carrier rod (13) is held on at least slides adjustable by means of a control cam (27). The rollers (14) are so mounted between eccentric intermediate discs (15) provided with a smooth peripheral edge that spikes (38) of the rollers (14) project radially above the intermediate discs (15) over a part only of the carrier rod (13) to engage the knitted fabric (29) (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A combined appliance is provided which includes unifying support structure. First and second appliances each have cabinets for enclosing the respective appliances. The first appliance is supported in an elevated posture on support structure including a pair of L-shaped support members. The second appliance is engageable with the floor and has side panels with lower recesses for receiving floor engaging portions of the support members. The lower recesses are in closely spaced juxtaposition to the surface engaging support members for stabilizing the first appliance and the support members. The side panels of the first and second appliances are substantially aligned with the sides of the L-shaped support members to provide the combination with the characteristics and stability of a unitary appliance.

Abstract: A beam for supporting therearound elongate strips of textile materal for uniform treatment with a treatment liquid, comprising a rotatable perforated cylindrical tube. The perforated cylindrical tube includes a central barrel portion, a pair of flanges disposed at opposite ends of the tube, and a pair of conical portions each disposed between the tube and a respective one of the flanges.

Abstract: A sleeve for use in the treatment of textile threads and yarns including dyeing having a shell wherein the shell comprises peripherally extending spaced apart rings which are elastically yielding in the axial direction of the shell and spaced-apart webs which are elastically yielding in the axial direction of the shell, connecting the rings, the axially consecutive webs being laterally offset relative to each other whereby when the rings and webs are yielding, the rings become serpentine and the webs become bowed, at least selected ones of the webs being adapted to bow in a selected common direction generally circumferential with respect to the sleeve to ensure substantially uniform displacement of the sleeve members, thus to provide a sleeve having minimum restriction for passage of dye and which sleeve is substantially rigid in yielded or non-yielded state.

Abstract: This invention relates to a screw lock, characterized in that the screw key screws into a keyway, and the slots on the top ring screw of the screw key provide a convex-concave match with switch points in the cylinder. The screw key is then pushed in and turns the cylinder to effect locking and unlocking. The keyway of this invention is adapted to accept the spiral screw shape, and accordingly, the form and the mechanism of the switch points are not seen. Thus, the form and mechanism of the switch points in the cylinder is unknown. Also, conventional keys or wires cannot be inserted into the spiral screw hole. In case other keys are inserted into the keyway, the set points in the cylinder prevent the key form being further pushed in and prevent turning of the cylinder to effect unlocking.

Abstract: A cylinder lock is provided with means for preventing a cylinder from being extracted to improve safety against breakage of the lock. The preventing means comprises a deformable portion formed at an entrance of a keyhole of the cylinder and deformable into a radially expanded form when a force is applied to forcibly insert some object other than a correct key into the keyhole, and a stop portion formed in a casing of the cylinder lock for preventing the deformable portion in the deformed form from being extracted.

Abstract: A key holder which includes a body and a key pivotably mounted on the body and movable between an operating position in which the key is disposed outside of the body and a non-operating position in which the key is housed within the body. The key holder may also include a biasing member for maintaining the key at the operating position thereof or the non-operating position thereof and the key may include a stopper member disposed thereon which is engageable with the body to maintain the key at the non-operating position thereof.

Abstract: A roller leveler is provided with mechanisms to continuously sense and to measure roller deflection and to automatically correct the deflection based on the degree of deflection sensed. The sensing mechanisms are mounted on a structure which is isolated from the forces of deflection acting on the rollers and may comprise mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, sonar, optic, fiber optic, fluid, or laser devices. Novel back-up rolls are also provided to correct the deflection.

Abstract: A ring rolling mill comprising a driven working roll, a rotary mandrel serving as a counter-roll, and a containment roller carried by a pivoted arm and able to engage laterally the ring being rolled, further includes a tracer roller carried by a respective pivoted arm. The assembly formed by the tracer roller and its respective arm is a mirror image of the assembly formed by the containment roller and its respective arm across the vertical plane identified by the axes of rotation of the working roll and of the mandrel which are both vertically orientated. Means for detecting the angular position of the tracer arm and of the containment arm are connected to an electrical control circuit of an hydraulic servo valve for regulation and locking of the angular movement of the containment arm so as to maintain the containment roller in a symmetrical position with respect to the tracer roller across the vertical plane.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously shot peening and smoothing includes use of relatively large, smooth, hard, spherical steel shot having a substantially uniform diameter in the range 1-2.5 mm. Titanium workpieces are provided in one step with a compressive stress layer of the order of 0.13 mm and a surface finish of better than 15.times.10.sup.-6 inch AA, compared to conventional peened finishes of the order of 40.times.10.sup.-6 inch AA. Surface finish and peening intensity are inter-related and dependent on shot diameter, mass, velocity, and energy within relatively small limits. The shot diameter is uniform within .+-.0.05 mm; the shot impact velocity is uniform within .+-.4 percent or less, in the range 1.4-12 m/s.

Abstract: A flow drill having a cross sectional contour defined by a complex harmonic curve symmetrical in the rotation direction permitting reverse of drill rotation.

Abstract: A generally dome-shaped end closure for a receptacle, such as, the bottom end wall of a beverage container is roll-formed in a closely coordinated sequence of steps wherein the receptacle is fixed in position so that the external surface of the end wall to be formed is disposed in facing relation to a yieldable support, and rotatable bearing surfaces are simultaneously advanced into engagement with the end wall while being continuously rotated about a common axis whereby to form one or more annular ribs in the end wall while forcing the end wall to assume a generally convex or dome-shaped configuration as it is expanded outwardly against the yieldable support.

Abstract: An integrated system and apparatus for completely forming the body of a two-piece can in one press, including performing the operations of cupping, drawing, redrawing, bottom profiling, and trimming. The system includes the concept of performing all of the operations required to form the body of a two-piece can in one press and includes feeding the precoated stock material, either in the form of sheet or coil, through a lubricator and into a feeding apparatus which, in turn, selectively feeds sufficient quantities of the stock material into a press. The press carries the double die necessary to perform the typical blanking and cupping operation and passes the cups out of the press in two lanes onto cup conveyors which feed them back into the press whereupon the draw-redraw dies on both sides of the cup die perform the additional steps of first redraw, second redraw, bottom profile, and trimming. The formed containers are then conveyed to secondary processing stations such as beaders, testers, or palletizers.

Abstract: A method of forging a bifurcated member having closely spaced parallel portions including the steps of forging the member to form diverging bifurcated portions, and coining the diverging bifurcated portions inwardly toward each other into substantially parallel relation having a narrow slot therebetween.

Abstract: A tube with a thick walled portion at one end is cold-formed by necking one end of a tube workpiece, inserting a mandrel which engages within the tapering neck of the necked portion, drawing the necked workpiece through a drawing die by applying pressure on the mandrel, and withdrawing the mandrel from the workpiece. A thick-walled portion may be formed at the opposite end by interrupting the drawing operation, inserting a second mandrel of smaller diameter with a shoulder engaging in the tapering neck of the workpiece, continuing the drawing to draw the remainder of the workpiece down onto the second mandrel, and withdrawing the second mandrel.

Abstract: In a blind riveting device having a compressed air feed, the compressed air feed serves not only for the actuating means of the blind riveting device, but also for a compressed air conveying means which transports the rivet pins which are pulled off in the riveting operation, into a container which is disposed at a position remote from the blind riveting device.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the functioning of a float-activated liquid level control device comprises a float for activating a liquid level control device, a float cage enclosing said float, an entry port accessible from outside a separating tank through which fluid may be input directly into the float cage enclosure, and a flange connection for mounting the test apparatus inside a fluid separation tank. The method comprises connecting a fluid source to the input port of the apparatus of the instant invention, injecting fluid directly into the float cage enclosure to activate the float of the instant invention, monitoring the liquid level control device to insure that it is functioning correctly and then withdrawing the input fluid to return the float to its normal operating position.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the content of hydrogen dissolved in a molten metal, comprising an immersion head immersed within a batch of the molten metal to bring an inert gas into contact with the molten metal, an inert gas circulating device connected to the immersion head and having gas passages cooperating with the immersion head to form a closed circulatory path for circulating the inert gas a plurality of times through the path to and from the immersion head. The apparatus further comprises a hydrogen gas content measuring device connected to the gas passage for measuring the hydrogen-content of the inert gas flowing through the gas passage, the measuring device comprising a first measuring cell connected to the gas passage and having therein an electric resistance wire exposed to the circulated inert gas containing the hydrogen picked up from the molten metal, and further comprising a second measuring cell filled with atmosphere whose thermal conductivity is substantially equal to that of the inert gas.

Abstract: For a fluid chromatography apparatus including a precolumn and an analytical column, a device is provided with means for operably connecting said precolumn and column, said connecting means comprising a body member provided with support surfaces for a column inlet and a precolumn outlet, and said body member including a plurality of passages adapted to independently functionally interconnect said precolumn outlet and said column inlet with each other, and individually independently with fluid inlet and/or outlet means, either internally or externally.

Abstract: An output signal of a vibration sensor mounted on an internal combustion engine is compared with a background noise reference signal to produce a knock signal which can accurately represent the intensity of knocking. The background noise level signal is produced by averaging a component of the vibration sensor output signal which represents the vibration of the engine other than knock-induced vibration. In order to produce a feedback signal for inhibiting the knock induced component of the sensor output signal, a first comparator compares the sensor output signal with a first reference signal having a sufficiently low level. Knock signal is produced by a second comparator which receives a second reference signal, which is proportional to the first reference signal but having sufficiently higher level, thereby enabling a precise determination of knock intensity.

Abstract: A rheometer for measuring the extrudate swell of polymeric solutions. The eometer has an upper and lower transparent reservoir with a capillary tube therebetween. The flow of solution between reservoirs from upper to lower is provided by gas pressure. Initially, the swell is photographed and the lower reservoir is then filled with an immiscible Newtonian fluid. In sequence the flow is again started and a second photograph is taken. The first and second swell are measured, and the results applied to a formula to determine the first normal stress difference of the polymeric solution.

Abstract: In a photometric coagulation instrument a synthetic clot signal is generated so that the operation of the instrument can be checked without the need to measure the actual clotting time of a control plasma sample.

Abstract: A system for testing space engines at sea level under a very low pressure environment. The system includes a space simulation chamber connected to a diffuser which has two variable area ratio ejectors connected to it in tandem. Each of the ejectors is driven by a jet engine, preferably a turbo jet. The system is capable of providing a low pressure environment of about three or four millimeters of mercury for testing of engines mounted in the space simulation chamber. The system also may be used for other purposes requiring very high vacuum, such as evaporation and dehydration of food products or drugs.

Abstract: The failure of a gas turbine engine, particularly flame-out or output drive train breakage, is immediately detected and a warning signal generated. Engine flame-out is defined as an unacceptably fast gas turbine deceleration rate while output shaft failure is determined by sensing a mismatch between the engine output shaft speed and load speed.