Abstract: A continuous 360° impingement baffle is attached directly to a shroud support structure such that the combination provides a low-leakage, high pressure plenum for supplying impingement airflow to the turbine rotor shroud for cooling purposes. After impingement, the air is at a low-pressure and is free to feed the conventional leakage paths with little loss of system efficiency.

Abstract: A vent and baffle unit locatable between adjacent roof rafters of a structure to provide a passage for the flow of air from the soffit to the attic and block the normal opening between the soffit and attic. The vent and baffle unit has a vent section having a triangular base and triangular side walls. Flanges are articuately joined to the outer edges of the side walls. The vent section can be folded into a generally V-shaped configuration. The inlet to the vent section has a generally rectangular cross sectional area. The outlet has a triangular cross sectional area. The baffle is articuately connected to the front of the vent section. The baffle is folded in a downward direction to block the normal opening between the attic and the soffit. The vent and baffle unit can be folded in an inward direction to provide a narrow configuration allowing it to be used with 16" on center roof rafters. Alternatively, the vent and baffle unit can be folded in an outward direction which allows the vent and baffle unit to be used with 24" on center roof rafters.

Abstract: A hydraulic liquid reservoir includes a tank that has a plurality of walls and a baffle structure which divides the inside of the tank into three compartments. An inlet is connected to one lower compartment while an outlet is connected to the second lower compartment and a third upper compartment is interconnected with both the first and second lower compartments at a location below the liquid level in the tank. The baffle structure is designed such that there are high points in each the first and second compartments which are in communication with the inside of the tank above the liquid level in the third compartment to vent any air from the first and second compartments into the top of the tank within the third compartment.

Abstract: An automatic ventilation system for an enclosure for animals, fowl and the like, whereby plural banks of exhaust fans are controlled by respective thermostats set for operation at respective individual temperatures over an operating range of temperatures, while movable baffles or the like at air inlet apertures are adjusted under the control of a differential-pressure sensing means to regulate the rate of flow of air through the inlet apertures to maintain a desired difference between the barometric pressure within and without the enclosure irrespective of the number of banks of fans in operation at a given time; when the thermostat set at the highest temperature is actuated, the movable baffles are adjusted for maximum flow irrespective of the output of the differential-pressure sensing means, thereby establishing a second, and smaller, differential pressure; upon failure of the primary power source, a second power source is automatically utilized to adjust the inlet baffles to a position of maximum opening, with automatic return to normal operation upon revival of the primary power source.

Abstract: An improved air distribution system for cooling electronic components mounted on printed circuit boards. The system includes an air plenum chamber of rectangular cross section. Openings are formed in the side walls of the chamber to permit air under pressure from within the chamber to flow outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the outer surfaces of the side walls and over the components to be cooled. A baffle in the form of a thin sheet of metal is mounted in the plenum substantially parallel to the side walls to divide the interior into two substantially equal portions. A large number of small round holes are formed through the baffle the area of the holes occupying substantially 36 percent of the total area of the baffle. An air pump supplies air under pressure to the interior of the plenum chamber. The baffle modifies the pressure distribution and air flow within the chamber so that the velocity of air through the openings formed in the side walls does not substantially vary with the position of the openings along the length of the plenum.

Abstract: A six-stroke cycle engine fires a fuel charge for a first power stroke, the exhaust gases being directed to a thermally insulated jacket surrounding the cylinder and having fins and/or baffles to recover heat from the gases and conduct the heat to the inner cylinder wall for converting injected water into steam for a second power stroke. The fins and/or baffles in the jacket also function as a muffler for the engine.

Abstract: The wood burning heating means of the present invention utilizes a firebox having a grate adjacent the lower end and a flue opening adjacent the upper end thereof. A baffle is positioned immediately below the flue opening in such a manner as to deflect rising hot gases prior to their exit through the flue opening. A main draft opening provides communication of air below the grate to provide oxygen for the fire. A secondary draft opening is provided above the grate for introducing air in such a manner that oxygen will be provided immediately below the baffle to facilitate combustion of the gases which have accumulated adjacent the baffle.

Abstract: An assembly for baffling an associated optical system from off-axis radiation and, at the same time, reducing the thermal load by minimizing radiation absorption within the assembly. In its most basic embodiment, the assembly comprises: a rectangularly-shaped box-like housing having a specular internal surface; and, specular baffles that are sections of surfaces of hollow elliptic cylinders and that are positioned within the housing in spaced-apart relationship to each other and in a one-behind-the-other arrangement, and also are perpendicular to the sides of the housing.

Abstract: A flow distributor for a fluid bed reactor includes means for decreasing velocity of incoming liquid streams in a uniform, non-turbulent fashion. Inlet ports communicate with fluid portals having divergent walls to slow incoming flow. The fluid portals feed liquid flow to a plurality of diffusing flow paths provided between diffusion baffles positioned at the bottom of the reactor. The diffusion baffles may be prismatic shapes which are trapezoidal in cross-section with the broadest horizontal dimension at the bottom thereof. The diffusion flow paths therefore have divergent walls and act to further slow the liquid flow passing therethrough.

Abstract: A drinking cup having a substantially reduced tendency to spill. The cup has at least two baffle members positioned within the cup wall. Each baffle is generally annular having a central opening and each baffle contains a plurality of passageways passing therethrough.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fuel tank for a motor vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine, in which means are provided for preventing depriming of the pump which conveys the fuel to the engine feed circuit. According to the invention, the mouth of a fuel withdrawal conduit is situated in a small chamber contained in the tank, bounded laterally by a baffle and communicating with the remaining part of the tank through at least one gap in the baffle. This gap extends in the form of a channel formed by parallel walls disposed side-by-side over a length substantially equal to the chamber dimension in the direction parallel to the side-by-side walls.

Abstract: A spray booth installation has a water tank (10) from which water is withdrawn by a pump (11) to feed a water curtain covering a wall located above a dividing baffle plate (17) in the tank and to feed sprays in an air extraction passage disposed above a region (16) of the tank. A surface-removal device (20) including a venturi pump keeps the water surface clear of paint in the vicinity of the pump inlet (13) and ejects the floating paint on the other side of the baffle plate (17). A surface baffle (30) retains floating material while allowing water to circulate back to the front region (15).

Abstract: The specification discloses a heated extruder nozzle for extruding semi-fluid material such as ground meats and other food products. The nozzle includes a chamber having a baffle wall dividing the chamber into a first and second baffle area with these baffle areas in fluid communication by an opening through the baffle wall. A plurality of extruder tubes extend through the first and second baffle areas and receive the semi-fluid product therethrough. An inlet extends from the first baffle area and permits the introduction of heated fluid, such as water or steam, into the first baffle area. A return outlet is attached from the second baffle area for discharging heated fluid therefrom. The inlet and outlet communicate with the first and second baffle areas, respectively, on opposite sides of the extruder tubes from the opening in the baffle wall through which fluid is communicated from the first baffle area to the second baffle area.

Abstract: A vent and baffle used to provide an air passage between the soffit and the attic of a house to insure the flow of air through the attic. The vent is an elongated arcuate member having outwardly directed flanges adapted to be secured to the roof boards of a structure with suitable fasteners. A first baffle is a block having a semi-circular recess to accommodate and support the one end of the vent against the roof boards. The baffle is located in a tight fit or wedged relationship with the roof boards, adjacent roof rafters, and top plate of the structure to block the passage below the vent between the attic and the soffit and insulate the area above the top plate of the side wall of the structure. A second baffle is used without the vent to block the entire space above the top plate between adjacent roof rafters. The vent and baffles are made from a foamed plastic having flame resistant additives.

Abstract: A baffled conformal blanket sonar array utilizes a corrugated or indented action plate and a sound isolation baffle of non-uniform thickness. A plurality of compliant tubes embedded in an elastomer on the interior side of the reaction plate permit the baffle's sound isolation function to remain constant in areas of differing baffle thickness. Sensors, associated components, cabling, etc. are embedded in an elastomer which fills the corrugations or indents on the exterior side of the reaction plate. An elastomer sheet covering forms a smooth even external surface. The result is an array which is thinner, lighter and more damage resistant than existing arrays.

Abstract: A baffle board for use in house construction to prevent loss of blown-in insulation through the eaves and yet to provide clearance ventilation space between the baffle board and the sheathing. The baffle board is a standard construction adapted for use in truss roofs and offset roofs, and with framing members of different standard widths. A generally rectangular piece of stiff material having plurality of both longitudinal and transverse score lines and slits for folding forms a baffle board which is quickly shapable for use in most standard roof constructions.

Abstract: A blow dryer having a partitioned barrel providing an air duct for the flow of heated air and a duct for the flow of ambient temperature air. A baffle at the upstream end of the barrel controls the fan discharged air while a second baffle is positionable to divert an element cooling airflow from being exhausted against the person's head.

Abstract: A gas scrubbing plant having a gas scrubbing stage, a washing liquid separating stage and a stage for washing out suspended matter therebetween. This latter stage includes a plurality of gas baffles which accelerates the gas and then decelerates it while liquid is introduced into the gas baffles as the gas passes therethrough. Each baffle has an inner conical member surrounded by an outer member to define therebetween an annular passage with diverges at an angle of between 10° and 90° from the inlet adjacent the apex of the conical member to the outlet from the baffle, the cross-sectional area of the annular passage decreasing in the direction of gas flow and then increasing towards the outlet. A liquid feed tube is mounted in the conical member and a disc mounted at the outlet of the tube opposite the apex to the conical member so that the liquid fed into the tube is deflected and produces a rotationally symmetrical jet up into the annular passage in the direction of gas flow from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A heat exchanger of the shell and tube type having a floating tube sheet to accommodate differential thermal expansion and contraction between the shell and the tubes. The cross-sectional area of sliding joint means between the floating tube sheet and the shell, and the total external and internal cross-sectional areas of the tubes, are selected to minimize axial forces on the tubes. A novel tube support system including hollow support members engaged between the adjacent tubes enables a true counterflow heat exchange relationship to be established between the shell side fluid and the tube side fluid.

Abstract: A sparged air distilled water recovery system comprising a closed tank having spaced end walls. Passing through one end wall is a conduit that is connected at one end to a source of supply of water under pressure and terminating in a jet nozzle. An overflow drain is mounted in the opposite end wall and maintains substantially constant the level of water in the tank. A closed vapor and air circulating system extends from the end wall having the overflow drain to the end wall in which the jet nozzle is mounted. This system comprises a tube having one end mounted in the end wall with the overflow and which end is open at a level above the water in the tank. Included in this tube is a blower for circulating the mixture of water vapor and air. The other end of this tube then enters a condenser at one end while a second tube extends from the other end of the condenser to the end wall in which the jet nozzle is mounted. Air from this second tube enters the tank above the water level under moderate velocity which is dissipated by impinging on a baffle extending across the tank above the water level. An outlet for distilled water is mounted on the bottom of the condenser and extends to a desired receptacle or place of useage.

Abstract: An internal mirror metal vapor laser, and in particular, a helium-cadmium laser discharge tube, which is economical, compact and has a relatively long operating and shelf life, the operating life typically exceeding 10,000 hours. A positive column helium-cadmium laser tube of the consumable type and having optical resonator mirrors integral with the tube ends to hermetically seal the tube is provided which includes a relatively large volume cadmium reservoir capable of containing sufficient cadmium for operating life times exceeding ten thousand hours. A heater is applied to the cadmium reservoir for controlling the cadmium vapor pressure. The helium pressure is actively controlled by releasing helium from a high pressure helium reservoir when the helium pressure is less than a predetermined value. This is accomplished by providing a signal representing the sensed pressure of the helium in the laser discharge tube and comparing electronically this signal with a signal representing the pressure of helium at a desired operating condition (reference pressure). If the sensed pressure is lower than the reference pressure indicating a loss of helium gas, a source of electric current supplies current to a heating element which in turn heats a temperature sensitive permeable membrane. The temperature sensitive membrane, which forms a portion of a reservoir containing high pressure helium, allows the helium in the reservoir to leak into the laser tube when heated until the sensed pressure is substantially equal to the reference pressure. A pair of thermistors mounted within the laser discharge tube are preferably utilized to effectively provide the sensed and reference pressure signals. In particular, the thermistors are utilized to compensate the effects of ambient temperature changes, thereby allowing an accurate measure of the laser discharge pressure. A diffusion confinement section and a cataphoretic confinement section are provided adjacent one end mirror and a diffusion confinement section is provided adjacent the other end mirror to protect the end mirrors from condensing cadmium vapor or other damage. A baffle member is placed adjacent the cathode end of the discharge capillary which separates the cadmium condensate from the discharge at the cathode to inhibit entrappment or gettering of helium gas by the cadmium.

Abstract: A multiple flow marine muffler constructed of resilient material having an elongated generally cylindrical hollow shell with reduced diameter inlet and outlet portions, and longitudinally spaced pairs of opposed baffles within the shell which define a plurality of chambers decreasing in axial length from the chamber adjacent the inlet portion to the chamber adjacent the outlet portion. The several pairs of baffles are so shaped, sized and oriented as to provide multiple flow paths for exhaust gases and cooling water through the muffler, namely, a central straight through path for engine idle condition, a first pair of undulating paths in side by side out of phase relation, and a second pair of undulating paths in side by side out of phase relation which are oriented in the cylindrical shell 90° away from the first pair.

Abstract: The drag force experienced by a two-dimensional baffle wall at different locations in a forced hydraulic jump has been measured. Both the average and fluctuating components of this force have been obtained using a drag frame with strain gages as the transducing element. A force coefficient using the free jump sequent depth pressure force has been used to correlate the drag force with the relevant parameters. The drag fluctuations have been analyzed using the root-mean-square value of the fluctuations as they are found to follow a normal distribution. A unified plot for the average drag force coefficient has been obtained using the data collected and some data available in literature. Results obtained have been compared with similar results available for three-dimensional baffle blocks.

Abstract: A rotary liquid metal atomizer is positioned to receive a stream of molten metal on the top thereof The atomizer is formed as a hollow disc means having a concave top surface and mounted for rotation at high R P M's on the top of a hollow drive shaft A circular coolant baffle is located in the hollow disc means, for cooling fluid to flow around, and is mounted on the top of an inlet cooling tube located within the drive shaft Cooling fluid is directed through the inlet cooling tube to the top of the water baffle where it flows through a hole in the center thereof and around the space between the baffle and the interior of the hollow disc means and down between the inlet cooling tube and drive shaft The top of the disc means over the coolant baffle is formed of copper A metal rim is placed around the upper outer periphery of the copper disc forming a recessed center portion A ceramic coating is placed in the recessed portion with its outer edge against the inside of the rim The metal rim acts to hold the coating against centrifugal force and to provide a material for the liquid metal to melt and form a fusion weld therewith to firmly attach a controlled solidified metal skull to the atomizer

Abstract: A water separator consisting of a baffle and scupper is inserted inside the outlet header of a regenerative heat exchanger for removing water from the air discharged therefrom. The cooled air which contains water droplets leaving the core of the heat exchanger is passed through a baffle constructed to provide a gradual restriction in area in order to increase flow velocity. Heavy droplets of water are separated by the sudden change in airflow direction through the baffle and header. The flow including the heavier centrifuged water droplets then impinge on the inside surface of the header to which the accumulated particles of water adhere and are accelerated by the airflow and the contour of the header toward a scupper located downstream of the baffle opening. The water is collected in the scupper cavity, collected in a drain well, and drained with the assistance of gravity and the resulting pressure differential across the drain port. The scupper contains holes or louvered slots whereby some air used to carry the water along the header inner surface may pass therethrough to combine with the remaining airflow in the duct through which the dried air is removed from the system.

Abstract: A device for floating on a body of water such as a lake or a pond and which draws up water and aerates it and then dumps the aerated water back on the body of water. More specifically, the device includes an impeller for pumping the water upwardly against a rotatable beater which in turn sucks in air and mixes the water and air thoroughly, forces it against a deflecting baffle and the baffle in turn then directs the mixture downwardly onto the body of water. The beater includes a generally horizontally disposed plate having paddles at its underside and having air scoops on its upper side and which functions to thoroughly aerate the water and direct it against the baffle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a specific leaking tube or tubes and for detecting the position of a defect within a tube in a liquid metal-to-water tube type heat exchanger, generally used in a sodium cooled nuclear reactor. Subsequent to draining of the heat exchanger a solid reaction product of the liquid metal and water forms at a leak location. Introducing an inert gas to the exterior of the tubes, creating a pressure differential across the tube wherein the interior pressure is less than the exterior pressure, and heating the tube, provide dissociation and isolation of the reaction product, which, when analyzed for chemical content, indicates which tube or tubes is defective. A heat probe apparatus which traverses the interior of the tubes may be used in the heating step, which, as a result of the speed of the dissociation process at high temperatures provides a means for detecting the specific leak location within the tube. A heat apparatus which traverses the exterior of bayonet type tubes may be used in another embodiment.

Abstract: A heat storing fireplace including a fire-box surrounded by a heat storage medium which is either an enclosure containing a material having a high specific heat such as sand or gravel or a large number of heat conducting bags containing a high specific heat material. Exhaust gases are conveyed from the fire-box to an exhaust outlet by several conduits extending through the heat storage medium in a circuitous path in order to transfer heat from the exhaust gases to the heat storage medium. Heat is further distributed through the storage material by a heat conducting lattice fastened to the conduits and extending through the storage medium in a circuitous path. Combustion air enters the bottom of the fire box through a combustion air inlet jacket surrounding the exhaust outlet in order to simultaneously pre-warm the combustion air while thermally insulating the exhaust outlet from its support structure. A draft is created through the fire-box by an exhaust fan mounted in the exhaust outlet. Although the heat storage medium is primarily heated by burning fuel in the fire-box, it may also be heated by either an electric grill or solar heat exchanger embedded in the heat storage medium. The upper portion of the storage medium is covered by a ventilating plenum which allows heat to escape from the enclosure. The plenum has a pair of ventilated sidewalls separated from each other by a baffle. A fan, which may be thermostatically controlled, is positioned in an opening in the baffle in order to selectively produce air flow through the plenum. Heat in the storage medium may also be utilized by placing a hot water heating heat exchanger in the storage medium.