Other

Fafco Incorporated

Robert L Bowen

Manuel C Turchan

Galen M Bowen

An improved thermosiphon solar heater is disclosed. The thermosiphon solar heater includes a substantially planar collector including a plurality of heat exchanger channels that are positioned next to one another in a parallel relationship. The thermosiphoning solar heater also includes a pair of headers fluidly coupled to the collector. A first header is disposed at a top end of the collector. A second header is disposed at a bottom end of the collector. The thermosiphoning solar heater further includes one or more exposed storage tanks fluidly coupled to the header and positioned in a side by side relationship next to the collector.

Thermosiphoning system with side mounted storage tanks

Articles, such as plastic parts, having the appearance of a naturally-occurring material such as wood or leather are formed by the techniques of (1) providing a plurality of grooves in a surface of the article, (2) applying a surfactant to the surface of the article, and (3) applying one or more color solutions to the surface of the article. The article may be a solid substrate, a part or a film. A topcoat is preferably applied to the surface of the article. The techniques include controlling movement of an applicator implement for applying the surfactant and color solutions to the surface of the substrate, and controlling movement of a saturator tool for modifying and synthesizing the surfactant and color solutions on the surface of the part and permeating the surfactant and color solutions into the plurality of grooves.

Techniques for coating articles to have the appearance of wood, leather

A track having spaced, parallel edges, including a plurality of adjacent curves facing in different directions and connections between the curves, around which a frame carrying an object, such as simulating a racing car, a greyhound, a horse, a camel or the like, is moved by gravity when the track is tipped. An inner panel has an outer contour providing the inner edge of the track, while an outer panel has an inner contour providing the outer edge of the track. The frame on which the object is mounted carries a pair of wheels engaging both the bottom and the top of the track at each side. The frame also carries a pair of circular, rotatable ball bearings mounted for rotation in the plane of the track panels and engageable alternatively with the opposed edges of the track for guiding the object around the track. The spacing between the track edges is slightly greater than the diameter of the ball bearings, to provide clearance. A lower panel supports the track panels and, in turn, has a centrally depending, circular block which is engageable with a flat top surface of a support pedestal. The support pedestal and circular block each have a central socket with a coil spring extending between the sockets to resiliently support the track but permit pivoting of the track to different successive tipped positions on the pedestal, to cause the object to move around the track by gravity.

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Hillsdale, MI, United States of America

Robert L Bowen