Abstract: An apparatus has a tank with a vertical carousel holding blocks of cheese. The carousel moves in a closed path which submerges and flips over the blocks of cheese in a chilled brine solution contained in the tank. The movement of the carrousel ensures that the cheese is cooled uniformly without deformation. While the cheese block are held in the carrousel a fluid circulation system forces chilled brine through the tank.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit controls a doubling acting cylinder of a vehicle suspension to provide load leveling and shock absorption functions. A set of solenoid valves control the application of pressurized hydraulic fluid from a supply line to the cylinder and from the cylinder to a tank return line to raise and lower the vehicle for load leveling. The chambers of the cylinder are interconnected by a parallel arrangement of a check valve, orifice and a relief valve. Another parallel arrangement of a check valve, orifice and a relief valve couples the cylinder to an accumulator. These parallel arranged components enable the doubling acting cylinder to function as a passive shock absorber. A lock-out valve is provided in the preferred embodiment a to defeat the shock absorber operation and provide a very stiff suspension.

Abstract: Interactive access to a machine from a personal computer at a remote location is provided by connecting the machine and the computer to a communication network by modems which have digital data and analog audio input/output circuits. A point-to-point communication link is established between the machine and the remote location. Data and video are transmitted over the communication link using software that is configured to use a TCPIP network protocol. Voice transmission is handled by the audio circuits in the modems. The creation of a TCPIP network on the point-to-point communication link enables simultaneous access to the link by a plurality of programs and devices that separately handle the exchange of data, voice and video images over a shared communication medium.

Abstract: An object detection system has an emitter that produces a light beam for reflection by objects to be detected. At least three photodetectors are aimed to receive reflected light from an object and produce separate signals indicating the amount of light received. The photodetectors are aimed so that the signal from one of the photodetectors will be greater than the combined signals from the other two photodetectors when an object is within a given distance from the emitter. The combined signals from those other two photodetectors exceed the signal from the one photodetector when light is reflected by an object that is beyond the given distance from the emitter. By combining all the photodetector signals, an indication can be produced when a object is within the given distance. This has application to detect objects moving along an assembly line, without detecting objects moving in the factory on the remote side of the assembly line from the object detection system.

Abstract: An apparatus has a brine tank that is subdivided into cooling cells each having a vertical carousel for submerging blocks of cheese. The cheese blocks are carried through an inlet flume by a flow of brine and then sequentially diverted into the cooling cells where the cheese blocks are loaded into the respective vertical carousel. After the cheese has cooled sufficiently, the brine flow carries the blocks of cheese out of the respective cooling cell. Movement of the cheese blocks and the carousels is controlled automatically, without human intervention. A unique fluid circulation system transfers chilled brine through the tank from a cooling cell containing the coldest cheese to cooling cells with successively warmer cheese blocks.

Abstract: The manufacture of a plastic material, particularly provided with fibers, is frequently carried out in an extruder (10). Various problems have arisen in this connection. For example, problems arise in working long or endless reinforcement fibers, for example rovings (27), into the plastic. On the one hand, the fibers are so badly broken up that they have only very small lengths. On the other hand, it has proved difficult to impregnate the fibers sufficiently. According to the invention, in order to feed in fibers, the plastic is moved in batches past a pre-plastifying worm (11). This is achieved by a secondary worm (18) located next to the pre-plastifying worm (11).

Abstract: A radiation detector emits a signal containing pulses produced by each radiation event being detected. The pulses tend to decay and may overlap the pulse from a subsequent radiation. In order to prevent such pulse overlap a circuit is provided to clip the signal pulses. The circuit incorporates an analog delay line which produces a delayed, inverted and attenuated reflection of the original detector signal. The reflection signal is combined with the original detector signal to cancel remnants of each pulse lasting longer than the predefined delay period.

Abstract: An indicator unit is provided to display information to occupants in a motor vehicle. The indicator unit is adapted for connection to a communication network and intercepts messages that carry data between other vehicle equipment. A control circuit is programmed to identify the existing network messages that carry the data needed for the information display. The control circuit operates a display device in response to received data. Because the indicator eavesdrops on the network and intercepts existing data messages, other equipment in the motor vehicle do not have to be programmed to communicate specifically with the indicator. This facilitates adding specific indicators to a particular truck.

Abstract: Electrical equipment is safeguarded from damage due to faults by a circuit that provides several levels of protection. A semiconductor switch and a current sensor are placed in series with the electrical equipment. When the current to the equipment exceeds a first threshold for a predefined period of time, the semiconductor switch is rendered non-conductive until the circuit is specifically reset. When the current to the equipment exceeds a greater second threshold, a pulsed signal alternately places the semiconductor switch in conductive and non-conductive states so that the average current applied to the equipment is within an acceptable level. Should the current exceed an even greater third threshold, the semiconductor switch is immediately rendered non-conductive until the circuit is manually reset.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve assembly includes a pilot operated proportional poppet valve in which the main poppet moves in response to pressure in a first control chamber. The pressure in a first control chamber is governed by a pilot poppet and movement of the main poppet controls fluid flow between a first inlet and a first outlet. A shadow poppet valve has a shadow poppet that controls fluid flow between a second inlet and a second outlet in response to pressure in a second control chamber. The first and second control chamber are connected together whereby the pilot operated proportional poppet valve and the shadow poppet valve open and close together. A unique hydraulic system utilizing a plurality of these hydraulic valve assemblies to operate two operators alternately in parallel or in series is described.

Abstract: A pilot operated valve is provided to control a bidirectional flow of fluid between two ports. A main poppet selectively controls flow of fluid between the ports in response to pressure in a control chamber on one side of the main poppet. A pilot passage in the main poppet extends between the second port and the control chamber A first pair of check valves allow fluid to flow only into the pilot passage from the two ports. A second pair of check valves allow fluid to flow only into the control chamber from the two ports.

Abstract: An assembly of valves controls hydraulic fluid flowing to several hydraulic actuators from a variable displacement pump that produces an output pressure equal to a control input pressure plus a predefined margin pressure. The control input pressure is a function of the greatest load pressure at the hydraulic actuators. Each valve has an associated pressure compensating valve which regulates the pressure differential across a metering orifice of each valve to a predefined level, usually the pump's margin pressure. A flow regulator is associated with at least one of the valves and reduces the output pressure from the pump to produce a reduced pressure that controls the associated pressure compensating valve. Operation of the flow regulator causes the pressure differential across a metering orifice of the associated valve to be less than the pump's margin pressure thus allowing adjustment of the fluid flow.

Abstract: An internal organ of a person is artificially contracted by a band implanted around the organ. The band has two ends which are coupled together by an electromagnetic actuator. When an electric current is applied to the electromagnetic actuator, the ends of the band are drawn together thereby tightening the band and contracting the organ.

Abstract: The flow air from a hot air duct and a cold air duct into a zone of a building is controlled in based upon performing a thermal energy balance calculation for the zone. That calculation produces a heat transfer setpoint from which a hot air flow setpoint and a cold air flow setpoint are derived. The hot and cold air flow setpoints respectively control the flow of air through the hot and cold air ducts.

Abstract: A carrier changing apparatus in a mobile telecommunication system for generating a dummy frequency assignment signal for repeating a frequency conversion or providing a hard hand off based on a traffic signal is provided. In the carrier changing apparatus, a transmitting carrier changer transmits an input forward traffic signal having traffic and overhead information and generates a forward dummy frequency assignment signal based on the forward traffic signal. A receiving carrier changer receives and outputs a reverse traffic signal having traffic and overhead information from a mobile station and generates a delayed reverse traffic signal based on a reverse dummy frequency assignment signal from the mobile station.

Abstract: An in-line axial piston hydraulic pump has a cylinder block with a plurality of bores in which separate pistons slide. The cylinder block is supported on one side by a bearing and axle arrangement. The other side of the cylinder block has an integral shaft with a ball that is received in a spherically concave socket coupled to the housing. The socket provides a drive surface that is non-orthogonal to the rotational axis of the cylinder block and the pistons ride against that surface. The engagement of the pistons with that socket surface produces the sliding movement of the pistons within the bores and thus the pumping action.

Abstract: A system for dispensing carbonated beverage into an open container precisely controls the temperature of the carbonated beverages using an in-line zero&Dgr;T chiller. The chiller preferably includes a flooded freon-bath heat exchanger in which an output temperature of the carbonated beverage from the heat exchanger matches the temperature of freon within the heat exchanger under normal operating conditions. A pressure sensor measures the pressure of freon in the heat exchanger and a freon valve in the refrigeration circuit is electronically controlled in order to adjust the pressure of the freon and consequently the temperature of the freon in the heat exchanger. The optimum temperature for the carbonated beverage is selected either by choice, or in the case of carbonated beverages on ice to approximately the surface temperature of the ice in order to reduce foaming.

Abstract: The position of the blade of a motor grader is controlled to maintain a smoothly graded surface even when the grader's front wheels travel over undulating ungraded ground. This is accomplished by sensing the degree to which the grader frame pivots with respect to the rear wheels and employing the pivot angle to derive the resultant change in blade position. That change is used to operate a mechanism that produces movement of the blade relative to the earth thereby compensating for effects of the pivoting action.

Abstract: A method for controlling non-synchronous actuators using a first and second estimate of the position of the actuator to create a variable position estimate window between which the actual position of the actuator is always bound. The first and second estimates of position are calculated based on the maximum and minimum speeds at which the actuator could be moving in each of first and second directions, and further wherein motion of the actuator in a saturated direction is disabled for as long as the first and second estimates converge at one of two final positions.

Abstract: Ends of several electrical wires are joined by a connector to a predefined torque level. The connector includes a hollow body having an open end, a smaller closed end and an outer surface extending between the two ends. The outer surface has a portion with an equilateral polygonal cross-section for engagement by a tool to effect rotation of the body. The portion of the body is specifically designed with elements, such as the corners of the polygon, which become rounded when the tool applies torque that exceeds the predefined torque level. Such deformation of the body thereby prevents excessive torque from damaging the electrical wires. Another portion of the body is provided to enable another tool to engage the connector for removal from the wires.