Abstract: A set of tubes, having inlets and outlets, is placed on the downstream side of a modulating flow regulator or valve, or plug, or other member in a gas flow line. The inlets collect all of the gas flow from the gas flow line into the tubes. The tubes bend gently and redirect the gas flow so that turbulence is significantly reduced in the tubes and the resulting flow is generally laminar. The tubes are grouped as a bundle downstream and positioned such that the tubes are generally parallel to each other in the proximity of the outlets so that downstream flow is significantly less noisy and turbulent, resulting in a generally laminar gas flow.

Abstract: A selectively lockable button structure allows for simple and easy mechanical button deactivation and reactivation. The button structure is especially adapted for interface panels of various types of electrical equipment wherein there may be a need for button lockout once the equipment is installed. The button structure includes a button and button retention/housing portion. The button has a head and body with the body terminating in radially outwardly extending flanges that allows easy button installation into the button retention portion of the interface panel but inhibits button removal therefrom. The button retention portion includes angled, diametrically opposed shelves, each shelf of which has a pair of positive lock interference tabs. The button head and the shelves/tabs co-act such that in one rotational position the button is depressible (unlocked) while in another rotational position, the button is not depressible (locked).

Abstract: An upper and lower contact especially for a double-deck or dual in-line module, each includes a solder tail that is coupled to the main body of the contact by a compliant portion. The compliant portion is thus intermediate the main body and the solder portion of the solder tail. The compliant portion isolates and absorbs stresses induced on the module housing through card insertion such that the solder joint does not receive the stress. Additionally, the provision of a compliant portion absorbs non-linearities created by circuit board warpage on which the module is attached. The compliant portion may take the form of a modified spring, a U-shaped section, a radiused section, or other form.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting a device in a control panel. The assembly includes a flanged housing and a collar. The collar has a forwardly and inwardly open recess which receives the flange of the housing to allow flush rear mounting of the assembly on a control panel and attachment means for such mounting. The collar also has a restraint mechanism, such as a ratchet, which allows forward movement of the collar on the housing for through mounting of the device on a control panel but prevents rearward movement of the collar on the housing to thereby squeeze the control panel firmly between the flange and the collar. The restraint preferably includes a set of transversally spaced ratchet arms of varying lengths to allow fine adjustment of the collar position on the housing for flush rear mounting and for firmer through mounting.

Abstract: A heated instrument regulator tip is shown for use in retrieving samples from the interior of a natural gas or similar pipeline. A well is disposed within the tip and adapted to receive an electrical heater. The heater supplements thermal fins on the tip to transfer thermal energy to the gas sample inside the tip. The thermal energy counteracts the Joule-Thompson cooling of the gas due to the rapid pressure drop, thus preventing freeze up or condensation within the regulator tip.

Abstract: A one-piece, seamless food service base is insert molded from a heat and impact resistant plastic. The base is shaped to receive a standard serving plate and includes an integrally molded core. The core is made from a metal or other material that is susceptible to heating through induction heating. In one form, the core is a solid metal disk with strategically disposed bores for molding the base. In another from, the core is a hollow metal disk having a standard wax phase change core. Insulation may also be added above and/or below the core to improve heat transfer and to keep the bottom of the unit cool. In another form, the core is made of graphite and may even be mixed with ceramic to form a composite which may be used for the entire base, alleviating the need for insert molding a separate core and base.

Abstract: A heated dental knife for trimming thermoplastic dental trays which has a heat sink temperature stabilizer and heating element designed to maintain a pre-selected blade temperature without adjustments under normal use in cutting such dental trays.

Abstract: Various methods are described for assembling and/or coupling heater sections together for assemblage of heaters. The heater sections may be hot or cold heater sections having various geometries, dimensions, and specific electrical resistances. In one method, a cold heater section is assembled onto a pre-fabricated hot heater section with an oversized tube and pre-fabricated insulating cores. In another method, a pre-fabricated cold section is spliced onto a pre-fabricated hot section utilizing pre-fabricated semi-annular insulating cores and an oversized sleeve. In a further method, a first pre-fabricated hot section is spliced onto a second pre-fabricated hot section via an electrically conductive core and an oversized sleeve. These methods allow for the manufacture of stock lengths of hot and cold heater sections, that are then cut to length and coupled together. According to one aspect, the methods reduce tolerance errors in heater length.

Abstract: An accumulating conveyor is divided into a plurality of accumulating zones from an infeed end to a discharge end. An accumulation module is associated with each accumulating zone and includes a photo electric sensor, a microprocessor, and input/output connections. Each module is coupled to an actuator that controls the driving of the associated accumulating zone, either engagement or disengagement of the driving force to either move or stop the product thereon. The sensor detects the presence or absence of a product within its zone and communicates the same to the microprocessor. The modules may be set in a singulation mode or a slug mode, the mode determining the throughput of the product within the zone depending on the presence or absence of a product on the upstream and downstream accumulating zone.

Abstract: A tool box with integrated electrical outlets and AM/FM radio. A radio is mounted on the interior of a tool box with the speakers mounted flush on the front face of the exterior. Additionally, a plurality of power outlets are located on the exterior. The radio and the power outlets are electrically coupled to an input socket for supplying power thereto. The radio and the speakers are adapted for use in harsh working conditions such as dust and rain. To that cause, the speakers should be made of a water or moisture resistant material, and a gasket may be disposed underneath the control knobs of the radio. A grill may also be mounted over the speakers to provide additional protection. The electrical system is protected by a GFI circuit breaker.

Abstract: A compact thermoelectric refrigeration drive assembly comprises at least one thermoelectric heat transfer device (Peltier Effect device) whose active surfaces are in contact with a respective one of a collector member and a transfer member. When operating, a dc current is applied to the heat transfer device to transfer heat from the collector member to the transfer member. This results in the collector member, which is intended to be located in an insulated chamber, being cooled and the transfer member, which is spaced away from the collector member, being heated. Waste heat is removed from the transfer member via a closed looped fluid cooling system, the transfer member forming at least a portion of one side of a vessel for the cooling fluid and thereby transferring heat to the fluid. The construction and design of the assembly advantageously results in a compact refrigerator drive assembly which can be employed in a variety of environments.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-contact gauging in precision machining, which comprises a sensor arm, a sensor head, a display device, a data entry device, a rotary encoder, and positioning device. The sensor head has a coarse contact sensor and a fine non-contact sensor for initial positioning and precision control, respectively.

Abstract: An electrical plug has a multiplicity of contact terminals disposed on a wafer that is received within a housing. The wafer or substratum is grooved or channeled between each contact terminal. In this manner, the contacting surface of each terminal is essentially raised from the surface of the substratum. Generally, the groove takes the form of a modified V shape, however, other groove configurations may be utilized. By lowering the substratum surface during formation of the wafer, the contact surface of each terminal becomes elevated from the substratum surface, while remaining at the same height relative to each other. Any misregistration or misalignment of the terminals of the receptacle caused by tilting, twisting or otherwise that would cause an open circuit or poor contact is alleviated by the channel. The misaligned receptacle terminal is allowed to tilt and be received into the channel rather than contacting the substratum surface to be held away from contact.

Abstract: An interface for graphically programming a ramping controller coupled to and controlling an electric heater is implemented with a microcomputer. The interface presents to the user via a display device, a cartesian coordinate graph of temperature versus time onto which is plotted a desired temperature versus time (tvt) profile via an input device. The microcomputer translates the plotted tvt profile into controller logic to create a controller logic data file that is then uploaded into the ramping controller. The controller logic data file may be stored in memory. In addition to temperature, other functions or events may be plotted on the graph which are also translated into controller logic and uploaded to the ramping controller. Other features include data logging of heater parameters that may displayed in real time. The present invention eliminates cumbersome front panel entry of the data into the controller.

Abstract: A hybrid power switching device for eliminating mechanical relay arcing. The device reduces mechanical relay contact damage due to arcing and substantially reduces power dissipation by placing a solid state relay in parallel with a mechanical relay. The solid state relay is preferably a semiconductor triac optically coupled to a light emitting diode. The device takes advantage of the inherent lag time (operating time) when a mechanical relay contact switch closes. The device uses only analog components and controls the triac by means of a Schmitt trigger pulse stretcher. The advantages to the present Schmitt trigger include discrete turn off and a narrow hysteresis. A low level control voltage signal operates the mechanical relay and the Schmitt trigger, or optionally a high level control voltage signal in conjunction with a signal inverter.

Abstract: A self-erasing writing system includes a writing surface structure, a writing instrument, and an erasing structure. The writing surface is preferably a laminate structure having a layer of a thermochromic material. The thermochromic material is of one color when within a certain temperature range (e.g. room temperature), but changes to a second color when the material is brought into a second temperature range (e.g. a lower temperature). The writing instrument is a temperature controlled cooled tip device that lowers the thermochromic material to within the second temperature range at the point of contact such that the points of contact become the second color. The thermochromic material has a "memory" that retains the second color until the temperature is raised to within a third temperature range at which time the thermochromic material changes back to its first color.

Abstract: A compact thermoelectric refrigeration drive assembly comprises at least one thermoelectric heat transfer device (Peltier Effect device) whose active surfaces are in contact with a respective one of a collector member and a transfer member. When operating, a dc current is applied to the heat transfer device to transfer heat from the collector member to the transfer member. This results in the collector member, which is intended to be located in an insulated chamber, being cooled and the transfer member, which is spaced away from the collector member, being heated. Waste heat is removed from the transfer member via a closed looped fluid cooling system, the transfer member forming at least a portion of one side of a vessel for the cooling fluid and thereby transferring heat to the fluid. The construction and design of the assembly advantageously results in a compact refrigerator drive assembly which can be employed in a variety of environments.

Abstract: A combination hearth seat and child protector includes a rigid internal frame consisting of a top and front piece having a first layer of stiff foam adhered to the upper surfaces of the frame. A fire retardant material covers the foam and surrounds the entire frame. The protector is dimensioned to extend the entire long length of the hearth, while extending 3/4 to 2/3 of the short length of the hearth from the edge opposite the firebox therein. In a second embodiment, the internal frame includes side pieces. A second layer of foam surrounds the first layer of foam and also extends about the underside of the end pieces. The fabric is then placed about the second layer of foam. The side pieces have a beveled end that fits over the sides of the hearth. The compression of the second foam layer and the beveled end pieces combine to create a compression or snap-on feature to keep the seat snugly thereon. The second layer of foam may extend about the underside of the front piece as well.