Abstract: A signal conditioning circuit including power terminals adapted to be connected to a direct current power source, sensor terminals adapted to receive a direct current signal from at least one electrical sensing device and output terminals adapted to be connected to an electrical resistance. The conditioning circuit includes an inverter connected to the power terminals for generating an output signal of opposite polarity to the signal received at the power terminals. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the output terminals for receiving the inverter output signal and adjusting the magnitude of the signal received at the sensor terminals to a desired level. In a second mode of operation, the circuit includes a second set of sensor terminals and the adjustment mechanism operates to deliver an output signal proportional to the difference between the signals received at both the first and second sensor terminals.

Abstract: A noncontact switch couples power from A and B radio frequency sources to a load and an antenna in three modes. Mode I couples the A source to the antenna and the B source to the load; Mode III is B to antenna and A to load, and Mode II couples both A and B sources to the antenna. The structure includes a first 3dB, 90.degree. coupler coupled to the sources and a second 3db, 90.degree. coupler coupled to the load and the antenna. A third 3dB, 90.degree. coupler is coupled in a first path between the first and second couplers. A pair of reflective terminations coupled to ports of the third coupler are mechanically controllable to one of three phase-shift conditions; 0.degree. for mode I, 90.degree. for mode II and 180.degree. for mode III. A fixed phase shifter couples the first and second 3dB, 90.degree. couplers by a second path. Each reflective phase shifter is a coaxial circuit including the parallel combination of first and second series inductance-capacitance circuits.

Abstract: A transfer system for controlling and initiating the flow of metered amounts of materials which may be radioactive ash, radioactive calcined salts, cement, flour, or pharmaceuticals comprising a vertical non-converging conduit which acts as a storage hopper; a stationary platform located at the downward end of the conduit to allow the radial outward flow of the material; a translatable hollow piston that acts externally but coaxially to the conduit and platform to interrupt the radial flow of material; a hopper located below the platform for accepting the material; and a housing that encloses and supports the hopper and platform and provides a dust tight seal around the apparatus of this invention.

Abstract: A bicycle sprocket drive which utilizes a crank having a number of splines and a sprocket having mating indentations or slots in its face. The splines and the mating radial slots have tapered driving faces. By forming the tapered slots into the front face of the sprocket, as by a stamping process, the removal of material from the sprocket is avoided. The resulting back faces of the sprocket slots, because they are displaced from the remainder of the sprocket, serve to provide the desired alignment of the drive sprocket with the rear or driven sprocket of the bicycle.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a bicycle chain drive which utilizes a crank which is cold formed as a single piece with integral splines for engaging a sprocket wheel when the sprocket wheel is mounted in driving relationship with the crank. A cold forming process which can be used for producing the crank includes several stages of upsetting to form the journals, the splined sprocket flange, and an adjoining collar for aligning the sprocket. After those elements have been formed the pedal receiving ends are formed by another upsetting process after which they are drilled and tapped. Then the arms are bent to form the finished crank which is assembled to the sprocket.

Abstract: A snow plow is provided comprising a steel member having a mold board at its lower end. A snow plow blade extends below the mold board. The snow plow blade comprises a sheet of lightweight material, preferably urethane. This sheet is resistant to corrosion from moisture and salt and to road abrasion. The sheet has a front surface and a back surface, each of which extends from the top of the sheet to the bottom of the sheet to define the thickness of the blade. The thickness is relatively constant. The bottom of the blade is defined by a relatively straight edge for better snow removal. A steel reinforcing bar is mounted in a groove in either the front or the back surface of the sheet. Bolt means mount the steel bar to the sheet and also to the plow.

Abstract: A sign making machine is provided comprising a frame and a power unit attached to the frame. A hydraulic cylinder is also attached to the frame and is hydraulically connected to the power unit. This hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod extending downwardly. A platen is mounted on the bottom of said piston rod and a die is mounted beneath said platen. Sheet material is mounted on rolls and passes beneath said die on a cutting surface on the bottom portion of the frame. The sheet material passes through a track means. Indicia on the die indicate a width quotient of a symbol to be cut. A drive unit advances the sheeting material by a distance equal to the width quotient of the symbol plus the width quotient of the next symbol to be cut plus the spacing between these symbols.

Abstract: A sign making machine is provided comprising a frame and a power unit attached to the frame. A hydraulic cylinder is also attached to the frame and is hydraulically connected to the power unit. This hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod extending downwardly. A platen is mounted on the bottom of said piston rod and a die is mounted beneath said platen. Sheeting material is mounted on rolls and passes beneath said die on a cutting surface on the bottom portion of the frame. The sheeting material passes through a track means. Pin means are provided on the die to mark said sheet material. Markings are provided on the frame so that the markings made by the pin means may be aligned with one of the markings on the frame to provide desired spacing between a symbol cut by said die means and the next symbol to be cut by the die means.

Abstract: An alarm console is provided which selectively generates audio signals in an ordered priority basis when there is a simultaneous request for two or more tone signals. The priority is from voice paging, highest priority; test mode, to test individually selected alarm tones; keyboard tone selection; automatic priority tone in response to a detected condition; automatic non-priority signal tone in response to a detected condition; and a lowest priority signal which typically comprises background music.

Abstract: A submersible mixer with a housing, within which housing sits a motor and gear box or other drive means, attached to said housing is a high-efficiency impeller, said housing being supported by vanes which baffle liquid flow when being mixed, and which when said impeller axis is aligned vertically form the base, and which when said impeller axis is aligned horizontally form two points of a tripod.

Abstract: A microprocessor having input fluid brake control apparatus and output fluid brake application apparatus is provided wherein the output fluid brake application apparatus comprises a digital signal characteristic of a desired fluid braking pressure. The brake application apparatus comprises an improved fluid pressure regulator having a fluid pressure chamber for developing and maintaining a regulated braking fluid pressure. The improved regulator has valves selectively operable to brake application, release, and lap positions for selectively governing regulated fluid pressure in a braking device and in the fluid pressure chamber. A digital linear actuator having an axially operable shaft responsive to the digital signal is provided to actuate the valves alternately to application and release positions, the actuator being secured to a piston subject to pressure in the fluid pressure chamber on one side thereof and subject to pressure of a metering spring on the other side thereof.

Abstract: In various types of systems it is expedient to have a plurality of control consoles, each assigned a relative priority so that they may control the associated equipment in a predetermined hierarchy. The priority wiring requires only a pair of wires from one console to the next. A higher priority console, when activated, disables all lower priority consoles in the hierarchy and an indicator at each disabled console is activated to indicate the disablement. The indicator at the active console is not activated and the indicator at the highest priority console is, of course, never activated. Power to activate the disablement indicators is provided from the higher priority active console.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing particulate material carried in separable containers or process modules rotated with the longitudinal axis thereof at an angle other than 90.degree. to the axis of rotation thereof so that the container rotates asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof. The containers have mixing or process bars rotatably mounted therein and extending also at an angle other than 90.degree. so as to be horizontal when the container is in position for asymmetrical rotation during mixing operations. A docking station of the apparatus has a column connected to the drive shaft at the angle other than 90.degree., an upper arm and a lower arm which is connected to the column and to actuators which tilt the lower arm from a horizontal, container receiving position to a position essentially parallel to the upper arm for clamping the container therebetween.

Abstract: Improved draft tube mixing apparatus having one or more of the following features: (a) controlled circulation at the inlet of the tube which allows operation at reduced submergence by preventing formation of a vortex; (b) an additional passage for controlled flow into the draft tube along its length to allow operation without the tube being entirely submerged; (c) the recovery of dynamic energy from the flow at the outlet of the tube by wide area diffusion without separation from the walls of the tube in the diffusing region thereof; (d) improved guidance of radially directed to axially directed flow at the inlet of the draft tube for efficient axial pumping by the impeller by maintaining generally uniform axial flow velocity radially of the impeller; and (e) separation of coarse and fine particles in suspension in the tank to allow selective draw-off of the coarse and/or fine particles thereby increasing efficiency of mixing.

Abstract: A motor rotated agitator is adapted to be inserted within a container of liquid wherein the agitator has a plurality of curved blades secure at their top edges to a disc adapted to be rotated by a motor. The lower edges of the blades have a circular plate secure thereto, having a central circular opening for input of fluid to inner ends of the blades. A sparge ring is disposed about the periphery of the agitator for ejecting a gas into output of fluid at the periphery of the agitator in an area spaced from the input area of the agitator, which is limited by use of the circular plate.