Abstract: A programmable control system for a cooking apparatus having a housing defining a cooking chamber with one or more food transport conveyors traveling there-through between opposing cooking elements. A food probe is provided for insertion into cooked food items to ascertain the internal cooked temperature and a control program to automatically call for the probing of temperature readings of food items on a predefined schedule, and to record the temperature readings. The control program also compensates for temperature degradation when the apparatus is under significant cooking loads. The control program also compensates for the malfunction in the cooking elements, wherein if one cooking element on one side of the conveyor path malfunctions, a corresponding heating element on the opposite side of the conveyor is deactivated and simultaneously the conveyor speed is slowed to compensate for the reduction in heating to maintain balanced cooking of the food.

Abstract: A channel plate adapter 24 is provided for an open-end spinning arrangement 1 having a spinning rotor 3 which turns at a high number of revolutions inside a rotor housing 2 chargable with an underpressure. The channel plate adapter 24 is made of a plastic material, defines the orifice area of a fiber guide conduit and a center through-bore 26 for a yarn withdrawal nozzle 27, and is adapted to be exchangeably arranged in a receiver 22 of a fiber channel plate 10 for closing the rotor housing during a spinning operation. The channel plate adapter (24) has a unitary one-piece clip-on closure (37) at inlet area of the through-bore (26) for centering and fixing the yarn withdrawal nozzle (27) in place.

Abstract: A method of lining a wall face comprises assembling a wall of concrete panels (16) close to the face to be lined, attaching the panels to the face to be lined by ground anchorages (12) pretensioned to provide the required resistance to hydrostatic pressure, the anchorages being grouted into the face at one end, and anchored to the respective panel at the other end, and filling the void between the wall and the face with free-draining material (14). The invention also relates to a system of lining a wall face using concrete panels and ground anchorages. Preferably the panels are cast in molds and have a synthetic low permeability sheet (29) incorporated into one or both sides of the panel during the casting process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for gathering data, representative of food condition information, from a plurality of remote locations and providing the information to a user together with information about the locations from which the information was gathered. The sensors may be grouped into a plurality of zones, and the food information may be presented to the user on the basis of the zone in which the respective sensor is located. A sensor's actual location may be compared to its expected location and the results provided to a user, and an alarm may be generated if the sensor's actual location differes from its expected location.

Abstract: Two-stage systems and methods are provided for gathering food information and communicating the food information to a data collection apparatus. A system includes a remote unit, having a sensor device and a wireless transmitter; a translator or intermediate unit, having a wireless receiver and transmitter; and a central unit. Data is gathered by the remote unit, wirelessly transmitted to the translator unit, and relayed to the central unit. Communication between the translator unit and the central unit may be wireless as well, or the translator unit may be equipped to transmit either wirelessly or via a direct physical connection.

Abstract: A drainage member for use in promoting the drainage of water away from a substrate positioned adjacent the drainage member which includes an elongated, longitudinally extending base formed of a flexible material and having a plurality of outwardly extending projections. The projections are spaced from one another to form drainage channels between the projections. The elongated base has a plurality of expansion zones formed of the flexible material and extending generally transversely of the longitudinal extent thereof, the expansion zones comprising a deformation of the flexible material that absorbs longitudinal expansion of such material when it is exposed to heat without any significant increase in the longitudinal length of the drainage member.

Abstract: A hand rail assembly for assisting the ingress and egress of a recreational vehicle. The hand rail assembly has a banister and a support structure, one end of each pivotally attached to the exterior of a recreational vehicle adjacent to a door, and the other end of each pivotally connected to each other. The hand rail assembly may be retracted to a storage position and extended in an operating position. A release mechanism coupled to the support structure provides for movement of the hand rail assembly between the storage and operating positions. The release mechanism is controlled by a trigger member to allow for one-handed movement of the hand rail assembly between the storage and operating positions while keeping the operator's hand away from pinch points, thus eliminating chances of injury. A LED lighting system integral to the banister provides illumination of the banister and surrounding area for additional safety.

Abstract: A snap-on ball tensioning device for attachment to a right-angled post having a ball tension portion through which a yarn is fed with a post engaging surface. A connecting portion projects integrally from the ball tension portion, and leg portion extends from the connecting portion with a post engaging surface parallel with the ball tension portion post engaging surface for engagement on a leg of the right-angled post. A retaining lip is formed at the outer end of the leg portion post engaging surface and a retaining rib projects from the leg portion at a spacing inwardly from the retaining lip, with the lip and rib serving to properly position and retain the device against lateral movement on the leg of the post.

Abstract: An improved adapter bucket for a mixing apparatus adapted for mixing paints or other fluids can selectively receive either conventional cylindrical containers or non-conventional, non-cylindrical containers therein and restrain either of such container types on the apparatus during mixing operations. The adapter bucket is configured to properly register either of such containers types so that its center of gravity axis is colinearly aligned with the rotation axis of the bucket and the mixing apparatus, regardless of whether the containers' center of gravity axes and central geometric axes are coincident and colinear with each other or laterally offset with respect to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing a metal or metal-alloy product for a casting process—wherein the product is brought into a partly solidified (semi-solidified) state before casting—in which the product contains crystallization nuclei uniformly distributed throughout its volume. The method involves introducing an amount of a chosen alloy (in pulverized form) and an amount of a chosen melt, which is at a temperature above the liquefaction temperature of the alloy, into a crystallization vessel, which is heated to below the liquefaction temperature of the alloy, and mixing the melt and the alloy together in the crystallization vessel by means of electrical and/or magnetic forces to create the desired product.

Abstract: A side plate system for a slip-form paver apparatus includes a side plate in contact with a finishing pan, a vertically extendable and retractable tube assembly between the side plate and the frame of the paver apparatus, a set screw device for setting a batter angle of the side plate by pivoting the tube assembly and a thumbscrew device for maintaining a seal between the side plate and the finishing pan by closing any gap therebetween.

Abstract: An antimicrobial concentrate is manufactured from a carrier, one or more antimicrobial agents and optionally one or more modifiers, the carrier having a modified ethylene polymer and optionally an olefin polymer and a method of producing the concentrate by producing the carrier, having the modified ethylene polymer and optionally the olefin polymer, then compounding the carrier with one or more antimicrobial agents and optionally one or more modifiers, to form the concentrate, which does not exhibit chalking and clumping of antimicrobial agent on the surface thereof. An antimicrobial blend that is manufactured from the antimicrobial concentrate, a resin and optionally an additive and a method of producing the blend by combining the concentrate with the resin.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing interference caused by electromagnetic and other radiated emissions. A system includes an antenna, a spectrum analyzer, a computer and associated software. Configurations are defined for frequency ranges and tests are defined to include one or more configurations. After stationing the system in a desired location, a test may be selected for execution. Because a test may include multiple configurations, each representing a different frequency range or other parameters, multiple frequency ranges may be scanned by the spectrum analyzer without further intervention by a user. A data set is created for each configuration in each test that is executed.

Abstract: A golf practice and exercise system having a practice ball and a target assembly, using either a conventional or practice golf club. The practice ball is any generally spherical shape made of a flexible material and having an internal pressure of approximately atmospheric, for example an uninflated soccer ball. The weight of the practice ball is sufficient to provide muscle development, but is limited to allow the golfer to complete the follow-through of the golf swing. The target assembly has an energy absorbing surface attached to a rigid frame held in place by a frame support structure. Alternatively, the target assembly is a flat surface made of a hard material. The practice golf club has a substantially oversized club head with a peripheral rim defining a large opening through the club head. The club head may be selectively weighted. The grip of the club has alternating annular ridges and recesses.

Abstract: A golf practice and exercise device having a frame with a horizontally projecting arm spaced from a base or from the ground and from which is suspended by a cord an object that may take various forms, such as similar to a standard softball, a teardrop-shaped punching bag, a body punching bag, or any other suitable form. The object is positioned with a clubhead impact surface in position for striking by the clubhead of a golf club being swung by a golfer. The impact surface is sufficiently large that a golfer need not concentrate on striking a small target as is required when swinging at a golf ball. The mass of the object is sufficient to provide substantial resistance to the impact of a golf club to impose muscle strain on the golfer for muscle development, but is limited in mass to allow the head of the golf club to swing the object sufficiently for the golf clubhead to ultimately pass under the object and allow the golfer to complete the follow-through of the golf swing.

Abstract: A yarn sensor (25) for monitoring at least one parameter of a traveling yarn (17), e.g., in spinning and bobbin-winding machines, has a measuring gap (16) and a housing made of a non-conductive plastic material for containing electronic components. The housing surface is covered by a metallic coating such that the electronic components are surrounded by the coating (21). At least a portion of the surface inside the measuring gap (16) is free of the coating (21). The metallic coating is connected with a heat conductor to remove heat via the metallic coating (21). Undesirable effects on the measurement results can be substantially reduced, and the quality of the measurement results can be increased.