Abstract: This invention relates to the arrangement of a switching network intended to be used within an electrical utility station switchyard, which improves the security of power delivery to various loads while at the same time allowing a reduction in the number of required circuit breakers and related gear. The invention is a switching network comprising six conducting branches, each branch containing at least one switching means such as a circuit breaker. The branches are connected at their ends so as to form four 3-sided rings, each branch forming a side of and being shared by two of the rings. As a result, four triple-connected nodes are formed at the end connection points of the branches while the connections between adjacent pairs of switching means within a branch form double-connected nodes. These nodes serve as points for connection thereto of source/load elements, and each node is isolatable from the other nodes by the operation of a maximum of three of switching means.

Abstract: A conventional forced air furnace is provided with a source of outside air for use in combustion. The amount of outside air admitted to the furnace and the amount of heated air lost through the chimney are regulated by simultaneously operable dampers synchronized with the operation of the furnace. Alternate power circuits and an alarm system for the dampers are provided.

Abstract: A cardboard box, made from a single cardboard blank, has a slanting upper surface to enable the contents of the box to be clearly seen. Opposed interlocking points are formed along the slanting side edge. When one such box is inverted and stacked on another, the interlocking points come into abutment and keep the boxes from sliding apart. As a result, boxes with truncated triangular cross-section may be stacked and shipped as if they were rectangular in all dimensions.

Abstract: A non-blocking switching network which has considerably fewer crosspoint switches than would otherwise be expected. The network is comprised of a primary stage having n inputs and m outputs, a plurality of secondary stages each having m inputs and p.sub.1, p.sub.2, . . . p.sub.p outputs, output m.sub.x being connected via switching crosspoints to all of the outputs p.sub.x, p.sub.(x+1) and p.sub.(x+3), where x is an integral number of the m.sup.th output from 1 to m/2, output m.sub.y being dedicated and connected via switching crosspoints to all of the outputs of the y.sup.th secondary stage, where y=an integral number from m/2+1 to m.

Abstract: An elastic surface wave transformer comprises a receiver transducer and an emitter transducers on a substrate capable of transmitting elastic surface waves. The transformer comprises a single track and the emitter transducers are arranged behind one another at a distance equal to the path traversed by a sample during a sampling period. The electrodes of the transducers are designed to transmit in phase or in phase opposition the samples that are applied externally thereto, so as to obtain the coefficients of the Hadamard transform.The transformer can be used in particular for transmitting images.

Abstract: A web guide system to accurately control the lateral alignment of a continuous moving web of material is provided which is efficient and easy to manufacture. A guide roll over which a moving web of material passes in a 90.degree. wrap extends between two pivot arms. The first arm extends downward from a drive motor and is adapted to pivot in a vertical plane about a pivot point on the drive motor. The second arm is adapted to pivot in a vertical plane about a second pivot point offset 90.degree. from the first pivot point in a counterclockwise direction along a quarter circle arc. Movement of the first pivot by the drive motor will cause the guide roll to pivot at an angle from its normal position and shift the lateral position of the moving web of material passing over it. A scanner assembly extends between the pivot arms in close proximity to the guide roll to detect lateral misalignment of the moving web of material.

Abstract: An optical switching device for use with optical fibers. The fibers are positioned on input and output sides of the switch, with each fiber terminated by a lens for collimating incident light emitted from an input optical fiber. At least one transparent dielectric plate, with a uniform refractive index, is disposed between lenses associated with the input and output sides of the switch. The transparent plate changes the optical transmission path of the collimated light beam when present in a light transmission path. When the transparent dielectric plate is driven into the light transmission path, the optical axis is switched from one to a different output optical fiber.

Abstract: A spring compressing tool is provided to efficiently compress a coil spring on the suspension system of an automobile. An elongated threaded rod includes a head disposed on one end adapted to be engaged by a common wrench or similar tool whereby the rod may be rotated. A plate having a central aperture to receive the threaded rod and to hold it in position while the spring is compressed is adapted to be removably mounted on the spring tower of the suspension system. A hook assembly to engage the coil spring is designed to receive the threaded rod and travel on the rod as the rod is rotated, thereby compressing the coil spring.

Abstract: A central heating furnace has an outer casing, a tube system containing the heat carrying medium and a burner, e.g. an oil-burner, to heat this medium. The tube system is placed along the major part of the inner surfaces of the casing. The burner is so placed, in connection with the furnace, that in operation its flame will be directed vertically downwards and is thereby surrounded by a tube spiral communicating with the tube system containing the heat carrying medium.

Abstract: A key telephone system includes among other things a central switching network comprises of a main switch matrix including main talking paths and trunk paths, an auxiliary switch matrix including auxiliary talking paths and a coupling matrix between the main and auxiliary switch matrices and in which system each of the telephone station sets can talk through a plurality of talking paths, concurrently, and is capable of talking back hand-free.

Abstract: A telephone transmitter amplifier circuit is easy to manufacture in integrated circuit form and has a low power consumption. It has a microphone unit, and an operational amplifier including a differential amplifer. A grounded collector transistor is connected to the output of the differential amplifier and a constant-current circuit is connected to the emitter of that transistor. An output stage amplifier has a grounded emitter transistor having its base connected directly to the output terminal of the operational amplifier. A smoothing circuit smooths the voltage which is supplied from the telephone line to the amplifier. A voltage-divider circuit, at the output of the smoothing circuit, presets the operating points of the operational amplifier and the output stage amplifier. The output terminals of the output stage amplifier are connected in common to input terminals of the smoothing circuit.

Abstract: A box is designed in a size and shape which is convenient for holding any suitable equipment, such as camping and picnicking equipment and including such things as a tent and perhaps some simple cooking implements. The box has six panels which fit together in one manner to form a box and in another manner to form a table, which might be a picnic table, a bench and two spools, for example. When the panels are assembled in yet another manner, they form a compact luggage-type unit for easy carrying. A feature of the invention is that all parts are reusable and that the various configurations fit into preexisting geometrical constraints such as the trunks of cars, and the like.

Abstract: An outer mailing jacket is made from a folded sheet of suitable material, such as corrugated cardboard. The jacket has corner panels for centrally positioning a product enclosed therein. The mailing jacket is especially designed for receiving and supporting phonograph records, without danger that a staple used to close the jacket might damage the record.

Abstract: A meat pickling method whereby meat pieces are placed in a container with brine, the container is pressurized with nitrogen gas and rotated. Subsequently, a vacuum is applied to the interior of the container and then the container is swept with nitrogen gas. Atmospheric pressure is then established in the container, the rotation stopped and the meat removed.

Abstract: A graphics table comprises a non-conductive plate supporting two crossing layers of wires and a pen for writing on a sheet disposed on the plate. The wires are successively scanned by an electric current which creates a field to be detected by the pen. The electric current has a high frequency, for example of the order of ten megahertz, and the wires are switched at a frequency of for example one hundred kilohertz. The pen is followed by a selective amplifier of ten megahertz, by a filter, by a detector, and by a circuit for determining the time when the picked up signal passes through a peak. The invention is notably useful in a telewriting system.

Abstract: The surface elastic wave device is an integral part of an analog-digital converter with intermediate frequency conversion. It is comprised of the acoustical part of a 4-pole surface elastic wave oscillator, a surface elastic wave reflector with track shifting working as a filter assembly and comprising one supply track and several return tracks having different angular frequencies, the reflector operating as a plurality of filters, and output transducers overlapping the return tracks and connected to detectors producing the digital information. Many types of reflectors and output transducer assemblies are described. The invention is useful with analog-digital converters having medium access times.

Abstract: An elongated preferably plastic handle has a sleeve lock on the tip end. When a twisted wire brush is placed in the handle, there is a guy wire effect from the sleeve which holds the brush firmly in place, as the sleeve stretches slightly over a bent end of the twisted wire of the brush. The inventive handle also holds the end of a wooden toothpick, which may be broken without leaving any exposed jagged fibers which could form splinters.

Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises essentially magnetoresistive elements formed on a diaphragm serving as a stress magnifier. The diaphragm may be made, for example, of glass in a thickness of 0.5 millimeter, and the magnetoresistive elements can be formed thereon in any desired pattern of thin stripes by ordinary thin-film techniques. Such sensor elements can be mass produced, e.g., by vapor deposition and etching on a large sheet of diaphragm material and cutting into chips of desired shape and size.

Abstract: This invention relates to a skicase for transportation on the top or roof carrier of an automobile and comprises two separate parts, a top part and a bottom part, both with side walls and end walls. The top part surrounds with a rim overlapping and tightly fitted against the upper edge of the walls of the bottom part and has a front end with a nose for selflockingly engagement with the corresponding end of the bottom part, whereas the back end is provided with a lock for securing the two parts to each other. There is alos provided fastening means for securing the bottom part to the top carrier.

Abstract: In a co-pending parent application, a plant watering system comprises a porous inner pot positioned at an elevated location within a water-impervious outer container. Water within the outer container wicks by capillary action up the side walls of the porous pot and wets any soil or like growing medium contained within the inner pot. The lower part of the inner pot is coated with a water-impervious layer to control the elevation at which the wicking water may enter the soil. Also, a special pot liner enables gases to be bi-directionally vented throughout a selected region in the bottom of the inner pot. When desired, water may be drained out the bottom of the inner pot. The inventive process adjusts the percentage of moisture maintained by soil, or the like, by rating the moisture needs of plant species, the season of the year, and the type of growing medium used.