Abstract: A general purpose handcart having utility as either a snow scoop or a lawn and garden cart includes a trough shaped receptacle having a pair of side walls, a rear wall closing one end of the receptacle and an open end that is provided with a cable controlled, pivotally mounted, shutter for selectively opening and closing frontal access to the receptacle. Attached to the receptacle in a reinforcing relationship, a "U" shaped handle is used for either pushing or pulling the receptacle. A hoop adapted to support a refuse bag is pivotally mounted on the handle adjacent the receptacle. Mounted one on either side of the receptacle, a pair of retractable wheels are positioned forwardly to rollably support the receptacle when used as a cart, or rearwardly at a retracted position to permit using the receptacle as a slidable snow scoop.

Abstract: An adjustable frame for cropping and formatting copy, photographs and design graphics includes a pair of indicia bearing "L" shaped members held in slidably overlying relation by a pair of retaining clips. Each clip comprises a flat base having a pair of upstanding opposite side walls with free ends that turn inwardly to form two upper channels which slidably engage and guide the edges of an arm of one member. A corresponding pair of depending opposite side walls are positioned orthogonally to the upstanding side walls in the plane of the base and form a pair of lower channels that slidably engage and guide the edges of a crossing arm of the other member.

Abstract: Conformance with established standards and interoperability between products in an integrated services digital network (ISDN) system defined by a layered hierarchy of interrelated protocols is ascertained by remotely testing the protocols between a tester in a local testing centre and a system under test located at a geographically removed site. The protocols tested relate to the first three layers of the system which are concerned mainly with the establishment, holding and release of a telecommunications path. Cost effectiveness in product testing is achieved by accessing both the tester and the system under test and communicating test procedures between the local and remote sites over a packet switching network to support testing at the remote site. Communications over a virtual circuit in the network are established between a pair of remote ISDN test access interfaces, one located at each site.

Abstract: A modular microphone assembly housed in a handsfree telephone apparatus provides an environment that is isolated from a loudspeaker installed within the apparatus and through which environment the directional and frequency response characteristics of a directional microphone capsule contained within a closable cavity of a microphone mounting receptacle in the assembly are altered via a predetermined internal surface configuration of the receptacle to improve the performance of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for suppressing intersymbol interference and improving the signal-to-noise ratio in a digital line amplifier includes a filter with a fixed transfer function that couples equalized digital signals to a first differential input of a difference amplifier and substantially filters out high frequency random noise present in the signals to achieve signal-to-noise enhancement with consequent degradation of the signals by intersymbol interference. Subsequently, an output from the amplifier is sampled by a quantizer that produces a bit stream output of portions of the enhanced signals, excluding the intersymbol interference.

Abstract: A set of operating parameters that define the functions of a data unit interfacing a subscriber's terminal to a 2-wire telephone loop and which are stored in a volatile memory of a microcomputer in the data unit may be changed or periodically refreshed from the same parameter set stored in a volatile memory of a microcomputer in a data line card that functions as a datapath interface of a central data and voice communication facility. Bidirectional data transmission on the loop occurs via time compression multiplexing which requires synchronization between the interfaces. Loss of synchronization indicates the likelihood of a power interruption at the data unit and consequent erasure of memory. The presence of synchronization is tested and upon a positive indication the operating parameters are downloaded from the data line card to the data unit.

Abstract: A pouch package system is fabricated from a compliant plastic film tube that includes a series of separate compartments formed by a plurality of transverse seals spaced along the tube. Contiguous pairs of compartments are mutually separated by means of the seals and are hermetically sealable for storing reactive materials under anaerobic conditions. A flexible narrow flattened conduit communicates each contiguous pair of compartments across the separating seal and comprises an unsealed portion in a common plane wherein the facing surfaces of the tube are joined. During storing of the materials the compartments are isolated by closing the conduit with a kink thereacross formed by a fold in the separating seal. Flattening the fold removes the kink to open the conduit. The separated materials are then combined and mixed by kneading the tube.

Abstract: A pressure applicator useful in expelling air from a flexible liner enclosed within a thin-walled shell of a nursing bottle comprises a pushrod having a clip at one end for attachment to an edge of the shell. The opposite end of the pushrod includes an orthogonally positioned pad that is insertable into the shell from one open end to compress the liner, thereby expelling air through a nipple positioned at an opposite end in communication with the liner. One embodiment of the applicator is a unitary structure whereas other embodiments disclose separate pads which are attachable to either an end of a pushrod for air expulsion or to a side member of the pushrod for storage. Another embodiment includes a pair of protuberances on the pushrod that frictionally engage corresponding slots in the shell for attachment thereto.

Abstract: An arrow that accepts standard target or hunting tips includes a radio signalling transmitter which emits a carrier signal that is receivable by a directional receiver for tracking and locating the arrow when released from a bow. The transmitter includes a carrier interrupting circuit operating at a rate that is inversely proportional to battery voltage which permits dynamically testing the battery prior to releasing the arrow. This provides reliable operation of the transmitter by insuring an adequate minimum charge in the battery. An electrical switch embodying the arrow tip as an actuator permits selectively connecting or disconnecting the battery from the transmitter to conserve the battery charge.

Abstract: Apparatus for humidifying air in a hot-air furnace system or for use as an independent portable unit that also functions as an air filter, includes a closed cabinet through which air flows in a path between an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening. A water tray is positioned in the air path and a novel evaporator is suspended over the tray. The evaporator includes an upper end panel and a weighted corresponding lower end panel, both of which are perforated in a predetermined array. A continuous wick is interwoven through corresponding ones of the apertures in both panels to form a labyrinth of vertically disposed wicks that suspend the lower panel within the tray. Water is absorbed by the immersed portions of the wicks and is conducted upwardly along the wicks where it is evaporated by the flowing air.

Abstract: An acquisition circuit in an improved phaselocked loop prevents cycle slipping by detecting and compensating an impending large phase difference between an independent incoming signal and a local comparison signal dependently related to a voltage controlled oscillator. A train of pulses is generated in progressively delayed phase relation with each cycle of the oscillator output signal. Additionally a threshold signal related to the independent signal is produced. In response to overlap of the threshold signal and individual ones of the pulses, a phase error signal is generated which controls a commutator to select individual ones of the pulses having a predetermined delay as the comparison signal, thereby generating a correcting control signal to phaselock the oscillator at a faster rate than the linear response time of a standard loop.

Abstract: A stream of high-speed bipolar signals transmitted along standard twisted pair telephone wiring are detected by a circuit that includes a pair of differential amplifiers each having a signal input connected directly to one conductor of the twisted pair and a reference input connected through a peak voltage detector to the opposite conductor. The amplifiers function as an input signal comparator which generates a corresponding bit stream of logical ones in response to the bipolar signals that exceed 50% of the average peak voltage input. A threshold bias voltage corresponding to positive going signals on each conductor is generated by the detector and charges separate capacitors that connect each reference input to its conductor. The bias voltage and bipolar signals input to each amplifier are algebraically summed which doubles the differential input signal and results in an increased signal to noise ratio of about six decibels.

Abstract: Bidirectional communication of voice and data signals over a two wire telephone line interconnecting several telephone sets with a digital access circuit of a central data and voice communication facility is achieved by a frequency division multiplexing circuit that functions either as a set interface for a telephone or as a line card interface for the access circuit. Data message signals input to the multiplexing circuit are stored in a shift register for subsequent modulation of a carrier signal, but since only one interface may enter a transmission mode at one time transmission priority is assigned by a controller to the interface that first attempts transmission on an inactive line. All other interface then enter a monitor mode to listen but not act on the transmitted message.

Abstract: A compact ramp construction includes a series of nestable, telescopically extendable modules which are connected via an intermediate module to a base that detachably anchors one end of the ramp to a loading surface and which storably supports the ramp when the modules are nested. In one embodiment, the intermediate module is slidably connected to a pair of inclined slots on the base which raises the intermediate module to clear an edge of the loading surface as the nested modules are telescopically extended and lowered to another surface. Each one of the nestable modules has a pair of parallel side members that are spaced apart by an attached overlapping cross member. A single lug attached to the free end of each side member slidably engages an uppermost surface of a corresponding side member in an adjacent module and cooperates with the cross member of that module to support a load.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine having controllable fuel injectors that meter fuel to corresponding cylinders at predetermined delivery rates under throttle control senses the amount of fuel being delivered to each cylinder by a potentiometer that generates a signal which is proportional to the linear displacement of a throttle rack gear. In one embodiment a transducer generates another signal proportional to the rotary speed of the engine and both signals are amplified at a fixed gain corresponding to the number of working engine cylinders to produce a product signal that is applied to an analog meter or a digital display circuit which indicate the rate of engine fuel consumption.

Abstract: A four-wheel drive agricultural tractor with independently steered ground engaging wheels supporting a flat, extensible load supportive frame includes an operator's cab that is adapted to face the direction of travel. Mounted under the frame is an internal combustion engine, clutch, and transmission which are individually controllable from the cab. A system of shafts and gears couple motive power from the transmission to pairs of wheels and a system of hydraulic steering motors are controllable from the cab for effecting either coordinated or crab steering. Fabricated of box-girders, the frame includes fixed and slidable portions that are mutually displaceable by hydraulic rams located within the frame to vary the wheelbase and tread of the tractor. The frame also includes an articulated hinged member at each end carrying a hydraulic stabilizer.

Abstract: A buoyant riser system for use in a deep water offshore drilling environment is anchored by a system of compliant guys below the active weather zone of the sea. A controllably buoyant housing of the system is submerged at a depth that is readily accessible to divers and includes a blow-out preventer (BOP) from which a suspended sub-riser leads to a well bore to which the sub-riser is coupled. Above the housing, a riser suspended from a floating drill rig is coupled to the BOP thereby communicating the drill rig directly with the well bore for drilling and well completion operations.