Abstract: A cooking and holding food preparation unit is disclosed having one or more food receiving compartments each including a door and a gasket for hermetically sealing the compartment when the door is closed. An open-topped tray for holding water is located near the bottom of the compartment and has therebeneath electrical heating strips for heating water in the tray. A thermostat is coupled to the tray and to the heating strips for maintaining the temperature of the tray at an operator selected temperature typically well below the temperature at which water boils under standard conditions. A vacuum pump selectively reduces the air pressure within the compartment while a vacuum release valve selectively couples the compartment to the exterior atmosphere. There is a timer for measuring elapsed time after cooking is begun which functions to open the vacuum release valve upon the expiration of an operator determined time interval.

Abstract: A fluid pump having a rotary power source, a rotary to reciprocating motion converter in the form of a cam and cam follower, a rotary speed reducing gear train coupling the rotary power source to the rotary to reciprocating motion converter, and no pressure relief bypass is disclosed. The pressure relief function of limiting the fluid pressure within the pumping chambers to predetermined maximum pressures is provided by a pair of springs coupling a pair of opposed diaphragms of a pair of pumping chambers. The springs function as a spring-loaded lost motion coupling which absorbs energy while limiting the pressure in a pumping chamber and releases that stored energy to help power the pump while expelling fluid from the other chamber. The diaphragms are fixed relative to their respective pumping chambers about their outer peripheries and centrally coupled to their respective springs. The diaphragms are normally driven to move in unison, but cease to move in unison when one of the springs yields.

Abstract: An improved solid state spark gap for use, for example, in firing munitions. The spark gap is formed by depositing a trigger electrode on a dielectric substrate, precisely covering the trigger electrode and an adjoining area with a dielectric layer, and forming an anode and a cathode on the dielectric layer with a spark gap there between. The anode and cathode do not overlap the trigger electrode. The spark gap may be enclosed within a hermetically sealed inert gas filled cover.

Abstract: A high speed scanning radio has conventional RF amplifier, a mixer, a frequency synthesizer for the generation of local oscillator signals, an IF amplifier, a demodulator, and an audio output stage. The receiver includes a memory for storing a plurality of frequency codes corresponding to respective radio channels and a scan control for reading those codes, two for each channel, into the frequency synthesizer. A linear combination of each pair of distinct frequency codes is utilized to generate a local oscillator signal.

Abstract: A network of addressable modules is disclosed with each module being addressable by a particular multi-digit binary code and each having first and second normally high address input lines which go low only when all the address code digital positions corresponding to the low digital positions in the particular module address are also low. The first address line may be rendered nonconducting and the second rendered conducting when those lines go low. Each module includes a third normally high address input line which goes low in the event any of the address code digital positions corresponding to the high digital positions in the particular module address are low. This third address lines rendered conducting when those lines go low. The modules are preprogrammable to respond to a particular multi-digit binary address and have a programmable address circuit including a plurality of programming groups, one for each digital position in a multi-bit address code.

Abstract: A two-stroke-cycle spark ignited internal combustion engine operates with an exhaust valve that is controlled independently of crankshaft position and optimally for high power and low pollutant output in combination with a scavenging pump and fuel injector. The volume of combustible mixture is established at the point in the cycle when the exhaust valve is selectably closed with the piston traveling upwardly and decreasing the volume of the cylinder. Throttling losses are eliminated since the piston forces the scavenging air out of the cyclinder through the wide-open exhaust valve rather than the air being drawn into the cylinder against the reduced pressure caused by a conventional partially closed throttle plate. The volume of combustible air in the cylinder is determined by the point in the cycle at which the exhaust valve is closed and a correspondingly appropriate charge of fuel is thereafter injected into the cylinder.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, inlet and outlet manifolds for a forced electrolyte flow battery, the manifolds having nonuniform cross-sections. The inlet manifold extends along the base of the battery cells and tapers from a large cross-section at the inlet end thereof to a small cross-section at the closed opposite end of the manifold. The outlet manifold has electrolyte outlets at either end of the manifold and tapers from a small cross-section at the middle of the manifold to large cross-sections at the electrolyte outlets of the manifolds. The inlet and outlets to and from the inlet and outlet manifolds are arranged, respectively, such that the header connected to the inlet manifold is larger in cross-section than the cross-section of the inlet manifold at that point and the headers connected to the outlet manifold are larger in cross-section than the cross-sections of the outlet manifold at that point.

Abstract: A modular electrical wiring systems with pluggable lighting is disclosed including thin variable length, lighted wands, extension cables, accessory options, switching options, and a source of supply cable. Preferred power is economical multi-wire branch circuit with related switching options. One male connector per device locks out undesirable multiple power supply in every component. Lighted wands offer rigid proportional length bodies and flexible, semi-fixed length tolerance adjusting cables to enable proper light dispersement and branching in several directions. Connectors at opposite ends of each wand, and related extension cables, enable close or distant lights to be energized. The female connector version also accepts almost any desired combination of these circuit(s) choosing devices: receptacles, ballasts, other lighting/accessories, and switching devices; all as, and where the user chooses.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, voltage control system and method which include providing voltage sensing and control circuitry which measures the output voltage of a battery and provides an output signal to a flow control valve to cause the flow control valve to reduce the rate of flow of electrolyte when the output voltage of the battery is below a desired level and to cause the flow control valve to increase the rate of flow of electrolyte when the output voltage of the battery is above a desired level. The flow control valve may be a binary controlled solenoid valve responsive to a pulse-width-modulated signal from the sensing and control circuitry.

Abstract: An improved sliding pipe joint seal for use in sealing an annular space created between a sealing surface of a spigot at an end of a length of pipe and a sealing surface of a bell shaped end of another length of pipe when the two pipes are connected end-to-end. The pipe joint seal includes an annular body having an inner gripping surface and an outer tab. The gripping surface is adapted to engage the sealing surface of the spigot to retain the seal thereon. The body has a normally closed annular chamber storing a lubricant, such as a grease. An annular slit in the body extends into the chamber forming a flap intermediate the slit and tab. The slit is spread apart when the bell shaped end engages the seal as the pipes are joined, thereby releasing the grease against the sealing surface of the bell shaped end as the seal slides over the remainder of the sealing surface of the bell shaped end.

Abstract: Single or multiple blood plasma component concentrations are measured by a disposable stick having one or more blood plasma component reactive areas covered by a semipermeable membrane which is permeable by blood plasma or serum components and impermeable by blood cellular and particulate matter. A second overlay may be superposed with the semipermeable membrane over the reactive areas to receive a blood sample and meter and distribute that sample uniformly to the semipermeable membrane which in turn passes the plasma components uniformly to the reactive areas. The overlays are subsequently separable from the reactive area to remove the cellular components and particulate matter and expose the reactive areas for inspection by, for example, color comparison to standardized charts.

Abstract: A small motor powered boat guidance system is disclosed and includes an arrangement for sensing the vertical distance between the boat and the bottom of a body of water in which the boat is floating and for providing a visual indication of the sensed vertical distance. A first series of visible pulses and a second series of visible pulses of the same frequency as the first series of pulses are generated with the pulses of the first and second series being interleaved and with the phase difference therebetween being indicative of the vertical distance. The visual indicator also generates, simultaneous with the visual indications, electromagnetic radiation in a region of the electromagnetic spectrum remote from the visible portion of the spectrum.

Abstract: A modular electrical wiring system incorporates an improved rotating electrical connector which is designed to pass through a small decorator face opening. This opening may be in either or both of small cover or in an elongated raceway cover. The connector may then be twisted and pulled back flush with and filling the entire opening. The connector is attached to a semi-rigid conduit for supplying power to the modular electrical wiring system and may be installed or removed without the need for an electrician. The connector allows one-hundred and eight degrees of pivotal motion between itself and the semi-rigid conduit yet does not expose any of the conductors during such pivotal motion. The user may thus make minor adjustments in the location of attached equipment without the aid of an electrician nor the interruption of power.

Abstract: A method for a phase-locked loop, which circuit includes, in a preferred embodiment, a resistor to unbalance phase detector outputs to an operational amplifier to cause the voltage output of the operational amplifier to sweep and thus cause the frequency output of a voltage controlled oscillator to sweep. Simple circuitry detects correct lock and terminates sweeping; or, if lock is not achieved, causes the output of the operational amplifier to remain at a low level until the operational amplifier is reset and then permits resweep. Very little auxiliary circuitry is required.

Abstract: A two part wire receptacle for receiving wire being laid therein by a flier in a coiled pattern is disclosed. The first part is permanent wire receiving basket has a relatively flat surface with a plurality of upstanding inner wire guide elements defining the inner periphery of the coil and a further plurality of upstanding outer wire guides defining the outer periphery of the coil. Another form of the first part may be embodied in a machine for receiving and packaging wire being laid therein in a coiled pattern. In the machine, a permanent wire receiving basket has a relatively flat surface, a plurality of upstanding inner wire guide elements defining the inner periphery of the coil, and an upstanding generally cylindrical outer wire guide defining the outer periphery of the coil.

Abstract: A surface unit for a sonobuoy or similar device is disclosed and includes a variable volume sealed chamber and an arrangement including a pressurized carbon dioxide cartridge within the sealed chamber which, when energized, releases the carbon dioxide and increases the chamber volume from a collapsed volume to an expanded significantly greater volume. Electronic circuitry including radio transmitter circuitry is included within the sealed chamber along with a radio transmitter antenna which is within the sealed chamber and coupled to the radio transmitter circuitry. Expansion of the float sealed chamber functions to erect the antenna preparatory to transmission. The variable volume sealed chamber is formed of a semi-rigid plastic cup having a generally cylindrical corrugated sidewall portion, a closed end describing one of the chamber ends and a rigid base member sealed to the cup sidewall portion remote from the closed end and describing the other of the chamber ends.