Abstract: An material level monitoring and reporting system uses special micropower impulse radar level sensing probes, with one such probe being inserted into each of a plurality of material containment structures, such as storage tanks. The micropower impulse radar probes use flexible waveguides which extend downward to the tank bottom such that micropower radar impulses travel to and from the liquid surface via a wave guide, with the lapse between emission and reception of the impulse indicating a distance from the probe, and thus a liquid level. Each level sensing probe is connected to a communication link which collects level and status information from the level sensing probes and transmits it to a monitoring site. The material level data may be collected from a plurality of intermediate monitoring sites by a central monitoring sites.

Abstract: A closure for a bottle. The closure includes an outer cap. An audio device and a triggering mechanism are positioned within the outer cap. A water block is positioned on the outer cap so as to prevent water from penetrating into the audio device.

Abstract: An underground storage tank monitoring system and method uses special micropower impulse radar probes, with one such probe being inserted into each storage tank. The micropower impulse radar probes use flexible waveguides which extend downward to the tank bottom such that micropower radar impulses travel to and from the liquid surface via a wave guide, with the lapse between emission and reception of the impulse indicating a distance from the probe, and thus a liquid level. Each micropower impulse radar probe is connected to a dedicated spread spectrum transmitter which collects level and status information from the probe, encodes and transmits it to a matching spread spectrum receiver nearby. The receiver converts the coded signals into electrical signals and forwards them to a processor, a modem and a back-up battery are located. The processor stores the liquid level information for later transmission, along with liquid dispensed and liquid replaced information, to a central monitoring site via the modem.

Abstract: A flow measuring device for indicating the leak status of a pressurized fluid-carrying line pressurized by a pump includes an electronic leak sensing module connected in fluid communication with the pressurized line and configured for insertion within a detection port of a pump manifold. The module includes a thermal sensor effected by flow through the pressurized line, whereby leaks in the pressurized line are detected by monitoring the thermal sensor for changes in output signal that correspond to flow through the pressurized fluid-carrying line. The flow measuring device includes a system control unit for monitoring the electronic leak sensing module and indicating the leak status of the pressurized line. Wires which provide power to the leak sensing module, the system control unit and the pump for pressurizing the pressurized line are also used for communication.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a tray containing litter for use by an animal. The tray is formed of plastics and comprises a planar floor having at least one deformation acting as a fold line and a plurality of upstanding sidewalls. Each of the sidewalls is free of any fold line and is connected to the floor to form an open compartment. Each of the sidewalls also comprises an upper edge. At least one complementary engagement means is disposed on each of the sidewalls. The complementary engagement means is integral with the sidewall. The tray is adapted in use to retain its shape and is foldable to a closed condition for disposal. The deformation is arranged to permit the tray to be folded to bring the upper edge of the adjacent sidewalls together to enable engagement of the complementary engagement means to seal the tray and the contained litter.

Abstract: A double-pass scanning monochromator for use in an optical spectrum analyzer includes an input optical fiber for emitting an input light beam, a diffraction grating for diffracting the input light beam to produce a spatially dispersed light beam, a slit for passing a selected portion of the dispersed light beam, a motor for rotating the diffraction grating, a shaft angle encoder for sensing grating position, and an output optical fiber. The light that passes through the slit is directed to the diffraction grating and is recombined by the diffraction grating to produce an output light beam. The light beam to be analyzed is incident on the diffraction grating during first and second passes. A polarization rotation device rotates the polarization components of the light beam by 90.degree. between the first and second passes so that the output of the monochromator is independent of the polarization of the input light beam.

Abstract: A double pass scanning monochromator for use in an optical spectrum analyzer includes an input optical fiber for emitting an input light beam, a diffraction grating for diffracting the input light beam to produce a spatially dispersed light beam, a slit for passing a selected portion of the dispersed light beam, a motor for rotating the diffraction grating, a shaft angle encoder for sensing grating position, and an output optical fiber. The light that passes through the slit is directed to the diffraction grating and is recombined by the diffraction grating to produce an output light beam. The light beam to be analyzed is incident on the diffraction grating during first and second passes. A polarization rotation device rotates the polarization components of the light beam by 90.degree. between the first and second passes so that the output of the monochromator is independent of the polarization of the input light beam.

Abstract: A stability monitoring and alarm system for a motor vehicle (e.g., a truck or a tractor trailer) provides an early warning to the driver of unsafe or potentially unsafe conditions. Front wheel desynchronization and rear load distribution are each monitored, and an alarm is generated if either the front wheels become desynchronized or the load is unevenly distributed in the rear of the vehicle. Various filtering and averaging techniques avoid false alarms and increase reliability and sensitivity. Thresholding of the front wheel desynchronization comparison is based on a model which takes turning lateral G force for particular speeds into account so that an alarm based on front wheel descynchronization is not generated because of taking turns too rapidly. Rather, such alarm is generated by monitoring shifting rear load distribution --a better and more accurate measure of vehicle stability. The resulting indications provided by an easy to read user interface warn the driver of a variety of conditions (e.g.

Abstract: An automatic reorder and alarm system for use with residential fuel-oil tanks which sends reorder and alarm data to a central station over the direct-dial telephone network when the fuel-oil level in the tank falls below a predetermined value or when an alarm situation, such as low temperature, occurs at the tank location. An inexpensive sensor/sending unit located at each customer tank includes a simple sensor which mounts on either the tank or an existing fuel-oil level gauge, a microcontroller circuit and a modem circuit. The microcontroller circuit uses a simple low-stability oscillator as a reference for internal operations and for modem transmission frequencies. Because the oscillator frequency cannot be precisely determined due to component tolerances and has a substantial amount of drift, a special data transmission format is used for data transmission over the telephone lines between the microcontroller and the central station.