Abstract: In one embodiment, a coast control system, or dead-man brake inhibitor, is associated with a tiller arm that is used for steering a vehicle. A spring acts upon the tiller arm when an operator releases a control handle attached to the tiller arm to move the tiller arm to a braking position which causes an electronically or mechanically actuated brake to be applied. Before releasing the control handle, the operator may actuate the coast control system to inhibit movement of the tiller arm towards the braking position when the control handle is released. The operator may vertically reposition the tiller arm while the coast control system remains actuated by overcoming the inhibiting force applied by the coast control system when the tiller arm is moved toward the braking position and by overcoming the spring acting on the tiller arm when the tiller arm is moved away from the braking position.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided to receive and hold a bag-in-box container on top of a conventional type water cooler and to control the flow of water from the bag-in-box container into a water reservoir of the water cooler to maintain a desired level of water in the water reservoir. Level control of water in the reservoir is provided by controlling the venting of the sealed reservoir to the atmosphere and/or by controlling the flow of water into the reservoir from the water supply line. Venting control can be through use of a hydrophobic membrane or through use of float valves in the vent, and control of flow of liquid into the reservoir from the water supply line can be by a special float valve that allows high flow capacity at low pressures or through discharge of water from the reservoir. The reservoir can be formed as a flow through passage through a mass of temperature adjusting material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a coast control system, or dead-man brake inhibitor, is associated with a tiller arm that is used for steering a vehicle. A spring acts upon the tiller arm when an operator releases a control handle attached to the tiller arm to move the tiller arm to a braking position which causes an electronically or mechanically actuated brake to be applied. Before releasing the control handle, the operator may actuate the coast control system to inhibit movement of the tiller arm towards the braking position when the control handle is released. The operator may vertically reposition the tiller arm while the coast control system remains actuated by overcoming the inhibiting force applied by the coast control system when the tiller arm is moved toward the braking position and by overcoming the spring acting on the tiller arm when the tiller arm is moved away from the braking position.

Abstract: A system and method provide automated discovery of devices on a network. The system may include specialized communications between devices for monitoring and tracking the devices. In particular, devices may transmit and/or receive messages over the network that includes information for discovering, identifying, and/or managing each of the devices on the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to an individualized menu system for use by customers in a retail environment. Multiple mobile computing devices are in communication with a database server from which the mobile computing devices retrieve menu related data items. The menu related data items are then used to present a menu to the customer by way of the mobile computing devices. The mobile computing devices are authenticated by the database server and communicate with the database server using a secure communications protocol. Each menu related data item in the database server is individually editable by an administrative user and edits are not propagated to the mobile computing devices until they are committed as such by the administrative user.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to an individualized menu system for use by customers in a retail environment. Multiple mobile computing devices are in communication with a database server from which the mobile computing devices retrieve menu related data items. The menu related data items are then used to present a menu to the customer by way of the mobile computing devices. The mobile computing devices are authenticated by the database server and communicate with the database server using a secure communications protocol. Each menu related data item in the database server is individually editable by an administrative user and edits are not propagated to the mobile computing devices until they are committed as such by the administrative user.

Abstract: A system and method provide automated discovery of devices on a network. The system may include specialized communications between devices for monitoring and tracking the devices. In particular, devices may transmit and/or receive messages over the network that includes information for discovering, identifying, and/or managing each of the devices on the network.

Abstract: Wiring devices that are manufactured by incorporating antimicrobial agents therein help eliminate or reduce any microorganisms that are present on the surface of the wiring device, and thus help prevent the spread of infection and disease from one person to another. By incorporating the antimicrobial agent into a resin mixture used for making wiring devices, the antimicrobial agent continues to leach out to the surface of the wiring device over time, resulting in a more effective, longer-lasting option than conventional cleaners. Methods of fabricating the wiring devices to include antimicrobial agents includes adding a prescribed amount of antimicrobial agent to a base material, mixing the agent and material to create a mixture, and extruding the mixture into one or more molds to form a wiring device of desired configuration.

Abstract: A multiple-ratio automatic transmission comprising a first multiple-ratio gear unit and a second simple planetary gear unit arranged in series in a torque flow path, each gear unit having a reaction brake that can be selectively activated and deactivated to effect a ratio change as the first gear unit is upshifted and the second gear unit is downshifted, ratio changes in each gear unit being effected by pressure-operated clutches and brakes, the brakes having opposed pressure-apply and pressure-release chambers. Separate exhaust flow paths are provided for a reaction brake release chamber and for a companion pressure-operated clutch. A pressure modifier valve circuit is provided for increasing the rate of response to a command for applying and releasing the clutch.

Abstract: Prior art bottle closures having a stationary closure member applicable to the top of a bottle and a closure member that is movable relative to the stationary closure member are improved by incorporation, between said closure members, of mutually cooperative, fluid sealing members extending transversely of the pouring axis of the bottle closures and separable therefrom for preventing escape of gaseous ingredients, such as carbonation, of drinkable liquids contained by bottles to which the bottle closures are applied.

Abstract: A system for controlling the operation of a motor being used for the rotational assembly or dis-assembly of two members, the system comprising means monitoring, and generating a digital or analogue signals representative of the state of the two members and means relaying the representative signal in a digital form to a first processor (6) means relaying the signal in an analogue form to a second processor (11); the first processor comprising a computer which in use, digitally analyses the representative signal and is so programmed as to generate a first control signal in response to the representative signal; the second processor comprising means converting the first control signal into analogue form and means comparing it with the analogue representative signal and generating second control signal representative of the difference between the first control signal and the representative signal; the second processor being so connected as to transmit the second control signal to the motor control means.

Abstract: A dynamic balancing device for the wheel of a motor vehicle, the device comprising flexibly mounted weighting members which are driven outward by the increased centrifugal forces diametrically opposite the nonconcentric mass center to produce the desired balancing effect.

Abstract: A pumping unit for removing oil or the like from a well. The unit comprises a tower, a sump at the bottom of the tower and a reservoir at an elevation above the sump. A liquid, such as oil or water, is pumped from the sump up to the reservoir. A wheel is mounted at the top of the tower above the reservoir for rotation, and a line extends over the wheel for attachment at one end to a polished rod load outside the tower and at its other end to a receptacle inside the tower serving as a counter weight for the polished rod load.

Abstract: A shot peening process is provided for treating elongated oil well sucker rods, drill pipes and the like. In accordance with the process of the invention, the rods or pipes are passed through appropriate shot peening equipment along an arcuate path, and each rod or pipe is simultaneously rotated about its longitudinal axis. This action causes the rods or pipes to be flexed during the shot peening action. The effect of the flexing is to set the inner fibers of the rods or pipes under compression, thereby extending the fatigue resistance of the treated rods.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition curable to a hard impermeable solid which contains a liquid aromatic diluent having the general formula:C.sub.6 (R.sub.1).sub.6wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen; a straight or branched chain alkyl radical; a cycloparaffin radical or a mixture thereof; wherein the alkyl and cycloparaffin radicals have within the range of about 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and further wherein at least one R.sub.1 group is said alkyl or cycloparaffin radical.