Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method includes flushing a cell stack for a predetermined amount of time as a function of an amount of combustible gas remaining in the cell stack. The method also includes operating a cell stack for a predetermined amount of time, then shutting down the cell stack and ceasing operation of the cell stack for a predetermined amount of time. Flushing occurs after shutting down a cell stack power supply. The method further includes restarting operation of the cell stack after flushing.

Abstract: A refueling nozzle is inserted into a fuel filler tube of the vehicle, refueling is carried out in the normal manner. However, during retraction of the nozzle, when the nozzle is prone to drip, a specially designed valve is caused to open and a vacuum canister draws in a rush of air and captures the dripping gas. During normal vehicle operation, the captured fuel in the vacuum canister is drawn into the engine intake manifold to be burned through the engine and the vacuum in the canister is replenished for the next refueling stop.

Abstract: A refueling nozzle is inserted into a fuel filler tube of the vehicle, refueling is carried out in the normal manner. However, during retraction of the nozzle, when the nozzle is prone to drip, a specially designed valve is caused to open and a vacuum canister draws in a rush of air and captures the dripping gas. During normal vehicle operation, the captured fuel in the vacuum canister is drawn into the engine intake manifold to be burned through the engine and the vacuum in the canister is replenished for the next refueling stop.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank having a plurality of side walls spaced apart by a floor. A flange extends downward from one of the plurality of side walls at an angle toward the floor. A fuel pump extends from the flange; the fuel pump and flange are arranged to fixedly position at least one inlet connected to the fuel pump at or in close proximity to the floor of the fuel tank. A fuel dam extends away from the floor and has at least one passage formed therein. The fuel dam is positioned so as to create an accumulated area of the fuel tank surrounding the at least one inlet. Fuel enters the accumulated area through the at least one passage and is received by the at least one inlet.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the level of fuel contained in the tank of a motor vehicle includes a first resistive element disposed in the tank and having a first predetermined length. The first resistive element generates a variable resistance in response to electrical current and fuel passing therethrough. A second resistive element is also disposed in the tank and has a second predetermined length. The second resistive element generates a fixed resistance in response to the electrical current and fuel passing therethrough. A microprocessor coupled to the first and second resistive elements determines the level of fuel contained in the tank based on the variable resistance, the fixed resistance and the first and second predetermined lengths.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the level of fuel contained in the tank of a motor vehicle includes a fuel pump disposed in the tank for creating a flow of fuel in the tank. An elongated tube is placed vertically in the tank. The system also includes a venturi tube coupled between the fuel pump and the elongated tube for creating a vacuum as a result of a portion of the flow of fuel therethrough from the fuel pump thereby drawing fuel vapor from the elongated tube at a varying pressure, the pressure decreasing as the amount of fuel vapor in the tank increases. A controller is coupled to the elongated tube for determining the level of fuel in the tank based on the pressure.

Abstract: A tapered octagonal frame rail tip for use with automotive bumpers is configured to axially crush in a controlled manner in the event of a vehicle impact. The rail tip is tuned to carry a constant load while crushing to absorb a higher amount of energy than alternative crush modes. Body mounts for attaching front end sheet metal or other body components to the frame rail tip are configured to centrally align loading to avoid interference with the desired axial crush.

Abstract: A bar code conversion system and method identifies good data in the scan data array and analyzes that data to generate machine-interpretable code. A vision system optically scans bar code labels and places the resulting digital camera data into a two dimensional line scan data array of pixels. A process.sub.-- line function then searches the scan data array for three lines that intersect the initial bars and spaces of the bar code (called starting lines) and 3 lines that intersect the last bars and spaces (called ending lines). For each pair of starting and ending lines, a build.sub.-- composite generates a composite line using pixels in positions between the first pixel of a starting line and the last pixel of a corresponding ending line. A run.sub.-- length decode function is then invoked on each composite line to create a run length array of width values, each of which indicates the width (in pixels) of a bar or space of the bar code. Using statistical analysis, a convert.sub.-- bars.sub.-- and.sub.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying the positional integrity of a robotic arm are disclosed. The robotic arm includes a servo mechanism which causes movement of the arm. The servo mechanism has a position encoder which indicates the relative position of the robotic arm with respect to a fixed reference point. A flag is attached to the robotic arm. A sensor for detecting the flag is attached to a point which is fixed with respect to the motion of the robotic arm. The sensor is located at a point such that the flag will pass by the sensor during the normal course of travel of the robotic arm. Each time the flag passes by the sensor, the sensor generates a signal. A controller which is coupled to the position encoder and to the sensor compares the position of the robotic device indicated by the position encoder at the time the sensor detects the presence of the flag with a predetermined value.

Abstract: A robotic arm calibration system is described which comprises a video line scan camera vision system used in conjunction with a plurality of novel "N"-shaped targets in an automated tape storage library. The targeting system of the present invention provides, with a single horizontal video scan of the target, all of the data necessary to enable calculation of a reference point of the robotic arm with respect to each target to thereby obtain precise robotic arm calibration in relationship to the library system workspace. The position of the robotic arm is determined using the vision system in conjunction with calibration targets which are located within the tape cartridge library, in addition to a target located on the robotic arm. The present system functions independently of the spacing between the arm retrieval mechanism and the tape cartridge storage cells.

Abstract: A solid-state cache memory subsystem configured to be used in conjunction with disk drives for prestaging of data in advance of its being called for by a host computer features a controller featuring means for establishing and maintaining precise correspondence between storage locations in the solid-state array and on the disk memory, for use in establishing a reoriented position on a disk in the event of error detection, and in order to determine when a predetermined quantity of data has been read from the disk into the cache in a staging operation.

Abstract: A valve for applying a flowable material in which it is desired to provide a sharp cutoff in application of the material includes a valve body with a chamber therein in communication with a source of the material to be applied. A movable piston is positioned within the valve body and there is a passage in the piston opening to the chamber with the passage terminating in an application opening. A movable valve stem is positioned to open and close upon the passage chamber opening to control the flow of material to the passage and application opening. A negative pressure is created at the application opening at or immediately after closure of the valve stem upon the passage chamber opening to thereby provide a sharp cutoff in the application of the material from the opening.

Abstract: A control for regulating the application of glue to a defined area of a moving paper board box blank includes a sensor for detecting the presence of the leading and trailing edges of a moving defined glue application area; a glue applicator spaced a fixed distance from the sensor; a pulse generator providing pulses indicative of movement of the application area; and counting means which are connected to the sensor, glue applicator and pulse generator. The sensor initiates a counting action at detection of the leading edge of a glue application area. The counting means initiates glue application after a predetermined number of counted pulses representative of the fixed distance between the sensor and glue applicator. The sensor initiates a second counting action at detection of the trailing edge of a glue application area and the counting means stops glue application after the same predetermined number of pulses representative of the sensor glue applicator fixed distance.

Abstract: A microcomputer system uses a standardized S-100 bus with eight bit Data In and eight bit Data Out lines, but has a sixteen bit microprocessor with sixteen bit bidirectional data input/output terminals. An arrangement of mirror image pairs of memory boards is provided to cross-connect the Data In lines and Data Out lines for one memory board compared to another, these two memory boards being accessed by the same address. A processor board containing the microprocessor connects the Data In and Data Out lines to the data input/output terminals by controllable unidirectional buffers which criss-cross the bytes on write compared to read operations.

Abstract: A microcomputer system uses a standardized S-100 bus with eight bit Data In and eight bit Data Out lines, but has a sixteen bit microprocessor with sixteen bit bidirectional data input/output terminals. An arrangement is provided to cross-connect the Data In lines and Data Out lines for one memory board compared to another, these two memory boards being accessed by the same address. A processor board containing the microprocessor connects the Data In and Data Out lines to the data input/output terminals by controllable unidirectional buffers which criss-cross the bytes on write compared to read operations.

Abstract: A microcomputer system uses a standardized S-100 bus with eight bit Data In and eight bit Data Out lines, but has a sixteen bit microprocessor with sixteen bit bidirectional data input/output terminals. An arrangement of mirror image pairs of memory boards is provided to cross-connect the Data In lines and Data Out lines for one memory board compared to another, these two memory boards being accessed by the same address. A processor board containing the microprocessor connects the Data In and Data Out lines to the data input/output terminals by controllable undirectional buffers which criss-cross the bytes on write compared to read operations.

Abstract: A microcomputer system uses a standardized S-100 bus with eight bit Data In and eight bit Data Out lines, but has a sixteen bit microprocessor with sixteen bit bidirectional data input/output terminals. An arrangement of mirror image pairs of eight bit wide memory arrays on a single memory board are used, with means to cross-connect the Data In lines and Data Out lines for one memory array compared to another, these two memory arrays being accessed by the same address. A processor board containing the microprocessor chip connects the Data In and Data Out lines to the input/output terminals of the microprocessor by controllable unidirectional buffers which criss-cross the bytes on write compared to read operations.

Abstract: A device for dispensing adhesive includes a thin member having a plurality of adhesive dispensing openings extending therethrough. There is a passage for supplying adhesive to said openings. An inflatable tube is positioned in the passage and, when inflated, is positioned against said openings to prevent the flow of adhesive therethrough.

Abstract: A means for providing a variable fluid pressure responsive to changes in a measured variable includes a fluid pressure reservoir and electrically controlled fluid supply and exhaust valves connected thereto. A pressure-to-voltage transducer is connected at the output of the reservoir and in turn is connected to a comparison means along with means for providing an electrical signal representative of a measured variable. The comparison means provides a difference signal, which difference signal is utilized to control the supply and exhaust valves.