Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the transmission of data, via a telephone network (20), between a first location (2,14,16) where data is collected and a central station (22).

Abstract: A fused cutout for a power distribution system, which cutout includes an insulating member (2) having two opposed ends and a recess located between the two opposed ends, a fuse (12) defining a current path and having an element for interrupting the current path when current flowing through the path exceeds a selected value, a first conductive support structure (6) connected at a first end of the insulating member (2), conductively connected to a first end of the current path and connectable to a source of electrical power (14), a second conductive support structure (8) connected at a second end of the insulating member (2), conductively connected to a second end of the current path and connectable to a consumer of electrical power (16), each conductive support structure (6,8) producing an electric field when connected to the source of electrical power, and a mounting bracket assembly (4) for supporting the fused cutout and including a conductive member (30) secured in the recess of the insulating member (2).

Abstract: A device for use in the testing of an optical probe which has at least one optical transmitter/receiver pair composed of one optical transmitter for emitting optical energy along a first path and one optical receiver for receiving optical energy propagated along a second path, the device including: a housing (4,6) formed to be mechanically coupled with the probe and having at least one pair of passages (14), with each passage (14) extending along a respective one of the first and second paths; and at least one optical energy reflecting member (18) disposed in the housing (4,6) and positioned relative to the passages (14) of the pair such that, when the housing (4,6) is coupled to the probe, light propagated along the first path from the transmitter is reflected by the reflecting member (18) into the second path toward the receiver.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data via a telephone line by means of a data communications device (4) connected to the telephone line, at least one other communications device being connected to the telephone line and each device being switchable between an inactive state, in which the device is not in use and presents a high impedance to the telephone line, and an active state, in which the device reduces the telephone line voltage and signals can be transferred between the device and the telephone line, the system including a telephone line state detection unit (10) associated with the data communications device (4) and connected to the telephone line for electrically monitoring the telephone line to provide an indication of the state of another communications device connected to the telephone line.

Abstract: In a transformer housing assembly including a tank and a base supporting the tank, the tank being arranged to contain a body of oil and a transformer the tank and base are secured together, subsequent to individual fabrication thereof, by a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device includes an attachment member which is permanently fastened to an upwardly projecting recess formed in the tank bottom, the attachment member being dimensioned to not extend below the portions of the tank bottom surrounding the recess, and the attachment being provided with an internally threaded lined bore. each fastening device further includes a clamping member extending across the associated recess in the tank bottom and a bolt which passes through an opening in the clamping member and engages in the threaded line bore in order to cause the clamping member to clamp a flange provided at the upper end of the base to the tank bottom.

Abstract: In a measuring device including a magnetic-optic current transformer (2) defining an optical path having an input (4) and an output (6) and having an optical transmission characteristics such that the relation between optical energy supplied to the input (4) and optical energy arriving at the output (6) is a function of an electrical parameter being monitored, an electrically driven photoemitter (8) disposed for supplying optical energy to the optical path input (4), a photodetector circuit (10, 12) optically coupled to the optical path output (6) for producing an electrical signal representative of the optical power arriving at the output (6), and a control circuit (14,16) connected between the photodetector circuit (10,12) and the photoemitter (8) for controlling the light energy supplied by the photoemitter (8) and forming with the transformer (2) a high pass filter having a corner frequency, the control circuit (14,16) is composed of an amplifier (20) and a first compensation unit (24,26) connected to for

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting field calibration of a portion of an electrical energy metering system, the system including a magneto-optic metering transducer (2,30) for producing an optical output signal representative of the current or voltage component of energy to be metered, and the portion of the system which is to be calibrated including a circuit unit (16,50) for receiving, when the metering system is in operation, the output signal produced by the metering transducer and a signal representative of the other component of the energy to be metered, and for generating an output signal representative of the energy delivered by the current and voltage components.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a magnetic field intensity having a given direction, the device including: a light conducting member (11) defining a first optical port (23), a second optical port (24), an optical path extending between the ports, and elements (31,34) for causing light to travel along the path between the ports (23,24); a first polarizer (31) disposed in the optical path for polarizing the light beam in a first plane of polarizaiton transverse to the path; a second polarizer (33) disposed in the optical path for polarizing the light beam in a second plane of polarization transverse to the path, the second polarizer (33) being spaced along the path from the first polarizer (31); and a focusing surface (18) disposed to intersect the beam at a point along the path between the polarizers (31,33) to focus the light beam from the first optical port (23) onto the second optical port (24).

Abstract: An electric utility meter composed of: a chassis assembly (2) having elements (4) for connecting the meter between a source of electrical power and a consumer of the electrical power; a signal generating unit (30) carried by the chassis assembly (2) and electrically coupled to the elements (4) for connecting for providing a signal which is a function of the energy being supplied to the consumer, the signal generating unit including a first electrical connector (34) to which the signal is supplied; a front plate member (16,20) carried by the chassis assembly (2) and bearing legible information (48) identifying the meter; circuitry (100) for deriving information relating to the rate at which energy is being supplied to the consumer; an electrical signal conductor (72) connected to the circuitry (100) and having a second electrical connector (70) coupled to the first electrical connector (34) for supplying the signal to the circuitry (100); and an electrically actuated numeric display device (81) electrically co

Abstract: An energy meter composed of a meter chassis (2) having a transducer (4) connected to sense energy usage and to provide an output having a fixed relation to the sensed energy usage, a replaceable register (6) connectable to the transducer (4) for converting the output provided by the transducer (4) into a readable energy usage indication, a transducer identifying unit (18) secured to the chassis (2) and coded to identify the fixed relation between the transducer output and the sensed energy usage, and a transducer sensing unit (10) secured to the register (6) for coupling with the transducer identifying unit (18) when the register (6) is connected to the transducer (4).

Abstract: A method for transmitting data in the form of a sequence of data words according to PLBus communications protocol in a channel (20) carrying data transmitted, according to a different protocol, in the form of timed bursts of a signal, comprising: producing (16) a carrier which is continuous at least for the duration of each data word; angularly modulating (14, 16) the carrier in accordance with the information contained in each data word; and transmitting the angularly modulated carrier in the channel (20).

Abstract: In a transformer housing assembly including a tank and a base supporting the tank, the tank being arranged to contain a body of oil and a transformer the tank and base are secured together, subsequent to individual fabrication thereof, by a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device includes an attachment member which is permanently fastened to an upwardly projecting recess formed in the tank bottom, the attachment member being dimensioned to not extend below the portions of the tank bottom surrounding the recess, and the attachment being provided with an internally threaded lined bore. Each fastening device further includes a clamping member extending across the associated recess in the tank bottom and a bolt which passes through an opening in the clamping member and engages in the threaded line bore in order to cause the clamping member to clamp a flange provided at the upper end of the base to the tank bottom.

Abstract: A disc formed of a resilient plastic exhibiting a low creep characteristic and having a pressure vent is used to close the mouth of a tubular cell envelope of a primary cell. An elongated terminal is inserted through the disc and into the cell interior. The pressure vent is in the disc at a location between the terminal and the edge of the disc. The vent comprises a recess having a frangible diaphragm with at least one groove. At a predetermined pressure the diaphragm breaks at the groove, releasing pressure.

Abstract: A polarity indicating system using a light emitting diode is mounted on the clip for a battery charger to provide an indication that the battery charger is properly connected to the battery being charged. In the preferred embodiment, the LED is connected to a test probe mounted in one of the handles of the negative clip and connected in series between the test probe and the positive cable. An alternate embodiment uses the polarity indicating system on battery booster cables.

Abstract: A process for preparing a polymeric material grafted throughout its bulk is provided. A polymer having finely divided particles is blended with silica and maintained in a fluidized bed. The polymer is activated by passing ozone uniformly through the blend to initiate incipient labile sites in the molecular structure of the polymer. The polymer is then reacted with an ethylenically unsaturated ionogenic monomer to graft polymerize the monomer onto the polymer. The grafted polymer may then be converted to a salt form by reacting with alkaline compounds. The resultant powders can be fused into any desired shape by conventional polymer plastic processes.

Abstract: A material useful as a separator in batteries and a process for making the material is provided. This material is a polyolefin having grafted to it side chains derived from an ethylenically unsaturated ionogenic monomer and cross-linked with sulfur.

Abstract: A process for improving leakage resistant in a galvanic cell is provided. This is done by making an improved grommet and metal cover. The process comprises swelling a grommet which has been placed tightly around the periphery of a metal cover until the grommet is loose upon the metal cover, forcing a sealant solution between the swollen grommet and metal cover and then shrinking the grommet to substantially its original size to trap the sealant compound between the grommet and metal cover.

Abstract: A pacemaker pulse generator for providing impulses to stimulate living tissue by means of an electrode at the distal end of a conductive catheter. The catheter is coupled to the pacemaker by means of a connector having engaging surfaces formed by a number of helically-extending, tensioned metal strands.

Abstract: A non-aqueous primary battery having an electrolytic solution consisting essentially of a non-aqueous solvent containing an electrolyte salt, a separator, a light metal anode and a pure silver chromate cathode is provided. The electrochemical system of this battery is particularly useful in small primary batteries commonly referred to as "button cells" due to its high volumetric energy density and retention of cell dimensions.

Abstract: A unique alloy comprising lead with small additions of zinc and tin is used to make grids for lead acid cells. The alloy as produced is softer than is desirable. It is hardened by mechanical working. When properly worked, it has a strength and stiffness approaching that of other low alloy lead materials currently in use as storage battery grids.