Abstract: A water irrigation system includes a dripper tube having a plurality of water discharge openings along its length for discharging water at a slow rate from each opening; and a pulsator device connecting a water supply conduit to the dripper tube and producing a pulsatile water flow to the dripper tube having a frequency substantially exceeding one cycle per second (CPS). In a described preferred embodiment, the pulsator device is connected to the dripper tube by a connecting tube of a length and cross-sectional area such as to produce a resonant feedback system with the pulsator device producing a pulsatile water flow to the dripper tube having a frequency exceeding 10 CPS.

Abstract: A metal beam includes a top flange; a bottom flange; and an intermediate web joining together the top flange and the bottom flange. The bottom flange includes an upper deck and a lower deck joined at their inner sides to the intermediate web in parallel spaced relation to each other to form a double-deck structure. The space between the upper and lower decks is occupied by tensioning elements embedded in concrete for prestressing the beam. The top flange is of smaller width but of substantially greater thickness than the bottom flange lower deck. In one described embodiment, the intermediate web is of a single wall construction; and in a second described embodiment, it is of a double-wall construction and also receives tensioning elements and concrete for prestressing the beam. Also described is a building structure in which the metal beams are used for supporting horizontal floor panels.

Abstract: An electromagnetic vibrator, includes a pair of electromagnets each having a core of E-configuration to define three parallel legs joined together at one side by a bridge, and a coil on the middle leg. The electromagnets are secured together with their bridges facing outwardly and with their legs aligned with, but spaced from, each other. A plunger carrying magnetisable material is disposed within the space between the legs of the electromagnets such as to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the plunger upon the energization of the coils of the electromagnets. A pair of springs yieldingly mount the opposite ends of the plunger to the electromagnets, each spring being yieldable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the plunger and stiff in the direction of the transverse axis of the plunger.

Abstract: Peritoneal dialysis apparatus includes a holder device (11, 21, 31, 41, 51) for holding a container (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) of a dialysis fluid to be introduced into the peritoneal chamber (14, 24, 34, 44) of a subject; a catheter device (13, 23, 33, 43, 53) insertable through the abdominal wall (14a) of the subject for introducing the dialysis fluid into the peritoneal chamber (14, 24, 34, 44) for draining the dialysis fluid therefrom; and a conduit device (12, 22, 32, 42, 52) fluidly connecting a container (10, 20, 30, 40) held by the holder device (11, 21, 31, 41) to the catheter device (13, 23, 33, 43). The apparatus further includes an agitator (16, 25, 36, 45, 56, 57) cooperable with at least one of the above three devices for agitating the dialysis fluid in the peritoneal chamber (14, 24, 34, 44) in order to enhance the rate of solute removal therefrom.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically controlling the opening and closing of a door by: (a) ultrasonically monitoring a predetermined approach area located in front of the door for the entry of an object into the approach area and the movement of the object towards the closed door; (b) ultrasonically monitoring a predetermined opening-door protect area laterally outwardly of the outer end of the closed door, and a predetermined closing-door protect area inwardly of the inner end of the door for the presence of an object in the opening-door and closing-door protect areas; and (c) controlling a drive in response to the above monitoring operations.

Abstract: An electronic thermometer for measuring the temperature of a body, includes a probe having a heating element for preheating the probe to the approximate temperature of the body, and a temperature measuring element for measuring the precise temperature the body. The heating element is a relatively low-resistance thermistor having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), and the temperature measuring element is a relatively high-resistance thermistor having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC).

Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter includes a body member having an inlet for receiving pressurized water, an outlet, and a connecting passageway having a plurality of baffles spaced from each other in the direction of the water flow from the inlet to the outlet to define a labyrinth flow path cooperable with a deformable membrane which regulates the flow through the labyrinth flow path in response to the inlet pressure. The baffles are formed with notches in the sides thereof facing the membrane such that the membrane is deformed by an increase in the inlet pressure first into engagement with the sides of the baffles facing the membrane, and then into the notches, to regulate the flow to the outlet.

Abstract: A static sprinkler presettable to select a desired water discharge pattern includes a lower part formed with a cavity defined by a cylindrical surface and extending axially from an inner end of the lower part serving as a water inlet through the outer end of the lower part; and an upper part carried by the lower part and having a cylindrical stem received within the cavity and engaging the cylindrical surface. The upper part is rotatably presettable with respect to the lower part to align one of a plurality of water discharge openings in one part with a passageway in the other part to thereby enable selection of the water discharge pattern of the sprinkler.

Abstract: Electro-optical display apparatus includes a plurality of modular units each having a projector for receiving electrical signals, converting them to optical images, and projecting the optical images via an optical projection system onto a screen. The modular units are arranged in a side-by-side array such as to produce a combined display on the screen. A calibration system detects distortions in the combined display caused by the projection system of each modular unit and modifies the electrical signals applied to the projector of each modular unit to correct the combined display with respect to the detected distortions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a processing machine to perform a processing operation on a workpiece by (a) determining the nominal locations of at least two sensible reference marks on the workpiece in terms of the coordinates of the workpiece; (b) loading the workpiece on the processing machine; (c) sensing, and measuring the actual locations of, the reference marks on the workpiece when so mounted, in terms of the coordinates of the processing machine; (d) determining at least one geometrical transformation needed to transform the workpiece coordinates of the nominal locations of the reference marks to the processing machine coordinates of the actual locations of the reference marks; (e) and controlling the processing machine in accordance with the determined geometrical transformation.

Abstract: A method of joining a first pipe of a plastic material to a second pipe of a material which does not bond well to the plastic material, utilizes an electrofusion sleeve of a plastic material which bonds well to the plastic material of the first pipe and having a first coil of electrical heater wire on the inner surface at one end of the sleeve to receive the first pipe and a second coil of electrical heater wire on the inner surface at the opposite end of the sleeve to receive the second pipe. The opposite end of the sleeve includes a bonding material capable of producing a good bond, when activated by heat, between the materials of the sleeve and of the second pipe. The two pipes are inserted into the two ends of the sleeve, and electrical current is applied to the two coils to cause the first end of the sleeve to bond by electrofusion to the first pipe, and the second end of the sleeve to bond by electrofusion and by the bonding material to the second pipe.

Abstract: A water discharge device, particularly a toy water gun, includes a portable housing containing a reservoir for a quantity of water; a discharge control device for controlling the discharge of water from the housing; and a hand-operated pump for manually pumping water from the reservoir through the discharge control. The discharge control device includes an expansible chamber having an inlet connected to the pump, an outlet through which the water is discharged, and a pressure-responsive valve controlling the outlet. The valve is normally closed to permit expansion of the reservoir and a build-up of water pressure during the pumping of water by the pump into the reservoir, but automatically opens when a predetermined pressure is reached in the chamber to discharge water through the outlet.

Abstract: A pitcher-style reusable bottle holder having a spout with internal lower thread flanges for attachment to the thread-flanged top of a bottle, external upper thread flanges for attachment of the original bottle cap, and a strategically designed handle which turns the bottle as a whole into a pitcher. The threads are in the form of flanges defining interrupted threads to reduce the surface area bearing on the mating thread flanges, thereby reducing the friction between the mating thread flanges and the torque needed to attach the handle to the bottle. There are spaces or gaps formed in the thread flanges for the controlled release of carbon dioxide gas when the original cap of the bottle is unscrewed from the bottle, and for the introduction of air from the atmosphere into the interior of the bottle when the bottle holder is applied and used for pouring liquid from the bottle. An open grasping portion depends outwardly and downwardly from the spout. The pouring spout may be oriented horizontally or vertically.

Abstract: A pulsating spraying device includes a housing having an inlet for a liquid under pressure, and a plurality of discharge openings for discharging the liquid; an inlet chamber communicating with the housing inlet; a plurality of pulsating control chambers each having an inlet passageway on one side communicating with the inlet chamber, and an outlet passageway on the opposite side communicating with at least one of the discharge openings; and a plurality of oscillating members, one located in each of the fluid control chambers, configured to be rapidly oscillated by the flow of liquid into the respective pulsating control chamber via its inlet passageway, and to drive the liquid via its outlet passageway out of the respective discharge opening in the form of pulses.

Abstract: A fluid-flow control device particularly useful as a drip-irrigation emitter, includes a housing having first and second housing sections attachable to each other to define an internal chamber. The first housing section includes an inlet opening at one side of the chamber, and the second housing section includes a hollow stem projecting into the chamber from the opposite side of the chamber and defining an outlet opening from the chamber. A control ring is located within the chamber around the hollow stem and is freely movable, as guided by the hollow stem, towards and away from the inlet opening to control the flow therethrough into the chamber, and thereby the flow through the outlet opening from the chamber.

Abstract: An appliance for cooking food articles includes a receptacle for receiving a quantity of food articles to be cooked, and a sufficient quantity of cooking liquid to only partially immerse the food articles therein; a heater for heating the cooking liquid and the food articles when received therein; a paddle movably mounted with respect to the receptacle so as to be movable therein; and a periodically-reversing drive for driving the paddle back and forth in the receptacle to move the food articles therein back and forth through the cooking liquid. The appliance is particularly useful for frying as it causes all the surfaces of the food article to be crisply fried without absorbing undue quantities of the frying oil. The appliance is also useful for other applications including steaming food, cooking rice, and popping corn.

Abstract: A waste container includes a pliable plastic bag, and a rectangular sheet of stiff sheet material rolled and retained in the form of a cylinder open at its opposite ends and receiving the bag within it. The cylinder formed by the sheet encloses the bag, exposes the bottom of the bag enabling it to serve as the bottom of the waste container, and terminates short of the open top of the bag permitting a portion thereof to be turned out towards the bottom of the bag and to be draped over the corresponding open end of the cylinder. The described waste container also includes a second rectangular sheet of stiff sheet material rolled and retained in the form of a cylinder receiving the cylinder of the first-mentioned sheet, and firmly clamping the draped portion of the open top of the bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a coded data stream of video information (e.g., video-on-demand) for selective display according to a Normal PLAY Mode or a Fast PLAY Mode, by splitting the coded data stream into (a) anchor data constituted of anchor picture frames (e.g., I-frames) coded without reference to other picture frames, and (b) complemental data (e.g., B-frames and P-frames) complementing the anchor data; storing the anchor data in an anchor data file and the complemental data in a complemental data file; upon the selection of a Normal PLAY Mode, combining the data of both the anchor data file and the complemental data file to recompose and display the video information; and upon the selection of a fast PLAY mode, displaying only the data of the anchor data file.

Abstract: A water tap particularly for kitchen sinks includes a body member attachable to the kitchen sink and having first and second ports for connection to hot and cold water supply lines, respectively, of the kitchen sink and a third port for connection to a third water supply line; and a handle rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis with respect to the body member and operatively connected to a valve assembly such that: (a) rotating the handle to a selected position within a first operating region connects the first and second ports to a mixing chamber and controls the proportions of the hot and cold water supplied to the mixing chamber from the respective hot and cold water supply lines for discharge through a spout; and (b) rotating the handle to a selected position within a second operating region connects the third port to the spout for discharging water from the third water supply line.

Abstract: A holder for an article of the type having a handle at one end and a working member at the opposite end, includes first and second fingers or arms extending in substantially parallel, spaced relation to each other to receive the article handle between them. One described embodiment is constructed as a flat blank of stiff sheet material for holding toothbrushes or similar articles. The flat blank is provided with cut and fold lines to define a pair of side sections normally spaced laterally apart, and a pair of strips separated from each other by cut lines and joined to the side sections by fold lines such that when the two side sections are moved toward each other to a mounting condition, the pair of strips become bowed outwardly of the side sections to serve as the upper and lower arms for supporting the articles between them.