Abstract: A milking system including apparatus and a method for facilitating the milking of a large number of animals in a milking parlor. Milking stalls in the parlor are arranged to provide a one way-path of travel through the parlor with a controlled entry and exit to facilitate pre- and post-milking treatment of the animals. The milking stalls are separated by an operator's pit. A platform or person mover disposed in the pit carries an operator from one milking stall to another wherein the proximity of a working side of the platform to the stalls allows the operator to have direct access to an animal without leaving the platform. Movement of the platform to a given stall is controlled by a controller acting responsive to sensors that indicate the occurrence of an event at the given stall requiring the operator's attention.

Abstract: A casing 23 of a second differential gear mechanism 2 is constituted by a carrier 19 and a sun gear 22 which are separately formed. Owing to this arrangement, the casing 23 is divided into two parts in a direction of its axis. The carrier 19 is movable in a direction of an axis L. By meshing engagement between a pinion gear 26 and a side gear 27A, the carrier 19, which forms a part of the casing 23, is press contacted with a housing 11 through a washer 29.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cabin pressure control system (10), a method of controlling the actual pressure inside a cabin (50) and an outflow valve (14; 15; 16; 17), especially for use in said system (10) or said method. The invention provides communication of actual cabin pressure to the outflow valve (14; 15; 16; 17) and additionally a common data exchange line (22) connecting the components of the cabin pressure control system (10). The system (10) is highly redundant and reliable, guarantees the desired sophisticated pressure control even if one or several components fail and allows complete elimination of the previously used fully pneumatic safety valves.

Abstract: A method and device for the continuous real-time monitoring of relative blood volume change, based on registration of blood hemoglobin concentration, during long periods of time, such as dialysis session. A method and device for cardiac output measurement during dialysis, surgeries, intensive care procedure is provided. Calibration of a sensor in response to a change in a measureable blood property is determined from a coefficient corresponding to a change in the measured blood property.

Abstract: A post for a queue management system is disclosed, the post being constructed so as to be capable of nesting with one or more similar posts and having an upright portion 3 or 65 adapted to support at least one barrier device 25 and having at its bottom end a foot 5 or 61 which is so constructed that it can nest within or upon a foot of an adjacent post, the post preferably being provided with at least one wheel 19 or roller 75 to facilitate moving the posts between storage positions in which they are nested together and positions of use.

Abstract: Methods for preparing a puffable food product suitable for cooking by microwaving, deep fat frying and hot air cooking are disclosed. The methods include mixing a starch with water at a temperature and for a time sufficient to at least partially gelatinize the starch, forming the mixture into a sheet and subjecting the sheet to a steam treatment to fully gelatinize the starch. The sheet is then cooled and cut into pellets of a desired shape and the pellets are dried. The inclusion of flavoring ingredients to improve the puffability is also disclosed.

Abstract: A variable volume buffer is employed to conduct a multitude of articles from an elevated supply stream into a container at a lower elevation while maintaining a drop distance for the articles that is shorter than the distance from the source to the bottom of the container. The bottom of the buffer is vertically displaced in response to the height of the articles in the buffer in a continuous or step-wise function to maintain the fill level of the articles in the buffer at substantially a constant drop distance from the source. Upon the bottom of the buffer moving adjacent the bottom of the container, the gate is opened and the buffer is raised to permit the spilling of the articles directly from the buffer and into the container.

Abstract: A fault tolerant network switch includes two or more switches units and a highly reliable (i.e., one with no single point of failure) interconnect unit so that during normal operation both switches are actively handling network packets and upon the failure of one of the switch units, another switch unit takes over, ensuring continued normal network operation, with somewhat reduced performance. The failed switch unit can then be replaced and the network returned to its original performance without disturbance to the other switch or the network cable connections.

Abstract: A catheter for retrograde orientation in a blood flow is used to determine the blood flow rate by thermodilution measurements. The determination of the blood flow rate accommodates injectate induced thermal influences on a dilution thermal sensor, wherein the thermal influences can occur prior to introduction of the injectate into the blood flow.

Abstract: A drying tunnel applicable to products of fruits and vegetables for drying, using ambient temperature dry air. The tunnel has an outer casing fitted with two independent stories which has openings at the ends of the upper floor, which crossed inside in an upward direction by a conveyor belt which is in turn crossed in a counterflow direction by a particular flow of drying air at ambient temperature. Humidity of the products is absorbed by traveling along the conveyor belt which passes through the upper flow. The upper floor is blown by fans treated by air passing through a refrigeration evaporator, condenser, and compressor located on the upper floor. Air curtains are at the tunnel openings to minimize escaping air. Air filters are included to eliminate suspended particles from the product surface.

Abstract: An extendible bumper for an extendible tilt bed roll off truck is pivotally attached to a single hydraulic cylinder which is pivotally attached to the truck frame. The hydraulic cylinder is centrally positioned on the extendible bumper. A pair of guide rods extend from the extendible bumper and telescope into and out of a pair of guide rod holders, one on each side of the hydraulic cylinder. Because the bumper assembly is attached to the truck frame as opposed to the extendible tilt bed, the assembly is provided with a certain amount of clearance before the bumper requires retraction. Indication means for indicating when the extendible bumper is in its fully retracted position may be provided by an indicator switch which becomes depressed when the extendible bumper abuts the truck's stationary bumper. The depressed indicator switch actuates a cab indicator light for indicating full retraction.