Abstract: A 110-volt wiring connector wherein sets of wire connectors are positioned on each of four sides, each set of the sets of 1-4 having three in-line electrodes as connectors, corner electrodes are interconnected, and the center electrodes are bridged as between the first set and second set and as between the first set and fourth set.

Abstract: A coin sorter wherein there area plurality of side-by-side V-shaped, elongated tracks. These tracks are on a slope and are fed from a common coin feeder and the tracks are terminated at lower ends by coin diverters varied in configuration to progressively divert, and thus sort coins in a descending order of diameter.

Abstract: A transmission system for transmitting analog color video signals wherein a cable comprising multiple twisted pairs is employed, and certain of these pairs are coupled to carry selected color signals as a function of the delay provided by particular twist rates. In certain instances, selected signal delay devices are connected in circuit with certain twisted pairs. By such an arrangement, it has been found that relatively long distances between a computer and monitor may be spanned by relatively low-cost, twisted pair cable commonly used for telephone communications.

Abstract: An orifice pulse tube refrigerator is provided with a flow separation member in the pulse tube so as to prevent mixing of hot and cold gases from opposite end of the pulse tube, thus reducing losses due to mixing and improving efficiency. The flow separation member may take the form of a cylindrical slug of low-friction material mounted in the pulse tube for sliding movement in response to instantaneous variation in working gas pressure.

Abstract: A heat exchanger manifold (44) is provided which includes a plurality of manifold inlet openings (58) including sealant means such as grommet means (62) which receive the tube outlets (40c) of the condensing section (34) of a heat exchanger (28). The heat exchanger manifold (44) is made of a corrosion-resistant material such as a polymer such as one sold under the trademark LEXAN.TM. and the grommets (62) are preferably made of a resilient, corrosionresistant polymer such as rubber, e.g., a nitrile rubber. The condensing tubes (38a, 38b, 38c) are slanted to facilitate drainage of the condensate into the heat exchanger manifold (44) and a flue gas outlet (64) and a condensate drain (49) are provided to discharge, respectively, flue gas and condensate from the heat exchanger manifold (44). The condensing tubes (38a, 38b, 38c) are connected to the primary heating section (30) of the heat exchanger (28) through swaged joints (37).

Abstract: A fluid actuator having a housing (cylinder) which encloses a piston actuated piston rod having at least one end extending through an opening in an end cylinder closure member secured in at least one end of the cylinder. The closure member is insertable into at least one end of the cylinder for sealing engagement therewith and is provided with a tapered seat which abuts against a similarly tapered seat provided in the cylinder to provide a metal-to-metal seal which also serves as an alignment mechanism for the extending piston rod.

Abstract: A flag or banner assembly wherein a flag or banner hangs from a generally horizontal staff and wherein an arm or rod extends downward from the staff and attaches to a lower region of the flag or banner wherein wrapping of the flag or banner around the staff is substantially reduced or prevented.

Abstract: A portable sign stand has a tripod frame in which one leg carries a self-adjusting bracket that urges a rigid sign upward against a pair of buttons near the top of the frame. The two other legs of the tripod are linked to one another and to an upright extension member that is connected to the leg carrying the bracket. Another pair of buttons connected to a plate of the bracket support a bottom corner or edge of the sign for being moved upward and held in position. The bracket is forced upward into position by an elastic cord. Legs of the tripod are made of square aluminum tubing. The bracket also carries an upright receptacle into which a mast of a roll-up may be placed and supported without use of buttons. Provisions are made for carrying various types of signs in different positions, depending on wind conditions and other factors.

Abstract: An egg laying assembly wherein eggs are laid onto an endless belt, and a roller at one end of the belt effects a reversal in direction of the belt, and a brush is positioned against the belt where it passes under the roller, wherein debris is loosened from the belt and vacuumed from it. The output of the vacuum system has an output into an enclosure which houses egg laying.

Abstract: A boring bar holder for use with a lathe has a massive metal block with a generally triangular cavity extending transversely across the block. Inside the cavity a pair of diagonally extending surfaces are defined by the inside of upper and lower walls which intersect one another along a centering line. A U-shaped clamp rides in longitudinal grooves on sides of the block providing legs that have contact surfaces on ends of the legs. When the U-shaped member is forced forward, ends of the legs and the upper and lower wall grip the boring bar from three sides, causing the bar to be forced into position parallel to a centering line. A wide size range of boring bars can be held by this device with minimal adjustment, and change-out of bars is readily carried out when needed.

Abstract: A radiation shield for a hand-held cellular telephone is made up of a metal strip placed between the antenna rod of the telephone and the speaker. The strip has a flat body portion and an upper portion that is curved away from the rod. Overall length of the strip is slightly longer than the antenna rod, and its width is 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Radiation fields reaching the head of a user whose ear is placed near the speaker are substantially reduced by the shield.

Abstract: A ballast machine for plowing ballast from the outer ends of rail supporting cross ties of a railroad bed. The machine is provided with a ballast ridge plow assembly including a slider box having an inner section which is vertically movable by a hydraulic actuator. The slider box is mounted to the frame of the ballast machine. The ridge plow assembly further includes a blade assembly having ballast engaging blades which are disposed for biased, pivotal movement responsive to engagement of the blades with an obstruction on the railroad bed or cross ties. Means are provided for vertical positioning of the blade assembly and for movement of the blade assembly to an "in and up" position for stowing the blades against the sides of the machine and for movement of the blade assembly to a "down and out" position for the ballast dressing operation. The "in and up" movement and the "down and out" movement are both responsive to displacement of the inner section of the slider box.

Abstract: A bidirectional, long-distance open collector link is constructed between a pair of spaced-apart open collector ports, with each of the ports being coupled to one input of a comparator. The other input of the comparator is responsive to a reference voltage and the comparator of the opposite port via an extended conductor. A first diode poled to pass current from the respective port is coupled between inputs of each comparator, and a second diode is coupled in the extended conductor to pass current to the opposite port. As such, when a first port goes LOW, a first comparator operatively associated with that port provides a LOW to the input of the second comparator, causing it to provide a HIGH output and also pulls the second port LOW. The HIGH from the second comparator is used to clamp the first comparator LOW as long as the port asserts a LOW.

Abstract: A converter for converting VGA color signals to gray scale monochrome signals wherein each of the color signals, red, green, and blue, are processed through a circuit consisting of an emitter-follower, a selected value resistor, and a diode and wherein the outputs of the three circuits are connected together and across a load impedance for an analog monochrome monitor.

Abstract: A stabilizer apparatus for fifth wheel trailers uses a pair of assemblies for placement under front corners of the trailer when parked and leveled. The assemblies each include a leveling jack, a diagonal strut-forming leg, and a connecting chain to secure the jack base and foot of the leg together at a desired location. The top end of each leg has a notch to make contact with a pin securely attached to the underside of the trailer near the area where the top of a jack is located. In operation, each leg is located to extend outward from the trailer with its bottom in contact with the ground and its top contacting a pin on the trailer. By lowering the trailer and taking slack out of the connecting chain, the legs are held rigidly in position by the weight of the trailer, and side movement of the trailer is restrained.

Abstract: A piston/piston rod assembly wherein a piston is secured to a piston rod, and a sleeve (shell) is secured around the piston rod at predetermined locations along the length of the piston rod. The shell may be removably mounted and made of a harder, heavier material than the piston rod. Segmental sealing rings are provided around the periphery of the piston.

Abstract: A data entry and error embedding system in which, first, a document is bitmapped and recorded in a first memory. Then, it is displayed, and portions of it to be replicated by data entry are underlayed by a window, into which window replicated data is entered in location and size such that it is juxtaposed just below that which is replicated, enhancing the accuracy of replication. Second, with this format in place, selected portions of the replicated data are altered by the insertion of character or word substitutions, thus the embedding of errors. Finally, a proofreader would endeavor to correct the error embedded data and a record of his or her changes recorded. In this manner, the skill level of the proofreader and accuracy of the data are computed.