Abstract: An improved reinforcing fiber for concrete is formed with two types of anchors positioned adjacent to each axial end of the fiber. A drag anchor which frictionally resist being pulled from the concrete without fiber breakage and a dead anchor between the drag anchor and adjacent axial end of the fiber, the dead end engages the concrete to develop stresses at a weakened point in the fiber formed between the drag anchor and its adjacent dead anchor to break the fiber or deform the dead anchor before maximum tensile strength of the fiber is reached so that the dead anchor functions to maximize the load carrying capacity while at the same time protecting against fiber rupture and the drag anchor continues to function after release of the weak point of the fiber.

Abstract: A vacuum microwave dehydration process for drying fresh mango and pineapple fruit pieces at low temperatures which results in a product with a "fresh", uncooked flavor and a unique crunchy texture with little or no shrinkage which can not be achieved through conventional air drying.

Abstract: A hinge structure composed of a supporting hinge and aligning hinge. The supporting hinge is composed of a first and second part one of which has a first bearing with a spherical bearing portion the other a cooperating seat and preferably a cylindrical bearing surface opening therefrom. The first bearing cooperates with seat and the cylindrical bearing surface to support and prevent relative lateral movement of the first part while permitting rotational movement. The aligning hinge is formed of a second bearing having spherical bearing surface portion and a second hinge portion with a cylindrical bearing portion adapted to receive the second bearing in mating relation to permit rotation around the spherical axis of its spherical portion while preventing lateral movement.

Abstract: Herbs are dried by applying microwave power to herbs in a chamber under reduced or negative pressure to reduce the moisture content of the herbs without significantly damaging the flavor of the dried herbs and produce a dried herb having a flavor more closely approaching the flavor of fresh herbs than dried herbs produced by conventional processes.

Abstract: A device comprised of at least a pair of accelerometers and a tilt sensor mounted in fixed relation to a datum defining plane (sole of a shoe) maybe used for extracting kinematic variables including linear and rotational acceleration, velocity and position. These variables may be resolved into a selected direction thereby permitting both relative and absolute kinematic quantities to be determined. The acceleration is determined using a small cluster of two mutually perpendicular accelerometers mounted on a shoe. Angular orientation of the foot may be determined by double integration of the foot's angular acceleration (which requires a third accelerometer substantially parallel to one of the two orthogonal accelerometers). The two orthogonal accelerations are then resolved into a net horizontal acceleration or other selected direction which may be integrated to find the foot velocity in the selected direction. The average of the foot velocity corresponds to the subject's gait speed.

Abstract: A dielectric drying kiln having a moveable electrode permanently electrically connected with a source of power via an electrical connector formed by a plurality of discrete interconnected electrically and mechanically interconnected conducting element that permit relative movement between the elements. One end of the electrical connector is connected to the moveable electrode and moveable therewith while said electrical connector maintains electrical connection with the source. The electrical connector has a minimum curvature on its outside surface having a radius of at least r to prevent arcing.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a ribbon of tape from a roll by using guide and feed rolls to apply a significantly higher tension to the ribbon along the longitudinal central portion of the ribbon than along the longitudinal side edge portions of the ribbon so that forces tending to tear the tape adjacent to the side edges of the tape are significantly less than those normally applied in drawing a ribbon of tape from a roll whereby breakage of the tape is minimized.

Abstract: A seat mounting assembly include a tilt adjustment system wherein the angle of a link on which saddle is mounted may be adjusted via a saddle tilt adjusting mechanism that interconnects base and link members at a position spaced from a moveable connection between the link and base member. The tilt adjusting mechanism is formed by a position adjusting element for adjusting the relative position of the link and base and an independent locking element that unlocks the adjusting mechanism independent of position adjusting element so that the position adjusting element may be then be independently adjusted to adjust the relative position of base and link members from a relative position preset by the adjustment mechanism so that the adjustment commences from the location of the previous adjustment thereby facilitating seat adjustment and accurate repositioning.

Abstract: A coater head for applying coating to a size press roll of a size press coater, the coater head has a flow passage with a metering device at its outlet end and a metering chamber immediately adjacent to the metering end. A shear developing passage delivers coating to the metering chamber and a mixing passage leading into the metering chamber mixes fresh coating with return coating on the surface of the roll to carry the fresh coating to the outlet end of the metering chamber. The metering chamber is dimensioned to form a stable vortex within the chamber thereby to improve the uniformity of the coating wet film.

Abstract: A trailer or towed vehicle braking system incorporates a master hydraulic cylinder, the piston of which is biased to apply pressure to the slave cylinders in the braking system and wherein an electric high torque mechanism, when operated at high electric power, overcomes the biasing force to apply no pressure to the slave cylinders. When the electric power to the high torque system is reduced, the pressure applied by the master cylinder is increased. The amount of electric power applied to the high torque motor is preferably controlled based on the braking pressure being applied in the towing vehicle.

Abstract: Operation for each action of a machine is individually controlled by providing a file of set of components necessary to carry out the operation and a file of a set of components that are available and then determining in sequence whether each required component is also available and transferring those components that are both required and available in sequence to a fault file. The fault file may then be read in sequence and used to control the action being controlled so that if anyone of the required components is not available, the fault file so indicates and terminates the operation based on the first component found to be inoperative so that it is an easy matter to define the source of the problem.

Abstract: A control for delivery system made up of a plurality of variable output feed sources each with an independently variable input of material defines the capability of each of the feed sources based on the level of material and combines these capabilities to define a total capability of the delivery system. An output setpoint for each source is determined based on its capability and a required setpoint is set based on a desired end product characteristic which is used to define a production rate based on total capacity, required setpoint and the production line characteristics. The process is iterative so that the production rate, e.g. speed of the line is varied iteratively depending on the then current capabilities of the feed sources of the system and the footprint of the feed sources are adjusted based on their sensed capabilities thereby to maximize production line speed based on capability.

Abstract: A fiber-optic probe is formed by a pair of optical fibers one of which delivers light to a target zone and the other collects light from a field of view in the target zone. One of these fibers is provided with a window that opens substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber and with a transverse surface oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the fiber to reflect light through the window or from the window longitudinally of the axis of this fiber. Two fibers are physically interconnected to position the window on one side of and immediately adjacent to the target zone and the axial end of other fiber to deliver or receive light from another side of the target zone preferably substantially perpendicular to the one side.

Abstract: A thermostat bypass is formed using the periphery of a flange on the thermostat bearing against an annular inner surface of a housing to form a seal inhibiting fluid flow around the periphery of the thermostat. Movement of the thermostat by means of an axially sliding sleeve pushes the thermostat against a spring bias from the sealed position and permits flow of fluid through the housing and around the periphery of the thermostat into the sleeve to the outlet to thereby bypass the thermostat.

Abstract: A sealed drive system for driving a drive wheel of a miniature vehicle includes a drive gear, a transfer gear and a driven gear mounted in an inside pocket, an outside pocket and a second inside pocket respectively formed in a first side plate. The transfer pocket is sealed via a gear cover closing the outside pocket, the first inside pocket is sealed to a housing in which a shaft mounting a drive gear is rotatably mounted and the second inside pocket is sealed to one side of the driven wheel. The driven wheel and driven gear are fixed together and are rotatably mounted on a shaft fixed at its axial ends to the first and a second side plate. The axial end of the driven wheel remote from the driven gear is sealed via a suitable seal.

Abstract: Gait therapy aid or trainer controls the movement of the feet of the user to travel in substantially a straight line, coordinates the walking movement of the user with that of the aid so that movement of the body of the user and of the training device in the direction of walking are essentially the same by interconnecting a pair of foot pieces and the body of the device via a motion controlling mechanism.

Abstract: A mouse controller includes a platform mounted on a base for a range of movement in a plane relative to the base of at least 1/2 inch (12.5 mm) in each of two different directions (preferably mutually perpendicular directions). A pair of flat, elongated coils (Lorentz voice coils) are mounted on the platform with their longitudinal axes extending one in each of the two directions. Each of the coils cooperates with at least one magnet fixed to the base. The sizes of the magnets and of the coils and the relative positions of the cooperating coils and magnets are made or their operation controlled so that, in the range of relative movement between the platform and base, preselected forces between the coils and the magnets may be generated by a control computer.

Abstract: Strand dimension of selected strands in a layup of strands is determined by obtaining a pixel image, analyzing the pixel image to define candidate strands to be measured and their location within the image and reprocessing the image to find the opposite end points of the candidate strands and their end edges by finding areas of appropriate dimension and substantially free of edge pixels to define a strand to be examined ("magic" strand) and then determining the length and/or width of the "magic" strand.

Abstract: A case sealing system utilizes a parallel link mechanism with a built-in locking positioning system to support a case sealer such as a taper, gluer or stapler or the like at a selected height above a support table whereby the height of the sealer above the table may be readily adjusted to accommodate different height packages. Preferably, the system will also include a pair of easily adjusted side guides that are moveable to positions to center different width packages relative to the centre line of the sealer so that the equipment may be quickly and accurately be positioned to accommodate different sized packages.

Abstract: A low power consumption system for monitoring time of use of appliance incorporates a controller and a temperature sensor that is activated by the controller at intervals of X minutes to determine the temperature of the sensor. The sensed temperature is then compared with a threshold temperature and a counter is turned ON to accumulate time if the sensed temperature is at the desired level or turned OFF when the sensed temperature is not in the desired range. The counter remains in its ON or OFF position until the sensed temperature causes the counter to shift to the opposite position to the one it is in at that time. The counter receives oscillations from the oscillator which is continuously operating and only counts those oscillations when the counter is set in the ON position.