Abstract: A process of producing fat free chips cooks the chips and while at elevated temperature and containing sufficient moisture to form the desired pore structure in the chips subjects the chips to sub-atmospheric pressure to expand the moisture into stream and form small pores within the chip structure to provide a cooked fat free product have a similar texture and taste to that of convention deep fried chips.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing tape, particularly a ribbon of tape, from a roll uses guide and feed rollers to define the path of the ribbon, at least sufficient of these rollers are shaped to apply a significantly higher unit tension to the ribbon along a central longitudinal portion of the ribbon than is applied along the longitudinal side edge portions of the ribbon on opposite sides of the longitudinal central portion so that forces tending to tear the tape adjacent to the side edges of the tape are significantly less than the forces in the center whereby breakage of the tape is minimized.

Abstract: A pressure sensing system is formed by a sensor mounted one to rotate with each tire and adapted to sense the pressure in the tire and generate a signal corresponding to the tire pressure, a movable contact system is moved into an operative position only when the vehicle is stopped and provides power (if required) to the sensor and contacts to deliver the electrical signals indicative of the tire air pressure to the vehicle body where it may be displayed for the operator's convenience.

Abstract: A new form of dried krill is provided by a plurality of substantially separate whole dried krill carcasses substantially all of which have a natural red color and sufficient strength and integrity to withstand normal handling without crumbling into small pieces and retain a strong wholesome fish aroma and flavor. The krill are dried by a method wherein a sequence of energy applications are applied at pressures below atmospheric and the surface of the product simultaneously swept by air to remove moisture. During the process the krill are subjected to a tumbling action. The energy applications are preferably microwave energy applications.

Abstract: A cable controller is formed by a housing having a cavity into which one end of a handle is received and mounted for a pivotal movement on a pivot pin extending across the housing. The pivot pin is received within a L-shaped slot adjacent to one end and the top of the handle and an abutment is provided projecting outwardly from the bottom of the handle in position to engage the rim of the cavity. A control cable is connected to the handle positioned about midway between the abutment and the slot. The slot and the abutment are positioned so that movement of the handle in a first direction pivots the handle about the pivot pin and extends the cable and movement of the handle in the opposite direction pivots the handle about the point of contact between the abutment and the rim of housing to move the pin along the slot into a short section of the L-shaped slot to thereby extend the cable now lock the handle in a parking position.

Abstract: A method for determining the composite triple beat (CTB), composite second order beat (CSO) and/or SNOW noise of cable television signal is obtained by digitizing a quiet line and determining the Fourier transform of the digitized signal and measuring the energy in the frequency range corresponding to the particular impairment of being determined. Repeating this process a significant number of time to accumulate a significant number N of values for the impairment and then using the average of the accumulated intensity to define the amount of the impairment.

Abstract: Lightweight wheel rims for bicycles are formed by pin joints wherein a pin traverses the joint connecting a pair of adjacent ends of a rim member and extend into passages in the rim member on opposite sides of the joint. The improved joint is formed by resilient arms on the pin (or passage) that are resiliently bent or bowed between a pair of spaced contact areas when the pin is forced into the passage and apply pressure resiliently between the pin and the passage wall so the force are applied to inside walls of the passage so that more deflection occurs in the arms as opposed to the rim. In another embodiment of the present invention circumferentially spaced vents are formed leading from the circumferential pin receiving passages to the spoke holes.

Abstract: An encircling sealable closure such as a neck band or collar made of a band of compressible material interposed between a three layer inflatable band at the neck of the user provides a neck seal by inflation of the inflatable band positioned between the compressible material and a substantially non-extendable outer wall. Inflation of the inflatable band deforms the compressible material to conform with and surround the neck of the wearer preventing the ingress of water past the neck seal so formed.

Abstract: A robot control system generates an offset signal which is added to the control signal for a robot when the velocity error is small. The offset signal is, in each case, based on a previous offset signal added to the then current robot control signal which is updated regularly on discrete increments of time when the velocity error is small. Thus, with the control system when the velocity error is low adds the control signal to the then current offset signal to provide a corrected signal to control the robot. When the velocity error signal is high, the generation and addition of the offset signal is disabled.

Abstract: An improved oxygen bleaching process wherein the pulp is bleached in an aqueous organic medium wherein a polyhydric alcohol constitutes between 10 and 70% by weight of the medium to produce a pulp having a viscosity at least 2.5 cp higher than a similar pulp bleached using the same conditions in an aqueous atmosphere to the same kappa no. of 8 ml.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for growing cell cultures consisting of a plurality of layers includes a chamber for submerging cells in a medium while supporting and binding them to a semi-permeable membrane. A stirrer is positioned within the chamber and continuously stirs the medium to constantly circulate it past the exposed surface of a semi-permeable membrane on one side of the cell culture and along the exposed surface of the cell culture growing on the membrane and remote from the membrane to transfer nutrients to both surfaces of the cell either directly or through the membrane without disrupting the cell culture on the membrane.

Abstract: A metering rod type coating applicator is provided with a metering rod having its peripheral surfaced texture to a texture in a range of Ra 0.06 to Ra 1.6 to improve the application of coating to a moving surface and permit uniform coating application using higher solids content coatings and/or lower coat weights. Preferably, the rod will be rotated at a speed significantly higher than that conventionally used and preferably with a peripheral velocity in the range of about 15 to 20 m/min.

Abstract: A discharge monitoring system for a compressed gas cylinder incorporates a seal rupturing pin mounted in a gas passage that is intended to connect to a conventional triggering mechanism for activating the seal rupturing pin connects to the object to be inflated. A chamber divided by a piston into a high pressure side which is directly connected to the gas passage and a lower pressure side on the opposite side of the piston. A flag or indicator associated with the piston is move into a flagging position when a high gas pressure is present in the gas passage and moves the piston to a displaced position. With this system, an initial high pressure formed in the gas passage immediately after the gas cylinder seal is punctured, develops a gas pressure within the chamber sufficient to displace the piston. The piston is fictionally held in its initial position indicating the cylinder is charged or after discharge in its displaced position indicating the cylinder has been discharged.

Abstract: A lean premixed fuel burner includes a peripheral ring stabilizer which divides the flow into a primary gas flow and a secondary gas flow and generates a secondary flame substantially surrounding the main flame formed by the main gas flow. Further stabilizers are provided in the area of the primary gas flow on the inside of the peripheral stabilizer. These stabilizers divide the main gas flow into a plurality of subsidiary flows whereby the primary flame is formed by a plurality of discrete flame formed in the spaces between the secondary stabilizers thereby to provide a main flame significantly shorter in the direction of gas flow than if a single primary flame is used.

Abstract: The system for reducing composite beat, composite second order beat and thermal (snow) noise impairments in a television system digitizes individual frames to apply digitized a grey scale values (v.sub.(i,j)) to the pixels in the frames and then applying a spatial filter to a block of pixels including the then current pixel being processed to determine the pixel (P.sub.(min)) with the minimum grey scale value (v.sub.(min)) and the pixel (P.sub.(max)) in the block with the maximum grey scale value (v.sub.(min)). V.sub.(max) -v.sub.min is compared with a threshold value (v.sub.(T)) and if v.sub.(max) -v.sub.min) >v.sub.(T), the value (v.sub.(i,j)) of the pixel being processed remains unchanged, but if v.sub.(max)-v.sub.(min).notgreaterthan.v.sub.(T), a value (v.sub.(av.)) equal to the weighted average value of pixels in the block is used as the grey scale value v.sub.(R-i,j) for the pixel being processed.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator/mode-converter with slow wave electrode is formed on a semiconductor substrate incorporating a waveguide interposed between a pair of spaced parallel conductor strips each provided with fins projected toward the other electrode and in position relative to the waveguide to electro-optically affect the waveguide when voltage is applied to the conductor strips. The modulator requires significantly less power and operates at higher frequency than Mach-Zehnder type slow wave modulators.

Abstract: Plasma jets are converged in encircling relationship about a common axis along which a reactant stream is introduced. The reactant stream is confined by the converging and confining plasma jets the shape and direction of flow of which are predefined by converging plasma gas passages concentric with the longitudinal axis. Each plasma gas passage has a minor axis substantially radial to the common axis and a major axis substantially perpendicular to the minor axis at their point of intersection. A body member through which the discrete passages formed is provided with a plurality of cooling passages, some of which extend into and cool fins formed between adjacent plasma gas passages and thereby cool the reactant stream.

Abstract: A ball dispenser is formed by a cylindrical housing or tube with a piston slidable therein and biased to a dispensing end of the tube. A cap is connected by a bridging member the tube and projects over the axial center line of the cylinder and is formed with a concave spherical shape to receive the end of a ball contained within the dispenser. The dispenser is symmetrical on opposite sides of a central plane and an assess opening of mouth is provided adjacent to the cap through the side of the tube opposite the bridging section. The mouth is symmetrical on opposite sides of the plane and has its maximum opening at the central plane. The periphery of the mouth is defined by substantially V-shaped sides on each side of the plane with the bottom of the V shapes adjacent to the bridging section. The front edge or lip of the cap i.e.

Abstract: Cellulosic pulps are bleached with ozone in an ozone bleaching stage in an aqueous medium containing an additive in an effective amount not exceeding 5% weight concentration of the aqueous medium. The additive is selected from a group consisting of N-alkylated ureas, N-alkylated lactams and N-alkylated amides. pH in the Z stage is operated under conventional ozone bleaching conditions, but preferably at high consistency and at low temperature, below 5.degree. C.

Abstract: A self-steering platform system incorporates at least three and preferably four microphones circumferentially spaced about the platform which is mounted for movement preferably around two mutually perpendicular axes. A sound source is selected and separate audio signals from the microphones are analyzed by a control which based on differences between the signals from the microphones emanating from the selected source determines the location of the selected source. The orientation of the platform is then adjusted by the control relative to the selected sound source. The present invention is particularly useful for mounting a shotgun or parabolic microphone to enhance sound from a selected source.