Abstract: A multi-operation control system includes a plurality of slave computers each controlling its respective operation and forming at least one operating system. Each slave computer has a memory for storing a plurality of sequential movement instructions to be carried out by the slave and the micro-controller. Each slave computer monitors the operation it controls, compares the monitored operation with the current movement instruction and generates a flag signal if the monitored operation and current movement instruction differ by more than a preselected amount. This flag signal is transmitted to all of the slave computers of the operating system of which the slave computer is a part. The slave computers carry out their movement instructions in steps in working time increments. The step of movement to be carried out in a time increment is updated only when no flag signal is received by the slave computers, i.e.

Abstract: A cable television signal for example may be monitored and impairments determined and in many cases classified by grabbing at least portion of a transmitted frame of video information somewhere on the network to provide a video signal, performing a two dimensional Fourier transform on the video signal and analyzing the Fourier transform so obtained to determine the location of areas indicating above average occurrence of specific frequencies to provide an indication of an impairment.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for controlling the motion of a double acting hydraulic actuator determines the flow to and from the actuator in accordance with1. the desired movement of the actuator2. the measured hydraulic pressures on opposite sides of the piston of the actuator3. a selected, predefined model of the system of which the actuator forms a partand sets the valves controlling the flows accordingly.

Abstract: A digitally controlled valve system is composed of the main fluid control valve with a displaceable flow control portion (spool) that is controllably displaced by a digital pressure generator that generates digitally incremented pressure changes which operate against a biassing pressure or spring to displace the spool in a direct relationship to the pressure provided by the pressure generator. In one version, a main valve directs flow to either a high or a low pressure-control valve each of which is biassed toward a closed position by a pressure substantially equivalent to the pressure drop of flow of fluid through the main valve which pressure closes the valve stop flow when the pressure drop is too high (i.e. flow through the main valve is throttled). The flows through the valves are selectively adjusted via the digitally-generated pressure from the digital pressure generator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a waferboard by applying first a liquid phenol formaldehyde resin to the surface of the wafers then a powdered phenol formaldehyde resin followed by forming a layup and pressing at elevated temperature and pressure using steam pressing techniques to consolidate the layup into a board and set the phenol formaldehyde adhesive.

Abstract: The removal of manganese from pulp is enhanced by supplementing the treatment with a chelating agent by the addition of at least 500 ppm of magnesium ions prior to thickening of the pulp thereby to reduce the manganese content of the thickened pulp significantly more than the content would be reduced by the treatment with the chelating agent without the magnesium ions.

Abstract: An identification or data tag composed of a central set of data cells surrounded by border cells which cooperate with their adjacent data cells by contrasting therewith to form a reference perimeter defined by the inter-sections of the boundaries of the border cells with their respective adjoining data cells.

Abstract: A modular digital actuator is formed by interconnecting a plurality of modules. Each of the modules includes a housing having a pair of different sized axially extending cylinder sections in which is received a T-shaped piston with the top of the T mating with the larger cylinder and the leg of the T forming a piston in the smaller cylinder. The leg of the T is hollow and forms a cylinder to receive an axially extending piston forming shaft to thereby provide three preferably different sized cooperating piston and cylinder areas, one formed in the cavity or hollows of the leg of the T, a second formed between the top of the T surrounding the leg of the T and the junction between the larger cylinder section and smaller cylinder section and the third formed in the smaller cylinder section between a closed free end of the smaller cylinder section and the leg of the T surrounding the piston forming shaft. The top of the T forms a piston wall in a fourth hydraulic cavity.

Abstract: A propeller system is formed on a shaft by at least one pair of axially spaced propeller blades each having a first and a second blade section extending at a selected acute (or obtuse) angle to the axis of the shaft, the first sections and second sections respectively of the pair of propeller blades are substantially parallel to each other and the tips of the first sections of each of the blades are connected to the tips of the second section of each of the blades respectively to form a box shape. The shaft is connected to the propeller system in a manner so that the axis of the shaft extends substantially diagonally of the box shape whereby the parallel sections of the blades move in opposite directions relative to the fluid in which they are contained when the shaft is rotated to facilitate improvement of the efficiency of the propeller system.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a multi-linked manipulator arm monitors the desired flow of hydraulic fluid to each of the actuators for the links of the manipulator, and when the desired flow to any one or more of the actuators exceeds the available flow to the respective actuators, the flows to all the actuators are reduced on the basis of a scaling factor based on the ratio of the available flow to the desired flow of that actuator having the maximum ratio of its desired to available flows so that the relative speed of all the actuators for manipulating the arm is maintained. In some cases some actuators may have higher priority than others and a second scaling factor in which such priorities have been applied may also have to be applied to the flows to reduce the relative speeds of all actuators.

Abstract: A levitation system for levitating a levitated magnetic element in a stable suspended position on one side of a separating plane using a magnetic arrangement on the opposite side of the separating plane. The magnetic arrangement provides a preselected static magnetic field configuration that interacts with a magnet in the levitated element so that the magnetic potential energy of this interaction increases for displacements of the element from its stable position in directions parallel to a stability plane and decreases for displacements of the element from the stable position perpendicular to the stability plane. Any movement perpendicular to the stability plane is sensed and used by a feedback control system to control a force applied to the levitated element to stabilize the element against displacement from the stable position in directions perpendicular to the stability plane.

Abstract: An optical switch biasing flow of light between a main optical waveguide and one or the other of a pair of secondary waveguides extending from one axial end of the main waveguide to define a Y structure with the secondary waveguides symmetrically positioned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main waveguide is provided. A resonant conductor having a pair of legs each of which is operatively associated with the main waveguide and its respective adjacent one of the secondary waveguides generates a resonant voltage that directs the flow of light between the main waveguide and the secondary waveguide associated with the leg having an appropriate voltage.

Abstract: To detect roughness on a travelling surface of a web such as paper a beam of polarized light is directed at an angle onto the web and focused by a focal lens to illuminate a spot on the surface and a specularly reflected component of the light is collected through a second lens focused on the spot. A detector is aligned to receive a portion of the specularly reflected collimated light from the spot passing through a selecting aperture and generates a signal depending on the intensity of the specular light passing through the aperture and received by the detector thereby to provide an indication of the roughness (or smoothness) of the surface.

Abstract: A slow-wave electrode structure suitable for use in integrated optical modulators having a pair of spaced substantially parallel integrated optical waveguides in a compound semi-conductor substrate (such as gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium phosphide (InP)) is formed by a pair of substantially parallel conductor strips on the surface of the substrate each in a position for interaction with its respective adjacent of said waveguides. The conductor strips are capacitively interconnected by narrow fins each integral with one of the strips and extending between the strips whereby the conducting strips and fins may be applied as a single layer to the substrate. The narrow fins significantly increase the capacitance per unit length between the strips without an equivalent decrease in inductance per unit length along the strips such that the phase velocity of the microwave signals is reduced.

Abstract: In treating effluent from an integrated paper mill having bleach plant effluent (including kraft mill effluent) and paper mill effluent (including effluent from a mechanical pulp mill) it has been found that if the two effluents are separately biologically treated and the recycled activated sludge directed to treatment of the bleach plant kraft mill effluent contains a significant portion of activated sludge derived from the treatment of the paper mill effluent that a significantly higher percentage of the absorbable organic halogens (AOX) can be removed from the bleach plant effluent.

Abstract: A custom made femoral component is made using the femoral cavity and an internal latex envelope as the mold. After the femoral cavity is worked into a roughly conical shape, an internal latex envelope is inserted into the cavity and filled with bone cement. An endoskeleton is inserted down the femoral cavity into the bone cement. The internal latex mold conforms to the shape of the cavity and an accurate negative of the cavity is created as the bone cement solidifies. The femoral component is pulled from the cavity and the internal latex envelope is peeled off the component. All traces of the internal latex envelope is removed from the femoral cavity and component. The femoral component is then reimplanted.

Abstract: A method and equipment for producing an antibiotic loaded knee prothesis by custom molding a femoral prothesis in a removable mold from a settable material containing a selected antibiotic, applying the molded prothesis to the distal end of the femur, completing the set of the material to anchor the prothesis to the femur and removing the removable mold. Next a tibial prothesis is custom molded in a second removable mold from a settable material containing a selected antibiotic, the material set and the so formed tibial prothesis is removed from the second mold and is then connected to the proximal end of the tibia in a position to form an articulating joint with the previously molded and applied femoral prothesis.

Abstract: A cartridge of cup like shape having a substantially impervious frusta-conical wall provided with a first circumferential seal adjacent the open mouth of the cup and a second circumferential seal spaced toward the bottom of the cup. The bottom is perforated and is sealed by a strippable foil. The cartridge contains a preselected amount of material (say ground coffee) that fills the receptacle to a selected level. Preferably a plurality of such receptacles are packaged as telescoped stack of cartridges with a first receptacle telescoped within a second receptacle so that the second circumferential seal on the first cartridge is received in the first circumferential seal of the second receptacle thereby to seal the material in the second receptacle.

Abstract: Cable machine control, particularly a grapple yarder is provided with an integrated control system whereby the operator is provided with controls each of which controls a desired operation or movement of the grapple. In particular the controls include a haul back and an in direction control, an up and down control and an opening and closing control some of which may be operated simultaneously with the speed of any operation or movement dependent on the maximum displacement of the control for any selected operation or movement.

Abstract: Substitute lumber pieces having strengths and densities substantially equivalent to lumber are cut from single layer panels of over about 1 and normally less than 4 inches thickness made from wood wafers. The wafers are oriented with their lengths having a mean deviation to the longitudinal length of the panel measured in the major plane of the panel in the range of 0 to 10 degrees and a mean deviation measured in a minimum longitudinal plane perpendicular to the major plane from 0 to about 5 degrees and have an average effective length of at least 8 inches (200 mm), and preferably an average thickness less than 0.15 inches (4 mm) and a width of at least 0.25 inches (6 mm). Lumber is made by cutting the panel longitudinally. Preferably the panels are formed to have a substantially uniform density profile throughout their thicknesses.