Abstract: A toilet seat device and associated training method for pet animals that permit dual purpose use of a household toilet by both humans and pets, the toilet seat device comprising a toilet seat supported by a commode and having a plurality of shelf segments. The shelf segments are extendible to a protracted position (to reduce the size of the central aperture of the toilet seat) by a cable and roller assembly which interconnects the shelf segments, and the shelf segments are biased to a retracted position when released by the cable and roller assembly to fully open the central aperture.

Abstract: Poly(alkylene dicarboxylate) polymers and copolymers having tetraalkyl- or trialkylammonium ion end groups and methods of synthesis, thereof. The methylene-containing copolymers, in general, adhere to glass and metals, including aluminum, iron, and copper. Poly(methylene-co-ethylene terephthalate) is a clear film useful in the protection of metals or glass from corrosion or scratching. Glass may be bound to glass or to metal using the polymers of the present invention or metal to metal seals may be made.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are described which reduce air turbulence in a disc drive assembly. In a method of use, a groove is machined into a side portion of an actuator arm and then a streamlined actuator arm side rail is inserted into the groove to provide streamlining characteristics to the actuator arms. An actuator arm is provided which has a groove which extends along a side portion of the actuator arm. A streamlined side rail is attached to the side portion of the actuator arm, and is preferably arrowhead-shaped so that the side rail mates with the groove. The streamlined side rail reduces air turbulence in the disc drive caused by air flow against and around the actuator arms, yielding an improvement in the power consumption of the disc pack spindle motor.

Abstract: An actuator latch for latching an actuator of a disc drive having a rotating disc that induces airflow when the disc drive is operational, the actuator latch having a shaft supported by a baseplate, the shaft supporting a plurality of vanes to rotate the shaft in response to airflow generated by disc rotation. A locking member is operably engaged with the shaft and moveable thereby to a latched position and to an unlatched position, the actuator being secured by the locking member in the latched position and the actuator being released to move freely in the unlatched position. The locking member is caused to be positioned in the unlatched position when airflow rotates the vanes and shaft, and a biasing member reverse rotates the shaft when the airflow ceases, thus returning the locking member to the latched position when the disc drive becomes non-operational.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the mass and the responsive inertia of a bearing cartridge for a disc drive actuator assembly, the bearing cartridge including a stationary shaft, a bearing assembly and a bearing sleeve. The bearing assembly is disposed between, and rigidly attached to, the stationary shaft and the bearing sleeve, to facilitate radial movement of the bearing sleeve relative to the stationary shaft. The disc drive actuator assembly has an actuator rigidly attached to, and supported by, the bearing cartridge. The bearing assembly has an inner race rigidly attached to the stationary shaft, and an outer race rollingly engaging a plurality of roller bearings disposed between the inner and outer races. The outer race has a chamfered edge in a plane between a reference vertical axis and a reference horizontal axis, and the bearing sleeve has an internal taper matingly joining the chamfered edge to provide a miter joint therebetween.

Abstract: A cover adapted to overlie a food item to be cooked beneath the support, such as on a griddle or grill, carries at least one temperature sensor disposed on the cover to sense an actual temperature of the food item being cooked. An indicator is mounted on the cover and connected to the temperature sensor. There is preferably a respective indicator for each temperature sensor, or at least for each respective food item that can be cooked at one time using the apparatus of the present invention. In a specific implementation, the cover includes a hamburger press and the temperature sensor is mounted on the hamburger press to penetrate a hamburger patty beneath the press so that the internal temperature of the patty is sensed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for suppressing the effects of thermal asperities in readback signals of a hard disc drive are disclosed. A suppression circuit is provided having a clamping path that establishes an electrical short between a readback signal path transmitting the readback signal and a reference line for the readback signal in order to remove substantially all of the energy associated with the thermal asperity from the readback signal. The suppression circuit further includes a compensation path operably coupled between the readback signal path and the reference line to subsequently provide baseline compensation for the readback signal by introducing a non-zero impedance between the readback signal path and the reference line.

Abstract: A collet assembly for picking and placing a disc pack in an automated assembly process, the collet assembly having a retractable cylinder that extends to spreadingly engage a segmented collet against a lifting surface of the disc pack to support the disc pack during a lifting operation. The collet assembly is positioned by a positioning assembly to an engaging position adjacent the disc pack. A locking cylinder supports a lower pad and an upper pad on opposing sides of a flange portion of the collet assembly, to provide a fixed mode in a retracted position of the locking cylinder wherein the collet assembly position is fixed relative the positioning assembly, and to provide a compliant mode in an extended position of the locking cylinder wherein the collet assembly is free to compliantly float in a two-axis plane relative to the positioning assembly.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a dual actuator assembly for a disc drive. The dual actuator assembly has first and second rotatable actuator assemblies which are axially aligned for independent rotation about a common axis and support at least first and second read/write heads, respectively. The method comprises providing a dual bearing cartridge assembly with a stationary shaft aligned along the common axis having first and second ends, a first rotatable sleeve mounted for rotation about the stationary shaft toward the first end, a second rotatable sleeve mounted for rotation about the stationary shaft toward the second end, and first and second bearing assemblies supporting the first and second rotatable sleeves, respectively.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for weighting pipe segments of the type that are interconnected to form a pipeline for transporting fluids such as natural gas and the like. The exterior surface of each segment is wetted with a friction reducing agent prior to forming a coating of weighting material along the length of the pipe segment, the friction reducing agent selected to prevent the adhering of the weighting material to the pipe. In the preferred embodiment, where a medial portion of the pipe segment is wrapped with an adhesive material prior to wetting the remaining portion of the pipe segment's external surface with the friction reducing agent, and encasing same with the weighting material. Preferably, the adhesive material is joint tape, the friction reducing agent is vegetable oil, and the weighting material is concrete.

Abstract: A burner apparatus having a burner tube in which is disposed a premixing tube having air communication with the air inlet end of the burner tube. An air diffuser bridges between the premixing tube and the burner tube. A baffle plate is supported by and seals across one end of the premixing tube and a plurality of gas/air mixture injection holes are dispersed in the premixing tube between the air diffuser plate and the baffle plate. A gas tube extends into the premixing tube and a plurality of gas holes are disposed along the gas tube in proximity to the discharge end of the gas tube so that air is premixed with gas and discharged from the gas holes to form a gas/air mixture which is passed from the gas/air mixture injection holes radially between the baffle plate and an air diffuser plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for compensating for repeated servo runout error in a disc drive. The disc drive includes a disc on which servo information is arranged as a plurality of servo fields which define tracks on the disc. An actuator assembly is provided adjacent the disc and includes a head which accesses the servo fields and an actuator motor which moves the head relative to the disc. A servo circuit controls radial location of the head by applying current to the actuator motor in response to the servo information. The repeated servo runout error, caused by errors in the radial location of the servo fields on the disc, is compensated by the servo circuit through the use of compensation values which are stored in compensation fields of the servo fields.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for the treatment of a surface through the projection of an abrading material against the surface. The abrading material is fed from a hopper to a centrifugal blast wheel which projects the abrading material toward the surface, the blast wheel rotated by a blast motor. A controllably positionable valve is disposed between the hopper and the blast wheel to regulate a rate at which the abrading material passes from the hopper to the blast wheel. During operation, a target current to be applied to the blast motor is determined by a control circuit, the target current indicative of a desired rate of abrasion of the surface. The control circuit then measures the current applied to the blast wheel and controls the position of the valve in relation to the target current and the measured current.

Abstract: An improved low NOx burner assembly having a burner plate assembly which is attached to a burner head portion thereof, the burner plate assembly having a burner plate and a wrapper, the burner plate having a relatively large central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures of several diametrical sizes disposed at selected radial positions. The burner plate, attached to the burner head portion of the burner assembly via its wrapper, partially closes the outlet end of the burner head, and flame combustion is partially contained in a premixing chamber, thus effecting prolonged contact with combustion air prior to the gas and air mixture passing through the apertures of the burner plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for increasing subterranean fluid production are disclosed. A downhole stimulation apparatus produces elastic wave energy which propagates into the subterranean strata of nearby fluid fields. The wave energy creates gravity separation of the fluids, altering the phase permeability of subterranean formations and causing the fluid to migrate to wells in the field being stimulated. The stimulation apparatus employs an underground casing which provides a sealed vessel in which is supported a tubing string. The casing and tubing string are filled with a working fluid. A pumping unit reciprocates a plunger within the tubing string to cyclically pressurize and depressurize the working fluid, the depressurization of working fluid creating the elastic wave energy.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrically insulating and supporting a power supply wire relative to a substantially planar boundary, is disclosed. A translucent insulator is formed from a supercooled, nonporous igneous magma, such as glass, and includes a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank extendable through an opening in the boundary. The head and the shank form an annular passageway for receiving disposition of the wire. A shoulder surface limits the extension of the shank through the boundary opening and a retaining member, such as a nut, engages corresponding features of the shank to secure the insulator relative to the boundary. A seal can be additionally provided to engage the head and the wire to further seal the insulator.

Abstract: An opposed louver air damper apparatus for controlling the flow rate of combustion air to a burner fire box, comprising a plurality of adjacent, rotatable louvers having rubber tips and side gaskets providing sealing between the louvers and a frame, and geared responsive shafts supporting the louvers for controllably rotating the louvers to determinative positions to modulate the volume of air passing through the louver apparatus, wherein the gears in meshing engagement precisely maintains the relative position of the louvers, and the gaskets operate to minimize undesirable leakage through the air damper. The gears form teeth in arcuate portions of the full circumference to limit the rotational movement to only that within the toothed portion of the gear.

Abstract: A fuel injector matrix to optimize the operating efficiency of an internal combustion engine, each injector having a metering orifice sized for each of the combustion cylinders of the engine to provide a uniform fuel to air ratio to all the cylinders such that all the cylinders reach a peak exhaust gas temperature at a common total engine fuel flow.