Abstract: A portable barbecue cooking apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprising a base; a fire bowl having a topside opening, and the fire bowl is mounted on the base, and the topside opening of the fire bowl is situated above the base; a grill situated within the fire bowl and is moveable within the fire bowl; and at least one shelf is pivotally attached to the base, and the shelf is foldable inwardly towards the topside opening of the fire bowl during a stowage position and extendable outwardly away from the topside opening of the fire bowl during a usage position.

Abstract: A parking guidance and management system. The system provides graphical information regarding the relative availability of parking spaces within a parking garage or other large facility. The system relies on a pair of sensors in each space which combine to provide highly reliable information regarding whether spaces in the facility are occupied or not. The information is gathered by a series of aisle controllers, which communicate with a central computer. The information is displayed at strategically located displays along the way to available spaces. The displays contain advertising messages adjacent to the information about space availability. The information obtained from the sensors at each parking space may be used to provide information to the manager of the facility regarding space utilization. Information regarding the occupancy status of each space may also be used as a check on receipts of parking fees and to identify abandoned vehicles.

Abstract: A conveyor system having an automatic lubricating system for the conveyor chain and its associated guide track is provided. The conveyor system includes a conveyor chain, a guide track, a lubricator, and a support frame. The guide track is carried by the support frame, and has a bottom wall with a guide surface and an aperture. The conveyor chain has interconnecting links, and is supported by the guide track for movement. Each of the links of the conveyor chain has a lower surface that may contact the guide surface of the guide track when the conveyor chain is moved. The lubricator is mounted on the support frame, and includes a separator dividing the lubricator into a lubricant chamber and a gas compartment. The lubricator includes an electrochemical cell in the gas compartment for generating gas that flows against the separator to move the separator against the lubricant in the chamber to force the lubricant through an outlet.

Abstract: A lighting strip for use in direction and guidance systems includes an elongated insulating base upon which one or more light emitting diode strips each supporting a plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned. A terminal housing supporting operative power systems and control apparatus is coupled to one end of the lighting strip while the remaining end may be coupled to an end cap or connected to a further lighting strip to increase the array size. The light emitting diodes are encapsulated within a light transmissive material top cover to provide physical protection and seal for the light emitting diodes.

Abstract: Solid state switching devices, such as power IGBT's, are used to switch a load from one AC generator to another. The switching is controlled to occur only when the phase and voltage of the two generator outputs are within acceptable limited, thus minimizing voltage and current transients.

Abstract: A self-adhering modified bituminous roof covering composite that comprises an APP modified bitumen compound on the front side, and a factory-applied self-adhesive compound on the back side of a reinforcement carrier sheet. A method of manufacturing such composite comprising coating an APP compound on the top surface and affixing a self-adhesive compound to the bottom surface of a reinforcement carrier support sheet, and applying a release liner to the tacky self-adhesive layer during manufacture, stripping the release liner, selvage release film and end lap film from the membrane immediately prior to use, subsequently placing the exposed surface of the membrane directly on to the upper surface of the roof deck, base sheet or underlayment, and applying force directly to the sheet to enhance the bond between the composite and the underlying surface that is created by the tacky self-adhesive compound. The present invention relates generally to residential and commercial roofing membranes and shingles.

Abstract: A strip of polymer material is used as a corner bead or drywall tape. In a preferred application, the location, i.e. a joint, where two pieces of drywall meet are sprayed with an adhesive and the strip is put in place over the joint. Then, drywall compound is placed over the strip and finished by a drywall finisher. Perforations, depressions and knurling on the strip allow drywall compound to form, when dry, a mechanical bond to the strip at the joint. The material used to make the strip is preferably a mineral filled polymer, such as talc-filled polypropylene, which is inexpensive and lightweight. The adhesive applied to the joint is preferably one which is specially formulated to bond to polypropylene. The strip is initially extruded into a flat form and a crease is imparted to the center of the strip. This allows the strip to be carried in a compact, rolled form.

Abstract: A surface repair patch for closing an opening around a fixture which is adjacent to or protrudes from a surface is provided. The surface repair patch comprises a sheet having a plurality of openings which extend from the first side to the second side of the sheet. The sheet supports, positions, and reinforces a curable repair compound on a surface before the repair compound is cured. The sheet includes a removable first section which has a border defined by a first line of holes. The first line of holes is configured such that the removable first section may be removed from the sheet by applying pressure to the removable first section. The sheet of the repair patch may further include a removable second section having a border defined by a second line of holes which facilitate removal of the removable second section from the sheet. The sheet may also include a third line of holes which extend from the border of the removable first section to the periphery of the sheet.

Abstract: An interviewing method and system is disclosed for pre-employment screening and assessment. A job candidate accesses the system in response to published position opening. Preliminary background information is requested and collected, and the system determines whether the applicant qualifies to advance to the substantive stages of the interview process. If qualified, the system administers a bona fide occupational qualifier (BFOQ) interview. The applicant's responses to questions are monitored to determine alternate directions in which the interview may proceed. Upon completion of the BFOQ interview, candidates who satisfy criteria set by the client/employer proceed to a behavioral assessment interview. The candidate responds to customized and validated assessment questions. Again, responses and response times are monitored to determine alternate directions in which the interview may proceed.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for use at high speed. The rotor comprises a stack of laminations held under compression between opposed flanges. The laminations have a plurality of teeth. Some of the laminations have lugs having passages formed therein through which the bolts that hold the stack in compression pass. The laminations serve to hold bolts against radial deformation at high speed.

Abstract: A label holding device with as protective front cover. A label channel for use on retail shelving typically includes opposing U-shaped formation into which a label may be inserted. To protect the label from spills and to prevent the U-shaped formations from becoming clogged with spilled material a cover panel is hingedly connected to the top part of the label channel.

Abstract: An insect trap with glue boards which are mounted inside a housing so as to be not readily visible when the trap is seen from various angles. The trap uses a lens with a roughened inside surface in combination with a reflector (preferably double parabolic) to enhance a UV light source mounted inside the trap. The housing of the trap has openings through which insects are able to enter an inside chamber. The walls of the chamber are lined with glue boards, which may be treated with chemical attractant so as to increase the tendency for insects to land on the adhesive area of the glue boards. The trap is designed to appear to be a simple wall sconce, and the angle at which the boards are mounted is such that the trap may be mounted at any orientation or any elevation without any significant likelihood that trapped insects will be seen by persons looking at the trap.

Abstract: An improved dual-stage pump system is provided for the accurate pumping and filtering of viscous fluids. Two hydraulically activated pumps are provided in series with a filter and reservoir disposed in-line between the two pumps. The reservoir acts as a source bottle for the second pump and allows the first pump to pump the viscous fluid through the filter at a rate independent of the dispensing rate of the second pump. By operating the first pump at a rate independent of the second pump, back pressure at the filter is avoided. Each hydraulically activated diaphragm pump is equipped with an improved diaphragm that is pre-formed to the geometries of the process fluid cavity thereby eliminating any inaccuracies in the operation of the pumps due to expansion of retraction of the diaphragm during pump operation.

Abstract: A method for making synthetic aggregate. Fly ash is combined with water to form a soil-like mixture. The mixture is then compacted into slabs and allowed to set. After setting, the material is crushed to appropriate size. Since fly ash and water mixtures set quickly, and since compaction should take place prior to setting of the mixture, a set sequestering admixture may be used to facilitate the process.