Abstract: An improved flow control mechanism for use in an automatic continuous flow liquid dispensing device for dispensing liquid through a dispensing output onto a receiving surface of an article, is disclosed. The improved flow control mechanism comprises a needle valve on a threaded elongate shaft, which shaft is threadably mounted on the dispensing device housing, for movement of the needle valve between a full flow position where the needle valve is retained in spaced relation with respect to the dispensing output opening so as to permit a full flow of liquid from the main chamber through the dispensing output opening, and a reduced flow position where the needle valve is retained in a reduced spaced relation with respect to the dispensing output opening so as to permit only a reduced flow of liquid from the main chamber through the dispensing output opening.

Abstract: A sink stopper comprises a perforated strainer basket, a sealing member, an upwardly extending handle, and a downwardly depending locating stem. The locating stem comprises a base portion and two substantially parallel spaced-apart co-operating legs that are substantially rigid yet resiliently deformable towards each other. Each peripheral surface comprises an outwardly and upwardly sloped guide surface disposed at the bottom end portion thereof, an outwardly and downwardly sloped grate-contacting surface disposed at the top end portion thereof, and a grate-receiving notch disposed between the guide surface and the grate-contacting surface. The grate-receiving notch includes an upwardly facing catch surface shaped and dimensioned to catch on the grate in interfering relation therewith. The maximum width of the locating stem at the bottom end of the sloped grate-contacting surface is greater than the diameter of the central guiding aperture in the grate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging the traction battery of an electric vehicle are provided. Charging energy is delivered from a charging station at a predetermined voltage and at a delivery frequency in the range of from 10 kHz up to 200 kHz, The charging energy is transferred to the vehicle through an inductive coupler, having a primary side connected to the charging station and a secondary side mounted within the vehicle. A rectifier is mounted in the vehicle and interposed between the secondary side and the battery. When the vehicle is connected to a charging station, it is interrogated to determine the nature of the charge controller that is on board the vehicle; and logic decisions invoking the particular mode for charging the vehicle are made depending on the nature and type of charge controller that is on board the vehicle.

Abstract: Chocolate crumb is prepared, to be used later in the manufacture of milk chocolate. One feature of milk chocolate, and the chocolate crumb which is a major constituent thereof, is that the sugar is at least partially caramelized, and the caramelization contributes to the flavor of the milk chocolate. The present invention provides a process whereby only a portion of the sugar constituent of the chocolate crumb is first caramelized by being hydrated with a portion of the milk which is to be utilized in the process. That hydrated sugar with the milk is heated so as to caramelize the sugar and so as to substantially drive off the water constituent of that first portion of the milk. The temperature and the length of time for which the heating continues will govern the degree of caramelization. The then caramelized slurry batch is added to the remainder of the milk to be used, and dried so as to drive off the remaining water carried into the mix by the additional milk.

Abstract: A computer monitor hood for use in conjunction with a computer monitor having a top surface, left and right side surfaces, and a forwardly facing screen, is disclosed. The computer monitor hood comprises a top shading panel having a front edge, a rear edge, and left and right side edges. Left and right side shading panels are operatively attached to the top shading panel and are disposed in generally vertically oriented relation to the left and right side edges of the top shading panel, respectively. The left and right side shading panels each have front, rear, and bottom edges. A front-to-rear main axis extends from the front edges to the rear edges of the shading panels. When the computer monitor hood is in place on a computer monitor, the top, left and right shading panels each project forwardly from the front of the computer monitor, at the respective of the top, left side, and right side surfaces of the computer monitor, so as to shade the screen of the computer monitor.

Abstract: A low voltage sensing circuit for a battery powered, micro-processor based circuit is provided. A standard voltage regulator has input voltage from a battery, and output voltage which is fed to a system requiring the same, which includes a micro-processor. A voltage divider is connected through a capacitor to an output port of the micro-processor; and the common point of the voltage divider is connected to the base or emitter of a transistor. Periodically, there is an output pulse from the output port of the micro-processor, which pulse has a predetermined length. During the output pulse from the micro-processor, the transistor may become conductive while the capacitor is recharging. Depending of the configuration, the fact that the transistor is conductive is indicative that the input voltage is either below or above a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing liquid nitrogen from air comprising a gaseous mixture of about 78% by volume of nitrogen, about 21% by volume of oxygen, less than 1.0% by volume of argon, and small amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapour, and other trace elements and compounds comprise an extractor that extracts portions of the oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour so as to produce a nitrogen-rich gaseous mixture comprising about 90% to about 99% by volume of nitrogen, about 10% to about 1% by volume of oxygen, and no more than trace amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapour, and other elements and compounds. A nitrogen recycle compressor compresses the nitrogen-rich gaseous mixture to a specified pressure.

Abstract: A guard for use on in-line roller skates, to permit the wearer of the in-line roller skates to be safely ambulant comprises a main body portion, a substantially solid base member, opposed left and right substantially rigid side walls extending upwardly from the base member so as to define a wheel-receiving trough above the base member, and a ground contacting bottom surface. First and second loop-shaped securing members are connected to the main body portion for looped engagement around the toe portion and rear portion respectively of the boot of the skate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging the battery of an electric vehicle are provided. When the electric vehicle is connected to a charging station, it is interrogated to determine the nature of the charge controller that is on board the vehicle; and logic decisions invoking the particular mode for charging the vehicle are made depending on the nature and type of charge controller that is on board the vehicle. Thus, delivery of charging energy to the battery in the vehicle may be entirely under the control of a charge controller on board the vehicle; or if the control module in the vehicle is less sophisticated then delivery of charging energy will be under the control of a charging module within the charging station.

Abstract: A coil stripping apparatus that strips a coil of thin flexible material from a drum of coiling machine, comprises a non-rotating pusher plate slidably movable along the length of the drum, as powered by a hydraulically actuated motor, for effecting the transport of the coil along the drum. A stripper member having opposed first and second finger members, with the first and second finger members each having a base portion and a projecting portion, is rotatably mounted with respect to the non-rotating pusher plate for co-rotation with the drum about the longitudinal axis. The stripper member is in contact with one or the other of the first and second drive surfaces so as to be slidably movable along the length of the drum by the non-rotating pusher plate.

Abstract: A lighting track for use in public transportation vehicles comprises an outer track having upstanding walls connected together by a base portion, together defining a first retention channel. The upstanding walls have a downwardly facing first barrier portion. A receptacle has first and second side walls connected together by a spanning portion, together defining an second retention channel. The side walls have an upwardly facing second barrier portion, and a downwardly facing third barrier portion. When the receptacle is in place in the first retention channel, the first and second side walls are each selectively movable between a respective locking position where the second barrier portion is in intimate engagement with the first barrier portion and a respective unlocking position where the second barrier portion is removed from intimate engagement with the first barrier portion. A top cover has first and second side walls connected together by a lens.

Abstract: A manually adjustable forced air-flow deflector for use on a register of a forced air heating system. The forced air-flow deflector comprises a back plate having a first end and a second end, with the first and second end plates secured to the respective first and second end of the back plate so as to project forwardly in generally transverse relation with respect to the back plate. The forced air-flow deflector further comprises a movable air-flow guiding plate and retaining means therefor. The movable air-flow guiding plate is retained in selectively movable relation by a retaining means comprising a first, second and third pairs of directly opposed grooves disposed one in each of the end plates. The first pair of grooves retains the air-flow guiding plate in generally upstanding relation at the front of the end plates. The second pair of grooves retains the air-flow guiding plate at a central portion of the end plates in angled relation, upwardly directed away from the back plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for laminating a layer of polymer plastic film to a precast layer of glass is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support saddle having a receiving surface that is shaped and dimensioned to support the precast layer of glass. The layer of polymer plastic film is positioned by a holding means in the form of toothed upper and lower opposed collar members in spaced apart relation with respect to the glass. A ram having a hard flexible contact member adapted to intimately contact plastic film is positioned at a distance away from the plastic film. The ram and the saddle are brought towards each other so as to cause the hard flexible contact member to contact the plastic film, which in turn causes the plastic film to contact the preformed layer of glass, such that the hard flexible contact member, the plastic film, the glass and the saddle are in intimate contact seriatim.

Abstract: A height adjustable tanker access platform system having a fixed frame member, an access platform operatively mounted on the fixed frame member for vertical movement with respect to the fixed frame member, and a drive mechanism operatively engaged between the fixed frame member and the access platform so as to provide for raising and lowering of the access platform, is disclosed. The drive mechanism comprises a drive means securely mounted on a fixed frame member, a drive pulley operatively connected to the drive motor to permit selective driven rotation of the drive pulley about a first rotational axis, and a main idler pulley rotatably mounted on the access platform for rotation about a second rotational axis. A drive cable is securely attached at an anchored end to the fixed frame member and securely attached at an opposite remote end to a vertically moveable counterweight.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell of cylindrical type, with a metal can, an anode, a separator and a cathode arranged concentrically in one another, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte solution, and a closure assembly. The closure assembly comprises a plastic top inserted in the open end of the can and has an outer cylindrical zone, a lower rim, a central portion defining a central bore, and an intermediate portion interconnecting the central portion with the lower rim. A current collector nail is inserted through the central bore and penetrates into the anode. A negative cap of a metal sheet material forms the negative terminal of the cell. The negative cap has a flange portion ending in an inwardly bent rim, the can has a bead at a specific distance from its open end, and the bead serves as an abutment member for the closure assembly when inserted in the can. The plastic top defines a conforming support surface for the inwardly bent rim substantially at the connection zone of the outer cylindrical zone and the lower rim.

Abstract: A battery charge is provided which automatically controls the charging process independent of individual battery construction or temperature. Control of the charging process is achieved by periodically interrupting the charging current, determining resistance-free voltage of the battery in fixed intervals after interruptions of current, and comparing the resistance-free voltage with a reference voltage. Reference voltage is automatically determined for each recharging subject by analyzing the change in resistance-free voltage with respect to time during an initial, constant current period to locate certain characteristic points indicative of the onset of overcharge. The charging current is reduced as necessary, so that the resistance-free voltage does not exceed the reference voltage and significant overcharge is avoided.

Abstract: A molded plastic low profile electrical plug comprising a thin molded plastic main body member, two electrically conductive blade members adapted for insertion into an electrical outlet, and two wire members forming an electrical cord, is disclosed. A removal handle receiving aperture is open to the back face of the main body member. A molded plastic removal handle having a base portion and a handle portion joined in flexible relation to the base portion, is situated with the base portion within the removal handle receiving aperture such that the main body member and the base portion of the removal handle are in interference fit with each other, so as to securely retain the removal handle in the removal handle receiving aperture. The handle portion is flexibly movable between an in-use position and an offset position. When the handle portion is in its in-use position it extends generally perpendicularly outwardly from the back face of the main body member so as to be readily graspable.

Abstract: An anhydrous fat-based discrete flavoring additive is provided for incorporation into baked goods and flour confections. The discrete flavoring additive product comprises from substantially 0% to 2% by weight of moisture, from about 5% to about 15% by weight of finely ground cinnamon or other flavoring, from about 25% to about 35% by weight of a bakery-compatible oil that is substantially liquid at about 35.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C., with the balance being granulated sugar. The bakery-compatible oil is selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils and liquid butter fats, and mixtures thereof, which exhibit a solid fat index curve characteristic which is substantially that of butter fat. The bakery-compatible oil or fat system has finely ground cinnamon or other flavoring in suspension, is mixed with granulated sugar, and is then solidified at about 6.degree. C. to about 12.degree. C. The product, when solidified, will remain substantially solidified at temperatures below about 35.degree. C.