Abstract: A quick, field installed sump cover system for below ground sumps includes a support ring, a seal between the ring and sump upper lip, preferably two compression brackets each having two spaced regions extending under riser parts, at least one elongated member coupled between the support ring and compression brackets for selectively applying tension forces therebetween causing the bracket regions to engage the riser parts and the support ring to compresses the sealing member to form liquid-tight seal with the sump lip. The sump top can be closed by a dome-cover removably coupled to the support ring. The elongated members can include chain-like members with tensioning devices that, in field installations, can accommodate various sump sizes.

Abstract: A sign assembly supported above a supporting surface includes at least one sign frame, an upstanding hinge rod assembly mounted on the supporting surface, and a hinge plate rotatably supported by the hinge rod assembly is connected to one frame side. The other frame side connects to a second plate that is supported by a pre-installed post or another hinge rod assembly. The angles of the one or more sign frames can be changed to meet installation requirements until the post mounts and/or hinge rod assemblies are fixed relative the supporting surface.

Abstract: Side slot or top opening plastic coin transport bag includes a primary handle at the bag top and an optional bag bottom auxiliary handle enabling two hand or two person lifting and transport. Reinforcing patch panel and heat seals surrounding the opening strengthens the handles. Closure member closes and seals a slot opening or includes a flap top opening closure. Tear-off receipts locate at the bag top, bottom, and/or flap edge. Transverse heat seals between handles and chamber also strengthen the bag. Primary handle patch panel can extend below the front panel slot opening to adhere to closure adhesive if the slot improperly spreads open during closing. Indicia indicates upward orientation of the bag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pan roasting a mass of green coffee beans at rest by heat conduction from the pan bottom to the beans mass. A glass cover and smoke filter closes the roasting chamber. A radial blower operates at slow speed to draw ambient air and vacate smoke from the chamber to permit visual monitoring of roasting beans. Periodically, the fan can operate a high speed for a short time to mix or swirl the bean mass without substantial cooling them. The blower can sequence through high and low speed cycles until roasting completes and heating ceases. A high speed cool down phase removes remaining chaff, smoke, and quick cools the beans to preserve freshness. Electric power drives the blower and resistant heating element. The system enables the operator to use appearance, sound, smell, and time to determine roasting completeness.

Abstract: Side slot or top opening plastic coin transport bag includes a primary handle at the bag top and an optional bag bottom auxiliary handle enabling two hand or two person lifting and transport. Reinforcing patch panel and heat seals surrounding the opening strengthens the handles. Closure member closes and seals a slot opening or includes a flap top opening closure. Tear-off receipts locate at the bag top, bottom, and/or flap edge. Transverse heat seals between handles and chamber also strengthen the bag. Primary handle patch panel can extend below the front panel slot opening to adhere to closure adhesive if the slot improperly spreads open during closing. Indicia indicates upward orientation of the bag.

Abstract: A high density, optical fiber array includes etched silicon front and guide masks anodicly bonded to high temperature glass die plate and/or spacer. Optical fibers secured in the front plate holes have the same thermal expansion coefficient as the masks and die/spacer plates to reduce the need for certain epoxy interplate zones which would have a different thermal expansion coefficient. Methods and a system for making the mask/plate stack are also disclosed along with various plate stacking arrangements and the front plate anodicly bonded to a glass lens array.

Abstract: Optical fiber array apparatus comprising housing front mask having a matrix of fiber seating openings each opening having one or more side walls. An optical fiber extends through each opening and means presses the fiber side surface into engagement with the one or more side walls to precisely position and secure the fiber. Bonding material then fills all voids in and around the opeining. In one embodiment, a clamping wafer behind the front mask moves to clamp the fibers to the front mask opening walls. In another, the front mask defines flexing arms with distal ends that clamp fibers to opening walls and in yet another elongated flexible members lie along front mask slots to clamp fibers in openings that communicate into the slots.

Abstract: A method of making and an etchable wafer substrate for use in making optical fiber array plates includes forming a progressively increasing series of metrology holes when the plate holes are formed. The variation between designed plate hole diameter and actual plate hole diameter is determined by sequentially inserting a probe of known designed diameter into the metrology holes to determine the two size-adjacent metrology holes variation. The plate hole diameter can be determined by comparing one of the size-adjacent metrology hole diameter with the respective art work metrology hole diameter. Plate hole diameters can then be corrected for variation with further processing.

Abstract: A high density optical fiber array assembly and assembly method includes a housing securing a front array mask etched with extreme precision to define openings arranged in a predetermined pattern. A series of guide plates form a series of fiber guide channels that align with the mask openings, which plates are stacked within the housing so that the bottom of one acts as a cover for the channels of another. Fibers can be tool inserted along the channels as one group, such as a row of fibers, or manually inserted and advanced sequentially. Alternately, the mask and guide plate stack are mounted to and within a mounting block and the mounting block assembly inserted into the assembly housing substantially all remaining voids in the housing are filled with bonding material.

Abstract: A system of making high density optical fiber arrays that includes securing the optical fiber ends in the housing front mask openings, then lapping the fiber ends and front mask forward surface to angle the fiber end front surfaces so that reflected wave energy does not interfere with optical signal data when transmitted during use. The opening pattern is preferably 2×2 to 128×128 or higher. Several alternate lap tool designs are disclosed including translational and rotating laps formed from solid bodies or a series of stacked plates. Standard slurry grinding and polishing compounds can be applied as desired. If a layer of epoxy originally covers the mask front face, it is removed by the lap tool as the fiber ends are lapped.

Abstract: A power plant includes a high temperature fuel cell, a volume expansion heat engine producing mechanical energy, and a combustion chamber coupled to receive from said fuel cell at least a portion of unconsumed fuel and apply high pressure combusted gases to the engine. A reformer can feed fuel to said fuel cell. A distributor distributes fuel cell exhaust fuel selectively to the reformer and the combustion chamber and varies the ratio of exhaust fuel fed to the reformer and combustion chamber in accordance with predetermined power desired from said fuel cell and engine.

Abstract: The invention relates an electronic switch for switching on and off high AC voltage between two connecting terminals. The switch includes two series-connected MOS floating gate transistors (20, 30; 20′, 30′), that can block and establish the transmission path between the applied high AC voltage connecting terminals. A charge storage device (24, 27, 34, 37; 24′, 34′, 60) stores charges and is connected to each gate of the MOS transistors. Each charge storage device (24, 27, 34, 37; 24′, 34′, 60) is assigned a charge feeding device (40, 50; 50) for applying a predetermined quantity of charge to the charge storage device (24, 34; 24′, 34′), which corresponds to a first switching state, and for removing a predetermined quantity of charge from the charge storage device, which corresponds to a second switching state. In this way, very low energy sensor outputs control high power AC voltage applied to the connecting terminals.

Abstract: The invention is based on the object of making available a control and data transmission system which uses simple components to permit current-modulated data transmission via a serial bus, and whose components can be used in a flexible way. For this purpose, the control and data transmission system (50) has a controllable bus terminating device (30) for impressing a predetermined working current into the bus (42, 44). Each subscriber (1, 2) has a D.C.-coupled transmitter (60) for generating and emitting control signals and data signals which modulate the working current, and a D.C.-coupled receiver (20) for sensing and evaluating the working current which is modulated by the control signals and data signals.

Abstract: A displaying bumper guard for fuel dispensers that includes a sign-holding frame assembly mounted on an inverted U-shaped bumper guard member with the bumper guard legs imbedded in the ground level concrete or concrete ledge. The device includes a frame for supporting a sign and a mounting assembly for securing the frame to the bumper guard member. The visual square footage of the frame, viewed normally thereto, is much larger than that of the bumper guard member thus providing a good visual barrier for the dispensers. In one exemplary embodiment, the bracket assembly is releasably secured to the center leg of the guard member and includes at least one and preferably two displaced mounting surface located a short distance from the side profile of the bumper guard member. The frame includes at least one and preferably two spaced elongated reinforcement frame rails or bars secured to the frame sides to strengthen the frame and to cooperate with the mounting surface by being releasably secured thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of making an electrical bobbin including applying to the wire/terminal assembly fusing pressure and heat. Sensing the temperature of an electrode zone near one of its fusing surfaces, and controlling the application and cessation of fusing power in response to the zone temperature values. Power application can cycle on and off for a set time period, number of set cycles, or stopped in response to another event such as sensed electrode displacement reaching a set value. Various other control parameters are or can be employed. The electrodes are preferably high resistant material and no significant current flows between upper and lower electrodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of fusing a pin to a wire to reliably form a good quality fusion joint includes placing the pin and insulated or uninsulated wire in a notch of a lower fusing electrode so that the pin is spaced a predetermined distance above the wire. The upper fusing electrode applies fusing current and heat symmetrically to the pin and notch side walls and the portion of the lower electrode beneath and in contact with the wire. Heat is transferred to soften the pin and burn or vaporize the insulation off the wire before the pin and wire touch. Since all parts are held symmetically, parts can not skew or burn off un evenly. Electrode pressure builds to drive the soften, heated pin and wire together and to apply fusing current through the contacting pin and wire to form a good fusion joint. Another aspect of the invention includes forming the lower fusing electrode with a plurality of fusing notches to afford quick operator set-up and sequential, automatic fusing of the series of wire/pin assemblies.

Abstract: The invention refers to magnetoelectric machines. It can be used when manufacturing different-purpose electric drives—for instance, in fans, compressors, electromobile's wheels, and so forth. It comprises a rotor made in the form of two disks, the teeth of which on the outer or inner circumference make up rotor poles and an axially magnetized cylindrical magnet (placed between said disks). The stator (made in the form of coils that are distributed over the circumference and that are installed predominantly in the space between the rotor poles) provides for the possibility of the end face interaction with the rotor poles. The rotor could be made as a multi-sectional unit. In this case said disks have the plate-like shape, owing to which fact the poles of one disk are located between the poles of another disk in one plane, while the magnets of adjacent section are oriented towards one another with like poles.

Abstract: A high density optical fiber array assembly and assembly method includes a housing securing a front array mask etched with extreme precision to define openings arranged in a predetermined pattern. A series of guide plates form a series of fiber guide channels that align with the mask openings, which plates are stacked within the housing so that the bottom of one acts as a cover for the channels of another. Fibers can be tool inserted along the channels as one group, such as a row of fibers, or manually inserted and advanced sequentially. Alternately, the mask and guide plate stack are mounted to and within a mounting block and the mounting block assembly inserted into the assembly housing substantially all remaining voids in the housing are filled with bonding material.

Abstract: A U-shaped bumper guard system for gas stations, parking and other vehicular areas and the like that enables easy removal of a damaged bumper guard and re-installation of a replacement guard without the need to cut or dig the concrete around the damaged guard legs that are secured in the foundation concrete. Features include securing tubular base members positioned upright in the concrete foundation layer, applying a liner within each base member, positioning one leg of the U-shaped guard into each base, and pouring concrete or the like into the liner and in contact with the leg outer surface. The liner prevents adherence between the concrete and the inner surface of the base member so that if damaged, the unit and base member concrete can be easily raised free from the base member and replaced with a new bumper guard, liner, and securing concrete since neither the foundation layer nor the base members are damaged or moved.