Abstract: A floor care machine such as a burnisher may operate in a manual or automatic mode for controlling the operating pressure of the working unit, such as a brush or pad. The illustrated machine has a motor and pad driver assembly mounted for height adjustment by an actuator. In the automatic mode, a transducer senses motor current (i.e., load) and generates a signal representative of the actual operating pressure exerted by the pad on the floor. A microprocessor-based controller controls the actuator to adjust the height of the pad relative to the floor, and thus adjusts the pad pressure on the floor, according to a setting selected by the operator. The controller is programmed to reduce the effect of "hunting" by entering a Lock Mode after operation has achieved predetermined conditions. System operation remains in the Lock Mode as long as other criteria are met, and operation returns to a Hunt Mode if these other criteria are not met.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing automotive electronic control units and batteries and other equipment for identification and performance purposes utilizes neural networks to effect waveform analysis on a digitized signal. Identification of electronic control units is by means of correlation of resultant waveform data with corresponding data on known units. Battery testing is by waveform analysis of the battery current during transient connection of a load by a transistorized switching circuit. In both cases the method of testing includes a network learning stage and an ensuing recognition test routine for characteristic waveforms.

Abstract: An apertured shadow mask in a color cathode ray tube (CRT) serves as a color selection electrode in permitting each of the three electron beams to be incident only upon its associated color-producing phosphor elements on the CRT's display screen. The apertures are arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows in the shadow mask with aperture spacing defined by a vertical pitch (P.sub.v) i.e., the vertical spacing between adjacent apertures within the same vertical column where the apertures in one row are in different columns than the apertures in adjacent rows, and a horizontal pitch (P.sub.h), i.e., the horizontal spacing between adjacent apertures in the same horizontal row. To increase the color purity adjustment margin particularly in the corners of the display screen while still maintaining sufficient vertical spacing between adjacent phosphor dot color trios for a high degree of video image resolution, P.sub.

Abstract: An upper end of a flexible door or curtain is attached to an overhead support member while a lower portion of the curtain is disposed on and connected to an elongated horizontal tube along its length. A combination electric motor and gear box is connected to a first end of the tube for rotating the tube in a first direction for rolling the curtain onto the tube and raising the curtain and tube combination, or for rotating the tube in a second, opposed direction for unrolling the curtain from the tube and lowering the curtain and tube combination. Attached to the electric motor/gear box combination is a carriage or roller assembly which engages and rides on a generally vertical guide rail or runner during raising and lowering of the curtain. The engaging force between the roller assembly and the guide rail is adjustable to prevent binding of the curtain as it is rolled up onto or removed from the tube.

Abstract: A color cathode ray tube (CRT) employs a color selection electrode in the form of a thin shadow mask located adjacent the CRT's display screen and having an array of electron beam passing apertures arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows. To correct for electron beam landing tilt of three inline electron beams on the CRT's display screen arising from the spherical shape of the CRT's shadow mask and display screen, the shadow mask is provided with a two-step function defining the vertical pitch (P.sub.v) of its apertures, or the vertical spacing between adjacent apertures not in the same vertical column. A first quadratic equation is used for defining the vertical pitch of the shadow mask's beam passing apertures covering a first generally flat inner area of the CRT's display screen from the center of the display screen out to where its radius of curvature substantially decreases adjacent its periphery.

Abstract: In a multi-stage, multi-beam electron gun of the common lens type for use in a color cathode ray tube (CRT), a charged grid in the prefocus lens of the electron gun is provided with three inline asymmetric beam passing apertures. The three asymmetric apertures may be either in the G4 grid, in the upper side of the G3 grid, or on the lower side of the G5 grid, i.e., in facing relation to the G4 grid, or may be incorporated in both the G3 and G5 grids. The small G3-G4 and G4-G5 spacing gives rise to isolation of the electron optic lenses of the two outer electron beams from that of the center electron beam allowing the asymmetric auxiliary apertures to asymmetrically and independently correct for electron beam astigmatism, i.e., the difference between the beam's horizontal and vertical focus voltage, and differences in the focus voltages of the two outer electron beams relative to the center electron beam.

Abstract: The wheel arms of a planter row unit are mounted to the row unit frame for independent pivotal motion. The ends of a saddle link are received in sockets formed on gauge wheel arms; and a yoke (or ring-shaped link) pivotally mounted to the frame engages a central saddle bearing surface on the saddle link. The wheel arms, saddle link and yoke are constructed and arranged such that when one gauge wheel raises when it encounters an obstruction, the other lowers and the frame raises by about one-half the distance which the first gauge wheel is raised.

Abstract: An anti-clogging or anti-bridging mechanism is disclosed which is structurally arranged to engage the nozzle ports in a cutting housing to seal the ports from pulverized road bed material. The mechanism further includes cable members which facilitate movement of the pulverized material through the cutting housing.

Abstract: A holder for maintaining an apertured shadow mask in fixed relation to the display screen of a color cathode ray tube (CRT) includes the combination of a mounting stud attached to an inner portion of the CRT's glass envelope and an apertured resilient metal holder attached to the shadow mask's peripheral frame and adapted to receive the mounting stud in a tight-fitting manner. A plurality of such mounting stud/metal holder combinations securely attach the top, bottom and lateral edges of the shadow mask frame to adjacent inner portions of the CRT's glass envelope adjacent its display screen. Heating of the shadow mask caused by the CRT's electron beams incident thereon gives rise to heating and thermal expansion of the shadow mask metal holders.

Abstract: A carrier frame for a spring cushion truck hitch includes side mounting brackets and a transverse load-resisting (torsion) bar connected between the mounting brackets. The mounting brackets connect the frame of the hitch to the truck frame, so that the carrier frame can be removed from the hitch and the hitch re-used on a different truck having a different frame configuration. The mounting brackets carry the hitch below the truck bumper which need not be removed or replaced.

Abstract: A garland is produced by providing plural strips, each including one or more plies of web, with each web ply having two laterally spaced arrays of longitudinally spaced lateral slits defining arrays of lateral slats joined at the their inner and outer ends. Each strip is twisted with one or more associated support filaments in a predetermined direction to form adjacent helical coils. Plural ones of the twisted strands are then twisted together in the opposite direction to produce an elongated rope which includes adjacent spiral bands all turning in a first direction about the longitudinal axis, with each band including a plurality of generally tubular sections arranged side-by-side, with each section forming a segment of a spiral turning in an opposite direction relative to the axis.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a shadow mask, or color selection electrode, in the glass envelope of a color cathode ray tube (CRT) includes four resilient metal holders, each spot welded to a respective upper, lower or lateral portion of the shadow mask's skirt. Each holder is formed from a unitary metal strip which is shaped so as to include an inner mounting portion spot welded to the mask's skirt and an outer apertured portion adapted to receive a stud attached to and extending inwardly from the CRT's glass envelope. The shadow mask undergoes thermal deformation, or doming, when heated by electron beams incident thereon and transfers heat to each of the metallic holders. Each of the metallic holders, in turn, undergoes thermal deformation, but because of the shape and orientation of the holders relative to the shadow mask, the four holders deflect the shadow mask in a direction generally perpendicular to and outward from the CRT's glass display screen, i.e., along the CRT's Z-axis.

Abstract: A liquid level control apparatus for a flush tank includes an upstanding fill tube integral at its upper end with a valve housing carrying a flexible resilient pinch tube valve member. The valve housing defines a conduit which communicates with a downwardly extending tube parallel to the fill tube. A float has portions respectively receiving the fill tube and the downwardly extending tube therethrough so that the float slides vertically along the tubes as the water level in the tank varies. In one embodiment, an actuator rib on the float fits in a slot in the housing to directly engage the pinch tube valve member, and in another embodiment an actuator pivots on the housing and is coupled by linkage to the float. In the one embodiment an arresting flange on a resilient portion of the float engages an arresting flange on the fill tube for arresting upward movement of the float until the tank is full to provide a snap-action shutoff of the valve.

Abstract: A Michelson interferometer includes a beamsplitter onto which an input light beam is directed. The beamsplitter divides the input light beam into a first beam portion incident upon a first fixed reflector and a second beam portion incident upon a movable retroreflector. The movable retroreflector reflects the second beam onto another fixed reflector and then back to the beamsplitter where the first and second beams are combined and directed to a detector. The movable retroreflector is attached to one end of a rotating arm moving at a constant angular velocity. The retroreflector reflects the second beam at a fixed location in its orbital path. The angular velocity of the retroreflector and rotating arm combination may be varied over a wide range to provide a large modulated frequency bandwidth. The operating duty cycle of the interferometer may be doubled by attaching a second retroreflector to the other end of the rotating arm, with the weights of the two retroreflectors counterbalancing each other.

Abstract: A mixer for dry powder, very fine or granular materials and a liquid, e.g., mortar or cement and water, includes a dynamic input mixing stage, a static output mixing stage and a transition tube connecting the two stages in a manner which isolates the two stages from one another. The input mixing stage includes a hopper for receiving the mortar and a horizontal metering screw having a detachable mixing auger. The auger mixes the dry mortar, while the metering screw moves the mixed mortar through a discharge aperture in the hopper and into the transition tube. The metering screw extends into the transition tube for further displacing the dry mortar into the output mixing stage which includes a mixing tube having a fixed internal baffle assembly and an auger disposed along its length. A source of water is connected to the mixing tube for forming a mortar-water slurry.

Abstract: A portable fluorescent string lamp has a base which includes a threaded nut at each end. An electrical cord extends through each nut. A mounting bracket has a back and two legs spaced to receive the fixture. Each of the legs is releasably secured to the base of the fixture by tightening the coupling nut against it. The back of the bracket is designed to receive a pair of magnetic couplers for removably mounting the fixture to a structure such as a machine.

Abstract: A two-part catalyst comprising a dehydrogenation portion and an oxide-ion conducting portion. The dehydrogenation portion is a group VIII metal and the oxide-ion conducting portion is selected from a ceramic oxide crystallizing in the fluorite or perovskite structure. There is also disclosed a method of forming a hydrogen rich gas from a source of hydrocarbon fuel in which the hydrocarbon fuel contacts a two-part catalyst comprising a dehydrogenation portion and an oxide-ion conducting portion at a temperature not less than about 400.degree. C. for a time sufficient to generate the hydrogen rich gas while maintaining CO content less than about 5 volume percent. There is also disclosed a method of forming partially oxidized hydrocarbons from ethanes in which ethane gas contacts a two-part catalyst comprising a dehydrogenation portion and an oxide-ion conducting portion for a time and at a temperature sufficient to form an oxide.

Abstract: A method of preparing an anode material using sepiolite clay having channel-like interstices in its lattice structure. Carbonaceous material is deposited in the channel-like interstices of the sepiolite clay and then the sepiolite clay is removed leaving the carbonaceous material. The carbonaceous material is formed into an anode. The anode is combined with suitable cathode and electrolyte materials to form a battery of the lithium-ion type.

Abstract: A jewelry article includes a plurality of beads and/or trinkets coupled together to form an elongated, flexible, decorative member having a clasp at each end thereof. Each clasp is adapted for fastening to a beltloop of the pants, jeans, shorts, skirt, or any other type of clothing with beltloops of a wearer permitting the jewelry article to be suspended from the waist and worn on the hip or across the front or back of the wearer.