Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing the unexpected loss of heavy mining equipment by detecting the separation of heavy metal parts at an early stage in the separation process, and providing a warning signal in response to which the particular machine that is having the difficulty may then be shut down in a timely manner. A spring-loaded switch is sandwiched between the heavy metal parts, which upon partial separation of the parts then expands and turns on an electrical switch to activate a radio transmitter, sending an alarm signal to a receiver at a remote location.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.

Abstract: A stitchery frame which is progressively expanded while in use to keep the fabric taut. Centerline markers are provided on side and end pieces of the frame to aid the process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring fluid motion with micron scale spatial resolution has been developed. Here, micron or submicron solid fluorescent particles are injected into the fluid body. The particles are chosen to closely follow the motion of the fluid. Pulses of light, at the excitation wavelength, broadly illuminate the test device and the fluorescent particles, The flourescent particles absorb the excitation light and emit pulses of fluorescent light, at the emission wavelength. The fluorescent light is collected by a microscope objective lens, and relayed through a fluorescent filter to an image recording device, such as a CCD camera. Subsequently, discrete images of discrete particles at two or more instances in time are recorded. These images can then be analyzed using correlation analysis to obtain velocity measurements.

Abstract: The length of an electrical cable is measured from only one of its ends, even though much of the cable may not be visible and its remote end may not be accessible. The ends of a conductor pair are selected to serve as contacts for a test capacitor. A reference capacitor having known capacitance value, and the test capacitor, are alternately inserted into an oscillator circuit while measuring the oscillator frequency. The two oscillator frequencies are compared to provide a ratio, which is then mathematically combined with a number indicative of the capacitance per unit length of the cable so as to produce an output number representing cable length.

Abstract: A stitchery frame having manually operated tension devices located outside the work area for increasing spacing at both side bars and end bars in order to tighten fabric when work is in progress.

Abstract: A tire assembly for a wheeled vehicle has a ring-shaped integrally formed outer tire member made of relatively hard and relatively rigid material, and a ring-shaped integrally formed inner tire member. The inner tire member is made of a resilient material that is essentially incompressible but rather easily deformable, and has protuberances and recesses formed in its circumferential surface to allow for both radial compression and lateral expansion of its material, thereby ensuring resilient support of the outer tire member.

Abstract: A weight strip constructed from a plurality of stacked sheets of elastomeric material slackly assembled for resting upon an uneven surface.

Abstract: A portable beverage container assembly includes a capsule containing a refrigerant which is inserted into and securely held inside the beverage container, together with a mechanism to discharge the refrigerant so that the latent heat of evaporation and expansion of the refrigerant gases will impart a chilling action to the refrigerant and hence to the beverage inside the container when the user wishes to drink the beverage.

Abstract: A drink can holder is made as an integrally formed body of resilient plastic material with a central body portion and a number of radially extending finger assemblies circumferentially spaced around it. Each finger assembly has integrally formed protrusions and recesses that may, when a plurality of such drink can holders are used, be interengaged to provide toy construction set elements.

Abstract: A tire assembly for a wheeled vehicle has a ring-shaped integrally formed outer tire member made of relatively hard and relatively rigid material, and a ring-shaped integrally formed inner tire member. The inner tire member is made of a resilient material that is essentially incompressible but rather easily deformable, so that the inner tire member may be deformed to position it inside the outer tire member with the outer surface of the inner tire member in interfitting relation to the inner surface of the outer tire member, and has protuberances and recesses formed in at least one of its circumferential surfaces to allow for both radial compression and lateral expansion of its material, thereby ensuring resilient support of the outer tire member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and analyzing vapor elements, using a preconcentrator collector. The preconcentrator collector collects and preconcentrates chemical vapors to be detected and identified before chromatographic analysis using surface acoustic wave gas chromatograph (SAW/GC) technology. The preconcentrator collector is used in conjunction with a sensor in an SAW/GC detector in the apparatus. A physical parameter associated with the sensor changes in a defined manner upon exposure of the sensor to an unknown vapor, permitting identification of the individual vapor elements. The preconcentrator collector of the invention includes a body portion having an inlet and an outlet, and a stack of collector plates disposed in the body portion. The collector plates are made of a material that is easily micromachinable and easily cleanable, such as silicon, silica or fused quartz.

Abstract: A food product is packaged in an elongated hollow plastic shell configured to resemble an egg shell with an opening in one of its ends, the opening being sealed by a removable cover having an extending portion forming a finger tab to facilitate its removal. A quantity of edible material consisting primarily of egg white is disposed within the shell.

Abstract: A process whereby the olfactory response of a gas chromatograph, equipped with a focused surface acoustic wave interferometer integrating detector is converted to a visual image for the purpose of performing pattern recognition. As volatile analytes exit a gas chromatography column a Surface Acoustic Wave Interferometer is used to monitor the condensation and re-evaporation of these analytes by periodically measuring the resonant frequency of the interferometer. A time varying output parameter is then converted to a polar display. This form of electronic nose provides a recognizable visual image of specific vapor mixtures (fragrances) containing possibly hundreds of different chemical species. Because the method provides a means of adapting and learning to recognize new vapors using these images, it is a useful method for testing chemical compositions as well as the vapors associated with bacteria and human disease.

Abstract: A holding device which can be attached to a standard cigarette lighter receptacle which is located in the dashboard of an automobile. The holding device comprises: 1) a support member which is inserted into the cigarette lighter receptacle; and 2) an elongated holding member which can accept an object such as a cigar for storage; or a test-tube shaped container which is capable of holding water and one flower or a small floral arrangement. The elongated holding member can have various artistic designs on its outer wall surface which will add to the pleasing aesthetics of the holder in an automobile.

Abstract: A holder (42) with retaining device for organizing compact disc cases and other such substantially rectangular media cases. The retaining device allows deposited items to be placed solitarily or adjacently in any available location, to be relocated simply by sliding them sideways, saves the vacant spaces left by withdrawn items, and will accommodate a variety of media case types, including compact disc cases of the single, multiple and slip-cased variety. A preferred embodiment of the holder has a substantially rectangular storage area (34) defined in part by opposed upper and lower shelves (36 & 40) located adjacent to an access opening (32) on the front side of the holder through which compact disc cases (50) and other such items are deposited in a side-by-side, book-like manner, coming to rest on and perpendicular to the interior surface of the lower shelf (40). The back wall (38) serves to stop deposited items from exiting out the rear side of the holder.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed having opposed cylinders, each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons, with all the pistons connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder are connected to the crankshaft with pushrods and the outboard pistons are connected to the crankshaft with pullrods. This configuration results in a compact engine with a very low profile, in which the free mass forces can be essentially totally balanced. The engine configuration also allows for asymmetrical timing of the intake and exhaust ports through independent angular positioning of the eccentrics on the crankshaft, making the engine suitable for supercharging.

Abstract: Concentrated phosphorus fertilizers of the phosphorous variety are described which are absorbed quickly into plant systems and improve plant growth. Particularly described are fertilizers having a combination of phosphorous acid or its salts thereof, and either (a) polyphosphoric acid and its salts thereof; or (b) phosphoric acid and its salts thereof. This combination phosphorus fertilizer, when combined within a specific ratio range, increases phosphorus uptake to plants thereby enhancing plant growth.

Abstract: An amplifier for systems affected by changes in operating temperature, in which the amplifier gain is stabilized over temperature. A temperature compensating control element is added to the previously known active bias control amplifiers, forming a second control loop. This control acts to modify the device bias current, in a way which holds the device gain constant as temperature varies. In so doing it implements, in the circuit, the mathematically derived current variation which, based on the physics of the device, maintains constant gain. The additional circuitry is very inexpensive, preserving the cost-effectiveness of the integrated circuit bias scheme for those applications requiring the additional bias control.