Abstract: A sensing system for detecting a low level of liquid in a container employs an open-ended probe which is partially submerged in the liquid. The probe contains a pressurized compressible fluid, typically air, the pressure of which is related to the level of the liquid in the container, being a function of the static head of the liquid. A pressure switch fluidly connected to the probe is actuated when the pressure in the probe falls below a predetermined level. The pressure switch activates an air pump, which pumps compressed air into the probe to try and restore the predetermined pressure level, and the switch simultaneously actuates a time delay unit, which in turn initiates a time delay period. If pressure in the probe is restored to the predetermined level prior to the expiration of the time delay period, the time delay unit is reset and the air pump is shut off, since restoration of the pressure indicates that the liquid level is not really low, the low pressure condition is caused by a leak or absorption.

Abstract: A composition useful as a gasoline additive, preferably to increase engine performance and/or mileage per unit volume of fuel, is described. The composition comprises about 45% to about 55% by weight of toluene and about 45% to about 55% by weight of C.sub.8 alkyl aromatic component selected from the group consisting of ethylbenzene, paraxylene, metaxylene, orthoxylene and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a billfold including first and second sections and a hinge joining the sections for pivotal movement. The first section has a pocket with an opening which provides access to the pocket and the pocket is adapted to receive a card, such as a credit card, through the opening. The hinge joins the first and second sections for pivotal movement between a closed position in which the sections are in confronting, engaging relationship over major portions thereof and an open position in which the sections are out of confronting relationship and the opening of the pocket is exposed to allow insertion of the card into, and withdrawal of the card from, the pocket. A card-missing indicator is coupled to the billfold. The indicator is responsive to removal of the card from the pocket when the sections are in the open position for inhibiting pivotal movement of the first and second sections to the closed position.

Abstract: Complex small objects such as ophthalmic lenses are quickly and accurately fabricated from plastic or glass blanks of ablatable material such as plastic or glass by cutting, shaping, and radiusing the blank entirely by laser light, using appropriate masks with focusing and imaging optics.

Abstract: A feedscrew system includes a conveyor for moving articles, at least one feedscrew for spacing the articles, a first sensing arrangement for sensing the occurrence of a gap between any two adjacent articles as the articles move toward the feedscrew, and control components responsive to the first sensing arrangement for controlling the rate at which the feedscrew operates in order to maintain a jam-feed condition. The control components may be configured to reduce the rate at which the feedscrew operates and/or to disengage a clutch in order to stop the feedscrew. A second sensing arrangement may be included in order to delay clutch disengagement when a second conveyor at the exit end of the feedscrew is engaging the top portion of an article within the feedscrew.

Abstract: A feedscrew system includes a support structure for rotatably supporting a selected feedscrew assembly adjacent a conveyor in order to control articles moving on the conveyor toward a processing station, mounting components for mounting the selected feedscrew assembly on the support structure, and drive components for driving the selected feedscrew assembly at a desired rotational speed. A plurality of interchangeable feedscrew assemblies is included, including at least a first feedscrew assembly configured to be driven at a first rotational speed and a second feedscrew assembly configured to be driven at a second rotational speed that is different from the first rotational speed. The first feedscrew assembly includes a first feedscrew and a first coupling component connected to the first feedscrew for coupling the first feedscrew assembly to the drive components so that the first feedscrew assembly rotates at the first rotational speed.

Abstract: A forceps includes elongated arms with proximal and distal sections, the distal sections extending to the forceps tips. The arms are arranged and interconnected to enable appositional movement of the tips in order to enable a user to grip an object between the tips and thereby apply a component of force to the object that is generally perpendicular to the direction of such appositional movement. The proximal and distal sections of the first arm are connected with a break-away joint that is arranged to quickly reduce the amount of coupling when the component of force being applied to the object exceeds a predetermined level. Joints enabling pivotal or linear movement of the distal sections relative to the proximal sections may be provided, spring-biased mechanical break-away components or strain-gauge-based electrical break-away components may be used, and a human sensible signal indicating when the force exceeds the predetermined level may be produced.

Abstract: A corrective lens system with selectable optical characteristics includes a lens element for placement in the optical path of a human eye ahead of the retina of the eye and a polarizer element for placement in the optical path of the human eye ahead of the lens element. The polarizer element is configured to pass plane polarized light toward the lens element and the lens element has first and second regions with different optical characteristics, the first region being polarized and arranged to restrict the passage of plane polarized light having other than a given direction of polarization. The lens element may be an intraocular lens, a contact lens, or a corneal implant lens, and one embodiment includes a polarizer element mounted on a spectacles frame as a component of an ocular telescope utilized to treat macular degeneration so that when the spectacles are worn light is restricted from passing through the first region of the lens element.

Abstract: A battery booster apparatus includes a portable support structure on which are mounted a battery, jumper cables for connecting the battery in parallel with an external battery that is in a low charge condition, an AC-powered charger for charging the battery, and a solar panel for charging the battery when the charger is not powered. The apparatus may include components for switching between the charger and the solar panel so that the solar panel is connected to the battery when the charger is not powered and disconnected when the charger is powered. The switching components may operate automatically and include a relay electrically connected to the charger so that the relay operates when the charger is powered.

Abstract: 4800 B/S full duplex operation of a frequency-multiplexing modem over the switched telephone network without cancellation is made possible by combining 900-baud, 32-state operation with a combination of analog filtering and raised cosine digital filtering and stop bit robbing.

Abstract: A method of reducing or maintaining intraocular pressure in a mammalian eye, e.g., affected with glaucoma, is disclosed. This method comprises administering directly to the mammalian eye an effective amount of one or more 2-cycloalkylamino oxazolines, salts thereof, bases thereof and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An effluent processing arrangement which takes liquid effluent from primary treatment. In a first stage the liquid is filtered. In a second stage the filtrate is treated to neutralize bacterial and other contaminants and then in a third stage is sprayed under pressure into the atmosphere to evaporate it. An air blower can be used to assist evaporation. Provision is made for flocculation of effluent and for backwashing of the filter. The main purpose of the arrangement is for treatment of septic tank effluent.

Abstract: In a switchable impedance tester for measuring very small impedances, the effect of switch impedances is eliminated by connecting the test load between two switching transistors in their emitter-collector circuit, and driving them with operational amplifiers arranged to urge their inputs into equality. A test voltage source is connected across first inputs of the amplifiers, and the other inputs are connected between the respective transistors and the load. This produces an operational condition in which the voltage across the load is independent of the parameters of the switching transistors, i.e. the switching transistors appear to have zero impedance.

Abstract: An ocular telescopic lens system for low-vision conditions such as macular degeneration includes an intraocular lens having a converging lens portion and a diverging lens portion, and multiple-element spectacles having anterior and posterior lenses arranged to converge light toward the diverging lens portion. The intraocular lens includes an optic with a generally continuous rearward surface that combines with a first portion of the forward surface as the converging lens portion and with a second portion of the forward surface as the diverging lens portion, while the anterior and posterior lenses of the spectacles may have concave surfaces, combine to serve as an objective lens, and provide at least +8 diopter power.

Abstract: A guidepost includes an elongated post member and an anchor member, the post member having first and second ends and a tip portion extending to the second end that narrows in at least one dimension in order to facilitate penetration into the ground. The post member defines an opening adjacent the second end, the anchor member has at least a first leg, and the anchor member extends through the opening in the post member to a position such that the first leg of the anchor member extends outwardly from the opening and away from the second end. According to another aspect of the invention, the post member includes first and second sides facing in generally opposite directions and a runner arrangement defining at least one longitudinally extending rib for abutting a sleeve placed over the post member for post driving purposes in order to limit the amount of post member surface area contacting the sleeve and thereby to facilitate sliding of the post member through the sleeve.

Abstract: Certain (2-imidazolin-2-ylamino) quinoxalines are disclosed. Such quinoxalines reduce or maintain intraocular pressure when administered directly to the eye of a mammal.

Abstract: A post driver includes a sleeve for supporting a post as the post is driven into the ground and a driver for driving the post into the ground while the post is supported by the sleeve. The sleeve defines a channel that is dimensioned and arranged to receive the post so that the post can slide through the channel as the post is driven into the ground and the driver is dimensioned and arranged to slide over the sleeve. Preferably, the sleeve extends to the right height above ground and one embodiment includes a spade attached to a lower end of the sleeve for breaking the ground. A method of driving a post into the ground includes the steps of providing a sleeve for supporting the post as the post is driven into the ground and a driver for driving the post into the ground while the post is supported by the sleeve.

Abstract: Lenses and methods of lens attachment are disclosed which provide for highly effective, e.g., secure, attachment of the lens to the patient's cornea. Lenses are configured which are particularly adapted to be overlaid with corneal tissue to protect the lenses from forces parallel to the radial axis of the lens and generally parallel to the anterior surface of the lens optic.

Abstract: A water system comprising a hot water system, including a hot water heater and a conduit coupled to feedwater under pressure for conducting water to and from the hot water heater. An injector pump is coupled to the feedwater under pressure and has a water port coupled to an inlet port of a reverse osmosis module and a brine port coupled to a brine outlet port of the reverse osmosis module and to the conduit. The injector pump provides water to the water port of the injector pump and increases the pressure of the brine at the brine port of the injector pump to greater than the pressure of the feedwater so that the brine can be injected into the hot water system.

Abstract: A batting practice method using a batting practice device to restrain the batter's hips against certain movement while the batter is swinging the bat. The batting practice device is coupled to the batter and to a fixed location, and the batter executes a batting stroke as though a ball were moving along a path from one location and with the batter being located along the path intermediate such location and the fixed location. The batting practice device restrains the batter's hips against significant movement toward such one location while allowing the hips to pivot as the batter executes the batting stroke.