Abstract: A body cover, or clothing, for athletes is disclosed. The body cover is comprised of a first material portion adapted to be placed over the anterior portion of the body of the athletes. The first material portion is comprised of a plurality of longitudinal, attached panels of "NEOPRENE" having a thickness of preferably from about 1 to 3 millimeters. The first material portion is waterproofed, provides insulation and wind protection, and is adapted to hold liquid against the anterior portion of the athlete's body such that the liquid absorbs body thermal energy. A second material portion adapted to be placed over the posterior portion of the body of the athlete is comprised of a plurality of longitudinal, attached panels of "LYCRA". The second material portion allows evaporation of liquid on the posterior portion of the body of the athlete and radiation of thermal energy therethrough. Third material portions attach the first material portion and the second material portion to form the body covering.

Abstract: A constant flow rare controller valve includes a piston spring biased towards the top of the valve. Fluid or gas flowing into the valve increases the forces in the chamber above the piston, forcing the piston toward a valve seat. The piston is thus seated in the valve seat, blocking gas or fluid flow to the outlet port. The forces on the piston in the chamber below the piston builds as flow goes through the piston until the forces in this chamber including the piston spring force is greater than the forces in the chamber above the piston. The piston then is lifted from the valve seat, and the pathway to the outlet orifice is opened. Fluid or gas flows through the piston via the calibrated orifice. An equilibrium flow rate is reached by variation in the piston position based on the location of the movable seat which sets and maintains a constant differential pressure across the piston thus maintaining constant flow.

Abstract: Means for safely handling medical needles such as needle electrodes, also known as surgical probes, and hypodermic needles. The needle handler can remove the needle for use and return the used needle to its sheath for disposal using only one hand, thereby avoiding any risk of inadvertent penetration of the used needle point in the other hand. The needle sheath is retained in fixed position in a stand or the like at the handler's work station and the sheath and stand are designed to render the sheathed needle readily installable in and removable from the stand by single-handed manipulation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for encoding information and recording same as sets of variably spaced related marks stored in wavelength (color) and/or depth selective layers on the optical record wherein the encoded information is read by illuminating each set of such recorded marks selected by wavelength (color) or focal depth with a coherent read light to cause an optical interference pattern consisting of a varying distribution of amplitude maxima separated by amplitude nulls (or minimas) that change in accordance with the encoded information. This read interference pat-tern is detected by photosensing diode arrays and after decoding, the system outputs an information signal representing the original information.

Abstract: A weft stand of the present invention comprises a post, a supporting member supported on the post and rotatable about a horizontal axis, a supporting shaft for each weft package, supported on the supporting member and rotatable about an axis in parallel with said horizontal axis, and rotation controlling means for rotating the supporting member and the supporting shaft in the respective opposite directions while maintaining each in directionally constant positions. The weft stand allows the disposition of a weft package, from which a weft is released, in a predetermined direction without providing each supporting shaft with a weft package grasping mechanism.

Abstract: A device for noise attenuation attenuates the noises generated from weaving machines and comprises first conversion means for receiving a sound and outputting an electrical acoustic signal corresponding to the sound, first signal processing means for receiving the acousto-electric signal and outputting a first electrical signal having the frequency and amplitude corresponding to a sound to be attenuated on the basis of the received acoustic-electric signal, second signal processing means for receiving the first electrical signal and outputting a second electrical signal having the same frequency and inverted phase relative to the first electrical signal, and second conversion means for receiving the second electrical signal and generating a sound corresponding to the received second electrical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing ash build-up and clinker formation of a particulate fuel mass in a stove includes a grate having a plurality of openings therein and on which the particulate fuel mass resides. A bottomless container retains the particulate fuel mass on the grate. The grate is reciprocated with respect to the bottomless container and the particulate fuel mass such that the position of the grate openings is altered relative to the particulate fuel mass to channel stove air flow through various portions of the particulate fuel mass.

Abstract: A liquid spillage control apparatus is disclosed having a liquid holding chamber divided by a partition into a liquid transfer portion and a liquid retaining portion. A liquid spill transfer pipe connects the fuel holding chamber with a liquid tank. Overflow liquid passes through the liquid spill transfer pipe and the liquid transfer portion, over the partition and into the liquid retaining portion of the liquid holding chamber.

Abstract: An underwater salvage apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus (includes a harness adapted to be oriented on) a substantially cylindrical drum having an air inlet and a water vent. The harness comprises a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending straps, having upper ends interconnected at the top of the drum. A ring adjacent these upper ends allows fastening of the harness to another harness by a line. Each of the longitudinally extending straps has a lower free end adapted to be disposed below the drum, and each of the lower free ends has a ring for securing the free end to an object to be salvaged. The harness also includes at least one circumferentially disposed strap interconnecting the plurality of longitudinally extending straps. The circumferentially disposed strap has a pair of free ends, with a pair of rings on one of the free ends for tightening the harness onto the drum by securing the pair of free ends.

Abstract: Full weft package transfer mechanism for weaving machines including delivery devices at a loading location which are positionable in a vertical position or an inclined position in alignment with and below an inclined guide with each full weft package being held on a tray, the delivering devices including a holding plate having a concave portion accepting the part of the weft package tray projecting below the guide to effect delivery of the weft package to the delivery devices which is then positioned in a vertical position for movement of the weft package to the weaving machines' installation region.

Abstract: A bar code reader having a scanned light and a stationary photodetector is disclosed. The photo detector uses a lens having a pyramidal frusta-like body to concentrate light. The input side has a pair of oppositely angles side planes facing opposite extremities of a scanned label. The faces can be used to mount filters to reject ambient light, and a polarizer can be used to reject specular reflection from the scanning laser.

Abstract: A mobile mining machine for cutting a tunnel in rock has a wheel-like cutterhead assembly supported by a pitch boom assembly that causes movement of the cutterhead assembly in the vertical plane. A swing boom assembly supports the pitch boom assembly and is supported by the main frame of the mobile mining machine. In one embodiment the swing boom assembly has a pivot axis that is tilted from vertical and swings the cutterhead and the pitch boom during mining to cut a tunnel having a wide, flat floor. During mining, a gripper assembly having a floor gripper shoe and a roof gripper shoe brace the mobile mining machine in the tunnel. Thrust is provided by thrust cylinders located between the gripper shoes and the main beam. Extension of the thrust cylinders moves the cutterhead assembly, main beam, and rear portion of the mobile mining machine forward relative to the gripper assembly due to slidable engagement of the main beam and gripper assembly.

Abstract: A substantially constant flow regulating valve includes a piston dividing a bore into two chambers. The piston is spring biased toward the top chamber of the bore. Fluid from the inlet enters the top chamber through a reference pressure passage and exerts a downward force on the piston. Fluid from the inlet also passes through an inlet flow throttle and into the bottom chamber of the bore where it exerts an upward force on the piston in concert with the spring force. The piston includes an end which variably interacts with an orifice in the lower chamber to maintain a constant pressure differential between the top and bottom chambers.

Abstract: A harness for securing a neck strap of a neck-worn article remote from the neck of the wearer is disclosed. The harness includes a padded band adapted for placement of the neck strap of the neck-worn article therethrough. The padded band includes a buckle for opening and closure thereof, and is adapted to be oriented adjacent to the back of the wearer such that the weight of the neck-worn article is borne and/or dispersed by the padded band. An elongate strap is attached to the padded band and includes a fastener for attaching the harness to the clothing of the wearer to secure the padded band while it bears the weight of the neck-worn article.

Abstract: A liquid-tight reciprocating floor construction includes a plurality of slats slidable on a plurality of stationary bases, with each base supporting an individual slat. Each of the bases is unitary in construction such that liquid leaking through the points of contact between the salt and the base cannot reach the floor supporting the bases. The bases are interconnected by mating flanges, and seals adjacent the mating flanges prevent liquid from leaking through the flanges to the supporting floor.

Abstract: The invention discloses a non-contact way to provide electrical power and two-way digital communications between a host computer and its peripheral modules, such as IC memory cards, modems, and A/D converters. A special magnetic core is employed to provide efficient transfer of both large amounts of electrical power and high speed digital communications through transformer action. Peripheral modules requiring different power supply voltages or different data voltage levels can be accommodated and intermixed with modules of other types in the same host system. The mechanical design of the connector includes detent structure to align the assembly in three dimensions, both upon mating, and under mechanical environmental stress conditions during operation. The magnetic core has both power supply and data windings; the data winding has sections of opposite polarity so that the power supply signal imposed on the data winding cancels itself.

Abstract: A storage station for full weft packages transferred to a weft package stand of a weaving machine by a carrier or the carrier is provided with a direction adjusting device for arranging the direction of the full packages in a corresponding direction to the full package accepting direction of the weft package stand. A rail for the carrier is composed of a main rail and a subrail, wherein the main rail is composed of a first rail portion extending through the storage station and a second rail portion connected to the first rail portion and extending along each row of weaving machines in a weaving machine installation region, and the subrail is a closed loop subrail connected to the main rail.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a reciprocating floor conveyor, wherein the conveyor has a plurality of individually reciprocatable groups of slats, includes a drive cylinder for each of the slat groups located adjacent to an end of the slats. A cross-member for each of the slat groups fixedly secures all of the slats of the slat group. A drive rod for each of the slat groups connects one of the drive cylinders and one of the cross-members. A wall separates the cross-members and the drive cylinders, with the drive rods extending through the wall.