Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for indicating a patron's status in a restaurant, the apparatus comprising one or more color-coded subsections on a device within the patron's reach. The present apparatus includes a movable indicator that the patron may position over a selected subsection to communicate a particular message to the waiter. A legend positioned on or near one or more of the subsections may provide a description of the message corresponding to a particular color. The status indicating apparatus may be incorporated in a device for handling the patron's check and payment, such as a portfolio or tray, or in some other structure such as the edge of the patron's table or a fixture on the table.

Abstract: A fan drive is disclosed which includes a planetary gear set having a first rotatable output member connected in driving relation to the fan, a second rotatable output member connected in driving communication with a hydraulic circuit, and a rotatable input member connected in driven communication with a power source, the first and second output members being connected in differentially rotatable communication with the input member. During operation, the hydraulic circuit is operable to vary the rotational speed of the second rotatable output member of the planetary gear set, to thereby vary the rotational speed of the first rotatable output member and the connected fan. According to one preferred aspect of the present invention, the input member of the hydraulic circuit is an input shaft of a hydraulic pump, the rotational speed of the pump being variable by throttling fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: A rod scraper for hydraulic cylinders and the like is disclosed which includes an elastomeric ring member having an inner surface defining a central aperture adapted for receiving a rod for axial movement relative thereto, the inner surface including a scraper portion having an inner most circumferential lip positioned adjacent one end of the elastomeric seal member for scraping the rod, the elastomeric ring member further having a curved outer surface portion generally axially coextensive with the scraper portion, and a metallic backing ring affixed in overlaying relation to at least a substantial portion of the curved outer surface portion of the elastomeric ring member, the backing ring being resiliently biased against the curved outer surface portion to urge the lip of the elastomeric ring member against the rod and sufficiently flexible to allow some radial movement of the rod while maintaining the lip in circumferential contact with the rod.

Abstract: A poppet adapted for movement in a passage extending between an inlet port and a control chamber of a poppet valve for controlling a fluid flow rate into the control chamber from the inlet port responsive to changes in a fluid flow rate from the control chamber, the poppet including at least one metering port positioned for communicating with the control chamber, a conduit connecting the metering port with an opening positioned for communicating with the inlet port for the flow of the fluid from the inlet port to the metering port, and at least one flow increasing element communicating with the conduit positioned to be covered by an inner sidewall when the poppet is within a predetermined range of displacement from a closed position toward the control chamber, the flow increasing element being increasingly exposed to the control chamber when the poppet is displaced toward the control chamber beyond the range, and the flow increasing element cooperating with the metering port when the poppet is at a predetermi

Abstract: A method of detecting leakage through a gaseous fuel admission valve of a dual fuel engine including at least one such gaseous fuel admission valve and a gaseous fuel shut off valve includes determining a liquid fuel rate when the engine is operating in a liquid fuel mode and the gaseous fuel shut off valve is closed. The gaseous fuel shut off valve is thereafter opened while the engine is operating in the liquid fuel mode. A liquid fuel rate is determined after the gaseous fuel shut off valve is opened and the liquid fuel rate determined before opening of the gaseous fuel shut off valve is compared with the liquid fuel rate determined after opening of the gaseous fuel shut off valve. A detonation level within the engine cylinder may also be checked to determine if such detonation level exceeds a predetermined level indicative of gaseous fuel leakage. The detonation level check may also be utilized in a spark-ignited engine.

Abstract: Apparatus adapted for use with a disk type planting unit or opener assembly for depositing material in a furrow formed in the ground thereby. The disk type planting unit or opener assembly includes a disk supported for forward movement through the ground for forming the furrow, the disk being oriented at a small acute angle with respect to the forward direction and having a generally rearwardly facing disk surface. The apparatus includes a material delivery member having an inlet opening for receiving the material, a lower portion having an outlet opening for depositing the material into the furrow, and a conduit for the passage of the material between the inlet opening and the outlet opening.

Abstract: A forming material for the fabrication of appliances for fixing, supporting, correcting and holding human bodies, characterized by a main forming material body including a quantity of granulated materials each coated with a moisture-curable urethane prepolymer contained within a water-permeable material container, the main forming material body being hermetically enclosed in a moisture-impermeable material container, wherein the moisture-curable urethane prepolymer and the water-permeable material container are unreactive with each other and have a low adhesive strength with respect to each other to provide good long term preservability and ease of operability to allow modeling and conforming the main forming material body to a desired shape.

Abstract: A method for controlling transfer from use of a first injection waveform type to use of a second injection waveform type in a hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled fuel injection system of an engine includes sensing an engine speed and an engine load when the first injection waveform type is selected and storing the sensed engine speed and the sensed engine load. An actual engine speed is thereafter compared with the stored engine speed and an actual engine load is thereafter compared with the stored engine load. Transfer from use of the first injection waveform type to use of the second injection waveform type is prevented unless at least (i) a difference between the actual engine load and the stored engine load exceeds a predetermined load amount, or (ii) a difference between the actual engine speed and the stored engine speed exceeds a predetermined speed amount.

Abstract: A device for use as a meter pit or a traffic barrel, having double-walled construction in which one wall is a substantially smooth inner wall and a second outer wall is a corrugated wall, wherein the corrugated wall may be a singular wall extending from one end of the inner wall to the other end of the inner wall or a plurality of exterior walls attached sequentially at various points to the inner wall, the exterior corrugated walls may be linked to one another by a series of smooth walls. The corrugated wall has small, individual corrugations with the individual corrugations including a pair of trough walls and a crest, the small size of the individual corrugations making the device light-weight and impact resistant. The drum device is extruded and contains a polyolefin mixture, which preferably contains recycled and virgin polyethylene materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for improving the vaporization of the intake charge for an internal combustion engine and for improving the induction or aspiration of the intake charge through the intake tract or passages of the an engine by generating suction from the intake charge flow through the intake tract and utilizing energy from back pressure and/or reverse pressure pulses flowing in the opposite direction in the intake tract to draw poorly or inadequately atomized or vaporized elements of the intake charge, raw fuel, and a condition known as "reversion" from the intake tract into the apparatus, mix the collected elements, and discharge them back into the intake tract in a vaporized state to thereby improve the overall vaporization of the intake charge and reduce back pressure, reverse pulses, and the resultant reversion that can adversely affect induction as well as intake charge quality.

Abstract: A device for generating useful information employing a first neural network trained to produce input-output maps within a predetermined initial knowledge domain, an apparatus for subjecting the neural network to perturbations which may produce changes in the predetermined knowledge domain, the neural network having an optional output for feeding the outputs of the first neural network to a second neural network that evaluates the outputs based on training within the second neural network. The device may also include a reciprocal feed back connection from the output of the second neural network to the first neural network to further influence and change what takes place in the aforesaid neural network.

Abstract: A final drive for a belted machine including a rotatable drive member located between the hubs of a drive wheel assembly of the machine for connection in driven communication with a power source and a pair of planetary gear sets located between the hubs, each planetary gear set including a member adapted for fixed connection to a frame of the machine, a rotatable input member connected in driven communication with the rotatable drive member, and a rotatable output member connected in driven communication with the rotatable input member and adapted for connection in driving communication with one of the hubs. The present final drive additionally has utility for use on tracked and wheeled machines used in a wide variety of industrial fields, including, but not limited to, forestry, agriculture, construction, mining, and excavating.

Abstract: Constructing and simulating artificial neural networks and components thereof within a spreadsheet environment results in user friendly neural networks which do not require algorithmic based software in order to train or operate. Such neural networks can be easily cascaded to form complex neural networks and neural network systems, including neural networks capable of self-organizing so as to self-train within a spreadsheet, neural networks which train simultaneously within a spreadsheet, and neural networks capable of autonomously moving, monitoring, analyzing, and altering data within a spreadsheet. Neural networks can also be cascaded together in self training neural network form to achieve a device prototyping system.

Abstract: A method for responding to detection of an open fault condition in a gaseous fuel admission valve for providing a flow of gaseous fuel to an affected combustion cylinder of an engine, the engine including at least one other gaseous fuel admission valve for providing a flow of gaseous fuel to at least one other combustion cylinder, a gaseous fuel shut off valve for controlling gaseous fuel flow from a source of gaseous fuel to a gaseous fuel manifold in communication with the gaseous fuel admission valve, and apparatus for causing ignition of a mixture of the gaseous fuel and air in each combustion cylinder.

Abstract: A skin closure device made of flexible material adhesively attachable to the skin of a person who is preparing to undergo surgery, the device including optional non adhesive areas along opposite sides of an incision and bridging members adapted to engaged the skin closure member on opposite sides of the incision to hold the skin closure member closed against the skin surface adjacent to the incision. The subject invention is also directed to the use of a surgical drape having a window opening through which or in which the subject skin closure can be positioned, the subject skin closure being removable from the window at the conclusion of surgery so that the skin closure device with remain attached to the skin for as long as desired and the surgical drape can be removed for use elsewhere. The subject invention also contemplates attaching a medicated strip extending along the skin closure device in the area of the incision to provide medication help at the conclusion of surgery.

Abstract: A device for removing air from a toilet and deodorizing the air is disclosed which comprises an air intake member having an inlet end, an outlet end, and toilet rim engaging member for holding the inlet end adjacent to the toilet bowl, a filter canister havin g a base portion and a top which is movable relative to the base portion, the filter canister having an internal cavity, an inlet opening, and one or more outlet openings, the inlet opening connected to the second end of the intake member, a fan positioned within the filter canister, a first filter member positioned in the internal cavity of the filter canister for filtering hair, lint and large particulates from the air, a second filter member positioned in the filter canister and including a mesh bag containing a quantity of filtering media, the mesh bag being press fit into a portion of the internal cavity such that the mesh bag forms to the cross-sectional shape of the filter canister, the fan for drawing air in through the air intake member inlet en

Abstract: A device for management of diabetes using a programmable microprocessor based unit having a display, keyboard, and memory. The keyboard is for inputting information concerning carbohydrates ingested by a user. The microprocessor is programmed to determine an amount of insulin to be used by a user based upon the carbohydrates ingested and the display is for displaying the amount of insulin to be used.

Abstract: A workpiece holding assembly includes a base member which has a first support portion extending therefrom at a first position, a second support portion extending therefrom at a second position, a third support portion extending therefrom at a third position, and a fourth support portion extending therefrom at a fourth position. A first workpiece engaging member extends between the first support portion and the second support portion and is adapted for at least partial rotational movement. A second workpiece engaging member extends between the third support portion and the fourth support portion and is adapted for at least partial rotational movement. Each workpiece engaging member may include an outer surface having at least one substantially planar surface portion and at least one curved surface portion. The second workpiece engaging member may run substantially parallel to the first workpiece engaging member.

Abstract: A support shelf adapted for attachment to a crutch, the crutch including a pair of spaced, opposed downwardly converging rods, the support shelf including a member having a generally flat top surface and a peripheral edge portion extending therearound, the member including a pair of grooves extending inwardly from the spaced oppositely facing portions of the peripheral edge, the grooves being adapted for cooperatively receiving the downwardly converging rods of the crutch for wedging the member between the rods to hold the member with the top surface thereof in a generally horizontal orientation when the rods are in a generally upstanding orientation, the member optionally being of two piece construction for clamping to the rods, and further optionally being of hinged construction for movement between a deployed position and a stored position.