Abstract: A tactile image mapper has a vessel with a deformable membrane on one side and a clear face plate on the other side. The vessel is filled with an optically dense material, such as ink, and a pressure regulator varies and measures the pressure of the optically dense material to cause the deformable membrane to assume the shape of an object to be tactually sensed. A ring illuminator shines light through the clear face plate to the back side of the deformable membrane and a video camera captures the reflections off of the back side of the deformable membrane. A microcomputer captures a frame from the video signal and interprets areas with high intensities in the frame as protrusions on the surface of the object and areas with low intensities in the frame as low areas on the object. Based upon the interpretations at each point within the frame of the video signal, the tactile image mapper reconstructs a high resolution synthesized three dimensional topographical image of the object.

Abstract: The spacer support (20) includes a support base (22) and a receptacle (26) which are welded together at interfitting annular flanges (46 and 64). A bearing plug (24) includes a circular support plate (48) covering the upper surfaces of the radial walls (36), with a tapered stem (50) projecting into a tapered center opening (34) of the support base (22). The flexible engagement fingers (66) allow one way movement of the rebar rod (14) into the receptacle (26), and the protrusions (18) of the rod engage the ends of the fingers (66), prohibiting separation of the spacer support (20) frown the rod (14).

Abstract: A combined oil filter/reservoir cartridge for an internal combustion engine mounted outboard of the engine for easy access. The device includes an oil filter and has sufficient capacity to hold all of the engine oil. An auxiliary oil pump is included to pump fresh oil from a new device into the engine and to pump the old oil into the reservoir. The device can then be demounted and the contents and cartridge recycled.

Abstract: A learning neural network (30) implements a random weight change learning algorithm within a weight adjustment mechanism (28) for manipulating the weights applied to inputs of the network (30) in order to achieve a desired functionality for the network (30). Weights are changed randomly from an initial state with a small incremental weight change of either +.delta. or -.delta.. If the overall network output decreases by the weight change, the same weight change is iterated until the error increases. If, however, the overall network error increases, the weights are changed randomly again. After iterating the foregoing methodology, the network error gradually decreases and finally reaches approximately zero. Furthermore, a shift mechanism (36) and a multiplier (38) are employed as a weight application mechanism (16). The shift mechanisms (36) are connected in series with a random line (35) and are connected in parallel with a shift line (44).

Abstract: A system for transferring birds (77) from a weigh line (11) to a cut-up line (12) through an intermediate accumulator. The system comprises a continuously rotating buffer wheel (15) having a plurality of bird carriers (17) slidably mounted on its periphery and being carried on buffer wheel (15) toward either an inlet gate (106) or a delivery gate (114). When a bird carrier (17) arrives at either inlet gate (106) or delivery gate (114), it is stopped by a gate arm (108)or (115), respectively, and remains stationary with respect to the continuously moving buffer wheel (15).

Abstract: A barbecue grill cart assembly is provided having a unique leg locking system at each corner. The locking system provides a plurality of contact points for each leg to obviate any swaying or twisting of the legs. The lower shelf includes extruded bolt receiving apertures which mate with corresponding apertures in the legs. The side shelves having a locking system including elongated slots which provide positive engagement and prevent accidental lowering of the shelves.

Abstract: A method and a device to determine the spatial arrangement of a directionally sensitive magnetic field sensor, in particular a coil (10) or a Hall probe, in which a number of reference coils (3 to 8) forming a frame of reference are used to generate distinguishable magnetic fields, in which signals induced in the magnetic field sensor (10) by the magnetic fields are measured and in which the spatial arrangement of the magnetic field sensor (10) is determined from the measured signals emitted by the individual reference coils (3 to 8) in which the six reference coils (3 to 8) are arranged to form a three-dimensional frame of reference and in which the position vector of each reference coil cannot be represented as a linear combination with positive factors of the position vectors of the other five reference coils (3 to 8) and in which the scalar product of any position vector in the frame of reference with the position vectors of all six reference coils (3 to 8) vanishes for a maximum of three reference coils,

Abstract: A door curtain assembly (10) for temporarily closing the door opening of a loading dock doorway for a warehouse, or similar industrial building, including a framework (20) mounted within the door jamb of the doorway. A door curtain (42) is movably mounted to the framework (20) and is formed from a durable, porous material that enables light and air to readily pass therethrough, but which retards the passage of insects, etc. through the open door of a warehouse. The door curtain (42) is slidably mounted on a curtain rod (66) and is movable across the width of the door opening to open and close the door opening. A locking handle (96) is provided along one side edge (49) of the door curtain (42) for locking the door curtain (42) in its closed position for enclosing the door opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conducting a precise gravimetry survey downhole in an earth formation. The apparatus includes an elongated closed, hollow, cylindrical pressure vessel. The vessel is suspended from a vessel cable which is used for lowering and raising the vessel within a borehole. A stepper motor is mounted inside a top portion of the vessel, and includes control electronics which communicates with and is controlled by a surface system located on the surface. The stepper motor is geared to drive a winch with a gravity meter cable attached to a gravity meter so that the gravity meter cable may be used to precisely raise and lower the gravity meter inside and along the length of the elongated vessel. When the stepper motor is activated and rotates the winch, the gravity meter cable raises and lowers the gravity meter. The stepper motor is geared to the winch in a fashion so that one step of the motor corresponds with a displacement of the gravity meter in a range of from about 0.01 to about 0.

Abstract: A planar article or sheet, such as a divider sheet for stacked products, and the method of supplying substantially planar articles from a supply magazine to an article transfer device, which then transfers the article to a desired location for further processing. The planar article itself can be a divider sheet for stacked beverage containers, folded paperboard cartons for carriers, or any other substantially planar article which is adapted to be consecutively arranged with other such articles in a group, and placed in a supply magazine for singular delivery to an article transfer device. The method of the present invention is specifically designed to insure that only one sheet at a time is removed from the group by the article transfer device. The sheets or articles themselves, are designed to cooperate with the supply magazine to facilitate singular delivery.

Abstract: A system compresses image blocks via successive hierarchical stages and motion encoders which employ caches updated by stack replacement algorithms. Initially, a background detector compares the present image block with a corresponding previously encoded image block and if similar, the background detector terminates the encoding procedure by setting a flag bit. Otherwise, the image block is decomposed into smaller present image subblocks. The smaller present image subblocks are each compared with a corresponding previously encoded image subblock of comparable size within the present image block. When a present image subblock is similar to a corresponding previously encoded image subblock, then the procedure is terminated by setting a flag bit.

Abstract: A bracket member for use in mounting a window in a barbecue grill hood is disclosed, the bracket having a channel for receiving an edge of the window and spring clips which grip the window prior to installation and which are bent to engage the grill hood and secure the window and bracket to the grill hood.

Abstract: A disposable teeth cleaning kit includes a finger mounted toothbrush having a substantially cylindrical elastic sheath with a closed end and an open end. The sheath can be provided with internal longitudinal torque ridges to prevent rolling of the sheath during use. Brush means is disposed on the sheath adjacent its closed end and the sheath is adapted to be furled into a compact configuration wherein the furled portion forms a substantially annular rim bounding an area spanned by the closed end portion of the sheath and the brush means. The brush means is sized and configured to be surrounded and protected by the rim during storage and can be sealed in a protective sterile pod if desired. A sealed brush pod for attachment to an elastic sheath to form a finger mounted toothbrush comprises a base pad from which a bed of brush material projects. The bed of brush material is smaller than the pad to define a peripheral lip of the pad.

Abstract: A practice device for bowling and other sports or activities that utilize an underhand throwing motion is disclosed, the device including a base, an arcuate track mounted on the base, and a carrier which engages the track. The user moves the carrier along the track, thereby practicing the idealized underhand swing motion.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging of a blood vessel exhibits flow artifacts, or signal loss, around a constriction (26) due to turbulent fluid flow. Signal loss in a region (27) prior to the constricted region (26) is primarily caused by convective acceleration, and this signal loss is substantially eliminated by performing an acceleration compensation process. Signal loss in a region (32) situated after the constriction (26) is primarily caused by velocity fluctuations, and this signal loss is cured by an imaging process which does not rely on the phase of the electromagnetic excitation signal(s) for spatial localization. Examples of imaging processes for minimizing signal loss due to turbulence include a projection reconstruction process (34) and a two dimensional slice selection process (56). Further, the two dimensional slice selection process (56) may be used for generating instantaneous velocities of fluid flowing through a fluid channel.