Abstract: A lift control system includes a spatial filter for producing a signal having various features, a discriminator for discriminating one or more features of the signal, and for producing a control signal when at least one of the features discriminated falls in a predetermined range, and active devices connected to the discriminator. The spatial filter is defined by a semi-spherical bowl having a plurality of openings or by a poly-face prism which is made from a plano-convex lens with its curved face so polished or cut as to have a plurality of flat faces.

Abstract: A rack assembly for mounting one or more plug-in type electronic/electrical modules in an aircraft or the like. The assembly provides mechanical isolation to the modules by way of at least two resilient strips positioned on opposite sides of the shelf on which the modules are mounted. The assembly further includes an air plenum disposed adjacent the underside of the shelf for providing cooling air to the modules. The mechanism for providing mechanical isolation performs the additional function of forming part of the plenum. This dual function feature minimizes the amount of space consumed by the disclosed rack assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for measuring the thickness of a paint coating on a substrate.

Abstract: A seam tracker in which a shaft containing a position-indicator-member, e.g., a ferromagnetic portion, is attached to a probe, and is mounted on a ball joint and the ball joint is mounted on a pin the ends of which extend through slots in a housing. Spring means urge the pin ends against one end of the respective slots. A mechanical-null-position spring urges the shaft to a mechanical null position off of the longitudinal axis of the housing and thus away from the mechanical null position. Means responsive to changes in position of the shaft from the electrical null position give an output to drive a control apparatus to correspond to changes in position of the probe as it tracks the seam, represented by changes in position of the shaft.

Abstract: An improved memory reset arrangement for a mirror such as a rearview mirror of a motor vehicle and the like, which is so arranged that push-pull driving shafts for tilting or pivoting the mirror are directly associated with memory switches for memorizing rotational positions of the mirror so as to simplify the construction of the memory reset arrangement for the mirror, with a consequent reduction in cost.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of supplying feedwater to a forced flow boiler or the like as described. A positive displacement pump having a plurality of discrete pumping elements is arranged to pump feedwater from an inlet to the boiler. The pump includes bypass valves which, when open, disable the pumping action of an associated pumping element. Control means responsive to the demand for water in the boiler are arranged to disable a selected number of the pumping elements so that the rate of water supplied by the remaining elements, if operated continuously, would just exceed that required. The control means is further arranged to disable at least one of the remaining pumping elements on a periodic basis so that the ratio of time that the element is enabled to the time for one period multiplied by the water flow rate supplied by said element, if operated continuously, equals the difference between the total demand for water and the rate supplied by the pumping elements enabled on a full-time basis.

Abstract: A two-bus, two instruction type, pipelined microprocessor having a control means which orders application of instruction and data addresses to a memory and further interleaves instructions and data on a single bus to achieve maximum efficiency in operation.

Abstract: An automatic adaptive equalizer operative on a test pattern including a carrier-only period, clock-only period and a single test impulse. The equalizer employs a transversal filter under control of a microprocessor. Samples of in-phase and quadrature phase components of the received impulse response are cross correlated and autocorrelated to form elements of a complex matrix equation describing the optimum equalizer tap settings. The microprocessor performs a special interative operation utilizing elements of this equation to rapidly and exactly calculate the optimum initial settings for the tap constants. The clock-only portion of the test pattern is analyzed to accurately set a sampling clock to properly sample the received impulse so that matrix formation can be carried out within the duration of the received impulse. Initial equalization can be achieved in a time on the order of 30 milliseconds at a data rate of 9600 bits per second.

Abstract: A hand-held valve structure for use with an oral evacuator system of the type which includes a vacuum source/waste disposal unit connected to the valve structure through a flexible vacuum hose. The valve structure includes an elongated body member having a central bore which is coupled to the vacuum hose. The upstream end of the body member includes a valve seat which surrounds the central bore. A poppet or valve piece, which is positioned adjacent the valve seat, is secured to the one end of a connecting rod, the rod being slidably-mounted on the body member. A detachable cover having a central bore is secured over the valve seat of the body member. The cover is provided with a slot which provides access to the connecting rod. A thumb latch is provided which is connected to the connecting rod through the cover member slot. A cam spring is positioned around the body member and engages the thumb latch so as to latch the poppet in either an open or a closed position.

Abstract: A lightweight emergency lighting system capable of arrangement into various subjective configurations is provided. A housing member supports a plurality of individual lighting elements mounted on a common semi-rigid bus bar. The upper configuration of the housing members is capable of a directional transmission of light towards a predetermined field angle, while the lower configuration is adaptable for mounting the lighting elements. The upper housing member can have an interior surface of a prismatic configuration to provide a refraction and reflection of light in combination with the exterior surface. The lighting elements, such as L.E.D.'s, can be excited through a pulsing circuit to maximize the light output while conserving power from an auxiliary battery source.

Abstract: A concrete finishing adapter is disclosed which enables a user to adjust the angle of a bull float or the like, which is adapted for connection to the adapter. The angle of the bull float is adjusted so that it does not gouge into the unset surface of concrete. The adapter includes a base plate, a yoke, a handle receiving member extending through the yoke, a braking sleeve inside the yoke through which the handle receiving member passes, and a rod which connects the handle receiving member to the base plate. Rotation of the handle receiving member in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction causes the rod to move the base plate relative to the handle so that the angle of incidence of the base plate (and attached smoothing plate) relative to the concrete surface, is adjusted so that, when the user pushes the smoothing plate away, the forward edge of the smoothing plate is tilted upward.

Abstract: An exposure control device for a photographic enlarger includes a printing control means for controlling the exposure of a printing section having a light source. When a printing start means is manually operated, the printing control means actuates the printing section to start the exposure of printing and actuates an attained exposure amount outputting means to measure at each segment of time an amount of exposure attained from the start of printing to that time. A suspending signal for temporarily stopping the exposure and the measurement is generated and fed to the printing control means, when a ratio of the attained exposure to a desired exposure reaches an integer multiple of a fixed ratio of exposures. The exposure of the printing section and the measurement of the attained exposure amount are suspended in response to this suspending signal, and an operator can perform a preparatory operation for the shading and/or burning-in printing process during the suspension.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vacuum sintering furnace having a lubricant eliminating section, sintering section and cooling section which are aligned in series and connected by connecting hood means to each other so that a workpiece may be directly transferred to the following section without exposure of the workpiece to outside air. The connecting hood means comprises doors for selectively opening and closing the boundaries between the neighboring sections. Furthermore, the lubricant eliminating section is provided with a lubricant trapping device mounted on an exhaust line connecting a furnace body and a vacuum pump to each other, thereby the stable operation of the vacuum pump is ensured.

Abstract: A telephoto lens system comprising a front lens group of a positive refractive power fixed on the optical axis and a rear lens group of a negative refractive power is provided. The rear lens group consists, from the object to the image side, of a first positive subunit fixed on the optical axis, a second negative subunit movable along the optical axis and a third positive subunit fixed on the optical axis, the second negative subunit being movable toward the image side for focusing to a closer object. The object side end surface of the first positive subunit is concave and fulfills the following condition in relation with the front lens group:0.6<.vertline..phi.'.sub.II-1 .vertline./.phi..sub.I <2.

Abstract: A reconfigurable toy assembly having foldable portions to allow the toy assembly to simulate a toy combination vehicle having a tractor unit and a trailer unit separatably connected to each other. The tractor unit when separated from the trailer unit is reversibly reconfigurable into a robotic humanoid form, while the trailer unit is reversibly reconfigurable into a play space for the robotic humanoid.

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising a first lens group of a negative refractive power, a second lens group of a positive refractive power located on the image side of the first lens group with a first variable air space, a third lens group of a negative refractive power located on the image side of the second lens group with a second variable air space and a fourth lens group or unit of a positive refractive power located on the image side of the third lens group with a third variable air space is provided. The first and third variable air spaces are reduced and the second variable air space is increased in accordance with the increase of the focal length of the whole lens system during the zooming. The absolute value of the focal length of the third lens group is greater than that of the second lens group.