Abstract: A vented closure for a liquid container which will not freely pour includes a cap hinged at one side and movable between open and closed positions relative to a base collar. In an open position, a primary fluid passageway extends through a shaped mouthpiece which is elongated and tapered to conform to a user's mouth. One or more air vents of small size are located in a protected floor of the base collar at positions spaced within predetermined ranges of offsets from the dispensing opening so as to convey liquid into contact with the air vents in a manner to self-seal the air vents by surface tension of the liquid until an unbalance force is present. The cap and collar mate along an offset diagonal edge, and a grip area for the user's thumb or finger is offset from a center line. The offsets cause the cap to flip open with additional clearance and without obstructing a user's nose.

Abstract: A robust and flexible system for signal parameter measurements in the field of signal processing dynamically uses signal parameters from previous signal detections and parametric priorities to adaptively control and process the signal in an efficient and reliable manner. The system provides for improved fine grain signal parameter measurements through the use of adaptive arbitration to control signal processing. The system improves measurement accuracy for various signal characteristics including pulse width, amplitude, frequency and timing information. The system also provides signal parameter measurements while requiring less power, size, and weight than conventional systems.

Abstract: A touch sensor interfaces with a control system or controlled device using two wires. The output of the touch sensor controls an output switch.

Abstract: A vented closure for a liquid container which will not freely pour includes a cap movable between open and closed positions relative to a base collar. The movable cap can be slidable to form a push-pull type closure, or can be rotatable to form a flip-type closure. In an open position, a primary fluid passageway extends through the closure to one or more dispensing opening. One or more air vents of small size are located in the base collar at positions spaced within predetermined ranges of offsets from the dispensing openings. A divider or barrier is located to create a secondary fluid passageway to convey liquid directly into contact with the air vents which can self-seal by surface tension of the liquid and to convey air bubbles through the liquid when the container is tilted. Overlapping portions of the movable cap can protect the vent apertures and/or the dispensing aperture structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive signal compression of unknown signals uses minimal power and bandwidth to transmit data. The method provides adaptive signal compression with minimal loss and distortion by extracting only information of interest and recreating the full signal. The method uses a single resolution filter bank for channelizing a data stream for transmission. The method removes unwanted or unneeded information before transmitting the data by using fidelity and user controls and detection capabilities. The method provides significant signal compression where signals are sparse in frequency, time, or both and does not rely on a priori knowledge of the signal. After transmission, the system generates a signal using the data received as well as filling in the non-transmitted portions of the signal by manipulating the transmitted data. The system then formats the signal into the original data stream using a reconstruction filter bank.

Abstract: A fluid, for example, air, is subjected to a high pressure while in a high pressure inducing vessel (101). The high pressure is due to a large mass, such as the ocean. The fluid is then cooled and directed into a depressurized vessel (107), such as a pressure hull, which is at a relatively lower pressure. With this change in pressure, the fluid expands. This expansion is used to generate work/energy using a work producing machine (108), for example, a turbine. Energy from the work producing machine is converted to electricity using a generator (111). The fluid is collected from the work producing machine and again subjected to the high pressure and low pressure to generate additional electricity.

Abstract: A dehydrating device for refrigerant has an external casing with an input hole and an output hole formed in a first end thereof. The device is provided with a desiccating filter and is arranged with a substantially U-shaped tube. A diffusion device is provided and a first end of the tube is connected to the output hole, a second end of the tube is open and is in juxtaposition with the diffusing device and the diffusing device is located in upper portion of the casing.

Abstract: A deflector assembly located within the interior of a trailer for distributing dry bulk during loading of the dry bulk into the interior of the trailer. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector having a deflecting surface. The deflector has an opened position and a deflecting position, wherein the deflecting surface is not situated to deflect the dry bulk when the deflector is in the opened position and the deflecting surface is situated to deflect the dry bulk when the deflector is in the deflecting position.

Abstract: A mechanical face seal comprising two seal rings for use in water pumps and other fluids, including a resilient bellows for providing a secondary seal between one seal ring and either a housing or a rotating shaft extending through an aperture in the housing. The resilient bellows preferably comprises an elastomeric material, such as molded rubber, and has a single convolution having a general cross-sectional shape of an inverted “omega.” A finger spring member comprises a plurality of generally “U” shaped spring fingers which are adapted and deformed upon installation to provide an axial biasing force against the seal ring attached to the resilient bellows so as to urge it toward the other ring.

Abstract: A method for building a serpentine heat exchanger, particularly a condenser for refrigerating circuits being profiled in such a way to present from a lateral side view and relative to at least one part of its length an inclination the direction of which is suddenly or progressively inverted at least once relative to a plane which is substantially parallel to one of the directions defined by the extension of the exchanger (3), in particular relative to a plane substantially parallel to the principal direction of a flow of air in which the exchanger (3) is located, and in special manner relative to a substantially vertical or substantially horizontal plane. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: a) the construction at least of the serpentine or of the complete exchanger in a flat configuration; b) the bending and/or moulding, or deforming of the flat serpentine or of the flat complete exchanger in a way to assume the desired inclinations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a co-tube assembly for a heating and air conditioning system. The co-tube assembly comprises a connector an inner tube and an outer tube. The connector including a first opening, a second opening and a third opening. The inner tube extends through the first opening and the second opening of the connector. The inner tube has a first portion axially outwardly of the first opening of the connector and a second portion axially outwardly of the second opening of the connector. The outer tube is disposed over the first portion of said inner tube and inserted into said first opening of the connector.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet gate of a railroad hopper car has an valve member mounted for rotation in a discharge tube between open and closed positions. The valve member is an arcuate segment terminating laterally at edge faces. The edge faces are angled such that in the upper half of the discharge tube they always slant downwardly from the surface of the tube, while in the lower half of the discharge tube the edge faces face downwardly. An arrangement of stops and abutments prevents rotation of the valve member to a location where the edge faces could trap lading against the discharge tube. Accordingly, the edge faces are self-emptying.

Abstract: A method of making an evaporator and the resultant evaporator. The resultant evaporator comprises a continuous serpentine tube having an inlet and an outlet. The serpentine tube includes at least one column of parallel tube runs. Each tube run is defined by at least one reverse bend. The column of parallel tube runs has an overall length defined by the distance between the outermost tube runs. The evaporator further comprises a plurality of inner fins attached to the individual tubes. Each inner fin extends between two tube runs defined by opposite ends of a reverse bend. The inner fins have a length less than the overall length the column of tube runs.

Abstract: A connector for receiving a tube end having at least one radially enlarged upset. The connector comprises a hollow female connector body and a retainer disposed in the connector body. The retainer has an annular inner base ring defining a cylindrical surface to receive the tube end. The retainer further defines compressive members. The base ring has a limit surface facing the compressive members and a chamfer intersecting the limit surface and the cylindrical surface. The compressive members define an inner diameter and a space between the limit surface and the compressive members for securing the radially enlarged upset in the connector body. The inner diameter of the compressive members is at least as large as the diameter of the intersection of the chamfer with the limit surface.

Abstract: A folding seat assembly is attachable to the upright vertical post for a tennis net and consists of a pair of interchangeable clamp brackets secured around the vertical post. An upper elongated tube is pivotally mounted to the upper clamp bracket and is slidably mounted to a bottom seat guide. A lower elongated tube is pivotally connected to the bottom clamp bracket and is pivotally connected to the bottom seat assembly to create a triangular support for the seat. A second seat can extend from the opposite side of the same pair of clamp brackets. The seat(s) are maintained in a vertical inactive position by an over-center arrangement and a detent mechanism.

Abstract: An algorithm for emitter identification of a transmitting platform using microphone keyclick analysis, and a system utilizing said algorithm, wherein said algorithm processes audio signals to detect transmission activity on a radio channel in the audio frequency range, detects the boundaries of transmitter keyclicks at the beginning and end of said transmission; extracts keying envelopes from said detected keyclick boundaries; and analyzes said keying envelopes to extract features characteristic of said keyclicks. The algorithm and system then proceed to execute a decision function based on said extracted characteristic features to identify the platform of said transmitter based on the features of said keyclick. A second algorithm, which may be executed in parallel with the first by said system, processes said transmission data using a fast fourier transform, detecting gaps in said processed transmission data.

Abstract: An algorithm for emitter identification of a transmitting platform using spectral energy analysis, and a system utilizing said algorithm, wherein said algorithm processes audio signals from transmission data using a fast fourier transform, detecting gaps in said processed transmission data. It then extracts spectral features consisting of normalized energy per unit frequency from said gaps. The algorithm and system then proceed to execute a decision function based on said extracted characteristic features to identify the platform of said transmitter based on said features. A second algorithm, which may be executed in parallel with the first by said system, processes the same transmission data to detect transmission activity on a radio channel in the audio frequency range, and to detect the boundaries of transmitter keyclicks at the beginning and end of said transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for adaptively pre-emphasizing signals transmitted over a stable but occasionally varying transmission medium such as a very-high-speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) signal, before it is transmitted by a transmitter, in order to compensate for frequency distortion that is introduced by the VDSL transmission line. At system start up, or whenever the parameters or configuration of the line are changed, the the line termination transceivers at both ends of the transmission line exchange calibration signals to measure the attenuation-versus-frequency curves of the line in both directions. Thereafter, whenever the signal transmission band is to be changed in either direction, the transmitter for that direction uses the measured attenuation curve for the line to calculate and design a set of filter coefficients for an adjustable pre-emphasis filter.

Abstract: A programmable signal decoder processes incoming signals using any one of several predefined decoding schemes. The signal decoder is programmed to perform the desired decoding operations by downloading configuration data representative of the decoding scheme from a data memory to programmable logic in the signal decoder. Programmable metric tables provide set mapping. A generic four-level decoder structure includes two levels that are programmable Viterbi decoders, one level that is a Wagner decoder and another level that provides free bit selection operations. The four levels are combined, as needed, to implement two-dimensional, four-dimensional, multi-level and other coded modulation formats.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a golf club putter having a novel putter head with a striking face defined by two unequal radii are disclosed. In one embodiment, the convex striking face is defined by an upper radius and a lower radius meeting along a linear path to provide an single point of contact for the engagement of a golf ball. In a second embodiment, the upper radius and lower radius meet along an arcuate path, and a protruding bottom surface mimics this arcuate path, to provide an optimum point of contact for a golf ball regardless of the longitudinal angle of address of the putter. Dual radius putters having weighting schemes and composite or plastic inserts are also disclosed to further improve the true roll of a golf ball generated by an engagement with the instant putter.