Abstract: An improved mobile electric power generating system comprising a substantially enclosed trailer for housing a power plant is disclosed. The improvements reside in removable means permitting access to the interior of the trailer enclosure for facilitating improved assembly and maintenance of the power plant. Additional features permit improved operation of the system, and improved methods for assembling the same.

Abstract: A device for detecting a change in the slope of a member relative to a reference is disclosed. The device includes a slope sensor, mounted to the member, characterized by a resistance between one end of the slope sensor and an intermediate node, and a conductive fluid within the sensor which varies the effective resistance of the slope sensor between the end thereof and the node by an amount corresponding to the change in the slope of the member relative to the reference.

Abstract: In a mobile electric power generating system, means for mounting a power plant to a trailer bed are disclosed. Such means include a transition piece having a top flange adapted to be mounted to the power plant, a bottom flange, and intermediate plate means disposed between the top and bottom flanges. The intermediate plate means are arranged to absorb some of the twisting forces necessarily associated with the movement of the trailer bed. Means are further provided to secure the bottom flange of the transition piece to a main rail of the trailer bed without imparing the integrity of the main rail.

Abstract: An improved mobile electric power generating system comprising a substantially enclosed trailer for housing a power plant, and improved methods for assembling the same are disclosed. The improved system includes means defining a modular utility frame for carrying various support components of the system. Such support components may include a fuel storage tank, a start-up energy storage tank, a radiator, and power plant support apparatus.

Abstract: A port structure for passing sterile fluids or other biological material, and a method for making the same is disclosed. The port structure includes a flexible sleeve having a rigid thermoplastic tube secured therein. The outer surface of the sleeve has greater thermoplastic properties than the inner surface, enabling the sleeve to be heat sealed to the fluid passage means without sealing off the inner surface. The rigid tube has a free end extending outside the sleeve, having a thermoplastic diaphragm which seals off the free end. When a sterile connection between two fluid passage means incorporating the port structure is desired, the free ends of each rigid tube are aligned and softened, and each thermoplastic diaphragm is opened. The free ends of the rigid tubes are then brought into contact and held in position under a slight pressure while the thermoplastic tubes cool and solidify, thereby creating a permanent connection.

Abstract: An article of manufacture for shielding the interior of each of a succession of container bodies from impurities present during fabrication is disclosed. The article has a base plate having a distal end and a first impurity deflection member extending downwardly therefrom at an obtuse angle with the base plate. The first impurity deflection member is adapted to be disposed adjacent to a forward open end of one of the succession of container bodies during a predetermined sequence of fabrication to prevent impurities from passing into that container body through the forward end thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to photographic apparatus having means for automatically moving a lens along an axis for properly focusing on an object. The apparatus includes a light emitter for transmitting a train of light signals toward the object at a constant angle relative to the axis, and a pair of movable photoreceptors disposed in spaced relationship with the emitter in the apparatus. The photoreceptors are adapted to receive the light signals upon reflection thereof from the object, and are further adapted to produce electrical signals corresponding to the amount of light received. An operational amplifier is adapted to receive the electrical signals produced by the photoreceptors, and produce a difference signal corresponding to the difference in strength of the electrical signals.

Abstract: A method of and means for demonstrating organic evolution, particularly as it involves the mechanism of natural selection. Background panels of multicolor and intricate design or pattern are used to provide simulated natural environments, and thin chips of different colors and shades -- and, in some instances, of different sizes and shapes -- are used to provide simulated animals or plants to be placed on the background panels. A population of a predetermined number of chips of a predetermined mixture of colors -- say, for instance, an equal number of from ten to twenty different colors -- is selected. The chips constituting the selected population are then spread in a single layer more or less uniformly on the surface of the background panel, and preferably in spaced relation, so that each chip is in plain view and is more or less detectible -- depending upon the color contrast existing between each chip, respectively, and the associated area of the background panel.

Abstract: A machine for uniformly forming discrete quantities of material into a predetermined shape is disclosed. The machine includes a conveyor, a plurality of stationary forming members having a predetermined cross-section, and a corresponding plurality of guiding members extending from respective ones of the forming members so that discrete quantities of material carried by the conveyor are guided under the forming members where they are uniformly formed into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: An automatic focusing mechanism for adjusting the focus setting of the objective lens of an optical instrument such as a photographic camera. The adjustable focusing cell of the objective lens is coupled to a pivotal reception means so that the focus setting of the objective lens is maintained coincident with the distance between the camera and an object to be photographed when the longitudinal axis of the reception means is in alignment with a reflected light beam image transmitted from the camera to the object from an emission means spaced from the reception means. A rangefinder circuit controls the pivotal motion of the reception means so as to maintain its longitudinal axis in alignment with the reflected light beam image through variations in camera-to-object distance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for knitting proteinaceous fragments into a unified mass is disclosed. The apparatus is adapted to accumulate proteinaceous fragments into a wad, and then knit the fragments together to form a unified proteinaceous patty. The method includes the steps of accumulating the meat fragments into a wad, and then knitting the wad to form a unified proteinaceous patty.

Abstract: A waterproof switching apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a switch, which is protected by an enclosure having a surface defining a passage for means for actuating the switch. The surface is positioned downwardly from the switch to prevent water from flowing through the passage and into the enclosure.

Abstract: A paint spray control system for controlling a paint spray apparatus including a paint spray station having at least one spray gun and a conveyor for transporting objects of diverse styles is disclosed. The control system includes input means for depositing different sets of data words into a memory, some of the data words being in a first set representative of a predetermined position of an object of predetermined style and others being in a second set representative of the style of a specific object transported by the conveyor. The control system further includes means for supplying an increment signal representative of the position of an object transported by the conveyor relative to the spray station, and comparison means for comparing the increment signal and a specific one of the data words in the second set with the position and style information contained in data words in the first set.

Abstract: An automatic tape winding system having a supply reel and a takeup reel adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of tape from the supply reel is disclosed. A reduced quantity of tape, less than the predetermined quantity is initially selected and inputted into the winding system. Winding is then initiated whereby tape is moved from the supply reel to the takeup reel past means for developing signals corresponding to the speed at which a determined quantity of tape is moved. When the quantity of tape corresponding to the signals developed equals the reduced quantity, the supply reel is automatically decelerated in anticipation of a subsequent signal effecting the stoppage of the supply reel and the takeup reel.

Abstract: A fixture installation assembly adapted to be hung from support means secured to a surface member is disclosed. The assembly includes a pair of side panels, adapted to hang substantially vertically from the support means, having an attachment member near the lower end. The assembly also includes a bottom panel having an attachment member near each end thereof. One of the attachment members comprises latching means and the other comprises latch engagement means so that the bottom panel is supportively secured to the side panels for spacing the fixture a predetermined distance from the surface member.

Abstract: A target game comprising a rollable sheet member having a surface and at least one edge adapted to be removably supportive from a support means is disclosed. The target game further includes indicia means on the surface of the sheet member, having target aperture means therein associated with the indicia means. The target aperture means are adapted to accommodate a target displayed in the context of the indicia means.

Abstract: Means for forming, at the bottom of a body of water, a barrier to substantially reduce the impact of waves developed in the body of water are disclosed. The means comprise a flotation member having a leeward end, means defining a pivotable axis for said flotation member, and structural means for applying a force to said flotation means. The force applied by the structural means causes the flotation member to pivot about the axis and urge the leeward end into the body of water. The leeward end, when urged into the body of water, causes particulate matter suspended therein to gravitate to the bottom to form a barrier for the waves. The force applied by the structural means are adapted to be overcome when waves of a predetermined substantial size are developed, whereupon the flotation member is temporarily pivoted about the axis to a substantially horizontal position relative to the surface of the body of water to prevent damage to the flotation member when waves of substantial size are developed.

Abstract: A method for making a sterile connection between fluid passage means such as a port structure for passing sterile fluids or other biological material, is disclosed. The port structure includes a flexible sleeve having a rigid thermoplastic tube secured therein. The outer surface of the sleeve has greater thermoplastic properties than the inner surface, enabling the sleeve to be heat sealed to the fluid passage means without sealing off the inner surface. The rigid tube has a free end extending outside the sleeve, having a thermoplastic diaphragm which seals off the free end. When a sterile connection between two fluid passage means incorporating the port structure is desired, the free ends of each rigid tube are aligned and softened, and each thermoplastic diaphragm is opened. The free ends of the rigid tubes are then brought into contact and held in position under a slight pressure while the thermoplastic tubes cool and solidify, thereby creating a permanent connection.

Abstract: In a tape winding system having supply means driven by supply driving means, and takeup means driven by takeup driving means, a method for winding a quantity of tape from the supply means to the takeup means is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forwardly energizing the supply driving means and the takeup driving means, causing tape to unwind from the supply means and wind onto the takeup means with minimal tension on the tape; then reducing the energization of the supply driving means, causing the tape to be pulled from the supply means onto the takeup means; and then stopping the supply means and the takeup means. The apparatus for accomplishing these steps, and the resulting product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for recording, at the point of sale, data arising from credit card transactions, makes use of a novel apparatus disclosed in a co-pending Application, entitled APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND PROCESSING CREDIT TRANSACTION DATA, Ser. No. 132,050. More particularly, the method involves simultaneously recording credit transaction data on both a customer credit receipt and on a single line of data paper. The data paper is advanced after each sale, thereby producing a line by line description of each individual credit transaction. Since the data paper is capable of direct input to a computer, for conversion to separate customer statements, it reduces the amount of manual and machine handling of billing information.