Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an X-ray producing device, including: an X-ray tube; a cathode disposed in the X-ray tube to produce a stream of electrons; and a spherical anode disposed in the X-ray tube to have impinged on a point thereon the stream of electrons and to produce thereby a stream of X-rays.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a lighting fixture lens retainer for a lighting fixture of the type having a generally horizontally extending first lens held in upper and lower fixture members by insertion of first and second mounting flanges formed, respectively, along upper and lower edges of the first lens inserted into first and second mounting grooves formed, respectively, along the upper and lower fixture members, the lighting fixture lens retainer comprising: a retaining member being disposed within the lighting fixture and being movable between a first, open position in which the retaining member is spaced apart from an inner surface of the first lens and a second, securing position in which the retaining member bears against the inner surface of the lens in such manner as to secure the first mounting flange in the first mounting groove.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of enhancing the neutron coincidence assay of low fissile mass samples, by combining assay precision improvement algorithms with novel background and matrix correction algorithms, to provide lower levels of detection with higher confidence that the reported results are not subject to biases resulting from environmental or sample matrix effects.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a sifter dispensing cap base for attachment to a package containing material to be dispensed, including: a vertical cylindrical shell portion; a web portion covering an upper end of the vertical cylindrical shell portion; the web portion including a flap, opening of the flap permitting access to the material; and the flap including a living hinge disposed along one edge thereof.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a fluid-operated cylinder to provide both linear and rotary motion to tooling, including: a cylindrical, rotatable member for attachment to rotatable means; a circular piston disposed in the cylindrical, rotatable member for back and forth axial motion in a cavity defined therein and rotatable by rotation of the cylindrical, rotatable member; a first port defined through the cylindrical rotatable member to introduce pressurized fluid into the cavity on a first side of the circular piston such as to cause the circular piston to move in a first direction; and a piston shaft fixedly attached to the circular piston and fixedly attachable to the tooling; whereby: when the rotatable member is rotated, rotary motion will be transmitted to the tooling by the piston shaft, and when the pressurized fluid is introduced into the cavity on the first side of the circular piston, the piston shaft will cause the tooling to move in the first direction.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment, an electronic key, including: a housing; unlocking apparatus extending from the housing, insertable in an electronic lock to unlock the electronic lock; and optical indicia reading apparatus disposed in the housing to read optical indicia. In another preferred embodiment, a lock system, including: at least two electronic cylinder locks; and a single electronic controller to which the at least two electronic cylinder locks are operatively attached, the electronic controller being adapted to monitor usage of the at least two electronic cylinder locks.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a flash card unit, including: a housing; receiving means to receive in the housing a flash card having thereon at least first and second graphics; illuminating apparatus disposed in the housing to selectively illuminate at least one of the first and second graphics; the first graphic including a problem to be solved; and the second graphic including an answer to the problem.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of restoring charge to a battery operating with a predetermined terminal voltage, including: determining an expected rate of degradation of a plate or plates of a battery in terms of decrease of capacity per unit time and temperature of operation of the battery to determine a degree of degradation of capacity of the battery; and providing sufficient charge to the battery to restore a predetermined degree of the capacity of the battery. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, including: restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and examining how the battery responded to the step of restoring a theoretical amount of charge to the partially depleted battery to determine the state of health of the battery.

Abstract: The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, a hand-operated device for measuring, dispensing and storing of powder and granular materials, having filling and discharging/storing positions, comprising: a container wherein the material is stored and a measuring and dispensing unit attached to the container.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a shaft sensor for a machine, the shaft sensor including: first and second disks, fixedly orthogonally attached to a portion of a shaft of the machine, the portion of the shaft being subject to torsion, and the first and second disks being operatively attached to the portion of the shaft at spaced apart locations along the portion of the shaft; and a sensor assembly, including first and second sensors, disposed in sensing relationship with the first and second disks to sense relative position of the first and second disks resulting from torsion of the portion of the shaft and to output a signal representative of at least one parameter related to torsion of the shaft. In another preferred embodiment, the shaft is discontinuous and the first and second disks are attached, respectively, to first and second portions of the shaft and have a resilient member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a handle retainer for a container having a handle extending from a surface of the container when the handle is in a carrying position, the handle retainer including: a boss disposed on the container; and the boss and a distal end of the handle having complementarily sloped surfaces such that, when the complementarily sloped surfaces are co-engaged, the handle will be retained closely adjacent the surface in a non-carrying position.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a bivalve shellfish opening knife, including: a handle portion; a blade portion, having front and rear edges, extending from one end of the handle portion; a rear blade edge guard hingedly attached to the blade portion near a proximal end thereof in proximity to a proximal end of the handle portion; and the rear blade edge guard having defined therein a channel sized to accommodate therein the rear edge of the blade portion when the rear blade edge guard is rotated against the blade portion.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of condition monitoring of an opportunity charged battery, including: determining length of time the battery has been off-line; determining whether charging of the battery has occurred during the length of time; if step (b) results in a determination that the charging of the battery has occurred, determining degree of charging of the battery occurring during the length of time; and if step (b) results in a determination that charging of the battery has occurred, resetting a condition monitor associated with the battery to reflect the degree of charging of the battery.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of digitally de-randomizing pulses in a radiation spectroscopy system, the method including the steps of: receiving an input signal representative of a radiation detector output; analyzing the input signal to derive separate event samples and background samples; storing the event samples and the background samples; and reading stored event samples and background samples and adjusting spacing in time between adjacent event samples such that the event samples are spaced apart a time interval at least equal to pulse processing time of elements receiving an output of spaced apart event samples and the background samples.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear/rotary motor, including: a housing; an output shaft extending from the housing; a rotary motor disposed within the housing, the output shaft being given rotational motion by the rotary motor; a linear motor disposed within the housing; a linear shaft axially moveable by the linear motor; and a coupling to join the linear shaft and the output shaft to permit transfer of axial motion from the linear shaft to the output shaft but to isolate rotational motion of the output shaft from the linear shaft.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of restoring charge to a battery operating with a predetermined terminal voltage, including: determining an expected rate of degradation of a plate or plates of a battery in terms of decrease of capacity per unit time and temperature of operation of the battery to determine a degree of degradation of capacity of the battery; and providing sufficient charge to the battery to restore a predetermined degree of the capacity of the battery. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, including: restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and examining how the battery responded to the step of restoring a theoretical amount of charge to the partially depleted battery to determine the state of health of the battery.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a multiconfigurable communication terminal, including: a terminal housing; electronic circuitry disposed within the housing; at least one selected functional electronic module removably disposed in the housing and releasably attached to the electronic circuitry.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a combination protractor/chalk line device, including: a housing; a chalk line string disposed in the housing and withdrawable from the housing at a first end of the housing; a manually graspable handle loosely attached to the housing; a protractor disposed on a side of the housing; and the combination protractor/chalk line being arranged such that, when the chalk line string is withdrawn from the housing and held taut and the handle is grasped, the protractor will indicate an angle from horizontal defined by the chalk line string.