Abstract: A Programmable Demand Register (PDR.TM.) which has a multi-function externally programmable time based measuring system is disclosed. An optical communication port is provided for bidirectional communication of data, said meter being capable of recordation of energy consumption in several different modes, according to the decision of the meter programmer. Meter programming is accomplished by means of any one of three separate devices, namely a Programmer/Reader (P/R) which is a sophisticated computerized device fully adapted to reprogram the PDR.TM.

Abstract: A Power Transducer is disclosed, such as a watt-watthour Transducer, having a dual multiplier circuit receiving inputs from a power source to be monitored and a triangle wave generator. The circuit includes first and second transformers which separately receive voltage and current inputs representative of the power line to be monitored. The first transformer provides dual outputs of opposite polarity which are isolated and scaled replicas of the input voltage. The dual outputs are separately channeled through half-wave multiplier paths, to a comparator in each path, which comparators receive the input from the triangle wave generator to produce a pulse modulated output for control of a switch in each path, which switches also receive the current signal from the second transformer. The outputs from the switches have pulse heights proportional to the instantaneous value of the current and pulse widths proportional to the incoming voltage with the integral being equal to the product of the voltage and current.

Abstract: A pneumatic gate for railway hopper cars which includes a non-tubular valve member deployed above a gate discharge tunnel, with said valve member being actuated by rotation about a bearing shaft which is disposed along an axis parallel with the axis of the gate discharge tunnel.

Abstract: Granular spreader apparatus for easy attachment to, and detachment from, a truck equipped with a hopper bed, including dual troughs that each house a continuous conveyor belt that overlies a slotted trough which permits granular material of dissimiliar size and weight, such as fertilizer, herbicide, limestone, and other agricultural particulates of dissimiliar size and weight, to be substantially uniformly distributed from the initial point of deposit at the inboard end of the conveyor belt to the outboard extremity of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A hatch cover opening and closing assembly which includes a hat member rockably secured to the hatch at about its center, the hatch cover being pivotably secured to the railway car coaming through the hat member at one end and the other end of the hat member being adapted to coact with a locking assembly that locks the hatch in closed, sealed, position either by means of a cam or crank acting mechanism.

Abstract: A trailer includes a frame having a plurality of bell cranks pivoted to the frame. A plurality of suspension units are pivotally connected to the frame to permit independent directional displacement of each suspended unit with respect to the frame. A directing means is provided for directing the trailer in the intended direction, the directing means including at least one, and preferably a pair, of master hydraulic cylinders. A plurality of hydraulic slave cylinders connected to the master cylinders are connected to the master cylinders and to the bell cranks for pivoting the bell cranks with respect to the frame in response to any angular displacement of the directing means, thereby causing the suspension units to pivot such as their axles are directed toward a common center defining the center of the curve through which the trailer is directed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for the non-agricultural production of jojoba wax through the culture of asexual embryos of jojoba.

Abstract: A trailer assembly comprises a main frame, main axles carrying laterally spaced wheels for supporting the main frame, a suspension system connecting the main axles to the main frame, a kingpin for coupling the main frame to a power unit, a secondary frame, one or more booster axles carrying wheels for supporting the secondary frame, a suspension system connecting the booster axle or axles to the secondary frame, and a booster axle connection system between the main frame and secondary frame for proportionately distributing weight or force between the main axles to the one or more booster axles. The booster axle connection system includes a lever arm extending forward from the secondary frame, a support arm extending rearward from the main frame, and a variably positionable pivot connection between the support arm and the lever arm providing a fulcrum for movement of the lever arm.

Abstract: Transducers of the average responding RMS indicating type are disclosed that are particularly useful for monitoring currents and voltages in a power distribution network. The transducer includes transformer, inductively compensated voltage divider, active filter and output amplifier circuits electrically connected to provide a transducer having excellent long term transducer stability so that the transducer requires no calibration, and a highly accurate readout over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for coupling a tractor to a trailer employing a detachable gooseneck type of connecting means, and has particular utility where loading and unloading is required without force binding of the mechanism. A trailer assembly is described that includes a trailer bed, a gooseneck having an end portion connected to the trailer bed, and a coupling mechanism having a tail member attached to the end portion of the gooseneck. The tail member is located centrally and rearwardly of the end portion of the gooseneck and defines an engaging bar. The rear section of the trailer bed is provided with ground-engaging wheels disposed thereon in supporting relationship, and the front section of the trailer bed has guide means thereat comprising side walls affixed to the guide means and sloping upwardly therefrom, with the guide means being complimentary to the tail member and engageable therewith.

Abstract: A material distribution device is disclosed for spreading material such as grain during bin loading. A hopper, having a plurality of funnels therein acts in conjunction with the grain to automatically establish the path of the grain through the hopper according to flow rate of the grain passing through the hopper. Arms, rotated by a variable speed drive, receive the grain from the hopper and direct the grain into the bin with the speed of rotation, length and angle with respect to horizontal of the arms being selected and/or controlled to achieve uniform distribution of the grain throughout the bin without causing appreciable grain damage due to impact.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus and method are disclosed for monitoring and/or indicating energy that a battery power source has then remaining and/or can deliver for utilization purposes as, for example, to an electric vehicle. A battery mathematical model forms the basis for monitoring with a capacity prediction determined from measurement of the discharge current rate and stored battery parameters. The predicted capacity is used to provide a state-of-charge indication. Self-calibration over the life of the battery power supply is enacted through use of a feedback voltage based upon the difference between predicted and measured voltages to correct the battery mathematical model. Through use of a microprocessor with central information storage of temperature, current and voltage, system behavior is monitored, and system flexibility is enhanced.

Abstract: An electrosurgical dispersive electrode is disclosed that is useful in conjunction with an electrosurgical unit to establish capacitive-coupling with the skin of a patient receiving therapeutic signals from the electrosurgical unit. The electrode includes a metallic plate electrically connectable with the electrosurgical unit to establish a return current path thereto, an insulator engaging the inner (patient) side of the metallic plate to prevent ohmic contact by the plate with the skin of the patient, and a conductive adhesive gel at the outer (patient) side of the insulator so as to be positioned between the insulator and the skin of a patient to bring the skin uniformly in contact with the gel conductor and thereby reduce the impedance, normally associated with capacitively-coupled dispersive electrodes, while retaining uniform temperature distribution.

Abstract: An implantable catheter is disclosed that is particularly useful as a peritoneal access device. The catheter includes an elongated, flexible tube, one portion of which is adapted to extend into the body of a user with a second portion external to the body of the user. The end of the one portion of the tube within the body has connected thereto a flexible terminating member comprised of a pair of spaced apart sheets extending outwardly of the periphery of the tube in a direction substantially normal to the axis of the end portion of the tube with the spaced sheets forming a passage therebetween communicating with the interior of the tube through a central opening in one of the sheets so that access to the tube is through the passage formed by the spaced sheets.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of black walnut tree (Juglans nigra L.) which is distinctly characterized by extremely rapid growth rate, fair central stem tendency, earlier than average time of leafing, and average straightness thereby producing good timber qualities. The new variety has outstanding nut qualities as well, such as abundant annual crops of large-sized nuts, begins nut-bearing early in life of tree, average 2 nuts per cluster, and produces kernels which exceed about seventeen (17) percent of nut weight. The nuts are large and ripen early. The pistillate flowers mature early while pollen maturity is mid-season. In most years there is no overlap in female and male flowering. Flowering begins very early in the life of the tree. This new variety of black walnut tree was discovered by the applicant near Fritchton in Knox County, Ind., in a cultivated area.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of black walnut tree (Juglans nigra L.) which is distinctly characterized by outstanding nut qualities, such as abundant annual crops of average-sized nuts, begins nut-bearing very early in life of tree, averages 4 nuts per cluster, and produces kernels which exceed about fifteen (15) percent of nut weight. The nuts are medium-sized and ripen mid-season. The new variety is very late in time of leafing and has excellent walnut anthracnose resistance. The pistillate flowers mature very late and pollen maturity is late. In most years there is little overlap in female and male flowering. This variety has fairly slow growth and poor straightness. Flowering begins very early in the life of the tree. This new variety of black walnut tree was discovered by the applicant near Bentonville in Fayette County, Ind., in a cultivated area.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of black walnut tree (Juglans nigra L.) which is distinctly characterized by rapid growth rate, strong central stem tendency, average time of leafing, and excellent straightness (little sweep and few crooks) thereby producing excellent timber qualities. The new variety has good nut qualities as well as abundant annual to biennial crops of large-sized nuts, begins nut-bearing early in life of tree, average 2 nuts per cluster, and produces kernels which exceed about twenty (20) percent of nut weight. The nuts are large and ripen in mid-season. The pistillate flowers mature early while pollen maturity is late. In most years there is no overlap in female and male flowering. Flowering begins very early in the life of the tree. This new variety of black walnut tree was discovered by the applicant near Silverville in Lawrence County, Ind., in a cultivated area.

Abstract: This invention relates to a limb mutation of a Cortland apple tree, but is distinguished from it because it develops its fruit color two weeks earlier and the fruit color is 90% red compared with 20-30% for Cortland.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of black sweet cherry which occurred as a chance seedling in a cultivated area, which was a cherry orchard having predominately Schmidt black sweet cherry trees growing around it. The new variety most nearly resembles Schmidt in size and appearance. It is distinctively characterized, in comparison to Schmidt, by at least seven days earlier maturity, a shorter harvest period and leaves that are shorter and narrower.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new cultivar of peach tree which is highly colored, has uniform ripening, and is early bearing.