Abstract: A wire maze toy includes an endless wire frame that is of substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration over its entire length and is configured to form multiple curves. A carriage including two slider members is fitted on the wire frame and is slidable along the wire frame. A spring structure has two ends connected to the two slider members respectively. The spring structure and the wire frame are dimensionally related such that tension in the spring structure depends on relative positions of the slider members along the wire frame.

Abstract: A plasma addressed display or storage device includes a substrate and at least first and second plasma electrodes on an upper surface of the substrate. The first plasma electrode is connected to an external potential and the second plasma electrode is not ohmically connected to an external potential.

Abstract: A seal includes an annular seal body and an annular lip attached to the seal body and extending radially outwards from the seal body. The annular lip has a stem and a tip and is attached to the seal body in a manner allowing deflection of the lip relative to the seal body.

Abstract: A thermometer is disclosed that utilizes a thermistor as a temperature sensor, to control the period and duty cycle of a multivibrator circuit. A second circuit, controlled by a microcontroller, measures both the charge and discharge times of the oscillation. From the ratio of these parameters, a precise indication of temperature can be obtained that is independent of temperature variations within the active components and the charging capacitor of the multivibrator circuit. The method is also independent of the value of the charging capacitor. Furthermore, by measuring the same ratio when a fixed resistor is substituted for the thermistor, a cell constant can be derived. The cell constant is used to calibrate the non-ideal response of the multivibrator circuit, thus providing a more accurate measurement of temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for recovering heat from a gas flow defines a heat transfer space through which the gas flow can be directed, the heat transfer space having a first region and a second region, a gas inlet and a gas outlet. A first valve arrangement alters the direction of gas flow through the heat transfer space, the first valve arrangement having a first condition in which the first region is upstream of the second region and a second condition in which the second region is upstream of the first region. First and second heat exchangers are disposed in the first and second regions respectively of the heat transfer space. A second valve arrangement connects each heat exchanger selectively either to a first heat transfer medium flow circuit or to a second heat transfer medium flow circuit.

Abstract: An arrangement for feeding air in a supercharged piston engine includes at least a supercharging device arranged for feeding air to more than one cylinder, an air chamber in connection with the supercharging device, and a channel arrangement leading from the air chamber to each cylinder of the piston engine. A resonator system is in connection with the air chamber for attenuating the pressure pulsation in the air chamber. In a method of operating the supercharged piston engine, combustion air is fed by means of the supercharging device at a pressure higher than ambient pressure into the air chamber, air is led from the air chamber to the cylinders through the channel arrangements, and a pressure pulsation is formed in the air chamber, which pulsation is half-wavelength shifted from the pulsation in the air chamber, appearing at frequencies at or below the third harmonic of the rotational speed of the engine.

Abstract: A PALC panel is operated by driving a channel electrode to a positive voltage relative to the data drive electrode to initiate an AC discharge in the channel and thereafter maintaining a sufficient voltage between the channel electrodes to sustain a DC discharge in the channel.

Abstract: An array of parallel spaced fiber segments is attached to the flat upper surface of a transparent plate. The transparent plate and the fiber segments preferably are made of glass, with the fiber segments bonded to the transparent plate with fused glass frit or by sintering under pressure. The plate and attached fiber segments suitably are embodied in the channel substrate for a plasma-addressed display device, such as a PALC panel.

Abstract: A circuit for processing a differential serial digital data signal provided by a signal source includes a transmission line and an amplifier. A first capacitor couples a first conductor of the transmission line to a first input of the amplifier and a second capacitor couples a second conductor of the transmission line to a second input of the amplifier, and a termination resistor is connected between the first and second inputs of the amplifier. The capacitance value of the first capacitor is such that the time constant of the first capacitor and the termination resistor is about one-third of one bit time of the serial digital data signal and the capacitance value of the second capacitor is substantially greater than the capacitance value of the first capacitor.

Abstract: Goods units are handled in a stock area and a loading area. The stock area and the loading area are in close proximity to each other. A robot system includes a picking robot movable in the stock area for picking goods units and forming transfer piles and a moving system for moving transfer pile rows formed by the picking robot. The working area of the picking robot reaches to the stock area and the working area of the moving system reaches both to the stock area and to the loading area.

Abstract: A waste water collection arrangement for combining the waste water discharge of several different plumbing fixtures includes a water receiving trap having a chamber in which water is received to provide a gas-tight seal. At least two inlet assemblies deliver waste water to the chamber and at least one outlet assembly discharges water from the chamber. The chamber has a lid part through which the inlet assemblies pass at least substantially perpendicular to the lid part. The inlet assemblies are mounted on the lid part so as to be movable as required to desired positions for connection to waste water conduits. The chamber is essentially isolated from the ambient air.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining nominal pulse duration values in a signal encoded with an AES3 data stream includes a first circuit for measuring duration of each pulse of the signal and providing a sequence of duration values. A second circuit detects a maximum duration value, corresponding to duration of three bit cells, and provides first and second duration values corresponding to one bit cell and two bit cells respectively.

Abstract: A closure sequence controller for a double door arrangement in which the double door arrangement is provided with a first door closer and a first pull arm for closing a first door leaf and with a second door closer and a second pull arm for closing a second door leaf. A guide rail guides the distal ends of the pull arms relative to the door closers. The closure sequence controller includes a connection piece for transmitting a pulling force from the distal end of the first pull arm to the closure sequence controller. The closure sequence controller prevents movement of the distal end of the second pull arm in the guide rail past the closure sequence controller until the distal end of the first pull arm has exerted the pulling force on the closure sequence controller through the connection piece.

Abstract: A cartridge for holding compost in a biofilter is substantially uniform in cross section perpendicular to the axis of the cartridge and has a sidewall formed with openings that are small enough to substantially retain the compost in the cartridge yet large enough to allow filaments of bacteria present in the compost to project through the openings. The cartridge is of cross-sectional form such that multiple cartridges can be placed side-by-side in an array with passages between each cartridge and adjacent cartridges.

Abstract: A method of operating an oscilloscope includes acquiring waveform data using a group of default acquisition parameters, analyzing the acquired waveform data in accordance with a selected one of several rule sets and deriving an optimized group of acquisition parameters. The method then proceeds by acquiring waveform data using the optimized group of acquisition parameters, and displaying the waveform data acquired using the optimized group of acquisition parameters.

Abstract: A biological filter element includes a support element of generally ellipsoidal configuration. The support element has two opposite polar regions and includes a medial ring intermediate the two opposite polar regions and a plurality of arcuate ribs extending from the medial ring to each polar region. Adjacent arcuate ribs are angularly spaced to provide access to an interior space of the support element. A cohesive body of biologically active material surrounds the support element and penetrates the interior space of the support element.

Abstract: A device for relief of anal pain includes a rod having first and second opposite end segments. The first end segment is shaped for grasping in the hand. There is a substantially annular flange structure between the first and second end segments, the flange structure having an external cylindrical surface. A cap has an interior surface which defines a cavity for receiving the second end segment of the rod, the interior surface of the cap being adapted to engage in sealing fashion the external cylindrical surface of the flange.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator comprises a body element and an elongated interaction element. One of the elements includes an electromagnet and the other ferromagnetic material or permanent magnet. The elements are arranged with respect to each other so that a rotational motion may be imparted to the interaction element by a magnetic field created by the electromagnet. The interaction element is rotatable between two rotational positions by changing the polarity of energization of the electromagnet. At one rotational position the interaction element is displaceable by an external force applied to one end in a direction along its rotation axis. The interaction element cooperates with the body element in a manner such that they together define the range of axial movement of the interaction element.