Abstract: An exercise apparatus for strengthening and toning gluteal muscles of an exerciser includes structure for supporting the exerciser with his feet fixedly elevated over the remainder of his body, linearly moveable structure for directing movement of the upper portion of the exerciser's body as he pushes that portion of his body out-and-away from his fixedly positioned feet, and structure for varying the resistance presented by the linearly moveable structure to the out-and-away movement made by the exerciser.

Abstract: A closure for a tube which need not be removed for releasing the contents of the tube associated with an original condition protection means. A closure cap is provided and mounted upon the tube in rotational engagement therewith and it contains an opening which may be aligned in a registry with the opening of the tube to allow the dispensing of the contents thereof.

Abstract: An improved mechanical air-fuel blending system for use with internal combustion engines, in which a highly compressed fuel such as Liquified Petroleum (LP), is throttled at its storage pressure across a single fuel valve before entering a fuel flow divider which allows the main portion of the discharged LP to flow directly into the air stream before passing to the internal combustion engine. A small portion of the discharged fuel, termed the control fuel, is separated within a fuel flow divider and is diverted across one or more heat exchangers, where it transfers heat to and from the incoming air charge which brings the temperature of the control fuel to that of the incoming air, before entering the air stream at the venturi across one or more orifices. The control fuel pressure within the heat exchanger is compared with the free air pressure entering the system, across a light diaphragm to control the positioning of a fuel valve.

Abstract: A system and method for retrieving enhanced subscriber services from at least one database and delivering those services to the subscribers of a telecommunications network without requiring the expensive upgrading of local switches (LSs) to operate with the Transaction Capabilities Application Part/Advanced Intelligent Network (TCAP/AIN) communications protocol. The system comprises a plurality of LSs which are connected to an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and provide the subscribers with access to the network. The system also includes at least one virtual service switching point (ViSSP) within the AIN for storing the database of enhanced subscriber services. LSs or tandem switches may retrieve enhanced subscriber services from the ViSSP utilizing the Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (ISUP) call-setup protocol.

Abstract: A method for reacting to disturbances that occur in industrial processes includes the steps of extracting information regarding occurrence of disturbances from an industrial process, transmitting the extracted information to a disturbance filter which includes a leaky bucket having a defined disturbance step and floor and ceiling height for the disturbances, and triggering an alarm when occurrence of disturbances in the industrial process falls without the defined disturbance step and floor and ceiling height. The present invention also provides a rigorous method of setting parameters within a leaky bucket algorithm.

Abstract: A cordless wand device for grasping objects such as silicon wafers during the manufacture of integrated circuits. The wand device comprises a housing having a hollow interior and a tip for grasping objects. The tip is attached to the housing through a hollow tube, and has a perimeter region contoured to form an airtight seal when placed against the surface of an object to be grasped. The tip also has a recessed interior region having an air inlet therein. The wand device includes a power source and a vacuum pump positioned within the housing. The vacuum pump produces a suction force at the air inlet on the tip. When the tip is placed against the surface of an object, the object is securely grasped due to the suction force exerted thereon by the wand tip. A switch located on the wand may be used to turn the vacuum pump on or off in order to grasp or release the object.

Abstract: A power control circuit for improved temperature control of thermoelectric devices to maintain the temperature of thermoelectric devices at a set point.

Abstract: A safety valve for releasing excessive fluid pressure from a pressure vessel including a valve body having an inlet and an outlet, a seat bushing connected into the inlet defining an inlet flow passage, a valve seat on the inward end of the seat bushing, a valve disc having a seat thereon movably mounted in the valve body for opening and closing the valve, a spring coupled with the valve disc for biasing the valve disc toward a closed position. The valve disc includes a convex end portion to reduce turbulence during flow into the valve to permit improved seating of the valve disc and an external annular recess defining an annular lip on the valve disc including a seat having a frustoconical seat surface, the lip being flexible to improve the disc seat contact with the seat around the valve inlet to increase the seat tightness of the valve.

Abstract: A system for paging mobile stations within a cellular telecommunication system wherein paging areas, which are composed of a plurality of location areas, are created to provide a means for locating a mobile station when the mobile station has not responded to a location area page and without requiring a service area page. The system sends a page request to the location area where the desired mobile station last registered. If a response is not received, the system sends a page request to the paging area which includes a plurality of location areas where the mobile station is likely to be found. If a page response is still not received from the desired mobile station, then a page request will be sent to all of the location areas within the service area.

Abstract: A fuel-air combustion chamber with improved mounting and thermal distribution features. The combustion chamber is formed with a flange adapted for receiving a plurality of retainer rings therearound for direct securement of the flange to a burner mounting plate adjacent a fuel-air nozzle for generating heat within the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is also temporarily supported within the furnace housing by a combustible support leg affixed thereto. In this manner, the combustion chamber is supported during shipping and handling by a support leg which is automatically disintegrated during use of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The rod-shaped load cell consists of a guide section (1), which is subdivided into a frame (6) and a load-bearing element (7), and two parallel, rigid plates (8) connecting the two cited elements. Plates (8) are connected to both frame (6) and load-bearing element (7) by band-shaped flexural joints (9) which extend across the overall length of guide section (1). The load cell rests via frame (6) upon two feet (2) located outermost on rod-shaped guide section (1). The platform (5) rests upon two mounting elements (3) also located outermost on guide section (1), with the mounting elements (3) acting on load-bearing element (7). A force sensor (4) is diagonally installed at half the length of guide section (1). When platform (5) is loaded, tensile force acts upon force sensor (4) (see FIG. 1).

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch in which access to a switchcore matrix is monitored and controlled through the logic and buffering functions of switchports connected thereto. The switchcore is greatly simplified by moving the logic and buffering functions to the switchports. The switchcore matrix comprises a plurality of rows, columns, and crosspoints thereof, providing routing paths for the routing of information cells from input points to output points on the matrix. Single-cell buffers in the switchcore matrix enable temporary storage and hand-off of individual information cells as they pass through the matrix. The simplicity of the switchcore matrix enables it to be constructed on a single integrated circuit.

Abstract: A system for optimizing the traffic carrying capacity of a telecommunications network having a plurality of elements and a plurality of routes connecting those elements to one another. The controlled congestion in the network is controlled by identifying and limiting defective devices and routes with exaggerated levels of congestion. Disturbance alarm levels are also adjusted to allow increased traffic through the network and the traffic within the network is reconfigured in real time in response to the occurrence of network events to optimize traffic capacity.

Abstract: An adjustable lever arm--variable resistance cam assembly employing a cam for producing therefrom a variable resistance force when a constant resistance force is applied thereto and in which the lever arm may be initially positioned at a range of angular positions without thereby affecting the variable resistance force produced by the cam at each particular angular position of the lever arm upon rotation thereof. The adjustable lever arm--variable resistance cam assembly may be employed in a weight lifting machine or device of the type having a rotating lever arm for application of weight lifting force by the user. The assembly allows the user to angularly adjust the initial position of the lever arm in relation to the axis of the cam and, nevertheless, maintain the cam in appropriate relation with the constant resistance force. The variable resistance force produced by the cam will then not vary with respect to positioning of the lever arm as rotated during exercise.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and orienting conductors from a bundled array into a planar array includes a grooved template and several elements that cooperate together and with a laminate material to fixedly unite the conductors when disposed in the grooves.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communications system including at least one mobile transceiver; at least one mobile switching center, at least one mobile switching center including means for allocating a temporary routing number for at least one mobile transceiver to facilitate call set-up; and means for releasing the temporary routing number to make it available for reuse. The present invention also provides a mobile services switching center or exchange for establishing communications with at least one mobile subscriber, this exchange including means for allocating a temporary routing number for at least one mobile subscriber to facilitate call set-up and means for releasing the temporary routing number to make it available for reuse. Still further, the present invention provides a method employed by both the system and the exchange described above.

Abstract: A voltage controlled surface acoustic wave oscillator includes an integrated circuit and a two port resonator connected as a feedback element around the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a phase shifting network and an amplifier directly connected to the phase shifting network.

Abstract: A post tensioning anchor plate assembly comprising an anchor plate and coupling elements therefor. The anchor plate is constructed with a pair of oppositely disposed, concentrically aligned cylindrical bosses, or mounting members, projecting from opposite sides of a generally rectangular plate. The oppositely disposed bosses define, on the inside surface thereof, a common tapered bore adapted for receiving a post tensioning cable therethrough and securement thereof for post tensioning of a concrete section. The outside surface of each boss is likewise constructed with a circumferential groove adapted for receiving an inwardly projecting lip of an appropriate plastic cap or tubular adapter secured thereover. In this manner, the plastic cap and tubular adapter can be mounted to opposite sides of the anchor plate in sealed engagement therewith for facilitating improved reliability of the post tensioning anchor plate assembly.