Abstract: A lubrication management system controls the lubricant quantity in multiple refrigeration compressor lubricant sumps. A buoyant member is placed in the lubricant, where a float portion and a magnetically conductive portion rise or fall together. The sensor further includes a displacement transducer producing a variable electrical signal through a resonant frequency shift. The displacement transducer, in proximity with the magnetically conductive portion of the buoyant member, transforms motion of the magnetically conductive portion to changes in resonant frequency shift in proportion to the position of the magnetically conductive element relative the displacement transducer. The system also includes circuitry for receiving the signal and comparing the signal to an adjustable set point, from which the circuitry determines whether an output for signalling a need for additional lubricant is necessary.

Abstract: A therapeutic inhalation device for receiving a dose of oronasal medication from a pressurized aerosol source and for delivering the same in dispersed and nonpressurized form to a breathing passage of a patient is comprised of top and bottom members and a collapsible sleeve attached at its opposite ends to the top and bottom members and defining therewith a spacer or breathing chamber that is extendable and contractible. The bottom member is cup-shaped and of a size to receive the sleeve and top member when the sleeve is collapsed and the top member is inserted into the bottom member, thereby to provide a device which, when not in use, is small and compact and conveniently stored and transported. The top member is provided with a guide member for positioning a medication containing aerosol canister for dispensing of its contents into the spacer chamber and an inhalation member communicating with the chamber for delivery of the medication to the patient in the form of a non-pressurized dilute dispersion.

Abstract: The bottle-shaped container is made in a coextrusion blow molding process and has a dimensionally stable outer container and an easily deformable inner bag which consist of different thermoplastic materials that cannot be welded to each other. The preform has a diameter greater than that of the bottle neck so that, when the blow mold is closed, the blow mold halves squeeze off excess material not only on the bottom, but also in the shoulder and neck area. Unwelded seams of the outer container are thereby formed in the shoulder and neck area. In the bottom area the outer container is closed by a weld seam which has been formed by displacing material, the weld seam of the inner bag being fixed in said area. After negative pressure has been applied to the inner bag, holes are formed in the upper area of the outer container for the purpose of a permanent pressure compensation. All openings in the outer container are covered by the pump housing. The container operates reliably in the upside-down position.

Abstract: A loudspeaker has a rigid sound radiator having a free edge and a electromagnetic drive mounted on an opposed hub edge and arranged to produce a torque on the radiator. Either a coil or a permanent magnet of the drive is mounted directly on the hub edge and has a radius which is substantially smaller than the radius of the radiator.

Abstract: A motor includes a permanent magnet rotor having opposed magnetic poles supported for rotation about an axis. A stator surrounds the rotor and consists of conductors extending parallel and uniformly around the rotor axis, in order to provide a uniform current sheet and a constant force per unit current acting on the rotor.

Abstract: A plural component external mix air-assisted/airless spray gun has an airless tip from which resin is emitted in a fan-shaped spray and an injector nozzle for directing an unatomized stream of catalyst into the resin adjacent to the airless tip. The catalyst injector nozzle is built into an ear of an air cap and the air cap is keyed to the airless tip to guarantee the positional relationship between the injector nozzle and the airless tip. Injecting a stream of unatomized catalyst into the resin stream immediately downstream from the airless tip provides thorough mixing of the catalyst into the resin, increased utilization of the catalyst and decreased emissions of catalyst fumes.

Abstract: A safety stopper for a receptacle includes a top portion and a sealing ring having an inner bead embraced around a rib at the receptacle opening. The stopper is press fitted into the receptacle. A weakened seam is provided between the top portion and the sealing ring. A slide may be provided in the top of the stopper and is moved outward to enable the stopper to be removed after the seam is broken. The stopper may also include a segment which blocks movement of the slide until the sealing ring is removed.

Abstract: An ice transport and dispensing system includes an ice maker for introducing ice into a remote ice storage bin and a plurality of ice dispensing stations that receive ice from the bin. Each dispensing station has an ice storage hopper, and at least one downwardly sloping ice delivery conduit extends between the bin and the hoppers for a flow of ice through the conduit from the bin to the dispensing stations solely under the influence of gravity. So that a single conduit can deliver ice to at least two dispensing stations, the conduit extends past one of the stations and leads to the other station and an ice diverter assembly is actuable to divert a flow of ice from the conduit to the one station. A control circuit monitors the level of ice in the hoppers of the dispensing stations and operates the system in a manner to maintain a supply of ice in each hopper.

Abstract: A plural component airless spray gun for mixing and dispensing coreactive liquid materials has a mixing chamber into which coreactive components are introduced and mixed, an airless tip at a forward end of the chamber and from which the mixed components are emitted in a fan-shaped spray, and a mechanical purging rod that is actuable to clean residual mixed components from both the mixing chamber and the airless tip. The purging rod which has a main body of a diameter slightly less than that of the mixing chamber, and a forward end that defines a probe of a diameter that is slightly less than the dimension of the minor axis of an elongate orifice of the airless tip. During spraying, the purging rod is retracted rearwardly of the mixing chamber and of coreactive fluid inlets to the chamber.

Abstract: A system for coupling a grounded color changer to an electrostatic coating material sprayer electrically isolates the color changer from a high voltage at the sprayer. The system has a fluid path extending from the color changer to the sprayer and a reservoir is coupled to the fluid path at a connection point intermediate the color changer and sprayer. To fill the system with coating material to be sprayed, the fluid path to the sprayer is first filled with coating material from the color changer, following which the remaining coating material to be sprayed during the coating operation is flowed from the connection point into the reservoir. At least a portion of the fluid path between the connection point and the color changer is then cleaned of coating material to electrically isolate the reservoir and the sprayer from the color changer. Coating material is then delivered from the reservoir to the sprayer for being subjected to a high voltage and emitted in an electrostatically charged atomized spray.

Abstract: A nonlinear processor for an echo canceller has an adaptive suppression threshold which is a function of an echo estimate signal generated by an adaptive filter. The nonlinear processor also has an adaptive noise transparency threshold which is a function of an estimated level of background noise. The nonlinear processor is in the send path at the near end of a 4-wire circuit, and during far end single talk is activated to pass send path signals that are below the noise transparency threshold level and above the suppression threshold level. The dual adaptive thresholds of the nonlinear processor during far end single talk result in removal of residual echo from the send path while allowing limited levels of actual background noise to remain on the send path to improve the perceived quality of the voice connections to a far end talker/listener.

Abstract: A method to determine the delivery rate and delivery volume per unit of time of a liquid involves connecting one end of a sealed tube to the outlet of the pump, with the other end being provided with a pressure sensor. The pump is activated to pump liquid in to the tube, and air pressure readings are obtained at time intervals. The measured pressures may be used to determine the delivery rate of the pump. The delivery volume (V) is determined by the formula V=VO.times.A/(A+PO), wherein VO is the total tube volume, A is the measured air pressure, and PO is the absolute air pressure at the test beginning. Volumes not delivered by the pump due to back pressure may be determined by filling the tube with liquid and measuring the increase in liquid pressure per unit of time against the known delivery rate of the pump.

Abstract: A neural network solution for routing calls through a three stage interconnection network selects an open path through the interconnection network if one exists. The neural network solution uses a neural network with a binary threshold. The weights of the neural network are fixed for all time and therefore are independent of the current state of the interconnection network. Preferential call placement strategies are implemented by selecting appropriate external inputs to the neural network. An interconnection network controller stores information reflecting the current usage of the interconnection network and interfaces between the interconnection network and the neural network.

Abstract: In the on-line method of the invention, dialysis liquid which has been produced or prepared by a dialysis machine is taken from the dialyzer at the blood side and pumped, either by means of a blood pump of the machine or by the pump of the dialysis liquid circuit, through the blood tubes, optionally using the filling program specific to the machine. As a result, the extracorporeal blood circulation system need no longer be flushed and filled with a salt solution, which has so far entailed considerable costs.

Abstract: Not only the dialysis machine, but also its outer supply conduits and connection tubes together with the associated water distribution system can be flushed and disinfected in the present disinfection method by including these members in the cleaning circuit. Energy is saved and the amount of disinfectants is reduced during hot cleaning and chemical disinfection in a recirculatory process, and the duration of the disinfecting operations can moreover be decreased. Furthermore, a five-valve assembly is provided in or on the dialysis apparatus, in an additional apparatus with respect to the dialysis apparatus or in a water supply system integrated into the wall of a dialysis station for the dialysis apparatus so as to carry out the disinfection method, and a supply means is provided for introducing the disinfectant into the recirculatory circuit.

Abstract: A manually operated winch crank is characterized by a crank arm having a shaft extending at right angles to the arm, a tubular handle rotatably mounted on the shaft, and a reduced height knob rotatably mounted above the tubular handle. The tubular handle is manually operated with the palm parallel to the axis of rotation, and the knob is operated with the palm perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method for scoop stitching includes the steps of changing the angle of attack of a curved needle before and after penetration of the needle into a fabric. The needle moves along an arc around an axis. The axis is reduced prior to needle penetration and is increased after penetration to assure good penetration depth in thick fabrics.

Abstract: A cold plate system for an ice dispenser is characterized by an ice pan in communication with a potable ice hopper through an ice feed conduit. A cold plate is in the ice pan, and the arrangement is such that ice in the hopper is transported through the conduit to the ice pan to surround the cold plate. This maintains the ice in the hopper free from any contamination by the cold plate and in a sterile condition for dispensing into beverages, yet ensures that the cold plate will be continuously surrounded by ice, without manual intervention, to properly cool beverages flowing therethrough.