Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceays from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has and end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: A water spray head for a shower or sink includes means for emitting and receiving signals for automatic operation in response to the presence of a user. The means are positioned such that the stream of water surrounds the emitting and receiving means. The emitting and receiving means includes conduit means disposed within at least a portion of water supply connected to the spray head. In one embodiment, the conduit is in the form of a fiber optic cable. In another, an emitter and detector are mounted in the spray head and the conduit comprises electrical conductors.

Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceways from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has an end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: A faucet spout assembly includes a tubular spout and a spout support nut. The spout has a discharge which is a substantial distance from the spout inlet. The spout support nut is used to mount the spout to a supporting waterway and provides both support for the spout to prevent wobble and a seal preventing undesirable moisture and other comtaminants from reaching the interior of the spout/support nut connection.

Abstract: An improved drive linkage for a reciprocating mold plate in a food patty molding machine includes, in series, a hydraulic cylinder and its piston; one is connected to a motor or other prime mover and the other to the mold plate. Three hydraulic lines connect the opposite ends of the cylinder to a large hydraulic reservoir and to each other. A hydraulic pressure flow directing means, preferably comprising check valves in the hydraulic lines, produces a continuous, unidirectional flow of hydraulic fluid from the reservoir into one end of the cylinder, on to the other end of the cylinder, and then back to the reservoir; the flow remains unidirectional despite cyclic reversal of the direction of piston movement in the cylinder.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing high-zirconium getters that involves hydrogen pulverization of an entire alloy ingot or ingot pieces. The method offers distinct advantages over techniques that use mechanical means of powder production. The method is useful especially in the manufacture of tough porous getters, of high Zr-content Zr-V alloys that have minor additions of elements such as Fe, Ni, Mn and/or Al.

Abstract: An unmanned, self-propelled vehicle in the nature of a mobile robot has an on-board computer that stores path and machine function instructions and activates the drive and steering systems so as to cause the machine to follow a desired path. A plurality of retroreflective targets are mounted along the desired path. They do not have to be mounted at a specific height or distance apart, nor need they be square to the path. An improved guidance system for keeping the vehicle on the prescribed path includes a laterally scanning laser transmitter-receiver mounted on the vehicle. An electromechanical tracking device controls the angle of elevation of the laser beam so as to keep it aimed at each target successively as the vehicle moves. The laser produces signals which steer the vehicle such that the laser transmitter and targets are kept aligned in a vertical plane.

Abstract: An open office system partition panel assembly including a panel having an outwardly opening wire raceway channel on top with a removable cap to permit wires to be laid in the top raceway channel. End wire raceway channels open away from the core of the panel and each has a panel connector support rail closing its opening. The wire raceway channels form a steel frame of box section strength for the panel and all metal-enclosed, non-snagging wire raceways from the top to the base of the panel. Legs formed as part of the panel base support the panel connector support rails. Wire passageways extend from the panel base to the end wire raceway channels. The panel base has an end section fastened to and supported on each leg. Upper panel connectors facilitate the connection of panels, improve the rigidity of the connection between panels and provide positive locking for the panel connection, both vertically and horizontally.

Abstract: The performance of a treating agent added to a body of water employed in a cooling tower is continuously monitored by real-time analysis of a spectral or chemical characteristic of an inert tracer proportioned to the treating agent, said characteristic being indicative of tracer concentration, and converted to a voltage analog. The voltage analog is compared to a monitor value representing par performance and if performance is nonstandard (nonpar) a signal is generated which alters the output of a pump which feeds the dosage of treating agent containing proportioned tracer.

Abstract: Signature machine for printing an inside page of a signature as it moves through the machine from a signature supply source to the signature gatherer, made possible by positioning an ink jet printer in a raceway between the supply source and the gatherer. After being printed the signature is folded to bring the inside pages into juxtaposition before being delivered to the gatherer. There may be two supply sources for different signatures, feeding different signatures to be printed differently before being folded one after another.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a control signal utilizes a liquid crystal panel and means for transiently forming transparent windows therein. There is a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) adjacent the panel and positioned to pass EMR through transiently open windows. There is an EMR detector positioned adjacent the source and a defined EMR path between the source and detector which path is formed in response to a transiently open window and includes an area for the positioning of an object to occlude the EMR radiation passing between the source and detector. The path also includes a reflector which directs EMR from the source back in the same general direction to the detector. There is a timing and logic circuit correlating the opening of the transient windows and the detection of EMR at said detector to provide a control signal.

Abstract: A chill-retention food service tray, capable of keeping its contents chilled for an extended time (e.g., several hours) in a warm environment, comprises a bottom tray member including a bottom panel having an upwardly projecting peripheral rim wall and a plurality of upwardly projecting stiffening ribs onto which a top tray member fits; the top tray member includes a support panel at the upper level of the reinforcing ribs and a peripheral rim wall engaging and adhesively secured to the bottom rim wall, as well as a closed configuration hollow wall defining a cup for a dip, sauce, or the like. The two tray members conjointly define a chamber filled with a various chilling gel; the gel has a high heat of fusion. A plurality of removable divider members may divide the top panel support surface, around the cup, into a series of storage compartments.

Abstract: A machine configuration which permits readily maneuvering a vehicle away from a wall or line of objects that the vehicle has been traveling close to, or closely following the walls around an inside corner. The vehicle has a frame carrying two rear drive wheels and one or more front caster wheels. The drive wheels are individually driven by separate motors. The drive wheels are inset from the sides of the machine so that turning maneuvers can be made adjacent a wall without the wheels contacting the wall. The rear frame or structure of the machine is disposed within an envelope defined such that turning maneuvers adjacent a wall unit will not bring the rear structure into contact with the wall. With the steering geometry and frame construction set up in this manner, the vehicle can be turned away from the wall by operating the drive motors at differential rates, and no part of the vehicle will touch the wall. The vehicle can also follow closely along an inside corner of two walls.

Abstract: A screw-on electrical connector is made by a method in which the manufacturing procedure or process is greatly simplified and the resultant connector is of a high quality. method or procedure involves bringing an insulating shell into contact with a coil which is positioned in the bore of the shell and is secured therein in one step by supplying sufficient heat to the bore of the shell to soften it and cause it to flow into an adherent relationship with the outer portions of the coil. At the same time, sufficient axial pressure is applied between the coil and the shell to cause the two to firmly interlock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conversion of a web fed letterpress unit (10) into a web fed offset printing press unit (42) having a main frame (12) an auxiliary frame (44) inside the main frame for receiving cylinders, a pair of offset plate cylinders (46 and 46a) for mounting printing plates thereon, an inking arrangement (16, 18 and 20) for applying films of ink to the plates, and a pair of blanket cylinders 48 and 48a) in close proximity of a position for respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder and the other blanket cylinder. An offset press gear train (114) is installed outside the frames if the shafts for the cylinders can be extended through the bores (56, 56a, 58, 58a, 76 and 112) in the main frame left from the removed letterpress unit cylinders. Otherwise the gear train (54) is placed inside the main frame. Pilots (60, 60a, 62 and 62a) for insertion into bores in the main frame guide the installation of the auxiliary frame.