Abstract: An injection site platform for use in adding a needle injected medication to a parenteral fluid being provided to a patient includes a base and an outlet port of a size and shape to receive a needle piercable resealable diaphragm. There is a conical wall which connects the outlet with the base, with the smaller diameter portion of the conical wall being integral with the outlet and the larger diameter portion terminating at the base. The conical wall provides a needle guide to the diaphragm positioned in the outlet and access for the application of an antiseptic wipe to the diaphragm. A portion of the platform has an opening for a tube carrying parenteral fluid, whereby the tube may be manually constricted by pressing it against the platform adjacent the opening.

Abstract: This invention concerns a target determining apparatus that has particular application to a navigation system for an automated guided vehicle. The target determining apparatus has a laser diode light source which is scanned toward retroreflective targets. A photoreceptor in the apparatus detects reflected light returning from a target. The light source is modulated at either a constant or binary-coded frequency. Signals from the photoreceptor are demodulated in accordance with the chosen modulation scheme, resulting in a markedly improved signal-to-noise ratio. This permits either increased amplification of the signal or a reduced threshold for determining a valid target signal. In either case, the range of the apparatus is increased, without increasing the power of the light source, because weaker signals from more distant targets can be reliably distinguished from background noise.

Abstract: This is concerned with a dental flossing mechanism in the nature of a hand tool which enables the user to easily floss his teeth, to easily change the floss between flossing operations, to easily install a new spool of floss as each spool is exhausted and to maintain a taut section of floss between arms while flossing is taking place primarily due to a novel floating axle floss spool with a ratchet mechanism effect.

Abstract: Composition of matter and method of cleaning silicon wafers; the composition of matter is an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide and a nitrogen-containing compound, preferably tetramethylammonium hydroxide. The wafer is immersed in the solution, rinsed and dried.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method and apparatus for casting the six lines of an I Ching hexagram in a single throw. The apparatus consists of a set of six dies, each of a different color. Each color denotes the position of one of the lines in the hexagram. The dies also have indicia on the faces thereof which denote one of the types of lines of an I Ching hexagram. The two unchanging lines are each represented twice on each die, and the two changing lines are represented once. The set of dies is thrown once and the dies are arranged in order in a color-coded box. The indicia on the arranged dies determine the hexagram.

Abstract: An electromagnetic transducer including a diaphragm mechanically connected to an armature, a coil wound tranversely around the armature, a permanent magnet adjacent the armature, and one or more additional magnetic members completing a magnetic circuit having a plane of symmetry longitudinally bisecting the armature, has a magnetic shield formed by two high-permeability casing halves joined together along a joint plane substantially concident with the plane of symmetry.

Abstract: This invention concerns an end-of-car hydraulic cushioning device for use on rail cars and a method of repairing such devices. The cushioning device has a piston and shaft assembly which is subject to train action forces. The piston and shaft are connected by means of a threaded engagement which prevents relative axial movements between the two parts. Rotational movement of the piston on the shaft is prevented by a hardened steel pin disposed in aligned, radial holes formed in the piston and shaft. The pin and holes are sized to provide clearance between the piston and pin. This permits piston metal deformation to occur during high speed impacts without catastrophically stressing the steel pin. A filler rod retains the pin in the radial holes.

Abstract: A spinable balleria doll having a body, legs, feet arms, hands and a head. A pushrod extends through the body and out of the head. The pushrod is mounted for reciprocal movement relative to the doll. The pushrod engages a square drive nut located in the body of the doll to rotate the body as the pushrod is pushed into the body. Each leg is connected to the body and each foot is connected to its leg to permit rotation of one relative to the other. Releasable detents and teeth are associated with the body, legs and feet to permit each leg to be held in selected positions of rotation relative to the body and each foot to be held in selected positions of rotation relative to its leg.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a control signal includes a liquid crystal panel with means for transiently forming transparent windows therein. There is a source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) adjacent one side of the panel and positioned to pass EMR through a first set of transiently open windows adjacent thereto. There is an EMR detector positioned adjacent an opposite side of the panel and positioned to detect EMR from the source which has passed through one or more of the first set of transiently open windows and which has also passed through one or more of a second set of transiently open windows positioned adjacent the detector. There is a timing and logic circuit which correlates the opening of windows in the first set and in the second set whereby an EMR occluding object may be located relative to mutually perpendicular axes, one of which is parallel to both the first and second set of transiently open windows, the location of said occluding object providing a control signal representative thereof.

Abstract: The apparatus serves for the righting and arraying of oblong shaped parts from a reclining into a standing position with a filling opening lying above and following transfer to a transport device. It has a circular turntable, the shaft of which is set obliquely to the vertical, there being provided around the turntable a cylindrical housing open at the top, which is cylindrical under the turntable. About the turntable there are arranged ring segments which present individual downward-converting fall shafts, there being provided above the fall shafts reclining spaces provided with levers for orienting the reclining parts to an upright position.

Abstract: An articulated railroad flat car for single-level loading of containers has five units or platforms. End trucks are disposed at the ends of the two end units and four shared trucks are disposed intermediate the five units at articulated connections between the units. Each unit has a center sill with bolsters at either end mounting outer container retention devices. Alternate units further include intermediate cross-bearers, with intermediate container retention devices mounted on the cross-bearer. This arrangement allows loading of full length containers (40, 45 or 48 feet in length) on each unit and either full length or 20 foot containers on alternative units. A container floor safety system includes a plurality of cross-ties connected to the center sill with longitudinal stringers fastened to the outer ends of the cross-ties. The container floor safety system prevents container lading from falling to the track in the event of a container floor failure.

Abstract: In transmission of information over junction routes with exchanges, the feedback circuits that occur in hybrid sets are a major problem. High demands are made of them and the balancing networks. This invention eliminates these shortcomings in that quasi-4-wire circuits are formed by providing coded alternating currents of different frequencies and/or frequency positions for the two transmission directions and filters with high stop band attenuation for the opposite direction are provided when it is necessary to separate the two transmission directions.

Abstract: A reciprocating gait orthosis or prosthesis to provide a natural and efficient method of ambulation for paraplegic patients comprises hip joints which are coupled by a single push/pull member in the form of an inner metal cable which is surrounded by two nylon tubes, the outer nylon tube being a tight fit on the inner nylon tube which, in turn, closely embraces the inner metal cable so that they all move together, the arrangement also comprising two limb members each having a respective hip joint at one end and a respective knee joint at the other end with the joints rotatably coupling the limb member to further members which are pivotally coupled to a tie rod whereby rotation of the further members relative to the limb member about the joints is coordinated by the tie rod, there also being a spring which acts to urge the arrangement into a standing position and controls movement into a sitting position.

Abstract: This invention concerns a creepage control system for locomotives that optimizes adhesion while minimizing wasted energy, rail/wheel wear and shock loading on the drive train. The basis of the invention is to always maintain a small but positive value of the slope of the wheel-rail adhesion creep curve (or differential of adhesion versus creep) for all traction axles of the locomotive through microprocessor control. The value of the differential of adhesion versus creep is used to define an operating window for control and operation of motors continually in the optimum domain when high adhesion is demanded. When, due to a sudden increase in rail contamination, the value of the control function becomes negative, the microprocessor control reduces the generator excitation in stages until the function becomes positive and inside the operating window again. The microprocessor controls a rail cleaning system which is turned on or off depending on the cleanliness of the rail.

Abstract: A tobacco portion (7) intended to be smoked in a pipe and comprising a metal-foil cup (9) whose outer shape corresponds substantially to the shape of the cavity of the pipe bowl. In order to ensure that the tobacco retains its moisture content and aromatic flavour when stored over long periods of time, the cup is isolated from atmosphere by means of removable sealing means (16, 18).

Abstract: An excavator has a frame attached to its rear side for mounting of an implement. The frame includes lateral limit vertical beams which are connected by upper and lower horizontal rails. The rails are separated vertically. A slide member has guide grooves which engage the top surface of the upper rail and bottom surface of the lower rail to slidably mount the slide member on the frame. A toothed rack is attached to the underside of the upper rail and is disposed behind the front surface of the rail. A drive motor attached to the slide has a pinion meshing with the toothed rack. Actuation of the motor causes the slide member to slide on the rails.

Abstract: A directional control valve between the pump and consumer has a load-pressure-sensing connection with a variable throttle. The sensed load pressure acts to bias a supply-flow-bypassing pressure compensation valve connected to the main pump line. Control of the load pressure throttling allows the increase in main pump line pressure to be adapted continuously and automatically to the demand. The variable throttle includes a spring-biased nonreturn valve in which the spring bias varies in proportion to the lift movement and in an infinitely variable manner at least over a portion of the lift path of the valve spool.