Abstract: A length of filament, such as wire or optical fiber, is loosely coiled on a flat carrier, in the form of a figure of eight coil, the lobes of which are laid respectively in clockwise and anticlockwise directions, by feeding the filament downwards through a gimbal mounted guide member attached to reciprocating means whereby the guide member is oscillated about two horizontal axes at right angles, corresponding to the transverse and longitudinal axes of the figure of eight coil produced. The guide member preferably incorporates a compressed air injection gun, to assist in maintaining the downward travel of the filament at a desired constant speed, the relationship between the filament travel speed and the oscillation frequencies being controlled to produce a figure of eight coil of a desired size.

Abstract: A display unit for a head up display wherein the combiner (9), which serves to reflect light from a display surface (3) towards an observer to provide the observer with an image of the display superimposed on his view through the combiner, comprises first, second and third tuned reflective optical films (13c, 15c, 17c) disposed in such angular relationship with one another and the display surface that narrow waveband light from the display surface reaches the observer after being, successively, reflected at the first film, transmitted through the second film, reflected at the third film, reflected at the second film and transmitted through the third film.

Abstract: A tamper-resistant security system for and method of operating and installing the same are disclosed for electronically controlling an access device such as a garage door. A manual keyboard encoder mounted exteriorly on a garage door jamb is operative for generating coded electrical signals, including a predetermined sequence of coded electrical signals required to move the garage door from a closed to an open position. A control-processor unit mounted within the interior garage area is operative for detecting the coded signals, and for moving the garage door from the closed to the open position in response to detection of the predetermined coded signal sequence. A single pair of electrical conductors interconnects the encoder and the control-processor unit. The transmission of the predetermined coded signal sequence over the single pair of conductors deters intruders from compromising system security, and also simplifies the installation.

Abstract: A flowmeter having a flow passageway with co-axial inlet and outlet openings at its opposite ends and a vaned flow measuring rotor between the openings. The rotor is mounted in low friction bearings and yet the meter is operable within the normal accuracy specification for a conventional high-friction meter as a result of the presence of a constriction in the passageway upstream of the rotor. The passageway and constriction are of circular cross section and the constriction has a main portion which opens directly at the downstream end near the rotor, and a tapering upstream portion connecting with the passageway. The constriction affects flow at the rotor at turbulent but not at laminar velocities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a maintenance monitor which at a preselected interval will automatically alert one that the equipment of concern is due for maintenance. The maintenance monitor includes a control unit sensing device such as a switch inductive pickup etc., a programmable module counter activated by a signal from the sensing device and a display for readout of the counter and to advise of the maintenance period or to perform a function.

Abstract: An improved nail polish composition for application to human nails which allows a polished nail to retain and absorb moisture thereby preventing brittleness and breakage of polished nails. Water and urea are used in the composition to impart moisture to the polished nail and polyvinyl butyral resin is used to harden the nail polish composition which is softened by the addition of water and to increase the adhesion of the nail polish composition to the nail.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting pulp or similar material arranged to flow in a sheet 10 past an inspection station, comprising a row of photosensitive devices 14 arranged to receive light reflected from or transmitted through the material, circuit means 30 receiving the output signals from the photosensitive devices and providing a defect signal when an inclusion in the pulp passes the inspection station, and integrating circuitry 32 adapted to integrate the defect signal with respect to time thereby to measure the total equivalent black area of the sheet 10. To allow for integration over a long travel of the sheet, the integrating circuitry includes an integrator 32, and a pulse generator 34 adapted to receive the output of the integrator and to generate an output pulse when the result of the integration reaches a predetermined magnitude. The integrator is reset to zero on the occurrence of each said pulse, and a counter 36 is arranged to count the pulses generated by the pulse generator.

Abstract: The album has an imperforate backing member. Attached to the backing member are a plurality of transverse, parallel rectilinear strips each coated at its underside with adhesive. The strips are each adhered to the top face of the backing member, each strip having a section inclined away from and free of the top face of the backing member. Adhered to each of the inclined sections of the strips is a bent-back section of a transverse release ribbon. The ribbons have extending tab portions which may be grasped by fingers of a user to pull the release ribbon off and away from the strip to uncover the adhesive-coated inclined section or portion of the strip. The ribbons and inclined portions of the strip form adhesive-free wedge shaped spaces into which photographic snapshots may be inserted in predetermined overlapping relationship.

Abstract: An improved disposable foil cooking sheet which is manufactured as a triputite laminate. The laminate comprises a generally flat foraminous impermeable foil upper layer, a central core of dry bibulous material and a generally flat imperforate lower layer. Several disposable foil cooking sheets may be connected in seriation and rolled into a roll.

Abstract: A kitchen appliance for and method of making farinaceous products such as spaghetti, fettucini, macaroni, manicotti, lasagna, pizza crusts, taco shells, bagels, breadsticks and like dough products, use a mixing chamber for receiving the product ingredients, a rotary mixer for mixing the ingredients, a rotary extruder for extruding the mixed ingredients through an extrusion die at a discharge outlet, and a reversible motor drive for jointly turning the rotary mixer and rotary extruder about the same axis of rotation in either circumferential direction. In one direction, only mixing is effected; in the opposite direction, extruding is effected. An arrangement for and method of adjusting the thickness of the extruded farinaceous product are also described.

Abstract: A portable lightweight body-anchored exercising apparatus for use in exercising the human body made up of a frame, a pair of ropes with free ends pullable by a user, weights for resisting the pulling forces, and a base connected to the frame and on which the user rests his body during performance of exercises to hold the apparatus in place so that it does not move in response to the generally upward forces created by the pulling of ropes by the user. Additionally, the exercising apparatus includes a pulley system to permit the user to move his exercising limbs a distance greater than the excursion of the weights, handles for the user to grasp while pulling the ropes, sheaves for controlling the movement of the ropes, and guide pins for guiding the weights so that they cannot swing outwardly and harm the user. The weights are attached to the ropes with hooks to allow them to move jointly with the ropes.

Abstract: A receiver for an a.c. electrical supply signalling arrangement of the kind in which information is transmitted by impressing on the supply voltage waveform voltage reductions which bridge the zero crossings in the waveform wherein detection by the receiver of an impressed voltage reduction is achieved by comparing the integral of the supply voltage over a period immediately preceding a voltage zero crossing when a voltage reduction is present with a corresponding integral obtained when no voltage reduction is present.

Abstract: A method of identifying faults in a polyphase alternating current electric power transmission system wherein determination of the type of fault occurring is effected by monitoring, using analogue techniques, the instantaneous values of quantities derived from superimposed currents and/or voltages arising in the system on occurrence of a fault. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An entirely field-portable laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols includes a light-weight and small-sized laser scanning head. The laser source, power supply component, optics, scanning elements, sensor circuit, and signal processing circuitry are specially designed for minimal size and weight and volume such that they can all be mounted in the head. The head can be bracket-mounted or hand-held. The housing for the head can be provided with a handle grip, or can be gun-shaped. Highspeed oscillating scanning motors and/or penta-bimorph scanners are used as scanning elements. A trigger initiates repetitive scanning of each object bearing a symbol, and an indicator indicates when the scanning of that particular object has been terminated. A body harness supports the remaining scanner system circuitry. A non-bulky, freely-movable cable interconnects the head to the body harness. Methods of scanning the symbol and of operating the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional movable gunnery target comprises an envelope of flexible material such as rubber, neoprene, plastics material or fabric, which is rapidly dilatable to a predetermined shape, for example by internal gas pressure from a chemical or pyrotechnic device, or from a compressed gas bottle. The target, which is capable of rolling under the action of wind or gravity, encloses an axle from which a compressed gas bottle is suspended.

Abstract: This invention relates to turbines which are arranged to be driven by an oscillating flow of working fluid especially by movement of air above a naturally moving body of water. Conventional turbines require four valves to direct an oscillating flow of fluid to cause continuous unidirectional turning of a single rotor.