Abstract: A pinch valve sleeve for reducing the pressure of fluid flowing therethrough with or without actuation of the valve's pinching mechanism. The valve sleeve features an elongated hollow flexible resilient elastomeric sleeve body having an inner surface circumferentially bounding a flow-through passage and peripheral flanges at both ends suitable for attachment to a section of a pipeline or conduit system. The sleeve body has an ingress section adjacent to the inlet opening of the valve sleeve, an egress section at the outlet opening which permits fluid egress, and a pinchable intermediate section situated between the ingress and egress sections. The inner surface of the sleeve body has thereon a plurality of radially-extending, inwardly-directed protrusions operative for impeding fluid flow through the flow-through passage of the sleeve, thus reducing the pressure so that the pressure of the fluid which exits through the outlet opening is lower than the pressure of the fluid entering the inlet opening.

Abstract: An excess voltage arrester (1 to 21) provided with an overheating protection device comprising a resilient electrically conductive first member (23) in a flexed condition and a second member (25) of heat softenable electrically insulating material associated with the first member such that on over-heating of the arrester the second member softens allowing the first member to move in an attempt to return to its natural shape, and thereby establish an electrically conductive path through itself between the arrester electrodes.

Abstract: A conveyor for stacks of sheets, pamphlets, or books (7) comprising a work surface (10) formed by two surface halves (12,13), one (13) of which extends in one plane and the other (12) follows a curvilinear pattern interconnecting an input incline with a substantially horizontal output surface. In the slit (11) defined by the two surface halves (12,13) there are inserted entrainers (6) for the books (7) associated with a drive chain. Guiding side boards (14,15) allow a self-centering transfer of the books (7). On the surface halves (12,13), there is provided a mechanism (12a,13a) for the friction between the books and surface halves (12,13) themselves.

Abstract: In a protection apparatus for a feeder (H) of an electric power transmission system compensation for mutual coupling between the feeder and another feeder (G) is controlled in dependence on the ratio of the zero sequence currents (I.sub.M, I.sub.N) in the two feeders. The mutual coupling compensation signal (I.sub.M Z.sub.M ') is arranged to be proportional to the zero sequence current (I.sub.M) in the other feeder when the ratio of the zero sequence currents is below a predetermined value, and to be limited to a value proportional to the protected feeder zero sequence current (I.sub.N) when said ratio is above the predetermined value. The arrangement reduces the possibility of maloperation of the feeder protection due to faults on the other feeder.

Abstract: A portable, stand-alone, desk-top, laser scanning workstation includes a laser scanning head mounted above a support base. Objects bearing bar code symbols to be scanned are passed underneath the head for overhead scanning, or are passed along one side of the head for sideward scanning. The symbols are oriented face-up towards the handler all during their passage through the workstation to facilitate sighting and registration of the symbol with the laser light beam generated by the head. The workstation is self-supporting, is fully portable, can process objects of different sizes, and grants access to objects from either side of the workstation. The workstation is connected to a microprocessor-based microcomputer which is mounted within a desk-top console, as well as to a variety of peripheral devices such as a printer, a keyboard, a communications port, audio-visual annunciators and a data display.

Abstract: In an electron gun, e.g. for a cathode ray tube, an anode is supported from another anode by spacers which fit between overlapping portions of the two anodes and locate in recesses in the two overlapping portions. The spacers are typically glass balls. The invention finds especial application in mounting of a final anode whose diameter is greater than the diameter on which rods supporting the other electrodes of the gun lie.

Abstract: According to the present invention a sight unit, for an headgear comprises a mount member adapted to be secured to the headgear, an arm member pivotally connected to the mount member, a collimating sight carried by the arm member, and, a substantially flat display surface a virtual image at infinity of which is to be formed by the collimating sight and in which the arm is pivotal between an operative position at which when the headgear is being worn the sight intercepts the wearer's forward line of sight to the distant scene and a stowed position at which the sight does not intrude into the wearer's field of view to the forward distant scene, and no part of the arm or the sight has a transverse dimension greater than a prescribed human interpupillary distance, wherein the said display surface is secured to the mount member and when the arm is at the operative position the sight defines an optical axis which intercepts the display surface perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: A digitally controlled, presettable, ramp signal generating arrangement comprising digital to analogue converter means (DA) and integrator means (A1, A2) having a first mode in which its output (0) assumes a value representative of the output of the converter means, and a second mode in which its output changes at a rate dependent on the output of the converter means. The arrangement finds especial application in symbol display arrangements.

Abstract: A single-use sheet plastic closure is applied to a comestible-storing rimmed container of a similar shape. The closure has a crown and a continuous skirt downwardly dependent from the periphery of the crown. The skirt has at least one lug to mechanically lock the closure to the container. At the lower edge of the skirt is a pull tab operable for destroying the integrity of the locking lug when said tab is bent back and pulled. The pull tab extends angularly outwardly from the skirt to form a handle access portion an edge of which meets the skirt at a weak zone. When the pull tab is bent back and pulled, a tensile force is applied to the weak zone which will start a tear that progresses from the weak zone through the locking lug thus destroying the integrity of the mechanical lock and permitting the closure to be removed from the container and discarded.

Abstract: A multi-sensor alarm system and method of protecting a premises include at least one sensor circuit and an alarm circuit which together establish a two-wire closed loop electrical circuit path in which a wide variety of alarm sensors are accommodated. The sensors include two-contact configurations which are normally-closed or normally-open, as well as multiple-contact configurations which are characterized by both normally-closed and normally-open contacts. Each sensor differently changes the electrical parameters of the circuit path; and the alarm circuit includes a transistor which senses each parameter change, and a timer which generates an alarm signal whenever any of the sensors is actuated. Opening or closing the circuit path at any point therein will cause the alarm signal to be generated. A status indicator constantly monitors and supervises the status of the sensors in the circuit path.

Abstract: Laser light reflected from a bar code symbol pattern is detected by a photodetector mounted in a portable scanning head of a laser scanning system. By selecting appropriate threshold values on the analog signal generated by the photodetector, the analog signal is converted to a series of pulses, each pulse width accurately corresponding to the width of a bar from the scanned pattern. A plurality of functions can be determined from the series of pulses, each function being independently selected by keyboard entry from the head, displayed on the head, and/or recorded by a printer remote from the head. Single line or multiple line scans in two orthogonal directions relative to the pattern may be selected. A bimorph or speaker-type oscillatory element may be utilized as a miniature scanning element. Circuitry for synchronizing scanning along both axes, and for generating a signal to drive the bimorph in a uniform, constant velocity manner is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin, light-weight flexible orthotic device which has a therapeutic portion and a non-therapeutic portion. The therapeutic portion is shaped and contoured to engage a human foot and consists of: a distal forefoot supporting region; a proximal heel supporting region; and a medial arch supporting region. The non-therapeutic portion is a cut-out segment positioned laterally to the therapeutic portion. The orthopedic device includes posting material therein which supports a user's foot and control excessive midtarsal and subtalar pronation of the foot.

Abstract: An educational, action-type amusement center toy for children comprises a set of three pop-up members mounted on a housing, each pop-up member being movable from a hidden position to a display position. Each pop-up member is actuated by a different plurality of actuators in response to different manual actions performed by the child.

Abstract: A spring-assisted trigger handle assembly for a three-way, wall-proximity reclining chair which is movable from an end-limiting upright position, to a TV position, and then to an end-limiting fully-reclined position. The handle assembly is operative for affirmatively forwardly driving the linkage system for the chair only as the latter is moved from its initial upright position to an intermediate chair position which is between the two end-limiting chair positions. A tensioned spring assists the handle assembly in forwardly driving the linkage system once the handle assembly has moved the chair to the general vicinity of the intermediate chair position. The body weight of a seated user is thereupon conveniently utilized to assist the spring at the end of its operation to move the chair to the TV position. The tensioned spring secures the chair in the upright position in an over-center locked condition until the handle assembly causes the spring to suddenly release its stored energy.

Abstract: A reusable resiliently restorable flexible sheet plastic closure is applied to a comestible-storing rimmed container. The closure has a crown and a skirt which is attached to and downwardly dependent from the crown. The crown and skirt are attached to one another by a generously rounded section. Positioned circumferentially around the free edge of the skirt is a retroverted lip which extends under the rim of the container for tightly locking the closure to the container. On the lower end of the skirt is a pair of diametrically opposed radially extending pull tabs in one-piece with and joined to the skirt by a generally S-shaped section. The pull tabs are capable of diametrically distorting the closure when pulled radially outwardly by a user to thereby unlock the closure by radially extending the retroverted lip such that it clears the container rim. Thus removal of the closure from the container occurs without destroying the integrity of either the retroverted lip, the closure or the container.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for detecting the occurrence of a fault on a conductor or transmission line and for protecting the conductor or line in accordance with the determination of fault. The instantaneous value of the voltage (V) and current (i), or the modal components of that voltage and current in the case of a polyphase line, are formed into two functions S.sub.1R and S.sub.2R, which are of the general form V-iR and V+iR respectively where R is a replica of the surge impedance of the line. Superimposed components of these functions are derived by continuously subtracting the steady-state value of each function from its instantaneous value. The sequence in which the functions obtain a value outside a predetermined band of values is monitored to provide an indication of the existence and direction of a fault with respect to the measuring point. Trip and block signals are generated for operating circuit breakers.

Abstract: A cathodoluminescent lamp for use for general lighting service includes an anode constituted by an electrically conducting coating, which may be partly internally reflective, on the interior surface of the bulb wall, a phosphor coating over the whole of the bulb wall interior, a dome-shaped metal mesh grid located near the junction of the bulb with the envelope neck and supported on a hollow metal cylinder, and an electron emissive cathode mounted within the grid/cylinder assembly. The cathode may be a "wreath" filament or indirectly heated disc located near the grid, or a linear filament located near the open end of the cylinder remote from the grid. In the latter case a metal disc, connected to the negative lead to the cathode, is located near the open end of the cylinder, to repel electrons emerging therefrom. A circuit, which may be incorporated in the lampholder, converts the supply to unidirectional operating voltages applied to the anode, grid and cathode.

Abstract: Semiconductor crystals for use, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits are required to be inspected for crystal lattice perfection before any subsequent circuit processing. This can be done by X-ray diffraction in which the crystal is curved so that a divergent beam irradiates all points of the crystal surface at the same angle and simultaneously. The difficulty is however, in holding the crystal in the appropriately curved form while at the same time not obstructing the passage of X-rays from the front or back of the crystal and so enable topographs to be obtained by both reflection and transmission. According to the invention, in such a system the crystal is attached to a flat, X-ray transparent plate by pneumatic X-ray transparent means, and the plate is deformed to the required curvature, carrying the crystal with it.

Abstract: A control system for stabilizing a body suspended by a flexible line from a structure such as a ship, which is subject to uncontrolled oscillating movements, such as may be caused by wave motion, incorporates a winch (3) to which the line is attached, a pulley (4) over which the line (2) passes and from which the body is suspended, and a loop in the line between the winch and pulley, an accelerometer (28) being located adjacent the pulley, and the length of the loop being altered in controlled response to a stabilizing signal formed by combining signals derived from the accelerometer, and from the measured amplitude of oscillations of the loop length, and modified by a compensating signal to compensate for the effect of friction in the system.

Abstract: An optical particle analyzer in which the size of a particle in a particle stream is determined from the intensity or the duration of light scattered from it. A laser beam is directed transversely onto the stream and scattering occurs at the beam focus. To ensure that only particles which traverse the center of the beam are considered, a smaller, validating beam concentric with the main beam also produces scattered light. A pulse from the narrow beam coincident with one from the broad beam confirms that the associated particle has passed through the center of the broad beam and warrants consideration and assessment.A further narrow beam spaced from the first provides a time delay, dependent on particle velocity, between interception of the two narrow beams by a particle. Particle velocity is thus measured.