Abstract: A valve cover for enclosing an underground area surrounding the actuating mechanism of a flow control valve. The valve cover includes a body having a structure configured to position the valve cover in a desired orientation relative to the flow control valve. This positioning structure may be at least partially elastomeric, and configured to resiliently deform and urge against the flow control valve when the valve cover body is placed over the valve actuating mechanism. This maintains the valve cover body seated in a centered, leveled orientation relative to the valve actuating mechanism. The positioning structure may also be formed as a spacer configured to contact the valve actuating mechanism itself and space the actuating mechanism from the valve cover body. The valve cover body is configured so that, when it is installed, a valve tool may be freely inserted into the enclosed underground area and operatively engaged with the valve actuating mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic film processor is provided for developing high resolution, large sheet-format film in such a manner that fluid flow across the film will be uniform during all phases of film production, in order to avoid gradients, ridge lines and streaking sometimes associated with development of high resolution film. The film processor facilitates the uniform application of chemistry to the film by rapidly applying film-developing chemistry to the film, agitating and washing the chemistry over the film and quickly removing the chemistry from the film.

Abstract: A hitch assembly is provided with a hitch mount and a safety chain connector, both of which adjust to provide a hitch assembly which conforms substantially to the contour of the towing vehicle body when the hitch assembly is not in use. The hitch mount is configured for retractable extension from a hitch base plate, providing a seat for a matching trailer mount. The safety chain connector is configured to selectively provide a seat for a trailer-connected safety chain. The hitch base plate attaches to the towing vehicle body, defining a support surface which is contoured substantially similar to the body contour of the towing vehicle. The hitch mount and safety chain connector are adjustable such that the hitch assembly may be conformed generally to the body contour of the towing vehicle, thus minimizing any interference with the vehicle's use.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for interconnecting integrated circuits (ICs) are described. The invented lattice preferably is formed in a plural-layer structure whereby each required interconnect signal has one or more dedicated layers of a planar, thin-film conductor that is coextensive with the substrate. Thousands of such horizontal layers are vertically stacked in the structure, each being shielded by voltage or ground planes and each being insulated by layers of insulative dielectric material. A regular array of vertical pillars is provided in the substrate, each pillar effectively providing an inner conductor either electrically connected with a conductive layer or electrically insulated therefrom by an insulative region. The columns extend from the top of the substrate on which the ICs are mounted through to the bottom surface of the bottom layer.