Abstract: Apparatus is provided for preventing unwanted movement, particularly anti-cantilever or upward pivoting movement, of a cantilever-supported carrier for a cycle, such as a front-or-back mounting article carrier on stem-supported handlebars or cross-bars of a cycle. The apparatus, particularly applicable to a carrier with a bent wire carrier frame having a rigid central loop portion for mounting with the respective reaches of the loop extending over the right and left handlebars or cross-bars and joining in cantilever relation with the handlebars or cross-bars stem, comprises means for rigidly securing the reaches adjacent the stem to prevent the mentioned anti-cantilever movement of a mounted carrier, preferably by latch means which are supportable by the stem.

Abstract: Apparatus for dressing abrasive wheels employed for grinding involute surfaces such as involute gear teeth includes a fixture for generating involute curves cooperatively coupled with a turntable and a dressing tool. The fixture includes a carriage bar reciprocably mounted on the turntable which drives the dressing tool. The carriage bar is captured between a stationary base circle disc and a pair of laterally movable rollers mounted on a rotatable portion of the fixture. Rotation of the fixture produces lateral translation of the carriage bar in a manner to generate involute movement of the tool. The fixture is swingably mounted to allow the mounting position of the carriage bar to be easily changed in order to generate a mirror image of the involute curve. The fixture and turntable are mounted on a base for freedom of movement along two perpendicular axes to permit rapid indexing and set up.

Abstract: Image analyzing apparatus and methods are disclosed for analyzing 3-dimensional as well as 2-dimensional images. The pixels of the 3-D images may be represented by multivalued digital data signals which are analyzed in one or more programmable neighborhood transformation stages. In the preferred embodiment, each stage is programmed with selected contribution values associated with each pixel in the neighborhood. The values of the data signals for each pixel are modified by these contribution values and the maximum value thereof is selected as the transformation output of the stage. A series of dilation/erosion transformations may be used to transform the original image matrix in such a manner so as to locate the position and/or identify the shape of particular objects contained in the original image.

Abstract: An optically transmissive article having predetermined net reflectance characteristics and a method of forming such an article is disclosed. The article includes a holographic layer with fringe patterns generally paralleling a major surface of the article. The fringe patterns have been formed in such a way that the amplitude and phase of the light diffracted therefrom is in a predetermined relationship with the amplitude and phase of the reflected light. The relationship between the respective amplitudes and phases of the diffracted and reflected light determines the net reflectance characteristics of the article. In a preferred embodiment, the hologram is formed such that the diffracted light has the same amplitude but is 180.degree. out of phase with the reflected light so as to provide an antireflective coating for the article.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for supplying positive and negative voltages to electrical components in a system where power demand from the components needing voltage of one polarity is different from the power demand from components needing voltage of the other polarity. At least two batteries of substantially the same capacity are connected in series and used to supply the positive and negative voltages to the system components. In order to permit the batteries to be recharged simultaneously in series without damage to them the interconnection between the batteries and the loads are alternately reversed so that the batteries will discharge at substantially the same rate.

Abstract: A flying cutoff for cutting successive lengths of a continuously moving, elongate workpiece includes a carriage assembly provided with a cutoff die set which is slideably mounted on a swinging ram and is selectively accelerated or decelerated in synchronism with the movement of the workpiece by a belt drive system which includes a plurality of endless, flexible, toothed belts, each secured to the carriage assembly and trained around a corresponding drive and idler gear. The belts are of different pitches and/or tensions so as to give the belts differing resonant and harmonic frequencies which tend to cancel each other out in order to eliminate cutting measurement error created by the cumulative effects of belt oscillation. The drive gears are driven by a hydraulic motor whose output is precisely controlled by a direct current, reversible stepping motor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing compost having a high nutrient value from a mixture of moist, at least partially particulate organic matter containing aerobic bacteria. The composter has two parallel shafts (24,26) with radially projecting fingers (38) which, when the shafts are rotated, slowly and gently churn and agitate the mixture in the composting chamber (10) while air is directed therethrough at a predetermined low rate. When the composting action is completed the compost is promptly dried and packaged in moisture impervious containers.

Abstract: A photography stand system is disclosed assembled from elongate support members into either a tripod or framework structure. The elongate support members form the legs of the camera tripod, each assembled to a tripod platform by mating engagement of fittings into tracks formed in the elongated support members in order to be height positionable. Cameras and various photographic accessories may be mounted to the platform and secured to any adjusted position along the length of each of the support members by coupling fittings including T-bolts fit within the tracks in each of the tripod legs. The support members may also be assembled in end-to-end relationship by a coupling element secured in each end of the support members, and erected into a framework with the camera and various accessories similarly positionable along the length of any of the support members.

Abstract: An electric thermostat operative to be connected to a furnace or other temperature modifying apparatus to control its state of operation includes means for generating a desired temperature set-point signal and means for measuring ambient temperature at the thermostat. When the ambient temperature falls sufficiently below this set-point, the furnace is energized until the ambient temperature rises to a stored temperature level, also below the set-point. The system then monitors the peak ambient temperature reached during the following temperature overshoot resulting from the inertia of the furnace. The temperature differential between this limiting temperature obtained and the set-point is then added to the stored temperature value if the system did not obtain the set point temperature or substracted from the stored temperature value if the system exceeded the set-point value.

Abstract: An electronic thermostat operative to be connected to a furnace or other temperature modifying apparatus, to control its state of operation, includes means for generating a desired temperature set point signal and means for measuring ambient temperature on the thermostat. When the ambient temperature falls below the set point the furnace is energized for a predetermined period of time. The time of energization is increased or decreased by a small increment after each heating cycle depending upon magnitude of the temperature increase which occurred at the thermostat as a result of the heating cycle in order to adaptively achieve a predetermined temperature increase during the heating cycle and the thermal overshoot period which occurs following de-energization of the furnace.

Abstract: An arrangement for monitoring the operation of the ink ribbon (2) of an ink-ribbon magazine (1) for electromechanical print units or print mechanisms comprises contacts (12,6) on the ink-ribbon magazine (1) on either side of the ink ribbon's path (4) and intended to lie against the ink ribbon (2), and opposite contacts (7,8) on the print unit which, when the ink ribbon magazine (1) is inserted, are in contact with the contacts (21,6) of the later and are connected electrically to a function or malfunction indication (10). When holes or tears occur on the ink ribbon (2), the contacts (12,6) on the ink-ribbon magazine (1) come in contact with one another and thereby set off a signal which can be used to switch off the print unit and/or for a malfunction indication.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding bar stock through the chuck of an automatic lathe. The apparatus is moved laterally by the turret to form shallow notches in the surface of the bar stock. The notches in the bar stock are gripped during longitudinal movement of the turret to advance the bar stock into the work area. A pair of cutting elements are adjustably located on one end of the apparatus to grip bar stock of various diameters. Guide blocks having interchangeable bushings to accommodate bar stock of different diameters are also disclosed for supporting the bar stock for rotation by the chuck.

Abstract: Extended-life aqueous tissue fixative compositions or solutions are provided for use in histopathology work and the like. The compositions include glutaraldehyde at controlled pH, a boric acidtetraborate buffer, buffer stabilizer and complexing agent. The compositions, which also may include a compatible surfactant, and their method of application enable efficient fixing such that the treated tissues have low artifactual color and good texture and may readily be sectioned and accurately stained.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit for a signal varying in its properties, e.g., in its degree of distortion, in which the input signal is fed in parallel to two similar processing circuits e.g., equalizers, the characteristic of which can be varied by a control signal, wherein the control signal from the one processing circuit is periodically varied and the output signal is fed to a detector circuit which in optimum signal processing emits a trigger pulse to a holding circuit 52 which stores the corresponding control signal level, which is fed to the second processing circuit.The detector circuit provided for an optimum equalization is a timing-pulse-controlled integrating circuit with a minimum detector connected at the output side. An application of the circuit for digital data transmission with the related synchronizing timing demodulator and phase control circuits is represented.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for condensing steam emissions from industrial process sites such as in pretreatment plants for painting of car bodies. This includes the formation of a water spray curtain extending across the entrance and exit sections of a pretreatment plant to absorb and condense the steam emissions. The collected spray water is circulated through a heat recovery system such that the heat energy of the absorbed steam is transferred out of the water and heat utilizing processes such as in the heating of the solutions utilized the spray treatment plant itself. The pretreatment plants also include an overhead slot through which conveyor carriers pass, and a condenser surface arrangement is employed to eliminate the escape of steam through this slot, including cooled surfaces converging above and adjacent to the slot. The surfaces are cooled by internal circulation of a cooling liquid. The water generated by the steam condensing on the surfaces is diverted by an overhead panel.

Abstract: A combustion initiation system includes an initiating device for producing, containing and propelling a combustion initiating plasma having an energy density approaching that produced by combustion of the fuel itself, and is suitable for initiating combustion in relatively lean mixtures of various types of fuels. A high voltage power supply delivers electrical energy by a coaxial cable to the initiating device which communicates with a fuel mixture in a combustion area such as the combustion chamber of an ordinary internal combustion engine. The initiating device includes a capacitive portion for storing a large quantity of electrical energy therein derived from the power supply, and an electrode portion integral with the capacitive portion which comprises a pair of concentric, rod shaped electrodes for producing a high energy, umbrella shaped plasma discharge, using the inverse pinch technique.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier device for a magnetic-electric transducer in a read/write unit operating with magnetic storage plates, with a carrier element which can deflect in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic storage plates.

Abstract: An installation for energy recovery heat exchangers arranged to transfer heat into or out of air exhausted from an air handling system for paint spray booths. The system includes a collection chamber about which the intakes of a series of exhaust fans are arranged to draw exhaust air into an exhaust stack. Pairs of inclined wetted surface coil sets are mounted in the walls of the enclosures, each in communication with the intake of an exhaust fan so as to receive air flow of each exhaust fan. Each of the enclosures is provided with an access door to enable cleaning and other maintenance chores to be carried out on the coil sets and pivotally mounted blocking panels may be positioned to close off air flow across the coils and bypassing of the exhaust flow through the access doors in the event excessive overspray solids are present in the exhaust flow.