Abstract: A pulse generator for metal machining by electric discharges, comprising a primary current circuit for producing and transmitting pulse forms to a pair of electrodes. A voltage and/or current source is arranged in the low-ohm and low-loss primary current circuit, the voltage of which has a value which is only that much greater than the operating voltage of the pulses flowing through the spark gap as is needed to positively overcome the voltage losses occurring in the primary current circuit. A signal generator produces a signal corresponding to the desired current pulse shape or form. A comparator, which has a switch arranged in the primary current circuit for regulating the current flow in such primary current circuit, controls the current flowing through the primary current circuit, as a function of the desired pulse form produced by the signal generator and a magnitude of the current flowing in the primary current circuit which is tapped-off by a measuring feeler.

Abstract: A rapid response health care communications system for providing rapid and reliable health services to patients located within or outside a health care facility, such as an acute-care hospital, includes personnel locator for identifying both the type and the location of health care personnel, such as doctors, nurses, interns, and the like; and personnel communicating network for communicating with certain of such personnel from a central location to direct them to patient locations where their need is paramount. A patient response communication network is provided for communicating with the patient or with the patient's room from the central location to identify the patient's needs and the personnel required to respond to those needs. A central console at the central location includes a plurality of locator panels, one for each floor of the facility, each of which include indicator lamps for identifying the particular location of the health care personnel within the facility.

Abstract: A control system for a magnetic tape apparatus having two spool carriers driven by D.C. drive motors to control the current in one of the motors in order to maintain a uniform tape transport speed comprises a pulse generator driven by the tape, a comparator which compares the timing of the pulses from the generator with a standard and generates a pulse-width modulated output, a transistor switch amplifier, a low-pass filter converting the amplified pulse-width modulated signal to a control voltage, and a direct voltage amplifier supplying a current to the drive motor controlled by the control voltage.

Abstract: A breathing and acceleration protection apparatus for the pilot of a fighter aircraft includes a source of pressurized respiratory gas (typically a liquid oxygen converter) and an anti-g regulator valve means fed by the source and connected to inflatable trouser pockets of a g-suit carried by the pilot. A demand regulator delivers respiratory gas to the pilot. The anti-g regulator valve includes an inertia body movable responsive to acceleration along a predetermined direction for increasing the pressure in the pockets and when an amount of acceleration in excess of 2 g is sensed. Additional means responsive to the aircraft altitude establish a static pressure in the pockets at a value which increases with altitude in the absence of acceleration.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating non-magnetic metals to permit recovery, for example, of aluminium and other non-magnetic metals mixed with materials having other compositions. The mix of materials are vibrationally conveyed in a first direction by a vibration feeder and a deflecting force in a second perpendicular direction is exerted on the non-magnetic metals by moving magnetic fields produced by a plurality of linear motors. The apparatus includes means for controlling the longitudinal tilt and the transverse inclination to optimize the separations achieved with different mixes of materials.

Abstract: A vehicle body pillar garnish, made up of two individual pillar garnish members and having a seam mark defined by the mating edge portions of the pillar garnish members, is formed with a recess having two parallel bottom corners. One of the walls defining the recess is formed by one of the mating edges such that one of the corners coincides with the seam mark.

Abstract: A current transmitting system for use with a self-propelled automatically steered electric vehicle includes a pair of parallel, circularly arranged bus bars connected to a low-frequency A.C. power source, an induction cable extending along the bus bars and connected to a high-frequency A.C. power source, and a current collecting shoe slidable on and along each of the bus bars for transmitting the current carried by the bus bar to an electric device mounted in the vehicle. In this system, each of the bus bars is divided into two sections one of which is connected to the low-frequency A.C. power source through a coil.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic imaging system, a signal processor is provided which converts the portions of the received signal representing sonic reflections to more closely resemble the acoustic impedance changes which generated the reflections. The signal processor differentiates the received signal after demodulation and the differentiated signal is added to the received demodulated signal delayed by one-half cycle of the ripple frequency of the ultrasonic pulses.

Abstract: The monomolecular layer is first formed from a solution of amphiphilic molecules by introduction of the solution on a liquid surface which is divided into at least two compartments by at least one rotatable and partly immersed horizontal member. The solvent is then removed and the horizontal member is driven in rotation so as to apply a predetermined pressure to said layer as this latter is transferred from one compartment to the next, the layer being finally deposited on a substrate.This a division of application Ser. No. 765,063, filed Feb. 2, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,757, issued June 6, 1978.

Abstract: A device for locking car doors with a motor and a reduction gearing and having the following construction; (a) a timer starts to work upon depressing a lock knob by a driver, whereby a relay is actuated, (b) the operation of the relay actuates a motor and rotates a sun gear incorporated in a casing, (c) friction plates installed opposite to each other are drawn into contact by energizing a driving coil in the casing, (d) as a result, an actuator works to turn, and lock knobs provided at the respective doors are operated through a linkage, thus locking the doors all together, (e) once the actuator moves to the door locking position, automatic stop switches are changed over and current to the aforesaid motor and driving coil is checked.

Abstract: An electronic air cleaner, having therein an electrostatic precipitator, is positioned close to an antenna of a radio receiver. The grounded plate electrodes of the precipitator are provided with a flat portion which lies between the precipitator proper and the antenna, so that electric noise wave generated by the precipitator and directing toward the antenna is blocked by the flat portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for peeling sausages comprises means for feeding a chain of sausages in the longitudinal direction of the chain towards a pair of counterrotating rollers defining between them a roller nip located in the plane of symmetry between the rollers. The feeding means causes the leading end of each sausage in succession to meet the roller surfaces on either side of the plane of symmetry and at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal direction of the nip. Before each sausage meets the roller surfaces its casing has been slit by a knife, and due to their rotation the rollers grasp the slitted casing and pull it through the nip for removal separate from the skinned sausages which move along the rollers on the infeed side thereof until they are discharged at the end of the roller nip.

Abstract: Dual overlapping fire protection systems include a liquid supply means for supplying liquid under pressure, first and second branch lines connected to the liquid supply means, a plurality of liquid distribution outlets connected to each of the branch lines and located to provide fire protection to a predetermined area, the outlets connected to each branch being located to provide fire protection to the same predetermined area, activating means for automatically activating at least one of the outlets in each branch when a predetermined temperature is sensed, valve means for selectively disconnecting the liquid supply means from the outlets in each branch. The valve is designed to automatically activate the disconnected branch when one of the outlets in the other branch is activated.

Abstract: A frequency dividing circuit for dividing an input signal provided from a signal source at a selected dividing ratio includes first and second cascade-connected frequency dividers with signal controlling gates connected between the signal source and the first frequency divider, between the first and second frequency dividers, and between the signal source and the gates connected between the first and second frequency dividers. The signal controlling gates may be selectively controlled by a control switch to define a first signal path that includes both the first and second frequency dividers to effectively divide the input signal by both frequency dividers or a second signal path that includes only the second frequency divider to effectively divide the input signal by the second frequency divider only. The circuit includes input amplifiers which may be connected to various signal sources including signal sources that employ crystal oscillators, RC oscillators, and other types of oscillating circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for absorbing a portion of the moisture removed from material woven on a fluid-jet loom. A shed of warp yarns is formed in the loom and a fluid jet is used to feed weft yarns into the warp yarns for forming a length of woven material. An opening extends at least the width of the length of material, and the material is moved over the opening. Air is pulled through the opening for removing moisture from the length of material as it moves over the opening. The air has a temperature greater than that of the surrounding atmosphere. The improvement includes reducing the temperature of the moisture-laden air to at least the dew point of the surrounding atmosphere for reducing the moisture content of the air before the air enters said surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A reciprocating preferably transparent break guard is disclosed for use in connection with a reciprocating machine, such as a bending machine. Adjustable switching means are operatively associated with the machine for controlling the actuation of a hydraulic piston connected to a frame for the guard. When the machine is in its upper position for receiving a workpiece, the switching means causes the piston to be actuated to maintain the guard in its upper position free from interference with the break. When the machine is actuated and starts its downward stroke, the switching means actuates a solenoid to release the piston causing the guard to drop smartly in front of the break thereby preventing the operator from accidentally inserting hands or fingers into the break of the machine. In its lowered position, the machine again actuates the switching means to operate the piston to raise the guard to its upper position.

Abstract: A storage bin is disclosed for storing a flowable material such as an agricultural commodity in a water-impermeable environment which is particularly suited for the storage of grain. The bin includes a liquid impervious, preferably cone-shaped, integral liner supported substantially and entirely by a cavity in the ground adjacent to and beneath the liner. A foundation, which includes a footing supported by the ground adjacent the footing, is located relative to the liner so that an upper lip portion of the liner is secured to the footing. An above ground storage portion of the bin is directly secured to the footing so that the bin construction eliminates the cost of material in steel hopper bottom and concrete hopper bottom bins. A hopper for receiving material and directing it to an unloading auger within the bin is located at the apex portion of the inverted cone-shaped liner. A method of constructing a storage bin of the type described is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a window lock operating device comprising an L-shaped handle member having a short arm connected to rotatable lock operating shaft and a long arm serving as a grip, a tiltable lever is provided in said short arm and is urged by a spring toward a position in which one end of the lever engages a retaining notch in a bearing member to be firmly secured on the window. A push rod that is displaceable in the long arm of the handle member may be operated to tilt the lever out of engagement with the notch against the force of the spring.

Abstract: A method of extracting uranium oxide from a solution of one or more uranium compounds, e.g. leach liquors, comprising subjecting the solution to electrolysis utilizing a high current density, e.g. 500 to 4000 amp/m.sup.2, whereby uranium oxide is formed at the cathode which is recovered. The method is particularly suited to a continuous process using a rotating cathode cell.

Abstract: Solar radiations having longer wavelengths than those which are useful for plant development are selectively absorbed by an optical filter formed by two transparent walls which constitute at least part of the roofing structure of a greenhouse or "lean-to" frame and by a heat-transporting fluid which is circulated between the walls in a closed-circuit system. The heat absorbed is removed and stored in a separate reservoir, then recovered at night by pumping and circulating the fluid so as to maintain a predetermined minimum temperature within the greenhouse.