Abstract: A coating that may be used in all environments where a protective coating is applied to a metal, such as for use in coating coils, for coating the interior of cans or beverage containers, and as well as for a host of other uses where protective coatings and films are applied to a metal. Specifically provided is a lining for the interior of steel drums and pails, which lining has very low levels of volatile organic compounds, while still having superior hardness and flexibility. The coating and drum-lining made from the coating is essentially a water-base, thereby effectively eliminating the problem of VOC-emission. The coating of the invention for use in all metal-coating environments is made from a water-base polyester-resin, and the steel-drum lining made from this water-based polyester-resin coating is a water-base phenolic coating.

Abstract: A reservations system for hotel chains in which matrix arrays defining maximum rooms for sale, protected inventory, and matrices derived from these two, all by room-type/rate-category combinations. The system provides for generalized control of inventory for sale for an arbitrary number of room-types, rate-categories, etc. The system also allows blocking or protecting inventory by rate-category, room-type, or any combination. The system of the invention allows for either a central or a distributed view of inventory, and allows inventory to be controlled by the property and sold at any location without over-selling. The system of the invention provides the level of control necessary to handle the four major inventory control strategies that the hotel industry will likely require over the next ten years: total control centrally, central indicators and distributed inventory, totally distributed inventory, or a mixed mode of operation utilizing any combination of central or distributed inventory.

Abstract: The invention relates specifically to a simplified and subsequently improved method to produce a scroll type vacuum pump that is capable of achieving vacuum pressures below 1 torr through the placement of at least one dynamic orbital vacuum seal between the two scroll halves at the outside diameter of the scroll spirals to prevent atmospheric gas from entering. Prior to this invention, in order to achieve vacuum pressures less than 1 torr with a scroll pump it has been necessary to either seal the two scroll halves with a large diameter metal bellows that accommodates the required orbital travel or to locate the orbiting scroll plate or plates and the components that convert the rotary drive to the required orbital motion inside the vacuum space with a dynamic vacuum seal on the rotary drive shaft. Both of these designs have been expensive to produce, limiting the application of scroll technology in the vacuum industry to special applications.

Abstract: A dual-section nozzle-head for use in a vacuum-packaging machine. The first section of the nozzle-head is provided with an interiorly-located manifold, that fluidly connects a series of first orifices, the exit-ends of which are located at the tip of the nozzle-head, so that these orifices may be fluidly coupled to the interior of packages at a sealing station of a vacuum-packaging machine for evacuating the packages via a vacuum source to which the orifices are connected. Interspersed between these first orifices are second orifices, which also have their exit-mouths at the tip of the nozzle-head. The second orifices are spaced apart, one from the other, along the length of the nozzle-head, and are coupled to a second manifold that is positioned exteriorly of the housing of the nozzle-head. The second manifold is coupled to a supply of protective inert gas.

Abstract: A plurality of pairs of identifying tags are provided. Each pair is made up of two identical tags, with each tag of each pair having a main, elongated, body-portion, preferably made of plastic, such as polyvinylchloride, in which is embedded a thin, elongated strip of flexible, pliable steel wire. In the preferred embodiment, the main, elongated body-portion is formed along a portion of its length with toothed projections which serve in aiding to retain the tag in a hole, when the respective tag is to be used for identifying a hole associated with a mating screw. The embedded steel wire helps to retain the shape of the tag when the tag is bent or wrapped about a workpiece or component being identified. In one embodiment of the invention, the ends of the steel wire project outwardly beyond the ends of the plastic main body-portion, so that the ends of the wire may be twisted together to removably hold tag on the workpiece or component being identified, after the tag has been bent thereabout.

Abstract: An automated paint-batching system for producing paint cans of any size and color. The system includes a plurality of paint-batching cells, with each cell having a machine comprised of either one or two dispensing stations. When two dispensing stations are used, the two dispensing stations are: A first tint-station, where a small volumetric dispensing of the base, water-base or oil base, of the paint is dispensed, in order to wet the bottom of the can, at which first station, thereafter, is dispensed all of the liquid colorants making up the formula of the paint can, at which the remainder of the base of the formula of the paint is dispensed, and a second base-dispensing station. Each of the first and second stations of the paint-batching machine of the invention has operatively associated therewith a weighing platform upon which rests the paint can during the dispensing at the respective station used in quality-control weighing of each dispensing.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing cylindrical filters has a tiltedly-mounted main housing in which is provided a plurality of rotatable shafts each mounting thereabout one cylindrical filter for rotation therewith. The tilted mounting causes the wash water, after cleaning the filters, to fall by gravity therebelow, and exit from the apparatus at a lower exit corner thereof. From the exit corner of the apparatus, the effluent wash water passes through a cloth filter provided on a portable container before the effluent wash water is carried away by a drain grate formed in the floor. The cloth filter removes the sold waste from the effluent wash water, so that the potentially hazardous waste material may be disposed of in a suitable dump site. A plurality of high-pressure, water-spray nozzle heads are mounted for reciprocal translation above the shafts for directing the high-intensity water spray to the cylindrical filter.

Abstract: A method of separating a lighter gas from heavier gases, in which a molecular drag pump is used. A series of support pumps are connected to the exhaust port of the molecular drag pump. A gas to be separated out from a mixture of gases is introduced at an exhaust port of one of the pumps, with the lighter gas among them traveling upstream through the molecular drag pump, into a container.

Abstract: An oven-apparatus for flaming the interior and exterior surfaces of a container for removing nonkosher oils, fats, dirt, and the like, which apparatus has a main housing defining a tunnel through which are conveyed containers to be flame-treated, and a first flame-burner capable of developing a substantially vertically-oriented exposed flame for flame-treating the interior surface of a container, and a second flame-burner capable of developing a horizontally-oriented flame for flame-treating the exterior surface of a container. The apparatus also has a conveyor for conveying a plurality of containers to be flame-treated adjacent to the first and second flame-burners. A turntable lifts and rotates the container while the two flame-burners' flames treat all of the surfaces of the container.

Abstract: An improved swing-motion truck in which the transom has been replaced by a pair of transverse radius or tie rods for coupling the two rocker seats of the two side frames of the truck. The ends of the rods are directly coupled to anchor brackets formed as part of the side-frame rocker seats via an elastomeric connection. The suspension springs of the railway freight car truck are seated directly upon the upper flat surface of the two rocker seats of the side frames of the truck, so that lighter-weight freight cars may be accommodated, without a friction-dependent coupling between the rocker seats and rods interconnecting the rocker seats, and where an overall lower height truck results to provide a low-deck car. The cooperating limit stops for lateral motion of the truck are mounted directly on the rocker seats themselves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and useful improvement in the field of sport fishing whereby a sinker that is commonly used for casting purposes is improved upon by allowing the weight component of the sinker to be removed or exchanged for weights of different mass without damage to the line or weight. The invention eliminates the time consuming steps commonly associated with salvaging the fishing line or weight during removal, exchange, and provides an inexpensive releasing device when the sinker becomes irretrievably snagged on a submerged object.

Abstract: A manufacturers' coupon redemption system that is electronically controlled, and compatible in any supermarket using Universal Product Codes. The system includes a newly-styled, uniform coupon, with special bar code indicia redeemable on up to three families of products. At the supermarket, a special device for reading the coupons is provided that reads the coupons presented by the consumer. The system verifies that the consumer did, in fact, purchase the items specified, that the coupon has not expired, and other validation conditions. The unit communicates the results of the validation to the cash register for credit to the consumer's bill. The accepted coupon is then mutiliated to prevent reuse.

Abstract: An improved method for cabling of data communications between data terminals and data sets in which the present invention is a cable designed to replace conventional cables that are individualized (or customized) as male/female and/or null modem cable configurations. The present invention consists of a plurality of individual wires wherein each wire is assigned an individual use and meaning whereby a minimum of two wires are assigned to each lead wire from a data terminal which does not have a corresponding lead wire on the receiving data set. The second wire is electrically connected to the first wire allowing continuity in a null modem configuration while allowing a direct connection in a straight cable configuration. With the instant invention, the use of an appropriate second wire is all that is required to create all possible combinations of male-female, straight-null cables.

Abstract: A leak-detection system for vacuum vessels and containers. A probe gas, such as helium, is detected flowing out of leaks in the vacuum vessel by directing such leaks to the exhaust of a molecular drap pump providing a high vacuum to a mass spectrometer's detection chamber. The probe gas is injected with dynamic flow having turbulent, laminar and transitional flow-characteristics. The helium flows rearwardly through the molecular drag pump by the process of cavitation and dynamic mixing until it is tranformed into molecular flow and directed to the detection chamber of the mass spectrometer for detection. A series of support pumps back up the molecular drag pump, between any two of which gross probe gas leaks may be introduced. The system of the invention has application to pure gas separation of one gas from a heavier gas.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit having an FET connected in series with a resistor coupled to a constant voltage source, coupled between a pair of amplifiers, such as audio amplifiers in a two-stage amplifying circuit. The FET specifically and directly determines the amount of gain of the two-stage amplifier, or the like. R.sub.DS of the FET is continually monitored by its connection to one input of an amplifier serving as a comparator, with the other input thereof serving as a reference voltage derived from a modulated signal emanating from a microprocessor. Each of the signals V.sub.DS, and the reference from the microprocessor is filtered through a low pass filter to remove the audio, or other cyclical signals, and, in the latter case, in order to provide a substantially constant reference voltage to the input of the comparator. The output of the comparator is coupled to an RC circuit, the capacitor thereof being continually charged and discharged in response to the state of the output of the comparator.

Abstract: A process for koshering relatively large metallic containers used to store and transport kosher foods includes the steps of washing and rinsing the interior of the container with kosher-approved compounds to remove surface oils and greases, treating the interior surface of the container with a kosher-approved rust inhibitor, and flame treating the interior surface to drive off any impregnated oils, greases or dirts. The process may also include coating the interior of the container with a kosher epoxy/phenolic compound and thereafter curing the compound by the application of heat.The resulting container may be used to store and transport food stuffs certified to have been prepared in accordance with the kosher dietary laws.