Abstract: A bulk material measuring and dispensing system includes a hopper assembly containing a bulk material coupled to a volumetric measuring and dispensing device, for measuring a predetermined volume of the bulk material and dispensing the predetermined volume of the bulk material. A dispensing mechanism is coupled to the volumetric measuring and dispensing device, for receiving and measuring a predetermined volume of bulk material in one position, and for dispensing the bulk material into a bulk material dispensing passageway another position. The volumetric measuring and dispensing device may include a rotatably mounted cylindrical member having a measuring chamber which receives and measure a predetermined volume of the bulk material and rotates to dispense the predetermined volume of bulk material.

Abstract: An extension tube system for a dust particulate dispenser and a method of using the extension tube system are disclosed. The system includes a flexible duster extension tube having a central body portion with a first diameter, a first coupling end with a larger diameter, and a second dispensing end with a smaller diameter. The first coupling end is inserted over an outlet region of a dust particulate dispenser. Additional extension tubes can be connected to the second dispensing end of an extension tube to extend the reach to an area where dust particulates must be applied. A flexible duster extension tube cleaner having a cleaning element is used to clean remaining dust particulates from within the extension tubes. After the dust particulates are dispensed through the extension tube system, each extension tube is disconnected, and the tube cleaner is gripped at one end so that the cleaning element at the other end can be inserted into each flexible duster extension tube.

Abstract: A wire conveyor belt includes a plurality of interlocked wire elements having closed ends. The interlocked wire elements have U-shaped regions which are interlocked with corresponding U-shaped regions of adjacent wire elements to form the conveyor belt. The closed end regions are formed after the wire elements have been interlocked. Each closed end region is formed by bending the end of each wire element around the adjacent interlocked wire element so that the end is adjacent to and overlapping the wire element forming a region having a substantially triangular, circular, or square shape. Each closed end region forms a space which is less than the diameter of each wire element for preventing other portions of the wire conveyor belt or other wire conveyor belts from catching on the closed end regions. A method of making such a wire conveyor belt requires first interlocking the wire elements and subsequently forming the closed end regions.

Abstract: A solar and wind energy generating system for mounting to a building comprises a wind generator system including at least an auger shaped air engaging member. A plurality of wind generators having air engaging vanes may also be provided. The wind generating system intercepts the flow of air currents to produce mechanical energy which is transformed into electrical energy by an electric generator. The air engaging surface of the wind generator vanes or the auger include a plurality of surface deviations. The surface deviations are arranged in at least one predetermined pattern such as a plurality of radially extending deviation sets. The solar generator includes a plurality of solar energy collectors. The wind generators may further include air engaging vanes with at least one transparent surface, and a plurality of solar energy collectors within a cavity formed in the vane, thus forming a combined solar and wind energy generator.

Abstract: A symbolic language teaching and communication system is disclosed which includes at least one block having a pattern of raised protrusions with rounded top surfaces for tactile discrimination. Each pattern represents an alpha-numeric character for recognition by a visually impaired individual, and the block has indicia on one of the sides corresponding to the alpha-numeric character for recognition by a non-visually impaired individual. Each block also has a curved region on one of the corners of the block to provide for the proper orientation of the block on a block retaining slate when forming words or sentences with a plurality of blocks. The block retaining slate also has a rounded corner to provide for the proper orientation of the block retaining slate when forming or reading words or sentences on the block retaining slate. The blocks are removably engaged with the block retaining slate by protrusions which are frictionally engaged with protrusions on the block retaining slate.

Abstract: A data storage system with data mirroring and reduced access time data retrieval includes at least one pair of rotating data storage media each having a plurality of generally identical data records. Each rotating data storage medium includes position indicators, for providing one or more indications of the rotational position of each of the rotating data storage media with respect to its associated fixed position read/write mechanism. A position monitor receives the rotational position indications from each rotating data storage medium and computes and monitors the rotational position of each rotating storage medium with respect to its associated read/write mechanism.

Abstract: A smart telecommunications supervisor management workstation with monitoring system provides real-time operation statistics and graphical representation of system operation in real time. A standardized graphic user interface and a mouse-driven point and click user friendly interface minimize keyboard entry. A management workstation also generates reports using off-the-shelf spreadsheet packages incorporates data management functions via a highly refined user interface. The management workstation comprises an integrated system for generating alerts based on user-defined criteria for database information. Color-coded or shaded monochrome displays provide ease of viewing. Extensive use of icons allows quick identification and selection of management control functions.

Abstract: A cache management system and method monitors and controls the contents of cache memory coupled to at least one host and at least one data storage device. A cache indexer maintains a current index of data elements which are stored in cache memory. A sequential data access indicator, responsive to the cache index and to a user selectable sequential data access threshold, determines that a sequential data access is in progress for a given process and provides an indication of the same. The system and method allocate a micro-cache memory to any process performing a sequential data access. In response to the indication of a sequential data access in progress and to a user selectable maximum number of data elements to be prefetched, a data retrieval requestor requests retrieval of up to the selected maximum number of data elements from a data storage device. A user selectable number of sequential data elements determines when previously used micro-cache memory locations will be overwritten.