Abstract: A system for displaying a units categorized value corresponding to the cumulative amount of fluid dispensed from a delivery system having a hand-held nozzle with a trigger actuable by an operator to admit fluid through the nozzle. A display is mounted upon an enclosure to be responsive to a control signal for displaying visually perceptible indicia in selected increments corresponding to the units categorized value. A processor is provided within the enclosure for deriving the control signal. The processor is responsive in a calibration mode to the actuation of the trigger of the hand-held nozzle to derive a calibration count value corresponding to the time elapsed in dispensing a predetermined unit amount of fluid. When this trigger is actuated, a flow monitor at a fluid tank source detects the flow of fluid and broadcasts the presence of the fluid flow condition to a receiver mounted at the enclosure.

Abstract: A freestanding shelving unit for supporting a first and second foodstuff within a microwave oven having an internal oven compartment with a support surface. The unit includes a generally planar, lower base member and a generally planar, upper platform member. The base member has a top surface for receiving the first foodstuff, a bottom surface receivable on the support surface of the oven compartment, and an outer periphery defining a proximal and a distal edge. The upper platform member has a top surface for receiving the second foodstuff, a bottom surface, and an outer periphery defining a proximal and a distal edge. A yoking portion is provided to extend from a first end supported at the proximal edge of the base member to a second end supporting the upper platform member at its proximal edge a spaced-apart distance from the base member. The upper platform member extends freely from the yoking portion at least partially over the base member.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method for controlling the shifting of a drag race vehicle with a controller for controlling an actuatable shifter assembly. This method includes resetting the controller followed by actuating the controller and launching the vehicle. At a predetermined engine speed value or after a first timed duration based on a predetermined engine speed value, the shifter assembly is actuated for a second timed duration to shift to a next higher gear. Finally, shifter assembly actuation is repeated until all of the gears of the vehicle desired to be shifted have been shifted. Another aspect of the present invention is a controller for controlling the shifting of a drag race vehicle shifter with an actuatable shifter assembly and which is activatable by a first duration timer or an rpm switch based on a predetermined engine speed value.

Abstract: A practice ball system for training in the playing of pool or pocket billiards. The system includes a cueball having a generally spherical outer surface extending about an axis of revolution circumscribed by a central meridian, and which is movable along a playing surface from impact by a cue having a tip of a given outer diameter. The cueball has first indicia on the outer surface defining the central meridian which is visually perceptible as the ball is moving along the playing surface for discerning the rotation of the ball. The system also includes an object ball having a generally spherical outer surface extending about an axis of revolution circumscribed by a central meridian, and which is movable along a playing surface from impact by the cueball. The object ball has a first hemisphere having an outer surface of a first color, and a second hemisphere having an outer surface of a second color generally contrasting with the first color.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a method for making a metal tag bearing visible indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a substrate. Such inventive method commences by providing a metal sheet having (1) a painted zone upon which is imprinted visible indicia, and (2) a bare metal zone, to form said tag. A preform is attached to said bare metal zone, preferably by welding. The preform has a depression adapted to receive weld wire for welding said tag to said metal substrate. Preferably, the depression is a hole penetrating through the preform to the bare metal zone. The preform also is thicker than the metal tag, and of thickness effective for it being attached to metal by welding. The metal tag is attached to the substrate by inserting a weld wire through the preform hole to make contact with the tag bare metal zone and welding the metal tag to said substrate. Also disclosed is a metal tag bearing indicia thereon and which can be welded onto a metal substrate.

Abstract: A split ring clamp for retaining a lid upon an enclosure such as a plastic or fibrous drum is provided which is formed entirely of polymeric material such as a high molecular weight, high density polyethylene copolymer. The assemblage includes two parts, a channel-form split ring and a pivot arm joining the two ends of the split ring together over the rim structure of a container. One end of the ring supports an integrally formed pivot shaft receiving notch as well as an outwardly extending toe with a rearwardly disposed contact surface. The opposite side of the ring is formed having a receiver channel within which there is provided an inwardly depending toe with a rearwardly facing contact surface. The pivot arm is formed having a transversely disposed arm pivot shaft and a ring pivot shaft receiving notch having a shaft access opening which is outwardly disposed and extends to a shaft bearing surface. Such an arrangement permits a more thin profile for the ring and pivot arm assembly.

Abstract: A low voltage constant transconductance input stage is achieved with relatively simple design methodology. The approach uses current-mode techniques and is based upon the processing of signal currents, rather than handling the bias currents of input stages. Such an approach becomes universal and independent of the input stage transistor types (FET or bipolar) and their operating regions. Further, the arrangement considerably simplifies the design procedure of low voltage operational amplifiers. MOS and bipolar Op Amp input stages are described wherein almost constant g.sub.m is achieved which is independent of the common mode input voltage ranging from rail-to-rail.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalytic process for the synthesis of ammonia in an ammonia synthesis reactor wherein a dilute ammonia stream is withdrawn from the reactor and subjected to a treatment step to concentrate ammonia adsorbed (or extracted) from said dilute ammonia stream.Specifically, the invention is an improvement in the ammonia concentration treatment step. This improvement includes passing the dilute ammonia stream from the reactor into an adsorber in which is housed particulate adsorbent effective in adsorbing ammonia from the dilute ammonia stream passed through the adsorber. Desirably, adsorber conditions include a pressure close to those prevailing in the dilute ammonia stream withdrawn from the reactor with the temperature being as low as that of the feed to the reactor. Next, an effluent stream diminished in ammonia content is withdrawn from the adsorber. Finally, enriched ammonia is recovered from the adsorber.

Abstract: A redundant, dual circuit air conditioning apparatus is provided for communications enclosures which is wall mounted thereon. A conditioned air housing is provided having a blower chamber which contains two air circulation blowers thrusting air into the enclosure and having freely pivotal ducts which operate in mutual cooperation in response to pressure variations between the chamber and the enclosure. Internested evaporator coils of two discrete refrigeration circuits share common fin connections for efficiency and each includes a dual line input performing in conjunction with an expansion valve and a simple Y distribution fitting coupled to those lines which achieves requisite pressure drops at low cost.

Abstract: The present invention broadly relates to a therapeutic agent effective in mitigating disease associated with Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) in a feline infected with FeLV. A feline is an animal of the family Felidae. The novel therapeutic agent is composed of feline excised lymph nodes which have been subjected to mitogenic stimulation for their expansion dispersed in a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier. Mitogenic stimulation conditions include culturing the excised lymph nodes in the presence of Interleukin-2. Optionally, culture conditions can include the presence of allogeneic or autologous FeLV tumor. The inventive therapeutic agent is prepared by excising lymph nodes from a feline infected the FeLV, mitogenically stimulating said excised lymph nodes for their expansion, and administering to the infected feline the expanded lymph nodes. Multidose regimens can be used as is necessary or desirable in convenient fashion.

Abstract: A probe instrument which is formed having a unitary housing with indented switch actuating surfaces intended for surgical procedures employs internally disposed piezoelectric switching components within an elongate internally disposed switch receiving channel. The forward end of the instrument supports a crystal containing detector assembly with a preamplifier and associated leads which extend within a detector signal channel spaced from the switch receiving channel and protected therefrom by a shield wall. The piezoelectric components are held in preloaded association adjacent outwardly disposed switch actuating surfaces by a dual wedge switch support assembly. An elongate cable is permanently attached to the rearward end of the housing component through the utilization of a medical grade silicone seal and relief component.

Abstract: An apparatus for crushing spent oil filters for recovery of spent oil therefrom, which includes a frame which carries an oil filter crushing chamber, and located therebeneath the frame also carries a hydraulic actuation assembly, a vertical hydraulic ram assembly, a latch mechanism, and a safety control circuit.

Abstract: A P.M. d.c. motor which may utilize "brushless" commutation. The motor includes a stator assembly with a plurality of upstanding discrete spaced-apart core components formed in a circular locus generally parallel with the motor axis. Each core component includes a relatively lengthy winding association region and extending therefrom a pole piece region providing a flux interaction surface. A field winding mounted upon a bobbin is positioned over the core component at the winding association region and when excited, generates electromagnetic flux at the flux interaction surface. A permanent magnet component is carried by a rotor such that its interaction surface is adjacent to that at the pole piece region, and is spaced therefrom to define a flux working gap at a desirably lengthy working gap radius from the motor axis.

Abstract: A blunt dissector instrument for laparoscopic surgical protocols is disclosed which is adapted for defining an anatomical structure from investment tissue. The dissector is formed from an elongate member which extends longitudinally between a working end and a control end, and is provided with a tip region having a blunt dissector tip and a lateral dissector region. A rough surface is circumferentially disposed about the tip portion and is effective for tactilely retaining and abrading the investment tissue for its substantially atraumatic removal from the anatomical structure.