Abstract: A rendering process in which fats and oils are rendered from fat and oil bearing raw materials. The process comprises reducing the particle size of the raw material, heating the reduced raw material in a rendering vessel to a rendering temperature without the introduction of any process water and/or steam while establishing fluidization of the raw material within tallow resident in the rendering vessel and moving a flow of the heated material to a separator.

Abstract: A digitizer pad apparatus includes at least one digitizer ply where each digitizer ply has a first and a second resistor strip, each with a resistance gradient along its length, oriented in spaced apart relationship. A plurality of conductor traces are interconnected along the length of each resistor strip to extend toward and be interleaved between each other to define a sensor pad region. Each sensor pad region defines a dimensional direction. A shunt ply is positioned to face the sensor pad region in normally non-conducting relationship so that when a selected area is pressed into contact with the conductor traces, conduction between adjacent conductor traces via the shunt ply will occur in the selected contact area. The selected contact area has a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge along the defined dimensional direction.

Abstract: A vertical screening apparatus for simultaneously screening each side of a printed circuit board. The boards are transported from a feed assembly, into a position between two pivotally mounted screens where they are printed, then to an output assembly. Both sides of a board are printed simultaneously by means of flood blades and squeegees operating on the two screens to press them into contact with a board.

Abstract: A method of operating a diesel engine. Diesel fuel is controllably injected into the engine. An engine performance parameter such as turbo-charger boost pressure, fuel pressure in the diesel fuel injector galleries, or air intake manifold pressure, or a combination of such parameters, is monitored. A secondary fuel such as propane is injected into the engine in an amount which varies as a function of the monitored parameter(s).

Abstract: A metal diaphragm valve comprises a valve cage, a metallic valve seat integral with the valve cage, a metal diaphragm having a peripheral edge portion supported in a liquid-tight manner by the valve cage and a central portion facing the valve to touch and leave the seat, a drive member for opening and closing the metal diaphragm, and a diaphragm pressing member interposed between the drive member and the metal diaphragm and adapted to press the diaphragm against the valve seat at a uniform sealing pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus providing access by a handicapped person from a landing to a guideway mounted vehicle includes a support structure having a pedestal portion and a housing extending upward from the pedestal. A lift, mounted in a lift opening of the support structure, includes a platform, linkages interconnecting the platform to the housing, and movement apparatus coupled to selectively move the platform between a lowered position adjacent a landing, a raised position adjacent the top of the pedestal and a vertical storage position in the lift opening. A bridge member pivots between a horizontal position extending into the doorway of a light rail vehicle and a vertical storage position in the passage adjacent the bridge opening. Roll-up doors are mounted in the top region of the housing for being selectively rolled down to a position to cover the lift opening and bridge opening when the lift and bridge are in their respective storage positions.

Abstract: For use in a computer graphics apparatus, a data management system drives a multiple-window dynamic display. The display is formed by areas, e.g. pixels, and windows are variously defined in a display by assigning window codes to groups of areas. Image data for each area provided from a picture system is selectively registered in an image frame buffer in accordance with the defined windows. Valid data binary signals, designating currently valid image data in the image frame buffer are registered in three valid data buffers. The image data for each area is provided for a display from the selectively registered signals in the image frame buffer under control of the window codes and the valid data binary signals. Techniques are thus available for rapidly swapping portions of the frame buffer and selectively clearing and loading the image frame buffer. Areas not specified by signals from the image frame buffer are treated as background and driven with an appropriate display.

Abstract: To accommodate computer graphics delays, the future position and orientation of a simulated vehicle are predicted in an operating sequence by separate coordinated models that are fed data signals indicating the operator's control actions. The control actions are extrapolated to provide further data signals. A suspension model and a nonlinear chassis model operate sequentially with a road model to provide one reference-state input to a prediction model. Other inputs to the prediction model are from the drive train and steering extrapolation units controlled by driver inputs.

Abstract: An insect or vermin trap having a main housing and high voltage generating means within the housing. The generating means generates a voltage of sufficient magnitude for exterminating insects, vermin or the like entering the trap. One or more entries into the main housing when the electrodes are in that housing or into the separate housing if the electrodes are in a separate housing the the entries enabling insects or vermin to enter the trap. Two spaced electrodes either within the main housing or separate housing supplied with the voltage generated by the generating means for exterminating insects or the like which bridge the space between the electrodes. Control means is present for providing controlled alternation between an on period for which the electrodes are supplied with the high voltage and an off period for which the electrodes are not supplied with the voltage.

Abstract: A system for use with a mag-stripe card for transducing signals and performing predetermined transaction processing to record fresh data on the card. A closed-end slot is defined for guiding the card in manual motion. Offset record (broad path) and read (narrow path) transducers are mounted in a relationship to afford increased tolerances. Optical sensors manifest card positions as data for a processor to control and sequence proper operation. The processor also receives confirmatory read signals to verify proper recording on a card.

Abstract: A linear to rotary ball screw actuator which includes both helical grooves and straight grooves longitudinally spaced apart on the outer surface of the shaft. Matching helical grooves and straight grooves are formed on opposed inner surfaces of first and second portions of relatively moveable housing to provide passageways filled with balls. A return passageway is provided through the housing by way of a straight bore parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.Also disclosed is a ball screw rotary actuator of the type above described but having an additional section including either straight or helical grooves thereby to define an actuator having either a central helically grooved portion sandwiched between straight grooved portions or alternatively a central straight grooved portion with helical grooved portions on either side thereof.

Abstract: In the process for the cold forming of ferrous and nonferrous metal sections, pretensioning is applied to the initially essentially straight metal section, which is clamped at both ends. Next, the tensioned metal section is bent in a rotating bending tool. In order to achieve three-dimensional forming of the metal section, the bending tool effects a controlled movement in all three spatial axes, whereby the metal section is pressed, with a backlash-free guide system, at least in the forming region against the bending tool and guided by positive engagement.

Abstract: A connector for use in deep ocean, high temperature and other high pressure environments has a housing defining an interior chamber filled with non-electrically conducting fluid wherein the cable termination is interconnected to a male or female contact apparatus. A pressure equalizing apparatus according to the invention includes a cylindrical sealing sleeve positioned adjacent to the interior of the chamber. The apparatus also includes a pair of mating sleeves positioned in the interior chamber, in spaced apart relationships, each having a cylindrical mating surface which sealingly mates against the interior surface of the sealing sleeve and a projecting sleeve receiving cylindrical surface. The sleeve receiving surfaces are juxtaposed opposite one another.

Abstract: To interface a primary telephone terminal with a vast number of remote terminals through a telephone network, parties at the remote terminals are individually screened to attain a select group. Bridged together, the select group is preliminarily informed of the status of the interface by a voice generator and, accordingly, the multitude of connections are synchronized for the interface. On cue, the select group is coupled to the primary telephone terminal for unilateral communications. Deviations from the unilateral communication include select bilateral communication for a few of the remote terminals and digital communication from the remote terminals by push button as for polling applications. Subjects for interfaces are programmed for selection from a memory.

Abstract: A disposable finishing article for mounting on a rotatable threaded spindle which may be used with a power tool. The finishing article contains a retaining nut on one side and a backing flange on the other non-removably secured together on the finishing article without the aid of adhesives in such a manner that the finishing article is placed in compression when it is operably secured upon the spindle of the power tool under operational loads. The nut and flange are secured together by upsetting one end of the nut causing it to protrude outwardly over the outer surface of the flange. A metallic inverted cup shaped member and a molded plastic bearing are secured together to form a composite pressure cap and are maintained in operative relationship upon the outer surface of the backing flange. The cup is relatively rotatable with respect to the bearing to effect easy removal of the finishing article from the power tool.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a stereoscopic view from two satellite or two aerial photographs (18, 19) of the same or overlapping area. The method involves aligning the photographs (18, 19) in a stereoscope (10) with the horizontal axis (16) of the stereoscope (10) aligned parallel to the flight path taken to produce the photographs (18, 19) or parallel to the scan direction employed by the satellite. The photographs (18, 19) being produced on infra red film in the case of aerial photography or enhanced to accentuate red and infra red in the case of satellite photography. A series of photographs are produced each with a desired color balance. The photographs are cross compared in the stereoscope (10) to produce an enhanced stereoscopic effect to enable detection and/or measurement of structures or effects.

Abstract: Immunoglobulins are purified by adsorption upon and adsorbent therefor using a buffer having a pH value of about pH 6 to pH 10 and containing at least one polycarboxylic acid in a concentration of about 0.5 M to about 0.9 M.

Abstract: A steno transtator system for translating stenographic keystrokes to language format according to a predefined keystroking methodology includes a steno writer to generate a sequence of stroke symbols each having associated therewith language parts consisting of suffixes, prefixes, word parts, punctuation and language symbols. A processor is coupled for receiving the stroke symbols and includes memory for storing a list of stroke entries, each represented by at least one stroke symbol, and an associated language part defining the translation for that stroke entry. The stroke entries are arranged in the memory in accordance with the predefined stroke entry order. The processor also includes a translator for segmenting the sequence of stroke symbols into a plurality of consecutive subsequences where each of the subsequences includes at least one stroke symbol and has a corresponding matching stroke entry in the memory.