Abstract: A lateral stabilization system for a vehicle including a leg assembly attached to the vehicle, the leg assembly having a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel legs extending rearwardly of a forward end of the vehicle, an articulating wheel assembly affixed to a distal end of each leg and a position control device that controls movement of the leg assembly in response to operating parameters of the vehicle. The articulating wheel assembly may be connected with the leg assembly so that it articulates in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A method of servicing a mobile asset subject to utilization loss factors delaying the completion of servicing and the timely return of the asset to operation including identifying utilization loss factors that could delay the timely completion of servicing of the mobile asset. Identifying service procedures associated with each utilization loss factor and providing a database of events associated with the service procedures the events indicative of a status of completion of the procedures. A schedule may be established for at least one event for the timely completion of the respective service procedure. Monitoring the at least one event to determine when the event occurred relative to the scheduled time and if the at least one event is late, providing notice that the relevant utilization loss factor is likely to cause delay in the timely return of the asset to operation unless corrective action is taken.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably holding a media storage disk that may include a front and base cover connected in a hinged relationship. A base panel of the base cover may include a centrally located hub disposed on a pair of support arms that may be moved between a relaxed position and a flexed position. The hub may include a plurality of retaining lips that will retain a disk when placed on the hub. A release button may also be provided that cooperatively engages the hub to move the hub between a relaxed position and a flexed position. The release button may cooperatively engage a pair of cam followers situated on the hub so that when the release button is depressed the hub moves between the relaxed position and the flexed position. With a disk held on the hub, when the release button is depressed the hub moves to its flexed position, which retracts the retaining lips within the inside diameter of the center hole of the disk so that the disk may be removed from the hub.

Abstract: An ergonomically developed, dome-shaped, alphanumeric interface apparatus for use with an electronic system, such as a computer or electric typewriter is described. The apparatus is configured in accordance with ergonomic principles and uses chording of both hands to type the characters of any user-defined alphabet. The device includes a set of domes that are shaped and contoured to conform to the shape of hands in a relaxed state and to distribute pressures across the splayed underside of the user's hand. Each dome is capable of movement in a plurality of discrete lateral sectors. The domes used together, utilizing a chording principle, can generate up to 144 characters depending on how many discrete movements are defined by the user. In a nonchording mode of operation, each dome is capable of producing up to 12 characters independently of the other dome.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle having inflatable pontoons disposed in recesses formed in the vehicle body. The inflatable pontoons retract into the recesses when deflated to reduce the overall width of the vehicle to below the maximum allowable width for a road vehicle. The inflatable pontoons extend when inflated to beyond the maximum allowable width for road vehicles, thereby improving the stability of the vehicle when it is operated in water. The inside surfaces of the recesses provide support for transferring the uplift force generated by the pontoons to the vehicle body when in water. An elastic member may be used to retract the deflated pontoons into the recess. Decorative doors covering the recesses are forced open by the inflating pontoons to a position above the water line.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring the weight of an object such as a letter, magazine or parcel, while the object is in motion, without using a weighing scale. The apparatus and method disclosed make use of moving, preferably vertically-oriented transport belts driven by a constant velocity, closed-loop feedback system which includes an electric motor. An object to be weighed is engaged and lifted upwards by the moving belts, increasing the load on the motor as a function of the weight of the object. The increased motor current evoked by the lifted object can be processed to extract the object's weight.

Abstract: A three-phase active filter for connection into a three-phase power distribution system to compensate undesirable harmonic deviations. A converter is electrically connected between the power distribution system and a DC energy storage element. The converter is selectively controlled by control means to effectuate a flow of energy between the system and the storage element to offset the harmonic deviations. To improve the dynamic response of the filter, the control means utilize vector control principles. Specifically, a synchronous fundamental vector of AC energy waveforms in the power distribution system is derived in a rotating reference frame. Fundamental reference signals are then produced in a stationary reference frame which are compared with corresponding actual condition signals. Error signals thus produced are then utilized to operate the converter.

Abstract: A transport/stacker module provides for a vertical stacking of mail bins. Carriers traveling in a transport path have openable and closable doors at both ends, and a frame of the transport/stacker module is provided with cam actuators to open the doors after the carriers pass turnaround areas and close the doors before the carriers enter the turnaround areas. A rake mechanism disposed above each bin is provided with a snubber which engages a mail piece prior to rake tines of the rake mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic feeder module for a mail sorting system including a cabinet having first and second ends and an upper planar surface, a conveyor belt having an upper run travelling along the upper surface of the cabinet, a drive plate linearly driven along the conveyor belt at the same speed as a conveyor belt and having a forward side and a rearward side, means for driving the conveyor belt and the drive plate at the same speed, and a singulator assembly including pick-off means against which a stack of mail is pressed by the drive plate and the conveyor belt, and a stack pressure switch for turning the driving means on and off to maintain a predetermined stack pressure against the pick-off means.

Abstract: An optical agglutination assay device for detecting cocaine. The device includes a hollow reaction cell defining a generally planar liquid receiving reaction chamber having a thickness which is insufficient to diminish the intensity of a ray of light passing through an aqueous reaction system in the chamber in a first direction transversely of the plane of the latter. The device also includes a pusher assembly for delivering an aqueous agglutination reaction system and an unknown substance suspected of containing cocaine into the chamber. The agglutination system is such that agglutination is inhibited in the presence of cocaine. The device also includes an optical transmitting and receiving unit aligned with the reaction cell for measuring the intensity of light reflected from the chamber as a measure of the occurrence of agglutination in the reaction system.

Abstract: A system for simulating a moving target, having an antenna that emits a steerable propagation pattern, a receiver and a target signal generator. Analog signals representing the azimuth position of the target and the azimuth position of the antenna propagation pattern are summed yielding analog azimuth position signals. The analog azimuth position signals are then converted to digital code. Analog signals representing the elevation position of the target and the elevation position of the propagation pattern are summed yielding analog elevation position signals. The analog elevation position signals are then converted to digital code. The azimuth position digital code and digital code representing the propagation pattern direction are input into a memory unit which outputs an azimuth attenuation digital code. The elevation position digital code and the propagation pattern direction digital code are likewise input into a memory to produce an elevation attenuation digital code.

Abstract: A dancer pulley assembly includes a first horizontal plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a swing arm having a proximal end pivotally mounted to the first horizontal plate on the lower surface thereof and being pivotal about a vertical pivot axis A, a second horizontal plate having an upper surface and a lower surface and being spaced vertically above the first horizontal plate by at least one vertical support, a pulley shaft having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being mounted on a distal end of the swing arm and extending upwardly through an arcuate opening formed in the first horizontal plate, a dancer pulley rotatably mounted on the pulley shaft between the first and second horizontal plates for rotation about a vertical rotation axis B and being swingable on the swing arm through an arc defined by a distance between the pivot axis A and the rotation axis B, means for guiding the upper end of the pulley shaft during swinging motion of the dancer pulley, and means for adjusting th

Abstract: A low cost application specific integrated circuit tester is provided. The tester contains a microprocessor and a test vector RAM bank that is equal in BIT width as the input output pin count of a device under test. The RAM bank holds all vector information for the pins of the device under test. The tester board contains a number of tester ASICs placed between the test vector RAM bank and the devices under test. The tester ASICs are configurable to control the direction of data lines and to compare the results from the device under test to the preloaded RAM data. The present ASIC tester also provides a comparison of the results from two devices under test.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method that uses a digital oscilloscope to digitize a waveform and then loads the digitized waveform into a computer. The computer scans the waveform data locating leading edges by comparing data to a rolling average and a noise threshold and locating tops and bottoms if the pulse is a negative going pulse by comparing data to slope criteria until a trailing edge is discovered. The trailing edge defines the end of the pulse, the immediately preceding leading edge defines the beginning of the pulse and the pulse height and this allows the pulse characteristics to be determined. This discovered pulse is removed from the waveform by setting all data values in the pulse to the pulse baseline value, and the scan for leading edges, pulse tops and a trailing edge is performed again to isolate and characterize another pulse. This cycle of detection, analysis and removal continues until the end of data is encountered before a pulse is discovered.

Abstract: Test data is incorporated within the microcode of a bit-slice microprocessor to be used during development of the program to verify program performance and during operation of the program as a built-in test. Little additional hardware is required and there is minimal impact on the structure of the program. The program is allowed to operate with the same data that it would have when integrated with the system. During development, the embedded data is used as a substitute for the rest of the system, allowing program development to continue until system integration, using only power supplies and some test equipment. When implemented and used with a commercially available microprocessor ROM emulator, the test data may be varied to highlight difficulties in algorithm design and program development. The operating program cannot tell the difference between live system data and embedded test data. Thus, the program will behave identically during development and system operation.

Abstract: A method and device for adapting a VME card for use in a VXI system are disclosed. The device resides on a circuit board that is plugged between the VXI bus and the VME card. The device provides two or more sets of VXI configuration registers. Each region of addresses normally used by the VME card is assigned to one of the simulated VXI units, and the device modifies incoming VXI addresses directed to each region so that the VME card responds to the VXI address. The VXI units simulated by the device may include one message-based device and one register-based device, so that both capabilities are available to the VME card. The device buffers signals passing between the VME card and the VXI bus, generating delays and timing signals to produce proper operation of all system components. The device provides bidirectional communication between the VME card and the VXI bus, so that the VME card can be the VXI bus master.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon vapor sensor which is simple and low cost and can easily detect the existence of hydrocarbon vapor. The device is temperature compensated so that a change in resistance due to a change in temperature is avoided and an accurate response is always provided. The sensor can be used in a system in which a number of sensors are provided at various depths to determine whether a leak or a ground spill has occurred.

Abstract: A fiberoptic-coupled free-space variable delay line is provided wherein the phase adjustment of the signal can be accurately set. A microscope-objective lens collimates a signal beam which is received by a focusing lens. The focusing lens is provided on an adjustable carrier to allow one to accurately adjust the distance travelled by the collimated signal base and thereby accurately adjust the off-set. A plurality of these variable delay lines can be arranged to form a multiplexer. If the threads on each drive rod moving a carrier are different, the carrier can be adjusted to accommodate changes in frequency of the signal.