Abstract: An electronic device for use by recreational divers, that uses ultrasonic signals to measure distance, to indicate relative direction, and to maintain contact between at least two diving partners during a diving session. One of the devices is worn and operated by each diving partner, and each device, through an arrangement of ultrasound transmitters and receiver pairs affixed thereto, monitors relative distance between itself and each other device in use by a diving partner. The device has a user interface, including a plurality of push-buttons and liquid crystal display, to set and indicate relative distance, relative direction, low battery fault, and chime or vibration warning mode. The warning mode alerts a diver when a distance limit between companion divers has been exceeded.

Abstract: To provide a way to use a ceramic alloy as a material for producing a cutter knife to be mounted on a thermoplastic resin pelletizer easily, with reduced costs, and also eliminating the possibility of breakage.

Abstract: An audit and verification process (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120) is used to encode at least one personal identifier (70, 75) onto a media (80, 90) capable of interfacing with a personal computer, typically a floppy disk (80), encoding at least one password onto a viewable media, typically a videocassette (110) onto the floppy disk (80), displaying a prompt on a computer screen of the personal computer which requires a match of the at least one password from the videocassette (110) with the at least one password encoded on the floppy disk (80), storing multiple questions pertinent to a subject matter of the videocassette (110) on the floppy disk, displaying at least one question of the multiple questions on the computer screen of the personal computer and storing the answer to the at least one question on the floppy disk (120). The at least one password on the videocassette (100, 110) is preferably an audio password, but may include visual passwords as well as combinations.

Abstract: A quick release mechanism for a conveyance seat comprising: a base plate rigidly attachable to a floor portion of a conveyance connected to a riser member by way of a cammed locking means. Wherein, the cammed locking means has a “T” lock that may be positioned so as to secure the riser member, and a locking cam which further secures the riser member by reducing the amount of sideways movement between the riser member and the base plate, and a compression cam which when rotated in a locked position pulls the “T” lock in an upward direction, and a spring which applies a force in a downward direction when the compression cams are in a lock position. The seat mechanism is further secured by a plurality of hub-like projections which may be received by a plurality of detents included in the base plate.

Abstract: A slidable room assembly comprises a vehicle body having an opening formed in an exterior wall, and a reciprocable slideout unit or compartment disposed in the opening and slidable between a retracted position and an extended position. Sliding movement of the slideout unit is controlled by means of a drive mechanism which includes either one or two endless cables. A plurality of sheaves, rotatably mounted on the slideout unit, define a path for the endless cable or cables. This path includes a pair of parallel longitudinally extending courses disposed on opposite sides of the slideout unit. Anchors, attached to respective longitudinally extending courses of the cable(s) and to adjacent portions of the vehicle body, effect relative reciprocation between the slideout unit and the vehicle body. Sliding movement of the slideout unit may be either motor driven or manually powered.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for introducing a compensating material into a tire/wheel assembly by providing at least one self-contained batch of a compensating material having a predetermined amount of such material and being selectively transferable into a tire. The at least one batch of material remains substantially self-contained for shipping and handling. The at lest one batch is then transferred into the tire, and the tire is thereafter mounted onto a vehicle for operation or otherwise rotated wherein the at least one self-contained batch of material disperses the material within the tire upon rotation. The invention is also directed to a system for introducing a compensating material into a tire/wheel assembly, wherein a predetermined amount of a compensating material in a self-contained batch which remains substantially self-contained during handling, is introduced into a tire prior to assembly with a wheel, and thereafter disperses within the tire during rotation of the tire/wheel assembly.

Abstract: A cell culture assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing having a first end and a second end and the side wall disposed between the first and second ends. The side wall and the second end define a cell growth chamber and the first end defines an opening for receiving media and starter culture. The assembly includes a continuous elongated ribbon having a leader at one end and a cell growth portion formed into turns and disposed within the chamber. The first end of the ribbon is threaded through an aperture in the side wall with the leader exposed on the outside of the housing. A sealing member is disposed over the leader and the aperture to hermetically seal the aperture. The sealing member is removable to access the leader to pull the ribbon through the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, a squeegee assembly is disposed adjacent the aperture and is configured to apply a squeegee action to the ribbon as the ribbon is pulled through the aperture.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for leveling the clamping surface to obtain proper heat sink for narrow strips in a coil end joiner which includes a coil material support table and a retaining plate which is positioned against the upper surface of the coil material to be joined by, for example, one or more air cylinders. A weld clamp leveler is also provided which is adjustable to provide a preselected offset between the coil material support table and the retaining plate in a forward portion of the coil material support table. The weld clamp leveler is preferably used when relatively narrow coil material is being joined to preclude tilting of the retaining plate relative to the coil material support table and the coil material being joined and is preferably adjusted to provide approximately the same offset between the coil end support table and the retaining plate as the thickness of the coil material being joined.

Abstract: A multi-tone sounder system including the sounder and a method of controlling the sounder in which at least a pair of chime bars (3, 5), bells or gongs are spaced apart and arranged to be struck by a solenoid operated striker (26) positioned between the chime bars; the solenoid (24) is powered by a controller (FIG. 2) in one of several ways so that in one way by sudden application of power to the solenoid the striker strikes one bar but then the power is reduced gradually preventing the striker by means of a spring (28) hitting the other bar; in a second way by gradual application of power to the solenoid and sudden reduction the other bar only is struck; in a third way by sudden application and a sudden reduction of power to the solenoid both bars may be struck; by using a predetermined combination of strikes a particular push button in a house can easily be identified.

Abstract: A center beam car has a main deck structure extending laterally from a main center sill, a laterally extending top truss structure, and a central vertically oriented web work structure for carrying vertical shear loads between the top truss and the center sill and decking. The center beam so formed defines bunks upon in which to carry cargo. The upper region of the web-work structure includes a deep upper beam structure that has downwardly extending skirts. The skirts provide an extended bearing area upon against which bundled loads can be secured. The skirts are inwardly reinforced to discourage deflection between adjacent upright members of the vertical web work.

Abstract: A pet ball toy feeder which is formed from two (2) hollow semi-spherical halves, each hollow semi-spherical half member including a hook member extending inwardly from its inside wall for anchoring an elastic member, such as a rubber band, which is attached to each hook member to normally retain the two (2) hollow semi-spherical half members together in a spherical ball configuration, but permits the two (2) hollow semi-spherical half members to be pulled apart or separated to allow pet treats or pet food to be placed inside the pet toy ball feeder. In a second preferred embodiment of a pet toy ball feeder in accordance with the present invention, the two (2) hollow semi-spherical half members are joined together by snapping resilient flexible projections outwardly extending from one or both of the two (2) hollow semi-spherical half members into one or more corresponding grooves in the other of the two (2) hollow semi-spherical half members.

Abstract: A wall mountable rack-like structure that may be used to conveniently store and at the same time drain one or more hoses commonly used to convey liquid substances such as hydraulic liquids, fuels, coolants and the like. The structure includes a horizontal bracket having a plurality of projections that define a number slots capable of receiving an end portion of a hose. The horizontal bracket is spaced at a vertical distance below the a horizontal top portion of the rack. The vertical distance is selected so that hose end couplings having spring-biased, quick connect/disconnect valves may be snugly inserted between the bracket and the top portion. When the hose end couplings are inserted between the bracket and the top portion, the tip of the spring biased valve engages the top portion and is depressed, thereby opening the valve and allowing any liquid within the hose to downwardly drain to the horizontal bottom of the rack.

Abstract: This invention discloses synergistic blends of phosphates and lactones having a base structure of 3-phenylbenzofuran-2-one with or without other additives as stabilizers for polymers, particularly during melt processing as evidenced by changes in melt flow and in some instances, resistance to yellowing.

Abstract: An anchoring device not accessible from one of its sides can be produced by making a cavity (11) of a particular shape and using tendons (4), each of which has an end portion (41) of adapted shape. The cavity may be made in different ways, especially by concreting an anchor member (1) having an opening (12) at one end, the anchor member and the cavity it contains each having an adapted shape. After the anchor member has been concreted and the tendons inserted in the cavity, the cavity is filled with an embedding mortar in order to block the ends of the tendons therein.

Abstract: An articulated railcar has several well car units for carrying shipping containers, highways trailers, or a combination of the two. The well car units permit the nose of a highway trailer to overhang the articulated connection between two adjacent cars. A brake valve is located in a relief formed in the main bolster of one of the articulated units, out of the way of the overhanging trailer. Each well car unit has a side beam having a roll formed top chord reinforced by a top chord plate, a downwardly extending web, and a lower sill formed of a thick angle. The service, or auxiliary, and emergency brake reservoirs are mounted in a saddle bag configuration to the outside face of the webs of the opposite side beams of the articulated unit, tucked underneath the reinforced roll formed top chord.