Abstract: A sound absorbing substrate for use as an underlayer in a flooring structure including a subfloor. The substrate is made of a resilient material and more particularly of recycled tires and comprises a bottom surface sized to cover a given surface area. This bottom surface is provided with cavities that preferably consist of parallel grooves extending at an angle of about 45° with respect to one side edge of the substrate. These cavities leave a portion only of the bottom surface in contact with the subfloor. The surface ratio of the portion of bottom surface in contact with the subfloor to the given surface area covered by the bottom surface ranges from 20 to 65%. Such substrates can be of reduced thickness while still having good sound absorbing properties.

Abstract: A surgical drill guide for directing a guide tube toward a target. The guide tube has first and second sets of teeth extending along an exterior surface thereof. A through passage in an operating mechanism housing receives the guide tube. A first actuator or guide tube advancing mechanism uses a ratchet and pawl mechanism to advance the guide tube distally. A guide tube locking mechanism, that includes another ratchet and pawl mechanism prevents any unwanted proximal motion by providing a releasable lock against any unwanted proximal motion of the guide tube during use.

Abstract: A miniature, computerized component, variable interference imaging spectrometer (C2VIFIS) system for airborne remote sensing data acquisition with a two dimensional field of view. An alternating staring/scanning method is used to optimize a pushbroom hyperspectral image data set with a photogrammetric reference. Synchronized CCD-imager sensor modules or cameras are aligned to a common field of view. One imager module has a visible range variable interference filter on its surface, a second imager module has a near-infrared range variable interference filter on its surface, and a third imager module has a bandbase filter attached to the imager. Video data from the three sensor modules is digitized and recorded in real time. Further, such video data is monitored by a computer and used to control the shutter exposure of each of the three sensor imager modules. Wavelength spectral image data and directional spectral image data are acquired by a single pass over a target area.

Abstract: A data storage facility for transferring data from a data altering apparatus, such as a production data processing site to a remote data receiving site. The data storage facility includes a first data store for recording each change in the data generated by the data altering apparatus. A register set records each change on a track-by-track basis. A second data store has first and second operating modes. During a first operating mode the second data store becomes a mirror of the first data store. During a second operating mode the second data store ceases to act as a mirror and becomes a source for a transfer of data to the data receiving site. Only information that has been altered, i.e., specific tracks that have been altered, are transferred during successive operations in the second operating mode. Commands from the local production site initiate the transfers between the first and second operating modes.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to realize structure having high rigidity in any direction and to realize a parallel mechanism machining device having good chip removal property. According to the present invention, forked adjustable joints 28 are provided at two positions near the tip end of a movable body 20 and near the rear end thereof, respectively, two first links 36 and two second links 37 are attached to the movable body 20 and the tip ends of these links are extended in X and Y axis directions and coupled to a machine-side fixed platform through adjustable joints, respectively. A link 5 extending in Z axis direction is attached to the rear end of the movable body 20 and a restriction link 6 is attached to the back of the forked adjustable joint 28 near the tip end.

Abstract: A deep fat fryer is provided including a frypot of which the welded joints avoid the generation of flaws or cracks. The frypot (10) is a particular form of container made of metal sheets and having a top side opened and a bottom side closed, which comprise a pair of opposed connect sidewalls (11) and (12) arranged parallel to each other and a pair of opposed bending sidewalls (13) and (14) arranged of a bent shape. The bending sidewall comprises an upper sidewall portion (13a) or (14a) at the top side, a lower sidewall portion (13b) or (14b), and a sloping sidewall portion (13c) or (14c) connecting the upper and lower portions to each other, the distance between the two lower sidewall portions (13b) and (14b) being smaller than that between the two upper sidewall portions (13a) and (14a). The frypot is integrally fabricated by welding two halves along the vertical separating line (M) which extends across the connect sidewalls to the bottom side along a center line orthogonal to the horizontal.

Abstract: A tissue retractor with an adjustable center claw. The retractor includes two pivoted retractor arms. An axially and angularly displaceable, spring biased clamping mechanism is positioned on the pivot axis. In a mounting position, a elongated clamping element aligns with a slot in the center claw. When the center claw is positioned and the clamp moves to its clamping position, the elongated clamping member clamps the center claw in position. The counterfacing surfaces of the center claw and the clamping member are toothed to provide a positive one-way ratchet clamp.

Abstract: Load balancing of activities on physical disk storage devices is accomplished by monitoring reading and writing operations to blocks of contiguous storage locations on the physical disk storage devices. A list of exchangeable pairs of blocks is developed based on size and function. Statistics accumulated over an interval are then used to obtain access activity values for each block and each physical disk drive. A statistical analysis leads to a selection of one block pair. After testing to determine any adverse effect of making that change, the exchange is made to more evenly distribute the loading on individual physical disk storage devices.

Abstract: A portable radiant heater comprises an electrically energized heating element extending along a vertical axis. A first, multi-faceted, concave reflective surface is positioned to the rear of the heating element. A second reflector is positioned forward of and in close proximity to the heating element. The first reflector directs radiant energy received directly from the heating element and indirectly from the second reflector forward with minimal radial dispersion.

Abstract: An adapter apparatus for use with a power operated surface preparation device comprising an upper cap positioned on a first end of a stainless steel spring and a lower cap positioned on a second end of the spring. The center of the upper cap has a threaded opening and the center of the lower cap has a threaded opening wherein a shaft of the power tool is fastened to the upper cap and a shaft of a disk is fastened to the center of the lower cap. The power device rotates at speeds up to 10,000 RPMs and the disk on the lower end adapter of the apparatus maintains close contact with a work surface while an operator exerts minimum force only to guide the power device from area to area and not to maintain the disk touching the work surface.

Abstract: A method for operating a magnetic disk storage device in read/write and read-only modes. A control program in a system cache memory receives write requests for transferring data to a logical volume. The control program determines whether the write request is directed to a track that is in a read/write or read-only operating mode. Only requests to tracks having a read/write operating mode are enabled to continue. A system administrator or user controls the operating modes for each track in the disk operating system.

Abstract: A multi-tap distribution apparatus is encased in an enclosure comprising a boxed shaped housing (2) with one side open and a main body (1) fitted in the opening of the housing. A pair of operating windows (13) are recessed in the main body for mounting and removing thermistors (14). Four connectors (4) are projected into each operating window through insertion holes (13a) in the bottom surface of the window. The connectors are coupled to a current transmission circuit (18) which feeds distribution output terminals (5) with operating currents. Four thermistors can be detachably coupled to the connectors without opening the enclosure. By coupling and detaching each thermistor, operating currents can be passed and blocked to the corresponding distribution output terminal (5). Each operating window (13) is normally closed up with a cover (3) to keep out rain and external noise.

Abstract: A drainage catheter includes a tubular member with an anchor at a distal end and suture threads extending from the anchor to the proximal ends of the tubular member. A locking mechanism attaches to the proximal end of the tubular member and includes a body with an extension of the lumen. A displaceable body in the locking mechanism body attaches to the proximal end of the sutures to control the amount of slack or tension in the suture threads. An extension of that displaceable body lies externally of the locking mechanism body to enable the operation of the displaceable body without handling the suture threads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the size and shape of a shrink film envelope around an article or a package to prevent the formation of wrinkles and bunching of the film when it shrinks. The apparatus comprises a hot air shrink tunnel having a conveyor for moving the article on packages through the tunnel. An assembly is position within the tunnel a preadjusted distance away from the article forming a fixed boundary to which the film envelope expands and is restricted, causing the air within the film envelope to be directed to areas around the article to keep the film from touching the article until the film shrinks. The assembly comprises material of low thermal conductivity such as a plurality of wooden wheels for contacting the film envelope.

Abstract: A device is disclosed, for use with a snow blower being of the type having an auger, and allow it to operate while moving backwards. The device principally consists of a concave blade mounted on a snow blower, which pivots between an operative position where the blade extends close to ground and the concave surface of the blade extends in front of the auger in such a way that the blade scrapes the snow and directs it towards the auger when the snow blower is lifted up to let the snow pass under it and moves backwards, and an inoperative position where the blade is raised to a height sufficient to let the snow reach the auger when the snow blower moves forwards. A snow blower equipped with a device as defined above, for operating while moving backwards, is also disclosed as well as a method for blowing snow with a snow blower equipped with that device.

Abstract: A direction coupler makes it possible to freely select an input terminal and an output terminal thereof. A branch unit (6) containing a branching circuit (6a) is mounted so that the branch unit (6) can be rotated relative to a mother board (5), with a central portion of the branch unit (6) being a fulcrum. Relay terminals (11, 12, 13, 14) of the mother board (5) are provided at positions corresponding to an input terminal (15) and an output terminal (16) of the branch unit (6).

Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope system for producing images that can be perceived in three dimensions. An endoscope apparatus includes a sheath carrying a light source and two independent fixed lens endoscopes. Collimated light from the proximal ends of each endoscope are directed along folded optical paths to independent video cameras. The images generated by the video cameras energize monitors in a virtual reality display device that can be positioned proximate an observer's eyes. Adjustable mirrors and the provision of the rotation of at least one of the video cameras on its axis facilitate the alignment of the images for maximum effect.