Abstract: A cross member is provided for mounting between a first channeled beam and an opposed second channeled beam located in a fixed position relative to the first channeled beam. The cross member comprises two substantially similar elongated side members. Each of the side members includes a secured end wall and an opposed mating end wall. The secured end wall defines apertures adapted to align with apertures defined in one of the channeled beams. The mating end wall defines a surface that defines an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the side member.

Abstract: A process for adjusting the ratio of sulfur dioxide to hydrogen disulfide from the regeneration of a catalytic system of a structured support for example a monolith coated with: (i) a metal oxide sorber component selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Ce, Al, Si and mixtures thereof, for example Ti2O, (ii) a precious metal component, for example Pt metal and, optionally (iii) a modifier consisting of an oxide Ag, Cu, Bi, Sb, Sn, As, In, Pb, Au or mixtures thereof, such as Cu as copper oxide. The system first captures the gaseous sulfur compounds. Then the captured gaseous sulfur compounds are then desorbed as mainly H2S and SO, in higher concentrations in a separate isolated lower flow stream in a ratio determined by the amount of modifier in the catalyst. The higher concentrations may be processed to less noxious or useful sulfur materials and the catalyst/sorber is regenerated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for conditioning of textile, e.g. cotton, fibers as they are removed from bales for processing. A source of a conditioning liquid and a source of pressurized air are each in flow communication with a plurality of atomizing nozzles secured to a reciprocating fiber take-off device located above a plurality of aligned bales of fibers. As the removal apparatus moves back and forth across the upper surface of each bale, the nozzles dispense conditioning liquid directly onto the exposed upper surface of each bale. The fibers are thereafter entrained in an air flow for transport to further processing station(s).

Abstract: A flashlight holder assembly for releasably receiving a flashlight of the type having head rotatable with respect to a barrel for operation thereof. The barrel of the flashlight defines a faceted exterior surface. The holder defines a barrel support and a base. The barrel support defines a faceted internal surface and a slot which cooperate to closely receive the barrel such that the barrel is retained in the barrel support in a non-rotatable manner. The base defines a base plate to which the barrel support is secured. In one embodiment, the holder includes a clip which extends from the base plate and is positioned below the base plate and cooperates with the base plate to receive and retain the periphery of an article therein.

Abstract: A replacement two-piece rigid top for a sport utility vehicle. Two-piece top is provided with a rigid shell member that covers and at least partially encloses the passenger area and rear cargo area of the sport utility vehicle, a removable rigid roof panel that covers the forward passenger/driver area, and door panel members that are removably engaged with and secured to the factory-installed half-doors on certain sport utility vehicles. Rigid shell member is provided with a forward edge that is specially configured so as to form a forward recessed region that channels moisture away from the cabin of the sport utility vehicle. The roof panel is removably secured to rigid shell member, and, preferably, forms a weather-tight junction proximate rearward edge with rigid shell member. This allows the shell member to remain on the vehicle while allowing the roof panel to be selectively removed.

Abstract: A system for tracking articles or persons comprising a base unit for transmitting a series of ultrasonic signals and an alarm signal, a remote unit, removably attached to the article or person, for receiving the series of ultrasonic signals from the base unit and for transmitting an electromagnetic signal upon receipt of the ultrasonic signal from the base unit, and a monitoring unit for receiving the alarm signal.

Abstract: A medicine reminder device for reminding an individual taking medication of the time the next dosage should be taken. The medicine reminder device includes a base structure and a time indicator. In the preferred embodiment, the base structure includes a foundation, a cylindrical support which extends upward from the foundation, and an annular lip which extends outward from the cylindrical support. The foundation has a reference mark imprinted thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the time indicator is a ring assembly which rotates around the cylindrical support. The ring assembly defines an annular groove which receives the annular lip to secure the ring assembly to the base structure. The ring assembly has sequential time indicia imprinted thereon.

Abstract: A method (10) for suppressing the maternal electrocardiograph (MECG) signal from a composite abdominal ECG including an MECG signal, an fetal ECG (FECG) signal and noise to obtain a substantially MECG-free FECG trace. The method (10) of the present invention includes the placement of a plurality of electrodes (26) about the periphery of the mother to detect a substantially pure MECG (12) and a composite MECG+FECG signal (14). A scalp electrode (32A), which is invasive to the fetus (72), and an intrauterine catheter electrode (32B), which is non-invasive to the fetus (72), may be alternately used to detect the signal (14), both electrodes (32A,32B) being invasive to the mother. A preprocessor (34) converts the signals (12,14) obtained by the individual electrodes (26,32A,32B) attached to, or invasive to, the mother (70) into appropriate electrical or digital signals for MECG suppression, and selectively performs a filtering operation to remove noise and other distortions.

Abstract: A device for omnidirectional image viewing providing pan-and-tilt orientation, rotation, and magnification within a selected field-of-view for use in any application including inspection, monitoring, surveillance, and target acquisition. The imaging device (using optical or infrared images) is based on the effect that the image from a wide angle lens, which produces a circular image of an entire field-of-view, can be mathematically corrected using high speed electronic circuitry. More specifically, an incoming image from any image acquisition source is captured in memory of the device, a transformation is performed for the viewing region of interest and viewing direction, and a corrected image is output as a video image signal for viewing, recording, or analysis. Multiple simultaneous images can be output from a single input image.

Abstract: A relatively chemically inert ceramic material produced from a clay-like mixture of boron nitride powder and aluminum oxide, where the aluminum oxide is derived from colloidal aluminum oxide, peptized aluminum oxide, or a dissolved aluminum salt. The clay-like mixture can be dried in a near net shape without cracking and then pressure-less sintered, or bulk dried. Alternatively, pressure-less sintered bodies can be easily machined to a given shape. The ceramic has properties very similar to those of boron nitride in that it resists damage from molten materials, has a high electrical resistance, has high strength at ambient and elevated temperatures, etc. A typical pressure-less sintered body is formed from a clay made with finely-divided boron nitride mixed with at least one of the listed sources of aluminum oxide such that the final sintered composition contains about 85 wt. % boron nitride.

Abstract: A breakaway hose coupling with an integrated swivel mechanism for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices, and for selectively disengaging such dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on said coupling device. The coupling (10) comprises a first valve assembly (12) for being secured on a first dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fluid from such dispensing device when the coupling (10) is uncoupled. The coupling (10) further comprises a second valve assembly (14) with an integrated swivel mechanism (80) for being secured on a second dispensing device and for selectively terminating the flow of fuel from the second dispensing device when the coupling (10) is uncoupled. Further, vapor conduits (114, 116 and 118) are provided to accommodate the flow of recaptured fuel vapor through the coupling.

Abstract: A system for determining the health risk, due to alpha emitters attached to particles of various sizes, these alpha emitters being due to the level of radon, to persons within an environment where radon may be present. In one embodiment, a sample of air is passed through a filter element having a collection characteristic such that essentially all particulate material, with their associated radon progeny, is removed from the air. The alpha particles emitted by the decay of these radon progeny are detected with an appropriate alpha particle spectrometer. The realtime resolving of the energies of individual of the daughter atoms permits a determination of the working level or PAEC associated with the radon. In those instances where lung dose is to be determined, the filter element has two portions. The first portion is designed to remove particles in a manner like that which occurs in the human nasal passage.

Abstract: A proportional-type detector for the detection of low levels of radioactivity, such as alpha and beta particles generated by radioactive materials. In the preferred embodiment, this detector has a pancake-shaped cavity with a disk-shaped base and a cylindrical wall, with at least one anode member traversing the cavity. This anode member is maintained at an elevated potential so as to multiply and collect electrons formed within a counting gas within the cavity as a result of interaction between the radioactivity and a counter gas cavity. A perforated grid member, in one embodiment being a spiral coil, is substantially concentric with the anode member to provided a uniform electric field around the anode member. In the preferred embodiment, spacing between turns of the spiral grid is equal to or less than twice the radial distance between the anode member and the inside diameter of the grid.