Abstract: A solvent recovery system for an oil and grease test collects and condenses solvent vapors to recover solvent. A vessel having an inlet for sealingly receiving an outlet of a separatory funnel receives solvent from the separatory funnel. The solvent is filtered through a filter paper placed in a funnel integral with the vessel. The funnel has a lower tubular section protruding from the vessel. A vapor return tube, integral with the vessel, surrounds the tubular section providing an annular space between an inside wall of the vapor return tube and an outside wall of the tubular section. Filtrate flows downward through the funnel tubular section into an evaporation flask, where the solvent is heated and evaporated leaving an oil and grease residue. Solvent vapors flow upward through the annular space within the vapor return tube into the vessel. A condenser, integral with the vessel, receives and condenses the vapors forming a condensate that is collected in a solvent recovery flask.

Abstract: This invention is a composition and a method for treating animal skin ailments by a topical application of the composition to the animal in which the composition is a liquid or gel having potassium formate, sodium formate, or cesium formate in water in an effective concentration. Typically, the skin ailments treated are those caused by pyotraumatic dermatitis, chronic itching, scratching and chewing, and flea and insect bites in dogs, cats, horses and other animals.

Abstract: A improved service life baler press assembly including a number of novel press chamber and ram assembly components formed of a relatively hard material, such as a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., acetal resins) or any other suitable material having low static and dynamic coefficients of friction. Press chamber components according to the invention include press wall liners coupled to the press chamber walls. The press wall liners are manufactured of the thermoplastic polymer, and are disposed between the press walls and a ram head during periods of compression. The low static and dynamic coefficients of friction of the thermoplastic polymer material allow the ram head to move inside of the press chamber without damaging the walls of the press chamber. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention includes a ram head cover also composed of a thermoplastic polymer or other suitable material. The ram head cover reduces wear damage to the press wall liners.

Abstract: A keyboard scancode signal is processed by the following steps. In response to the scancode signal, and before capture of the scancode signal by a first program that would otherwise interfere with use of the scancode signal by a second program, causing execution of the second program. After execution of the second program, interaction with the first program is permitted.

Abstract: A method for hot docking and hot undocking a portable computer and a docking station. The portable computer and docking station are physically coupled via a shared PCI bus and an expansion connector. Varying length pins in the expansion connector generate docking and undocking handshaking signals used by microcontrollers in the portable computer and docking station. The portable computer and docking station are functionally connected via low on-resistance switches located in the portable computer. Following a docking event, closure of the switches connects the portion of the shared PCI bus in the docking station with the PCI bus in the portable computer. When the switches are open, the PCI busses are functionally isolated. Both the portable computer and the docking station also include a local arbiter for arbitrating and granting bus control requests from devices coupled to the shared PCI bus.

Abstract: A pipe end load support and protector apparatus for attaching to an end of a pipe to protect the pipe end. The apparatus comprising a circular member having an outer diameter approximating the outer diameter of the pipe end. The circular member has an end bearing portion made of a closed cell rigid polyurethane foam. The closed cell rigid polyurethane foam has a density in the range of about 40 to 70 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: A grill filter assembly for mounting in the exit or entrance wall opening of a forced air duct wherein the grill plate may be installed in a hinged relation to the duct enabling easy access to the duct opening. In a preferred embodiment, the grill face plate is adapted to have a particulate filter and/or, if desired, a scent dispenser disposed thereon and the hinged relation of the face plate enables easy access to the filter for the changing thereof. Since the grill filter assembly is adapted to be mounted directly into the exit or entrance opening of the duct, the faceplate contains no unsightly screws or other fixtures as are common on heating and air conditioning registers and face plates. In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes match means for cooperating with the wall to expeditiously mount the assembly in the duct.

Abstract: A wildlife guard for electrical power distribution equipment is easily and safely installed by hot stick without power interruption. The guard includes a disc of electrically insulating material having a hollow center for mounting an insulator, a cutaway tab-and-ring section of the disc for adapting the disc to a plurality of insulator core sizes, and at least one installation grip section of the disc for receiving a gripping portion of hot stick. The guard also may include an adaptation section of the disc for adapting the disc to also protect an adjacent or physically associated insulator. In addition, a guard may include a comb or toothed inlet guide section for ease of installation and for subsequently holding the disc in place around an insulator. The guard also eliminates the need for a service interruption during installation and protects the crew members in the installation area by providing for installation with insulated manipulator sticks.

Abstract: A computer system having an expansion base for docking a portable portion of the computer system includes a bridge circuit for adaptively decoding addresses on a bus based on the docking status. Both the expansion base and the portable portion include the bridge circuit for passing cycles from a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus to an industry standard architecture (ISA) bus. The bridge includes internal devices and configuration registers for controlling the decoding. Bus cycles intended for internal devices and external devices connected to each respective ISA bus of the bridge circuits are positively decoded. Cycles not positively decoded and claimed are subtractively decoded by one of the bridge circuits depending on the docking status.

Abstract: A computer system implements a standard modem without the use of a microcontroller. Instead, a digital signal processor is provided on an expansion card, but with direct links to the computer system itself. The code usually implemented in the microcontroller is instead implemented as a virtual modem controller to be called by the operating system of the computer itself. Further, this virtual modem controller includes a virtualized UART, that appears to the operating system software as a hardware UART, with entry points for calls to replace input/output instructions. In this way, standard device driver code written to execute input/output operations is easily converted to operate with the "virtualized" UART.

Abstract: An IOL compression chamber for folding an IOL includes a hollow chamber having a loading area, a staging area and a distal tip. The loading area has a distally extending slot in the wall, which allows for easy removal of a forceps holding the IOL from the chamber following insertion of the IOL into the chamber with the forceps. The staging area holds the IOL in a folded state until the chamber is placed into an IOL insertion instrument having a plunger which forces the IOL distally out of the staging area and into the eye through the distal tip.

Abstract: A transport pallet is provided for automating pre-shipment testing or "burn-in" of personal computers. The transport pallet is adapted to receive and transport the computer from an assembly line to a test storage location or bin. The pallet also provides on-board connections by which both operating power and computer signals are furnished to the personal computer at the test storage location. The pallet is adapted to engage external power supply terminals and external computer signal inputs at the test location. The pallet furnishes both power and test signals to the personal computer and return responses of the computer through the on-board connections, permitting "burn-in" testing of the computer while it is located in the test storage bin.

Abstract: A removable battery pack for powering a pen-based or portable computer system in which the battery pack blocks its terminals when inserted into an unknown system. The known system includes a power supply microcontroller which passes battery charge data back and forth between a memory located in the battery pack and the power supply microcontroller. A battery microcontroller, located in the battery pack, eavesdrops drops on the communication between the power supply microcontroller and the memory, and when it validates a known signature of this communication, the battery microcontroller then enables the terminals of the battery pack. A trickle discharge current flows from the battery pack whenever the battery pack is out of the known system to allow the power supply microcontroller to power up in the case of a dead auxiliary battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for massaging audio signal perform interpolation, dynamic filtering, and panning on the audio signal represented as a matrix of input values. In the interpolation process, the input values are loaded into first and second vector registers, while fractional coefficients are loaded into a third vector register. Next, the first vector register is subtracted from the second vector register. Additionally, in a single operation, the routine performs a vector multiply operation between the second and third registers and accumulates the result of the vector multiply operation in the second register. The results are saved and the process is repeated until all input values in the matrix have been processed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a cell for an electrolytic apparatus which comprises a pressure vessel containing a self-contained electrode unit. The electrode unit has an inlet for the supply of electrolyte and an outlet for liberated ad-mixed hydrogen and oxygen gas. The electrode unit further having plurality of spaced-apart concentric cylindrical electrodes and a pair of internal end plates provided at each end of the concentric cylinders. At least one of the internal end plates includes the electrolyte inlet and/or gas outlet. The pressure vessel comprises a cylindrical outer shell having planar transverse end plates which are connected at or adjacent to the opposed ends of the cylindrical outer shell. The pressure vessel being capable of withstanding explosions of stored liberated gas.

Abstract: A system management mode address correction system for a computer provides correct address values on the address bus when the computer is in system management mode. Conventionally, bit 20 of the microprocessor's address outputs may be masked by asserting the FORCE A20 signal. The computer system also operates in a system management mode, which requires all of the address bits to be available for proper access to the system management interrupt vector. When the computer is in system management mode, the computer's microprocessor asserts a system management interrupt active (SMIACT*) signal. This signal is provided to a circuit which also receives the FORCE A20 signal. While the SMIACT signal is deactivated, the control circuit provides the true FORCE A20 signal to the computer system. When an SMI occurs, the SMIACT signal is activated and the FORCE A20 signal is disabled. As a result, the address generated by the microprocessor is asserted on the address bus.

Abstract: A computer system that automatically and securely executes registered programs immediately prior to a transition to a reduced energy consumption state. A registrar table specifying registered programs and a secure modification detection value for each registered program are maintained in system management mode memory or other secure memory space in the computer system. A system management interrupt is generated following a request to remove power from the computer system or the occurrence of an event that triggers an energy saving mode. The system management interrupt handler routine then generates a current modification detection value for each registered program. The current modification detection values are compared with the secure modification detection values. Execution of a registered program is permitted if the values match. After all registered programs have been executed, the computer system automatically powers down or enters an energy saving mode.