Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for measuring a gas medium with a chemical sensor that has a nominal measuring range. The chemical sensor is exposed to a gas mixture consisting of sample gas stream and dilution gas stream. In order to ensure that the chemical sensor always works within its nominal measuring range, the dilution ratio is readjusted. According to the invention, the dilution ratio is determined by substance concentration measurement of a defined substance component.

Abstract: A data capture system is disclosed as comprising a plurality of client data collection terminals, and a server station. Each terminal including a mechanism for collecting data, a dynamic addressable memory and a first controller operating on data formatted in a first style. The server station comprises mass memory, which is larger than the dynamic addressable memory of a terminal for storing data to be used by the data collection terminals, an addresser responsive to a memory altering request for addressing the mass memory and a second controller operating on data formatted in a second style different from said first style. The data stored in the dynamic addressable memory is formatted in the second style. A communication system interconnects the server station and each of the plurality of client data collection terminals.

Abstract: A programmable apparatus is disclosed for generating a frequency modulated signal all a selected center frequency in accordance with digital data of at least first and second data levels. The modulating apparatus comprises a modulator having an input and an output and is responsive to an input modulation signal applied to its input for generating at its output the frequency modulated signal at a center frequency dependent on a quiescent voltage appearing at its input. A circuit is provided for sampling and storing a value of the quiescent voltage, An addressable memory stores a plurality of offsets. A programmable adding circuit adds a downloaded offset voltage to the stored value of the quiescent voltage to output a high modulation voltage. A programmable subtracting circuit subtracts a downloaded offset voltage from the stored value of the quiescent voltage to provide a low modulation voltage.

Abstract: In a self-loading grenade thrower, the components or cartridges (1, 1') of which are enclosed in each instance by an annular belt member (7), each belt member (7) is provided with bulges (15, 17) lying opposite one another, which are traversed in each case by an opening (11, 11'). The adjacent openings (11, 11') of the two belt members (7) are joined articulately with one another by a connecting member (9) which traverses these openings and has on both ends an enlarged or thickened portion (23, 25) which retains its belt member. To the openings (11, 11') of the two bulges (15, 17) there are assigned two rest paths (13, 13') which are open toward an edge of the belt member (7) and the width of which is such that the connecting member (9) can be released from the opening (11) under gentle bending open or flexing of the corresponding rest path (13) by the axial, mutual shifting of two adjacent cartridges (11, 11"11'"), regardless of the direction.

Abstract: A ladder and platform assembly is described for stabily and releasably securing a ladder to a utility pole or the like. The ladder is attched at one end to a platform and includes a pair of generally parallel, spaced apart legs and a plurality of steps disposed between and interconnected between the legs. The platform includes a latch assembly for stabilizing the platform when the platform is disposed to rest against the pole, which has a given configuration. The platform has an opening of a configuration similar to the given configuration for receiving the pole. The latch assembly includes a latch pivotally mounted on the platform to move between a first, closed position wherein the latch retains the pole within the opening and a second, closed position wherein the latch permits the pole to be received within or removed from the opening. The latch has an extended portion. A spring is attached to the latch for normally biasing the latch to the second, open position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for affixing heads to headless fasteners to form webs thereof, wherein the headless fasteners are equally spaced apart a given spacing. The web of headless fasteners is conveyed to and disposed so that each of a first set of headless fasteners is disposed in an aligned relationship to corresponding ones of a plurality of "n" head affixing devices. The head affixing devices are spaced from each other a distance equal to the product of the given spacing and ("n".+-.1). The plurality of head affixing devices are actuated to fasten "n" heads to their aligned fasteners of the web. Thereafter, the web is moved with respect to the plurality of "n" head affixing devices a distance equal to the product of "n" and the given spacing to align each of a second, different set of fasteners of the web to corresponding ones of the plurality of "n" head affixing devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device as well as a method of monitoring the movements of a breech-block of a firearm, in which the time duration of a sequence of cyclical movements of the breech-block is sensed to provide a like sequence of pulses. Each cyclical movement of the breech-block from and to a rest position provides a pulse of a width initiated upon the movement of the breech-block from the rest position and terminated upon the return movement of the breech-block to the rest position, each part movement corresponding to a bullet firing. The number, duration and time spacing between successive ones of the pulses is analysed to determine the nature of the firearm operation effected by at least one movement of the breech-block.

Abstract: A convertible child seat/stroller apparatus is described for use as a child's seat with a vehicle and a stroller. The convertible comprises a seat assembly with a seat area, and a collapsible wheel assembly affixed to the seat assembly and disposable along a path between a retracted position wherein the convertible apparatus serves as the child's car seat and an extended position wherein the convertible apparatus serves as the stroller. The wheel assembly comprises a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs; each of these legs has a first end pivotally connected to the seat assembly and a second end rotatively connected to a wheel. A manually graspable mechanism is moveable rectilinearly along the path between a first point corresponding to the retracted position and a second point corresponding to the extended position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for processing waste into a clean fuel. The waste comprises organic and inorganic portions. A float tank is filed with a liquid, e.g., water, of a selected depth. The waste is introduced into the liquid and separates into its organic portion, which floats near the surface of the liquid, and into its inorganic portion, which falls towards the bottom of the tank. The liquid depth is selected to be sufficiently large to permit the separation of the organic and inorganic portions. Then the organic and inorganic portions are removed. Sufficient liquid is extracted from the separated organic portion to provide the clean fuel. The fuel, illustratively, is formed as pellets. In a further aspect of this invention, further liquid is added to the separated organic portion to form a mixture thereof, which is pulped to provide a slurry thereof of a relatively high moisture content. Liquid is extracted by mechanical means, e.g.

Abstract: A multipurpose structure is disclosed as comprising a plurality of housing units, and a core support building of eliptical shape. The building has an exterior curved surface disposed forwardly for supporting the residential housing units and an essentially flat, exterior surface disposed rearwardly of the curved support surface. Inside the building, there is a plurality of floors for housing ancillary activities of the residents of the housing units. Access is provided from each of the floors to each of those housing units associated with the floor.

Abstract: An electric operator for a sliding door mounted for sliding movement along a track, comprising a motor having an iron cooling flywheel disposed on a drive shaft thereof, the flywheel being provided for imparting a predetermined amount of inertia for starting and stopping of the motor such that the operation of the motor is characterized by a soft start and stop. A worm gear reducer is connected to the drive shaft for effecting a predetermined reduction ratio of rotation. A limit switch is coupled to the reducer for limiting rotation of the drive shaft to a predetermined number of rotations, and apparatus is provided for coupling rotation of the drive shaft to the linear movement of the sliding door along the track.

Abstract: A method for the estimation of the motion of electronic picture points, in the plane of the picture, by means of fast, convergent and adaptive processing, notably in order to enable subsequent, efficient processing, by sub-sampling, of the picture sequence without harming the psycho-visual quality of the picture reconstructed from the sub-sampled picture. To each electronic picture point, there is assigned a displacement vector, computed according to a WALKER and RAO type of algorithmic process of prediction/correction, the predicted value of motion of the current point being the value of the original displacement vector associated with a point of origin of the preceding picture, so that said current point is the approximate projection of said point of origin along said original displacement vector.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for composing an imposition in terms of an arrangement of printing plates on selected of the image positions on selected units of a printing press to print a given edition, by first assigning each section of this edition to one of the press areas. Thereafter, each printing unit is examined to determine an utilization value thereof in terms of the placement of the printing plates on the image positions and the relative number of image positions to which printing plates are assigned with respect to the total number of image positions. Thereafter, a list of the image positions for each of the sections and its area, is constructed by examining one printing unit at a time in an order according to the placement of that printing unit in the array and examining its utilization value to determine whether or not to include a particular image position of that printing unit in the list.

Abstract: A fabric rolling unit comprises a pair of tangential fabric-rolling rollers, one of which is a driving roller and the other one is a driven roller, with the axes of said rollers being parallel to each other and horizontal, on which rollers either a beam tangentially rests, on which the fabric roll is wound, or the same fabric roll respectively rests. In order to make it possible for large-diameter fabric rolls to be obtained, the beam is supported in a freely revolving way at the upper ends of the stems of two vertical hydraulic cylinders. Inside the upper chamber of these cylinders a constant pressure is preset, whereas inside the lower chamber of said cylinders the pressure is controlled and varied by means of proportional valve. The proportional valve, in turn, is controlled via an electronic circuit, by a load cell which constantly monitors the variable load applied by the beam and by the fabric roll during the rolling process, so as to keep constant the load applied to the cell.

Abstract: There is shown a device for retaining a knot of a shoelace. The device comprises a band with proximate and distal ends. The band is made of an elastic material, whereby the band may be stretched from a relaxed length to a stretched length. A rigid tab member comprises a proximate end portion connected to the proximate end of the elastic band, a distal end portion, and a lace slot cut entirely through the rigid tab member. A clip is affixed to the distal end of the elastic band for receiving the distal end portion in an attached state, wherein a force is applied by the elastic band attempting to retract the elastic band from its stretched length to its relaxed length, to maintain the distal end portion of the rigid tab member within the clip, and the knot is maintained in the lace slot and the shoelace clamped between the elastic band and the rigid tab member.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for facilitating the dialing of a given telephone number on a push button type telephone having a fixed arrangement of push buttons. The apparatus illustratively takes the form of a card having a plurality of openings therethrough of a number equal to the number of push buttons and positioned according to the fixed arrangement thereof such that the card may be readily inserted over the telephone and its push buttons inserted through the openings. Each of the openings has a region adjacent the opening and uniquely colored to identify that opening and the push button inserted therethrough from all other push buttons. A plurality of separable elements having a variety of colors corresponding to those of the regions is provided. The card includes an area for receiving and mounting selected of the plurality of elements on the card, the elements being selected and arranged in a sequence on the card to represent the given telephone number.

Abstract: An assembly for packaging a frozen food is adapted to be exposed to microwave energy such that the frozen food is processed and, in particular, defrosted efficiently from its solid to its liquid state. The assembly includes a container normally disposed on the bottom, and a cover normally disposed on the top of the assembly and adapted to be releasably engaged with the container to form the assembly. When assembled, the cover and container support in a generally upright orientation the frozen food. The cover includes means for supporting only a top portion of the frozen food, while exposing the bottom portion of the frozen food directly to microwave energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring flowing gas and at least one variable for calculating gas flow corrected to a base value of that variable. Illustratively, the measured variables are temperature and pressure, and devices are employed for measuring the temperature T.sub.f and pressure P.sub.f of the gas flowing through a conduit, and means in the illustrative form of a flow meter for measuring the volume V.sub.f of the gas flowing through the conduit. Calculating means in the illustrative form of a programmed microprocessor is employed to calculate the corrected gas volume to base conditions in accordance with an expression including the supercompressibility factor. The supercompressibility factor is calculated according to an equation involving only whole number exponentiation and a selected set of coefficients. The calculation means selects a particular set of these coefficients in accordance with indications of pressure and/or temperature.

Abstract: A bi-directional, digital data transmission system is disclosed for transmitting an interrogation signal in a first direction from an interrogation unit to a data gathering transponder unit, and a data return signal in a second direction from the meter or data gathering transponder unit to the interrogation unit. This system comprises a single transformer having a primary winding coupled to the interrogation unit and a secondary winding coupled to the transponder unit. The interrogation unit generates an interrogation signal comprised of a first train of regularly occurring digital clock pulses and transmission interval pulses, each transmission interval pulse defining a transmission interval for the transmission of the data return signal. The transmission interval is set to be of a sufficient length to permit the transformer to desaturate to a level to permit efficient transmission of the data return signal to the interrogation unit.

Abstract: A utility data gathering system is disclosed as comprising a register including a series of index members coupled to a meter mechanism. Each index member includes a plurality of contacts and a switch arm moveable with its index member. The meter mechanism is responsive to utility consumption for moving the index members to positions indicative of the utility consumed, whereby each switch arm completes in normal operation a circuit with just one of its plurality of contacts dependent upon the position of its index member. A digital computer is programmed for performing first and second scans of each contact of each index member to obtain corresponding first and second sets of data indicative of a completed circuit through the switch arm and contacts of each index member. The completed circuit data obtained from each of the first and second scans are compared and if the circuit data of the first and second scans are different, an alarm manifestation is generated.