Abstract: A foldable two-piece boom is provided with an outer boom wing pivoted about an upright axis and being slidable relative to an inner boom arm which is pivoted to a frame member for both horizontal and vertical motion. A spring and cables in a mounting mechanism are arranged to permit the outer wing to pivot either forwardly or rearwardly when contacted by an abutment and thereafter gently returned to a neutral position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner boom arm at a controlled rate which minimizes impact forces. The spring and cables are also arranged to permit pivotal movement of the boom in a vertical plane while maintaining the inner and outer sections in vertical planar alignment. In response to the horizontal swinging of the boom through 90.degree. from its extended to its folded transport position, the spring and cables cause the outer wing to fold in the opposite direction of the arm to firmly clamp against the inner arm.

Abstract: A torsion bar oriented longitudinally of a motor vehicle and along the center thereof is connected at its ends to the frame of the vehicle so as to permit the frame to rotate about the axis of the bar. A pair of control arms are each connected between the torsion bar and a corresponding one of the front wheels. The inner end of a first control arm is rigidly connected near one end of the torsion bar and the inner end of the second control arm is rigidly connected to the other end of the torsion bar so that the upward movement of the wheels relative to the frame of the vehicle applies opposite torsional loads to the ends of the torsion bar. The torsion bar and control arms provide support for the vehicle frame at the front end of the vehicle while allowing complete transverse roll freedom of that end of the vehicle.

Abstract: A solid state circuit providing the function of a ratchet relay which circuit is relatively immune from noise and is capable of high speed switching operation. The circuit is adapted to receive an AC input trigger signal and convert such signal into an appropriate signal for alternately firing a pair of triacs that are each serially connected with a load and an AC power source. The circuit includes an input section comprising an AC to DC pulse converter, a time delay network, and a pulse shaping circuit which provide a clean input pulse to trigger a flip-flop and an output section including an opto-isolated Darlington transistor pair which is provided with a separate power supply and which operates to alternately fire the triacs in response to the output state of the flip-flop.

Abstract: An electronic transmission controller for determining the shift points of a powered vehicle with a plurality of forward and reverse gears and a neutral gear shift position wherein a throttle setting signal, a vehicle speed signal and a gear range select signal are monitored and processed to produce optimum shift points, gear change commands, forward-reverse shift commands and a throttle inhibit signal to facilitate downshifting of the transmission. With the exception of the throttle transducer, the monitoring and processing means are primarily digital.

Abstract: A transmitter/receiver module which includes circuitry for receiving serial digital data in diphase non-return-to-zero (NRZ) format and for demodulating said data into a separate synchronizing signal, data signal and clock signal and which further includes circuitry for transmitting the received and modulated signal or other modulated signals input directly to the module, such /transmitting circuitry including means for modulating the clock signal, data signal and synchronizing signal into the prescribed diphase NRZ format for output through a transformer coupled transmission line. The module further includes an oscillator for realigning the clock signal received with the serial digital data.

Abstract: Means for destacking or restacking sequences of bins wherein the bins are transferred serially from their initial position to their final desired position by clamping assemblies located at the outer end of pivot arms, the pivot arms being capable both of vertical translation and of rotation while maintaining the vertical orientation of the bin being transferred. One or more photosensing devices is used to properly position the pivot arms and associated clamping assemblies relative to the uppermost bin in the stack to be transferred.

Abstract: Fruit feeding apparatus which is designed to accommodate loose bulk fruit moving upon an endless conveyor belt and to feed such fruit at right angles from said belt in a plurality of spaced single-file lanes. The apparatus includes a side guide wall adjacent one edge of the conveyor belt which wall has an opening therein to permit fruit to flow laterally from the belt only at a particular location. A hopper is positioned within the opening and includes a plurality of fruit lanes separated by upright lane walls. The lane walls terminate at a position spaced from the conveyor belt, and a shallow fruit supporting shelf extends between the lane walls and the belt. The shelf is of a width less than the diameter of a fruit such that a fruit which is received upon the shelf will be bumped by fruit on the conveyor belt until finding its way into one of the fruit lanes.

Abstract: A restraint device which can be quickly and easily installed in a vehicle to restrain wheelchairs from moving in any direction. A base of the device bolts to the floor of a vehicle used to transport the physically handicapped. A pair of vertically inclined rods connected to the base are positioned on either side of a space for a wheelchair. A clamping member slidably mounted on each of the inclined rods rests against the top of a large wheel of the wheelchair to clamp the wheel between the clamping member and a horizontal rod connected to the base of the restraint device. The clamping members can be easily locked in position and unlocked by a patient in the wheelchair using very little pressure and requiring very little dexterity. The device prevents forward, backward, upward and sideways movement of a wheelchair which has thus been locked in position.

Abstract: A transmission line having a pair of wires enclosed in a shield is used to simultaneously transmit high frequency signals and low frequency power between distant locations. At the sending end of the line a high frequency source is connected between the first and second wires by circuitry which prevents the low frequency power from being coupled into the high frequency source. A low frequency power supply is connected between the shield and both of the wires by circuitry which prevents the high frequency signals from being coupled into the low frequency supply. At the receiving end of the transmission line circuitry is provided which separates the high frequency signals from the low frequency power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for purging air from the headspace of filled flexible containers and from the interstices in the product when the containers are filled with particulates. The method includes the steps of moving the upper open end of the containers through a steam tunnel while directing a flow of low velocity steam within the range of about 0.5 to 5 feet per second into and around the open ends of the containers to purge air therefrom. When air is entrained in a particulate product in the container, the low velocity steam cooperates with a jet of high velocity steam, within the velocity range of about 5 to 20 ft./sec., that is directed into the product for purging both the interstitial air and the headspace air from the container or pouch. In one embodiment of the invention a baffle is disposed above the open end of each particulate filled container to direct the steam-air mixture transversely out of the container for entrainment and flushing to the atmosphere by the low velocity steam.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for determining the level of the contents in a container using a reflected light beam that sweeps across two adjacent photocells while the container is being filled. The light beam is reflected from the surface of the contents in the container so that as the level of the contents varies the reflected light beam correspondingly travels from one photocell to the other. The photocells are electrically connected in opposed relationship and the differential output therefrom is arranged to trigger a relay when the level of the contents reaches a predetermined height.The container is rotated about its vertical axis during filling so that the light reflected from the gradually raising upper surface of the contents is reflected from a rotating annulus of said surface thereby providing more effective detection of the level of a particulate or segmented product in the container.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for use in conjunction with a hose reel to automatically and selectively engage or disengage the reel and a motorized drive train. The coupling utilizes a sliding contact element on the drive train which is arranged to automatically engage one of a series of cooperating stop lugs on the reel to transmit the driving power of the motor to the rotatable reel. When the contact element is placed in a first position, it will be disengaged from the stop lug on the reel to allow the reel to rotate freely. When the contact element is shifted radially outwardly to a second position, it will automatically engage a stop lug, causing the reel to rotate under the power of the motor. The radial shifting of the contact element between the two positions can be controlled by stopping the drive train at selected orientations. Also located within the coupling mechanism is a friction element designed to control through a drag force the movement of the reel when it is disengaged from the drive train.

Abstract: An electronic governor for controlling the speed of one of two coupled prime movers wherein signals corresponding to wheel speeds of each of the two prime movers are compared to produce an error signal for controlling an actuator on one prime mover. The speed of the controlled prime mover may be abruptly reduced where the error signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold value. Monitoring means generally comprise digital circuitry, while control of the actuator is primarily analog acting through a servo loop containing a throttle position sensing device on the master prime mover, the error signal generating device and a throttle control device for the controlled prime mover.

Abstract: A retort system for thin walled, generally flat containers filled with a food product or the like including a pressure vessel having one or more batches of flat containers therein disposed within a heat treatment tunnel. A heat transfer liquid is circulated through the tunnel parallel to the flat sidewalls of the containers at a rate sufficient to transfer heat between the fluid and the containers without incurring a large change in temperature of the liquid between the inlet and outlet of the tunnel for assuring uniform cooking of the contents of the containers. During a cooking cycle the liquid is reheated while being returned externally of the tunnel from the discharge end of the tunnel to the inlet end of the tunnel. The tunnel is partially defined by the side walls of nesting containers supporting trays, which trays may be rotated for an agitating cook or may be stationary for a still cook.

Abstract: A vertical stack of tablets is disposed in a tubular container extending upwardly from an opening in the top wall of a housing. The tablets are dropped one-by-one in front of a reciprocable pusher, which is driven by a rotary impeller and is effective to eject the lowermost tablet out from under the stack and into a sump in the housing, where it may be dissolved by water in the sump. The impeller is driven by a jet of water from a nozzle which receives water under pressure from a conduit leading into the housing. Water under pressure from this same conduit operates a settable ratchet device and a jet-deflector so that, when the desired number of tablets have been dispensed, the jet is deflected and the impeller is stopped to stop the reciprocation of the tablet-dispensing pusher.

Abstract: A resolver to digital converter which provides digitally generated sinusoidal voltages to apply to the stator windings of the resolver. The oscillator providing the digital pulses is connected to a counter which is reset on a particular phase of one of the stator winding voltages. The output of the counter is transferred into an output register at a particular phase of the rotor voltage with the output register thereby providing a digital reading of the angular position of the rotor. Digital comparator means are provided for insuring that the stator voltages remain exactly 90.degree. out of phase, and further means are provided for insuring that the stator voltages remain at the same amplitude.

Abstract: Empty cartons are automatically fed by a conveying system to a plurality of packing machines in accordance with the carton demand of each machine. The packing machines operate to fill the cartons with a product such as bulk fruit for example. An accumulation conveyor receives open-topped empty cartons which have been formed either by hand or by a carton set-up machine. The cartons can accumulate upon the conveyor in a single file series and are fed in order to a singulator. The singulator discharges an empty carton only upon demand by one of the packing machines. Such a carton is carried by a feed conveyor along a path to a plurality of feed units one of which will be programmed to stop the movement of the carton along the feed conveyor path and shift it laterally toward the appropriate packing machine. Control means sense the need for cartons at each packing machine and direct the singulator and feed units to feed a single empty carton to the packing machine which requires it.

Abstract: A clock phasing circuit for aligning data which is transmitted by a first clock, running at a particular frequency, with a second clock running at the same frequency as the first clock but in a different and undetermined phase relationship. The incoming data includes a synchronizing signal which initiates the operation of the clock phasing circuitry so that the data is alternately clocked into each of a pair of flip flops by successive pulses from the first clock. Each flip flop is individually connected to one of the inputs of one logic gate of a pair of gates which are alternately enabled by successive pulses from the second clock. The outputs from the two logic gates are combined by a further logic gate so that the data is reformed in alignment with the second clock.

Abstract: A filling apparatus for carbonated beverages including a filling valve connected to a beverage source under pressure and including a measuring cylinder movable into and out of a container to be filled. The measuring cylinder has a foot valve on its lower end and is telescopically associated with an inlet valve. The measuring cylinder defines a chamber between the foot valve and the inlet valve. The measuring cylinder is filled with a predetermined amount of beverage at superatmospheric pressure by moving the cylinder down into an empty container when the foot valve is closed and the inlet valve is open. The inlet valve is then closed. The cylinder and foot valve can then be moved down a slight amount or the foot valve can be moved down a slight amount relative to the cylinder while retaining sealing contact with the cylinder to increase the volume in the chamber thus reducing the pressure of the measured volume of beverage to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting the color of a fruit on a conveyor by measuring the light reflected from the surface of the fruit at a viewing station and for providing an appropriate discharge signal so that the fruit will be discharged to a particular discharge location at a position spaced downstream from the viewing station. The circuit includes .[.means .]. .Iadd.a light collecting device and filters .Iaddend.for separately measuring the amount of light reflected within two distinct bands of wavelengths of light, continuously computing the ratio of the same to derive an analog ratio signal, and comparing the ratio signal with a plurality of predetermined ratio signals in order to obtain said appropriate discharge signal. A memory circuit is included so that discharge signals for a plurality of fruit can be stored for an indeterminate period of time before any one of such fruit is directed to its discharge location.