Abstract: A steam generator lancing system for cleaning tubes and tubesheets of a steam generator. The lancing system includes a nozzle block including at least one nozzle adapted for fluid communication with a high pressure hose. The lancing system also includes a support assembly including a carrier for transporting the nozzle block through the steam generator and a control system operative to selectively position the nozzle with respect to the tubes and tubesheets in the steam generator. Finally, in the preferred embodiment, the lancing system includes a rocker assembly operable to rotate the nozzle about a rocker axis to improve cleaning efficiency.

Abstract: A vibratory parts feeding system having a vacuum hold down system for operatively attaching feeding bowls and tracks to vibratory base drives. The hold down system comprises an upper plate and a lower plate in confronting relation to each other. The upper plate is adapted along its upper surface for attachment to a feeder bowl, and the lower plate is adapted along its lower surface for attachment to a vibratory base drive. A vacuum port is located between the upper and lower plates through which a vacuum is applied. The periphery of the plates is sealed when a vacuum is applied to the upper and lower plates by a vacuum source, resulting in a coupling of the feeder bowl to the base drive and the transmission of the vibrations from the base drive to the feeder bowl. To facilitate alignment of the feeder bowl to the base drive, dowel pins and guide blocks are positioned along the outer edge of the lower plate to limit rotational movement and prevent damage to gaskets located between the upper and lower plates.

Abstract: A protective cover for an outboard motor mounted on a boat transom including a flexible, bag-shaped covering to enclose the motor, a closure attached to the covering at the neck to close the neck tightly around an upper part of the motor adjacent the transom; a resistance heating element secured to the interior wall of the covering; and a thermostat to activate the heating element when the temperature within the cavity formed by the covering is below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A plurality of parallel adjacent grooves are formed in at least one surface of a sheet of glass. Each of the multiple grooves has a maximum width dimension of 7 millimeters and a minimum angle between the grooved wall and the plane of the glass surface of 12.degree.. The grooves are formed by affixing the sheet of glass to the conveyor of a grinding machine and subjecting the glass sheet to one or more grinding wheels in which the surface thereof has a plurality of parallel adjacent grooves formed therein of the mirror image of the grooves to be formed in the glass, wherein the grooves are simultaneously cut in a single path.

Abstract: A pallet for supporting a plurality of packages, the pallet including a base member having a plurality of feet defining a plurality of gaps between adjacent feet and a subframe including a plurality of cross bars, each of the cross bars overlying and supported by the feet and spanning the gaps defined between the feet. A package position is provided for each of the packages. Each package position is located along a respective one of the cross bars and directly overlies a respective one of the gaps such that each of the packages when mounted on the pallet at a respective one of the package positions is suspended above the respective gap by the respective cross bar.

Abstract: A safety shroud of a nuclear reactor coolant pump. Capscrew heads, if broken, are prevented from separating from a nuclear reactor coolant pump having a drive shaft, an impeller secured to the drive shaft, a suction deflector secured to the impeller, and capscrews with outer heads securing the impeller and suction deflector to the drive shaft, by securing a safety shroud over the capscrew heads. The safety shroud may be secured by welding the safety shroud to the impeller or suction deflector, or by bolting the safety shroud to the distal end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A recliner selectively transitionable between an upright position and a reclined position. The recliner includes a seat having a front, upper edge, a rear edge, and a pair of opposed side edges extending between the front, upper edge and the rear edge. A foot rest is disposed below the seat when the recliner is in the upright position. A seat back extends upwardly from the seat and has a front surface adjacent the rear edge of the seat. A pair of upright arms are each disposed adjacent a respective side edge of the seat. When the recliner is in the upright position the recliner has a vertical height from the support surface to the front, upper edge of from about 16.5 to about 18.5 inches, and a horizontal depth from the front, upper edge of the seat to the front surface of the seat back of from about 21 to about 25 inches. Moreover, the ratio of the height to the depth is from about 1.1 to about 1.5.

Abstract: A restaurant and hotel combination including a restaurant structure and a hotel structure. The restaurant structure includes a dining area and defines a substantially rectangular restaurant footprint. The hotel structure includes a lobby area and a plurality of guest rooms. The hotel structure defines a substantially rectangular hotel footprint. Each of the restaurant and hotel footprints has exactly one respective corner thereof overlapping the respective corner of the other. An overlap area is thereby defined and is positioned within each of the restaurant and hotel footprints. Preferably, the overlap area is no greater than 30% of the restaurant footprint.

Abstract: A timing generator synchronizes a mobile station internal timing with a base station in a TDMA cellular communication system. A random access memory is used to store an event list comprising a series of events which must be executed periodically at precisely timed intervals. Each event in the event list includes an event time and an event code. The events are stored in the random access memory in the order in which they are to occur. The timing generator of the present invention uses a primary counter, a secondary counter, a synchronizing register, a comparator and a signal generator to control the execution of the event in the event list. The primary counter and secondary counter are both clocked at the same rate. The events are read one at a time from the event list into a compare resister. The event time is compared to the value of the secondary counter. When the event time matches the secondary counter value, the event action is passed to the signal generator which decodes and executes the events.

Abstract: A fabric piece handling apparatus for picking up and placing fabric pieces. The fabric piece handling apparatus includes a pickup assembly having a pair of opposed jaws, a "trapeze" unfolder assembly adjacent to the pickup assembly, and a vacuum assisted magazine for supplying a stack of fabric pieces to the pickup assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the pressure in a fuel tank ullage includes a conduit adapted to be connected to the fuel tank ullage and equipped with a controllable valve. A pressure sensor is adapted for mounting to detect the pressure in the fuel tank ullage, and a catalyst module has an inlet connected to the conduit, a catalyst in the module, an outlet separated from the inlet by the catalyst, a heater disposed to heat the catalyst, and a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the catalyst.

Abstract: A wallet size card book which has been adapted to hold a card having the dimensions of a conventional credit card, and is particularly designed to be carried in the credit card compartment of a wallet or similar size compartment holder. The use of a resin emulsion adhesive, a vinyl acetate ethylene copolymer emulsion, in the card book makes it possible to create a properly formed pocket closed on three sides for holding and protecting the card.

Abstract: An interactive teaching aid. The teaching aid includes a fabric or plastic panel having a binding attached around the outer edges of the structure for providing structural integrity; a plurality of hangers for permitting the panel to be hung on a wall or stand; and panel indicia on at least one surface of the panel. The teaching aid also includes removable relational manipulative elements for attaching to the panel, the relational manipulative elements including element indica related to the panel indica.

Abstract: This invention is a method for remotely obtaining roadway crown point elevation and horizontal location based on projecting a horizontal laser beam configured vertically in either a continuous or discrete manner across the roadway surface at a predetermined elevation substantially coincident with the crown point of the roadway. The highest elevation of the roadway partially occludes the vertically configured laser beam. The lowest elevation of the laser beam which contacts an array of vertically configured laser receivers positioned on the opposite side of the roadway is by necessity the highest elevation of the roadway crown. By using an optical detector at a known vertical offset from the laser beam emitter, the angle and hence the distance can be determined to the furthest laser impact with the roadway. This distance information can be combined with the known line between the laser emitter and laser receivers to resolve the horizontal coordinates of that point.

Abstract: A filter frame that includes a hinge structure for coupling a series of like filter frames together such that the series of filter frames may be folded together. Moreover, the filter frame includes a series of separable sub-sections that correspond to standard filter sizes. This enables an original filter frame to be "broken down" to a number of smaller standard sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus for installation in a retail setting for selling fuel and other products ordered by a customer interacting with an operator. A video control system interfaces an external audio/video signal source with an audio/video signal source from an other product ordering apparatus operator. The external audio/video source transmits advertising and promotional materials to a video display located on a card reader equipped fuel dispenser. Additionally, customers can signal and communicate through audio/video signals with the operator to order other merchandise. Total transaction costs for fuel and non-fuel products is provided and paid for at the fuel dispenser.

Abstract: A garment for supporting the lower back of a wearer. The garment includes a back panel including a cushion member. A pair of side panels are each attached to a respective side edge of the back panel. Support means are attached to each of the side panels to suspend the garment from the wearer's shoulders. The cushion member is positionable with respect to the wearer such that at least a portion of the cushion member supports the lower back of the wearer when the garment is being worn. Preferably, the cushion member includes a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion adapted to support the lower back of the wearer when the garment is being worn and the upper portion adapted to support the wearer's neck when the garment is not being worn. Further, the lower portion is preferably thicker than the upper portion. One or more of the side panels may include a pair of subpanels.