Abstract: A combined wristwatch and radiotelephone has a plurality of substantially rigid link members disposed side by side in a series. Adjacent link members in the series are pivotally connected to one another about pivotal axes, all of which are substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the user's wrist when the apparatus is worn as a wristwatch. A main body member, which may contain or include such components as a display and a telephone dialing keypad, is disposed at an intermediate location in the series. An end member is disposed at each end of the series. One end member contains a radiotelephone microphone, and the other end member contains a radiotelephone speaker. A mechanism is associated with the series of link members for causing the link members to pivot relative to one another so that the apparatus can be placed in either a curved wristwatch configuration or a more elongated radiotelephone configuration.

Abstract: In liquid ring gas pumps of the type having a rotor rotatably mounted in a stationary housing for forming a quantity of pumping liquid into a recirculating ring inside the housing, fluid friction loss between the liquid and the housing is reduced by shaping the surface of the housing which is in contact with the liquid ring radially outside the rotor so as to minimize or at least substantially reduce the area of that surface.

Abstract: An image is tested to determine whether it is substantially like a plurality of sample images by computing statistical information about the sample images and using that statistical information to analyze the image being tested. The analysis is such that the statistical parameters are standardized so that available tables of the central chi-square distribution function can be used, thereby simplifying the necessary calculations. If desired, images which have been determined by the method of this invention to be good can be used to refine the statistical information used in analyzing subsequent images. When an image is identified as unacceptable by the method of the invention, the data for that image can be decomposed in order to identify the parts of the image which are causing the image to be unacceptable.

Abstract: An improved clip valve for use in a compression release engine retarder is disclosed. The clip valve assembly incorporates an improved mechanism for arresting the downward motion of a clip valve plunger by using a retaining ring. The apparatus is more robust than previous designs and is easier and cheaper to manufacture. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the new design allows a reduction in the portion of the adjustable screw which is hollow.

Abstract: In liquid ring pumps having rotating lobe liners supported by a bearing fluid in an annular clearance between the liner and the surrounding housing, the housing has at least one substantially annular channel formed in the housing for distributing the bearing fluid to a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures extending through the housing from the channel to the clearance.

Abstract: In a compression release engine retarder of the type in which the reciprocating motion of a hydraulic piston in the retarder is coupled to arcuate motion of a point on a pivoting element in the associated engine by a push rod between the piston and the pivoting element, the end of the push rod in contact with the piston is made convex and the piston surface contacted by the push rod is made flat so that the convex push rod surface rolls on the flat piston surface. This rolling motion replaces sliding motion in the prior art, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for expensive surface treatments and/or lubrication.

Abstract: The center of a collet having a plurality of individual gripper members resiliently spaced apart in an annular array and operated on by a frustoconical surface can be adjusted by displacing some of the gripper members more than others of the gripper members parallel to the axis with which both the annular array and the frustoconical surface are nominally concentric. This causes the frustoconical surface to produce greater radial displacement of some of the gripper members, thereby shifting the center of the collet transverse to the above-mentioned axis. An element transversely moveable relative to the axis causes displacement of some of the gripper members more than others.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding the stator of an electric motor with two wires simultaneously are provided. The apparatus includes a stator winding needle having two separate wire delivery channels. The leads of the two wire to be wound are passed through the winding needle and are held by start lead holders. When winding is complete, the wires are identified by a lead pulling apparatus which rotates in a predetermined direction to grip an appropriate wire. The lead pulling apparatus draws each of the wires to a termination lead holder. Each wire is gripped and cut by a gripping assembly, which holds the cut leads in a predetermined position to facilitate winding of a subsequent stator.

Abstract: A chuck is provided that has a threaded axial bore so that the chuck may be mounted onto a threaded spindle. The chuck body has an integrally formed socket that accepts a drive bit so that the chuck may be screwed onto the spindle by inserting a drive bit into the socket and rotating the chuck accordingly.

Abstract: The appearance of a product is determined to be acceptable or unacceptable by computing a discriminant function or image from a plurality of two-dimensional images of products of the kind to be inspected. A two-dimensional image of the product is then formed and processed using the discriminant image to produce an output value which can be compared to a predetermined value used in computing the discriminant image. If the output value deviates from the predetermined value by more than a predetermined amount, the product has been found to have an unacceptable appearance.

Abstract: In a compression release engine brake, the starting point for the forward stroke of the slave piston is automatically adjusted when the engine brake is turned on, e.g., to remove the clearance which is typically provided between the slave piston and the associated internal combustion engine exhaust valve mechanism. Two elements in the engine brake move apart during the first forward stroke of the slave piston. Hydraulic fluid enters a chamber formed between these two members and is tarpped there when the returning slave piston closes the aperture through which the fluid entered that chamber. The return strokes of the slave piston are thus foreshortened. The closing of the above-mentioned aperture by the slave piston constitutes the sole means by which hydraulic fluid is trapped in the chamber. No other check valve element is required.

Abstract: A box-like cigarette pack has an innerframe which initially extends upward into what is normally a cutout in the front of the innerframe. This extension may then continue over the top of the cigarettes in the pack. The innerframe is weakened along the line which normally defines the cutout. When the consumer first opens the pack, he or she can remove the innerframe extension by tearing or separating along this line of weakening. Thereafter, the pack is like a normal pack. Additional information can be printed on the removable portion or portions of the innerframe. If provided, the portion which initially extends over the cigarette tops is a convenient size for use as a coupon or the like.

Abstract: An armature gripping machine for transferring an armature of an electric motor or similar machine from one location to another, to load or unload a processing station of a production line is provided. The collet and surrounding tube of the gripping machine can be changed quickly and automatically, to accommodate a differently sized armature shaft. A fluid-fed piston mechanism within the gripping machine translates the collet tube along a longitudinal axis, causing the collet to grip or release an armature shaft. The collet may be removed from the gripping machine and replaced with a differently sized collet to accommodate armature shaft of various diameters. Alternatively, the collet and surrounding tube may be removed and replaced as a single unit to accommodate larger variations in armature shaft diameters. The change-over process can be automated.

Abstract: An improved master piston assembly for use in a compression release engine retarder. The improved master piston provides increased reliability and reduced manufacturing costs due to a reduction in complexity over the prior art, as well as a redesigned type of contact between the master piston and the associated push rod or rocker arm.

Abstract: Scan testing of asynchronous logic circuitry is facilitated by gating off the asynchronous inputs to flip-flops during scan testing. If desired, the asynchronous inputs which are gated off in this manner may themselves terminals or scan registers during testing. Alternatively, the asynchronous inputs which are gated could be tested by selectively enabling the signals at strategic points during scan testing. The number of input terminals required to control the test mode may be reduced by providing registers for storing test control signals applied to normal input terminals at the beginning of a test cycle. Once these test control signals are stored, the normal input terminals are free to return to their normal use.

Abstract: The appearance of a product is determined to be acceptable or unacceptable by computing a discriminant function or image from a plurality of two-dimensional images of products of the kind to be inspected. A two-dimensional image of the product is then formed and processed using the discriminant image to produce an output value which can be compared to a predetermined value used in computing the discriminant image. If the output value deviates from the predetermined value by more than a predetermined amount, the product has been found to have an unacceptable appearance.

Abstract: In a voice processing system employing the telephone communications network, any echo of an outgoing signal is substantially eliminated from the incoming signal by appropriately combining an appropriate version of the outgoing signal with the incoming signal so that there is destructive interference with any echo of the outgoing signal. To determine the appropriate version of the outgoing signal to be combined with the incoming signal, a brief training signal is applied to the telephone transmission line. The echo of this signal returned by the transmission line is stored and convolved with the time-inverse of the training signal to produce a function which approximates the impulse response of the transmission line. This function is thereafter used to produce the version of the outgoing signal which is combined with the incoming signal for echo cancellation.

Abstract: A machine for driving and variable length cutting of the paper used in the armature of an electric motor rotor. The machine comprises a feed distance covered by the paper between shaping rollers, over which a pressure wheel is located which pushes the paper against a ledge and then slips. A paper cutting blade is inserted between the wheel and the ledge. Transfer devices located between the blade and the ledge transfer the cut paper to a bending fixture, which gives the paper the shape of the rotor slot. The paper is pushed into the rotor slot by inserting devices. The rotor is moved from the conveyor on which it is supplied to a suitable position to receive the paper. Locking elements connected to the ledge vary the length of the cut paper with respect to the height of the rotor slots where the paper is inserted.