Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can he processed.

Abstract: An umbrella with an off-center support shaft an umbrella canopy has an elongated shape, which is symmetrical along a central plane. Support ribs of two separate types are provided to simultaneously raise and lower the asymmetric ends of the canopy. Shorter, preferably telescoping ribs secure the shorter end of the canopy to the top of the shaft. Longer ribs connect the wider side of the canopy and terminating at an upper end at a point along the canopy spaced from the shaft. Deployment arms are pivotally connected to the ribs at a point spaced from their upper ends. The ribs are connected to the top of the shaft by first and second hinged connecting arms, one of the arms being also pivotally connected to the deployment arm, which at its opposite end is connected pivotally to a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft. The deployment members, the connecting arms and the longer ribs form a parallelogram shaped hinge joint for extending the longer ribs outwardly when the canopy is erected.

Abstract: First, second and third linear conveyors are arranged in alignment with each other in the stated order. Bottles to be inspected are conveyed standing on their bottoms on the first linear conveyor through an inspection station followed by an ejector for those bottles which fail to match specified characteristics of an acceptable bottle model. The second conveyor has spaced apart parallel translating conveyor belts for frictionally gripping the bottles by their bodies between them to make their mouth ends and bottoms clear for inspection. The bottle discharge end region of the first conveyor and the bottle inlet end region overlap to achieve an overall shorter machine. The second conveyor has a bottle discharge region that overlaps the bottle inlet end region of the third conveyor to achieve a shorter machine.

Abstract: Containers containing a mixture of acceptable and unacceptable bottles are conveyed to a removal station in the path of movement of a carrier head that has at least one group of gripping elements that are adapted to selectively grip and remove acceptable bottles and at least another group of gripping elements that are adapted to grip and remove unacceptable bottles. In one implementation, the carrier head picks up the acceptable bottles from incoming containers and simultaneously picks up unacceptable bottles from containers from which acceptable bottles have been removed and transfers the respective groups of bottles to individual outfeed conveyors.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump assembly including a housing containing a pump impeller having an axis of rotation with an inlet opening for fluids generally aligned with the axis of rotation of the impeller and a discharge opening aligned with the periphery of the impeller. The impeller is attached to a drive shaft for rotation by means of a central hub which has at least one circumferentially extending surface having an edge projecting toward the inlet at a circumference radially spaced from the axis of rotation. The surface, which is progressively recessed away from the inlet toward the rotational axis, modifies fluid flow through the pump to reduce whirling motion in the inlet, thereby significantly improving efficiency of the pump.

Abstract: In an apparatus for filling bottles with liquid, the liquid supply tank has several bottle filling adapters mounted to its body and providing a valve seat for liquid to flow from the tank to a bottle. The seat is proximate to a vertically movable valve body which has an integral tubular stem extending upwardly from it and a gas tube extending downwardly from it so gas can be conducted downwardly into a bottle and upwardly for being exhausted or returned to the tank. In the bore of the tubular combination gas conducting tube and valve stem there is a wire constituting a filling level probe. The tip of the wire is exposed in the gas tube to liquid in the bottle and the body of the wire is insulated and runs upwardly through the bore of the tubular stem where it is terminated in a cylindrical conductive element that enters an electrical connector. The connector provides a lead to a microprocessor based controller.

Abstract: A machine for stacking hay bales emerging from a hay baler in pyramidal stacks of six bales, has a supporting bed for receiving bales from a drop table. The bed is provided with a side panel and a pair of separator panels for separating rows of bales in the stack, the dividers being tiltable for orienting the bales into a pyramidal stack. The machine is mounted on wheels for towing, with the bed being pivotable from a substantially level position wherein the bales are collected, to a rearwardly dropped position for discharge of the bales onto a field in a pyramidal stack. Improved discharge of pyramidal stacks is achieved by orienting the separator panels at an oblique angle relative to the line of travel of the machine whereby slippage of the bales from between the panels is facilitated.

Abstract: A flexible electrode circuit laces through a slit sleeve to expose electrodes outside the sleeve while enclosing the rest of the circuit within the sleeve. A stiffener member extends through the sleeve to support the sleeve and the flexible electrode circuit. The stiffener member is preferably connected to and constrained at opposite ends by a hub and a base to urge the stiffener member, the sleeve, and the electrode circuit into a predetermined curvilinear contour.

Abstract: A control device and associated methodology select from at least two on-line sensors to assure an accurate and reliable feedback input to control the heat treating conditions within a furnace. The device and methodology also serve to provide an "alert" or "early warning" of gradual degradation of sensor performance, before ongoing heat treating operations are adversely affected.

Abstract: Systems and methods examine heart tissue morphology using three or more spaced apart electrodes, at least two of which are located within the heart in contact with endocardial tissue. The systems and methods transmit electrical current through a region of heart tissue lying between selected pairs of the electrodes, at least one of the electrodes in each pair being located within the heart. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue lying between the electrode pairs based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances. The systems and methods arrange the derived tissue electrical characteristics into groups of equal electrical characteristics. The systems and methods display the groups of equal electrical characteristics in spatial relation to the location of the examined tissue regions. The systems and methods make possible the use of multiple endocardial electrodes for taking multiple measurements of the electrical characteristics of heart tissue.

Abstract: A distiller for producing potable water employs a metal boiler tray having a cover member in which there is an inlet for raw water and which together form a steam chamber having an outlet for steam. The boiler tray bottom has a plurality of steps including a highest, an intermediate and a lowest level step which are all covered with water at the beginning of a distillation cycle. The temperature of the highest level step is monitored with a sensor. A rise in the temperature of the highest level step by a predetermined amount above the boiling temperature of water indicates that the highest and intermediate level steps have become dry. This results in a signal to a controller to open a valve and admit replenishment raw water whose amount is dependent on valve open time. Steam evolved from the boiler tray is conducted through a first check valve in the cover member to demister chamber when the mist or carryover water in the steam impinges on a baffle and is separated from the steam as condensate.

Abstract: Containers are transported on rotatable support plates which are arranged in a circle on a rotating turntable. The leading edge of a label is adhered to a container as it orbits past a vacuum-type label transfer drum. A curved guide which is tangential to the cylindrical body of the container as the orbiting and rotating container passes it causes the label to wrap completely around the container. One of a circular array of heat sealing elements which are rotating with the turntable adjacent each support plate is cammed radially outwardly of the turntable into contact with the region on the container where the trailing end overlaps the leading end of the cable. This fuses the ends of the labels together. The cam profile is adjustable in length to keep the time during which the heat sealing member is in contact with the label ends overlap constant independently of the rotational speed of the turntable.

Abstract: A catheter assembly which has a distal end adapted for insertion into a living body and a proximal end adapted to remain external to said body or a cable for use in such an assembly includes a cylindrical surface on which are inscribed a plurality of markings. Each of the markings indicates one of the specific locations within the living body at which the distal end may be placed during insertion. The markings are positioned at spaced intervals around the circumference of the cylindrical surface. A sleeve is rotatably and/or axially movable around the cylindrical surface, the sleeve being provided with at least one window adapted to be moved into alignment with a selected one of the markings.

Abstract: Systems and methods examine heart tissue morphology by locating electrodes in contact with a region of heart tissue to sense the timing of a local depolarization events. From this, the systems and methods derive the propagation velocities of the depolarization events and create an output that displays the derived propagation velocities in spatial relation to sensing electrode. The systems and methods can arrange the derived propagation velocities into groups of equal propagation velocities and generate in three dimensions an output of the groups of equal propagation velocities in spatial relation to the location of the sensing electrodes. The iso-conduction display more rapidly identifies the regions of slow conduction which are candidate ablation sites, than an iso-chronal or iso-delay display.

Abstract: A conveyor conveys boxes that are empty and boxes that are filled with articles in a horizontal plane past an article handling machine where articles of a first type are removed from some boxes and articles of a second type are inserted in empty boxes. The machine runs concurrently with the box conveyor in one direction so boxes from which the articles of the first type are conveyed beyond the machine and empty boxes in which articles of the second type are inserted are also conveyed from the machine in the same direction. The article handling machine has heads that are constrained to orbit in a generally circular path and the heads have grippers on them which are controllable to grip and release groups of articles at consecutive working stations along the orbital path of the heads.

Abstract: A method of preparing a (Me)bis-hydrogen cyanamide composition with enhanced corrosion preventive activity, wherein Me is a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of nickel and cobalt or mixtures thereof. The method includes precipitating Ni(OH).sub.2 or Co(OH).sub.2 or mixtures thereof, in situ in a liquid reaction medium, containing a soluble cobalt or nickel salt and sodium hydroxide and a stoichiometric excess of H.sub.2 NCN and immediately reacting the resultant precipitate with H.sub.2 NCN. Precipitation of coprecipitated pigment compositions including the aforementioned derivatives and zinc cyanamide is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods examine heart tissue morphology using three or more spaced apart electrodes, at least two of which are located within the heart in contact with endocardial tissue. The systems and methods transmit electrical current through a region of heart tissue lying between selected pairs of the electrodes, at least one of the electrodes in each pair being located within the heart. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue lying between the electrode pairs based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances. The systems and methods also sense the timing of local depolarization events in the tissue in which impedance is sensed and derive therefrom the propagation velocities of the sensed depolarization events. The systems and methods match the derived tissue electrical characteristics with the derived propagation velocities in spatial relation to the electrodes to characterize the morphology of the contacted heart tissue.

Abstract: Rectangular transparency panels form the sides of triangular units that are lighted from within. A gear train drives the units in synchronism. A base housing has a plurality of parallel aligned round posts projecting upwardly from it. The posts have a bore in which the lower end of a tubular lamp resides. Annular recesses around the posts have ring bushings in them. Gears having axially upwardly and downwardly projecting hub portions rotate concentrically to but not directly on the posts. The downwardly projecting hub portion has an annular shoulder that imparts a thrust load to the bushing and the hub extends through the bushing to be journaled for rotation. A gear cover arranged above the posts contains similar bushings that journal the upper hub portions and accept upward thrust load. The upper hub portions of the gears have axial slots.