Abstract: An optical reader with at least two variable definition soft keys positioned adjacent the display and externally labeled with permanent down and up arrow indicia. Variable definition soft keys are highly versatile an allow the user to change or alter the function of the soft keys based on a user program. Soft keys positioned adjacent the display and labeled with down and up arrows graphically reinforce a wide range of text and graphic combinations shown on the display.

Abstract: An organic rankine cycle system is combined with a vapor compression cycle system with the turbine generator of the organic rankine cycle generating the power necessary to operate the motor of the refrigerant compressor. The vapor compression cycle is applied with its evaporator cooling the inlet air into a gas turbine, and the organic rankine cycle is applied to receive heat from a gas turbine exhaust to heat its boiler within one embodiment, a common condenser is used for the organic rankine cycle and the vapor compression cycle, with a common refrigerant, R-245a being circulated within both systems. In another embodiment, the turbine driven generator has a common shaft connected to the compressor to thereby eliminate the need for a separate motor to drive the compressor.

Abstract: An electro-hydrostatic actuator unit that contains a sealed pressurized housing filled with a dielectric fluid. A bi-directional motor is immersed in the fluid and drives a gear pump for exchanging fluid via a control circuit between the chambers of a bi-directional hydraulic actuator in response to an input from a controller. The chambers are separated by a piston and a piston rod is connected to an external load such as a plunger type valve. A failsafe circuit is also provided which is arranged to override the control circuit in the event a failsafe condition is detected by the unit controller. The failsafe circuit contains a motor driven pump that provides high pressure fluid from the pressurized reservoir to an accumulator. Valves are arranged to shut down the control circuit and deliver fluid from the accumulator to one of the cylinder chambers to rapidly move the actuator to a desired failsafe position.

Abstract: An F connector for mounting to the prepared end of a coaxial cable by compression of portions of the connector into tight frictional engagement with the cable. The body and compression ring of the usual F connector are incorporated in a unitary, one-piece body having three axial sections. The first section surrounds and frictionally engages the outer surface of the post stem in the usual manner. The second section is spaced from the stem to provide an annular space for the shielding and outer dielectric layers of the cable, also in the usual manner. A third section of the body is joined to the second section by an area of reduced thickness. In a first disclosed embodiment, the body fractures at the area of reduced thickness in response to an axial force applied to the third section in the direction of the second section.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing metal fins suitable for use in a heat exchanger which includes providing a coated patterned fin stock having a series of parallel stripes disposed longitudinally across the width of one surface of the fin stock. The stripe pattern is evenly spaced in the central portion of the fin stock, and staggered or more further spaced apart at the edges of said fin stock. The fin stock is passed through a series of forming dies to form or draw a plurality of tube receiving collared holes in the fin stock, followed by slitting or cutting the fin stock longitudinally to form a plurality of fin strips. The staggered spacing compensates for transverse movement of the fin stock during the drawing operation, and assures for accurate positioning of the collars between the fin stripes. The invention also includes the use of the fins in a high density coil design for use in a heat exchanger.

Abstract: An air conditioning module is constructed to include all the necessary components for an air conditioning system within a single housing, with the housing having a supply air opening and a return air opening. The various components within the housing are so situated that the return air opening is relatively large in its lateral extension across the roof of a bus such that a single module can accommodate various configurations and locations of the supply air and return air openings in the roof of a bus.

Abstract: An arc lamp assembly which includes in combination a reflector and a light source which is surrounded by said reflector. A dichroic coating on the reflector functions to reflect radiation in the range of about 300 to 600 nm. The light source is an arc lamp which contains a metal halide fill component which includes a mixture of scandium iodide, or other suitable lanthanide, indium iodide and cesium iodide, whereby the lamp assembly emits effective amounts of UV radiation to cure selected chemical compositions. The fill mixture, which contains no sodium component, contributes to improved lamp life and a reduction in passive lamp failure over halide fill mixtures which contain sodium iodide as a fill component.

Abstract: A permanent connector interconnects a hard-line coaxial cable to a connection housing. A contact is interconnected with and extends coaxially through a connector body. A collet one-piece with the contact receives a central conductor of the coaxial cable, while a sealing member and mandrel receive an outer conductor of the coaxial cable between them. A compression body positioned radially adjacent a portion of the connector body moves axially between first and second positions, wherein when the compression body is in its first position, the coaxial cable is removable from within the connector, and when the compression body is in its second position, the coaxial cable is not removable from within the connector. The compression body acts indirectly upon the sealing member so that an electrical connection is made between the sealing member and the outer conductor of the cable when the compression body is in its second position.

Abstract: A photocatalytic air purifier is disclosed. The photocatalytic purifier includes filter structures coated with a catalytic material such as titanium dioxide. One or more UV lamps are interposed between the filter structures. The catalytic layer reacts with airborne VOCs and bioaerosols when activated by the UV lamps to thereby oxidize the VOCs and destroy the bioaerosols. The photocatalytic air purifier does not need to be replaced or regenerated after a period of continuous usage. The photocatalytic purifier of the present invention substantially eliminates odors, VOCs, and bioaerosols from air directed through the fan coil. The photocatalytic air purifier includes a control system that optimizes operating costs. Because of these features, service, maintenance, and filter replacement are reduced to a minimum. At the same time, the well being of persons living in the space conditioned by the photocatalytic air purifier is improved.

Abstract: An evaporator unit for use in the air conditioning system of a mass transit vehicle that includes a housing mounted inside the air conditioned section of the vehicle having a return air inlet connected to a supply air outlet by a flow passage. The evaporator coil of the air conditioner is mounted in the flow passage to cool the air moving through the passage. A heater coil is mounted behind the evaporator coil to selectively heat the air moving through the passage. A dehumidifying coil is mounted in front of the evaporator coil that utilizes ambient air to dehumidify the indoor air when the ambient air temperature is at a temperature below that at which the air conditioner cannot reliably operate.

Abstract: A compact rooftop air conditioning unit for a vehicle, said unit having an evaporator coil located adjacent to a condenser coil. At least one cylindrical blower is mounted adjacent the evaporator coil and is arranged to provide conditioned supply air to the interior of the vehicle. An electric motor is used to turn the shaft of the blower and a condensate pump is secured to the shaft for pumping condensate generated by the evaporator coil back over the condenser coil. An electrically driven compressor is housed within the unit and is arranged so that no refrigerant lines pass outside of the unit. An inverter is also housed within the unit and provides a regulated input to the compressor and the evaporator and condenser drive motors.

Abstract: An organic rankine cycle system is combined with a vapor compression cycle system with the turbine generator of the organic rankine cycle generating the power necessary to operate the motor of the refrigerant compressor. The vapor compression cycle is applied with its evaporator cooling the inlet air into a gas turbine, and the organic rankine cycle is applied to receive heat from a gas turbine exhaust to heat its boiler within one embodiment, a common condenser is used for the organic rankine cycle and the vapor compression cycle, with a common refrigerant, R-245a being circulated within both systems. In another embodiment, the turbine driven generator has a common shaft connected to the compressor to thereby eliminate the need for a separate motor to drive the compressor.

Abstract: An absorption cooling machine of the type which uses a refrigerant and an absorbent and which includes a high stage generator, absorber, condenser, heat exchangers, and an evaporator and means for connecting the components to one another to form a closed absorption cooling system. The solution side of the high stage generator is fluidically divided into two sections with a partition plate whereby gas exiting one section at relatively high temperature is further cooled in a second section called a flue gas recuperator (FGR) to improve overall burner efficiency.

Abstract: An air conditioning module having all the necessary components for conditioning air, is so sized and arranged that when placed in an internal compartment of a bus, has its respective openings register with an existing return air duct and a supply air duct on the bus. The compartments and modules are so arranged that they can be paired in back-to-back relationship, with one on each side of a longitudinal center line of the bus. Each of the modules has an intermediate partition dividing the module into an upper evaporator section and a lower condensing section. A mixer flap is placed in an intermediate position with respect to the partition such that its position may be selectively adjusted to thereby vary the amount of fresh air and return air that is passed through the condenser coil and evaporator coil, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electric motor for rotating an object around a central axis. The electric motor includes a motor casing. A circular segmented rail element is disposed within the motor casing about the central axis. The circular segmented rail element includes metallic non-ferrous segments interleaved with non-metallic segments. Each of the metallic non-ferrous segments has a predetermined segment length. At least one coil element is connected to the motor casing. The circular segmented rail element is disposed adjacent the at least one coil element. The at least one coil element has a predetermined coil length that is less than or equal to the predetermined segment length. The at least one coil element is configured to apply electromagnetic energy to the circular segmented rail element, such that the circular segmented rail element rotates around the central axis.

Abstract: An infrared camera is used to detect leakages in a heat exchanger by an imaging process that indicates temperature differences between a heat exchanger and a pressurized gas therein. The temperature differences are created by cooling or heating either the pressurized gas or the heat exchanger, and any leakages are visually observable by the resultant image which is representative of the temperature differences. The process can be accomplished with the use of ambient air rather than the commonly used trace gases which are less desirable because of economical and environmental reasons.

Abstract: A method for determining the weight of a load upon a load support of a hydraulic lifting device, in which the pressure of hydraulic fluid within a lifting cylinder is measured and a stored reference curve representing the relationship between the weight of the load and the hydraulic fluid pressure is determined by multiple measurements of the pressure resulting from loads of known weight and the reference curve. According to the method, the load support is lifted and lowered during a short period upon operator request or automatically to sense the load before and during load lifting and lowering operations and a plurality of pressure measuring values are obtained. A pair of average values of the pressure measuring values for respectively lifting and lowering is generated, as well as a third average value of the pair of average values. The third average value is then applied to the reference curve for determining the weight of the load.

Abstract: A hand-held flashlight comprising a metal halide arc lamp operating between 8 and 22 watts. The lamp has an arc gap of between 0.7 and 1.4 mm and a color temperature at or above 5000° Kelvin. The lamp contains a fill gas including mercury and indium in percentages to produce a point source of white light capable of penetrating dense smoke and fog. The flashlight includes a reflector containing the arc lamp and providing a collimated beam of high intensity white light. The flashlight includes a circuit for providing a high starting voltage to the lamp and a lower operating voltage after sustaining the lamp. The circuit includes a battery, a ballast, and a microprocessor for monitoring the lamp and the battery. The microprocessor provides a discernible output signal indicative of the lamp on-time and battery voltage. The microprocessor controls the application of the starting voltage from the ballast to the lamp to prevent misstarting of the lamp.

Abstract: A latching fluid level switch which includes an elongated shaft member having a lower end and an opposite upper end with both ends containing a buoyant float member. The upper end is pivotally anchored to a tank wall and capable of having its lower end being moved between two distinct angular positions depending on the level of the liquid in said tank acting on said float member and having a first higher buoyancy angular position representing a high liquid level endpoint, and a second less buoyancy angular position representing a lower liquid level endpoint. The float is maintained at each distinct angular position such that once triggered at one liquid level endpoint the float will maintain and hold that angular position until reversibly triggered at the other liquid level endpoint.