Abstract: An electrically conductive floor coating comprising a ferroalloy containing layer including particles of ferroalloy interspersed with a resinous binder.

Abstract: An oil skimmer of the endless belt type which is transportable as a unit is disclosed. The unit has an adjustment for adjusting the location of the axis of head pulley rotation and a floating tail pulley to assure accurate tracking of the belts on the pulleys and consistent and appropriate tension on the belt. The tail pulley features L-shaped spokes having legs that provide limited pulley-to-belt contact, minimizing oil transfer from the belt to the tail pulley, and also providing a mechanism for forcing oil against a descending belt reach to provide enhanced oil pick-up.

Abstract: Wear resistant devices and methods of their manufacture in which the intended function or result of the devices is to influence operational coefficients of friction. The devices are made of fiber-reinforced polymer composite materials produced by nonwoven textile and plastics industries' materials and methods.

Abstract: A refrigeration system control apparatus for use with an ice bank for sequentially cycling a refrigerator compressor on and off based on sensed conditions. The system includes a first temperature probe located a first distance from a refrigerator evaporator coil and a second temperature probe located a second, greater distance from the refrigerator evaporator coil. A programmable controller monitors temperature outputs from the first and second temperature probes and turns on and off the refrigerator compressor based upon a rate of change of the temperature difference between the sensed temperatures of the first and second probes.

Abstract: A sealing machine and process for sealing loaded bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through the sealer by a pair of grooved main transport belts. A holding belt is disposed in the groove of an associated main belt and extends into the groove of the other main belt as the belts move through the seal station. Processes of transporting and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pen based workslate computer having a detachable, rechargeable stylus is disclosed. The workslate computer includes a housing supporting computer electronics and a stylus charging station defining an opening adapted to receive the detachable stylus. The housing also supports a visible interactive display screen assembly including a sensing assembly. Depending on the position of actuators of the stylus, signal generation circuitry of the stylus generates one of a plurality of signals having different frequencies. The generated signal is received by the sensing assembly and correlated with a position of the stylus with respect to the display screen assembly by the sensing assembly thereby allowing data and/or commands to be input by an operator manipulating a signal generation end of the stylus to "pick" icons or other representations displayed on a LCD screen.

Abstract: Compositions herein increased creatine retention and/or glycogen storage in muscle. A composition comprises creatine or its derivative and a carbohydrate or its derivative. The carbohydrate is in an amount by weight which is greater than the amount of creatine. The amount of carbohydrate and the amount of creatine are effective for increasing creatine retention and/or glycogen storage in muscle. The compositions may be in the form of a pharmaceutical or a dietary supplement and are intended for use in the human or animal body. Other compositions comprise creatine or an active derivative together with insulin or an active derivative. The amount of creatine and the amount of insulin are effective for increasing creatine retention and/or glycogen storage in muscle. The compositions including creatine and insulin may further contain a carbohydrate or its derivative.

Abstract: The invention provides a conversion means for converting a fixed type evaporative cooler (10) to a mobile type that includes a base with an opening (15), a sump (14) which can be of a size to suit one or more large coolers, means to accommodate a pump in the sump, wheels (24) firmly attached to the sump for support and mobility thereof, a filling station (22) for depositing water into the sump, and means to secure the sump to the base of a large cooler (12). The means to accommodate the pump includes a buoyant platform (16) thereby enabling the pump to remain in communication with fluid in the sump irrespective of the fluid level.

Abstract: An index selection tool helps reduce costs in time and memory in selecting an index configuration or set of indexes for use by a database server in accessing a database in accordance with a workload of queries. The index selection tool attempts to reduce the number of indexes to be considered, the number of index configurations to be enumerated, and the number of invocations of a query optimizer in selecting an index configuration for the workload.

Abstract: Methods of making a container strip in the form of a chain of interconnected preopened bags with openings preferably having longitudinal dimensions of at least about 1/64 inch is disclosed. The container strip provides greatly enhanced facility for bag registration and opening during packaging operations utilizing the improved container strip. Processes of forming a chain of preopened bags are also disclosed. Face and back plastic webs are fed along individual paths of travel to a common path. In one embodiment the webs are differentially tensioned while in their independent paths by stretching the face web more than the back web such that the face web will retract longitudinally more than the back web upon release of the web tension. While so tensioned edge seals are formed between the webs to convert the webs into a tube and longitudinally spaced transverse seals are formed between the webs to delineate bottoms of bags.

Abstract: A belt type oil and grease skimmer for removing hydrocarbon contaminants from surfaces of bodies of water is disclosed. The skimmer includes a housing and frame structure for positioning above a contaminated body of water. An idler roll and a coating nip roll pair are rotatively mounted on the structure for rotation about generally horizontal axes when the skimmer is in use. An endless belt is trained over the idler roll and between the nip rolls and is suspended in a contaminated body of water when the skimmer is in use. A pair of wipers are positioned on opposite sides of the belt at a wiping location between the idler roll and the nip rolls for removing belt adhered hydrocarbons. A receptacle is positioned to receive wiper removed hydrocarbons. The receptacle includes a heat chamber and a heat transfer wall for transferring heat from the chamber to heat collected hydrocarbons. The wipers skew the belt to cause the formation of a containment draining depression upstream from the wipers.

Abstract: A controller for energizing a power window or panel such as a power sunroof. The disclosed controller senses both hard and soft obstructions and de-activates a motor that moves the sunroof when an obstruction is detected. The controller senses obstructions by maintaining data relating to motor operation in three different memory buffers that are periodically updating upon receipt of pulses that are related to motor speed.

Abstract: A coal combustor for combustion of coal in fossil burning plants, comprising a refractory including a reactor chamber, combustion chamber, and discharge chamber serially connected along a central longitudinal axis. The chambers define, respectively a reactor zone, combustion zone, and discharge zone extending through the refractory. A ceramic baffle insert is concentrically disposed within the forward end of the reactor chamber. The baffle defines at least one coal-gas passage extending longitudinally through the baffle and communicates an air-fuel mixture to the reactor zone. A reactor core tube is sealingly engaged by the baffle and in communication with the coal-gas passage. The reactor core tube extends longitudinally through a portion of the reactor zone and terminates in the combustion zone for communicating a coal-gas mixture from the coal-gas passage to the combustion zone.

Abstract: A portable data collection device is disclosed. The device includes an imaging assembly including a two dimensional (2D) photosensor array. The imaging assembly is selectively actuatable with a first trigger for reading a target dataform in the imaging assembly's target area and actuatable with a second trigger for capturing a image of the target object in the target area. The device also includes an illumination assembly including an circuit board assembly supporting illumination and targeting light emitting diodes and a lens array or panel positioned adjacent the circuit board assembly for focusing an even pattern of illumination on the target area and generating a crosshair illumination pattern for aiming the device at the target dataform. Three illumination assembly embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An index selection tool helps reduce costs in time and memory in selecting an index configuration or set of indexes for use by a database server in accessing a database in accordance with a workload of queries. The index selection tool attempts to reduce the number of indexes to be considered, the number of index configurations to be enumerated, and the number of invocations of a query optimizer in selecting an index configuration for the workload.

Abstract: A packaging machine and process for loading bags of a novel web of side connected bags are disclosed. The web is fed through a bagger section by a pair of grooved main transport belts and a pair of lip transport belts each disposed in the groove of the associated main belt to trap bag lips in the grooves. Adjustable belt spreaders space reaches of the transport belts as they move through a load station whereby to sequentially open the bags into rectangular configurations. A closure section in the form of a novel and improved heat sealer is releasably connectable to the bagger section. The sections are adjustable together between horizontal and vertical orientations. Processes of opening, closing and sealing side connected bags are also disclosed.