Abstract: A compact clamp system for use with conveyor belt rubber skirtboards utilizes a minimum number of parts and is easy to adjust, even if positioned in areas that are difficult to access. A base member is attached to the steel support plate of a conventional conveyor. A stationary support member having a downwardly extending leg is fixedly attached to the base member, and a depending pressure bar assembly is hingedly attached to the support member. A wedge pin assembly including one or more wedge pins is fixedly attached to the downwardly extending leg of the support member to apply an inward force to the pressure bar assembly to thereby urge it against the conveyor belt skirtboard and to release that force to facilitate repositioning of the rubber skirtboard to accommodate wear, for example.

Abstract: An apparatus and processes for large scale inline manufacturing of CdTe photovoltaic modules in which all steps, including rapid substrate heating, deposition of CdS, deposition of CdTe, CdCl2 treatment, and ohmic contact formation, are performed within a single vacuum boundary at modest vacuum pressures. A p+ ohmic contact region is formed by subliming a metal salt onto the CdTe layer. A back electrode is formed by way of a low cost spray process, and module scribing is performed by means of abrasive blasting or mechanical brushing through a mask. The vacuum process apparatus facilitates selective heating of substrates and films, exposure of substrates and films to vapor with minimal vapor leakage, deposition of thin films onto a substrate, and stripping thin films from a substrate. A substrate transport apparatus permits the movement of substrates into and out of vacuum during the thin film deposition processes, while preventing the collection of coatings on the substrate transport apparatus itself.

Abstract: A plastic sleeve for enveloping a store discount card of the type displaying a machine readable code, such as a bar code, on one surface thereof and typically retained on a user's keychain, from being inadvertently scanned by a bar code reader at the checkout counter of a store.

Abstract: A crustacean shelling tool is employed to quickly and easily crack the underside of the tail shell of a crawfish, for example, to expose the meat contained therein for removal without damage and without loss of the associated succulent juices. The key-like tool includes a handle and an elongate rod extending therefrom. A longitudinal slit extends inwardly from a distal end of the rod to define upper and lower rod forks. An optional finger ring is attached to the handle of the tool by way of a short tether to prevent dropping or misplacement of the tool during the time required to remove and/or eat the meat from one shelled crawfish and to ready the next crawfish for shelling. In use, the lower rod fork of the tool is inserted into the open end of the tail shell such that the underside of the shell is guided into the longitudinal slit a desired distance.

Abstract: A method and circuits for improving the inductive DC converter delivery of regulated current into the load(s), where the inductive DC converter provides the output voltage to an ensemble consisting of the load(s) and a current source or a current source circuit connected in series with the load. The load current is controlled by the current source or the current source circuit in series with the load and not by the inductive DC converter, which only provides the voltage and power required at the output, without directly controlling the load current. The inductive DC converter can operate under much more relaxed specs, while the load current regulation is much tighter, being current source controlled.

Abstract: A high altitude oven that includes a baking compartment that includes a pressure maintenance mechanism for maintaining the baking compartment at sea level atmospheric pressure during operation of the oven.

Abstract: A monolithic capacitance multiplication circuit serves to reduce the required die area when larger capacitance values are needed such as in filter and loop frequency compensation circuits. A current mirror/cascoding device arrangement reduces the effective series resistance of the multiplier capacitor. As a result, the multiplier topology exhibits improved bandwidth over prior art capacitance multiplier circuits.

Abstract: A radioactive seed implantation system particularly adapted for use in the treatment of prostate cancer, the system incorporating multiple individually longitudinally and infinitely adjustable needles carrying radioactive seeds which may be simultaneously and precisely implanted in a prostate gland with a minimum of surgical time and operating room expense while minimizing swelling of the gland and reducing patient trauma. An improved method of implanting radioactive seeds in a prostate gland is also disclosed.

Abstract: A top cover and safing sector assembly of a 7.62 mm Gatling machine gun, commonly known as a minigun, incorporates integral latch assemblies that cooperate with top cover and safing sector latch keepers conventionally provided on such machine guns to facilitate opening of the top cover independent of the safing sector or, alternatively, opening of the entire top cover and safing sector assembly, both of which are accomplished without the use of prior art ball locking pins and the need for removal and attendant risk of loss thereof.

Abstract: A crustacean shelling tool is employed to quickly and easily crack the underside of the tail shell of a crawfish, for example, to expose the meat contained therein for removal without damage and without loss of the associated succulent juices. The key-like tool includes a handle and an elongate rod extending therefrom. A longitudinal slit extends inwardly from a distal end of the rod to define upper and lower rod forks. An optional finger ring is attached to the handle of the tool by means of a short tether to prevent dropping or misplacement of the tool during the time required to remove and/or eat the meat from one shelled crawfish and to ready the next crawfish for shelling. In use, the lower rod fork of the tool is inserted into the open end of the tail shell such that the underside of the shell is guided into the longitudinal slit a desired distance.

Abstract: An offline trim circuit includes one or more irreversible trim elements, such as fuses, for example, used for setting electrical parameters to desired values. Associated circuitry is employed to verify the effect of trimming, prior to permanently setting trim bit values, permitting the optimal definition of the trim bit sequence and completely eliminating guesswork from the trimming procedure.

Abstract: A table which may be quickly and easily reconfigured to meet the present needs of the user includes a base having left and right side members, front and rear slat members, and a bottom member extending therebetween, the foregoing members defining a magazine storage area within the base, a sub-top extending between the left and right side members and being arranged for vertical sliding engagement with respect to the side members to facilitate height adjustment of the sub-top with respect to the base, a table top having a rectangular central top member and drop leaves hingedly attached to respective ones of longer sides of the top member, each of the drop leaves being movable between a horizontal position and a depending vertical position, the top member being mounted on the sub-top such that the table top may be rotated ninety degrees in either direction with respect to the base.

Abstract: One-piece and two-piece watchbands may be quickly and easily installed on a watch of the wearer's choice and may just as easily be removed and replaced with another watchband to provide color and style coordination with other items of the wearer's chosen wardrobe.

Abstract: A tool for resurfacing the area surrounding a protruding stud, without removing the stud from the member to which it is attached, includes a quick connect/disconnect coupler at one end thereof for attachment to and removal from a conventional rotary power tool. A central longitudinal aperture in the tool opens to a distal end thereof, and an abrasive surface preparation disc having a corresponding central aperture is adapted for removable attachment to the distal end of the tool. The tool is positioned over the stud such that the stud extends into the central aperture of the tool and the surface preparation disc is in contact with the surface area surrounding the stud. Controlled rotation of the tool in place over the stud results in a desired degree of uniform abrasion of the surface area surrounding the stud.

Abstract: A self-contained, self-closing toilet lid includes a water reservoir formed within an upper portion of the lid. When the lid is in its vertical closed position, water from the reservoir is allowed to trickle at a predetermined rate into an activation bucket positioned within a lower portion of the lid and pivotally coupled proximate an inner peripheral edge of the lid. When a sufficient volume of water has been gravitationally transferred from the upper water reservoir to the lower activation bucket, the weight of that transferred water causes the activation bucket to pivot, which in turn actuates a release mechanism that allows the lid to hingedly move to an off-center position, permitting it to fall to its horizonatal closed position. If both the toilet lid and the seat conventionally mounted behind it are in the open position, automatic closing of the lid will push the seat to the closed position also.

Abstract: High voltage and low voltage switch mode circuits and methods serve to recover the charge stored on electro-luminescent lamp panels that would otherwise be dissipated during the discharge cycle of a drive circuit. The high voltage circuits and methods operate to transfer the charge to the high voltage rail, while the low voltage circuits and methods operate to transfer the charge to the source of low drive voltage.