Abstract: An improved electrical bus system maximizes the distance that electrical current must travel between adjacent buses before a short can occur by placing the buses at the top portion of upside down U-shaped channels within the insulator, and connecting the adjacent U-shaped channels at their bottom ends. The buses are exposed at each end of a bus section, with a joint insulator frictionally secured between the bus insulator and housing to provide insulation for these exposed bus ends. Adjacent bus sections are electrically connected using a snap-on connector extending across the adjacent bus sections. If a neutral bus is included, for example, in a three-phase system, the neutral bus is located directly between a pair of live buses. Because the potential between a live bus and a neutral bus is one-half the potential between two live buses, the live buses may be positioned closer to the neutral bus than another live bus.

Abstract: An ignition coil contains an elongated substantially circular coil core which includes a primary coil and a secondary coil each disposed radially outwardly of the core with the core composed of a plurality of generally rectangular elements at least some of which have a different width than others and the elements being in surface-to-surface contact with each other. The lateral walls of the elements may have a shape which is not perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the elements. The core may be welded at its ends. A core contained within this ignition coil, which may be an automotive ignition coil, is disclosed.

Abstract: A material distribution system for stick-like objects such as railroad spikes includes a rake for peeling the stick-like objects from the top of a pile, and transferring them to another location, for example, where they might be reached by a human operator. Use of the rake to peel the object from the top of the pile, with minimized downward pressure applied by the rake, minimizes the tendency of the objects to entangle with each other.

Abstract: A method of range imaging a scene includes directing a planar light beam onto a first portion of the scene, receiving a first reflected light stripe from that portion of the light beam on a row of sensors which emit responsive electrical signals. The first electrical signals are employed to create a salient feature containing saliency map with the salient feature being spatially related to the reflected light stripe. The light is subjected to sweeping to progressively create a plurality of light beams and reflected stripes leading to corresponding electrical output signals. This is repeated a plurality of times to establish the range image. In a preferred embodiment, a linear array of sensors has a winner-take-all circuit which selects a salient feature and employs that along with angle and time information to create an element of the image with repetition of the method generating the full range image.

Abstract: An assembly of interconnected containers includes a plurality of containers each of which has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel generally downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers have either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels are preferably open having at least one end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. In another embodiment, a rail and flange structure is provided to interengage adjacent containers within an assembly. A container can also be provided that has a lid portion hingably attached to the upper portion of the container.

Abstract: A floor assembly includes at least two elongated extrusions disposed adjacent to each other where each extrusion includes a pair of outer leg members and a pair of inner leg members that are connected by a connector which engages the inner leg member and the outer leg member of one of the extrusions and the outer leg member and the inner leg member of the other extrusion. The connector includes a base and first and second end flanges where the first end flange engages the inner leg member of one of the extrusions and the second end flange engages the inner leg member of the other extrusion. A method of making a floor assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An explosion relief system for a building having a wall includes an explosion relief panel substantially covering an opening in the wall and a blast shaft mounted adjacent to the explosion relief panel. The blast shaft includes a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is adapted to permit at least a portion of a force of an explosion to escape therefrom and the second opening allows rain, snow and the like to pass through the blast shaft when the explosion relief panel substantially covers the opening in the wall. The second opening is substantially covered when the explosion relief panel is forced away from the opening in the wall when the explosion occurs. A blast shaft substantially as described above and a building including the explosion relief system described above are also provided.

Abstract: A crowd control barrier including a frame and a base rotatably mounted to the frame and lockable in at least a first position and a second position. The crowd control barrier also includes a pin for securing the base to the frame, the pin being in a first locked position when the base and the frame are locked in the first position, the pin then being rotated into a second locked position so that the base can rotate to the second position, and the pin then being rotated again back to the first locked position when the base and the frame are locked in the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for cutting target material which includes a housing having an inner cavity and an elongated nozzle extending from the inner cavity to communicate with the exterior of the housing. The apparatus is provided with a charge for generating a cutting flame and an activating device coupled to the charge. A method for cutting target material is also provided in which the cutting apparatus has an elongated nozzle positioned generally adjacent to a surface of a target material to be cut. The cutting apparatus may be joined with one or more housings to provide a ganged together or joined cutting apparatus. The effect of this ganged cutting apparatus is to provide an extended linear cutting action on the surface of the target material. In addition, in an opposed cutting apparatus, two housings are positioned with their nozzle channels in opposition to permit cutting target material from two directions.