Abstract: In the particular embodiments described in the specification, a virtual sewer flow monitor detects flow rate and depth information periodically and supplies it to a scattergraph generator and a polynomial curve generator produces a polynomial curve corresponding to the scattergraph data. A filter eliminates polynomial curve portions corresponding to normal sewer flow conditions and an SSO detector responds to curve portions indicating a sewer overflow condition to generate an alarm.

Abstract: In the particular embodiments described in the specification, the velocity of a flowing liquid is measured by emitting acoustic signals from an acoustic signal unit into the flowing liquid and detecting signals reflected from solid particles moving with the liquid and a Fast Fourier Transform is performed on the Doppler frequency signals to produce a power signal spectrum. The resolution of the power signal spectrum is expanded at the high frequency end by taking the square root of the power signals and a least squares curve fitter produces a trend line from the data points at the upper end of the spectrum. The trend line is extrapolated to the zero amplitude axis to produce a signal representing the maximum velocity of the flowing liquid and an algorithm based on the shape of the conduit through which the liquid is flowing is used to produce a signal representing the average velocity of the liquid.

Abstract: In the embodiments described in the specification, an acoustic transducer unit emits acoustic signals into a moving liquid and receives reflected signals to produce Doppler frequency signals and a depth detector simultaneously detects the depth of the liquid. The Doppler frequency signals are processed in a Fast Fourier Transform unit to determine the average velocity of the liquid and a historical velocity versus depth table is prepared. Thereafter, each new velocity value is compared with an expected velocity value for the corresponding depth based on the historical table. The new velocity value is rejected if the variation from the expected value exceeds a selected variation. If accepted, the new velocity value and the expected velocity value from the table are weighted and combined to provide a new value for the table and also for a velocity versus depth profile unit. The velocity versus depth profile is adjusted based on the new velocity value using a least squares fit.

Abstract: A checking apparatus for flat type display panels includes a multiple number of cameras used for picking up images of a check pattern that is generated by a check pattern generator in accordance with a check item and displayed on a liquid crystal panel and a high-speed image processor for processing the obtained image signal from the taken image so as to detect defects in accordance with the check item. Further, the apparatus is constructed such that, as to some check items, the area of the display panel is divided into a multiple number of sections and a multiple number of check patterns are displayed at the same time in respective sections to thereby perform checking on multiple check items simultaneously. Alternatively, the apparatus is constructed such that, checking as to some check items is performed by processing image signals obtained in only a previously designated part of the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a mechanical planar seal, as for example for use with a centrifugal pump having a rotating shaft, includes a primary seal formed of a movable first part rotatable with the shaft and a fixed second part or seat, a secondary seal axially spaced along the shaft from the primary seal, an inlet for flushing liquid, an outlet for the flushing liquid and for pump medium that leaks through the primary seal, a collection chamber defined between the primary and secondary seals for flushing liquid and leaking pump medium, and a drain passage connecting the collection chamber and outlet. The collection chamber is divided into at least two portions in liquid communication with each other and with the drain passage by at least one predeterminately-configured wall so as to assure that the flushing liquid is maintained between the primary and secondary seals for an extended period of time for advantageously efficient use of the flushing liquid in lubrication and cooling of the primary seal.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a mechanical planar seal, as for example for use with a centrifugal pump having a rotating shaft, includes a primary seal formed of a movable first part rotatable with the shaft and a fixed second part or seat, a secondary seal axially spaced along the shaft from the primary seal, an inlet for flushing liquid, an outlet for the flushing liquid and for pump medium that leaks through the primary seal, a collection chamber defined between the primary and secondary seals for flushing liquid and leaking pump medium, and a drain passage connecting the collection chamber and outlet. The collection chamber is divided into at least two portions in liquid communication with each other and with the drain passage by at least one predeterminately-configured wall so as to assure that the flushing liquid is maintained between the primary and secondary seals for an extended period of time for advantageously efficient use of the flushing liquid in lubrication and cooling of the primary seal.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing hollow bodies by blow molding thermoplastic preforms includes at least one preform heating apparatus and an assembly of molding stations fixedly arranged in an arc of a circle. The molding stations each further include a finished product ejector. A rotary transfer device is provided between the heating apparatus and the molding stations to transfer the heated preforms. The transfer device preferably has the shape of a wheel coaxial with an arc of a circle on which the molding stations are arranged. The wheel includes a carrier distributed uniformly along a circle to take heated preforms and deposit them into receptors on the molding stations.

Abstract: A sonic-type fluid flow measuring system wherein reflections or echoes of an ultrasonic acoustic emitter (9) are sensed and typically comprise a number of frequencies representative of a number of discrete velocities of flow in a volume of fluid. As a sample, they simply appear as a voltage plot as a function of time and wherein the time width of a given signal excursion relates to the frequency of a given signal. Thereafter, this time domain signal sample is converted to a frequency domain sample whereby the presence and magnitude of each frequency component, or velocity component, is isolated, this being typically done by what is known as a Fast Fourier Transform. The highest frequency, velocity, signal from each of a rapid succession of samples is then obtained and stored in a memory (38). The highest and lowest of these are then discarded, and the remaining are averaged to obtain more likely representations of velocity.

Abstract: A sonic-type fluid flow measuring system wherein reflections or echoes of a burst 103 of ultrasonic energy from an ultrasonic acoustic emitter 9a are sensed and typically comprise a number of frequencies representative of a number of discrete velocities of flow in a volume of fluid. A receiver transducer 13a is gated to receive echoes from a selected volume of fluid 104 a selected distance from transducer 13a. Thereafter, this time domain signal sample is converted to a frequency domain sample whereby the presence and magnitude of each frequency component, or velocity component, is isolated, this being typically done by what is known as a Fast Fourier Transform unit 42a, obtaining a frequency domain waveform representative of average flow velocity.

Abstract: A sewer flow monitoring system wherein the volume of flow is determined from the depth of fluid in a pipe together with the average velocity of flow through the pipe as determined by detecting the peak velocity from particles flowing in sewage at different velocities and then determining average velocity to be approximately 90% of the peak velocity.

Abstract: A sonic-type fluid flow measuring system wherein reflections or echoes of an ultrasonic acoustic emitter are sensed and typically comprise a number of frequencies representative of a number of discrete velocities of flow in a volume of fluid. As a sample, they simply appear as a voltage plot as a function of time and wherein the time width of a given signal excursion relates to the frequency of a given signal. Thereafter, this time domain signal sample is converted to a frequency domain sample whereby the presence and magnitude of each frequency component, or velocity component, is isolated, this being typically done by what is known as a Fast Fourier Transform. The highest frequency, velocity, signal from each of a rapid succession of samples is then obtained and stored in a memory. The highest and lowest of these are then discarded, and the remaining are averaged to obtain more likely representations of velocity.

Abstract: A measurement and control system for employment with a plurality of significantly spaced process access locations wherein a single cable extends in a loop by these access locations, and both ends of the cable are terminated at a central controller. The cable consists of a solid, conductive, outer housing and four spaced conductors within the housing, the housing being otherwise filled with a dielectric material. Data units are positioned at each access location, and each data unit is configured to supply and receive, or one of the other, discrete data by being coupled to the cable, two of the conductors of the cable furnishing power for the data unit, and the other two providing communications. Certain of the data units employ transducers to measure a single physical state. Outputs from these transducers, in analog form, are serialized, converted to digital data, cross-compared to determine off scaled readings, and the good readings averaged.

Abstract: A manual wiper comprises an elastic base detachably wound around a finger and a wiper blade which is provided on the base in such a manner as to traverse the same and whose position is adjustable. The wiper is adapted to be attached to a finger so as to remove waterdrops if one hand with the wiper blade attached to one finger is used to rub the window plate to which waterdrops have adhered.

Abstract: Cash drawer for cash registers in tellers' stations, sales counters or the like, including a slide-in unit and a drawer tray being movable into and out of the slide-in unit in given directions; the slide-in unit having vertical side plates at opposite sides thereof, a rib being integral with each of the side plates extended along the given directions and projecting toward each other, a rack integral with the top of each of the ribs, and a roller disposed in vicinity of the front of each of the side plates; a guide shaft being rotatably supported at the back of the drawer tray, a pinion being fastened to each end of the guide shaft and being in engagement with one of the racks of the side plates; and the drawer tray having sides and a longitudinal flange integral with each of the sides of the drawer tray being extended along the given directions and supported on the rollers when the drawer is opened and closed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing liquids, vapors and gases, which includes a conventional detection device operated in its non-linear region so that it is sensitive not only to substances having a Van der Waals' constant of greater than 9, but it is also sensitive to substances having a Van der Waals' constant of 9 or less. The device is driven by a constant current source, and a change in the level of the voltage across the detection device occurs upon exposure of the device to the substance being sensed. This voltage change is then detected to indicate the presence of the sensed substance. The relatively small voltage change associated with the detection device may be easily sensed by placing the detection device in a balanced bridge circuit. Further, the bridge circuit enables easy, accurate normalization of the apparatus in a reference environment. The non-linear characteristics of the detector allow it to be employed as a regulator for supplying a constant current to a power consuming device.

Abstract: Advertising apparatus with electrically operated attention drawing means conveniently in the form of a lamp or device for emitting an audio signal. The apparatus is for use with a device for dispensing liquids from inverted bottles and has a support bracket, a resilient mounting projecting from the bracket and adapted to locate a liquid metering device and a bottle attached thereto, and a switching circuit for operating the attention-drawing means with the switching circuit being closed by movement of the bottle on the resilient mounting when the liquid metering device is activated.

Abstract: An adsorbing type sensor of the type having electrically conductive adsorbent particles resiliently embedded in a surface and forming an electrical conductive path through the sensor, the resistance of which or in one embodiment current through which varies in response to the presence of an adsorbate medium exposed to the particles and in which the adsorbent particles are of varying sizes interspersed among one another and a method of increasing the sensitivity and range of an adsorbing type sensor by interspersing various sized abutting adsorbent particles.