Abstract: An electronic meter incorporates a TCP/IP protocol suite and an HTTP server to provide two-way access to the meter data. Alternatively, the TCP/IP protocol suite may be incorporated into a gateway serving multiple meters connected through a power line or wireless two-way network. The gateway may incorporate an HTTP server for accessing data from multiple meters and for transmission of data to individual meters. Other aspects of the disclosed system include the use of a common gateway interface for remote access to meter data and to set meter parameters using HTML forms in HTTP browsers; remote reading and setting of multiple meter parameters using a TCP/IP protocol suite; a TCP/IP protocol suite implemented in designated nodes in a CEBus LAN with remote access through TCP/IP to routers and brouters and to individual meters on the LAN; and an SLIP-PPP enabled gateway for remote TCP/IP access through a serial interface to a single or multiple meter parameters.

Abstract: The circuit breaker (10) of the present invention is a molded case circuit breaker and includes a molded case (12) having a main cover (20), a first terminal (16) and a second terminal (16) mounted inside the case (12) with a stationary contact (44) electrically coupled to the first terminal (18) and a movable contact (42) electrically coupled to the second terminal (16). The movable contact (42) is coupled to an operating mechanism (40) which has a pivoting member (13) moveable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position. An intermediate latching mechanism (52) also is mounted in the housing (12) and is coupled to the operating mechanism (40). The intermediate latching mechanism (52) is selectively operated by a trip unit (60) which comprises a magnetic short circuit release and a thermal overload release.

Abstract: A circuit breaker (10) including a stationary line bus assembly (47). The stationary line bus assembly (47)comprises a bus body (124) supported by support legs (132) with the bus body (124) having a first longitudinal end portion (125) and a second longitudinal end portion (126), with each end portion terminating at a common end portion (127). The second end portion (126) includes a stationary contact bus (46) in a spaced relationship from the first end portion (125). A line terminal (18) is mounted on the first longitudinal end portion (125) and a contact (44) is attached to the second longitudinal end portion (126). In one embodiment, a bus support (130) is attached to the bus body (124) in the space between the first end portion (125) and the second end portion (126) and separated from the support legs (132) of the bus body (124) by an insulating barrier (134). The stationary bus support (130) can have several configuration.

Abstract: An interface layer and method is provided that permits applications, without modification, to operate with any type of meter. The interface comprises an abstraction layer and library or repository of descriptions specific to each meter type. The abstraction layer provides the capability to communicate with any meter through a variety of applications. Upon receiving an application request, the abstraction layer retrieves the description for the particular meter type from the repository and processes the request. In this manner, only one data representation is needed for applications to communicate with a wide variety of meters.

Abstract: A method of preventing vibration loosening of a clamping screw 26 of a circuit protection apparatus 10 is provided. The circuit protection apparatus 10 has a conductor receiving member 28 including a conductor receiving opening 40 for receiving an electrical conductor 46 therein. The conductor receiving member 28 has an aperture 42 extending from a surface 50 thereof into communication with the conductor receiving opening 40. An overall extent of the aperture 42 includes threads. The method provides a clamping screw 26 having a threaded shaft 50. The threaded shaft 50 has a surface feature 52 in the threads thereof near an end 54 of the shaft.

Abstract: A one-piece stainless steel rim for mating a meter cover and base and method of making the same is disclosed. The stainless steel mating rim has integral therewith the various attachment tabs, locking lugs and locking tabs for attaching the rim to the cover, locking the rim to the base and insuring a proper fit of the rim with the cover.

Abstract: An HPLC method for purifying and/or characterizing large numbers of related compounds, for example, combinatorial and lead generation libraries, is disclosed. The compounds are purified on a semi-preparative or preparative scale without having to first remove the solvent from the vessel in which the compounds were prepared. This can be accomplished by equilibrating the HPLC column with a first mobile phase such that, when the sample is added to the column in the solvent in which it is prepared, the sample does not significantly elute off of the column in the void volume, and the solvent in which the compound is prepared does elute off of the column in the void volume or shortly thereafter. In addition, the solvent power can be adjusted such that the mobile phase is not a strong solvent for the compound of interest.

Abstract: A switch which permits the use of high contact spring force without the correspondingly high mechanism actuator force typically needed with a switch which utilizes a high contact spring force.

Abstract: An actuator for a papermaking machine. The actuator is designed to function either as a slice lip or coatweight actuator or as a dilution actuator depending on the orientation of a cam disk in the actuator. The drive motor and position sensor in the actuator are in a side by side arrangement allowing for a single cover to enclose both the drive motor and the position sensor. The actuator has a manual adjustment which comes into engagement with the drive motor only when it is desired to manually adjust the actuator. The manual adjustment is designed so that it does not lock with the drive motor and requires only a moderate amount of force to be brought into engagement with the manual shaft. The actuator has a drive block connected to the speed reducer of the actuator. The drive block interfits with the cam disk in a manner to function as a spring loaded splined connection. This connection provides the necessary force to prevent rotary free play of the cam disk.

Abstract: A method and system for on-line measurements of mineral additives in or on a paper web utilizing shaped spectrum x-rays and solid-state PIN detectors. Each of three detectors are cover by a filter used to shape the spectrums of x-rays received by the detectors. The filters are selected to maximize sensitivity differences between detectors for the desired detectable mineral additives. A computer processes signals from the detectors and from basis weight and moisture measuring instruments to determine total mineral content, and the individual amounts of mineral additives in or on (e.g. coating) the paper web.

Abstract: A positioning device for positioning a movably mounted portion of a workpiece. The positioning device includes an attachment structure, a rod, a flange assembly and an engagement mechanism. The attachment structure includes a rod aperture and is coupled to a robotic apparatus. The rod is disposed within the rod aperture and is slidably positionable therein. The flange assembly is coupled to a distal end of the rod and includes a flange structure. The flange structure is rotatable relative to the rod and engages the movably mounted portion of the workpiece. The engagement mechanism is coupled to the attachment structure and is operable for moving the rod in an axial direction within the rod aperture. The engagement mechanism applies an axially directed force to the flange assembly to maintain the flange structure in a stationary position relative to the movably mounted portion of the workpiece when the movably mounted portion of the workpiece is moved relative to a remaining portion of the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for monitoring near-instantaneous system parameters of electrical energy having at least one phase provided to an energy meter via a service type comprises a memory for storing reference information reflective of different service types, a digital signal processor for measuring characteristics of the electrical energy, and a microcontroller for retrieving the reference information from the memory and determining the near-instantaneous system parameters responsive to the reference information for the service type and the measured characteristics. The characteristics are derived from phase voltage and phase current, and are measured for a predetermined amount of time, such as a number of line cycles.

Abstract: A device for mechanically gripping, transporting, loading and unloading cylindrical containers of various sizes for attachment to a robotic arm. The containers may be bottles including drinking water bottles. The device includes a plurality of gripping mechanisms for gripping the containers. Support pins are also provided for supporting the rotational motion of full bottles. A system for efficiently removing empty containers from racks and simultaneously loading full containers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for facilitating communication throughout a master/slave network. The network topology includes a transmission cable being operably connected between the network modules. A master module includes a master terminating resistor operably connected to the transmission cable. A slave module includes a slave terminating resistor and a slave switch. The slave terminating resistor is operably connected to the slave switch. A load resistor is operably connected to the transmission cable. The slave switch is operably responsive to the load resistor to generate a terminate enable. The slave switch inserts the slave terminating resistor onto the transmission cable in response to the terminate enable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compliant end effector for securing an implement or tool such as a spindle to an arm of an industrial robot. The end effector has an internal passageway that extends completely through the end effector for receiving the spindle. The end effector includes a mounting assembly, a gripping assembly, a compliant assembly and a biasing assembly. The mounting assembly has a mounting bracket that rigidly secures the end effector to the robotic arm. The gripping assembly has a support bracket that rigidly secures the spindle to the end effector. The compliant assembly joins the mounting assembly to the gripping assembly, and includes an internal collar with two sets of opposed pivot pins that form first and second pivot axes. The biasing assembly includes a sponge rubber biasing ring with a number of uniformly spaced springs that combine to bias the spindle into a normal biased position.

Abstract: A fluid meter particle isolating system having a tortuous path formed between a pair of walls with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is open to a contaminant-free (clean) zone while an outlet is open to a particle generating contaminated (dirty) zone. The walls include partitions that form a tortuous path separating it into a plurality of chambers. An impeller constructed of a plurality of open cells forming a piston-like structure is provided in the tortuous path and has an axis of motion parallel to the walls. Each cell forms a vessel for transmitting fluid media under a low pressure gradient from a clean zone toward a contaminated zone to prevent particles generated in the contaminated zone from migrating to the clean zone. Each vessel is formed by the four walls of each cell having a bottom surface contoured to provide a transition from one cell to the next through an exit port.

Abstract: A publication distribution system and, more specifically, a computer operated feedback control system for controlling a process such as a paper-making process includes an effective common data base to which Publisher and Subscriber means are connected. An actual Publisher and Subscriber data base allows for a once only subscription to link subscriber means to a selected publisher for transfer of only updated or changed data from the original. Thus, only changed data is transferred across a network and computational load is reduced significantly. In the specific context of the present invention, the Publisher may be a scanning sensor for basis weight of paper being manufactured by a paper-making machine and a Subscriber may be an actuator such as a headbox control unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving substrates between a loading section and a working chamber includes at least two loading locations at which the substrates may be supplied or received in stacked form therein. Load locks are provided at a second station each located directly oppositely of the locations at the loading station and corresponding in number to those locations. A substrate handling mechanism is disposed between the loading and the second stations for picking up and moving the substrates between the loading and second stations and includes linear positioning apparatus movable along a track of given width for positioning the handling mechanism along the given line, and the loading and second stations being separated from one another substantially only by the given width of the linear positioning apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic meter incorporates a TCP/IP protocol suite and an HTTP server to provide two-way access to the meter data. Alternatively, the TCP/IP protocol suite may be incorporated into a gateway serving multiple meters connected through a power line or wireless two-way network. The gateway may incorporate an HTTP server for accessing data from multiple meters and for transmission of data to individual meters. Other aspects of the disclosed system include the use of a common gateway interface for remote access to meter data and to set meter parameters using HTML forms in HTTP browsers; remote reading and setting of multiple meter parameters using a TCP/IP protocol suite; a TCP/IP protocol suite implemented in designated nodes in a CEBus LAN with remote access through TCP/IP to routers and brouters and to individual meters on the LAN; and an SLIP-PPP enabled gateway for remote TCP/IP access through a serial interface to a single or multiple meter parameters.

Abstract: A method of adjusting spacing between first and second jaw structures of a plug-in base for receiving a circuit breaker is provided. The method includes providing a plug-in base 10 having first and second jaw structures constructed and arranged to receive stabs of a circuit breaker. The first jaw structure 14 is disposed in a first housing 18 and the second jaw structure 16 is disposed in a second housing 20. Each of the first and second housings has an upper surface 22 and an opposing lower surface 24. A first spacer 26 is placed between the first jaw structure 14 and the upper or lower surface of the first housing 18 and a second spacer 28 is placed between the second jaw structure 16 and the upper or lower surface of the second housing 20 to define a certain spacing between the first and second jaw structures.