Abstract: A tiltable table has a pneumatic actuator and a locking system for establishing and maintaining a table position. The locking system is operated by an air cylinder that engages a dog with a ratchet plate secured to the table. The dog is spring-biased to locking position, and is air-operated for release against the action of the biasing spring. On lowering the table, air is permitted to escape through a restriction orifice at a slow enough rate to maintain sufficient air pressure to keep the locking system disengaged, but sudden release of all the air pressure will again permit the spring to re-lock the system to prevent a downward slamming of the table surface.

Abstract: A control system for a fishing line for use during casting and during reeling in a fish. A line-gripper member can either pinch the line to terminate casting or can apply a drag to assist in landing a fish. The control system is intended to be mounted on a fishing rod and is particularly useful in combination with a spinning reel but also is useful with a drum or rotating, spool-type reel. An operating member is mounted adjacent a handle of a fishing rod to be actuated, usually, by a user's thumb for pulling a control line for actuating a pivoted line-gripper member and provide contact with a fishing line to provide a brake action or drag thereto.

Abstract: A remote switch system for controlling electrical devices, such as electrical lights, from a remote switch location using a single optical fiber or thin bundle of optical fibers to communicate the controlling signal from the remote switch to the device. The fiber optic system includes both an emitter and a detector at the first end of a fiber optic. The emitter sends a light signal through the fiber and the detector detects a reflected signal coming back through the fiber. Conventional switching circuits or relays turn the electrical device, e.g. a light, to a different state, such as "on" or "off", different brightness or the like in response to a pulse of light or the presence or absence of a returning signal.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is presented for removing contaminants from particulate materials especially earth materials by converting said materials by mixture with water and additives to slurries which are energized to volume boiling conditions thereby dislodging contaminant components from the particulate materials, said dislodging can be enhanced through centrifugal or cyclone apparatus for example, which contains electrodes in direct contact with the slurry along the walls of the cyclone. An electrical current flows through the slurry as the energizing source.

Abstract: A process controlling method uses a flowchart language program and ladder programs with an intermediate register to be accessible with the same name by both the flowchart language program and the ladder programs. Each ladder program defines the operation of a machine, including an interlock condition or the like of the machine operation. The flowchart language program defines an automatic operation flow which sequentially activates the ladder programs using the data in the intermediate register. This arrangement allows the flowchart language program to be separated from the ladder programs, thereby improving productivity, serviceability and security of the programs.

Abstract: Compositions, such as liquid therapeutic or diagnostic compositions, and methods for their preparation and involving their use. The compositions comprise an effective amount of gelatin from cold water fish skin as a protein base. The indicated gelatin provides many significant advantages and improvements, including for instance its high stabilizing effect on labile organic substrates included in the compositions, and its low temperature gelling properties which provide improved compositions which do not substantially gel during refrigeration. Further representative advantages relate to its behavior as a zwitterion thus reducing or eliminating needs for buffers, and its surprising behavior similar to human serum protein in protein analyses such as the biuret procedure.

Abstract: An environmental control system includes a plurality of electronically controlled zone controllers mounted on local VAV boxes for regulating the lighting, temperature and ventilation in a plurality of small zone areas. Each zone controller includes a timer which may be adjusted dynamically to change environmental requirements for zone occupants. A remote master computer is coupled to each local controller to provide three modes of lighting and HVAC equipment control. The inventive method of using the system includes controlling selectively individual ones of the zone controllers to provide three modes of operation an OCCUPIED mode, a STANDBY mode, and an UNOCCUPIED mode where the time period for each mode is adjustable either locally from the zone or remotely from a remote console.

Abstract: A gasketless enclosure (10) for housing outdoor electrical equipment. The enclosure includes a box (12) having a base (14) and upwardly extending, sidewalls (16A-16D). The walls define an open, upper face, over which fits a cover (18). A closure mechanism (28) includes an upwardly projecting lip (30) formed at the upper end of the sidewalls and extending around the circumference of the box, and a channel (32) formed in the abutting face (34) of the cover and sized to receive the lip. To help prevent moisture from seeping into the interior of the box and harming the equipment housed therein, gutters (42, 44) are formed in the abutting surfaces of the box and the cover. The gutter (44) formed in the box is formed outwardly of the lip, and the gutter (46) formed in the cover is formed outwardly of the channel. The gutter in the cover sits over the gutter in the box when the cover is in place.

Abstract: A problem solving system including apparatus for representing a relationship between a goal including subgoals and its lower level subgoals and for achieving the goal as a strategy of a first kind. Apparatus is provided for repetitively dividing a goal including subgoals into its lower level subgoals according to the relationship between the goal and the subgoals. A strategy of a second kind is used to specify the functions to be performed by the apparatus to achieve the lowest subgoal. Apparatus is also provided for simplifying and solving a complicated problem by executing the goal including subgoals by use of the strategies of the first and second kinds.

Abstract: An odor-free hot-mix asphalt composition consists essentially of liquid asphalt, or a hot-mix asphalt or a hot mix, cold lay asphalt, or a rubberized hot mix asphalt or a hot mix asphalt with added latex, containing an effective amount of an additive comprising a citrus terpene (4-isopropyl 1-methylcyclohexene) D-limonene mixed with a vegetable oil such as cottonseed oil, soya oil, rapeseed (canola) oil, peanut oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil. etc. and an effective amount of a silicone oil dispersant. A preferred additive composition consists essentially of 10-15 parts citrus terpene (D-limonene) and 85-90 parts vegetable oil, and an effective amount up to about 2 parts silicone oil, the parts in the composition totaling 100. When 0.5-1.0 parts of this composition are mixed with 99.0-99.5 parts liquid asphalt the resulting liquid asphalt composition is substantially free of characteristic asphalt odors, and other objectionable odors.

Abstract: An exercise machine utilizes a mechanical brake to provide the principal resistance. A dynamoelectric machine has its rotor connected to the flywheel of the exercise machine and its stator rotatably mounted to the apparatus frame and connected to the actuation input of the mechanical brake. The torque applied between the rotor and stator of the dynamoelectric machine tends to turn the stator and thus actuates the mechanical brake. A control system is arranged to control the current flow through the dynamoelectric machine and thereby control actuation of the brake. This allows a small dynamoelectric machine to effectively control a very large resistance. The dynamoelectric machine may also be used as a motor to drive the apparatus. Thus, the control system can actuate the dynamoelectric machine either to apply drag or to drive the apparatus thereby provided through constant speed operation.

Abstract: Signals carried inbound on an electricity distribution network are detected by extracting electrical current information from a waveform of the electricity distribution network, and digitally filtering the electrical current information, thereby forming a digital waveform, to extract signal information contained in the electrical current information. A reference waveform is constructed from a portion of the digital waveform, and the signal information is detected by comparing portions of the digital waveform with corresponding portions of the reference waveform.

Abstract: A knowledge processing system in which a grade representing a degree at which an event is satisfied or unsatisfied is obtained depending on a condition part represented in a form of a logical arithmetic expression including an expression of a fuzzy logic and on a grade of satisfaction of the condition part generates rules on assumption of unmeasurable events associated with states of the external field of the system so as to add the rules to the rules related to the unmeasurable events. Forecast of a value of a measurable event is more correctly achieved depending on grades of satisfaction of the unmeasurable events and grades of satisfaction of measurable events. A warning may also be issued according to the forecasted value.

Abstract: An interactive intelligent interface in a system which performs an interactive processing making the system recognize the capacity of a user of the system. The system has a function of providing a processing method conformable to the recognized capacity of the system user, whereby a processing method to be performed by the system is changed in accordance with the operating or processing capacity of the system user so that a procedure desired by the system user can be performed irrespective of the operating or processing capacity of the system user.

Abstract: In a communication system in which outbound information in the form of multi-bit messages is carried by cyclic waveforms over an electric power distribution network, the signal is detected independently at any of a plurality of locations remote from the source by obtaining signal data by sampling the cyclic waveform over a predetermined portion of successive cycles. The predetermined portion is divided into a plurality of predetermined ranges. From a predetermined number of bits at the start of each message, the particular predetermined range which contains the greatest signal strength is selected. For the remaining bits of the message, only those samples in the selected range are analyzed to detect the outbound message. To reject cross-talk, preselected ranges in which cross-talk signals are likely to appear are monitored, and the in-phase messages are rejected when theh signal strength in the in-phase range is less than the signal strength in at least one of the cross-talk ranges.

Abstract: An antimicrobial composition for the preservation of milk samples required for analysis. The composition comprises 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol and natamycin, in effective amounts to prevent spoilage of the milk for a period of at least 5 to 10 days. The amount of 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol for a 50 ml milk sample is preferably 6-12 mg and the amount of natamycin is preferably 0.3-0.6 mg. The composition is preferably employed in the form of a tablet containing a suitable filler and usually other ingredients. In a method of preserving milk samples, the 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol and natamycin may be added separately or simultaneously (e.g. in admixture). The composition and method provide a way of preserving milk samples without the health problems associated with conventional preservatives such as dichromates and without the need to refrigerate the milk.

Abstract: An improved method of prevention of adhesion of hot-mix asphalt to dump trucks and other containers or equipment comprises preparing an aqueous dispersion of a vegetable oil and applying the dispersion to the surface of the container before loading the hot-mix asphalt therein. Vegetable oils which are useful as release agents in aqeous dispersion include cottonseed oil, soya oil, rate (canola) oil, peanut oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil. The oil is emulsified in water, using a suitable emulsifier, preferably a sorbitol base emulsifier, in the amount of 1-5 oz. per gallon of water. The oil and emulsifier are preferably premixed and supplied as a self-emulsifier composition. The resulting emulsion is applied in an amount to provide a thin coating on the wall of the container or equipment. The emulsion is applied in the amount of 3-4 qts. to coat a dump truck or 4-6 qts. to coat a trailer. The hot-mix asphalt is easily removed from the container, i.e.

Abstract: An electrical system for bypassing the anti-theft system of a vehicle such that the engine can be started with a remote control. In particular, this is a system which allows the operator of a vehicle to start the vehicle from a remote location without having the key in the ignition and without alarming the vehicle's anti-theft device. Activation of the remote control which throws a switch, bypasses the normal key dependant ignition circuitry. A potentiometer in the bypass loop mimics the resistance pellet embedded in the ignition key, which is normally required for engaging the engine without alarming the anti-theft device. Other portions of an anti-theft system can also be bypassed if desired.

Abstract: A computer controlled system for delivering of a fertilizing water stream to crop beds and varying the nutrient content of the water stream to customize it for each crop bed. The nutrient feed system utilizes injection pumps with pre-set dose volumes and a computer control which permits the pumps to be stroked at different frequencies based on the flow of a water stream to accurately control the nutrients injected and to permit accurate switching from injecting nutrients of one pre-set menu to those of another pre-set menu.

Abstract: A remote switch system for controlling electrical devices, such as electrical lights, from a remote switch location using a single optical fiber to communicate the controlling signal from the remote switch to the device. Typically, the remote switch may be added to a normal switch near the device during modification or remodeling of a building, automobile or the like or installed in during original construction. The fiber optic system includes both an emitter and a detector at the first end of a fiber optic. The emitter sends a light signal through the fiber and the detector detects a reflected signal coming back through the fiber. Conventional switching circuits or relays turn the electrical device, e.g. a light, to a different state, such as "on" or "off" in response to a pulse of light or the presence or absence of a returning signal.