Abstract: An improved surveillance system for recording and monitoring video information from a plurality of cameras (20) and data from a plurality of electronic cash registers (21). An intelligent controller (28) controls operation of the entire system. Data concerning all cash register transactions are stored in a memory (78) and video signals are displayed on a monitor (27) and/or recorded on a VCR (26). A keyboard (30) is provided so that the user can generate reports, and selectively vary parameters which will trigger alarm events. A novel entrance door mat (22) is provided having a pair of switch arrays (46, 47) separated by a dead zone (48) is provided and the state of the switches is periodically read by the CPU. Control logic (FIGS. 9, 10) executed by the CPU detects closures of the switches in the mat to determine when customers are passing into and out of the store, as well as maintaining a count of the net number of customers at the store at any given time.

Abstract: A pneumatic controller for use in controlling airflow in a conditioned air distribution system is adjustable to accommodate different types of damper actuation and thermostats in different systems. The four-function controller can be manually reconfigured to be a direct acting/direct reset controller, a reverse acting/reverse reset controller, a direct action/reverse reset controller or a reverse acting/directing resent controller, all using a single diaphragm valve responsive to differential pressure between total air and static air inputs. A reset unit on one end of the controller can be mounted in four different positions, two upright and two inverted, to provide the four functions, with total air and static air inputs being reversed in position when the controller is in a reverse acting mode. A differential pressure responsive valve at the heart of the system is controlled by a spring which can act as either a tension spring, for direct acting, or as a compression spring, for reverse acting.

Abstract: A damper controls fluid flow and includes a frame with an opening through which the fluid is intended to flow when the damper is open, and a closure cap movable between a first position in which it blocks the opening and a second position in which the opening is unblocked. In the second position, the closure cap is rotated with respect to its first position, so as to minimize interference with fluid flow through the opening. A mechanism controls the movement of the closure cap, and includes a first and second bracket fixed with respect to the frame and the closure cap, respectively. An elongate guideway is defined in one bracket and a pin on the other bracket is captive within the elongate guideway.

Abstract: A steerable control system for roadable vehicles includes an axle 16 having rotatably mounted wheels 14a and 14b upon the respective ends thereof. These wheels each include a king pin assembly 60 connected to the axle ends by a pair of king pins 76. Nested within a tapered hole 78 through a spindle member 70 in each of the king pin assemblies 60 is a tapered section 36 of a steering arm 32. A control arm portion 46 of each steering arm 32 is angled outward and backward from the tapered section 36 and generally toward a well of the adjacent wheel 14a or 14b. Attached to the perforate ends 50 of the arms 32 are the ends 86 of a tie rod 30 such that lateral movement of the tie rod 30 causes the arms 32 to rotate the wheels 14a and 14b upon the axle 16, the result being a tighter turning radius with a truer wheel rolling motion than in standard steering systems.

Abstract: A three dimensional graphics tablet for determining the three dimensional coordinates of points on an object placed on a supporting plane. The apparatus includes an articulated arm having at least two link elements connecting a contacting tip element to the support for rotational movement about a plurality of mutually angulated axes. By means of the arm articulation, the contacting tip element can be moved to arbitrary locations within a defined volume. Potentiometers are provided for measuring each of the angles of rotation about the mutually angulated axes. These potentiometers generate signals which collectively determine the coordinates of the location of the tip element. Embodiments are disclosed having three and four degrees of freedom and a portable embodiment including a clamp or bracket are disclosed.

Abstract: A heart pacing and monitoring system includes a new lead system which, when used in conjunction with a telemetry-pacemaker system, permits the transmission of the complete intracardiac electrogram and is not adversely affected by pacemaker outputs or after potentials. Detecting ring electrodes are placed in both right atrium and ventricle in order to optimize electrogram (EGM) detection. Electrically separate from the pacing-sensing electrodes, the detecting electrodes are structurally part of a transvenously placed ventricular lead no larger than a conventional bipolar lead. The EGM telemetry system is also compatible with telephone monitoring systems. The present system is operative to detect and telemetrically record the entire normal and abnormal electrogram even in pacer dependent patients.

Abstract: The speed of a pallet as it descends down a pair of inclined rails in a flow rack is controlled by a series of speed-control wheels mounted on axles fastened to frame members located underneath the pallet. A tapered roller bearing is interposed between each axle and wheel to mount the wheel for combined rotary motion and axial motion. Brake pads are mounted on the frame member for engaging a braking surface on the wheel as it moves axially in response to the pallet load. The brake pads apply friction to the wheel for slowing the speed of the pallet. A bar is provided adjacent the lower end of each rail for engaging the speed control wheels on the pallets to increase the axial pressure thereon and to increase friction for arresting the pallets and separating the same.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling fluid transportation in a pipe network are disclosed. Pressures and flow rates at a predetermined number of points in the pipe network which number is smaller than the number of demand nodes in the pipe network are detected, demand volumes at the demand nodes are estimated based on known flow and pressure balance requirements for the pipe network and the detected flow rates and pressures, and the flow transportation in the pipe network is controlled in accordance with the estimated demand volumes such that the pressures at the demand nodes are brought to a reference pressure so that the pressures at the demand nodes at points other than the predetermined points are also brought to the reference pressure.

Abstract: A motility-immunoimmobilization method permits the detection of a particular motile organism, such as Salmonella, in a sample.

Abstract: A method of magnetic encoding of credit instruments having a strip form magnetic recording medium provides at least one data field on the strip. First and second magnetic field orientations are selected for recordation on the medium of successive, adjacent bit regions in an alternating field orientation pattern with the transition between such orientations defining the transition from one bit region to the next, signalling the initiation of a recorded bit representing either a binary "1" or a binary "0". A first bit region length d.sub.1 for representing one of the binary values "0" and a second bit region length d.sub.2 for representing the other binary value as well as the ratio of d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 are selected, with d.sub.1 /d.sub.2 being from about 0.1 to about 0.5. Thus, the magnetic field transition between adjacent bit regions signals a binary bit and the length of each bit region represents its binary value.

Abstract: A control method and apparatus incorporate a network model simulating hydraulic phenomena within a water distribution network whereby the pressures and flow rates within the water distribution network are controlled by an optimizing unit for inputting the current total demand as a model input and computing manipulated variables or control amounts for optimizing the pressures and flow rates in accordance with a network algorithm and a correction computing unit for computing the necessary control amount correction values for correcting the deviations from the estimated pressures and flow rates in accordance with a sensitivity matrix indicating the effects of variations in the control amounts on the pressures and flow rates.

Abstract: A system for precise positioning of a fluid control valve including a reciprocating piston at each end of a worm shaft, each to rotate the worm shaft in one direction only, through a scotch yoke and a rotary drive transmission. Selection of a valve determines which rotary drive is operated and a hydraulic piston clutch is engaged each time a particular drive is activated and remains engaged to hold a selected position.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a machine having serial-number printing capability and comprising a first plurality of print wheels which are serially indexed for each of a succession of input actuations. An indexing pawl has a second plurality of spaced wheel-indexing pawl elements, one for each of a corresponding second plurality of adjacent print wheels. The number of print wheels is greater than the number of pawl elements, and the pawl is mounted for selective longitudinal placement so as to coact with a desired particular second plurality of adjacent print wheels. The print wheels incorporate the feature of selective removal from printing exposure, so that printing need only involve digit indicia on print wheels requisite to serial-number printing at the selected longitudinal region of pawl action.

Abstract: A method of lifting and stabilizing a concrete slab having an opening therein in which a plate is attached to the top surface of the slab, the plate having an opening coinciding with the opening in the slab, a hydraulic jack having a downwardly extending piston is removeably secured to the plate and a series of tubular shafts are forced downwardly through the opening in the plate and the slab to penetrate the earth beneath the slab and apply lifting force. When the slab has been lifted to the desired elevation, grout, such as a concrete slurry, can be injected below the slab so that the slab is stabilized in the selected elevational position. After the plate is removed the hole in the slab is filled.

Abstract: Astro capsule intended for use as a toy and raisable and rotatable on a four-bar linkage by hydraulic cylinders through hydraulic circuits. An electrical circuit provides for sequenced flashing flight lights, pulsating front gun lights, and for providing through a speaker a rocket sound and a phasor gun sound. The hydraulic circuits include a novel single spool for regulating flow through a valve between a combined motor pump tank to a cylinder at a fast speed up and slow speed down, and a hydraulically actuated system for rotating the capsule about its vertical axis. The vertical motion valve is mechanically linked to the joystick for ascending and descending motion and electrically controlled by the joystick for hydraulic actuation of the capsule about its vertical axis. The four-bar linkage includes a safety bar which overrides the joystick in the event that an individual or an object is positioned under the linkage in an elevated condition.

Abstract: Helicopter intended for use as a toy and raisable on a four-bar linkage by a hydraulic cylinder through a hydraulic circuit. An electrical circuit provides for alternately flashing flight lights, pulsating front gun lights, and for providing through a speaker a chopper sound and a phasor gun sound. The hydraulic circuit includes a novel single spool for regulating flow through a valve between a combined motor pump tank to a cylinder at a fast speed up and slow speed down. The valve is mechanically linked to the joy stick. The four-bar linkage includes a safety bar which overrides the joy stick in the event that an individual or an object is positioned under the linkage in an elevated condition. The hydraulic circuit is provided with a joy stick stop limit within the joy stick throttle structure, a valve control stop link, a safety bar limit, and the inherent four-bar linkage limit, all of these limits acting to keep oil in the cylinder and provide for safety of operation.

Abstract: A three dimensional graphics tablet for determining the three dimensional coordinates of points on an object placed on a supporting plane. The apparatus includes an articulated arm having at least two link elements connecting a contacting tip element to the support for rotational movement about a plurality of mutually angulated axes. By means of the arm articulation, the contacting tip element can be moved to arbitrary locations within a defined volume. Potentiometers are provided for measuring each of the angles of rotation about the mutually angulated axes. These potentiometers generate signals which collectively determine the coordinates of the location of the tip element. Embodiments are disclosed having three and four degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A high-coulomb transfer switch useful for high current pulse power supplies employs an inverse-pinch mechanism to sweep the arc current sheet over the electrodes. The inverse pinch currents are formed by a special electrode configuration wherein the inner electrode has the shape of a mushroom with the "cap" surrounding the "stem" so that the currents flowing in the electrode enclose the magnetic induction around the "stem". This results in repulsive forces on the outer currents in the "cap" causing the arc current sheet to rapidly move from the lip at the "cap" where the arc is initiated upward to the crown of the "cap" where occurs the final decay of the current. In the disclosed preferred embodiment, the inner, outer and return electrodes are generally cylindrical and placed coaxially. The switch can be operated under a vacuum or under a high pressure gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for minimizing the fuel usage in an internal combustion engine. The subject invention is particularly adapted for use with an engine installation subject to varying loads and which includes a governor for varying fuel flow as a function of load. In operation, the combustibles in the exhaust gas of the engine is continuously monitored. The measured level of combustibles is then compared with a predetermined level corresponding to optimum efficiency. A controller is provided for varying the air/fuel ratio supplied to the engine for maximizing efficiency in correspondence with the preset level. By this arrangement, energy output is increased permitting the governor to further reduce fuel flow, thereby minimizing energy costs.