Abstract: A centrifugal feeder for rectangular items with one of its upper or lower surfaces having luminescent characteristics which are greater than the other surface. It is desired to orient the items with its elongated axis in the direction of the output and its luminescent surface downward. The feeder has a rotating bowl surrounded by a rotating rim. Items are placed on the rotating bowl by any suitable device. A sweep pushes the items randomly onto the rim and a pair of sweeps then insure that the items are flat and only one layer high. The rim then narrows so that items not disposed with their elongated axis tangentially will over balance and fall off the rim. A sensor then determines the space between items, and if the space exceeds a preselected interval, signals for more items to be placed onto the bowl. A luminescence sensor then determines if the item thereunder is disposed with its greater luminescent surface up and a kick off device kicks off items with the greater luminescent side up.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selective alteration and control of door movement modes utilizing an apparatus that is primarily non-hydraulic and incorporated with a known mechanism which is functional independently from the apparatus in one mode of operation and which includes a piston for controlling door closing characteristics by selected fluid flow within the mechanism. The apparatus includes a motor driven lead screw having a linearly movable shuttle unit mounted thereon, the shuttle unit being positioned relative to the piston of the mechanism to accommodate nonattached contact with the piston to urge the piston, when the shuttle unit is moved, in a direction that will at least provide selective assistance with door opening in another mode of operation. Operation of the apparatus is controlled by programming of a related controller including non-volatile memory.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method of dispensing heated condiment from a condiment source. The condiment is flowed through a heater hose, and the temperature of the condiment is controlled within a predetermined range by sensing the temperature of the condiment in the hose and controlling the operation of the heater hose to maintain the temperature of the condiment within the predetermined range which results in the dispensing of condiment at a desired temperature.

Abstract: A volume control insert for a ball valve that is attachable in a fluid passage of the ball valve to provide a predetermined flow condition therethrough. The insert has a convex shape corresponding to an outer surface of a valving member seated in the ball valve, and has a connector disposed on its periphery to attach the insert across the fluid passage. The insert has an elongate slot through it, such as an oblong or parabolic shaped opening, adapted to provide the predetermined flow condition. A plurality of such inserts may be furnished with a ball valve to provide a range of predetermined flow conditions that may be individually selected for the ball valve. Preferably, each of the inserts include a parabolic opening therethrough, the parabolic opening providing a substantially equal percentage flow characteristic between maximum and minimum flow rate conditions when the valving member is rotated each degree of movement between its full open and full closed positions.

Abstract: A rotary valve is provided including a valve element mounted within the flow path of a valve body and rotatable about a stem axis. A peripheral seating surface on the valve body surrounds the flow path through the valve body and is spaced from the stem axis for sealing engagement with the valve element when rotated to its closed position. The peripheral seating surface on the valve body is preferably annular, and more preferably has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration and includes a central annular seating line spaced closer to the center point of the valve than adjoining upstream and downstream portions of the seating surface. The valve element includes a rigid body with a peripheral resilient overlay. The resilient overlay has a peripheral pressure-responsive sealing member for flexing in response to fluid pressure into sealing engagement with the seating surface.

Abstract: A sensor has a substrate with a first surface having a substantial area, a conductive trace defining a conductive path on the substrate between first and second locations, and an adhesive on the first surface for adhering the sensor to an object to be monitored in an operative state. A weakening is provided in the substrate to cause separation/tearing of the substrate in a predetermined fashion as an incident of a force being applied to the substrate with the sensor in the operative state tending to peel the sensor off of the object to be monitored. The conductive trace is arranged on the substrate so that as the substrate separates/tears in the predetermined fashion, the conductive path defined by the conductor trace is interrupted.

Abstract: An oven for continuous cooking of products carried upon a open mesh wire conveyor provides the impingement of a cooking vapor from air discharge structure having ports arrayed above and below the conveyor. The discharge ports extend laterally of the conveyor and communicate with upper and lower plenums each charged by blower fans which draw cooking vapor from low pressure corridors alongside the product conveyor. Gas, electric or thermo fluid heaters are disposed in the corridors. The discharge ports are in slot form disposed about the apex of a Vee shaped riser spaced from the adjacent riser to provide a low pressure flow channel communicating with the corridors giving a rapid velocity change of the cooking vapor from turbulent to a less turbulent flow. The distance for vapor travel between the upper discharge ports and the product carrying conveyor is variable. Temperature and moisture content of the process vapor can be changed to suit cooking conditions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed as part of an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch. A locating signal is transmitted from the boring tool which exhibits negative locate points at the surface of the ground. The method establishes the depth of the boring tool at a particular position by identifying a negative locate point corresponding to the particular position of the boring tool along the particular path. Thereafter, a signal strength of the locating signal is measured at the negative locate point. The pitch of the boring tool is then determined at the particular position of the boring tool. Using the measured signal strength and the determined pitch, the depth of the boring tool beneath the surface of the ground is established at the particular point.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power processor which operates in three modes: an inverter mode wherein power is delivered from a battery to an AC power grid or load; a battery charger mode wherein the battery is charged by a generator; and a parallel mode wherein the generator supplies power to the AC power grid or load in parallel with the battery. In the parallel mode, the system adapts to arbitrary non-linear loads. The power processor may operate on a per-phase basis wherein the load may be synthetically transferred from one phase to another by way of a bumpless transfer which causes no interruption of power to the load when transferring energy sources. Voltage transients and frequency transients delivered to the load when switching between the generator and battery sources are minimized, thereby providing an uninterruptible power supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides a locator/monitor capable of locating a boring tool and monitoring the progress of the tool for control purposes. The locator/monitor may be used in expedited locating methodology and straightforward calibration techniques of the present invention. A durable and cost effective pitch sensor is also provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention provides a slotted transmitter housing formed of an electrically conductive material, where the magnetic field generated by the transmitter is capable of penetrating to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming a vehicle headlight to a standard image pattern includes a frame movable relative to the vehicle. A housing carried on a vertically adjustable housing includes a lens focusing a headlight beam onto a reflective screen which reflects the beam image to a camera. A control compares the digitized image output from the camera with a standard image pattern and generates a correlation factor based on the difference between the reflected image and a standard image. Based on the difference, the control generates output signals to an adjustment device engagable with the headlight mounting frame to adjust the position of the mounting frame to reduce the difference to zero.

Abstract: A flow measuring device for indicating the leak status of a pressurized fluid-carrying line pressurized by a pump includes an electronic leak sensing module connected in fluid communication with the pressurized line and configured for insertion within a detection port of a pump manifold. The module includes a thermal sensor effected by flow through the pressurized line, whereby leaks in the pressurized line are detected by monitoring the thermal sensor for changes in output signal that correspond to flow through the pressurized fluid-carrying line. The flow measuring device includes a system control unit for monitoring the electronic leak sensing module and indicating the leak status of the pressurized line. Wires which provide power to the leak sensing module, the system control unit and the pump for pressurizing the pressurized line are also used for communication.

Abstract: The remote control assembly 10 is characterized by a terminal mechanism 34 including a tubular anchor member 36 slidably supported on a tubular fitting 22 extending from the conduit 14. The anchor member 36 is secured to the outer end 30 of a rod 26 extending form the core element 12 and is disposed in close sliding relationship about the tubular fitting 22. The terminal mechanism 34 also includes a tubular connector member 44 and a coil spring 46. The connector member 44 is in telescoping relationship with the anchor member 36 and the spring 46 biases the connector member 44 in an extending direction and provides lost motion between the rod 26 and the control member in response to a predetermined collapsing force. A resilient cushion 48 is disposed in the connector member 44 for cushioning collapsing movement of the connector member 44 over the anchor member 36.

Abstract: Improved methods for extinguishing tank fires, in particular of low boiling point and/or low auto ignition point fluids, the improved methods including cooling inner and outer tank wall portions and improving a foam attack from staged nozzles through creating side foot prints at the site and correcting footprint range, footprint length, footprint width or foam run for variations in factors such as wind conditions, nozzle stream width, head pressure, percent of foam concentrate, the burning fluid, the type of foam and the temperature of the burning fluid.

Abstract: A method for selective alteration and control of door movement modes utilizing an apparatus that is primarily non-hydraulic and incorporated with a known mechanism which is functional independently from the apparatus in one mode of operation and which includes a piston for controlling door closing characteristics by selected fluid flow within the mechanism. The apparatus includes a motor driven lead screw having a linearly movable shuttle unit mounted thereon, the shuttle unit being positioned relative to the piston of the mechanism to accommodate nonattached contact with the piston to urge the piston, when the shuttle unit is moved, in a direction that will at least provide selective assistance with door opening in another mode of operation. Operation of the apparatus is controlled by programming of a related controller including non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A motor control system for controlling the operating speed and direction of a three-phase induction motor. The invention particularly finds use for bringing a rotary printing cylinder precisely into register for processing products in sheet form, such as for printing sheets of corrugated cardboard in a machine for printing corrugated boxes. A three phase induction motor is single phase powered by an AC drive through a first and a second electrical conductor. Direction switching signals and time delay speed switching signals are applied to the appropriate terminals of the AC drive by the second and a third electrical conductor. This allows motor powering and control using only three conductors, such from as the slip rings on industry standard corrugated box printing equipment.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region which includes at least one electrically conductive in-ground line. The system includes an arrangement for tracking a specific positional relationship between the boring tool and one or more in-ground lines. The arrangement generates a magnetic field from one of either the boring tool or the line. A particular characteristic of the generated field is detected at the boring tool if the field is generated from the line or is detected at the line if the field is generated from the boring tool. The characteristic varies as a function of the specific positional relationship between the boring tool and the line as the boring tool moves through the ground within the region.

Abstract: A probe (16) for use in measuring the level of fluid (12) in a tank (14) based on time-domain reflectometry detection utilizes a pair of flexible conductors (26, 28). The conductors (26, 28) may be removably placed in the tank (14) in a mounting bracket (32) secured to the tank (14), by sliding the conductors (26, 28) into the bracket (32), at one of a plurality of spacings. The selection of spacing of the conductors (26, 28) is based on the type of fluid utilized in the tank (14). The conductors (26, 28) are flexible to allow conformance to the contour of the tank (14).

Abstract: The crane comprises a generally horizontal boom or other supporting structure having at least one rail thereon, a trolley having a reversible drive for moving the trolley in either direction along the rail, a wire rope hoist suspended from the trolley, and a load carrying device suspended from the hoist for selectively grasping and releasing a freight container or some other load. The crane has a control system which causes the trolley drive to stop the trolley momentarily at a first stopping position. Due to the control system, the drive then restarts the trolley and stops it at a second stopping position directly over a transfer position where the load is to be delivered and released. If the load is a freight container, the transfer position may be directly over a cell of a container ship. The control system includes an encoder for determining the length of the pendulum comprising the trolley, the hoist, the load carrying device and the load.

Abstract: A device, and a method for using the device, to generate discrete information about an environmental event includes an array of sensors. All sensors in the array have a determinable detection capability and, preferably, some of these detection capabilities are redundant while others are overlapping. The individual sensors are positioned in the particular environment to detect characteristics of the event from different perspectives. The outputs which are generated by the various sensors in the array are selectively segmented and joined to create a convolved pattern of data which explicitly and implicitly includes information about the characteristics of the event. The convolved pattern is then presented to a pattern recognition unit, such as a neural network, where the characteristics are interpreted from the convolved pattern to generate the desired discrete information about the environmental event.