Abstract: A sealed envelope, which encloses a rectangular shaped container having an audio or video tape therein to form a package, is automatically removed from the container through cutting a first edge of the envelope during its travel in a first direction and then cutting two substantially parallel edges, perpendicular to the first cut edge, during travel of the container in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. After the three edges of the envelope have been cut, air pressure is selectively applied towards the cut edges. Then, flexible tubes apply forces to the top and bottom of the cut envelope to partially remove it from the container prior to the container being advanced in the second direction to an area in which a vacuum is applied to remove the cut envelope from the container. The packages are initially stacked in a magazine with each package being advanced from the magazine in the first direction in a predetermined spacing from the prior package.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for remotely monitoring the condition of a heat transfer fluid in the liquid line of a heat transfer system. The operation of the system is controlled in response to the results of the remote monitoring which may be used to indicate excessive moisture in the heat transfer fluid, low levels of heat transfer fluid, and non-condensed transfer fluid in the liquid line. Based upon the monitoring of the transfer fluid for non-condensed fluid, the rate of movement of a cooling fluid past a condenser for the transfer fluid is varied so that the temperature of the heat transfer fluid is kept as low as possible without formation of bubbles of non-condensed transfer fluid in the liquid line.

Abstract: Weighed, rod-like product is deposited into a receptacle having a bottom wall formed by an iris plate assembly, which may be vibrated and which opens on command to drop the product into one of two cylindrical holding canisters with clamshell doors on their sides. The canisters are mounted in an "L" configuration which toggles back and forth through a 90 degree rotation presenting each canister first in a vertical position to receive product from the receptacle and then in a horizontal position to release product via the clamshell doors into a pocket such as a timing hopper, or a paperboard tray carried by a conveyor to a packaging machine. Interlocks are provided to preclude release of the product or movement of the conveyor when synchronization is lost with respect to either the weighing or packaging machine.

Abstract: An alarm system remotely detects a sensor being attached to or detached from a product. The sensor has a secured state and an unsecured state. The sensor is in the secured state when attached to the product and in the unsecured state when detached from the product. The sensor includes an indicator for indicating the state of the sensor. A detector electrically connected to the sensor determines the state of the sensor. The detector provides a control signal in response to the state of the sensor. The control signal controls the indicator. An alarm is electrically connected to the detector and is responsive to the control signal for indicating the state of the sensor.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for recovering high-pressure CFC refrigerants in vapor form includes a removable tank for receiving and storing the liquefied refrigerant to be recovered and two refrigeration circuits. The first refrigerant circuit processes the refrigerant to be recovered and includes a compressor and a condenser. The removable tank acts as the evaporator of the first refrigeration circuit. The second refrigeration circuit is included to cool both the condenser of the first refrigeration circuit and the removable tank. This second refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator, and contains a second refrigerant physically isolated from the refrigerant to be recovered. Both the condenser of the first refrigeration circuit and the evaporator of the second refrigeration circuit are preferably coil shaped, with the condenser coil preferably coaxially arranged within the evaporator coil.

Abstract: A simple golf exercising aid device for notifying a golf player immediately after any head-up. The device comprises sound pickup means for an impacting sound caused by the impact of a club head against a golf ball, first means which compares, with a threshold value, a waveform within a predetermined frequency band out of the signals provided by the sound pickup means and outputs the result after a predetermined delay time, a motion sensor made up of an earth magnetic field sensor or an angular velocity sensor, for converting the motion of a golf player's head into an electrical signal, and second means which rectifies and then differentiates the output signal of said motion sensor, and which compares the differentiated output with a threshold value. Said motion sensor is mounted a portion of the golf player's head, and judgment output is provided when the timings of the outputs from the two means agree.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the capacitance of tablets of varying shapes and sizes by conveying the tablets along a curved path which includes a zone of travel between the plates of a capacitive sensing device. The tablets are conveyed in a relatively fixed orientation by constructing a guide channel including a fixedly-positioned curved guide spaced away from a rotatable disk, and wherein a resilient clamp is provided above the guide channel so as to compress the tablet against the rotatable disk during its path of travel.

Abstract: A solenoid valve assembly including a diaphragm assembly which is conformed to the poppet and which moves therewith. The poppet is integral with or mounted to the pole piece of the solenoid. The poppet is shaped to conform to the shape of the valve seat. The diaphragm is preferably elastomeric and stretchable to create a wiping motion against the valve seat when the solenoid is deactivated. The valve seat may also have an annular groove to allow flushing of the valve in both open and closed positions.

Abstract: A ball-valve member, which in its valve-closed condition must have circumferentially continuous sealed contact with its seat, is mounted for rotation about an axis which is eccentrically gyrated in the course of limited rotation of an actuating element that is journalled in the valve body. The eccentric throw is selected to be such in relation to the full course of actuating-element rotation that, beginning with a fully-closed condition of the valve, an initial fraction of the course of actuating-element rotation is devoted to achieving the eccentric throw (without rotating the ball), whereby to displace the ball-rotation axis in the axial direction away from seat engagement; the ball surface is thus displaced into axially offset clearance with respect to the seat, before devoting the remaining fraction of actuating-element rotation to the task of rotating the ball to its valve-open position.

Abstract: A device and method for creating favorable conditions for achieving adjustable laminar fluid flow is described. In the practical example of a thermal mass flow meter the laminar flow element contains a porous, open celled, flexible material such as stainless steel mesh. The mesh creates a labyrinthine flow path, for the creation of laminar fluid flow, within the laminar flow element. Means for compressing or elongating the steel mesh renders the laminar flow element adjustable over an extended fluid flow range, and provides optimal fluid dynamics.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of hydrogen sulfide in an enclosure which is involved in processing sewage and where workmen are present wherein methyl benzoate is used an additive to the sewage is described. The methyl benzoate is preferably in the form of a dilute aqueous emulsion. The emulsifier is preferably a polyoxyethylene derivative of a sorbitan fatty acid ester and most preferably, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate.

Abstract: Weighed, rod-like product is deposited into a receptacle having a bottom wall formed by an iris plate assembly, which may be vibrated and which opens on command to drop the product into one of two cylindrical holding canisters with clamshell doors on their sides. The canisters are mounted in an "L" configuration which toggles back and forth through a 90 degree rotation presenting each canister first in a vertical position to receive product from the receptacle and then in a horizontal position to release product via the clamshell doors into a pocket such as a timing hopper, or a paperboard tray carried by a conveyor to a packaging machine. Interlocks are provided to preclude release of the product or movement of the conveyor when synchronization is lost with respect to either the weighing or packaging machine.

Abstract: The temperature compensated air/fuel ratio controller is used in conjunction with an internal combustion engine. The method includes electronically sensing the oxygen content and the temperature of the exhaust gas generated by the engine. It was discovered that the oxygen content signal varies in a curvilinear manner with respect to the temperature. The oxygen content signal is therefore compensated in both the linear and non-linear signal regions. The compensated oxygen content signal is then used to control the air/fuel ratio of the engine. In a working embodiment, the temperature compensated air/fuel ratio controller utilizes a zirconium oxide oxygen sensor. One type of circuitry designed to compensate the oxygen content signal in both the linear and non-linear signal regions includes, in one embodiment, electronic circuitry that segments the curvilinear function into linear segments and generates a plurality of linear compensatory signals which are added to the oxygen content signal.

Abstract: An integrated throttle position validation sensor includes electrically independent throttle position and position validation components responsive to a single mechanical input applied to a protective sensor housing. By suitable mounting to the throttle control device, the mechanical input corresponds to accelerator pedal position. Within the sensor housing a potentiometer moves with the mechanical input whereby a variable voltage throttle position signal is generated. Also, within the housing a separate validation switch responsive to the mechanical input provides an independent representation of throttle control device position in the form of, for example, a bi-state validation signal. The sensor integrates previous separate throttle control position and position validation functions into a single environmentally secure housing which requires no calibration. The integrated sensor is more reliable and less costly than previously available separate throttle control and idle validation functions.

Abstract: An oven with a box-like housing for efficient use of plant floor space encases a spiral food product carrying conveyor. A process vapor is circulated within the housing by "plug fans" with the inlet drawing vapor from the central axial zone of the spiral conveyor and exhausting into plenums along the periphery of the conveyor. The plenums have nozzles oriented to project the process vapor laterally towards the conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination valve and back pressure valve which in one embodiment performs as a two-way check valve, and in another embodiment performs as a back pressure valve. The invention contains both apparatus and method claims. The valve includes a cylindrical member having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a bore therethrough. A valve sleeve is disposed within the bore. A valve stem is also slidably disposed within the bore. A selective dis-attachment assembly is incorporated into the valve and includes pre-selected shear pistons.

Abstract: A valve construction wherein the rotor shaft of a reversible electric motor is axially displaceable between axially spaced elements of a differential-screw system for driven displacement of a valve member. Each of these spaced elements is preferably a ball screw, independently co-operative with upper and lower regions of the rotor shaft, i.e., at the respective upper and lower sides of the rotor carried by the shaft. The valve of the invention and its control and drive system are contained within a housing which fixedly mounts (a) the ball-screw nut of the upper element of the differential-screw system and (b) the stator of the motor, so that motor-driven rotation results in axial displacement of the rotor and its shaft, pursuant to the helical advance lead or pitch of the upper ball-screw nut.

Abstract: A digital voltage protection circuit (138) and a phase monitor circuit (154, 160, 162, 168) disconnect AC-powered user equipment (22,182) from the AC power supply (141) whenever the AC power line voltage is outside a predetermined operating voltage window and when any two phases of the power supply (141) are separated by more than a predetermined phase angle. The user equipment (182) is automatically reconnected to the power supply (141) only after the power line voltage and phase remain continuously within operating range for a predetermined delay period. The voltage monitor (138) contains a digital comparator (18) that uses integrated circuit digital logic thresholds as reference voltages for setting upper and lower voltage window limits. The controller protects the user equipment from both over-voltage and under-voltage (brownout) conditions and from phase errors.