Abstract: Rows of rectangular bins for crop storage have open tops along which an overhead shuttle carriage moves for filling the bins one at a time. An auger on the carriage removes the contents from the incoming conveyor belt for deposit in an assigned bin. An array of declined baffles positioned in the path of the falling product buffers the fall. A product support over the discharge auger minimizes the product bridging effect between the vertical walls of the bin.

Abstract: A primary-secondary circuit hydraulic interface is disclosed for use in chilled water and hot water systems in which a suction manifold header is used to tie in the secondary return water, the primary supply water, and the suction side of the primary and secondary pumps. The hydraulic interface is installed within the suction manifold at the location where the secondary return water enters the suction manifold. The hydraulic interface allows the bypass water (which is excess primary supply water) and the secondary return water to easily enter the hydraulic interface into a downstream portion of the manifold through large openings and forces the two streams of water to collide together, thereby ensuring a turbulent mixing to take place. The hydraulic interface forces the mixed water to exit the hydraulic interface through much smaller openings into a downstream portion of the manifold, thereby ensuring that the bypass water and secondary return water are thoroughly blended together as they exit.

Abstract: An oil and waste line connection spillage containment apparatus, constructed from non-corrosive and rustproof materials, includes a substantially cylindrical container which has two openings for receiving oil and waste loading and unloading lines therein. The lines are connected within the container. A circular cover encloses the container and is quickly and securely fastened and unfastened from the container using a pair of L-shaped members which extend from the cover and cooperatively couple with a lip defined around the top of the container. Any oil and waste spilled from the connection is removed from the container when the lines are disconnected, or alternatively, a removal line with an auxiliary valve affixed thereto, is used to siphon the oil and waste from the container to the loading line. When the unloading line is removed from the opening in the container, a plug having vent holes for releasing gas from the container, is inserted into the opening.

Abstract: A splice assembly for a paper web transport apparatus including first and second webs of paper with each web alternately constituting a running web moving in first direction and a new web to be spliced to the running web, the splice assembly including a knife guide for providing a cutting edge for cutting the running web and the new web; a moving assembly for moving the knife guide back and forth in a direction of movement of the running web; first and second clamping assemblies for selectively clamping the running and new web, the first and second clamping assemblies being positioned on opposite sides of the knife guide in the direction of movement of the running web; two knives for selectively cutting the running web and the new web against the knife guide; a first tape applicator for applying a piece of tape to the same side of a splice of the running web and the new web, regardless of which of the first and second webs is the running web and which of the first and second webs is the new web, without index

Abstract: A method for reactivating and recovering electrolyte cells by drilling a hole through the battery case and injecting a volume of electrolyte liquid into the case for absorption into the cell separator material. The battery is subjected to multiple charge/discharge cycles while the cell opening remains unsealed, and is subjected to a final charge prior to sealing the drilled hole through the cell outer case.

Abstract: Rooms in a building each have a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC), a room control unit having a temperature controller, and various sensors. The control unit monitors the presence of persons in the room, determines the season, sets back the temperature in an empty room by a variable amount which the HVAC can restore in a given time, and restores the temperature to the previous user request when the user returns but to a standard temperature if the user has newly checked in. An outside hallway panel briefly displays, when interrogated by a maid, a person's presence. By monitoring maid requests, door status and maid activity, the unit indicates on a room map whether the room is being cleaned, clean, or ready to rent. By establishing the heat loss/gain (lg) factor of a room with the HVAC off and comparing it with the time to heat or cool the room, HVAC failures are determined. By comparing a room's lg factor with those of its neighbors, room environment failures are determined.

Abstract: An improved bucky drive utilizes a reversible rotary motor which drives a screw received in a nut fixed to a bucky grid. A integrated control circuit board for the motor insures that the motor is quickly operated. In other features, the motor is a DC motor with a position sensor. A transistor speed control is utilized. The bucky system may be operated in either a semi-automatic or an automatic mode. The speed of the grid may be controlled. Further, other operational parameters of the system may also be controlled.

Abstract: A rate detection system (10) uses a balanced resonant sensor (12) having first and second tines (14,16) interconnected with a mounting pad (20). A sensing circuit (50) including a tunnel effect displacement sensor (38) having a first probe (40) connected to the mounting pad (20) and a second probe (42) connected to a reference pad (32) detects an output signal having a Coriolis component. A feedback circuit provides a compensation signal to the balanced resonant sensor (12).

Abstract: A fluid-conducting swivel includes an upstream conduit, downstream conduit, and support assembly for holding the upstream and downstream conduit with their flow passageways aligned, allowing rotation of one of the upstream and downstream conduit, and maintaining a space between the adjacent ends of the conduit. The upstream conduit includes an acceleration nozzle for accelerating the velocity of the fluid flow to such a velocity that the fluid creates a substantially self-contained fluid jet. The downstream conduit includes a deceleration nozzle for decelerating the velocity of the fluid flow and a downstream throat extending between the deceleration nozzle and the end of the downstream conduit adjacent the upstream conduit. The downstream throat receives the accelerated fluid from the upstream conduit and is sized to substantially prevent expansion of the accelerated fluid and thereby prevent fluid leakage and pressure loss between the upstream and downstream conduit.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in conjunction with spring applied, air release parking brakes of the character found in heavy-duty truck-trailers which, in a single valve housing provides system pressure protection, prevents compounding application of the brakes and performs the parking brake release function in an expedicious and highly reliable manner.

Abstract: Warning systems for aircraft that provide a warning to the pilot of an excessive altitude loss or an excessive descent rate after take-off as long as he is flying below a predetermined altitude have the problem that they require a valid radio altitude signal for proper operation, and tend to generate nuisance warnings when used in low flying aircraft. This problem is solved by comparing the accumulated altitude loss after take-off (12, 14, 62, 34) with the product of a barometrically derived altitude and the length of time the aircraft has been flying (12, 14, 30, 32, 34). A warning is generated if the altitude loss is excessive for the accumulated time-altitude product after take-off (38, 40). Thus, the system is more sensitive immediately after take-off and becomes less sensitive as flight time is accumulated to permit low level maneuvering without generating false or nuisance warnings, and does not require a valid radio altitude signal to generate a warning.

Abstract: A probe developing an admittance with a material whose condition is to be continuously measured is capacitively coupled with a variable frequency oscillator, preferably one having a digital output stage, for generating a variable frequency signal having a period varying with the admittance developed at the probe. Both the oscillator input and output are capacitively coupled to the probe. In a preferred embodiment, a set point circuit including a plurality of resistors coupled in parallel with the oscillator output and a plurality of switches coupled in parallel with the probe conductor and each with a different one of the resistor, provides easy circuit adjustment for use of the system with a variety of materials. A preferred digital circuit employing a pair of flip flops, fixed timer and one shot generate a fixed period variable duration duty cycle digital voltage level signal for transmission, if desired, or for conversion into a variable current signal.

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 anti-backlash spline coupling configured to have the identical rotation as a spline shaft with which it is engaged. The coupling includes two plates and tensioning means which bias the rotary movement of each plate against the other. The coupling may be used in a position measuring system to accurately measure the rotation of a workpiece which is subject to both vertical and rotary motion.

Abstract: An input module used in a factory automation apparatus, which is constituted by a bidirectional conduction circuit for connecting to an AC power source or DC power source with both plus or minus common line, a constant current circuit for supplying constant current, and a load circuit accepting the constant current. When the voltage range is less wide, a bidirectional conduction circuit and a filter circuit are used.

Abstract: The operation of an electromechanical relay is synchronized with the power line waveform where an electrical power supply is supplied from a source to an electrical load. The current voltage supplied to the load is characterized by a power line waveform. An electromechanical relay is positioned between the power supply and the load where contacts of the relay are opened and closed to interrupt and supply power to the load. A microcontroller is positioned between a power source and the electromechanical relay and actuates the relay so that when the contacts are closed or opened the contacts are not exposed to an undesired voltage. A feedback control circuit senses the opening and closure of the contacts so that in the event the contacts, for example close at an undesireable point on the load current waveform the microcontroller adjusts for the necessary delay to cause the actuation of the relay to occur such that the contact closure is at the desired point in the load current waveform.

Abstract: A timing device incorporates a timing module having a relatively low capacity for use in a heavier application than it could normally be used due to the low capacity of the timing module switch contacts. The timing module output is connected with a solenoid having an extendable and retractable plunger, and a mechanical actuator arrangement is connected to the plunger. A high-capacity set of switch contacts are connected in the circuit, and the mechanical actuator arrangement controls opening and closing of the high-capacity switch contacts in response to extension and retraction of the solenoid plunger.

Abstract: A system for measuring the transmission rate of volatile organic chemicals through a barrier material, where a barrier material sample is clamped in a test cell so as to form a chamber on both sides of the material, with a temperature-controlled test gas conveyed into one chamber and a temperature-controlled carrier gas conveyed through the other chamber. The carrier gas is passed through a cryotrap where the organic chemicals are collected, and the carrier gas with collected chemicals is then burned in a flame ionization detector to measure the quantity of organic chemicals.

Abstract: An electronic vehicle security system includes a valet switch and status indicator light combined into a single unit. The system includes a central controller having a plurality of sensors connected thereto. The sensors are located throughout the vehicle and generate signals to the controller when an intrusion attempt into the vehicle is detected. In response to these signals, the controller automatically activates an alarm device or an anti-theft device to deter the intruder from entering into or operating the vehicle. The system further includes a combined valet switch and status indicator light assembly. The assembly is adapted to be mounted on the dash panel of the vehicle and is connected through a single wiring harness to the central controller.