Abstract: A valve is disclosed having a valve piston slidably movable within a valve casing. The valve also includes a spring biasing the valve piston against a valve seat such that the valve is normally closed, but may be opened when the pressure acting on the valve piston exceeds the biasing force of the spring. In order to assure perfect sealing between the valve piston and the valve seat, the valve seat is formed on a member which is movably mounted in the valve casing by a generally annular elastic element. The elastic element connects the valve seat to the valve casing, as well as a shoulder extending from the valve casing into the valve chamber,d such that an axial clearance exist between the valve seat member and the shoulder, and a radial clearance exists between the valve seat member and the valve casing under all operating conditions of the valve. Such clearances enable the valve seat member to move axially and radially so as to assure perfect sealing between the valve seat and the valve piston.

Abstract: A silver/palladium alloy for electronic applications comprises, on a percent by weight basis, 35-60 silver, 20-44 palladium, 5-20 copper, 1-7 nickel, 0.1-5 zinc, to 0.18 boron, up to 0.05 rhenium and up to 1 percent by weight of modifying elements selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, zirconium and platinum. This alloy exhibits high oxidation and tarnish resistance and is formed into wrought electronic components such as contacts and brushes to provide low noise.

Abstract: A switch for the transfer of data packets comprises in the conventional way input ports and output ports and parallel switching planes, which are identical to each other. The switch establishes connections between input ports and output ports through the parallel switching planes. In each output port there is for each switching plane and each established connection a buffer accommodating at least one data packet. In the output port there is in addition a logical selection device for selecting data packets from the switch and from the different planes in such a way, that a data packet stream, which is as correct as possible, is obtained from the output port, and it selects in the first place data packets from a switching plane, which is the preferred plane at each instant. The selection device comprises a quality determining unit, which at each occasion determines the preferred plane by means of quality values for each plane.

Abstract: The method and system of this invention assist a user in the achievement of a task according to a set of procedures such as those used in the design of software products. A functional description of the process of designing the software is instantiated by the system whereupon the system provides the user with a series of choices relating to the software development. The choices selected, in turn, permit a variety of system tools, each operating in parallel and concurrently, to be used in the development of the software. The system automatically monitors and checks the process during any manipulation and provides error analysis as well as suggested courses of action to the user. The system provides flexible support without requiring the user to follow a rigid development pattern.

Abstract: A non-reusable, disposable syringe has a cylindrical barrel with a needle assembly on its forward end, and a needle trap for protecting the needle from contact. The needle trap includes a hollow plastic housing with a rearward end portion adapted to fit over the cylindrical barrel, and a generally cone-shaped forward end portion having a closed forward extremity. A locking member of generally hollow cylindrical shape is secured within the rearward end of the needle trap housing and has forwardly directed flexible, circumferentially spaced, inwardly tapering fingers that taper inwardly more rapidly than the forward end of the housing when the needle trap is placed over the barrel the fingers of the locking member flex outwardly to pass over the needle base and then flex inwardly to assume a locking position behind the needle base.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a fault on a power line carrying a line parameter such as a load current. The apparatus monitors and analyzes the load current to obtain an energy value. The energy value is compared to a threshold value stored in a buffer. If the energy value is greater than the threshold value a counter is incremented. If the energy value is greater than a high value threshold or less than a low value threshold then a second counter is incremented. If the difference between two subsequent energy values is greater than a constant then a third counter is incremented. A fault signal is issued if the counter is greater than a counter limit value and either the second counter is greater than a second limit value or the third counter is greater than a third limit value.

Abstract: A sliding block with adjustable track positioning comprising a prismatic body, in one face of which there is a longitudinal recess arranged to receive a rail by way of rolling elements positionable in respective tracks, the body being essentially of C-shaped cross-section consisting of a central part from which two flanges extend, wherein in at least one of the two flanges of the C-shaped cross-section there is provided a second longitudinal recess which divides it into separate portions connected together at the central part, the second recess containing elements for adjusting the distance between the two separate portions.

Abstract: Compound of formula IVe ##STR1## where Het is 2-pyridyl or 2-benzothiazolyl, are useful as acylating agents in preparing 7-[2-(2-amino-4-thiazol)-2-oxoacetyl]-cephalosporin intermediates.

Abstract: A track surfacing machine for correcting the track geometry includes a machine frame supported by undercarriages for mobility in an operating direction and including lining drives for correcting the track in a direction transversely to the track and measuring carriages rolling on the track and provided with measuring instruments. The measuring carriages form with the machine frame as well as with measuring instruments a reference system for detecting the actual track geometry, with the machine frame defining a reference base. Associated with the forward and rear measuring carriages of the reference system in operating is a measuring unit for detecting a cant or lateral inclination of the track, with a pressure pickup being provided for determining the lining forces of the lining drives.

Abstract: An automated drive-up vending facility (10) and method utilizes a plurality of automatic transaction machines (12) located around the periphery of a storage building (14), whereby customers can drive their vehicles along side the building, insert an account/debit card into a card reader (16), and make product selections via a touch screen display terminal (18). The products are stocked within building (14), and an automated picking/sorting subsystem (20) retrieves the selected products for deposit into a dispensing chute (22). Selection and product information is provided at the display terminals (18) via an interactive menu driven program. Selection of products subject to sales restrictions automatically actives video conferencing equipment (26) so that a sales attendant can confirm customer authorization to purchase the selected product.

Abstract: A method for feeding and preparing information leaflets on a product packaging line consisting of a first carton conveyor, a second product conveyor and, between these two conveyors, a leaflet continuous-grip conveyor for transporting leaflets along a conveyor aligned to the packaging lines where the leaflet conveying means have sections with varying degrees of grip to facilitate feeding and inserting of leaflets.

Abstract: Balloon assemblies and valves for balloons have improved inflation capabilities. The inlet ends of the balloon valves are disrupted either with a slit or a portion of material removal to prevent the inlet end from being folded back into the valve passageway during insertion of an inflation probe. With the inlet end slit, the slit portions are readily folded back by the inflation probe, thus preventing potential blockage of the valve inlet.

Abstract: A color television system including an encoding device in which the chrominance and high-frequency luminance are sub-sampled in time. In the decoder, the high-frequency of the color television signal of the first and second fields are added thereby eliminating cross-luminance and the demodulated, low-frequency color difference signals are added thereby eliminating cross-color.

Abstract: A dental handpiece includes an end grip member having a configuration and shape to be gripped by an operator, such as a dentist, during use. The end grip member has a first end to be connected to a supply and a second end having therein a recess. At least one coolant line to receive coolant when the end grip member is connected to the supply extends through the end grip member. A plurality of tool holders support respective different tools and are interchangeable selectively connectable to and detachable from the second end of the end grip member. Each tool holder has a first end to carry a respective tool and a second end having an extension extended into the recess in the second end of the end grip member when such tool holder is connected thereto. The extension is configured to block coolant passage or to allow coolant passage through a selected portion of the coolant line.

Abstract: A printing machine of offset type for compact discs comprises at least one printing cylinder for at least one color driven with uniform rotary motion and a chain conveyor driven with intermittent motion for feeding the objects to be printed.

Abstract: In a fly reel, drag is provided by use a helically wound wire spring mounted coaxially over a fixed post attached to the reel frame. The turns at one end of the helically wound spring loosely contact the fixed post, while at the other end of the spring the turns are in intimate contact with the post. One end of the spring is free and the other end is fixed to a spool axially straddling the spring-post combination. The spool contains a drag adjustment knob whose initial setting determines the angular travel of the spool until a pin on the knob contacts the free end of the spring. As line is stripped from the spool, the spool rotates and the loose turns incrementally tighten about the fixed post.

Abstract: An operating unit, wherein a feed device with a number of transportation heads for respective products successively feeds the products along a curved path through an operating station where each product is engaged by a tool for performing a given operation on the product. The tool is fitted to a toolholder device by which it is fed through the operating station simultaneously with a respective product and along the same curved path along which the product travels.

Abstract: A radio control toy incorporating a module containing a compact television camera, radio frequency transmitter and radio control receiver is described. The camera incorporates a lens system designed to record point of view impressions from the toy and a microphone to provide impressions of the audio environment for transmission by the radio frequency transmitter to a remote television module. The television module incorporates means to receive the video and audio transmissions from the camera and reproduce them via a television system and audio speaker associated with the television module. A control module allows an operator, viewing the television screen and hearing the audio sounds reproduced, to operate a set of controls associated with a control module and control signals derived from the position of the controls are transmitted by a radio control transmitter in the television module to the radio control receiver in the camera module.

Abstract: A mobile arrangement for rehabilitating a ballast bed by installing a protective layer between a subgrade and layer of ballast at a construction site of the track includes an excavation unit for continuously removing old ballast from the ballast bed to expose the subgrade and a rock crusher unit which receives at least a portion of withdrawn old ballast for comminution thereof. Comminuted old ballast is then laid over the exposed subgrade for forming at least part of the protective layer.