Abstract: Sprocket wheels for modular plastic link belts are made in two mating halves for expediting removal perpendicularly away from a coaxial drive shaft about which they are supported without disassembly of the shaft. To assure axial alignment and stability of the mating parts overlap joints between the parts are formed by securing together in surface contact laminar flange extensions from respective sprocket wheel halves joined in driving relationship about an inner shaft to form a completed sprocket wheel assembly. For critical use in food and chemical environments, the entire sprocket assembly is made of plastic, including binding clamps for holding the two mated flange surfaces of different halves together.

Abstract: Sprocket drive mechanisms formed of metal lamina engage belt drive surfaces formed in a modular plastic conveyor belt. The lamina are positioned axially along a rotary drive shaft to mate with drive surfaces extending across the width of the belt. Belt wear from the metal sprocket lamina is reduced by floating at least one lamina axially along the drive shaft to conform with belt positioning under loading and other dynamic conditions. Spacers for axially separating the lamina for registration with belt drive surfaces when mounting the belt on the sprocket drive may be removed after registration, thereby keeping the metal drive assembly lighter with less inertia to further reduce wear. Alternatively light weight laminar spacers disposed axially along the shaft are interlocked to the sprocket lamina to maintain a fixed spacing while permitting the assembly and/or separate sprocket lamina to float axially on the shaft.

Abstract: In a modular belt modular drive unit that can be independently mounted along a modular link belt system, a drive shaft comprises a drum having an integral outer circumferential surface with one or more axially oriented keying surface indentations for mounting mating sprocket wheels for moving axially along the shaft in response to dynamic conditions encountered in driving the belt. The belt is tracked in a preferred position along the shaft by means of a tracking sprocket wheel that has a confined degree of axial movement. Thus a circumferential indentation slot on the shaft surface receives the tracking sprocket wheel rotationally on the shaft so that it de-registers with the keying surface and is held axially in the slot. To use the tracking sprocket wheel as a drive wheel rotating with the shaft when disposed in the slot, the tracking wheel is linked to another sprocket wheel in a position axially confined in the slot.

Abstract: Shrimp are cooked by methods and apparatus limiting the excessive amount of curl usually incurred to produce a generally J shaped configuration after cooking. Thus, the shrimp are cooked while held in a straightened configuration to thus induce in the cooked shrimp meat forces tending to hold the shrimp in a more straightened configuration than conventionally attained. In one embodiment the shrimp are aligned on conveyor belts between pairs of laterally disposed pan normally extending from the conveying surface and spaced for confining the shrimp in an elongated and straightened configuration. Thus, the conveyor belt carries the shrimp through a steam cooker to produce a desired J shaped shrimp configuration having reduced curl.

Abstract: A programmable portable electronic computer by means of a twelve key keyboard array capable of entering a full range of alphameric characters and computer commands has room for a large area electronic display screen. This affords room for graphical presentations with alphanumeric notation, and enough rows of printed text to afford word processing capabilities. Thus, a tape recorder within the housing may include software and is coupled for use in dictating, storage, word processing and computer interfacing use, all under control of the keyboard keys.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving hydroacoustic pulses used to determine the spatial separations between pairs of such apparatus. According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus transmits hydroacoustic pulses having a selected shape and frequency at specific times and also determines the time of arrival of received hydroacoustic pulses having a known shape and carrier frequency. Included is a transducer for converting the hydroacoustic energy received from a body of water into electrical energy and for converting electric pulses into hydroacoustic pulses which are then coupled into the body of water. Electric pulses having a selected shape and carrier frequency are digitally synthesized in response to a count comparator.

Abstract: For confidently coupling towed external devices to a marine seismic cable, a latch mechanism having a novel swing plate to improve the adjustability of the mechanism and provide a positive, clearly visible indication of latched and unlatched conditions. The swing plate serves as an external linkage between a rotatable adjustment head for a locking pin and a translatable lever arm for a locking rod. The locking pin and the locking rod extend from a latch housing on a towed device, such as a cable-leveling bird, and engage with a keyhole slot in a locking collar on the streamer. The swing plate engages the adjusting head, which protrudes from a side of the housing, in a push-nut engagement.

Abstract: A miniaturized electronic magnetic compass system, or the like, is mounted in a substantially cylindrical gimbal ring unit of about 0.75 in diameter, and 1.25 in length. Critical to the small size is the pendulum that positions the internal magnetic detector by gravity relative to the earth's surface. Thus, a pendulum formed of tungsten has its curved bottom surface formed of a central spherical surface and two flanking cylindrical surfaces meeting in two planes disposed at an angle intersecting with the pendulum axis of rotation. The mass of the detector is centered by resilient conductive spring plates bearing on gimbal pivot shafts, which also serve as electrical connectors for the detector. Thus, two separated shaft ends journalled in one gimbal ring, which is insulated to electrically isolate the shaft ends serve as two conductors. The gimbal system is damped in a perfluorocarbon oil.

Abstract: For use with marine seismic streamers, a two-wire, multi-channel communication system capable of handling the high throughput necessary for effective communication between a central controller aboard a tow vessel and the many sensors deployed along the streamer. The central controller includes an intelligent modem with the capability of transmitting and receiving frequency-modulated message signals on one or more signal lines, such as conventional twisted-pair wires, over a number of individual inbound and outbound frequency channels. In the preferred embodiment, seventeen channels are spread over a frequency band ranging from about 20 kHz to 100 kHz, thereby making available for communication a bandwidth much wider than available in conventional single-channel streamer communication.

Abstract: Apparatus for deheading and cleansing shrimp in a continuous-flow product transport system for more efficient storage or peeling. The apparatus transports food product having weakly attached appendages, such as crustaceans and especially shrimp, along conduits in a fluid medium at a flow rate as controlled by a food pump. Upstream conduit defines a flow channel having a certain cross-sectional area; downstream conduit defines a flow channel having a cross-sectional area less than that of the upstream conduit. The narrowing of the flow channel in an intermediate conduit-connecting region causes an increase in the speed of the product-laden fluid in that region. The ratio of the downstream speed to the upstream speed is inversely proportional to the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the downstream channel to the upstream channel. The abruptness of the speed increase is determined by the nature of the intermediate region.

Abstract: Shrimp and other food products carried on a plastic modular conveyor belt are efficiently cooked at atmospheric pressure in the presence of saturated steam protected by a confining receptacle from dilution by insulating air. The steam condenses by transfer of cooking energy, the condensate dropping downwardly in the receptacle by gravity. By passing products through the constant 212 degree F. saturated steam zone residing at the upper portion of the cooking receptacle, the belt speed and distance through a modular cooking compartment control the cooking time for uniform production. The steam is replenished through a proportional flow valve to replace only that amount of steam expended in cooking. Thus, temperature is sensed at a cooler position under the saturated steam cooking zone where temperature is typically 190-200 degrees to detect variations of the amount of steam condensed in exchange of heat in cooking the product, and to proportionately control the flow of replacement saturated steam.

Abstract: A data processing keyboard system is provided wherein data and command signals from the keyboard are entered by two or more successive keystrokes. At least two operation modes serve to change the entry command assignments to the keys, thereby affording a large number of selections from a few keys. This makes available from the comprehensive capability of present day computers large numbers of keyboard accessible commands. Also surprisingly then this invention can replace a normal QWERTY typewriter keyboard with most of its functions by a set of only three, four, seven or nine keys. Thereby alphabetic characters, decimal digits and a store of computer command entries may be processed with each entry requiring two or more strokes of the computer keyboard keys. Functional commands such as spacing return or shift can be intermixed with the choice of data characters. Means for shifting from a computation mode to an alpha mode of computer operation may be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a fish body into a plurality of transverse fish body section includes a plurality of spaced apart vertically standing work stations, each including a structural frame that supports a continuous rail or runway. The runway includes inclined sections that extend between the work station thereby defining an inclined travel path between the work stations. A wheeled carriage is movably mounted upon the runway and includes a set of spring loaded jaws for holding a fish body section to be processed. The carriage is movably mounted upon the runway so that the carriage can travel from one work station to the next in a sequential fashion. Each work station has a section of rail connected to the inclined runway which is at a lower elevation than the previous work station by a dimension which is equal to the thickness of the fish body section to be processed. Each work station may include a cutting blade such as, for example, a rotary band saw. The saws are at a constant elevation.

Abstract: A sprocket arrangement for driving conveyor belts is disclosed which provides improved operation in the presence of abrasives, corrosives and contaminants. The metal sprocket is used with modular plastic belts to produce long wear and improved performance. The sprocket is formed by aligning a multiplicity of thin substantially disk shaped metal sprocket lamina across the width of the belt. Groups of aligned lamina may be formed into a rigid sprocket unit by simply bolting or welding. Each of the sprocket lamina includes a non-circular central aperture for fitting onto a drive shaft. Driving surfaces are formed around the perimeter of each driving lamina. The lamina may be stacked in contact with each other, or for some applications may use spacers to separate selected ones of the stacked lamina so as to cooperate with the structure of the belt being driven.

Abstract: An integrally molded module for forming a conveyor belt which receives a driving force from an intermeshed sprocket is disclosed. Each of the modules is suitable for being pivotally assembled and disassembled with a multiplicty of similar modules by pivot rods to construct the conveyor belt. More specifically, the pivot rods can be removed in a non-destructive manner such that they are suitable for reuse. Each of the modules includes first and second pluralities of link ends, each of which define a pivot hole and are aligned to form first and second pivot axes. The link ends of each of the modules are joined by an integrally molded connecting structure which maintains and joins the relative position of the elongated links with respect to each other. One or more stop members are also integrally molded in close proximity to the outermost link ends of one of the pluralities and partially obstructs the insertion of a pivot rod into the aperture defined in the outermost link.

Abstract: A sprocket tooth modular link conveyor belt drive mechanism is provided for use in chemical and food environments where it is important to control contaminants and bacteria. Thus an easy to clean and sanitize modular assembly devoid of dirt and grime catching structure in the vicinity of the conveyor belt is provided. A further feature is the safety of operation, by encompassing moving belt drive equipment in a closed modular compartment shielded from the possibility of accidental damage to conveyor loads, or serivce and operating personnel. These improvements are achieved in a belt drive mechanism module with an enclosed hermetically sealed drive system operable from an internally disposed electric drive motor with associated drive gear train. An external rotatable hollow drum member carries the sprocket teeth and has a smooth outside easy to clean surface without a propensity to accumulate dirt or grime or leak lubricating oil, or to present operating hazards to operators and service personnel.

Abstract: This invention solves a problem encountered in driving conveyor belts where mating belt drive engagement surfaces and sprocket drive surfaces interact to cause wear and to force the belt away from the sprocket. Thus, various shaped modular belt links, provided in accordance with this invention to fit into various conveyor belt configurations, have drive structure appendages extending from cylindrical structure about the pivot rod journalling aperture to form drive surfaces which enter and leave mating sprocket drive channels, with wall surfaces formed between adjacent sprocket teeth in a substantially parallel drive relationship to avoid radially directed forces that drive the belt away from the drive sprocket. Trapezoidal shaped drive surface appendages from the links extend from a generally cylindrical body about the pivot rod in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving hydroacoustic pulses used to determine the spatial separations between pairs of such apparatus. According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus transmits hydroacoustic pulses having a selected shape and frequency at specific times and also determines the time of arrival of received hydroacoustic pulses having a known shape and carrier frequency. Included is a transducer for converting the hydroacoustic energy received from a body of water into electrical energy and for converting electric pulses into hydroacoustic pulses which are then coupled into the body of water. Electric pulses having a selected shape and carrier frequency are digitally synthesized in response to a count comparator.

Abstract: Improved articulation structure is provided for pivoting links of a modular belt, namely a hinge strip of flexible material such as a thermoplastic elastomer and mating receptacle aperture slots in link ends. The modular links are all alike with flared ends in the slots permitting the hinge strip to flex a limited angle without frictional rubbing with the links. The slots have limited constant widths facing outwardly to prevent movement of the hinge strip in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the belt. Staggered end fingers of the links are half the thickness of a central body portion which provides a smooth top surface without apertures for interdigitation with similar end to end links. This construction is particularly useful for operation in abrasive conditions where wear on conventional pivot pins would significantly reduce belt life.

Abstract: Particularly in hand held alphameric keyboard actuated computers, available room dictates a need to limit the number of keys without sacrificing computer performance. Further, for portable computers reference to an instruction manual is not feasible. Thus usefulness critically depends upon integrated operating instructions. Formerly there is neither room or facilities for instructions, nor room on the keyboard for enough keys. Herein, a computer keyboard of a few keys controlled by a computer multi-mode processing system to have a plurality of roles permits a very large number of computer functions to be entered and controlled. Further in combination with these roles, a computer organized temporary display panel displays keystroke selection indicia for the different keyboard operating roles. This expands instructional notation otherwise possible on the keys and adjacent keyboard locations.