Abstract: An electromechanical rotary switch actuator for the operation of doors of mass transit vehicles. The switch actuator discloses a crew switch actuator that incorporates the features of a rotary switch while at the same time provides low cost manufacturing of the switch actuator apparatus. The invention is a simple, yet innovative, apparatus whereby rotational control of the switch assembly is provided by a retaining member which mates with a slot grooved into a shaft mounted for rotation in the actuator body. The longitudinally axial dimension of the actuator body is small which enables the apparatus to be flush mounted to the outside walls of the transit vehicles. The crew switch actuator disclosed is operated not only by a detachable key which is also disclosed, but also may be actuated with the same keys currently being used to operate the door control switches of most mass transit systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an improved flushing system for flushing a water closet from a pressurized water line includes sensor which senses an arrival and a departure of a person within a zone proximate the water closet. A controller is connected to the sensor for determining the existence of a low water volume flush condition and the existence of a high water volume flush condition. The low water volume flush condition exists when the sensor senses an elapsed time between the arrival and the departure of less than a preselected time interval. The high water volume flush condition exists when the sensor senses an elapsed time greater than the preselected time interval.

Abstract: A body supported combination holder and writing surface for use with hand held computers used in the field of utility meter reading provides for the retention of such a computer within a channel of the holder. The computer is retained within the channel by channel extensions which extend slightly over the edges of the computer, and by retaining clips within the bottom of the channel. The keyboard of the computer is fully accessible through the open upper side of the channel, and the writing surface is essentially coplanar with the keyboard of the computer when such a computer is installed within the holder. The membrane keyboard typical of such computers permits the writing surface to extend across the relatively narrow face of the computer in order to provide a larger writing surface area.

Abstract: A toilet flushing apparatus designed to prevent excess loss of water that may happen when the flush valve stays open as the inlet valve is putting water into the tank. The initial flushing lifts the flush valve which acts in conjunction with a counter-weight and controller arm attached to the float ball arm. The controller arm supports the float ball and thus allows the intake valve to remain in the closed position until the flush valve has closed completely, at which time the float ball is lowered and water is let in to the tank.

Abstract: A camera carrier (10) is provided, having a camera case assembly (14) with a belt assembly (18) attached thereto. The belt assembly (18) is adapted to be worn about either a photographer's chest or waist. A case lid (16) is removably attached to the camera case assembly (14). A pair of adjustment strap assemblies (42) can be adjusted by means of a pair of double "D" ring assemblies (52) to cause the camera case assembly (14) to closely support a great variety of sizes of cameras (12). A pair of recessed areas (66) in the case lid (16) permit a neck strap (68) to be worn on the camera (12) and to protrude from the camera case assembly (14) even when the case lid (16) is closed such that the neck strap (68) may be worn around the photographer's neck when the camera carrier (10) is worn about the photographer's chest. The camera carrier (10) may optionally be used as a divider within a larger conventional camera bag (84).

Abstract: A water closet having a trap drainage exit in a wall above a floor, in which at the time of flushing, a vent space is partitioned in a wall-like manner by water falling from a weir. A rise in the water level of a sump portion of the trap results, and air within the trap is quickly forced toward the drainage exit side by the force of the water flow to cause the interior of the trap drainage to have a decreased pressure so that siphon action easily occurs. When the feed rate of water from a tank slows, to terminate the siphon action, air is promptly introduced into the siphon area from a notch in a partitioning wall, whereby the air introduction is hastened and the siphon effect is terminated quickly.

Abstract: A light emitting type push button switch having an indication unit including an operation block containing an indicator and a switch unit having a microswitch turned on or off by the pushing of the operation block through a plunger axially movably held in the case of the indication unit, the indication unit and switch unit which can be easily engaged with each other or disengaged from each other.

Abstract: For a tub which provides access through a side door, an inflatable seal is employed with the fluid connection to the seal being provided through the door hinge structure. In one embodiment, sensors are provided in conjunction with the water level in the tub so as to activate the source of pressurized fluid to the seal as well as to deflate the seal at a desired time. In another embodiment, a latching mechanism is utilized so as to provide a secure but easy delatching of the door.

Abstract: In a packaging system where a pasty material is dosed as portions into individual containers to form individual packages, at least one dimension of the portions is measured to produce actual-value outputs that correspond to the volumes of the respective packages and that are compared with a set point corresponding to a desired volume. The dosing of the portions is altered on deviation of the volume outputs from the volume set point so as to bring same into agreement. In addition the packages are weighed downstream to produce actual-value outputs that correspond to the weights of the packages and that are compared with a set point corresponding to a desired weight.

Abstract: A fuel lock and dispensing system utilizes a data transformer made up of the dispensing nozzle inserted into the fuel tank filler pipe or opening, two pairs of coils, one pair on the hose or nozzle and one pair on the fuel tank filler pipe. A vehicle on-board computer and a fuel pump computer can communicate with each other through the data transfer transformer.

Abstract: A holster of soft material has a retention device for applying pressure to a handgun in the holster to resist inadvertent removal of the handgun. An elongate band or strip of resilient material is formed into a loop around the outside of the holster by folding the band about a central region extending over a fold in the holster and securing opposite ends of the band together through the holster to urge the opposite side portions of the band towards one another. The opposite side portions of the band compress corresponding underlying wall portions of the holster against a handgun in the holster pocket, providing a controlled resistance to draw which is preferably adjustable and also resisting inadvertent removal or slipping of the handgun out of the pocket.

Abstract: A device for recovering vapor in a vehicle fuel tank has a hydraulic motor arranged in the way of a liquid duct for feeding volatile liquid from a fuel reservoir tank to a gun nozzle mounted at the free end of the liquid duct, and a pneumatic pump arranged in the way of a vapor duct for feeding the vapor in the vehicle fuel tank through the gun nozzle to the fuel reservoir tank. The hydraulic motor and the pneumatic pump have a pair of meshing rotors, respectively. One pair of rotors are of substantially same configuration and size with those of the other pair of rotors. The rotors of the pneumatic pump are driven by the hydraulic motor rotors through multiplying gearings.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling successive containers with a liquid, such as a carbonated beverage, has a rotary vessel with a bottom wall which carries an annulus of tubular extensions each of which is surrounded by a metering chamber. Each extension and the associated metering chamber supports a filling unit with a twin-seat valve having a single valving element which is movable between an upper position to seal an outlet at the lower end of the extension from an adjacent inlet of the metering chamber while permitting the outlet of the metering chamber to discharge a metered quantity of liquid into a container below the filling unit, and a lower position in which the single valving element seals the outlet of the metering chamber but permits the extension to admit liquid into the metering chamber.

Abstract: This pool cover utilizes multiple, laterally displaced air compartments which are fixed in location with respect to each other, and are integral portions of the cover. The air compartments may be interleaved by having laterally overlapping portions in order to minimize sagging which may result if any air compartment were to have an air leak. The cover can include a removable exterior portion which is exposed, and an interior portion containing the air compartments which are in contact with the pool surface. This allows easy removal of the top portion of the cover for cleaning and for examining individual air compartments.

Abstract: An electric contact with a base metal used as a switch wherein the non-welded peripheral portion of the contact is prevented from bow-like bending and from peeling off. The electric contact with a base metal having a contact promoting shape is formed by die forging of a contact material joined to the base metal by resistance welding. The composite contact material is prepared by coating the core material of Ag-oxide contact material with non-oxide contact material. The side of the material in contact with the base metal is of non-oxide contact material. The contact material may be pressed to fill a groove preformed in the base metal, welded to protrusions preformed in the base metal, welded to the bottom of a cut preformed in the base metal, or welded to bottoms of recesses preformed in the base metal.

Abstract: A pool deck protective liner in the nature of a pool guard for swimmers is provided to extend around the deck of a swimming pool adjacent the edge of the deck at the swimming pool and along edges of structural components of the pool such as step ladders, diving boards and the like. The protective liner is comprised of a plurality of inflatable tubes which are sized and shaped to extend around the edges of the swimming pool deck and structural components thereof. Moreover, the individual tubes are endwise abuttable to form a generally peripherally extending liner. A member is provided on the inflatable tubes to hold the endwise abutted inflatable tubes along the edge of the swimming pool deck. It is also possible to provide a long length of rolled inflatable tube which a user can cut to select lengths and secure to the edge of a deck of a swimming pool surrounding a swimming pool itself.

Abstract: A palm button switch apparatus includes a housing, a solid palm button fixedly mounted on the housing, a guard fixedly mounted on the housing and surrounding the periphery of the palm button. A bore extends through the housing and into the palm button. The bore has an open first end and a second end covered by the palm button. A proximity switch having a sensing end is mounted in the bore with the sensing end disposed in proximity with the palm button for detecting the presence of an operator's fingers on the palm button. The housing, the palm button and the guard are integrally formed as a one-piece unit from a molded plastic.

Abstract: A device for use in conjunction with a spa cover or spa cover mounted for pivotal movement to facilitate the removal of the cover away from the vicinity of the spa or spa when same is in use. In one embodiment, a bridge arm supported by two side arms is pivotally attached to a base. The bridge arm can be pivoted into position adjacent the spa cover. The spa cover folded over the bridge arm, and the bridge arm, along with the supported cover, is pivoted clearly away from the spa or spa area. In an alternate embodiment, a step elbow is provided near the point of pivotal attachment to the spa or spa to facilitate a step assisted pivoting and to provide a pivotal stop.

Abstract: A pocket for releasably holding a round of ammunition includes a substantially flat base sheet member and a dispensing tube forming sheet member of flexible material secured to the base sheet member and defining an ammunition dispensing tube for permitting ammunition to pass therethrough. The ammunition dispensing tube has an ammunition loading end and an ammunition dispensing end. A closable flap is connected to the base sheet member proximate the loading end of the ammunition dispensing tube. A retainer for releasably retaining the ammunition within the ammunition dispensing tube is operatively associated with the tube proximate its dispensing end. The pocket is adapted to be connected to a vest, jacket, stand, etc.

Abstract: An improved method for loading crude oil into a tank or tanks of a tanker ship wherein a layer of foam is used to suppress the formation of hydrocarbon vapors during the loading operation. The foam is generated at a point remote from the tanks and is then supplied to the bottom of the tanks through the already-existing crude oil loading manifold aboard the tanker.