Abstract: The invention relates to a control key, consisting of a fixed casing, a push-button mounted for sliding in the casing and magnetic means for returning the push-button to its rest position. The casing comprises a hollow center part opened towards the top and of which the bottom is at least partly closed off by a wall of predetermined thickness, to form a housing for a permanent magnet. The said push-button is hollow on the inside so as to cap the said center part, and is provided at its lower end with a plate of magnetic material, closing off the hollow inside of the push-button beyond the said wall.The invention finds an application in keyboard installations.

Abstract: An energy management method for controlling electrical power consumption in each of a plurality of residential circuits having a plurality of loads. Each residential circuit is provided with a variable limit demand controller which includes means for receiving utility-generated demand limit signals from a remote location. A demand limit is established for each of the residential circuits which is independent of which of the specific loads in the circuit are responsible for the demand. Signals are generated by the utility from a remote location to vary the limit proportionately in all of the residential circuits.In a preferred embodiment, in which the loads in each of the circuits include both resistive and reactive loads, each circuit is provided with separate variable limit demand controllers for the resistive loads and for the reactive loads.

Abstract: Associable coupling connector for each of the storage relays of a sequential automatic device.The coupling connector comprises on the one hand the pins placed at the back of sockets which are assembled in three different areas of the front face, allotted respectively to the relay, to the input signals and to the output signals and, on the other hand, transversal conductors and transversal terminals to receive and transmit the voltage from the supply and the return to zero signal and respectively to transmit the sequential signals from the coupling connectors to the next ones.

Abstract: A synchronizing check relay is used in an electrical transmission network for controlling a circuit breaker to interconnect first and second transmission lines to establish power flow therebetween and includes an input circuit for receiving signals from first and second transmission lines. A phase difference generator generates a phase difference signal proportional to a phase difference between said signals from said first and second transmission lines. A phase difference comparator receives the phase difference signal and produces a phase output signal at a selected phase condition. An adjustable timer produces a timer signal after a selected time interval in response to the phase comparator to insure a proper phase difference between the transmission lines. The voltage sensor produces a breaker closing inhibit signal when one of the alternating current voltages is outside a reference limit.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling peak electrical demand placed on a source of electrical energy by a plurality of electrical loads that include at least one electrical load of lower priority than at least another of the loads. Demand for electrical energy by the loads connected to the source of electrical energy is sensed and, in response to the sensed demand exceeding a predetermined value the loads are selectively disconnected from the source. Normally, all the loads are connected to the source in the absence of a sensed excessive demand condition. Therefore, all demand control is lost in the event of failure of the controller. Accordingly, the system senses an abnormal operating condition of the controlling system of the type that renders the selective disconnecting means inoperative to disconnect the loads from the source. The electrical load of lower priority is then disconnected from the source for the duration of the sensed abnormal condition.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved light display/projection system which synthesizes an infinite variety of pleasing geometrical patterns in response to electrical stimuli. When a hi-fidelity sound system is used to provide audio signals, the unit becomes suitable as a self-contained home or commercial entertainment device. Accordingly, the invention is described as an electrical signal to visual pattern conversion system comprising a housing, within which is operably assembled; at least one electromechanical transducer adapted to receive an audio frequency electrical input; at least one mechanical, pneumatic or electromagnetic or combination thereof coupling device for each transducer, coupling the transducer to at least one elastic membrane fixedly attached at its peripheral edge with a suitable clamp; at least one mirror attached parallel to the outer surface of the, or each, membrane and; at least one laser source positioned so as to direct light to the, or each, mirror.

Abstract: The draft imparted to sliver during regular operation of a sliver drafting apparatus is correctively varied in proportion to uniformity variations then detected in the sliver. During at least part of each period of start-up of the apparatus, the sliver is subjected to a prescribed correction draft approximately equal to an average of the draft corrections applied to the sliver over a relatively long time interval during the last-ensuing regular operation of the apparatus. During that initial part of each start-up period required for the apparatus to accelerate to substantially full operating speed, the prescribed correction draft is either not applied or, alternatively, is scaled in proportion to the speed of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for encoding data representative of keyboard music is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the data source is a keyboard which is played by a musician which incorporates a set of switches forming key closures. The closures themselves represent the music. The music is encoded by grouping the keyboard in convenient sized groups, typically octaves, and all of these groups are input to a buffer. A multiplexer scans the buffer. Timed generators form the synchronization wave-forms, space wave-forms and mark wave-forms. All of these wave-forms are generated in timed sequence. They are input to a flip flop which forms an output word on a two wire carrier system. The two wire output encodes all data required for word decode; namely, clock, sync, mark, and space data.

Abstract: A carrier control method using phase-pulse signals in which a plurality of terminal-selection channels and a plurality of returning channels having a predetermined phase width respectively are provided in one cycle of an alternating current carrier wave. At the center, a terminal-selection phase-pulse signal comprising a combination of existence and non-existence of a phase pulse for each terminal-selection channel is injected in the terminal-selection channels, corresponding to a code assigned to each terminal equipment. At the terminal equipment, the terminal-selection phase-pulse signal is received. When the code of the signal coincides with the code of the terminal equipment, a returning phase-pulse signal comprising a combination of existence and non-existence of a phase pulse for each returning channel is injected in the returning channels, corresponding to a datum stored at the terminal in the electrically readable state, and the signal is received at the center.

Abstract: A make-break contact assembly useful in the art of musical education comprises switch means and is mounted upon expandible strap means intended to encircle the head of a student to pass adjacent to the chin area and lower jaw and to be responsive to jaw movements to expand or contract the strap means to precipitate the make contact and break contact electrical states of the contact assembly, respectively, selectively indicative of a proper jaw position resulting in proper mouth-playing orientation or an improper jaw position resulting in improper mouth-playing orientation, and visual signalling differentiating between proper and improper jaw positions.

Abstract: A high frequency self-contained emergency lighting fluorescent pack is exteriorally mountable to a fluorescent fixture either in line with a fluorescent lamp having a length shorter than that normally installed in the fluorescent fixture or in a side-by-side relationship near the fluorescent lamp. In either configuration, the emergency lighting fluorescent pack de-energizes all electrical connections when the interconnected fluorescent lamp is not properly in place, and only energizes the electrical connections when the fluorescent lamp is properly installed.The emergency lighting fluorescent pack incorporates a battery pack, a battery charger for maintaining the batteries in the battery pack at full charge, a high frequency emergency power generating inverter module for igniting and maintaining the fluorescent lamp in the illuminated state by energy supplied by the battery pack, and transfer circuitry for causing the energization of the emergency power module by the battery pack when utility AC power fails.

Abstract: A battery backup system provides DC power to a data processing system in the event of an AC power failure. A preferred embodiment supplies DC power from a plurality of series-connected batteries at a voltage level sufficient to operate a data processor. After a time delay, the batteries are connected in parallel to provide DC power at a lower voltage level sufficient to maintain information stored in a memory.

Abstract: A hand-held device for cleaning and revitalizing wound strings of musical instruments, such as a bass guitar or piano. The device comprises a rectangular metal plate of aluminum or other similar light-weight metal and two similar cylindrical rollers of hardened and polished metal rotatably mounted on axes perpendicular to one side thereof in spaced relation to each other. The rollers have aligned annular grooves thereon normal to the axes of rotation thereof. The device is used by fitting the device to the string so that the string passes around one roller within the groove then between the rollers and around the other roller within the groove. Then while maintaining the string tensioned, the device is slightly twisted longitudinally while moving slowly back and forth along the string to spread the turns of the wound wire on the core of the string.