Abstract: A locking gun rack system is described for securing a gun to any desired structure (e.g. a wall, cabinet, vehicle, etc.). The system includes a pair of gun supports in which an arm is pivotable between open and closed positions relative to a base, and the arm can be latched in a number of different positions so as to accommodate guns of different shapes or sizes.

Abstract: Enzymes with modified substrate specificity and methods of obtaining same by the steps of a) determining the structure of two or more enzymes in the same group, b) comparing the structure of the substrate binding sites of the enzymes, and c) modifying selected amino acids by genetic mutation so that the substrate preference of one of the enzymes is altered. The methods are particularly useful for the stereospecific interconversion of oxyacids and aminoacids.

Abstract: A holding or carrying device that is mountable to a trailer hitch comprises a support member having a horizontal portion that is removably attachable to the hitch, and a vertical portion that contains a tubular telescoping element. Attached to the upper end of the telescoping element is a carrying or holding element, such as a table, platform, or bracket. In one embodiment, the telescoping element is height-adjustable by means a plurality of opposed pairs of apertures in the telescoping element that are registrable with an opposed pair of apertures in the vertical portion, whereby a locking pin can be received in the opposed pair of apertures in the vertical portion, and a selected one of the opposed aperture pairs in the telescoping element. In another embodiment, a bicycle rack assembly is attached to the upper end of the telescoping element.

Abstract: A method of indicating fat content of a food product, including determining fat grams for the product, and calories per serving for the product; calculating, based on the determined fat grams for the product and the determined calories per serving for the product, fat percentage by calories for the product; and generating a label displaying non-alphanumeric graphical indicia indicating fat percentage by calories for the product.

Abstract: An improved non-contact apparatus and method for reading a surface that has information encoded in a relief pattern thereon, includes an optical transmitter for projecting a line of light onto the relief pattern at a first angle to a normal of the surface; an optical receiver that views the projected line of light at a second angle to the normal of the surface and produces signal data that is representative of an image of the reflection thereon. The image viewed by the receiver has parallactic displacements of the line of illumination that occur at transitions between raised and recessed portions of the relief pattern. The signal data is culled such that only those pixels surrounding the line of light are selected. The culled signal data is then decoded into electrical signals which represent decoded information contained in the relief pattern. The optical receiver can be realized as a plurality of light sensors arranged in a linear, or a two dimensional array, together with suitable focusing optics.

Abstract: In a graphics subsystem, a highly interactive two-dimensional (2D) data stream and a computationally intensive three-dimensional (3D) data stream are processed concurrently in such a manner that processing of the 2D data stream is not held up by processing of the 3D data stream. A 3D geometry subsystem having a parallel pipeline architecture is used to process the 3D data stream, while a 2D subsystem concurrently processed the 2D data stream in parallel with the 3D subsystem. A reordering device couples the processed 2D and 3D data streams to a common raster subsystem. The reordering device, which contains an internal buffer, reorders any order-dependent elements of the 3D data stream appearing at the output of the 3D geometry subsystem in an order different from the order in which they were supplied to the input end.

Abstract: There is disclosed a non-contact apparatus and method for reading a surface that has information encoded in a relief pattern thereon. The apparatus comprises an optical transmitter for projecting a line of light onto the relief pattern at a first angle to a normal of the surface; an optical receiver that views the projected line of light at a second angle to the normal of the surface and produces a signal that is representative of an image of the reflection thereon. The image viewed by the receiver has parallactic displacements of the line of illumination that occur transitions between raised and recessed portions of the relief pattern. The displacements are detected by a pattern detector which is coupled to the optical receiver and submitted to a decoder. The optical receiver can be realized as a plurality of light sensors arranged in a linear, or a two dimensional array, together with suitable focusing optics.

Abstract: The data processing system includes processing nodes and a graphics display device for processing a graphics data stream. The data processing system partitions a graphics data stream into a data segments or work groups for processing by the processing nodes. Next, the data segments are distributed for processing to the processing nodes. In response to receiving a data segment at a processing node, the data segment is processed to produce a processed data segment. The processed data segments are recombined into a processed graphics data stream. This processed graphics data stream is coupled to the graphics display device.

Abstract: A gear evaluation system which includes means for measuring gear rotational speed and gear case vibrational displacement associated with gear mesh action. A signal is displacement associated with gear mesh action. A signal is developed that represents the time series average signal synchronized to the relevant gear shaft speed. This signal is passed through a bandpass filter set to pass a signal at the gear mesh frequency (for the particular gear under evaluation). After rectification the output signal provides information relating to average vibrational levels associated with gear mesh action and deviations from the average levels.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from a solid sulfur-containing catalyst is disclosed which comprises contacting the catalyst with liquid anhydrous ammonia in order to leach the sulfur out of the catalyst, and form an ammonia-sulfur solution. The sulfur is recovered by separating the ammonia from the solution, preferably by evaporation. The catalyst used in this method is also rendered suitable for reuse. The principal utility of the invention is in the ultimate conversion of phosphogypsum, produced primarily in the fertilizer industry, into sulfur so that it can be recycled back into the industry.

Abstract: A method for increasing the wet bulk density of coking coal charges for code ovens which charges contain at least about 6 and as much as 13 weight percent moisture, to an optimum level of between about 47 and 50 pounds per cubic foot (753 to 801 kg per cubic meter) and for controlling and maintaining the bulk density at such optimum levels, the method including:(a) forming a 5 to 20 weight percent aqueous dispersion of a surfactant having a desired viscosity, and(b) applying a quantity of the aqueous dispersion to a quantity of coal equivalent to between about 0.5 and 2.5 pounds (0.227 and 1.135 kg) of surfactant per ton (907.2 kg) of coal,the surfactant being an alkylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanol having a general formula: ##STR1## where R is an alkyl group having between about 8 and 12 carbon atoms, andn is an integer between 2 and 30,and is characterized by an HLB number in the range of about 4 and 18.

Abstract: Zinc and, if desired, lead are volatilized from a metallurgical material such as a finely divided oxidic ore, ore concentrate or another metallurgical intermediate. The volatilization of the zinc is carried out at a temperature above 1300.degree. C. in a cyclone chamber which has an axis that is substantially horizontal, i.e. is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of 0.degree. to 15.degree.. Carbon dioxide is removed from the gas leaving the zinc condensing stage and the high carbon monoxide gas thus obtained is recycled to the cyclone chamber or at another point ahead of the condensation stage.