Abstract: The invention generally relates to a fireplace surround for attachment to a fireplace. The surround may include first and second side members formed from a molded material, and a top member formed from the molded material that extends between the first and second side members. The top member defines a cavity that is in fluid communication with a vent of the fireplace to collect heated air from the fireplace. An opening formed in the top member facilitates movement of heated air collected in the cavity to pass through the cavity. The surround may also include a shield member that direct the heated air from the fireplace vent to the exhaust opening in the top member, and an insulating member that dissipates heat in the top member.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a synthesis gas from a variety of hydrocarbons. The apparatus (device) consists of a semi-batch, non-constant volume reactor to generate a synthesis gas. While the apparatus feeds mixtures of air, steam, and hydrocarbons into a cylinder where work is performed on the fluid by a piston to adiabatically raise its temperature without heat transfer from an external source.

Abstract: A stand is provided for supporting at least one gaming device having a bottom through which coins may be released. The stand has an interior area divided into at least two compartments, one compartment comprising a drawer area and the other comprising a coin compartment. A drawer is moveably positioned in the drawer area. An opening is provided through the top for allowing coins released from the gaming machine to be directed into the coin compartment. In one embodiment, the stand is configured to accept two pairs of gaming machines facing in opposing directions and includes a pair of drawers at each end and a centrally located coin compartment and electrical area. In other embodiments, the stand is configured to support two gaming machines and includes a drawer at each end, or is configured to support a single gaming machine and includes a single drawer and coin compartment located side-by-side.

Abstract: A stand is provided for supporting at least one gaming device having a bottom through which coins may be released. The stand has a pair of sides, a pair of ends, a bottom and a top which generally define an interior area. The interior area is divided into at least two compartments, one compartment comprising a drawer area and the other comprising a coin compartment. A drawer is moveably positioned in the drawer area. One or more openings are provided through the top for allowing coins released from the gaming machine to be directed into the coin compartment. In one embodiment, the stand is configured to accept two pairs of gaming machines facing in opposing directions and includes a pair of drawers at each end and a centrally located coin compartment and electrical area. In another embodiment, the stand is configured to support two gaming machines and includes a drawer at each end.

Abstract: A double skin trommel having an inner drum and an outer drum joined together to rotate. Material is fed into one end of the inner drum, where some passes through apertures therein and the rest moves to the opening at the opposite end and is discharged as oversize material to a stockpile. Material that passes through the apertures is received in the outer drum which has roller mesh screen panels around a helical discharge spiral. Material that is smaller than the opening in the mesh passes through onto a conveyor and that fines grade material is stockpiled. The material that is retained in the outer drum is moved by the spiral to the discharge end of the drum and that middle grade material is conveyed to a stockpile. The apparatus is transportable being mounted on a chassis.

Abstract: A foot actuated lawn mower stabilizing and starting device consisting of a beam structure extending from a lawn mower toward the operator's position where contacting the ground and a foot actuated lever structure supported by the beam structure. The attachment of the device to a lawn mower consists of a pivot such that the end of the device toward the operator may be pivoted up and stowed beneath the lawn mower handle when not in use. To stabilize and start the lawn mower, the device is lowered into contact with the ground. The device is actuated by a natural downward stepping motion of the operator's foot upon a pedal while standing upright and in the safe operating position with access to the operating and safety controls of the mower.

Abstract: This invention relates to non-aqueous formulations comprising resins and/or polymers with a higher solids content and a solvent which is a diether of the general formula: R.O.R..sup.1.O.R.sup.2, wherein each of R, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a straight or branched chain, saturated aliphatic hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and in which R and R.sup.2 are the same or different alkyl groups and wherein R.sup.1 is an alkylene group, said formulation containing less than 25% w/w of solvents or diluents having free hydroxyl groups. The formulations are particularly useful in vehicle refinishes.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for monitoring packet loss activity in an Internet Protocol (IP) network clustering system which can provide a useful, discrete and tangible mechanism for controlled failover of the TCP/IP network cluster system. An adaptive interval value is determined as a function of the average packet loss in the system, and this adaptive interval value used to determine when a cluster member must send a next keepalive message to all other cluster members, and wherein the keepalive message is used to determine network packet loss.

Abstract: The present invention is an Internet Protocol (IP) network clustering system which can provide a highly scalable system which optimizes message throughput by adaptively load balancing its components, and which minimizes delay and packet loss especially in the TCP mode by a controlled fail-over process. An innovative process of defining the essential portion of TCP state required to maintain reliable message connections across the cluster is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method of motion-compensated video processing such as standards conversion, uses motion vectors assigned on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The pixels of an input video signal are written to locations in a video store determined by the motion vector assigned to that pixel. Multiple vectors can address a single written pixel to enable mixing of backward and forward vectors. A confidence value governs the accumulation of pixels and the later interpolation between motion compensated fields.

Abstract: A rate converter for digitally converting the sample rate of a signal, has a first digital filter for deriving an intermediate signal at increased sample rate and a second digital filter for deriving an output signal at a decreased sample rate relative to that of the intermediate signal. The first filter is of relatively high order serving to double the frequency. Because the frequency change is a power of two, the aperture characteristic is straightforward and implementation is simple even at high order. The second filter is of relatively low order so that implementation is simple even with a time-varying aperture characteristic. The low order of the second filter does not however degrade the overall frequency characteristic.

Abstract: A police baton sidearm having a baton main body and a crosshandle which is ttached in a perpendicular manner to the baton main body at a position longitudinally displaced from the geometric center of the baton main body. The baton main body also houses a recessed trigger ahead of the crosshandle and means for launching a projectile. In order to achieve impact insensitivity a double action only firing mechanism is employed. The baton main body is constructed in two parts to accomodate breech loading and various connection schemes including interrupted and multilead threads on abutting portions of the baton main body. Guide rods or a hinge mechanism may be provided to accomodate one-handed loading. The police baton sidearm may also be equipped with gunsights and a laser pointing device for improving the accuracy of the user's aim.

Abstract: Film originating NTSC video signals are converted to the PAL standard by a process which detects and eliminates duplicate fields. Video frames corresponding one-for-one with the original film frames are line interpolated to provide a PAL signal with minimal artefacts. Edits are detected and steps taken to avoid interpolations across a cut.

Abstract: Video signal processing apparatus, particularly for converting from one broadcast television standard to another, utilizes a plurality of field stores which are read cyclically. Information is written simultaneously into a number of field stores and accumulated over a number of input fields. Line interpolation is conducted before information is written to the field stores.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system employs a processing circuit which enables the imaging system to accurately display the location of an element in a body by utilizing a transducer which provides an electric signal when an ultrasonic wave impinges thereon. The electric signal is processed to determine the maximum amplitude signals during an entire frame of the ultrasonic imaging system. The signals are characterized in terms of the line at which the signal appears or the ray at which the signal appears and the pixel or location along that line. This information regarding ray and pixel serves as X-Y coordinates enabling one to accurately locate the element and transducer on the displayed image by intensifying the display at that location or by adding color or by producing some other visual effect such as blinking, and so on. Thus the disclosed apparatus in its various forms provides ultrasonic position indication without adjustment whereby one shows the exact location of the localizing transducer.

Abstract: An isobutenylcyclohexene (IBCH) is produced by reacting under disproportionation conditions an isoolefin with a vinylcyclohexene (VCH), or by reacting an isoolefin and a compound derivable from a VCH by homodisproportionation involving the elimination of ethylene, in the presence of a supported rhenium heptoxide disproportionation catalyst promoted with at least one transition metal in the form of the elemental metal and/or an oxide thereof, for example either copper or zinc.

Abstract: A selected fraction of solid particles having sizes, densities and/or weights in a selected range is separated from a mixture of articles by fluidizing the mixture in a bed using a fluidizing fluid to cause particles including the selected fraction to pass out of the top of the bed; conveying the particles in a conveying fluid to a suitable separator (e.g. a cyclone) wherein the selected particles fraction is separated from smaller, lighter particles; injecting the separated fraction from the separator into a utilization zone (e.g. a fluid bed reactor); entraining other particles in the conveying fluid to another separator (e.g. a cyclone) to produce solids-free conveying fluid which is recirculated for re-use. The original particles mixture may be obtained by separation (e.g. in a cylone) from fluid leaving the utilization zone.

Abstract: A specific anilino derivative of chelocardin having high antibiotic activity is described. This new derivative shows unusually low toxicity and consequently a very high therapeutic index as chemotherapeutic agent against gram-negative organisms.

Abstract: Triglycerides carrying the anti-inflammatory drug moiety in the 2-position and hydrocarbon acyl moieties in the 1- and 3-position exhibit excellent anti-inflammatory properties without causing the side effects often associated with the anti-inflammatory drug itself.