Abstract: The present invention relates to a plumbing connection useful in the field of fluid transfer, including in many stages of beer brewing operations, to connect to a fluid inlet or outlet in which the plumbing connection includes a threaded, compressible bushing that compressibly grips a tube when tightened to make a plumbing connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plumbing connection useful in the field of fluid transfer, including in many stages of beer brewing operations, to connect to a fluid inlet or outlet in which the plumbing connection includes a threaded, compressible bushing that compressibly grips a tube when tightened to make a plumbing connection.

Abstract: An electric vehicle that includes a drive train system that propel the electric vehicle, an electrical system that powers the drive train system, and a steering system that steers the electric vehicle. The electrical system includes a battery charger that is at least one of an off board A.C. charger in which the battery pack is selectively plugged into a socket in the off board A.C. charger by a plug, and wheel generators in which the battery pack is in selective electrical communication therewith by a brake switch that is operatively connected to a brake system so as to only activate the battery charger when the brake system is applied. The wheel generators that are operatively connected to the rear wheels comprise stator portions that are fixedly mounted in the axle housing and rotor portions that are fixedly mounted on for rotation with the drive axle and which are in electrical communication with the associated stator portions.

Abstract: A pet litter separator including a container and a sifter for separating the unsoiled litter from the animal excrement and soiled litter. The sifter includes a stationery first sifter element for retaining the animal excrement and soiled litter within the container and a vertically movable second sifter element for separating the unsoiled litter from the animal excrement and soiled litter. A sifter mounts the second sifter element for relative vertical movement with respect to the first sifter element. A plurality of first sifter openings are defined within the first sifter element. The second sifter element has a first vertical position closing the first sifter openings thereby retaining litter within the container and a second vertical position unobstructing the first sifter openings enabling the unsoiled litter to pass through the first sifter openings. An actuator is interconnected with the sifter for moving the second sifter element from the first vertical position to the second vertical position.

Abstract: The oxygen concentration of a gas mixture primarily of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon is determined by measurement of the shell side flow through a hollow fiber permeable membrane module having a tube side and a shell side. A sample of the gas at a low pressure is applied via a gas regulator to the tube side. Compressed air for purge flow is supplied via a first flow controller to one end of the shell side. A small portion of the tube side flow permeates the membrane, enters the shell of the module and combines with the air purge flow. The measurement of the oxygen concentration is determined by the amount of flow exiting the shell side via a flowmeter to a vent. The amount of gas permeating the membrane is dependent on the partial pressure of oxygen on both sides of the membrane. Hence, as the tube side partial pressure increases, a greater quantity of permeated gas passes to the shell side of the membrane. The remaining tube side flow exits the module via a second floor controller to the vent.

Abstract: The bed tester includes nitrogen and helium sources, a scale, temperature and pressure readouts, and a computer program for determining the available adsorption capacity or activity of molecular sieve beds. Activity is a measure of the condition of the molecular sieve and is defined as the ratio of the weight of nitrogen adsorbed in the bed under test to the weight of nitrogen adsorbed by an equivalent weight of activated molecular seive. To determine the weight of nitrogen adsorbed for the bed under test, a chamber or plenum of known volume is filled with helium, and expanded into the bed. Then the helium is evacuated, and the bed is pressurized with nitrogen. Measured values of pressure, temperature and weight, and known values of volume and density, are used with the ideal gas law (PV=MRT) and other equations in calculations to arrive at the true weight gain due to nitrogen adsorption.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises four cylindrical absorbent beds of small particle size (16.times.40 mesh) molecular sieve, two with zeolite and two with carbon molecular sieve. The units are integrated with each carbon bed in series with one of the zeolite beds, with valving at the inlets to the zeolite beds and at the outlets from the carbon beds. The oxygen purity of the gas is increased by selectively adsorbing and exhausting the nitrogen component in the zeolite beds and the argon component in the carbon beds. In a two step cycle, during step 1 of the cycle one pair of beds (one zeolite and one carbon) receives high pressure air as feed gas which pressurizes the beds and establishes a product oxygen flow. Simultaneously, the high pressure gas in the other pair of beds is vented to a lower pressure usually the ambient surroundings, and this depressurization serves to desorb the nitrogen and argon previously adsorbed during the high pressure phase of the cycle.

Abstract: The secondary purifier, composed of two cylindrical adsorbent beds and valving, is used to increase the oxygen concentration of the product gas comprising oxygen and argon from a zeolite molecular sieve concentrator. The oxygen purity of the gas is increased by selectively adsorbing and exhausting the argon component by the use of beds of small particle size (16.times.40 mesh) carbon molecular sieve. In a two step cycle, during step 1 of the cycle one bed receives high pressure 30 PSIA feed gas which pressurizes the bed and establishes a product oxygen flow, and the argon component of the air is removed by preferential adsorption in the carbon molecular sieve. Simultaneously, the high pressure gas in the other bed is vented to a lower pressure usually the ambient surroundings, and this depressurization serves to desorb the argon previously adsorbed during the high pressure phase of the cycle. In step 2 of the cycle the adsorbent beds exchange roles.

Abstract: An active data bus includes a plurality of multiplex terminals serially interconnected to form a closed loop. Each terminal is capable of assuming either a relay configuration wherein data received from a preceding terminal are retransmitted to a succeeding terminal or a transmit access configuration wherein the loop is opened at the terminal and locally-generated data are introduced therein. Each terminal is capable of functioning either in a diagnostic mode whereby system access is obtained by programmed action of the terminal's control microprocessor or in a user access mode whereby access is obtained without microprocessor action by virtue of hardware "capturing" an access window bit introduced by the last-accessing terminal. The last-accessing terminal functions to close the loop after introducing its data and before the access window has completely traversed the system. The access window is thereupon "trapped" on the closed loop and circulates until it is "captured" by the next accessing terminal.

Abstract: A generating device for producing a laser energizing gas in the singlet delta, electronic state comprising a vacuum chamber; a tubular reaction chamber positioned within said vacuum chamber, said reaction chamber having a closed end and an oppositely disposed open end; means positioned in said closed end for introducing a flow of a gaseous reactant into said reaction chamber; means positioned adjacent said closed end at an angle perpendicular to the position of said gas introducing means for introducing a stream of a liquid reactant into said gas flow to effect a chemical reaction therebetween and the generation of a laser energizing, singlet delta gas; and means for interconnection to a lasing device for directing a flow of said generated, singlet delta gas to a lasing cavity.

Abstract: A data bus system includes a plurality of interconnected active terminals, i.e., terminals which receive data from one terminal and retransmit it or transmit new data to another terminal. The data is in serial digital form and is transmitted within a continuous series of time frames of predetermined length with each time frame being initiated by a control word transmitted by one of the terminals designated the controller terminal. Each terminal includes a counter which counts the bits between control words, and each control word includes an identification of the controller terminal so that each terminal can synchronize its counter with the counter at the controller terminal in accordance with the propagation time of data from the controller terminal. Logic circuitry is provided at each terminal so that one of a plurality of terminals can assume the function of the controller terminal should the presently designated controller terminal fail to generate control words to define the time frames.

Abstract: Iodine vapor is supplied to an oxygen iodine laser by an improved iodine vaporizer. The vaporizer has a radiation transparent window and iodine crystals are contained in the vaporizer. Broad beam radiation from a variable intensity source is directed through the window into the vaporizer where it is absorbed by the iodine crystals, causing the iodine crystals to sublime. The iodine vapor is transported to the laser by a carrier gas flowed through the vaporizer. Coarse control of the iodine flow is achieved by controlling the carrier gas flow. Control of the amount of iodine vapor introduced into the carrier gas flow is achieved by varying the amount of radiation directed into the vaporizer.

Abstract: A holder for an extra roll of tissue in a wash room, so to be readily available in case the other roll of tissue is used up, the holder including a wire frame hung from the spindle of the conventional tissue roll holder, a second spindle supported on the frame, and a pivotable cover on the frame for hiding the spare tissue roll from view.

Abstract: A transmitter/receiver module which includes circuitry for receiving serial digital data in diphase non-return-to-zero (NRZ) format and for demodulating said data into a separate synchronizing signal, data signal and clock signal and which further includes circuitry for transmitting the received and modulated signal or other modulated signals input directly to the module, such /transmitting circuitry including means for modulating the clock signal, data signal and synchronizing signal into the prescribed diphase NRZ format for output through a transformer coupled transmission line. The module further includes an oscillator for realigning the clock signal received with the serial digital data.

Abstract: A resolver to digital converter which provides digitally generated sinusoidal voltages to apply to the stator windings of the resolver. The oscillator providing the digital pulses is connected to a counter which is reset on a particular phase of one of the stator winding voltages. The output of the counter is transferred into an output register at a particular phase of the rotor voltage with the output register thereby providing a digital reading of the angular position of the rotor. Digital comparator means are provided for insuring that the stator voltages remain exactly 90.degree. out of phase, and further means are provided for insuring that the stator voltages remain at the same amplitude.

Abstract: A clock phasing circuit for aligning data which is transmitted by a first clock, running at a particular frequency, with a second clock running at the same frequency as the first clock but in a different and undetermined phase relationship. The incoming data includes a synchronizing signal which initiates the operation of the clock phasing circuitry so that the data is alternately clocked into each of a pair of flip flops by successive pulses from the first clock. Each flip flop is individually connected to one of the inputs of one logic gate of a pair of gates which are alternately enabled by successive pulses from the second clock. The outputs from the two logic gates are combined by a further logic gate so that the data is reformed in alignment with the second clock.

Abstract: An improved marker for road and pavement, and which is easier to be seen in night-time; the marker comprising a strip of durable rubber material secured by rubber based cement to the road or pavement surface, and the upper side of the rubber strip having reflectors imbedded therin for reflecting light rays for easy visibility thereof.

Abstract: A plastic adaptor having the form of a flat band with a tubular arc edge which snaps on the rim of a conventional drinking cup. When in place the adaptor permits a person to drink but prevents the liquid within the cup from coming in contact with the drinker's moustache; thereby converting any conventional drinking cup into a typical moustache cup.