Abstract: A method of assembling an ink filtration system in fluid communication with an ink source comprising the steps of: (a) providing a printhead base including at least one ink channel in fluid communication with at least one nozzle; (b) positioning an ink filter in fluid communication with at least the one ink channel of the printhead base; and (c) laser welding the ink filter in series with the printhead base to provide a sealed fluidic interface therebetween ensuring that ink within at least the one ink channel has passed through the ink filter. Also disclosed are methods and resulting apparatuses utilizing laser welding to mount components of an ink cartridge for use with an inkjet printer.

Abstract: A regulator adapted to regulate the throughput of an ink between an ink source and a print head includes: (a) a pressurized chamber including an ink inlet in fluid communication with the ink source, an ink outlet in fluid communication with the print head, and at least one flexible wall; and (b) a lever including a flexible arm extending along a portion of the flexible wall and an opposing arm operatively coupled to a seal biased to close the ink inlet when the lever is in a first position and to open the ink inlet to allow fluid communication between the ink inlet and the pressurized chamber when the lever is pivoted to a second position; where a lower pressure differential across the flexible wall causes the flexible wall to actuate the flexible arm, pivoting the lever to the first position (inlet closed), where a higher pressure differential across the flexible wall causes the flexible wall to actuate the flexible arm to pivot the lever to the second position (inlet open), and where a pressure change from

Abstract: A regulator adapted to regulate the throughput of an ink between an ink source and a print head includes: (a) a pressurized chamber including an ink inlet in fluid communication with and ink source, an ink outlet in fluid communication with a print head, and at least one flexible wall; and (b) a lever including a flexible arm extending along a portion of the flexible wall and an opposing arm operatively coupled to a seal biased to close the ink inlet when the lever is in a first position and to open the ink inlet to allow fluid communication between the ink inlet and the pressurized chamber when the lever is pivoted to a second position; where a lower pressure differential across the flexible wall causes the flexible wall to actuate the flexible arm, pivoting the lever to the first position (inlet closed), where a higher pressure differential across the flexible wall causes the flexible wall to actuate the flexible arm to pivot the lever to the second position (inlet open), and where a pressure change from th

Abstract: A method of reducing the size of an ink flow regulator in fluid communication between an ink source and a print head nozzle. The method including the steps of: (a) positioning an ink flow regulator and an ink outlet of the ink flow regulator in a first section of the flow regulator; and (b) orienting a pivotable lever, having a first leg coupled to an inlet closure of the regulator and a second leg operatively coupled to an actuating wall of the regulator such that a fulcrum of the pivotable lever separates the first section from a second section of the ink flow regulator, wherein the first section and the second section are in fluid communication with one another.

Abstract: The solar tracking mechanism is utilized in connection with a solar energy collection system. The collection system includes a light reflective shell shaped to focus solar radiation on a radiation absorbing segment of a tube which carries a heat transfer fluid. The shell is pivotally mounted on a support frame. An actuator mounted between the support frame and the shell rotatably the shell. A solar sensor is mounted deep within a sighting tube which is fixed to the shell such that a line of sight through the sighting tube is at least parallel to the optical axis of the shell. The solar sensor generates a sensor signal which is used as a control input to an actuator control system. End limit switches generate a limit stop signals when the shell reaches maximum angular positions. The actuator control system generates fluid flows to the actuator based the solar sensor signal and the limit stop signals.

Abstract: A telephone switching system is provided for use with an external telephone line and a plurality of telephone extensions wherein each extension has a plurality of "touch tone" buttons which, when depressed, generate an audio signal unique to that button. The system includes at least one internal channel and at least one external channel wherein the external telephone line is connected to the external channel. An on-hook and off-hook detector is provided for each of the telephone extensions as well as a detector for detecting the presence of an incoming call on the external channel.

Abstract: A DC motor control system reduces power demands imposed upon a DC power source energizing a utilizing device by varying the time during which power application occurs, but not the magnitude of the power which remains constant. The DC motor control system includes a transducer/resistor network, a trigger pulse circuit, a control signal circuit, a driver circuit, and a switch network. The control signal circuit outputs a duty cycle control signal as regulated by the transducer/resistor network and the trigger pulse circuit. The transducer/resistor network permits an operator to determine the duration of the duty cycle control signal, which varies from 0% to 100%, while the trigger pulse circuit establishes the frequency of the duty cycle control signal. The driver circuit receives and amplifies each duty cycle control signal outputted by the control signal circuit. The driver circuit inputs each amplified duty cycle control signal into the switch network to activate it.

Abstract: An electrical terminal block includes a housing top, a housing bottom, and a plurality of electrical contact terminals. The housing top has a pattern of grooves extending into its bottom. The housing bottom has a pattern of tongues extending from its top. The housing top and bottom are ultrasonically welded to each other with the tongues located in at least some of the grooves. Different housing bottoms having different patterns of tongues can be selected to configure the terminal block to accommodate different types of electrical contact terminals having different numbers of contacts. The tongue and groove patterns can electrically isolate bases of contact terminals from each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with a housing, female contacts, retainer clips, and contact spacers. The contact spacers surround the female contacts, have cantilevered flared legs, and have a top shelf. The legs are deflected when the spacer and female contact are inserted into the housing to form a friction grip between the spacer and the housing and, between the spacer and the female contact. The top shelf has an aperture to limit the size of male contacts to be passed therethrough and, support the bottom of the retainer clips.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a grounding-mounting track and at least one ground module fixedly connected to the track. The track is adapted to have a plurality of signal modules modularly connected to it. The ground module has a housing with at least one electrical terminal therein. The electrical terminal is fixedly electrically connected to the track.

Abstract: The housing 156 has an elongated chamber 158 therein, which extends along a generally horizontal axis and has a port 160 at one end thereof, and another port 188 in the top thereof. A pin 140' is mounted in the chamber at the port 160 to be advanced and released relatively outwardly and inwardly of the housing along the axis when clamping and releasing the shoe. A coiled spring 168 is mounted in the chamber rearwardly of the pin, with a driver 170 interposed therebetween; and a lever 208 is pivotally mounted in the top port 188 of the housing on the chamber adjacent end portion of the pin, for rotation about a fulcrum 216 on the pin transverse the axis. Cam surfaces 178, 170 on the lower end portion 214 of the lever and the driver are cooperatively engaged with one another about the fulcrum to alternately compress and relax the spring, and advance and release the pin relatively outwardly and inwardly of the housing respectively, when the lever is rotated in the opposing angular directions about the fulcrum.

Abstract: A system for connecting electrical connectors to a mounting track. The track can have signal connectors snap-lock connected to it. The track can also have grounding connectors connected to it. The track has a snap-lock ledge, a cam surface located proximate the ledge, and a toe ledge. The signal connector has a toe located on one side of the connector adapted to be positioned under the toe ledge, a spring ledge adapted to cooperate with the cam surface to bias the connector towards the toe ledge, and a snap-lock latch adapted to keep the signal connector retained with the track. The connector can include a key to prevent connection of the signal connector to the track unless the signal connector is located at a predetermined position relative to the track.

Abstract: The present invention is a two unit electronic control system to reduce power demands imposed upon direct current power sources. The present invention comprises a contact/resistor network, a trigger generator, a pulse generator, a waveform stabilization circuit, a driver circuit, a voltage regulation circuit, a noise suppression circuit, a transient suppression circuit, a field effect transistor network and primary and secondary on/off control circuits. The input can be resistance, voltage, current or capacitance which is varied in response to an external stimulus. The chosen input is conditioned and applied to vary the duty cycle of a repeating pulse signal. That pulse signal is conditioned and applied to a switching device which controls the current from the DC power source to the load. The number of switching devices comprising the network will vary from one to many dependent upon the current carrying demand of the load and the current handling capability of the switching device utilized.

Abstract: A grounding block electrical connector is provided with a housing, electrical contact terminals, a housing insert, retainer clips, and a top cap. The housing is a one-piece metal member with a receiving cavity, top rivet posts, bottom rivet posts, and drainage holes. The contact terminals have contacts located in the receiving cavity and an integral busing strip. The busing strip is electrically and mechanically connected to the housing by the bottom rivet posts. The housing insert is located in the receiving cavity and has holes with the contacts located in the holes. The top cap is fixedly connected to the top of the housing over the receiving cavity by the top rivet posts. The housing insert has posts extending from its top surfaces that are located in post apertures of the top cap to thereby hold the insert at a stationary position in the receiving cavity.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder includes a feeder base receiving a hummingbird feed solution therewithin, wherein the base has mounted thereto in a coaxially aligned relationship a support cylinder. The support cylinder includes a divider wall directed orthogonally relative to the axis of the support cylinder, with the divider wall accommodating fluid therewithin. The feeder base having a mounting post and a support post directed through the support cylinder, and the divider wall received within the support post, whereupon suspension of the hummingbird feeder by the support post prevents crawling insects from access to the base due to the support post being positioned within a surrounding body of fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a removable wheel cover for an in-line-type skate. The cover includes a front boot designed to inwardly receive the skate's front wheel. The cover also includes a rear boot designed to inwardly receive the skate's rear wheel. A pair of flexible, resilient straps connect together the two boots of the cover. When not in use, the cover can be folded into a small volume and easily stored within a user's pocket.

Abstract: A grounding block electrical connector for use in electrically grounding a plurality of electrical wires. The block has a housing, electrical contacts, a busing plate, and a strain relief grommet. The housing has a contact receiving area for receiving the electrical contacts and a grommet receiving area. The electrial contacts are welded to the busing plate which is riveted to the housing such that the contacts are electrically connected to the housing. In addition, a protrusion of the busing plate from the housing provides a direct electrical contact to a member on which the connector is intended to be mounted. The grommet is fixedly connected to the housing at the grommet receiving area by a bonding adhesive.

Abstract: In the illustrated embodiments, the boot (22) has a sole plate (24) and a monolithic (54) shell of substantially rigid plastic material upstanding thereon. The shell forms an open top shoe structure (26) in which the user can insert the base of his foot, while he at the same time engages the metatarsal portion of his foot in a "holster" formed under an arched cowl (32) at the forward end of the shell. Meanwhile, at the back of the shell, there is a rear wall (36) that upstands to a level above the ankle joint of the user's foot, to form a strongback for the achilles tendon of his foot. The strongback (36) is accompanied by a part annular cuff (38) which is adapted to be removably secured about the user's lower leg above the ankle joint therein, and is supported on the shell at the top opening (28) thereof, so as to have no more than a limited capability to flex in relation to the shell laterally thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing connectors onto flat conductor cables. An improved installation station including the apparatus includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions and a transport station to sequentially move them includes magazines for supporting a plurality of connector portions and an transport station to sequentially move the connectors from the magazines to the installation station. The installation station includes surfaces for retaining cables in a horizontal plane and a press having an avil and ram for coupling connector portions to the cable and to each other. The surfaces are spring biased and include abuttment surfaces for proper positioning of the cables.

Abstract: Corrosion inhibiting compositions for addition to aqueous acid metal cleaning compositions for use in the cleaning of surfaces of metal parts which are contaminated with water insoluble, acid soluble deposits, wherein the corrosion inhibiting composition contains a partially hydrolyzed protein which is either a partially hydrolyzed gelatin, a partially hydrolyzed casein or a mixture thereof wherein the partially hydrolyzed protein has a total nitrogen content of from about 10 to about 20% by weight and a free amino group nitrogen content of from about 4 to about 30% based on the total nitrogen content. The invention also relates to aqueous acid solutions containing the corrosion inhibitor of the invention and to processes for treating contaminated metal parts with such acid compositions.