Abstract: Electrosurgery apparatus has a processor that generates a data stream output representing the characteristics of the electrosurgery pulses to be generated. The data stream output comprises digitally-represented values indicative respectively of the width of each pulse, the duration of a first period during which pulses are to be generated, the duration of a second period during which pulses are not to be generated, the duration of a third period during which pulses are to be generated and the duration of a fourth period during which pulses are not to be generated. The data stream also includes digital instructions as to whether or not the electrosurgery output is to be cut only and whether it is to include spray coagulation. Three switch control units receive the data stream and provide outputs to three switching circuits, which provide two monopolar and one bipolar output. Each switching circuit includes a transformer connected to receive the outputs from the switch control units.

Abstract: An operating table used with electrosurgery equipment has a high impedance static discharge resistor connected between the table and ground. A monitor is connected across the resistor and is responsive to a change in resistance between the table and ground which is indicative of bypassing or failure of the resistor and which is independent of operation of the electrosurgery equipment. The monitor provides an output to an alarm and also disables the electrosurgery equipment in response to such a change in resistance.

Abstract: In a device and method for increasing the solids content of an image formed from a liquid developer, absorption material is contacted with a toner dispersant laden image, and the absorbed dispersant is vacuumed out of the absorption material. The absorption material preferably is a conductive cover on a porous roller biased with an electrical charge which is the same as the charge of the toner particles, such that the resulting electric field repels the toner particles from the absorption material so that minimal toner particles are transferred to the absorption material.

Abstract: A bag assembly for a vacuum cleaner of the type having a housing defining a bag-receiving compartment, and a lid for closing an opening in the housing above the bag-receiving compartment. The bag assembly comprises a bag having a side wall with upper edge margins defining a bag mouth, and an annular bag support of synthetic resin material. The bag support has an annular wall with a generally vertical central axis, and an annular sealing formation adjacent the top of the wall. The upper edge margins of the bag are stitched to the annular wall of the bag support to provide a seal between the wall and the bag around the mouth of the bag. The bag assembly is placed in the bag-receiving compartment of the vacuum cleaner and the lid moved to a closed position in which the annular sealing formation on the bag support is sealingly engageable with the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel has a decorative panel concealing a storage compartment for an inflatable air bag. The panel has a covering which comprises a backing plate having a U-shaped cut line framing the storage compartment and defining a cover door having a hinge line connecting the ends of the cut line U. An inner layer of foam is interposed between the backing plate and an outer skin layer. The skin has a peripheral groove outlining the door and comprises a hinge section overlaying the hinge line and a weakened tear seam line overlying the cut line. The groove is cut through at the bottom along the tear seam line but not along the hinge section. Inflation of the air bag will force the door outwardly, fracturing the foam layer along the tear seam line to swing the door away from the opening about the hinge section to enable deployment of the air bag outwardly of teh panel. The cuts in the panel layers can be made before or after a molding process.

Abstract: A heated aluminum log which is to be sheared is inserted through a stationary die and a movable die. A clamp of the stationary die is then moved towards an axis of that die to clamp the log against a diametrically opposite portion of the internal surface of the stationary die. Opposite members of the stationary die are then moved towards each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the clamp, to limit expansion of the sheared log. The movable die is then moved to shear the log.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dividing metal logs into billets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a furnace, a shear spaced from the furnace, and a guide-pusher system for moving the logs relative to the furnace and shear. Using this apparatus, a first log is cut into a plurality of billets each having a predetermined length. As a result, the remaining end of the first log will be unacceptably short. Instead of discarding this portion, it is selectively divided to form the first part of a combination, two-part billet. The second part of the two-part billet is severed from the end of a second log to be processed in the apparatus. As a result, a two-part billet is produced from materials which would normally be discarded, thereby resulting in considerable cost savings.

Abstract: An electrometer amplifier with automatic zero-error correction in which the input current is switched periodically between two amplifier channels by twin reed switches 2,2', the channel outputs being switched in synchronism (15,15') to a common output 19. Each channel includes a current-to-voltage converter 3,4; 3',4' feeding an amplifier 8,9; 8',9', followed by an integrator and store 11,12,13; 11',12',13' whose output is continuously fed back negatively to the input of this amplifier but whose input is synchronously switched (10,10') into connection with the amplifier output only when that channel is disconnected from the input terminal 1. During the latter period capacitors 13,13' store a voltage corresponding to the zero error in the circuitry preceding amplifiers 8,8', so that the stored value (periodically updated) continues to cancel the zero error when terminal 1 is reconnected to that channel and switch 10,10' reopens.

Abstract: A self-monitoring heat tracing system including a heating conductor, a monitor conductor, and a control circuit which monitors the integrity of the heat tracing conductor and provides alarm signals to indicate abnormal temperature conditions in the heating system or discontinuities in the monitor circuit.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly in which a latching lever is formed in the wall of the receptacle connector of the assembly. The lever has a latch shoulder engageable with a catch on the mating plug connector. The lever is pivotally mounted on the receptacle connector housing by integral live hinge pivots which extend laterally from the sides of the lever so that the lever is pivotable about an axis passing laterally through the receptacle housing, thereby providing a very low profile connector.

Abstract: A manually operated release and test apparatus is disclosed for use with mechanically powered protection devices. A spring powered fire alarm, for example, is triggered either by exposure of its sensitive fusing element to a predetermined temperature, or by complete physical removal of the sensitive fusing element from the device. The release and test apparatus of this invention is a lever mounted on the alarm device for the consistent removal of the fuse assembly for testing the alarm while avoiding inflicting any damage thereto. This apparatus facilitates the testing and demonstration of the alarm device, without modifying the aesthetic appearance of the alarm. Also disclosed is a chain attachment which permits a remote force to be directly applied to the release lever so as to provide a release and test means for manual activation of the alarm in emergency situations.

Abstract: A liquid sampling device which may be lowered by a cord into a pool of fluid to sample the fluid at a particular depth includes a housing for holding a sample bottle to be filled with fluid. A remotely operable valve means prevents the sample bottle from being filled until the cord is abruptly jerked. After the bottle is filled, an automatically closing valve means seals the bottle and prevents contamination of the fluid sample by fluid at other levels as the sampling device is raised from the pool of fluid.

Abstract: Alloys having a composition suitable for superplastic deformation usually require heat treatment after casting and mechanical working in order to produce in the alloy the necessary fineness of grain stucture to permit such deformation to occur. It has now been found that some such alloys including in particular ranges of aluminum alloys containing zirconium (or Nb, Ta or Ni) may be heated to a superplastic forming temperature and non-superplastically deformed at that temperature to induce dynamic recrystallisation and simultaneously produce a fine recrystallised grain structure and superplastic deformation.

Abstract: A portable system of electronic sound equipment for use in vehicles and the like having a direct current electrical system with either a positive or negative ground, wherein the equipment includes one or more of an AM/FM radio, a tape player, and a citizen's band transceiver wired for use with a negative ground, the system including an antenna having a shielded lead and a polarity inverter in the form of a diode bridge circuit and connections with the source of current and the ground therefor and connections to the equipment input and the equipment ground. The antenna lead shield is separated and the portion adjacent to the antenna is grounded to the bridge circuit through a capacitor whereby the connection of the equipment into the direct current electrical system is foolproof with the equipment being operative with such electrical system having either positive or negative ground.