Abstract: A computer-implemented method for planning and implementing the ordering of component parts provides for inputs customers ordering products and from suppliers, indicating whether they can supply component parts to meet net demand levels during specified time periods. The planning method is performed on an ongoing basis, such as on a weekly basis with data being prepared for the current week and for the next twelve weeks. The method is particularly adapted to be used for a number of fixed configuration products and additionally for a number of configure-to-order products, the configuration of which is specified in customer orders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employing an array of spaced detectors and a detection circuit to detect disturbance of first and second conductors and provide signals to a computer system to determine both the presence of the intruder and the direction of travel of the intruder. The velocity of the intruder's travel may also be determined. When used with a destruction device to destroy an intruder such as an explosive shell, the lob time and the killing distance may also be calculated and used to fire the shell and to explode it at a position to destroy the intruder. Often the intruder is an armored vehicle or a tank. The conductors may be spaced in an array that has the appearance of a spider web. The conductors may be light weight conductive elastomeric conductors.

Abstract: An analog modulation technique where the message information is contained in the timing of phase reversal zero crossings in the transmitted signal. In the preferred implementation a bias signal is added to an information signal and the composite signal hard limited to produce a square wave. The square wave is used to switch the phase of a carrier signal so that phase reversals occur in correspondence with the change in polarities of the square wave. A demodulation technique is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning implement comprises an elongate hollow tube. Bristle wires are bundled together and inserted fully into the tube, leaving a portion of the bristle wire projecting beyond a first end of the tube. The projecting portion of the bristle wire is trimmed to form a wire bristle brush. The first end of the tube is crimped to secure the bristles in place. When the bristles wear out, the end of the brush is uncrimped and a new length of bristle wire is pulled out of the tube. The tube is recrimped and the new bristle wire sheared off to form new bristles. The second, opposite end of the tube can be cut at an angle to form a scraper tool. Alternatively, screw threads can be formed at the second end of the tube to removably receive other types of cleaning or scraping apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved rotary granular material cutting apparatus and knife blade assembly. The apparatus comprises a perforated drum that may receive granular material into its interior. The grains of material extend through perforations in the spinning drum where they encounter a series of knife blades. The blades are arranged to form angles of contact with tangents to the spinning drum. Those angles of contact are steeper on the side regions of the spinning drum tan on the bottom regions. The apparatus also includes a grooved interior baffle to disburse input material within the drum, and knife-mounting wedges that include toe or base stops to help secure knife it blades in arrangement about the drum.

Abstract: A rotary magazine for a firearm includes a hold-open lever that is actuated after the last shot is fired to hold the bolt in an open condition to signify that the magazine is empty. No modification to the firing mechanism, bolt or other part of the firearm is required. The hold-open lever is tripped to a hold open position by a stud or similar trip mechanism mounted to the magazine's rotor. The rotor and the magazine's feed insert are formed in a manner such that the rotor rotates an additional amount beyond its nominal original position (magazine empty), without interference from the feed insert or other structures in the magazine. When this additional rotation occurs, the trip mechanism on the rotor actuates the lever, moving it to a position in which it blocks the forward movement of the bolt. Several different arrangements for a rotary magazine with the hold open feature are described.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved rotary granular material cutting apparatus and knife blade assembly. The apparatus comprises a perforated drum that may receive granular material into its interior. The grains of material extend through perforations in the spinning drum where they encounter a series of knife blades. The blades are arranged to form angles of contact with tangents to the spinnig drum. Those angles of contact are steeper on the side regions of the spinnig drum than on the bottom regions. The apparatus also includes a grooved interior baffle to disburse input material within the drum, and knife-mounting wedges that include toe or base stops to help secure knife blades in arrangement about the drum.

Abstract: A method for generating refrigeration, especially over a wide temperature range including cryogenic temperatures, wherein a non-toxic, non-flammable and low or non-ozone-depleting mixture is formed from defined components and maintained in variable load form through compression, cooling, expansion and warming steps in a refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved rotary granular material cutting apparatus and knife blade assembly. The apparatus comprises a perforated drum that may receive granular material into its interior. The grains of material extend through perforations in the spinning drum where they encounter a series of knife blades. The blades are arranged to form angles of contact with tangents to the spinning drum. Those angles of contact are steeper on the side regions of the spinning drum than on the bottom regions. The apparatus also includes a grooved interior baffle to disburse input material within the drum, and knife-mounting wedges that include toe or base stops to help secure knife blades in arrangement about the drum.

Abstract: A grinding jig for shaping generic recoil pads to custom fit the butt end of a gunstock. The jig includes an upright and a recoil pad mounting arm that function as an angle-capturing device. The upright and pad mounting arm are adjusted so that they fit flush against the butt and top or toe portions of the gunstock. The pad is then mounted in an upside down position on the pad mounting arm. The jig, with attached recoil pad, is then manually manipulated to bear against a vertically disposed sanding or grinding instrument.

Abstract: A deck for dodgems (bumper cars) to form part of a travelling fair has a central portion intended to be fixed to a road trailer. Hinged to each major side of the central portion is a pair of hinged leaves each intended to form part of the deck when in their unfolded, coplanar, positions. To permit the major axis of the deck to be longer than usual, but without raising the height of the hinged leaves to an impermissible value for travel along roads, the length of at least the outer leaf of each pair is made adjustable. Each outer leaf includes a series of parallel stringers that are effectively of adjustable length, the stringers bearing three deck plates, of which two are fixed to the stringers, while the central one is movable relative to the other two between a coplanar position and a stacked position. This arrangement of the plates permits the distance between the inner and outer plates to be altered to shorten or extend the effective width of the respective leaf.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system wherein some or all of the refrigeration necessary to drive the rectification is generated by providing a pulse to a gas and then passing the compressed gas to a pulse tube wherein the gas expands in a wave generating refrigeration at one end of the pulse tube for transfer into the rectification system.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process for producing liquid oxygen and other liquid products wherein refrigeration generation for the process is decoupled from the flow of process streams and is produced at least in part by at least on multicomponent refrigerant fluid refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process having improved flexibility and operating efficiency for producing elevated pressure gaseous oxygen by vaporizing pressurized liquid oxygen wherein refrigeration generation for the process is decoupled from the flow of process streams and is produced by one or more multicomponent refrigerant fluid circuits.

Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process having improved flexibility and operating efficiency wherein refrigeration generation for the process is decoupled from the flow of process streams and is produced by one or more closed loop circuits.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification method wherein both nitrogen gas and liquid are efficiently produced from air employing one or two columns wherein refrigeration to drive the cryogenic separation is provided by a, preferably closed loop, multicomponent refrigerant fluid refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A system for generating refrigeration and providing the refrigeration into a cryogenic rectification plant wherein, in addition to refrigeration generated by turboexpansion, further refrigeration for the plant is generated by a recirculating multicomponent refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A method for more efficiently cooling and liquefying industrial gas wherein refrigeration for the cooling and liquefaction is generated using first and second defined multicomponent refrigerant fluids in separate refrigeration circuits to cover a wide temperature range from ambient to cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A method for generating refrigeration, especially over a wide temperature range including cryogenic temperatures, wherein a non-toxic, non-flammable and low or non-ozone-depleting mixture is formed from defined components and maintained in variable load form through compression, cooling, expansion and warming steps in a refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: A system for cooling a fluid particularly to a cryogenic temperature wherein a multicomponent refrigerant fluid is partially condensed, the liquid used to generate refrigeration to cool the product by recycle into an upstream portion of the warming leg of the refrigeration circuit, and the vapor, having a different composition than the liquid, is used to generate refrigeration at a colder temperature for further cooling of the product.