Abstract: A method of valuing, marketing and buying a commodity lot is provided in which a particular lot of a commodity is tested to determine an amount of a value-trait present in the particular commodity lot; a trait-premium is assigned to the amount of the value-trait, a base-value of the particular commodity lot is adjusted in relation to the trait-premium. The base-value and the trait-premium are posted electronically as a lot-information to allow a commodity purchaser to determine if the particular commodity lot meets the purchaser's desired criteria.

Abstract: An SCR reactor (50) is disclosed which permits ready removal of a catalyst bed (58) from the SCR reactor and provides an effecting sealing mechanism between the catalyst bed (58) and the frame (52) of the SCR reactor. The frame is provided with side rails (54, 56) which have individual indentations spaced therealong. The catalyst bed is provided with wheels (60A, 60B, 60C) along its length which permit the catalyst bed to be rolled along the side rails until the catalyst bed is moved into its installed position whereupon the wheels descend into the indentations (62), causing the weight of the catalyst bed to form an effective seal between a downwardly face edge (64) on the catalyst bed and the frame (52).

Abstract: An SCR reactor sealing mechanism is disclosed which utilizes a clamping plate (34) to urge a side sealing flange (24) on a member (20) containing the catalyst (22) against a mating sealing surface (32) on the supporting internal frame (12) to prevent exhaust gas from bypassing the catalyst. The sealing mechanism has an advantage in permitting the member and catalyst to be removed from the internal frame by simply loosening the clamping plate (34) and slid out of or into the internal frame.

Abstract: A trash compactor includes a receptacle with a receptacle opening, a closure member, and a collapsible compacting mechanism mounted in the closure member. The closure member is adapted to be secured over the receptacle opening in a compacting position. With the closure member in the compacting position, the compacting mechanism is adapted to be operated, preferably driven by an electric drive motor, so as to extend a compacting head into the receptacle through the receptacle opening to compact trash received therein. The compacting mechanism is also adapted to retract the compacting head substantially from the trash receptacle. A drive motor control system controls the operation of the drive motor in driving the compacting mechanism. Once the compacting head is retracted from the receptacle the closure member is adapted to be released from the compacting position thereby exposing the receptacle opening so that more trash may be deposited into the receptacle for compacting.

Abstract: A trash compactor includes a receptacle with a receptacle opening, a closure member, and a collapsible compacting mechanism mounted in the closure member. The closure member is adapted to be secured over the receptacle opening in a compacting position. With the closure member in the compacting position, the compacting mechanism is adapted to be operated, preferably driven by an electric drive motor, so as to extend a compacting head into the receptacle through the receptacle opening to compact trash received therein. The compacting mechanism is also adapted to retract the compacting head substantially from the trash receptacle. A drive motor control system controls the operation of the drive motor in driving the compacting mechanism. Once the compacting head is retracted from the receptacle the closure member is adapted to be released from the compacting position thereby exposing the receptacle opening so that more trash may be deposited into the receptacle for compacting.

Abstract: A set of titanium guide bars are shaped with inner angular finger shields to isolate designated underside edge areas of a printed circuit board being conveyed across a molten solder bath in a wave solder machine.

Abstract: A modem for a single frequency, modulated RF carrier local data network for a distributed data processing system and a method for line acquisition and contention resolution. The protocol established for line acquisition and contention resolution is implemented by a modem controller. The controller causes the receiver section to listen for foreign carriers to determine when the line is busy. When the client device of the modem desires to send a data packet to another unit, the modem controller causes the receiver to listen for a certain pre-burst period and then causes the transmitter to send a burst of RF carrier out on the line and simultaneously causes the receiver to listen to the line for interference beating, i.e. changes in amplitude on the line which indicates another unit is requesting the line. To insure beat patterns, the frequency of the burst carrier is swept over a range during the burst. If a contention is found, a resolution thereof is made utilizing a random delay and retry protocol.