Abstract: An interlocking block pier assembly is disclosed including a plurality of blocks for stacking in a generally vertical column to support a load thereon. Each pair of adjacent blocks is interlocked by a key formed generally radially in a first block of the pair and a complementary keyway formed generally radially in the other block of the pair for receiving the key to prevent the blocks in the pair from rotating or moving laterally relative to each other.

Abstract: A knee exercise device for use by a patient adapted to receive the patient's lower thigh for placement upon a horizozntal cross piece to permit flexing of the lower leg up and down while the patient is lying horizontal with his or her upper portion of his or her leg up. The invention is comprised of two rectangular planar frames that are positioned on opposite sides of the patient's body with a horizontal cross piece attaching the long side of each rectangular frame at a point above the patient's body. It is over this cross piece that the patient places his or her leg. The patient grasps the vertical members of the rectangular frame to pull the frame, and thus the cross piece, towards his or her head in order to press the cross piece against the leg at the proper point when performing the knee exercises.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for mounting rail sections, which guide an hydraulic elevator in a hoistway, utilizes a platform which is driven upwardly and downwardly from below, and a segmented stile attaching to the platform, the stile extending a given height above the platform to allow access to joints connecting said rail sections, the segmented stile guiding the platform along the rail sections during the erection of the rails.

Abstract: An improved focus and tracking error detection circuit for an optical disk servo system. The circuit calculates the logarithm of the signal from each of at least a pair of photodetectors. The difference between two logarithmic signals is then determined to give an error signal. The invention takes advantage of the property of logarithms that the difference between two logarithmic signals is equivalent to the logarithm of the ratio of the two signals. Accordingly, the error signal is a ratio, rather than an absolute difference signal, and is thus insensitive to variations which affect both signals. In addition, the logarithmic circuits inherently minimize variations which affect the photodetectors unequally by performing an AGC-type function. The error signal is inhibited during a write pulse to the laser to prevent saturation of the amplifiers. An automatic, periodic offset adjustment is provided by turning off the laser and varying an offset voltage until the error signal is zero.

Abstract: A display panel includes a group of cathode segments, each segment comprising two cathode bars adapted to glow simultaneously to produce a single segment and circuits for coupling energizing signals to each bar of a segment separately and simultaneously so that if one bar does not light, the other will and proper display will be achieved. The panel also includes anode electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a flow measuring device between an input fluid line and an output fluid line has a sleeve with an opening therethrough mounted to a base and capable of reciprocating between extended and retracted positions. The sleeve secures the flow measuring device in the extended position and releases the device in the retracted position. A cam secures the sleeve in the retracted or extended positions. A valve is fixed to the sleeve such that, when the sleeve is in its extended position, fluid flows around the valve and through the sleeve. When the sleeve is in its retracted position to remove the flow measuring device, the valve seats on the input fluid line.

Abstract: A cold cathode gas discharge display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including a glass base plate and glass face plate. An array of linear electrodes are provided on the base plate with some of the cathodes having adjacent ends. The usual masking layer of insulating material is provided on the base plate to outline the cathodes but this insulating layer does not cover the adjacent ends of the cathodes so that these ends are operatively disposed close together. Thus an improved glow blending of adjacent cathode ends is achieved.

Abstract: A capsule sealing machine (10) in which capsules (C) are fed from a supply hopper (16) to a rotating sealing table (12) for banding or sealing the capsules as they pass over a set of sealing wheels (13). The sealing machine has an improved capsule guide (22) for feeding the capsules from the hopper to the table, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of the machine while at the same time enabling a greater number of capsules to be sealed or banded in a given amount of time and space. The capsule guide comprises slotted magazine sections (23, 28 and 30) which are caused to vibrate by a vibrator (48) to promote discharge of capsules from the hopper and to advance the capsules along the slots. In one form of the invention, a capsule orienting device (51) is disposed in alignment with the magazine to orient the capsules in a desired end-for-end relationship before they are discharged onto the table.

Abstract: A method for sealing capsules which comprises contacting the cap and body juncture with a sealing solution of alcohol and water maintained between about 40.degree. C. to the boiling point of the fluid. A secondary gelatin band seal is also contemplated in one aspect of the invention, as well as a capsule having both seals.

Abstract: A dot matrix display panel having cathodes of a shape to provide an area of glow with each cathode having a cutout portion to reduce the power required to cause the cathode to glow, the glow filling the space formed by the cutout portion. The panel includes line-like anodes which overlie the cutout portions of the cathodes.

Abstract: A gas display panel includes a base plate carrying cathode electrodes and a face plate carrying anode electrodes, the base plate and face plate being hermetically sealed together to form an envelope which is filled with an ionizable gas and mercury vapor. The base plate carries a conductor which is used to heat the panel and this conductor extends over the surface of the base plate into the areas of the seal between the base plate and face plate and it also is positioned to provide heat at the location where a source of mercury is coupled to the base plate.

Abstract: An assembly is described for securing a flow conditioning device such as a water meter between fittings of a fluid conduit along with another conditioning device such as a backflow preventer. The assembly includes a manifold including two fluid passageways pivotably connected to return bends that facilitate mounting of the meter along an axis parallel to the axis of the conduit. Fittings along the manifold enable one end of the manifold to be mounted to the conduit while the remaining end mounts the backflow preventer. The manifold ends are spaced such that the one manifold end and the remote end of the mounted backflow preventer are spaced by a distance substantially equal to the distance between mounting fittings on the meter. Additional provision is supplied for mounting of an accessory such as a pressure relief valve on the manifold.

Abstract: A card reader operated in proximity to secured area control point including an operating system therein to provide multiple operating modes. The card reader is operable to provide access to a secured area by entry of an identification code, which is read by the card reader, or entered to the keyboard. The user will be granted access to the controlled area when the user access requested corresponds to the level of access provided by the identification codes presented. The card reader has a programming mode, to allow a station manager to program the reader for presenting a programming code. The card reader system also has a degraded mode of operation, which allows user access after power fail and reader restart. A keypad having an interchangeable faceplate is used for all three modes of operation to provide communication and programming with the reader by the system user.

Abstract: An optically-based coded card identification system is provided in which a card having an access code defined by adjacent differently-polarized elements used in a transmissive or reflective mode is interrogated through a deep red or near infrared transmissive filter as the card is pased by a source of illumination. The use of polarization coupled with the adjacency of the differently-polarized elements makes the code nearly invisible to the naked eye, with the code being made more invisible due to the low visible light transmission of the filter on the face of the card. In one embodiment, coding for the cards is provided by overlying layers of material polarized in different directions, with portions of the layers provided with offset apertures so that light through an aperture in one layer is polaried by an unapertured portion of the adjacent layer immediately thereunder.

Abstract: A three-wheeled scooter type of vehicle which is forwardly propelled by the body movement of the occupant by means of two rearwardly extending foot support frames which are pivotally connected to a front steering column. The foot support frames are provided with caster wheels which are yieldably tensioned to propel the vehicle in a direction of forward travel when the foot support frames are laterally moved.

Abstract: A security system continuously monitoring a plurality of spatially diverse events which are reportable to a central monitoring facility, the system including a controller for sequencing the performance of reporting and monitoring tasks according to the requirements of the events. The system also performs the tasks according to a predetermined priority, in particular, alarm message queuing. In addition, alarm conditions and system operation are verified by specified communication procedures and redundancies. Furthermore, system communications capabilities include keyboard entry and output display and an interrupt facility.

Abstract: A holder releasably mounts a water flow control device to a water supply line to enable installation and removal of the device from a meter "pit". The holder includes a clamping linkage that can be selectively operated from above ground to release or clamp the device in position between saddle members of the holder relative to the water line. Gasket sleeves are mountable over pipe connectors of the water control device and are releasably received in saddle members of the holder. The sleeves are removable with the flow control device.