Abstract: A paint sprayer for spraying a fluid includes a pump housing, an electrical housing having a motor and a switch, a handle coupled to the pump housing, a paint cup coupled to the handle, and a mechanical actuator coupled to the pump housing for operating the motor. The actuator has a first portion positioned in the vicinity of the exterior of the pump housing and a second portion that extends into the pump housing. The second portion is configured to engage the switch in the electrical housing to operate the motor. Another embodiment of the invention comprises a mechanical actuator configured to allow fluid isolation of the pump housing from the electrical housing.

Abstract: An improved fluid control valve includes a valve body with an inlet and an outlet. A sealing member is connected to the valve body conformed to seal the inlet and form a pressure chamber. A push rod is connected to the sealing member and a sleeve is provided which encompasses the push rod. A piston, forming an equalization chamber, is connected to the sleeve and to the push rod so that when the piston moves in one direction the sealing member is moved in the opposite direction until camover when both move in the same direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correlating the transmission of audio-video segments to digital signatures over a wireless or non-wireless medium to allow for real-time substitution and processing of audio and video programs. In one embodiment at least one digital signature having a correlated audio-video segment is transmitted as a digital waveform within an analog modulated signal representing the audio-video segment. The analog modulated signal is transmitted to a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver demodulates the digital waveforms while concurrently playing the correlated audio-video segment. An electronic user interface enables the wireless receiver to define conditional preferences to actively scan a plurality of channels and Internet addresses to substitute a currently playing audio-video segment with a preferred audio-video segment. In an alternative embodiment, a distributed computer network is the broadcast system transmitting digital signatures to either a wireless or non-wireless computer.

Abstract: A fiber optic module includes front adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors, and rear adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors. The module includes two circuits having passive optical couplers inside, and adapters exposed along the front and the rear of the module. The module is usable in cross-connect applications with itself or with other modules. The adapters are selectively connectable to fiber optic connectors. The front adapters of the module include two receive input ports and two transmit output ports. The front of the module also includes two visual indicators, one for each circuit. The visual indicators include a lens cap at least partially transparent to visual light in light communication with an optical fiber. The rear adapters of the module include two transmit input ports and two transmit output ports. Monitor ports are also located on the rear for both the transmit and receive signals.

Abstract: A fiber optic module includes front adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors, and rear adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors. The module includes two circuits having passive optical couplers inside, and adapters exposed along the front and the rear of the module. The module is usable in cross-connect applications with itself or with other modules. The adapters are selectively connectable to fiber optic connectors. The front adapters of the module include two receive input ports and two transmit output ports. The front of the module also includes two visual indicators, one for each circuit. The visual indicators include a lens cap at least partially transparent to visual light in light communication with an optical fiber. The rear adapters of the module include two transmit input ports and two transmit output ports. Monitor ports are also located on the rear for both the transmit and receive signals.

Abstract: A variable capacitance semiconductor device (10) such as a varactor diode, is formed to have a plurality of openings (13), such as a plurality of trenches, that cause the depletion regions (16) to overlap. This overlap results in a rapid change of capacitance for a given change of voltage, and allows efficient operation over a small voltage range.

Abstract: A fiber optic module includes front adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors, and rear adapters for connection to fiber optic connectors. The module includes two circuits having passive optical couplers inside, and adapters exposed along the front and the rear of the module. The module is usable in cross-connect applications with itself or with other modules. The adapters are selectively connectable to fiber optic connectors. The front adapters of the module include two receive input ports and two transmit output ports. The front of the module also includes two visual indicators, one for each circuit. The visual indicators include a lens cap at least partially transparent to visual light in light communication with an optical fiber. The rear adapters of the module include two transmit input ports and two transmit output ports. Monitor ports are also located on the rear for both the transmit and receive signals.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system is provided which has extremely high capacity. The system includes a large array of small disk files, and three storage managers for controlling the allocation of data to the array, access to data, and the power status of disk files within the array. The allocation manager chooses the disk files upon which incoming data is written based on the current state of the disk files (active or inactive), the available capacity, and the type of protection desired (i.e. unprotected, RAID, mirrored, etc.). The access manager interprets incoming read requests to determine the location of the stored data. The power manager sequences disk files between active and inactive to provide the storage requested by the access and allocation managers.

Abstract: A configuration management subsystem of a subsystem array system assigns heat producing devices to clusters such that the number of devices activated will not create overheating, regardless of which limited set of clusters is activated. The subsystem receives the dimensions of the disk array, the number of devices, the number of cluster groups and the maximum number of clusters that can be operated substantially simultaneously, and the dimensions of a critical box that defines an arrangement of the devices into cells such that, if a device is assigned to each cell of the critical box and all devices are operated simultaneously, then thermal operating restrictions of the devices will be exceeded. The system first executes simple numbering loop operations to determine, if they exist, dimensions of a building block subarray that meet certain requirements relative to the input parameters.

Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a film cartridge having a light-lock movable between open and closed positions, a chamber cover movable between a closed position covering the chamber and an open position uncovering the chamber, and manually operable means for releasing the chamber cover to move from its closed position to its open position. An ejector is provided for ejecting the film cartridge at least part way out of the chamber An actuating member is sized and positioned such that it can be moved by the releasing means to both actuate the ejector to eject the cartridge from the chamber, and move the light-lock from its open to closed position.

Abstract: A camera includes a chamber for receiving a cartridge having a light lock movable between an open position allowing a filmstrip to exit the cartridge and a closed position sealing the cartridge in a light-tight manner. The camera also includes means for moving the light lock between its open and closed positions. The invention is characterized by means actuateable by movement of the filmstrip from the cartridge, for preventing the moving means from moving the light lock from the open position to the closed position when the filmstrip protrudes out of the cartridge.

Abstract: Rolls of vinyl wall paper and the like are concurrently automatically dispensed and accurately metered and coated preparatory to being accurately cut to length while providing for rapid and uniform metering of such material without wrinkling thereof. The process provides substantial improvements in productivity and material utilization.

Abstract: An improved filter for tobacco products such as cigarettes is described, providing for selective HCN absorption. The selective adsorbant is a complex formed from a polydentate amine and a metal ion selected from the group consisting of zinc, iron (II), copper and nickel. The complex may be improved in its effectiveness by further combination with a polyalkylene oxide which acts synergistically therewith. Illustrative materials are the zinc complex of ethylenediamine employing polyethylene oxide as a synergist.

Abstract: A control system for a pair of hydraulic lift actuators for adjusting the position of a blade-carrying frame of a motor grader includes a pair of control levers respectively operatively connected to a pair of direction control valves which are, in turn, respectively connected to the pair of actuators and selectively operable by means of the levers to place the actuators in neutral, extension, retraction, and float conditions. Each of the levers includes a hollow handle section having an electric switch mounted therein and a finger-operable sleeve is reciprocably mounted on the handle section for selectively closing the switch. Each switch is connected to an electrically responsive portion of a respective one of the control valves and when closed causes the valve to shift to effect the float condition in an associated one of the actuators.

Abstract: Caliper type bicycle brakes for the front and rear wheel are actuated simultaneously by a single actuator assembly mounted adjacent the handlebar. Hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered to the brakes through two self-contained hydraulic circuits, one for the front brake and one for the rear brake. The brake system includes a device for applying a greater braking force at the front wheel than at the rear wheel. In an alternate embodiment the brake system is actuated by the chain drive system of the bicycle. Improved brake shoe elements and a device for wiping water from the wheel rim for enhanced wet weather braking are also disclosed.

Abstract: A motor grader includes front and rear frame sections connected together for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis located between a cab mounted on the front frame section and an engine enclosure mounted on the rear frame section. The cab is provided at its opposite sides with fore-and-aft slidable doors supported for movement to respective open positions wherein they are disposed in outwardly angled relationship to the cab and extend rearwardly beyond the cab. The angled disposition of the doors is such that when the front frame section is in a fully angled position in the direction of one of the doors the rear end of the latter will be located between the engine enclosure and front wheel of one of a pair of bogie wheel assemblies supporting the rear frame section.