Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing pills from an array-type pill package is provided. The mechanism includes a chassis, a package holder, a cutting mechanism configured to cut a sidewall of an individual container in the array-type pill package, a dispensing mechanism configured to receive and dispense a cut individual container therein; and a control system configured to control a relative position of the cutting mechanism and the package holder along at least two degrees of freedom. A cutting mechanism is also provided. The cutting mechanism includes a cutter base movably mounted to the chassis, a cutting tool mounted to the cutting base and adapted for cutting a side wall of an individual container adjacent a common top surface of an array-type pill package to entirely detach individual container from the array-type package; and motor operatively to displace the cutting tool along a plane generally tangent to the package holder.

Abstract: A mechanism for dispensing pills from an array-type pill package is provided. The mechanism includes a chassis, a package holder, a cutting mechanism configured to cut a sidewall of an individual container in the array-type pill package, a dispensing mechanism configured to receive and dispense a cut individual container therein; and a control system configured to control a relative position of the cutting mechanism and the package holder along at least two degrees of freedom. A cutting mechanism is also provided. The cutting mechanism includes a cutter base movably mounted to the chassis, a cutting tool mounted to the cutting base and adapted for cutting a side wall of an individual container adjacent a common top surface of an array-type pill package to entirely detach individual container from the array-type package; and motor operatively to displace the cutting tool along a plane generally tangent to the package holder.

Abstract: An operating mechanism which can be used on a right or left opening casement window, includes a crank arm having one end for rotatable connection to one bottom corner of a bottom sash, a row of teeth extending around a major portion of the other end of the crank arm, a worm for rotating the crank arm, and a handle for rotating the worm. By turning the crank arm so that one end of the row of teeth meshes with the worm and connecting the free end of the arm to the appropriate corner of a sash in the open or closed position, the mechanism can be adjusted for a right or left opening window.

Abstract: A central vacuum unit comprises a cyclonic chamber having a sidewall. A motor causes a swirl of air loaded with debris to centrifugally contact an inner surface of the sidewall of the cyclonic chamber. A lateral outlet is defined through the sidewall to provide for lateral discharge of the debris from the cyclonic chamber.

Abstract: A central vacuum unit comprises a cyclonic chamber having a sidewall. A motor causes a swirl of air loaded with debris to centrifugally contact an inner surface of the sidewall of the cyclonic chamber. A lateral outlet is defined through the sidewall to provide for lateral discharge of the debris from the cyclonic chamber.

Abstract: An oil-filled pole-mounted distribution transformer comprises a tank housing a transformer core-coil assembly immersed in cooling oil. The tank is made of a corrosion-proof composite material and a radiator is provided for cooling the oil. The radiator is external to the tank and has a hot oil inlet and a cool oil outlet located at different levels into the tank for causing a natural circulation of oil through the radiator by thermal siphoning.

Abstract: An oil-filled pole-mounted distribution transformer comprises a tank housing a transformer core-coil assembly immersed in cooling oil. The tank is made of a corrosion-proof composite material and a radiator is provided for cooling the oil. The radiator is external to the tank and has a hot oil inlet and a cool oil outlet located at different levels into the tank for causing a natural circulation of oil through the radiator by thermal siphoning.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a quantity of a hot beverage, comprising providing a source of a liquid having an adjustable temperature, selecting an infusion time and an infusion temperature, supplying from the source liquid substantially at the selected infusion temperature, the supplied liquid having a volume equal to or slightly larger than the quantity, mixing the supplied liquid with a flavor ingredient having the selected infusion time and infusion temperature, infusing the flavor ingredient in the supplied liquid substantially for the selected infusion time whereby the selected ingredient is at least partially dissipated in the supplied liquid thereby forming a brew, and following the infusion time, removing an undissipated portion of the flavor ingredient from the brew thereby yielding the beverage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a quantity of a hot beverage, comprising providing a source of a liquid having an adjustable temperature, selecting an infusion time and an infusion temperature, supplying from the source liquid substantially at the selected infusion temperature, the supplied liquid having a volume equal to or slightly larger than the quantity, mixing the supplied liquid with a flavor ingredient having the selected infusion time and infusion temperature, infusing the flavor ingredient in the supplied liquid substantially for the selected infusion time whereby the selected ingredient is at least partially dissipated in the supplied liquid thereby forming a brew, and following the infusion time, removing an undissipated portion of the flavor ingredient from the brew thereby yielding the beverage.

Abstract: A support arm for attaching a device in a suspended manner is described. The support arm comprises a carriage secured to a top portion thereof for displacement along a guide rail. A brake pad is retained in a top end of the support arm and is actuated by a rotatable sleeve disposed at the bottom of the support arm whereby the brake pad is releasably engaged to arrest the arm at a desired location along the guide rail. A connecting bracket is rotatably secured to a bottom portion of the support arm to secure a device to be supported by the arm. A locking mechanism is actuable by the sleeve to unlock the connecting bracket to permit the device and the bracket to be rotatably displaced to a desired position and locked at such position. Particularly, but not exclusively, the support arm is for attaching a medical instrument in a suspended manner inside a patient's room of an ambulance.

Abstract: A mobile seat is used in a motorized vehicle to permit a user person seated thereon to displace itself to a desired position and wherein the seat is locked and unlocked at the desired position by the user person in a hands-free mode. The seat comprises a seating member which is displaceably secured between front and rear guide rails. A pivot connection is provided rearwardly of the seating member. A braking element is connected to the seating member for displaceable engagement with the front guide rail by pivoting motion of the seat member about the pivot connection. The braking element is actuable by the position of the user person seated on the seating member whereby to arrest the seat member at a desired position without the use of the user person's hands.

Abstract: An automatic disc handling system and method for retrieving and positioning information carrying discs between a storage position to a position of use is described. A displaceable robot having a pair of robotic arms is controlled by a computer connected to a robot controller and instructed to move to discrete positions, either in front of storage racks where a plurality of superposed sliding trays containing one or more discs are stored, or to a plurality of playback units disposed at a position of use to move selected ones of the disc to and from these positions as requested by a person accessing the discs from a remote station. The robot is provided with a tray engaging element to move the tray in and out of its storage position, and the robotic arms of the robot are each provided with a picker mechanism to engage and remove the discs from the trays or the playback units and transport them to effect a function as dictated by the computer and the robot controller.