Abstract: A method and apparatus for a time division multiplex transmission of data packets from a plurality of access units in a communications network having a pair of oppositely directed unidirectional buses between which the access units are coupled, each access unit transmitting its data packets in empty time slots on a first of such buses. A queue is formed in each access unit of the data packets therein, and each time a further data packet is added to such queue a request flag is transmitted on the second bus. A count is kept of the number of request flags passing the access unit on the second bus, and such further data packet is assigned a priority value corresponding to the number of request flags existing at the time the further data packet is added to the queue.

Abstract: A controlled CSMA packet switching system of a non-persistent carrier type in which in the event of a channel being sensed busy, a new sensing point is scheduled at random in a dynamically determined time interval TS.sub.n where ##EQU1## where TS.sub.u is the scheduling time interval that maximizes the expected throughput when all the stations compete for the channel access, TS.sub.1 is the scheduling time interval that maximizes the expected throughput when two stations complete for the channel access, TS.sub.n-1 is a scheduling time interval determined in a preceding (n-1)th observation interval, G.sub.n-1 is the average offered load in the (n-1)th observation interval, and G.sub.o is a nominal average offered load. An estimation of the average offered load G.sub.n-1 is derived from an estimation of the average idle period length in the (n-1) observation interval.

Abstract: A solar heating panel unit is provided in the form of a plastic pouch having an internal chamber provided with a serpentine path. The pouch has two sides, one of which consists of a layer of anti-abrasive matte black plastic and a sealant inner layer of black medium density polyethylene film. The other side incorporates a reflective layer of aluminum foil. The pouch has inlets and outlets, whereat hardware fixtures are employed, consisting of threadably engaged parts having flanges between which is clamped a wall of the pouch. The pouch, or a plurality of such pouches, may be incorporated into systems wherein a cold water source is connected selectively through the pouch to a tank or through a boiler, whereof the boiler or the tank supplies a construction requiring heated water. Alternatively, the system may be such that the tank is excluded.

Abstract: A solar heating panel unit is provided in the form of a plastic pouch having an internal chamber provided with a serpentine path. The pouch has two sides, one of which consists of a layer of anti-abrasive matte black plastic and a sealant inner layer of black medium density polyethylene film. The other side incorporates a reflective layer of aluminum foil. The pouch has inlets and outlets, whereat hardware fixtures are employed, consisting of threadably engaged parts having flanges between which is clamped a wall of the pouch. The pouch, or a plurality of such pouches, may be incorporated into systems wherein a cold water source is connected selectively through the pouch to a tank or through a boiler, whereof the boiler or the tank supplies a construction requiring heated water. Alternatively, the system may be such that the tank is excluded.

Abstract: A label is provided for a bottle in the form of a heat shrinkable sleeve made of oriented polyethylene. The label is made as a laminate having inner and outer layers. The outer layer has a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.15. The inner layer has a coefficient of friction of greater than about 0.4. The inner layer includes ethylene vinyl acetate. The layers are about 0.001 inches. The layers are connected by an adhesive, which is about 0.00005 inches thick. A plurality of sleeves can be formed from a planar strip wherein first halves of the sleeves are formed adjacent each other along half of the strip and complementary halves of the sleeves are formed adjacent each other along the other half of the strip, whereafter the strip is folded in half to bring the first halves into alignment with the complementary halves and the thusly constituted portions of the sleeves are heat sealed or welded together.

Abstract: An adjusting device for a television camera consists of a resilient tubular member which is arranged between the window of the pick-up tube and the objective and which is compressed when an adjusting member acts on the neck of the tube. The deformation of the tubular member enables accurate distance adjustment without it being necessary to rotate the objective or the housing.