Abstract: The invention concerns a device for transporting sticky and/or wet material in horizontal direction comprising a shaftless spiral or screw having an outside diameter and an inside diameter, a stationary trough having a prismatic shape with at least at its underside a cylindrical part with a liner for supporting the outside diameter of the shaftless spiral or screw, and drive means for rotating the shaftless spiral or screw around a stationary straight centerline, the stationary trough having an inlet opening for receiving transportable material and at its underside an outlet opening for discharging transported material. According to the invention the shaftless spiral or screw is provided over its active length between the inlet opening and the outlet opening along the centreline with a pipe which is rotatable in the inside diameter of the shaftless spiral or screw.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for transporting sticky and/or wet material in horizontal direction comprising a shaftless spiral or screw having an outside diameter and an inside diameter, a stationary trough having a prismatic shape with at least at its underside a cylindrical part with a liner for supporting the outside diameter of the shaftless spiral or screw, and drive means for rotating the shaftless spiral or screw around a stationary straight centreline, the stationary trough having an inlet opening for receiving transportable material and at its underside an outlet opening for discharging transported material. According to the invention the shaftless spiral or screw is provided over its active length between the inlet opening and the outlet opening along the centreline with a pipe which is rotatable in the inside diameter of the shaftless spiral or screw.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transporting a disabled person in a carrying means. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a dual-track structure for supporting a hoist and trolley which are controlled by the disabled person. In a further embodiment, the structure is designed to be supported by a floor and ceiling together, or by a floor alone, and is adjustable to accommodate rooms of different dimensions. A still further embodiment of the invention includes mechanical and electronic safety means for the hoist which senses a malfunction and provides an appropriate response thereto, such as sounding an alarm and/or lowering the hoist at a specific pre-programmed location and at a controlled descent rate. The embodiments may be used independently or in concert in accordance with the invention. One method of the invention comprises transporting the disabled person utilizing the dual-track structure controlled by the disabled person.

Abstract: Load position limits and incremental lowering of a load are controlled by a microprocessor forming an interface between an operator's control station and the hoist. Other hoist status conditions such as underspeed and overspeed of the hoist motor are detected by the microprocessor based upon hoist speed during the position limit setting cycle. Still other hoist status data such a motor overheating, number of power-up cycles, number of under and overspeed shut-downs, number of power failures, etc. are input to the microprocessor and all such data as up-dated are entered into a non-volatile memory which, when extracted, permits maintenance scheduling.

Abstract: A system for the automatic measurement of the level, flow rate, and flow volume of liquid flowing through a channel is described. An echolocation system operates to detect returns from the surface of the liquid in the channel during successive transmission cycles in response to the reflection of sonic signals. A source of pulses having a frequency which provides a certain number of pulses corresponding to the travel time of the sonic signals over a distance equal to a maximum predetermined level or head of the liquid in the channel provides pulses from which the liquid level, flow rate, and flow volume can be obtained. The control of the frequency of the pulses from which the measurements are obtained may be accomplished by a digital phase locked loop system to minimize the effects of changes in ambient condition, such as temperature, vapor pressure, and composition of atmosphere as often occurs in such conduits.

Abstract: A system for controlling operations of a process or of another system or apparatus which must perform its operations in precise time sequence. The control system also initiates the performance of successive cycles of such sequences of operations with the same precision of timing as the operations themselves. A timing generator which operates from or includes a constant frequency source produces pulses of constant periodicity which time the operations so that they occur in selected time sequence during each cycle, starting when a cycle is initiated. The timing of the operations and their duration may be preset for the process, apparatus or system to be controlled. A large timing range is provided to meet the needs of the particular process system or apparatus and to make adjustments as may be required in the field. The cycles of operation sequences may be selected in accordance with the mode of operation desired.

Abstract: A system for the automatic measurement of the level, of material in a container and especially of liquid flowing through a channel is described. An echolocation system operates to detect returns of reflected sonic signals from the surface of the liquid in the channel during successive transmission cycles. A source of pulses is provided having a frequency which provides a certain number of pulses corresponding to the travel time of the sonic signals over a distance equal to a maximum predetermined level or head of the liquid in the channel. The time interval between signal transmission and reception is excess of twice the time for travel of the signals between the transmitter and the maximum level of liquid is a measurement of the liquid level in the channel.

Abstract: To measure liquid flow through channels with various cross sections, detectors of liquid level and velocity are placed in proximity to the liquid to measure flow in terms of the product of the cross sectional area of the fluid and its velocity. Adjustable switches are employed to provide input signals to the computation circuitry which are constants while the detectors provide the data signals which result from the dynamic measurements.

Abstract: A system for the automatic measurement of the level of material in a container and especially of liquid flowing through a channel is described. An echolocation system operates to detect returns of reflected sonic signals from the surface of the liquid in the channel during successive transmission cycles. A source of pulses is provided having a frequency which provides a certain number of pulses corresponding to the travel time of the sonic signals over a distance equal to a maximum predetermined level or head of the liquid in the channel. The time interval between signal transmission and reception in excess of twice the time for travel of the signals between the transmitter and the maximum level of liquid is a measurement of the liquid level in the channel.