Abstract: In a special operating mode, a controller is programmed to disengage a hydraulically actuated park mechanism without use of engine power. The starter motor is used to rotate the engine-driven pump at sufficient speed to command disengagement of Park. Once park is disengaged, a holding pin is used to maintain the out of park condition without hydraulic pressure or flow.

Abstract: In a special operating mode, a controller is programmed to disengage a hydraulically actuated park mechanism without use of engine power. The starter motor is used to rotate the engine-driven pump at sufficient speed to command disengagement of Park. Once park is disengaged, a holding pin is used to maintain the out of park condition without hydraulic pressure or flow.

Abstract: A training aid for a baseball bat includes an outer portion and an inner core portion which is relatively rigid with respect to the outer portion, the aid is for placement against a bat handle having an arched outer surface which is of a size to extend along inside middle knuckles of one's fingers for purposes of providing knuckle alignment while permitting a substantial portion of one's fingers free to grip the bat handle to provide a tactile sensation of gripping the bat principally with one's fingers and not one's palms and, which when so gripped by a batter, the training aid provides knuckle alignment for each hand and promotes anatomical superior fluidity of motion in one's hands, wrists and arms during a swing.

Abstract: A distributed processing environment includes a mainframe computer system having a plurality of processing sub-spaces. An asynchronous messaging service resides in each of the processing sub-spaces. Additionally, a server process application resides in a first one of the processing sub-spaces while an instance of a handler application resides in each one of the remaining processing sub-spaces. A client computer system issues a request message to the asynchronous messaging service residing in the first processing sub-space. If the server process application requires the services of the handler application to handle the request message, the server process application passes the request to an instance of the handler application selected using a load balancing algorithm. After processing the received request, the handler application returns a response to the request to the requesting client computer system via the asynchronous messaging service application residing with it in one of the processing sub-spaces.

Abstract: A distributed computing environment and associated method for monitoring a queue-based messaging system. The queue-based messaging system controls the exchange of messages between a server process and client process applications. A messaging application residing at the server computer platform and forming part of the queue-based messaging system manages a plurality of trigger-initiated local queues, each associated with one of the plurality of client process applications and having queue depth, trigger enable, get enable and put enable attributes. A monitoring tool residing on the server computer platform acquires a value for the queue depth, trigger enable, put enable and get enable attributes for a plurality of trigger-initiated local queues and generally simultaneously displays, on a user interface coupled to the server computer platform, the value for the queue depth, trigger enable, put enable and get enable attributes for each one of the plurality of trigger-initiated local queues.

Abstract: A distributed computing environment includes a client platform, plurality server platforms, plural applications distributed amongst the plural server platforms, a messaging system, a plurality of data files and a load balancing and failover software application. Maintained in the data file for each application is a list of each instance of the application, where it resides and a pre-determined time span assigned thereto. The time spans maintained in the data file are arranged in a self-repeating sequence, collectively comprise a first unit of time and respectively encompass a contiguous range of values for a second unit of time. For each message to be delivered to a distributed application, the load balancing and failover software application selects the server platform to receive the message. The load balancing and failover software application then determines if the selected server platform has failed and, if so, selects a substitute server platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing special motion effects such as slow or fast motion, still frame and other effects from video magnetic tape is disclosed which is particularly applicable to helical wrap recording and reproducing apparatus. The apparatus employs a transducing head that is mounted on a revolving scanning drum, with the head being movable in a line generally transverse to the recorded track. The present invention utilizes the transverse positioning of the head to accurately follow a track during reproducing or playback and, at the completion of the track, to properly position or set the head in position to either play the next adjacent successive track, replay the same track, or play yet another track so that special motion effects can be achieved without experiencing picture breakup or unwanted noise.

Abstract: A shock absorbing fallfront bracket of the type having rigid hinged-together links diagonally supporting the fallfront panel in its open position and folding into the cabinet in closed position, and also including a third spring loaded link extending from the mutual hinge of the linked pair and to the cabinet to resiliently resist the full opening of the panel, and to fold, when closed, fully into the cabinet along with the supporting linked pair.

Abstract: A tape scanning assembly including a fixed drum and a coaxially mounted rotating drum defining a gap therebetween, with the tape wrapped in a helical path around the drums and across the gap, the rotating drum being driven to produce a pressurized gas bearing film between the tape and drums, with the bearing film being vented by the gap to tend to produce a variable film thickness gradient on the upstream side of the gap; the assembly is provided with venting means such as relieved portions or grooves on the rotating drum to reduce said gradient and to control the film thickness upstream from the gap.

Abstract: This is a magnetic tape transport primarily for the automatic threading and replay of cassette-mounted tapes that were originally produced upon the same transport or upon a different recording transport having a single rotating head and guide around which the tape is wrapped in a substantially 360-degree omega path. To be adapted for replay of the cassette-mounted tapes, the replay transport differs from the omega-wrap recording transport in having two diametrically opposite rotating heads and a substantially 180-degree tape wrap, and the heads rotate at half the rotational speed of the omega-wrap transport head. The threading means are of the differential air-pressure type.

Abstract: A magnetic head supported for scanning along tracks of a magnetic medium is mounted on a piezoelectric bender element for movement laterally relative to the tracks as they are scanned. As the head scans a track, the relative position between the track to be reproduced and the head is sensed to determine the tracking position of the heads. A bias control signal is generated by a servo circuit and applied to energize the piezoelectric bender element to position the head relative to the track to maintain the head in the desired tracking position as it scans the magnetic medium.

Abstract: To adapt a magnetic transducer for controlled positioning use where there is relative motion between the transducer and a magnetic recording surface, such as a magnetic tape, the transducer is mounted at the end of a thin leaf for sweeping motion displacement laterally to a track along the record surface and within a predetermined desired range of displacement across the record surface. The thin leaf is restrained against motion causing the transducer to move in any manner other than laterally to the track. In one embodiment, the leaf is a piezoelectric bender element, and in another embodiment the leaf is an electromagnetically responsive leaf element.

Abstract: A pair of reel spindles are mounted on the same axis normal to a tape deck, the inboard spindle adjacent the tape deck being journalled for independent rotation upon the exterior of a bearing means extending from the deck, and the outboard spindle remote from the deck being mounted on a shaft extending interiorally of the bearing means for independent rotation with respect to the outboard spindle. The inboard spindle includes a turntable flange and key portions extending into keyways in the inboard reel. The outboard spindle has radially extending key portions mating with the keyways of the inboard reel, to permit passage of the inboard reel freely to and from the inboard spindle. The outboard reel is provided with truncated keyways that mate with the outboard spindle keys but prevent passage of the outboard reel inboardly to the region of the inboard spindle.