Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product to perform infrastructure management include generating models of one or more work shifts, repair tasks, and safety tasks, each of the models including one or more variables, defining a constraint that affects at least one of the one of more variables of at least one of the models, and generating a scenario based on the models and the constraint. Solving for the one or more variables of each of the models of the scenario to determine resource pre-positioning and task scheduling, according to the scenario, is performed in order to perform the infrastructure management, the solving being based on achieving one or more objectives.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for temporarily inducing cardioplegic arrest in the heart of a patient and for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass in order to facilitate surgical procedures on the heart and its related blood vessels. Specifically, a catheter based system is provided for isolating the heart and coronary blood vessels of a patient from the remainder of the arterial system and for infusing a cardioplegic agent into the patient's coronary arteries to induce cardioplegic arrest in the heart. The system includes an endoaortic partitioning catheter having an expandable balloon at its distal end which is expanded within the ascending aorta to occlude the aortic lumen between the coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery. Means for centering the catheter tip within the ascending aorta include specially curved shaft configurations, eccentric or shaped occlusion balloons and a steerable catheter tip, which may be used separately or in combination.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for temporarily inducing cardioplegic arrest in the heart of a patient and for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass in order to facilitate surgical procedures on the heart and its related blood vessels. Specifically, a catheter based system is provided for isolating the heart and coronary blood vessels of a patient from the remainder of the arterial system and for infusing a cardioplegic agent into the patient's coronary arteries to induce cardioplegic arrest in the heart. The system includes an endoaortic partitioning catheter having an expandable balloon at its distal end which is expanded within the ascending aorta to occlude the aortic lumen between the coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery. Means for centering the catheter tip within the ascending aorta include specially curved shaft configurations, eccentric or shaped occlusion balloons and a steerable catheter tip, which may be used separately or in combination.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for temporarily inducing cardioplegic arrest in the heart of a patient and for establishing cardiopulmonary bypass in order to facilitate surgical procedures on the heart and its related blood vessels. Specifically, a catheter based system is provided for isolating the heart and coronary blood vessels of a patient from the remainder of the arterial system and for infusing a cardioplegic agent into the patient's coronary arteries to induce cardioplegic arrest in the heart. The system includes an endoaortic partitioning catheter having an expandable balloon at its distal end which is expanded within the ascending aorta to occlude the aortic lumen between the coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery. Means for centering the catheter tip within the ascending aorta include specially curved shaft configurations, eccentric or shaped occlusion balloons and a steerable catheter tip, which may be used separately or in combination.

Abstract: An electronic control circuit for carbonated beverage dispensing machines employs the low voltage AC supply for the solenoid dispensing valves as a source of clipped, balanced ac which is applied to one or more water-imersed sensors. One sensor senses ice mass size and the other senses carbonated water supply level. The balanced ac prevents electroplating by the sensors. Peak detector circuits associated with the sensors produce dc control signals whose levels increase and decrease respectively as the control shut-off point is reached. These dc control signals are applied to Schmitt circuits, the output of one of which is used to control the carbonated water supply pump and the other of which inversely controls the refrigerant compressor. In addition, the balanced ac signal is used to clock a counter which is held at full count.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable post-mix carbonated beverage dispenser unit for use in small offices or small-volume locations is described. Flavored syrup is supplied to the unit from disposable sealed syrup packages which are plugged into a dispenser valving system. CO.sub.2 is supplied to the unit carbonator system in returnable containers which also may be quickly plugged into a CO.sub.2 valving system. A thermoelectric refrigeration system may be provided to decrease noise and the number of moving parts or a mechanical freon system may be used. The unit construction may be modular for ease of repair. The cabinet is injection-molded from plastic. Water is supplied to the unit for mixing with the CO.sub.2 and syrup from a water reservoir which may be manually filled. The refrigeration system cools the water in the reservoir, as well as the syrup packages and carbonator tank.

Abstract: A low cost, reliable and simplified mechanism is disclosed for maintaining a set of rotating shelves in a display cabinet level and stable at all ponts on their circular path of travel. The display cabinet can be heated or refrigerated where perishable goods are being displayed.

Abstract: A versatile merchandising machine for dispensing a variety of goods including bagged snacks and the like in which each of a plurality of delivery units of one of a number of vertically spaced shelves includes a pair of horizontally aligned oppositely wound helices which receive articles between aligned pairs of turns of the helices and in which selectively energisable individual detent motors respectively drive the helices of the pairs in opposite directions to advance the leading article of the unit into engagement with an article control element hanging down in front of the unit to guide the article to control its movement over the edge of the shelf and downwardly to a delivery area. The shelves can be slid outwardly and swung downwardly through a limited arc to facilitate loading.

Abstract: Syrup tanks in a beverage dispenser having a cold water bath are cooled by circulating water from the water bath through a coil disposed adjacent to the syrup tanks in heat exchange relationship therewith. In the preferred embodiment, the coil is located between adjacent rows of syrup tanks to maximize heat transfer.

Abstract: A merchandising machine cabinet and shelf structure in which a pair of channel-shaped rails mounted on the inner sides of the cabinet structure at corresponding heights and extending from front to back of the cabinet with the channels opening inwardly receive respective pairs of spaced wheels mounted on the sides of the shelf to permit the shelf to be moved rectilinearly out of a fully housed home position to an intermediate position at which an element on the shelf engages a pivot adjacent to the front of the cabinet and at which one roller of each pair registers with a slot in the upper wall of the corresponding channel to permit the shelf to be pivoted downwardly to a limit position at which the merchandising units are readily accessible for loading. Interengageable means on the cabinet door and on the front of the shelf ensures that the shelf is moved fully into its home position as the door is closed.

Abstract: A manually disassemblable push-button and switch unit assembly for a merchandising machine in which an elongated frame is formed with a plurality of spaced recesses open at the top and at the side of the frame and with a plurality of openings extending through the frame from the top to the bottom and disposed between the respective recesses to permit respective switch units to be inserted into the recesses through the side openings thereof with their actuating elements accessible through the top openings of the recess and with the switch units held in position by laterally extending spring fingers on the frame. Resilient fingers on a push-button extend through the frame openings at the sides of the recess so as to mount the push-buttons over the top openings of the recesses and for limited movement toward and away from the switch units to operate the actuating elements thereof.

Abstract: A candy bar delivery unit for a helical feed merchandising machine in which an article-advancing helix, having an article-delivery cam formed at the front end thereof, is supported above the bottom of the delivery shelf between an elongated boss extending from front to back of one side wall of the unit and the other side wall of the unit so that the turns of the helix make substantially point contact with the boss and with the other side wall and in which drive means is energized on each operation of the unit to rotate the helix through a single revolution to cause the turns of the helix to advance articles supported on end on the shelf between the turns of the helix and to cause the helix cam to deliver the leading article over the front edge of the shelf. Each side wall is provided with an inwardly directed retainer tab for holding the helix in position.

Abstract: A gum and mint delivery unit for a merchandising machine of the helical feed type in which a product separator extends axially through a helix mounted for rotary unit between the unit walls extending from front to back of a shelf of the machine to permit packets of gum or mints or the like to be arranged vertically between the turns of the helix on opposite sides of the separator and in which a motor rotates the helix through one half of a revolution on each operation of the unit to cause a cam formed on the front of the helix to deliver an article over the front edge of the shelf so that articles are alternately delivered from one side of the separator and the other side thereof on successive operations of the unit.