Abstract: Systems for delivering cosmetic and therapeutic actives to the oral cavity employ a strip comprising a first layer of material, a second layer comprising polybutene with a molecular weight of about 300 to about 3000, and a cosmetic or therapeutic active included within the second layer. Therapeutic and cosmetic actives in compositions comprising polybutene inhibit or prevent gingivitis, caries, staining, fungi, bacteria and plaque build-up in the oral cavity by means of the delivery system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reformatting a main storage device associated with a computer system. The storage device is reformatted by making use of a secondary storage device on which is stored a copy of the data stored on the main storage device. A reformatting process is run on the secondary storage device while the main computer system continues normal operation. When the reformatting process is completed, the secondary storage device is updated with the updates that were made on the main storage system while the reformatting process was run on the secondary system. Thereafter, the reformatted and updated data is either transferred to the main storage device, or the main storage device is physically replaced with the secondary storage device. In another aspect, non-standard programming techniques are employed to provide access to non-configured disc drives coupled to an AS/400.

Abstract: A device for indicating freezing weather conditions is easily installed beside a road or highway for signaling motorists. The device includes a fluid container having a spherical visual indicator attached thereto. As the temperature drops the contained liquid freezes, urging the spherical indicator from a hidden to an exposed posture. The motorists, seeing the brightly colored ball, realize that freezing conditions exists and will thereafter drive in a more precautionary manner for accident prevention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mucoadhesive compositions comprising a safe and effective amount of a gastrointestinal active; from about 1.5% to about 10%, by weight of the composition, of a clay component; and from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight of the composition, of a gum component. Alternatively, the clay component can be a titanium dioxide or a silicone dioxide component. The mucoadhesive compositions also preferably comprise up to about 2% by weight of the composition, of a non-ionic component such as methyl cellulose. The present invention also relates to methods of prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders in humans or lower animals by orally administering a composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A wallet card adapted for use in reading externally stored information includes a transparent, substantially non-foldable semi-rigid base. The semi-rigid base includes a magnifying lens. The lens is formed by heating a lens forming die to a temperature sufficient to soften the base material and then cooling the die prior to withdrawing the die from the base material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reformatting a main storage device associated with a computer system. The storage device is reformatted by making use of a secondary storage device on which is stored a copy of the data stored on the main storage device. A reformatting process is run on the secondary storage device while the main computer system continues normal operation. When the reformatting process is completed, the secondary storage device is updated with the updates that were made on the main storage system while the reformatting process was run on the secondary system. Thereafter, the reformatted and updated data is either transferred to the main storage device, or the main storage device is physically replaced with the secondary storage device. In another aspect, non-standard programming techniques are employed to provide access to non-configured disc drives coupled to an AS/400.

Abstract: A vice like grip for chains comprised of an elongated main handle. A pivoting jaw portion is pivotally coupled with the elongated main handle. The device includes a pair of gripping elements. One of the gripping elements is secured to the elongated main handle. Another gripping element is secured to the pivoting jaw portion.

Abstract: A mass storage system having at least one input/output controllers in connection with a host computer is disclosed. The mass storage system also includes mirrored storage devices in connection with the input/output controllers through a global cache memory. Each mirrored pair of storage devices is assigned a common logical volume address, but is looked upon by the host computer as a single entity. The cache memory includes dynamically allocable cache slots, which correspond to each common logical volume address. When the host wishes to write data to a pair of mirrored storage devices, the contents of first write operation are written into the appropriate cache slot. However, when a second write operation is received by the input/output controllers, a determination is made as to whether the contents of the second write operation are already in the cache memory.

Abstract: A control system for a revolving door includes an ultrasonic sensor having multiple sensor heads. The door has a housing and multiple movable compartments formed by door wings. The sensors emit energy waves into the housing in bursts, then receive echoes from any objects, including people, in the compartments. The sensors are activated when the door is activated by an authorized user. A controller stores a binary "echo" or "no echo" signal in memory in response to an emitted energy wave. The system determines a maximum height of an object or person in a compartment, then measures the total amount of time that it detects something above a selected percentage of the maximum height. When this time reaches a predetermined amount, the system interprets that as "piggybacking" (two individuals in one compartment). The system also interprets signals that go above, drop below, and then rise above the selected percentage again as piggybacking.

Abstract: A control system for a revolving door includes an ultrasonic sensor having multiple sensor heads. The door has a housing, and multiple moveable compartments formed by door wings attached to and radially extending from a rotatable axis. The sensors emit energy waves into the housing in bursts, then receive echoes from any objects, including people, in the chambers. The sensors are activated when the door is activated by an authorized user. A controller stores a binary "echo" or "no echo" signal in memory in response to an emitted energy wave. The memory is formed by multiple arrays, each array having a column associated with a particular sensor and used for storing echo signals from a particular ultrasonic burst. Each bit in a column represents incremental ranges of objects from the sensor head, and the controller stores the "echo" or "no echo" signal in an appropriate bit based on the elapsed time from the preceding burst.

Abstract: A borehole televiewer system is disclosed which includes a sonde adapted to be suspended in a borehole containing borehole fluids. A variable speed brushless DC motor within the sonde is utilized to drive a rotatable mount at selected speeds in order to maintain a rotational speed in proportion to the linear speed of the sonde through the borehole. A "quick-disconnect" transducer head, including diametrically opposed acoustic transducers, is mounted to the rotatable mount in direct contact with the borehole fluids and is utilized to repetitively transmit energy pulses at the wall of the borehole throughout each rotation. Receiver circuitry is then utilized to determine the amplitude and transit time for each reflected pulse in order to determine parameters of interest for the borehole wall. In a preferred mode of the present invention, the reflected pulses are then utilized to generate a video representation of the borehole wall in addition to providing a graphic plot.

Abstract: A control system for a revolving door includes an ultrasonic sensor having multiple sensor heads. The door has a housing, and multiple moveable compartments formed by door wings attached to and radially extending from a rotatable axis. The sensors emit energy waves into the housing in bursts, then receive echoes from any objects, including people, in the chambers. The sensors are activated when the door is activated by an authorized user. A controller stores a binary "echo" or "no echo" signal in memory in response to an emitted energy wave. The memory is formed by multiple arrays, each array having a column associated with a particular sensor and used for storing echo signals from a particular ultrasonic burst. Each bit in a column represents incremental ranges of objects from the sensors head, and the controller stores the "echo" or "no echo" signal in an appropriate bit based on the elaspsed time from the preceding burst.

Abstract: A system for determining and recording the position, size, shape and depth of a defect in a billet or similar workpiece. The workpiece is displayed on the screen of a video display device, and the positions of the defects on the screen are recorded responsive to being manually selected by an operator. In embodiments in which the position of a video camera generating the video image varies with respect to the workpiece, sensors are used to determine the positions of the workpiece with respect to the camera. The position indications from the sensors are applied to a processor which correlates these indications with the position of the defect on the screen to determine the position of the defect on the workpiece.

Abstract: In a controlled signal generator or specifically a microwave frequency signal generator, which requires a quieting capacitor, improved switching speed without degrading noise performance is provided by switching out the quieting capacitor during frequency changes, precharging it to the new condition, and then reconnecting it for normal operation. Other error causing current drains are also compensated for.

Abstract: A hitch pin comprising a cylindrical shaft portion, a head portion, a generally "C" shaped latch arm pivotally attached at one end to said head portion, said arm being rotatable between a closed position wherein the opposite end of said arm is positioned adjacent the bottom end of said shaft portion and an opened end wherein said other end has been swung away from the bottom of said shaft portion, and means positioned within said head portion for locking said arm in either of said opened position or said closed position, said means comprising a spring biased, spherical cam follower acting against a cam surface defined at the pivotal end of said arm and having a curved first portion and an outwardly extending, upwardly projecting planar second surface. The "C" shaped arms has means associated with it for remotely activicating said arm from a closed position to an opened position.

Abstract: In order to obtain very close control of the flowrate of a fluid through a conduit against a predetermined desired flowrate, a pulse generator is employed to produce pulses at a frequency representing the desired flowrate, and a flowmeter issues similar pulses representing the actual flowrate. First and second difference pulse streams are digitally derived to represent the difference by which the actual flowrate either exceeds or falls short of the desired flowrate, and these difference pulse streams are applied, respectively, to count down and count up inputs to an up/down counter. The instantaneous count held within the up/down counter is translated to an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter, and the analog signal is applied to the input of a two-wire transmitter. The two-wire transmitter drives a valve-actuating motor, such as a d-c torquemotor, to correct the valve position as necessary to obtain and maintain the desired flowrate.

Abstract: A control system for automatically controlling the operation of a plurality of fans for a cooling tower so that the minimum number of fans and the lowest speeds are used to provide the required cooling necessary at any one time. The fans are individually controlled in response to the temperature of the working fluid, to be either off or operated at a low or high speed so that as the temperature of the working fluid increases, more fans are turned on first to their low speed and then to their high speed. Safety features are provided for starting the system and for changing the speeds of the fans to prevent damage to the control system and unnecessary wear on the fan motors.

Abstract: A point selection and display system for monitoring various parameters of a process, which enables the operator to select the particular parameters which are to be monitored and to select the particular display panel on which the value of each parameter is to be indicated. Also included in this system is an identification code system for indicating which parameter is being monitored by the particular display panel. The switching circuit used within this system is designed to permit the use of as many display panels as are necessary and enables the system to monitor as many process parameters as may be desired.

Abstract: A system for transporting parallel digital data in which the parallel digital data is converted to serial digital data, transported as serial digital data, and then reconverted back to parallel digital data. Each parallel digital word to be transported is stepped into a parallel to series shift register which has associated with it a separate digital code to identify the particular digital word. The data in the shift registers is serially stepped out, one shift register at a time, and then transported as serial data to a plurality of series to parallel shift registers. Each series to parallel shift register has associated with it a particular digital code associated with a particular digital word. Each shift register receives the serially transported data, and if the digital code of the shift register matches the digital code of the received word, the data in that particular shift register is stepped out as a parallel digital word.

Abstract: A test fixture designed to measure selected electrical parameters of a wax which is utilized as a dielectric in telephone transmission lines. The test fixture is mounted on top of and plugged directly into a commercially available Q (quality factor) meter. A high Q coil is also mounted on top of and plugged directly into the Q meter. A T-shaped ground shield plate separates the test fixture from the coil, and also covers the front of both components to shield them from stray capacitance and interference from operator proximity and system configuration.