Abstract: A portable liquid heating and dispensing system is provided. A preferred embodiment includes a self-contained dispensing unit and a receiver. The dispensing unit may include a container portion, a dispensing portion, and an electric heat generating portion. The container portion has a main reservoir for holding a supply of the liquid to be dispensed. The dispensing portion has a down tube, a manually operated pump mechanism connected to the down-tube, and an outlet spout connected to the pump mechanism. The pump mechanism has a liquid reservoir. Liquid is drawn through the down tube and into the liquid reservoir and out of the outlet spout. The heat generating portion is positioned at the liquid reservoir, so that liquid pumped out of the main reservoir is heated before being pumped out of the spout. The receiver accepts and provides power to the self-contained dispensing unit.

Abstract: A neutral lug assembly for coupling neutral wire conductors to a neutral plate in the panelboard is provided, the neutral lug assembly includes a generally u-shaped bracket adapted to be electrically coupled to the panelboard neutral plate and having first and second stair-step shaped side portions. A cross strap having a first end secured to the first side portion, a second end secured to the second side portion and a middle portion. A securing means is provided for securing the first and second end of the cross strap to the first and second side portions of the bracket, wherein the securing means electrically couples the cross strap to the first and second side portions. A connector is coupled to the middle portion of the cross strap for coupling at least one neutral wire conductor to the bracket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the computation of sliding windows and sliding window Fourier transforms and spectrograms requiring fewer operations in comparison with the current art. The sliding windows are realized using infinite impulse response filters. If the impulse response of one filter is equal to the impulse response of a second filter after a period of time, the impulse responses can be canceled thereby resulting in a composite filter with an impulse response of finite length. In certain realizations, the infinite impulse filters have identical components. These components can be combined into a single component in the composite filter thereby reducing the required number of computational operations. Sliding windows thus realized are employed in the generation of sliding window Fourier transforms and spectrograms. The windows can be modulated or unmodulated.

Abstract: Overvoltage protector module having a modular jack mounted upon the module housing in a position remote from a base of the module which carries line and ground terminals. Conveniently, the modular jack has a body which is integrally molded with the module housing. In a construction in which the base, modular jack and an overvoltage protection unit are all in line, the housing and modular jack provide a columnar unit with the housing lying within the confines of the boundary of the housing which is of similar size and shape to the jack when taken in cross-section.

Abstract: A grooming ring on a grooming ring carrier in which the grooming ring extends around a grooming space while being displaced axially to enable all surfaces of the ring to be free of obstruction in at least one direction laterally of a surface of the carrier from which the ring extends. This allows for simultaneous molding of carrier and ring without a mold core for forming the grooming space. In practice, the ring may be formed from two ring portions which are displaced axially relative to each other. The grooming ring carrier may be either a fanning strip or a terminal block.

Abstract: An arrangement of fanning strip and terminal block having mutually engageable interlocking structures which allow for mounting of the fanning strip upon and disconnection of the fanning strip from the terminal block from one side of the terminal block only. In practical constructions, the interlocking structures are rails and complementary slots. These may be of any suitable cross-section, e.g. L-shaped or dovetail shaped.

Abstract: Methods and systems that employ electronic data processing to identify a set of data which can be outputted to a mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, or other device to optimize the performance of that device. The data to be outputted is identified by writing a function which represents a current event or situation as a string of binary digits, finding that one of a series of functions similarly representing past or historical events which is most closely correlated with the current event-representing function, and outputting the string of digits representing the thus identified historical event. The functions representing historical events can be derived from the function representing the current event or from information supplied from a separate source.

Abstract: An optical neural net, content addressable memory that does not include electronics or slow optics in the feedback path. The memory comprises an optical vector-matrix multiplier that includes a spatial light modulator and input and output optics, and optical feedback means for returning the outputs of the multiplier to the inputs. Presentation of partial data at selected inputs causes the neural net to iterate at light speed to determine the corresponding output data. An arrangement is described for providing bipolar operations and for letting any group of elements act as the net stimulus.

Abstract: Building entrance terminal having a storage space for incoming cable lying at the side of a terminal block in the incoming field, as distinct from the terminal block and storage space being located one behind the other.

Abstract: A pedestal-type closure for use as a buried telephone cable terminal closure comprises a rear section and upper and lower front covers, each of which is formed from the same basic plastic extrusion. The covers and the rear section are secured in edge-to-edge relationship. The upper ends of the rear section and of the upper cover are formed with cooperating caps that form a venting structure for venting moisture from within the interior of the pedestal and which tend to form a barrier against the entrance of insects into the pedestal. The lower cover has a snap-on arrangement which facilitates assembly, and the rear section has spacers which facilitate mounting of the pedestal against a vertical surface, and wherein the spacers are difficult to dislodge from the pedestal, thereby inhibiting vandalism.

Abstract: A locking system for a flood cover having a rigid mouth. The system has a pair of oppositely opposed locking mechanisms. Each leg mechanism includes a stiff leg portion whose length is greater than the air space that would result if the closure over which the cover is to be placed were centered in the cover. A spring holds the stiff leg essentially parallel to the mouth before the cover is placed over the closure. As the cover is placed over the closure the stiff leg pivots and the tension of the spring increases.