Abstract: A vacuum breaker for use in a fluid supply system is provided. The vacuum breaker comprises a body having an interior, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an atmospheric air vent. The body is adapted to permit fluid to flow through the interior from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. A first seat disposed within the interior of the body. A bonnet having a second seat communicates with the air vent and the interior. A displacable float cup is disposed between the bonnet and the first seat. The float cup adapted to be sealingly seated against the second seat when the vacuum breaker is subject to an open flow condition, and to be sealingly seated against the first seat when the vacuum breaker encounters a pressure loss condition. Gaskets are provided to enhance the seal at the first and second seats. Both seats are above a water level within the body of the vacuum breaker. At the open flow condition the float cup seals the air vent and at the pressure loss condition the float cup opens the air vent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning implement comprising a handle and a removable cleaning pad. The cleaning pad is designed to provide multiple cleaning Surfaces each of which contact the soiled surface during the cleaning operation. The cleaning pad also preferably has the ability to absorb at least about 10 g of water per g of pad.

Abstract: A cleaning implement comprising a handle and a removable cleaning pad. The removable cleaning pad is capable of absorbing at least 10 g deionized water per g of cleaning pad in 20 minutes, under a confining pressure of 0.09 psi. These implements provide the convenience of disposable cleaning implements and the cleaning ability of conventional mops.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a hard surface using low levels of a cleaning solution includes (i) applying the cleaning solution to the hard surface to be cleaned at a level of not more than about 6 ml of cleaning solution per square foot of hard surface; and (ii) wiping the hard surface with a cleaning implement that includes a handle and a removable cleaning pad having a t.sub.1200 absorbent capacity of at least about 1 g of deionized water per g of the cleaning pad.

Abstract: A cleaning implement comprising a handle and a removable cleaning pad. The cleaning pad exhibits the ability to initially delay absorption of cleaning fluid, soil and the like, but then absorb those materials after this initial delay.

Abstract: An instrument cluster assembly includes a light source for emitting black light and an instrument cluster display including at least one graphic feature that is illuminable by black light. The invisible black light illuminates only the graphic features when contacted by the black light from the light source without illuminating the surrounding portions of the instrument cluster display. Preferably, the light source includes first and second light sources positioned on opposite sides of the instrument cluster display. The light sources are each a single bulb for emitting ultraviolet light. The light sources are positioned between reflectors and the instrument cluster display such that the reflectors are positioned for redirecting black light initially emitted towards the reflector onto the instrument cluster display. The graphic features are preferably made of a phosphoric material.

Abstract: A cleaning implement comprises a handle and a removable cleaning pad. The cleaning pad exhibits a controlled rate of fluid absorbency, which allows for beneficial cleaning without using large quantities of fluid. Also, a method for cleaning hard surfaces comprises the use of low levels of cleaning solution and the cleaning implement and/or cleaning pad.

Abstract: A load sensing system inexpensively monitors the weight and temperature of stored nuclear material for long periods of time in widely variable environments. The system can include an electrostatic load cell that encodes weight and temperature into a digital signal which is sent to a remote monitor via a coaxial cable. The same cable is used to supply the load cell with power. When multiple load cells are used, vast inventories of stored nuclear material can be continuously monitored and inventoried of minimal cost.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, point-to-point, unidirectional links. It is to serve high-performance multiprocessor systems. A number of key elements are defined as part of the protocol for SCI. These include: (a) command.old which is a bit in transmitted packets for detecting stale packets to discard; (b) idle.cc which is an idle bit to be inserted between packets for detecting lost packets which toggles when the idle bit has circulated around the ringlet; and (c) idle.ac which is an idle bit which toggles when all operational nodes have had an opportunity to transmit. In addition, SCI contemplates the implementation of a number of different types of resets, including power reset, upon read or apparent loss of power for more than a second and linc reset for clearing circuits but not changing error count registers in the system.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, point-to-point, unidirectional links to high-performance multiprocessor systems. A system is provided for routing packets with a plurality of data bits and target identity code bits through a packet routing switching network. The packets are transmitted from source nodes through the switching network to target nodes that are designated by the target identity code bits. Operational rings are used to link output ports of switches of the output stages to input ports of switches of the input stage wherein each operational ring is identified by ring identity code bits associated with the input stage switches of the operational rings and has at least one node which is capable of performing a function with the data. Recirculation rings are used to link output ports of switches of the output stage to input ports of switches of the input stage.

Abstract: A multi-node Scalable Coherent Interface ring for the transmission of packets between nodes, each of which contains an SCI link controller to which a B-link controller that contains a timer is coupled and a gigabit transceiver to which a G-link controller that contains a timer is coupled, is provided. The SCI link controller, the B-link controller and the G-link controller are utilized to allow the SCI link controller and the transceivers to be initialized and synchronized in a manner such that these devices may be utilized in a multi-node SCI packet network.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, unidirectional links to high-performance multiprocessor systems. Key elements of the protocol for SCI include: (a) a "new/stale" bit which is generated in a data packet for detecting stale packets to discard; (b) an idle.cc which is an idle bit to be inserted between packets for detecting lost packets which toggles when the idle bit has circulated around the ringlet; and (c) a scrubber node in each operational ring of an SCI network which toggles "new/stale" bits from a "new" state to a stale state when they are received at the scrubber node. The "new/stale" bit is also set to a "new" stale bit when a packet is generated in a source node in a first operational ring for transmission to a target node in a second operational ring. A scrubber node is located as the first node of each operational ring of the network. The new/stale" bit and the idle circulation (idle.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, unidirectional links to high performance microprocessor systems. Key elements of the protocol for SCI include: (a) a "new/stale" bit which is generated in a data packet for detecting stale packets to discard; (b) a scrubber node in each operational ring of an SCI network which toggles "new/stale" bits from a "new" state to a stale state when they are received at the scrubber node. In addition, valid ring identity code bits are used to identify operational rings and target identity code bits are used to identify the intended designated target mode of each packet. Packets are transmitted from input ports to output ports of the switches and through operational rings of the network that are connected until each of the packets reaches a designated target node.

Abstract: The Scalable Coherent Interface (SCI) standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is intended for fast, high throughput, point-to-point, unidirectional links to high-performance multiprocessor systems. Key elements of the protocol for SCI are the (a) idle.cc which are idle bits circulation to be inserted between packets transmitted in an SCI network for detecting lost packets which toggles when the idle bit circulation has circulated around the ringlet; and (b) idle.ac, or allocation bit which is a bit in a group of transmitted idle bits which toggles when all operational nodes in an SCI network have had an opportunity to transmit their data packets. All switches accumulate transitions of the allocation bits to a value that is different from the current remembered allocation value on each enabled input port. If the network is out of allocation bit synchronization at a switch when a second transition of allocation bit occurs on an input port of the switch, the transition is ignored.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently presenting a series of alternatives for a user's selection using adaptive learning is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a software facility receives a request to select an item from an identified group of alternatives. The facility presents items from the group of alternatives identified by the request in decreasing order of their likelihood of selection. The facility subsequently receives an indication of the alternative to select, and proceeds to select that alternative. In a further preferred embodiment, the items each correspond to a set of one or more characters that cannot be generated using an available keyboard, and, when the user uses the facility to select an item, the facility inputs the corresponding set of characters.

Abstract: A deadlock avoidance system for avoiding interconnection deadlocks between a plurality of data transfer devices includes a controller, a switch interconnector coupled to all of said data transfer devices for interconnecting on a one-to-one basis selected ones of the data transfer device as requesting units to selected ones of said data transfer devices as receiving units. A transfer queue is employed that includes a master transfer register and a slave transfer register, a master register, a slave register and a target register.

Abstract: A control and apparatus are provided for visually displaying the identifying number of a calling line at a remote display associated with a called station of a telephone system. In processing a call to a line equipped with a calling line display, call completion is automatically delayed for a predetermined time period until the calling line is identified and stored. For a multiple line key telephone, a display may be provided for each line to which the station has access.

Abstract: This invention provides an article of chemiluminescent jewelry, preferably having provision for separately releasably sealed compartments containing chemiluminescent components or replacement means for replaceably providing a chemiluminescent material.

Abstract: A brush caddy made up of four pieces of wire welded together. The longest piece termed a "spine" has a hook at the top from which a paint brush may be hung. Centrally a cross piece is welded to the spine to form a pair of arms ending in claws which grip the rim of a paint can. The spine is tilted away from the can so that the brush is more easily grasped and more easily placed on the hook. A third piece of wire forms a "yoke" which cooperates with the hook and the spine to support the brush in the desired slanting position with the dripping edge over the mouth of the can. The fourth piece of wire is welded across the spine at its base to embrace the can at that end. An elastic member fits over the ends of this fourth piece of wire and around the can, for added stability.

Abstract: A parachute toy includes a canopy attached to a plurality of shroud lines which are attached to a swivel which is attached, in turn, by way of a single line, to a hinged hollow ball. The hinged hollow ball is adapted to be closed and thrown high into the air with the canopy, lines and swivel contained in wrapped condition therein. The hinged hollow ball opens during flight releasing the canopy as a result of air entering through a series of openings and also as a result of opening forces contributed by the canopy which is compressed within.