Abstract: A mechanism used to control the vertical height as well as fore-aft position of a vehicle seat while presenting a minimum height profile when adjusted to minimum vertical elevation. The seat is connected to a pair of rails, one stationary and one reciprocable. A seat is affixed to an attachment bracket which is connected to the reciprocable rail by a vertical height adjuster comprising a vertically oriented screw jack which may be positioned to selectable heights by a motor. The fore-aft relationship of the rails may also be selectively adjusted by a motor driving a horizontally oriented screw jack. Both screw jacks incorporate a screw connected to a helical gear engaged to a worm gear. The worm gear is driven by a remote motor through a flexible drive cable. Both screw jacks present a structure which offers a minimum height profile when the seat is positioned at minimum vertical height.

Abstract: An article (30) is controllably and precisely positioned at one of three discrete locations defined by a linkage. The positioning apparatus includes two independently driven cranks (34, 42), with a link (50) pivotably connected between the two cranks (34, 42). Another connector (44) is pivotably connected between one of the cranks (34 or 42) and the article (30) to be positioned. The cranks (34, 42) are rotationally adjusted so that the pivot points (52, 54) of the link (50) are collinear with the axes of rotation of the cranks (40, 48), thereby defining one of the three discrete locations. Additional cranks and links can be provided to define additional discrete locations.

Abstract: A transmission with variable mechanical prestress including a pinion driven by an electric motor, a driven gearwheel with its bearings in a housing, and an electromagnetic actuator for applying a prestress force which is controllable in dependence on an instantaneous load to be handled by the transmission. The electric motor with the pinion is supported so that it can be tilted relative to the housing. Owing to a tilting movement of the electric motor caused by the actuator, the pinion is pressed against the gearwheel with a certain prestress force in a radial direction. The transmission is free from play, while the virtual play arising from friction and hysteresis is strongly reduced, and the positioning accuracy is enhanced as a result.

Abstract: A mechanism suitable for a control lever such as a joy stick has two mutually perpendicular axes of rotation which provide movement in two planes. At least two close wound coil springs form a set and a set of springs is provided for each plane. The springs deflect when a force is applied on the control lever but return to a center position when the force is released. The mechanism avoids the use of shafts.

Abstract: A compound flywheel assembly self-adjusting to compensate in operation wear on a clutch disc pressed to an end friction facing of the flywheel assembly by a clutch pressure plate. It comprises a first flywheel peripherally carrying a ring gear via which the assembly is cranked in starting the engine, afforded a certain amount of angular backlash; a second flywheel bearing the friction facing, connected to the first flywheel so as to be angularly fixed yet axially movable relative thereto; a clutch wear-gauging mechanism provided peripherally in an end surface of the first flywheel opposite the peripheral margin of the pressure plate sandwiching the clutch disc; and an adjusting mechanism. Wear on the clutch disc is gauged by the clutch wear-gauging mechanism in contacting the pressure plate peripheral margin meanwhile the pressure plate is pressing the clutch disc against the second flywheel.

Abstract: A vibration damping apparatus which is installed in the power train between the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and the input shaft of a change-speed transmission in a motor vehicle has two coaxial flywheels which are rotatable relative to each other against the opposition of one or more dampers. The damper or dampers are installed in a fluid-containing chamber which is provided at least in part in one of the flywheels.

Abstract: A system for mounting a dust shield to a vehicle transmission's clutch/transmission housing by attachment by fasteners along only the accessable lower edge portion and by providing structure which upon assembly pivots an otherwise unsupported corner of the dust shield against a housing surface which inhibits vibration and noise generation.

Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a multi-speed transmission gear mechanism having an input shaft, an output shaft and a plurality of friction coupling elements. A hydraulic control system selectively supplies a hydraulic pressure to the friction coupling elements, thereby selectively applying the friction coupling elements to cause the transmission gear mechanism to shift to a speed which is determined according to a predetermined shift pattern. The control system sets a target hydraulic pressure to be applied to the friction coupling elements according to the kind of the shift to be effected and the engine load, and, when it is detected that the transmission gear mechanism is to make a backout upshift due to reduction in the engine load, increases the target hydraulic pressure by an amount which is determined according to the throttle opening and the turbine speed.

Abstract: A hand screw driver preventing a user's wrist from being twisted during screw driving operation. The screw driver comprises an offset shank having a tip at its lower end and being bent twice such that it has a Z-shape, and a handle having a shank receiving hole for rotatably receiving an upper section of the offset shank. The offset shank is shifted between a fixed position wherein it is fixed to the handle and a rotatable position wherein it is relatively rotated with respect to the handle. A biasing member is provided in the shank receiving hole of the handle to bias the handle with respect to the shank to shift the shank between the fixed position and the rotatable position as required.

Abstract: A tubular pipe wrench for removing and replacing pipes in inaccessible locations includes a generally cylindrical head member having an internal passage large enough to pass the pipe to be worked on and having a cross-sectional configuration like a triangle with greatly rounded corners. A jaw member having teeth is loosely fastened in each of the three corners by bolts which pass through slots in the sidewalls of the head member. Concentric with the head member is a sleeve having ports for receiving the bolts and which maintains the relative spacing of the bolts even though they move radially in the slots. When a pipe is inside of the head member, a slight turning of the head member and sleeve in either direction causes the teeth of the jaw members to make contact with the pipe, moving the jaws into a position where they are wedged between the pipe and the flattened cam surfaces on the inside of the head. Further turning of the sleeve and head will turn the pipe.

Abstract: A method for machining surfaces of revolution at workpieces comprises the eps of: rotating the workpiece during machining; roughing the workpiece with a disk-shaped tool having at its circumferential edge cutting elements with cutting edges; and, for finishing the workpiece, plunge-cutting by turning the workpiece with the disk-shaped tool, wherein the step of plunge-cutting by turning is divided into a sequence of individual plunge-cutting by turning steps so that material of overlapping portions of the workpiece is removed sequentially. The tool comprises a disk-shaped base body with a circumferential edge and a first set and a second set of cutting elements that are connected to and distributed over the circumferential edge of the disk-shaped base body. The first set is used in the roughing process, and the second set is used in the finishing process by plunge-cutting by turning.

Abstract: A slide (4) made up of a table (8) and a base (11) is actuated radially relative to a workpiece (M) to be machined via a stud (17) adjustable in a slot (16). The position of the stud can be regulated by means of a screw and a motor. A roller (24) borne by the stud then moves along another slot (25) in an arm (26) integral with a shaft (7f). The oscillations of the shaft are controlled by a control cam. Displacement of the stud relative to the pivot point of the arm permits the transmission ratio, hence the course of travel of the slide, to be varied. The angle .alpha. between the directions of the slots is other than zero at the end of the travel, so that the final position of a tool (29) can be adjusted by means of the control motor.

Abstract: A heated knife has a motor adapted to drive the knife against a cutting block with the web inbetween. The knife body is metal and has a cutting edge with side surfaces at an obtuse angle to each other. The knife is formed with a lengthwise bore which houses a Calrod capable of heating the knife up to about 950.degree. F. The knife body has relatively thin lateral ears spaced from the heater and which receive support bolts from the opposite ends of a driving yoke by which the motor drives the knife. This arrangement reduces the amount of heat withdrawn from the knife.

Abstract: A convertible drumhead easily mounted and tensioned on a conga shell, adaptable for use with any conventional drum shell and usable independently as a single headed hand held drum that is uniform in construction and comprises a drumming surface, a circumferential side wall integrally formed with and disposed around the periphery of the drumming surface and an annular shoulder, which includes a seat portion along its top surface. The sidewall and the annular shoulder can be fashioned as a one-piece unit or as separate pieces where the shoulder is fixed in abutting relationship against the side wall. The invention is used in combination with a ring or a modified version of a standard rim mounted counter-hoop, which abuts against the side wall and is supported tightly upon the seat of the annular shoulder. The shoulder, when employed as a separate component, securely anchors itself to the side wall and, thus, will integrate with it to ensure the integrity of the drumhead.

Abstract: A propellant stick kerfing apparatus includes a support frame, a conveyor mounted on the support frame and operable for conveying a succession of spaced propellant sticks along a path of travel with the sticks extending in transverse relation to the direction of travel, a drive arrangement mounted on the support frame and coupled to the conveyor for driving the conveyor to advance the succession of propellant sticks along the path of travel, and pairs of upper and lower blades mounted stationarily on the support frame and defining cutting edges for making transaxial kerfs in the propellant sticks from opposite upper and lower sides thereof as the succession of spaced sticks are advanced along the path of travel between the cutting edges.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in armor structures through the utilization of at least one panel capable of absorbing kinetic energy. The panel comprises a rigid structure having a multiplicity of joined polygonal cells having 3 to 8 sides throughout the panel. The cells have individual cell diameters of about 0.1 to 8.0 inches.

Abstract: A method for locking a hydraulic actuator in a predetermined position and a locking hydraulic actuator are provided. The method includes the steps of supplying hydraulic fluid to a forward chamber in the hydraulic actuator, transferring the hydraulic fluid from the forward chamber into a forward moiety of the rearward chamber in the hydraulic actuator, and sealing the hydraulic fluid in the forward moiety of the rearward chamber to accomplish the locking function. Conversely, the actuator lock is released by the application of fluid supply pressure to the rearward variable chamber.

Abstract: An improved runaway control for an air motor operable on increase in speed of the air motor above a speed limit stop the motor. The control includes a pressure-responsive device having an air chamber for air under pressure. Further provided is a movable member which moves away from a first position in response to increase in air pressure in the chamber above a predetermined limit to a second position, and movable back to the first position on reduction of pressure in the chamber below the limit. The movable member, when in its first position, enables the operation of the air motor, and when in its second position, cuts off the operation of the motor. An air pump is interconnected with the air motor for operation simultaneously with the motor for delivering air under pressure at a rate related to the speed of the motor to the chamber.

Abstract: A flexible pump diaphragm for pumping fluids is described in which the diaphragm has a number of ribs or troughs located radially across its circumferential flexure portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for brewing coffee, tea or other beverages that has upper and lower chambers that move relative to each other. When the upper and lower chambers are joined, coffee and water are supplied to the upper brewing chamber which passes through a filter mounted on the top of the lower brewing chamber into the lower brewing chamber and the coffee grounds remain on the filter. A piston in the lower chamber forces air through the liquid to agitate it and sucks it through the filter into the lower chamber. The coffee flows from the lower chamber and then a single push rod separates the upper and lower chambers. A wiper blade then removes the coffee grounds from the filter while the chambers are separated after which the push rod reseals the upper and lower chambers together for the next brewing cycle.

Abstract: A support device for a pair of vegetable steamers comprising a pillar (32,34) having at one end a support (38) for the base of an upper vegetable steamer (10a) and at its other end having means (60) to attach to a lower vegetable steamer (10b) so that the pillar is upstanding from the base of that lower vegetable steamer, the other end of the pillar thus extending above the lower vegetable steamer to support the upper vegetable steamer above the lower vegetable steamer in a vertical manner.

Abstract: A lower surface of a plate made of material with a well heat transfer characteristics such as pure aluminum or aluminum alloy is provided with a plurality of heat radiation fins and further with legs in order to provide a natural thawing pan capable of shortening a thawing time more remarkably than that of the prior art even though the natural thawing process is applied. In this case, the surface of the plate or the heat radiation fins may be processed with Almite or special coating or a plurality of irregular portions may be arranged there or the lower ends of the legs can be fixed with soft anti-slipping members.

Abstract: A dual-axis table assembly has left and right sector plates mounted on the underside of a table. Each sector plate is seated on a respective left and right pair of shoes which are mounted on a base. A left handwheel operates to turn the left sector for front/rear table tilting, and a right handwheel operates to change the distance between the right pair of shoes for right/left table tilting. A clamp mechanism grips the left sector wheel when the table is locked in adjusted position.

Abstract: Oil filter elements are processed to be substantially free of oil and thus contamination by passage through a series of counterrotating nip rolls which squeeze the filter element media and carry the separated oil circularly to be doctored off opposite the nip and collected for recycle separate from the filter element media.

Abstract: A shutheight adjustment mechanism of a press including a male threaded member threadedly engaged to a female threaded member with a clearance space therebetween is flooded with a liquid to reduce undamped free movement between the threaded members. Liquid injected in the clearance space causes a squeeze-film to be created, capable of supporting high impulse working loads. Seals define the clearance space to assure that the entire clearance space is filled with liquid. In one embodiment, the shutheight adjustment mechanism is included in the press slide.

Abstract: A printing head provided in a wire-dot printer includes a plurality of first wire pins arranged in accordance with a predetermined rule, ends of the first wire pins facing a printing plane, a first driving mechanism for reciprocating the first wire pins in directions approximately perpendicular to the printing plane, a plurality of second wire pins longer than the first wire pins, ends of the second wire pins facing the printing plane, and a second driving mechanism for reciprocating the second wire pins in the same directions as the first wire pins, wherein the first and second driving mechanisms are arranged along a direction approximately perpendicular to the printing plane under a condition in which the first driving mechanism is positioned nearer the printing plane than the second driving mechanism.

Abstract: Non-stop pile-changing device in a delivery of a printing press includes an auxiliary pile support insertable between two sheets in a sheet-conveying direction for temporarily receiving thereon oncoming sheets in an auxiliary pile, a device for exchanging a main pile of sheets and an old main pile support whereon the main pile has been deposited for a new main pile support, and a device for depositing the auxiliary pile on the new main pile support, the auxiliary pile support being relatively thin in comparison with the thickness of the main pile support, and remaining underneath the auxiliary pile and forming a base for the auxiliary pile as it is being deposited on the new main pile support.

Abstract: A thermal ink jet printer incorporates a copy speed feed control for reducing peak power requirements. Printing data supplied to the printer is scanned to determine image density or power consumption to dry ink in a dryer is determined. The speed of the sheet transport system is controlled in accordance with the image density so that, at high image densities, the speed of the sheet at the printer and/or at the dryer is reduced. A controller controls the speed of a drive motor driving the transport system in accordance with a determination of the density of the printed image from image print data or energy required for ink drying. A printer employing on-demand workstations having potentially high peak power usages can be made compatible with conventionally provided power supply systems.

Abstract: A cartridge tube for a grenade capable of being fired by a live round of a weapon has a bullet trap to stop the bullet and a plug made of a deformable material to prevent the fragments produced when the bullet impacts on the bullet trap from escaping from the cartridge tube. The plug bears against a wall positioned between the plug and the bullet trap. The wall is attached to the cartridge tube and is substantially perpendicular to the center-line of the tube. The wall is positioned at a distance from the bullet trap along the center-line of the cartridge tube, thus establishing an empty space between the wall and the bullet trap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a projectile that has high velocity at short range. The projectile has a body of material that is lighter, more lubricous and more deformable than a partial jacket on the rearward portion of the projectile. The jacket defines an annular array of apertures on the outer diametrical surface of the jacket and the body has peripheral zones that extend into the apertures far enough to be flush with the outer diametrical surface. The peripheral zones not only provide a physical lock between the body and jacket but also lubricate the interface between the projectile and the gun barrel along which the projectile travels during firing of a gun. The apertures are configured to allow the body to erupt radially outward through the jacket's side wall and form a relatively wide, shallow dispersal pattern when the projectile impacts a target. An optional core within the plastic body enhances the body's radially outward dispersal upon the projectile's impact with a target.

Abstract: An explosively forged elongated penetrator including a liner having a central section, an intermediate section and a peripheral section; the axial velocity of the sections being approximately equal; the axial thicknesses of the sections decreasing from the central to the peripheral section; the radial velocity increasing from the central to the peripheral section; and the line profile angle decreasing from the central to the peripheral section, to define an explosively driven, inwardly directed, centrally focused force for forging the penetrator from the liner substantially independently of the axial velocities.

Abstract: A shelving unit made of vertical end panels, horizontal shelves, cornice boards and toekicks secured together in a rigid and accurate assembly of parts. The shelf at the midpoint in the height of the end panels is connected to the end panels by shelf support locking pins which restrict the end panels from flexing in or out. Locking pin brackets have locking pins to pull the cornice and toekick tight with respect to the end panels, providing a strong and accurate connection between the parts.

Abstract: In a generally known cement kiln plant which incorporates a preheater (1), a calciner (2) having a separation cyclone (3), a rotary kiln (4) and a clinker cooler (5), a decomposition chamber (10) is additionally installed for incineration of waste. Waste is introduced into the chamber at a location (12) and decomposed in the chamber by the heat from calcined raw meal which is conveyed to the chamber from the separation cyclone (3) of the calciner via a splitting gate (13) and a pipeline (14). Gaseous products are conveyed to the calciner (2) and burned there, whereas noncombustible by-products are discharged via an outlet (15) of the chamber (10). By utilizing the heat from preheated or calcined raw meal instead of, for example, hot exhaust gases to incinerate waste, any disturbance of the draught conditions of the cement kiln plant can be avoided, and the overall control of the calcining process is improved.

Abstract: A clearing assembly of a farm implement comprises a clearing wheel having peripheral teeth for clearing mulch and means for attaching the clearing assembly for centrally positioning the clearing wheel in front of a tool of a unit of the farm implement. The clearing assembly has a vertical standard and an arm attached radially to the lower end of the standard. The outer end of the arm is connected to the hub of the Wheel. The upper end of the standard is adjustable vertically and rotatively within the attaching means to position the clearing wheel vertically for minimum penetration of soil and transversely for clearing a path with a centerline directly in front of the tool of the unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for affixing garment parts, such as pockets to a tubular knit garment body (for example, a T-shirt) which permits conversion of conventional pocket setting equipment, the apparatus providing means to convert the tubular body essentially into a flat undistorted .garment surface prior to and during the stitching operation; followed by subsequent restoration of the tubular garment body prior to stacking.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automating the sewing of tubular sleeve sections onto tubular shirt bodies, as in the manufacture of T-shirts. Shirt bodies are applied over a generally cylindrical body form having portions aligned with the sleeve openings of the shirt body. The sleeve sections are applied inside-out and inner end first over opposed hollow sleeve cones. The body form, oriented horizontally for loading, is indexed to a sleeve inserting station, where it is re-oriented vertically. The areas of the shirt body surrounding the sleeve openings are engaged a spaced points by positioning devices, which independently position segments of the sleeve opening edges with respect to predetermined reference planes. Thereafter, tubular sleeve sections are applied axially over the body form, in surrounding relation to the shoulder areas of the shirt body.

Abstract: A device is provided for impeding the spillage of a liquid cargo from a damaged hull of a water traveling vessel, which consists of a protective layer placed against an inner surface of the hull and a flexible inner placed between the protective layer and the liquid cargo, so that if the hull is punctured, the protective layer will hold the flexible liner and the liquid cargo in place.

Abstract: A trim system for a submersible comprises a ball control system and a hydraulic control system. The ball control system includes a tubular ball transfer line 33 substantially through the length of the vessel, a plurality of high-density, solid balls 34 within the ball transfer line 33 which are moveable to alter the weight distribution, a coil 1 at each end of the ball transfer line 33 as a reservoir for the balls 34, brake device 3 for temporarily fixing the position of the balls and sensing device 5 for determining the location of the balls. The hydraulic control system includes vehicle control unit 27, power transfer unit 13, manifold 2, compensator 20 and various valves, filters 17 and quick disconnects 12 for moving preselected balls through the ball transfer line 33.

Abstract: A submarine trails one fiber optic cable and an undersea vehicle is contred by this first cable. A missile/torpedo trails a second cable that is to be coupled to the first cable. The second cable has a segment suspended vertically underwater between a buoyant pod and a sea anchor type buoy. The undersea vehicle, or Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, (AUV) hunts for the pod by a conventional homing transmitter, and a fork-shaped cable capture probe on the vehicle direct the cable's movement relative to the vehicle into a pod mating position in which a male plug portion in the underside of the pod mates with a female socket in a slot formed at the vertex of the fork. An interlock mechanism between the male socket and female socket holds the pod and AUV in engagement wherein optical coupling is achieved.

Abstract: A unitary aluminum watercraft is constructed from a single sheet of deep-formable aluminum by forcing a mold into the sheet to imprint the mold into the sheet and then forcing the perimeter portions around the mold. Excess sheet material is removed and than placed into a replica mold. A deck is installed and bonded to the interior bottom surface of the body by a structural flotation foam, such as urethane, to form a unitized structural beam which eliminates the need for a keel and the accompanying structural ribs and below-waterline rivets usually required.

Abstract: The modular boat has an improved assembly which is more compact when disassembled and is more solid when assembled. The boat comprises two side cockpit members, a transverse bow member, a transverse stern member and a middle member covering an opening between the side members. The side members each provide a middle portion of a hull with the bow portion and stern portion of each hull being provided by the bow member and the stern member respectively.

Abstract: A recreational boat comprising an aft cockpit, a cabin in front of the cockpit, the cabin having a top surface, side walk ways on the port and starboard sides of the cabin, the walk ways having upper surfaces below the top surface of the cabin, and a forward cockpit having a portion in front of the cabin, the forward cockpit having a floor with an upper surface, the forward cockpit floor upper surface being below the upper surfaces of the walk ways.

Abstract: A light transmissive, including reflective and refractive visual warning device for attachment from the handle grips of a bicycle or motorcycle, to indicate the presence of the user to car drivers, is carried upon a short flexible suspension means, such as a pigtail or a ball chain or rotatable connector, permitting unrestricted motion and displacement, by which in the case of the ball chain or other rotatable connector permits spinning and other displacements due to motion. The device, preferably in the form of a double-faced triangle or multi-faced planar or curved fin shape may have one reflective face of reflective microspheres or retro-reflective micro-prisms and the other a holographic metallized mirror having an arrangement of multi-faceted reflective patterns possessing light refractive characteristics. One embodiment comprises a bicycle handgrip incorporating a wind-driven spinner rotatably mounted in the rear end of the grip, and having at least one light reflective, rotatable surface.

Abstract: Semiconductor crystalline materials, e.g. silicon, GaAs, are grown from a melt, e.g. using the Czochralski technique where a seed crystal is dipped into the melt then slowly withdrawn. Rotation of the growing crystal (6) is partly responsible for convective flows within the melt (5). Convective flows are reduced while radial uniformity is improved by subjecting the crystal/melt interface to a shaped magnetic field. This magnetic field is rotationally symmetrical about the axis of crystal rotation, with a component of field parallel to this axis that is less than 500 gauss, preferably less than 200 gauss, with a value above 500 gauss at other parts of the melt. The field may be produced by two superconducting magnet coils (21, 22) spaced apart and arranged co-axially with the axis of crystal rotation.

Abstract: The bond strength between a diamond and the substrate onto which it is deposited by the chemical vaporization method is decreased to the point where the diamond can be removed from the substrate as a free standing monolithic sheet. The bond strength can be decreased by polishing the substrate, removing corners from the substrate, slow cooling of the substrate after deposition, an intermediate temperature delay in cooling or the application or formation of an intermediate layer between the diamond and the substrate. The free standing sheet of diamond can be used as a laser lens, metallized to form a mirror, or silver soldered to tungsten carbide to form a cutting tool.

Abstract: The ventilated cage and rack system is provided having a plurality of shelves. An exhaust plenum is removably affixed to each shelf for providing air to predetermined air positions along each shelf. At least one cage is provided for housing at least one animal therein, the cage is a cage level barrier having a gas impermeable portion having upstanding sidewalls and a filter positioned on the side wall. A removable cage canopy is mounted to each shelf for guiding the cage toward the predetermined air position and containing air escaping from the filter bonnet within a confined area for removal.

Abstract: An animal kennel (10) comprises a removable partition (16) which is inserted into a housing (12) through a partition slot (52) in a rear housing sidewall (22). The removable partition is guided by partition tracks (58, 60) extending between the rear housing sidewall partition slot to be positioned between two door openings (48, 50) in a front housing sidewall (20). A removable drop-in tray (18) can be inserted into a partition lock slot (78) by opening a top door (34) for locking the removable partition in position. The kennel also includes shallow fixed trays (14) having tray sidewalls (68) which are parallel to, but slightly spaced from housing sidewalls, with air, or inlet, ports (72) being in the housing sidewalls adjacent the tray sidewalls. The front doors include vent ports (53) which are defined by outwardly-protruding, funnel-shaped wall portions (53a). Foam (42) is mounted on an interior surface of the top door for impinging on items in the fixed trays when the top door is closed.

Abstract: A feeder for the selective presentation of food products for animals. The feeder includes a storage bin for containing animal food which includes an open top and a lid. A pressure plate is provided which is functionally linked to the open top. When an animal steps upon the pressure plate, the lid opens revealing the interior of the bin and its housed food products in a manner which is calculated not to frighten the animal being fed.

Abstract: An animal confinement system comprising an emitter for transmitting coded near infrared energy, a receiver carried by an animal to be contained for receiving the transmitted coded near infrared energy, including an infrared receiving diode and, a comparator for conditioning the output of the infrared receiving diode. A predetermined threshold is established for the comparator which will cause the output of the comparator to go low when the output of the infrared receiving diode is received.

Abstract: A protective collar is formed from a sheet of substantially flat resilient material. The sheet is a substantially semicircular section being bounded by an outer semicircular boundary, an inner substantially semicircular boundary, a first substantially straight end and a second substantially straight end. The substantially flat sheet is bent about an axis to form a frusto conical surface. The sheet has clip holes and clip retention holes which, when aligned after bending about the axis, form the frusto conical surface. Resilient clips having a back member and legs attached thereto are provided. The legs have grooves which engage the clip holes and the clip retention holes. In a preferred embodiment, the protective collar is provided with protrusions extending from the inner substantially semicircular boundary toward the axis. The protrusions have a first protrusion hole and a second protrusion hole though which a cord or gauze can be passed to further secure the protective collar when in use.