Abstract:
A control system for a SWATH type vessel has control fins mounted on the pontoons of the vessel to improve seakeeping. The control system includes roll angle and pitch angle sensors, and can include roll rate and pitch rate sensors or calculations for developing damping signals, with all the signals used to control the control fins to counteract roll and pitch. In addition, individual accelerometers are provided mounted to the vessel in a sufficient number and at sufficently diverse locations to sense vertical acceleration of the vessel, and vertical acceleration signals are used to control the control fins to provide improved control of roll and pitch, and also to counteract any heave or vertical movement of the vessel. Additionally, draft sensors are provided mounted to the vessel to generate draft or depth of immersion signals. These signals override the roll, pitch and heave signals to cause vertical movement of the vessel to counteract incipient slamming or broaching of the vessel. If desired, a predetermined threshold for draft discrepancies can be provided before any such overriding control is initiated.
Abstract:
A gaming device is shown having a controller that controls the operation of the gaming device and a printer that records events on paper in response to the controller. A first magazine is provided for holding fan folded paper to be input to the feed mechanism of the printer and a second magazine is positioned relative to the paper output of the printer to receive a printed record on at least a portion of the paper output from the printer. A third magazine is provided for holding a third supply of fan folded paper wherein an end of the paper in the first magazine is attached to an end of the paper held in the second magazine so that when paper in one magazine is depleted, paper in the other magazine is automatically input to the printer's input feed mechanism.
Abstract:
A high security counting system is shown for counting events represented by an event signal. The counting system includes a nonerasable programmable read only memory which is programmed by a programmer under the control of a controller. The controller is responsive to an event signal for controlling the programmer to program a bit from a first value to a second value wherein each bit programmed to a second value represents a unit of count and the number of bits programmed to the second value represents the count of said counter.
Abstract:
A radio frequency (RF) base station transmitter receiver (transceiver) system includes an audio compression arrangement that compresses a sum of multiple audio signals so that all signals within the sum are equalized to a substantially uniform audio output level despite differences in their input levels. Compression thresholds can be adjusted from a remote location. The RF base station provides audio signal compression using digital signal processing (DSP) techniques such that advanced features (e.g., noise blanking and hard limiting) and flexibility are built into the system. Line audio inputs from several sources are filtered, converted to digital signals, and processed by a digital signal processor (DSP). This DSP provides an audio compression function that selects and applies appropriate gains to the digitized audio signal. The compressed signal is converted to analog form, filtered and routed to a variety of destination such as a RF transmitter modulator or a land line.
Abstract:
A target for an electronic dart game including a plurality of slidably mounted scoring segments arranged edge-to-edge and in a circle so as to define different scoring areas. Following a conventional layout for a dart game target, the target has twenty (20) pie-shaped scoring partitions that are placed adjacent to each other so as to form a complete circle. Each partition has a designated score value ranging from one to twenty (1-20) points. Each partition is further divided into the standard three trapezoidal and one pie sub-partitions. In the preferred embodiment, the target further includes a double bull's-eye. A different electrical switch is provided for each scoring segment, and each electrical switch conveys a dart-hit signal in response to its corresponding segment being struck by a thrown dart. Separate and isolated signal lines electronically connected to each switch are provided for communicating the dart-hit signals to processing means of the target. This electronic configuration enables an electronic dart game to support dart games that place a different value on each scoring area, in addition to supporting all contemporary dart games.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is disclosed for forming a zero-speed, butt splice to join together a web from a new roll of material to a web which is from an expiring roll of material and which should be run, at a relatively high speed, through a web processing operation, such as a disposable diaper manufacturing line, under relatively constant, relatively low tension along a predetermined path of travel that includes a running web festoon means having floating dancer rollers and the running web processing operation. To form the butt splice, the leading end of the new web is trimmed by moving one knife wheel assembly along the cutting edge of an anvil. A piece of tape is applied to the leading end so that a portion of the tape projects downstream from that end. The expiring web is held against the anvil and trimmed along the same cutting edge of the anvil. The trailing end of the expiring roll is also simultaneously adhered to the downstream portion of the tape. Only the portion of the expiring roll adjacent to the anvil is momentarily stopped while the expiring web is trimmed and adhered to the leading end of the new roll. The stoppage is sufficiently short so that downstream portions of the expiring web can, in the interim, be withdrawn from the festoon means so that web continues to run, at its relatively high speed and under it relatively constant, relatively low tension, through the web processing operation.
Abstract:
An inertia compensated festoon assembly useable to control the tension in a moving web that is subject to tension changes due to, among other things, frequent zero-speed splices of the web to a new web and that must run continuously, downstream from the assembly, at relatively high speed and under relatively constant, relatively low tensions. The assembly includes a first, inertia compensated multiple floating dancer roller festoon, in series with an isolation driven roller, and a second, inertia compensated single floating dancer roller festoon.
Abstract:
A knife wheel assembly suitable for forming a butt splice to join together a web from a new roll of material to a web which is from an expiring roll of material and which is being run, downstream from the expiring roll, under tension along a predetermined path of travel that includes a running web storage means and a press or other web handling means. To form the butt splice, the leading end of the new web is trimmed by moving one knife wheel assembly along the cutting edge of an anvil. The trimmed leading end is held against the anvil, and a piece of tape is applied to the leading end so that a portion of the tape projects downstream from that end. The portion of the expiring web, adjacent to the anvil, is then momentarily stopped, held against the anvil, and trimmed by another knife wheel assembly, along the same cutting edge of the anvil, by movement of the knife wheel assembly across the web, from side-to-side, along the cutting edge of the anvil. As the trailing end of the expiring roll is trimmed, the knife wheel assembly also simultaneously adheres the trailing end to the downstream portion of the tape. This serves to join this trailing end of the expiring roll and the leading end of the new roll together. Only the portion of the web of the expiring roll adjacent to the anvil is momentarily stopped while the expiring web is trimmed and adhered to the leading end of the new roll.
Abstract:
The disclosed butt splicing apparatus and method is adapted to be used with rolls of material supported on turret-type roll unwind stands. A splicer embodying the invention includes a nip assembly, a new web preparation assembly, a new web and tape holding assembly, and a web cutting and adhering assembly. The nip assembly serves to clamp the expiring web during a splicing operation. The new web preparation assembly serves to prepare the leading end of the new web for the splicing operation. The new web and tape holding assembly serves to hold a portion of the new web, immediately upstream of its leading end, and to hold a strip of adhesive tape in preparation for the splicing operation and during the splicing operation itself. The web cutting and adhering assembly serves to cut the expiring web during the splicing operation and to cause the cut part of the trailing end of the web and the leading end of the web to adhere to the adhesive tape simultaneously as the cutting of the expiring web occurs.
Abstract:
An aqueous concentrated fabric softening composition comprises an aqueous base, more than 10% of a water-soluble cationic softener and at least 3% of an alkoxylated amine having less than 7 alkylene oxide groups per molecule such as ethoxylated tallow amine. The total level of cationic and nonionic components is preferably less than 25%. The alkoxylated amine improves processing by lowering the initial viscosity of the product.