Abstract:
A vented sleeping bag comprising an elongate shell defining an inner volume sized and shaped to receive a user therein. The shell has a head end, a foot end, left and right sides extending longitudinally of the shell, an overlying portion which overlies the user, and an underlying portion which underlies the user. The overlying portion of the shell has at least one vent. A closure is selectively movable between a closed position for closing the vent and an open position for creating a vent opening for ventilating the inner volume of the shell.
Abstract:
In a lighting power controller having a controllable switch (such as a thyristor), in order to compensate for perturbations in the mains supply waveform, the waveform is analyzed and a table is set up of thyristor firing angle against output RMS voltage. To obtain a desired output RMS voltage, the thyristor is fired at the angle indicated by the table.
Abstract:
A multi-unit storage rack for cassettes and other containers of recorded information which is formed from a plurality of vertical castellated walls defining a stack of slots for the cassettes, and enabling adjacent similar racks to nest together to increase its size.
Abstract:
An electrical unit such as a lighting dimmer pack incorporating one or more semi-conducting switching devices such as triacs or thyristors, wherein the usual insulated mounting base (18) of the triac (30) is in turn mounted on the unit casing via an electrically insulating heat conductor, and the said mounting base is connected to the phase or neutral conductor (52), preferably the latter. In a preferred arrangement, a plurality of triacs are clamped by a printed circuit board which provides the connection from the triac bases to the neutral conductor.
Abstract:
A rear window mirror apparatus for observing blind spot areas to the rear and side of an automobile and to optically transmit visualization thereof to the rear view mirror at the driver's station. Comprising the apparatus is a more or less U-shaped channel-like frame defining an open central cavity in which angled mirrors are secured for receiving outward reflections from blind spot areas and transmitting the reflections through a front wall aperture. A hinged lower support provides an adhesive pad for securing the frame to the window surface at the underside and an upper elongated slotted bar likewise including an adhesive pad provides for mounting the upperside onto the window surface. The longitudinal slot on the bar receives a bolt extending upstanding from the top surface of the frame. By adjusting the slot relative to thebolt the effective length of the bar can be varied to accommodate different window slopes of the various automobile designs for which such a mirror is contemplated. It also enables cooperation with the hinge of the lower support to effect adjusted optical alignment of the mirror surfaces with respect to the transmission path from the frame aperture toward the rear view mirror at the driver's station.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for validating a moving coin by detecting an oscillating signal generated in coils connected in a tuned oscillating circuit. A property of the signal which varies linearly with coin displacement in one direction for a first period and varies linearly in an opposite direction with coin displacement for a second period is measured. From measurements made during the first and second periods a signal characteristic of the coin, and substantially independent of the coin's velocity is derived. The coin is validated by comparing this signal with stored reference values.
Abstract:
A decanting type centrifuge having a main bowl which is adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis and which contains a helical scroll conveyor which is arranged to rotate about the main bowl axis at a slightly different speed to the main bowl for scrolling separated solids to a solids discharge end of the bowl. The centrifuge includes a means which acts to isolate a gas volume radially inwardly of the inner liquid surface within the bowl and also a passage arrangement which enables gas to be extracted continuously from the isolated gas volume to a location external to the main bowl.
Abstract:
A screen bowl decanting centrifuge comprising a rotatable bowl (4) and a conveyor assembly (8) adapted, in use, to separate a slurry into solids and liquids components, and an outlet for the liquids component which outlet communicates with the inlet (102) of a perforated bowl section (100) arranged, in use, to filter the liquids component as it passes through the perforations of a screen or screens (13), wherein the perforated bowl section (100) comprises a plurality of removably mounted screen support sections (50).
Abstract:
Methods and systems for dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) may include monitoring change in resource utilization of an electronic device. If the change is greater than a threshold amount, a frequency of at least one clock and/or voltage for at least one voltage island may be adjusted. The resource utilization may be measured as, for example, a number of instructions executed per second. The frequency and/or voltage adjustment may depend on one or more operating points that may correspond to a power management state. An interrupt received in a power management state may also indicate an operating point. If resource utilization has increased, the frequency/voltage may be increased. Similarly, in cases where resource utilization has decreased, the frequency/voltage may be decreased. Voltage to circuits using the clock may be increased prior to increasing the clock frequency, and the voltage may be decreased after decreasing the clock frequency.