Other

Twin Disc Incorporated

Paul C Blank

Robert B Bertolasi

Carl Valiulis

Horst G Steinhagen

Richard A Zwicky

An improved merchandising method, system and apparatus are provided through the use of product displays having a track for aligning product packages in a linear fashion, and an electronic monitoring and transmitting device in the product displays that detects a linear position of one or more product packages with respect to the tracks and generates a signal representing the number of product packages still remaining on the shelf. The signal also preferably includes an identifier code, which may include a universal product identifier code (UPC) or a serial number of the track, that can be utilized to pinpoint the location of that particular track within the store. The signal may be transmitted wirelessly as a radio frequency signal that can be received by antennas permanently installed within the store and connected to an in-store inventory control system and database. Alternatively, the signal may be transmitted by radio frequency to short-range hand-held scanners used by employees as they travel through aisles in the store to inventory the quantity and locations of products on display.

Merchandising method and apparatus

A four-wheel drive vehicle comprises an engine and a power transmission system, including a shiftable change gear transmission having a power input shaft and a differential having front and rear output shafts and a biasing clutch, for driving the front and rear vehicle wheels. The differential, with biasing clutch disengaged, allows for differences in rotational speed between the front and rear wheels. Increased speed of one output shaft as may be caused by its' associated wheels slipping, results in decreased speed of the other output shaft. Conversely, decreased speed of one output shaft as may be caused by its' associated wheels being bogged down by mud, sand or deep snow, results in increased speed of the other output shaft. The degree of differential action may be determined from the known input shaft speed, the gear ratio engaged and an output shaft speed. A control system, which includes a microprocessor, employs sensors to directly sense the speed differences between the power input shaft of the transmission and only one of the output shafts of the differential and effects temporary biasing clutch engagement in the event of excessive slippage for a predetermined interval of time. The control system also senses the selected gear range of the transmission. The microprocessor periodically samples the speed ratio between those two shafts, compensating for the gear range selected, and compares it to a preselected (adjsutable) ratio in the microprocessor memory. If the preselected ratio band is deviated from for a selected interval of time, the microprocessor effects clutch lockup for a selected interval of time so that both output shafts of the differential (and the front and rear wheels) rotate at the same speed and wheel slippage is eliminated.

Inter-axle differential having a friction-type biasing clutch and wheel

A tire bead breaking tool has a primary frame with a stem segment and a perpendicular retaining segment. A sliding member slides parallel to this stem segment. A threaded engagement bolt is used to adjust and secure the relative position of the sliding member with respect to the primary frame. A parallel arm is connected through a slot in the stem segment to the sliding member, and translates parallel to the stem segment as the position of the sliding member is adjusted by the engagement bolt. A second, hinged arm is pivotally attached to the end of the parallel arm distal from the cross segment. An actuating bolt is employed to pivot this hinged arm with respect to the parallel arm.

Tire bead breaking tool

An electronic control for the automatic transmission of a motor vehicle receives input signal in digital, analog, and pulsed form from signal generating devices responsive to operating conditions in the apparatus, processes them in accordance with a stored program and provides output signals to operate various tranducers. The electronic control is embodied in a stack of customized circuit boards. Each board is connected to a control bus (for information exchange between boards) and to an I/O signal bus (for information exchange between the apparatus and the electronic control). A connector board is connected to an electric power supply, to the signal generating devices, to the transducers and to visual display devices. A CPU (central processing unit) board protects against data loss in low/off power conditions. An input signal board employs high-speed logic circuits for measuring time length between leading edges of pulsed input signals to ascertain magnitude and rate of change of the rotational speed of certain components and actuates clutch solenoids accordingly. An output signal board embodies improved transducer-drive circuits for the clutch solenoids.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

Paul C Blank