Abstract: A cable for transmitting electromagnetic signals has a central conductor. A pair of insulator filaments, each having a circular cross section, are twisted around each other to form an insulator wrap. The insulator wrap is helically wound around the conductor. An insulator sheath, provided as an outer cover for the cable, surrounds the wrapped central conductor and is supported by the insulator wrap. Since the insulator sheath is offset from the conductor, an enclosed air space is formed between the sheath and the conductor in the spaces not occupied by the insulator wrap. The twist pitch of the filaments and the pitch of the wrap around the conductor can both be modified to adjust the amount of insulator material located in the air space and thereby the cable's effective dielectric constant, which effects the propagation speed of the electromagnetic signals carried by the cable.

Abstract: A rapid mounting, “square” electrical outlet or junction box (4″ square, 4-{fraction (11/16)}″ square, 2-gang, etc.) includes a back plate and four upstanding sidewalls attached to the back plate and defining a front opening. One or more of the sidewalls has a number of conduit knockouts, as well as a plurality of cable access ports, which allow entry of AC, MC, NM, or other cables. The sidewalls also have a mounting hole pattern for rapidly mounting the outlet box, by way of any of the sidewalls, to a wood or metal stud. Accordingly, regardless of the box's orientation, conduit and/or electrical cables can always be routed to the box, and conduits that approach the box from any direction can be easily accommodated without bending or rerouting. Among other things, the outlet box may also be provided with cable clamps, fold-out depth tangs, device connection flanges, and pre-attached ground leads.

Abstract: A dual C-arm angiographic device for flat panel x-ray receptor (“dual C-arm gantry”) comprises: a base attached to the floor; an outer C-shaped track non-movably attached to the base; a crawler carriage that moves along the outer track; and a counterweighted, inner C-shaped instrument bracket (“inner C-arm”) pivotally attached to the crawler carriage. A detector/counterweight housing, flat-panel x-ray receptor, and x-ray tube and collimator are attached to the inner C-arm. The bottom end of the outer track terminates at the base, such that the outer track arches over the side and top of a separate patient support table. Additionally, the outer track, crawler carriage, and inner C-arm are mutually configured such that the dual C-arm gantry is capable of full spherical angulation and of providing a full range of clinical positioning, while minimizing interference with clinical use patterns (i.e., the head end of the table is left clear for all angulations).

Abstract: A rotary, tubular hole cutter for quickly cutting holes through materials such as wood, fiberboard, and drywall. The device includes a tubular member with a backing plate attached to one end, with holes in the backing plate that enable the attachment of a conventional heavy-duty hole saw arbor. The device includes three equally spaced gullets, each of which has a cutting bit mounted adjacent to the trailing edge of the gullet, with the cutting face lying in the direction of rotation. The combination of three gullets and cutting bits, along with the cutting bit geometry, enable fast extraction of the “puck” or core from the tubular member after the cut is completed, by hand or other suitable device. The nature and aggressiveness of the cutting action is limited by the geometry of the cutting bits and their relationship to the top surface of the tubular member.

Abstract: An inertia-resistant preventer mechanism is provided for use in a firearm safety enhancement system to reliably and selectably prevent or to unblock a firing mechanism of a firearm. The inertia-resistant preventer mechanism includes a first solenoid having a moveable blocking rod with a first actuation response speed. The blocking rod is normally interposed in the firearm to prevent activation of the firing mechanism and is selectably activated to unblock the firing mechanism. A second solenoid is also included, having a second blocking rod with a second actuation response speed equal to or faster than the response speed of the first solenoid. The second blocking rod of the second solenoid is normally interposed at an angle to the first solenoid to block the first blocking rod of the first solenoid against accidental unblocking caused by inertia and relative movement of the firearm.

Abstract: A firearm safety enhancement system is provided for enabling use of a firearm only by an authorized individual. At least one electrically activated preventer is provided having a first position for preventing use of firearm and having a second position for enabling use of the firearm. An electrical activation circuit is operatively connected to the preventer to move the preventer between the first and second positions. A portable power supply is carried in said firearm and is coupled to the activation circuit for providing power. A power signal transmitter is operatively connected to the power supply for transmitting an electromagnetic power signal at a regular frequency. A passive identification tag is mounted to a personal adornment to be carried or worn by an individual and is preprogrammed with an authorized identification code preselected from a large number of available identification codes.

Abstract: A contoured thrust reverser and lobed nozzle noise suppressor is meant for use with gas turbine engines that have conventional post-exit thrust reversers and that require only moderate levels of noise suppression. The contoured thrust reverser and lobed nozzle noise suppressor comprises a conventional tailpipe frame terminating in a lobed nozzle, and a conventional thrust reverser mechanism holding a pair of contoured blocker doors. In a deployed position, the blocker doors lie aft of the lobed nozzle, having been moved there by the thrust reverser mechanism. The blocker doors abut one another and form a fore-facing scoop, wherein any engine exhaust exiting the lobed nozzle is redirected towards the fore of the engine. In a stowed position, the blocker doors lie over the tailpipe frame and align and nestle together with the engine's cowling.