Abstract: A fiber optic illuminator for use in surgery includes an adapter having a barrel to be received in a socket adjacent a light source, a body with a conical bore therein and a light conducting rod mounted in the barrel, an interconnector having as conical end received in the conical bore of the adapter to position a proximal end of a fiber optic element adjacent the light conducting rod, a support hub having a distal end mounting a cannula, and a length of flexible tubing connecting the interconnector and the support hub, the fiber optic element passing through the tubing, the support hub and the cannula and having a distal end positioned at the distal end of the cannula such that light from the light source is conducted to the distal end of the cannula via the light conducting rod and the fiber optic element. The fiber optic illuminator is designed to efficiently transmit light with little loss and to be economically disposable.

Abstract: Injection of atomized coal slurry fuel into an engine combustion chamber is achieved at relatively low pressures by means of a vortex swirl nozzle. The outlet opening of the vortex nozzle is considerably larger than conventional nozzle outlets, thereby eliminating major sources of failure due to clogging by contaminants in the fuel. Control fluid, such as air, may be used to impart vorticity to the slurry and/or purge the nozzle of contaminants during the times between measured slurry charges. The measured slurry charges may be produced by a diaphragm pump or by vortex valves controlled by a separate control fluid. Fluidic circuitry, employing vortex valves to alternatively block and pass cool slurry fuel flow, is disclosed.

Abstract: An elongated remotely controlled pan and tilt television camera, ideally suitable for inspecting pipeline interiors, is able to be constructed with extremely small transverse dimensions due to compact packaging of control mechanisms disposed in the camera front end inside an optical dome. An outer gimbal is rotatable (i.e., panned) relative to the camera front end and is in the form of a frame within which an inner gimbal is mounted to be rotatable (i.e., tilted) relative to the outer gimbal. A lens, a lens focus control motor and a tilt motor are all mounted on the inner gimbal so as to be movable therewith. The pan motor is positionally fixed in the camera housing and rotates the outer gimbal by means of a drive cable and pulley secured to the outer gimbal. A CCD detector is located remotely from its associated electronics circuitry on a CCD circuit board secured to the inner gimbal so that the detector is movable with the lens and receives an optical image therefrom.

Abstract: A versatile outdoor lighting and/or display assembly provides for maximal positional adjustability of individual fixtures and permits the size and directivity of the light-emitting openings of the fixtures to be selectively changed. In one embodiment the assembly includes two linear reflected lighting fixtures mounted with their axes in fixed spaced parallel relation, each of the fixtures being independently rotatable through a complete 360.degree. range. In a second embodiment, a first linear reflected lighting fixture is mounted on a second linear reflected lighting fixture such that the first fixture is selectively rotatable about three mutual transverse axes and is selectively translatable along the length dimension of the second fixture.

Abstract: An improved continuous polymer filter of the screen belt type employs a valve arrangement to selectively apportion the extruder output flow through at least two filter paths. In the neutral valve position both filter paths receive polymer at equal flow rates creating a pressure across the screen belts that is too high to permit the screen belts to be advanced when a clogged belt section requires replacement with a clean section. To effect screen belt advancement, the valve is actuated to reduce the flow rate in the filter path requiring the replacement while increasing the flow rate to the same degree in the other filter path so that the net flow rate remains substantially constant. The screen belt receiving the reduced flow experiences a sufficiently reduced pressure drop thereacross to permit it to be advanced in a conventional manner, after which the valve is returned to its neutral state.

Abstract: A cooler bag intended to be carried at one's back by means of a shoulder strap. The bag is constructed to include an outer layer or shelll and an inner waterproof bladder with the body of the bag having between the outer shell and the bladder a layer of insulation. While the bag is generally circular in cross-section, the bottom of the bag has a forward concave edge portion so as to fit the general contour of one's back. The shoulder strap is selectively connected to the bottom portion of the bag either at one side or the other depending on which shoulder is engaged by the shoulder strap. The bag also has a desirable closure arrangement including closure flaps which are folded into overlying locked relationship.

Abstract: A collapsible beach chair which is formed from a covering, such as canvas, which is folded and joined together to define a pair of seat compartments and a pair of back compartments with the compartments being joined together by a transverse hinge portion of the covering. The seat compartments are joined together by a longitudinal hinge portion of the covering separate and apart from a longitudinal hinge portion of the covering joining together the back compartments. Each compartment has therein a stiffening element which includes a rigid backing having a padded surface. The hinge portions of the covering are so arranged that the seat may be folded with all four compartments being disposed in side-by-side relationship and with the back forming compartments disposed outermost. The back forming compartments are joined together by releasable strap means and carry handles to facilitate the carrying thereof.

Abstract: A vision and hand/eye coordination testing machine includes a front panel sub-divided into a grid-like array. Each array position is either a lamp position or a dummy position, the two being visually indistinguishable. Panel lamps are illuminated in one of three alternative modes, namely: a pursuit mode wherein lamps are illuminated according to a prescribed continuous pattern and the subject must follow the pattern by moving his/her eyes; a saccadic hand/eye mode wherein the subject focuses on a centrally located alternating fixator lamp and actuates a switch at array lamp positions; and a second hand/eye mode, similar to the saccadic mode, but the fixator lamp remains off. Timely switch actuations are counted and actuate respective indicators in a remote monitoring unit. In both hand/eye modes the lamps are illuminated in a random or other sequence unrelated to lamp position.

Abstract: Different attachments that are connectable to a force transducer in easily interchangeable manner via standardized quick-disconnect coupling arrangements facilitate multiple use and applicability to testing and exercising of a great variety of muscle groups of the human body in compression and tension modes. Microprocessor supervision and control of testing and exercising procedures, providing various direct measurement outputs and testing, exercising, and training criteria as well as characteristic time-dependent measures, allow applicability to a plurality of muscle testing and exercising tasks in clinical, therapeutic, recreational and sport-training situations. Ease of adaptability of the force transducer unit together with the microprocessor control to different tasks facilitates use and operation as well as interpretation of results by persons without the specialized skills heretofore required. Compactness and light weight of the arrangement assures portability.

Abstract: An amusement device, useful for ocular as well as hand-eye coordination exercises, takes the form of a rod with two removable end balls and a positionally adjustable intermediate ball. The rod is manipulated, twirled and juggled by means of two hand-held juggling wands in a variety of ways to effect different exercises. The balls are visibly distinguishable, preferably by color, to permit a user to focus on a specific ball while the rod is twirling and to catch the rod with that ball in a prescribed orientation. The adjustable ball permits selective adjustment of the center of gravity of the rod and correspondingly adjusts the rod trajectory so as to increase and decrease the difficulty of each exercise. One or more individuals can use the juggled rod, each holding a pair of juggling wands.

Abstract: A method of monitoring thinning of pipe walls in a piping system including selecting locations to be monitored, normally those pipes particularly susceptible to thinning from erosion/corrosion, boring holes in the outer surfaces of the pipes at the selected locations to depths greater than the thickness at which the pipes will rupture to leave predetermined residual wall thicknesses between the ends of the holes and the inner surfaces of the pipe walls, inserting tracer materials in the holes to be released in the pipes when pipe wall thinning exceeds the residual wall thicknesses of the holes, monitoring fluid flow through the piping system to sense the presence of tracer materials in the fluid, and determining the location of the hole from which a sensed tracer material was released to permit pipe wall thinning to be determined prior to pipe rupture allowing repair or replacement during scheduled downtime of the piping system.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for burning stacked newspapers in a fireplace includes a grate having a sloping support for supporting a stack of newspapers at an angle inclined to the horizontal with free edges of the newspapers at the front and air supply directing a flow of air in a substantially horizontal direction at a position above the free edges of the newspapers to supply oxygen to enhance burning and to continuously turn the uppermost pages of the stack of newspapers upward to burn the newspapers page-by-page.

Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument, particularly useful for ophthalmic surgery, includes a cylindrical body, a piston disposed for reciprocating movement in a chamber in the body and a probe having an elongate tubular outer probe member with a closed distal end and a port adjacent thereto and an elongate inner probe member slidably disposed in the outer probe member with a distal end movable across the port to provide a cutting action and a portion mounted to the piston such that the probe is positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body and axially offset therefrom such that the inner and outer probe members are in positive alignment and not subject to relative rotation and inadvertent misalignment. An evacuation tube receives cut material from the probe passing through the surgical cutting instrument and a supply tube supplies pressure to the chamber to reciprocate the piston.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled electrosurgical generator provides plural ground-isolated and mutually isolated monopolar r-f cutting signals for respective surgical pencils to permit plural surgeons to use the same generator while maintaining independent control over output power and mode selection. A bipolar output signal is also isolated from ground and from the monopolar signals so that the removal of the dispersive patient return pad is not required when changing between monopolar and bipolar operation. Adjustment of the r-f cutting signal power level is effected by providing an adjustable d.c. bias level for an output amplifier. The d.c. bias level is derived from an a.c. control signal which is duty-cycle modulated in accordance with selected r-f power level settings.

Abstract: A method for positionally stabilizing one end of a bracelet while the bracelet is being secured about the wrist includes a recessed receiver, a positive engagement clamp and a base portion with a flat stabilization surface. The receiver is in the form of a plate which is recessed to snugly receive the user's wrist. One end of the bracelet is forcefully engaged by the clamp at a location proximate the recess to prevent any movement of the clamped end of the bracelet while the two braclet ends are being engaged about the wrist. Positional stabilization of the overall device is provided by the flat stabilization surface which may be placed on a surface of an external support.

Abstract: A tennis training device includes a rod secured vertically above the tennis court net and having three successive length sections demarked by different colors to guide a tennis player regarding the height of the ball as it passes over the net. The rod is preferably three feet long and each section is one foot in length. Support for the rod is achieved by an extension rod connected end-to-end with the marked rod and inserted through plural interstices of the net. An extension rod may be secured to the top of the marked rod to suspend an apertured target member used for practicing serves. One of the marked/support rods may be provided with two pairs of apertures which cooperate with respective support pins to secure the rod to a chain link fence.

Abstract: A trunk stabilization device permits a standing user/subject to exercise and test hip abduction, adduction, flexion and extension with a conventional muscle exercise and testing machine such as the Cybex II system. A T-bar includes a vertical stem and two adjacent horizontal cross pieces. The stem is secured to the torque transducer unit associated with the machine such that the cross pieces extend horizontally and parallel to the torque axis of the transducer at a location between the transducer and the system support frame. A truck pad, preferably provided as part of the basic machine, is alternatively mountable in two mutually perpendicular and vertical orientations at an end of the cross piece. In one orientation the truck supporting surface is parallel to the torque axis; in the other orientation the axis and trunk supporting surface are mutually perpendicular.

Abstract: A collapsible lamp shade includes a pair of resiliently compressible channel-defining members projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the shade cover to engage the periphery of a shade frame in a channel having an opening which is wider than the frame thickness. A structurally independent arcuately biased wire is selectively threaded into a sleeve at the lower edge of the cover to rigidify and radially expand the lower edge. Expansion of the lower edge tends to contract the upper edge about the frame to effect a more positive engagement of the frame in the channel. Structural independency of the frame engagement and the threaded rigidifying wire permit simple assembly at each edge of the shade without dislodging assembled components at the other edge. In the preferred embodiment the upper edge channel is defined by a cloth strip secured to the interior surface of the cover and having two transversely spaced sleeves extending in respective annular paths.

Abstract: Environmental heating/cooling systems are controlled by an interactive microprocessor and have continuous on-time and adaptive cycling modes wherein continuous on-time brings the temperature to a programmed set point and cycling precisely maintains that temperature rather than causing the temperature to oscillate between limits of a dead zone. Minimum pause and on-time intervals of the cycling mode are established in accordance with optimum thermal transfer efficiency and/or equipment limitations. The initial cycle pause interval is a function of the degree transition time (i.e., time required for system to change temperature one degree as measured during continuous on-time mode); the initial cycle on-time interval becomes the established minimum interval. Cycle intervals are modified as necessary to maintain the temperature at the set point with preference given to minimizing the cycle on-time interval.