Abstract: A displacement sensing device is disclosed having a capacitance transduction element which provides a linear transfer function with an output in a synchro-resolver form that is directly convertable to digital form. The transduction element includes four separate windings on each of the closely adjacent faces of a pair of coaxially positioned cylinders forming a rotor-stator assembly. Reference input voltages are coupled to specific predetermined windings on the stator to produce electrical outputs on the different windings on the rotor that are dependent upon the relative positioning of the stator and rotor, which outputs are coupled as charges through differential charge amplifiers to produce output voltage signals that are indicative of the relative positioning of the stator and rotor and are of a form determined by the applied reference voltages.

Abstract: A method for "hot end" coating of vitreous articles, and particularly glassware such as bottles, with zinc oxide and magnesium oxide coatings from aqueous solutions of organic and inorganic zinc compounds, magnesium compounds, and mixtures thereof. Particularly useful are zinc acetate and magnesium acetate, which are applied to the vitreous surface at an elevated temperature, and preferably between about 425.degree. C. and 650.degree. C., to evaporate the water from the solution and pyrolytically decompose the metal compound or compounds to form refractory oxide coatings which are transparent and adherent, and articles coated by such a method.

Abstract: A scanning control system is disclosed for remotely sensing or monitoring a predetermined condition or state, such as the presence of a fire, by means of one or a multiplicity of detecting stations at one or a multiplicity of locations with each detecting station providing a positive indication of the location of each predetermined condition sensed. A scanning or control panel is electrically connected with the detecting stations by means of four wires extending from the panel regardless of the number of detecting stations utilized in the system.

Abstract: An ionization particle detector for indicating the presence of charged particles in a gas includes a single ionization chamber having two defined regions of electrical field intensity. The first region is of small geometric volume and high electric field intensity while the second region is of large geometric volume and low electric field intensity. The radioactive source for generating the ions is located near one electrode while the second electrode forming the walls of the chamber are located such that the walls are incident near the Bragg ionization peak of the detector. A probe is positioned between the two regions for detecting the maximum electric field change when particles enter the chamber.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for monitoring vital physiological signs. Each of the system components utilizes a single hybrid circuit with each component having high accuracy without the necessity of repeated calibration. The system also has low power requirements, provides a digital display, and is of sufficiently small size to be incorporated into a hand-carried case for portable use. Components of the system may also provide independent outputs making the component useful, of itself, for monitoring one or more vital signs. The overall system preferably includes an ECG amplifier and cardiotachometer signal conditioner unit, an impedance pneumograph and respiration rate signal conditioner unit, a heart/breath rate processor unit, a temperature monitoring unit, a selector switch, a clock unit, and an LCD driver unit and associated LCDs, with the system being capable of being expanded as needed or desired, such as, for example, by addition of a systolic/diastolic blood pressure unit.

Abstract: A sack for enclosing and compressing resilient materials, such as clothing items and sleeping bags having high air content filling, i.e., down filled matter or synthetics incorporating air voids, in the form of a stuff sack having a plurality of longitudinally extending adjustable length straps attached to the sack at opposed ends thereof and equidistantly spaced around the circumference of the sack, such that when the sack is "stuffed" in a conventional manner, substantial additional longitudinal force may be applied either by the straps or externally, and the straps shorten to telescope the sack into a compressed and stable configuration.

Abstract: A bicycle pack, such as a pannier bag, adapted to be releasably secured between spaced, fixed positions on a bicycle, such as to a bicycle carrier, the pack including fasteners thereon for engagement with one of the bicycle attachment positions, and, at the spaced position on the pack, resilient members secured to the pack and adapted to engage the other of the mounting positions on the bicycle. The pack is constructed of pliable material and includes a pair of spaced rigid members positioned at the two attachment positions of the pack with each rigid member extending substantially transversely to the direction in which tension is induced by the resilient member when attached to the bicycle, whereby, the pack may be compactly compressed, and "stuffed" into another pack for transport apart from the bicycle, while still maintaining the ability to be attached to the bicycle and provide a wrinkle free, functionally rigid wall member of pliable material between the two spaced rigid members.

Abstract: An improved structure for attaching a handlebar pack to a wire support in which the wire support includes at least a member positioned adjacent the rear portion of the handlebar pack, the support attachment including spring clip members attached to the rear portion of the handlebar pack which distend to receive and positively locate the wire support at positions spaced more than one hundred eighty degrees around the support, the wire support preferably being a cantilevered support adapted to engage the gooseneck-handlebar intersection of a bicycle, and extending forward therefrom with substantially horizontal forked members adapted to engage pocket portions defined on either side of the pack, with the pocket portions preferably being closed at the sections thereof receiving the termini of the forked members.

Abstract: A method and device for adjusting camber and caster in a solid axle steerable structure including a yoke, and a steering knuckle rotatably carried in the yoke by a pair of ball joints, by inserting a connecting offset and/or skewed bushing in at least one of the ball joint receiving openings in the yoke and positioning the connecting bushing to accommodate the steering knuckle in the desired, aligned position relative to the yoke.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring mass flow, and particularly the sum or difference in mass flow of distinct streams of flowing materials, wherein a plurality of channels are provided in one or more conduits rotating or oscillating as a common unit with additive streams or a common stream being flowed through the channels in a first direction and subtractive streams being flowed through the channels in an opposite direction, and in which the net Coriolis force imposed upon the conduit unit is measured.

Abstract: A structure and method for utilizing solar energy for heating including a unitary, preferably modular, unit adapted to form an outer surface of a building, and having therein a reservoir suitable for storing fluid heat storage medium. The structure includes an outer glazing, an energy absorbing surface spaced inwardly from the glazing, and a divider forming an absorber channel adjacent the back side of the absorber. Preferably, the storage reservoir is separated from the back side of the absorber by an insulating divider defining the absorber channel. The structure is preferably self-supporting with a stressed storage reservoir and may be incorporated in a structure as a unitary module supporting at least its own weight and often forming a structural, stressed portion of the building.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for analyzing operation of an ink jet head. Initiation of start-up is sensed, as is the pressure build-up in the ink jet head as ink is supplied thereto. The time lapse between initiation of start-up and the commencement of pressure build-up is determined, as is the time required for the pressure within the ink jet head to build to an operational level, and outputs indicative thereof are utilized for determination of fault occurrence and indication of faults or initiation of fault correction in response thereto. The system includes a pair of counters controlled by start-up initiation and the outputs from a pair of comparators which receive predetermined reference signals and signals indicative of pressure build-up at the ink jet head, with the outputs from the counters being coupled to a microcomputer for determination of faults.

Abstract: A structure for protecting front surfaces of moving vehicles from insects and debris and modulating air flow through the vehicle radiator to control cooling efficiency, including an air deflector mounted on the leading edge of the vehicle to deflect air, airborne insects and debris upward and over the windshield, and, a detachable cover depending from the deflector to preclude insects and debris from entering the radiator, the detachable cover being either a non-perforated curtain to limit and control air flow through the vehicle radiator during cold weather operation, or a screen to provide full air flow during warm weather.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating dispersed multi-phase, fluid systems by flowing a gaseous medium through a liquid phase in a plurality of substantially vertical conduit members positioned over a manifold member through which the gas is supplied; and removing the separated phases from the predominant liquid. The components to be separated may be dispersed in the liquid or the gas.Flow of the gas through the conduit exposes the system to a large effective surface area as well as carrying the lighter components to the surface to form a separate, continuous phase, and inducing the heavier, usually solid, components to settle to the bottom of the apparatus. Optionally, particles may be included in the system to further increase the effective surface area.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for purifying water or treating waste water by utilizing a gaseous medium, and particularly oxygen or air, to lift the water through a biological reactor in the form of a plurality of substantially vertical conduit members positioned over a manifold member through which the gas is supplied to the conduit. Preferably, when pure oxygen is employed, the system is sealed and utilizes a carbon dioxide absorber. Optionally, particles may be included in the water being treated.

Abstract: A processor and method for concurrent processing of tasks and instructions are disclosed. The processor is basically a multiple instruction, multiple data stream (MIMD) digital computer that utilizes pipelining for control and function units, but avoids precedence constraint penalties. Task and instruction processing is carried on concurrently through the use of a snapshot taken of the next process status words (PSWs) to be serviced for each active task, the pointers for which are stored in task first in-first out buffers (task FIFOs). The PSWs, along with their parent task status words (TSWs), are placed into the control pipeline one at a time and serviced, after which each PSW pointer is placed back in the task FIFO from where it was taken. After all process status words of the snapshot have been entered into the control pipeline, a new snapshot is taken and the PSWs processed in the same manner.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for splitting wood such as logs, comprising a prime mover selectively connectable to an elongated screw member to rotate the screw member in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction, the screw member being mounted for rotation with a thrust bearing at one end of the screw member, an elongated bed structure, a trolley mounted for movement along the elongated bed structure, a nut having screw threads complementary to the screw member defined therethrough attached to the trolley and receiving and engaging the threads of the elongated screw member, and an abutment and a cutting blade, one of which is mounted to the trolley and the other of which is mounted to the bed structure adjacent the thrust bearing such that a log may be placed between the splitting blade and abutment and the blade urged into the log by moving the trolley towards the log by rotation of the screw member with the screw member being in tension during the splitting operation.

Abstract: A miniaturized transcutaneous nerve stimulator is disclosed that utilizes a single 1.25 volt battery as the power source, yet provides a 30 volt DC power output over an extended period of time. The battery is connected to the primary winding of a step-up transformer with the primary also having a transistor connected in series therewith. The secondary winding of the transformer is connected with a full wave diode bridge circuit and a 30 volt Zener diode. Pulsing circuitry is also provided which includes a pulse rate and pulse width establishing multivibrators which are coupled through a buffer to a pair of Darlington amplifiers, which are also connected with the Zener diode and full wave diode bridge circuit. The output from the stimulator is coupled from the Darlington amplifiers, which amplifiers have a charging circuit connected therewith, to output terminals connectable with electrodes engagable with the skin surface of the subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating duplex copies from simplex originals. A plurality of originals are sequentially fed through the copying area of an electrophotographic copying machine during a first pass with a predetermined number of copies being electrophotographically made only with respect to each original appearing at an even number in the sequence as fed to the copying area and with the copies being made on one side of separate sheets of copy paper withdrawn from a storage receptacle. After collection of the sheets of copy paper from the copying area, these sheets are replaced in the storage receptacle and the plurality of originals again sequentially fed through the copying area of the copying machine during a second pass.