Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention, utilized for game cards or the like, comprises an optical validation sensor configured to prevent fraudulent play by a retailer or the like to pick out winning game cards. The optical validation sensor activates the imaging device only upon sensing a predetermined amount or density of light passing through the game card. The imaging device also comprises a debris slot to prevent debris or the like from collecting therein when accompanied with a card being inserted and improved configurations of the game card.

Abstract: A cartridge tape drive having a housing with an opening dimensioned to allow endwise insertion of a rectangular cartridge with an access door along a side edge thereof. The cartridge is supported on a stationary support within the housing. The cartridge tape drive is provided with a mechanism which opens the access door, and a mechanism which moves the cartridge laterally within the housing into operative engagement with a magnetic head. The magnetic head is attached to the stationary support.

Abstract: A RAM air inflatable gliding wing including a plurality of cells interconnected as by stitching along appropriate adjacent side edges thereof. Each of the cells is constructed utilizing an upper and lower flexible member secured together over the entire length thereof. Disposed span wise between and secured to the side edges of the upper and lower flexible members is reinforcing tape preferably carried by a plurality of sections of flexible material. The structure provides airfoil shaped tubes or cells which when in inflated profile is that of shark and cetacean design. An air intake is provided at the leading edge of each of the cells and is constructed including a non-return valve. The reinforcing tape provides a central load network system which provides reinforcement and serves to stabilize the canopy when fully deployed both span wise and chord-wise while at the same time attenuating stress and pressure on the lower surface of the parachute canopy during deceleration.

Abstract: A hydrofluidic oscillator including a momentum exchange fluidic amplifier coupled to a four-way reciprocal valve. The four-way valve is connected to control flow of hydraulic fluid from a source thereof to a using apparatus. The fluidic amplifier is connected to provide input signals to the four-way valve to cause the four-way valve to reciprocate responsive to the input signals. Both negative and positive feedback paths are provided from each outlet of the fluidic amplifier to the respective control ports to control oscillation of the four-way valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing compressed data on DAT media. The data is stored into a standard DDS group format prior to compression, and after compression, the group is stored into a variable number of frames for recording onto the DAT media. If the compression does not meet a predetermined standard of efficiency, then the group is stored in a fixed number of frames and recorded onto the DAT media without compression.

Abstract: Reduced attitude sensitivity is achieved in a fluid mass flow meter of the type which determines fluid flow from the temperature difference between an upstream sensor and a downstream sensor positioned along the flow path of the fluid externally of a sensing conduit for the fluid. A housing, taking particular forms, has wall structure spaced along the sensors adapted to substantially limit the ambient gaseous atmosphere along the sensors to a thin film. The housing wall structure further is spaced along portions of the sensing conduit between the sensors and the input and output ports of the conduit to substantially limit the ambient gaseous atmosphere along such portions to a thin film. In one form, such wall structure, along these portions, converges from both directions along the conduit, to provide support regions for the conduit. The sensors, specifically, are self-heating coil elements formed of temperature-sensitive resistance wire wound around the outside of the sensing conduit.

Abstract: A precise motion transducer is described. The transducer converts relatively large inputs, either forces or motions, into relatively small predictable and repeatable motions at the output. The input forces or motions may be produced by a Micrometer, a set of calibrated masses (weights), an electromagnetic voice coil (solenoid) or any other standard or customized device that can produce a calibrated force or motion and deliver this force or motion to the transducer. The force or motion, once delivered to the transducer body, is then transformed into a small motion which is then available to control the position or motion of a component, device or instrument.

Abstract: A method of preparing dense ceramic product is described, wherein a coagulated network of ceramic powder particles in water is formed and then treated to increase the volume fraction of particles, thereby forming a water-saturated powder compact. The compact is formed into a desired shape and fired to provide the dense ceramic product. A coagulated network may advantageously be formed by mixing a ceramic powder with water at a pH that produces a net surface charge, to form a dispersed slurry and adding a sufficient amount of salt to the dispersed slurry to cause particles within the slurry to form the coagulated network.

Abstract: A mold including a pair of bodies engageable with each other and each including an annular recess, an annular groove and an annular depression, a ring being engaged in the annular recess and the annular groove respectively, and one or more rings corresponding to the tread portion of the tire being engaged in the annular depression of each of the bodies, a mold cavity for forming the tire being formed in the bodies and the rings, the rings engaged in the annular depressions being arranged in parallel with each other so that the rings can be stably and properly retained in place.

Abstract: A tethering device for securing a child safety seat to an automobile seat with an automobile seatbelt. The tethering device has a cap, a base, and a wedging mechanism rotatably mounted to the base such that a wedging portion extending upwardly from the base towards the cap will move from a passive position that does not positively grip a seatbelt to a second active-locked position which does positively grip the seatbelt between a wedging surface of the wedging portion and an inside surface of the cap. The tethering devices are secured to each side of the child safety seat at a generally 45 degree angle to the base of the child safety seat.

Abstract: A device for dislodging an object, for example a cap that is close fit over the top of a pipe, in which a handle and a grip, each formed to be held by the respective hands of a user, are interconnected with a weight member and an impact member, such as a pair of tongs. Slide bars fixed to the weight member are disposed through one end of the grip and connected to the handle. A shank is slidably disposed through the weight, connected to the grip on one side of the weight and to the tongs on the other side of the weight. The tongs include a plurality of pivotally connected links and are formed with elongate arms terminating distally with jaws formed to impact against a horizontally disposed surface of the cap. The tongs tend to close when freely suspended from the shank so as to slip over the cap on a pipe, contacting it from below the cap. Lifting of the handle impacts the weight against the grip to transmit a hammering force to the jaws, dislodging the cap.

Abstract: A direction-control device for a tennis-ball shooter having a mount plate on which two motors are mounted for driving two wheels which together control a speed and a spinning extent of a tennis ball to be served. The direction-control device includes a first bar extending along a Z-axis and drivable by a first motor to allow a pivotal movement of the mount plate on a Y-Z plane about an X-axis upon a restricted rotational movement of the first motor, thereby controlling the served tennis ball to fall in front of or behind the practicer. The device-control device further includes a second bar having a first end attached to the mount plate and a second end drivably attached to a second motor to allow a pivotal movement of the mount plate on a Z-X plane about a Y-axis upon a restricted rotational movement of the second motor, thereby controlling the spinning axis of the tennis ball to be served.

Abstract: A novel control storing and dispensing apparatus for a vending machine, or the like is provided, the apparatus being particularly adapted for storing and dispensing cylindrical products of various types and sizes in single and multiple depth stack fashion. The dispensing mechanism for each section includes at least one motor-driven auger mounted in an almost horizontal position in relation to cylindrical products rolling down a shallow slope to control storing, feeding and dispensing of said cylindrical products from the bottom of a stack for each selection, as the mechanism is cycled. The apparatus can also be used to dispense cylindrical products of a relatively wide range of diameters by using spacers or movable ramps to position products properly to fit into the auger track. The apparatus also can dispense a product longer than conventional cans, such as certain bottled beverages, by using several augers.

Abstract: A protein having a molecular weight of from about 10,000 to 18,000 daltons, isoelectric points of from about pH 4.0 to 6.5 and having the reversible biological effect of inhibiting aromatase activity in a biological system, and antibodies to the protein, modulate follicular development and spermatogenesis and provide for diagnostic tests of gonadel functions.

Abstract: Apparatus for removal of a desired material from a liquid is described, in which the liquid is cycled through a plurality of liquid treatment containers in a first direction and brought into countercurrent contact with a medium for recovery of the desired material cycled through the treatment containers in a second, opposite direction. After treatment of the liquid, the medium is advantageously regenerated in a plurality of medium regeneration containers. The used medium is cycled through a plurality of medium regeneration containers in a first direction and brought into countercurrent contact with a medium regeneration liquid cycled through the regeneration containers in a second, opposite direction.

Abstract: A stop valve for a vacuum apparatus comprises a valve casing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a main valve element housed in the valve casing for selectively opening and closing a flow passageway for causing the inlet port to comunicate with the outlet port, an auxiliary valve element for selectively opening and closing an orifice formed in the main valve element and capable of opening the flow passageway by opening the orifice when the main valve element is closed, a valve shaft for driving the main valve element and the auxiliary element, and a control mechanism for controlling the operation of the valve shaft and opening the main valve element after the auxiliary valve element has been opened.

Abstract: A redundant interactive subject evaluation system composed of multiple, distinct test sites containing multiple test stations, nodes which interconnect several test sites and a single integrating evaluating hub into which flows all site and node data. The system is operable to receive dial-in telecommunications data from any remote test site location including transportation vehicles in transit by air, water, or land. System reliability is high with continued node and test site activity even during overall system outages. The performance evaluation test runs on the test stations at the individual sites interactively evaluating the performance capabilities of multiple subjects by comparing the test subjects' hub data stored as historical performance characteristics with their new test results secured at the test stations.