Abstract: The waste liquid collection and transfer system includes at least one waste liquid transfer vessel that has a liquid input valve and a liquid output valve for controlling the flow of waste liquid therethrough. A pressurized gas liquid transfer system including at least one control valve is utilized to provide pressurized gas to said vessel to control the flow of liquid therefrom. A liquid drain line is engaged from the vessel to a liquid collection tank, and a liquid level alarm device is engaged to the tank to provide an alarm if the level in the tank becomes too high. An electronic system controller is engaged to the alarm device and to the various valves to control the flow of liquid throughout the system. When an alarm signal is received by the system controller the vessels are first emptied and thereafter allowed to become full, acting in this instance as additional waste liquid storage containers. When the vessels are full, the system controller shuts down the flow of liquid to the vessels.

Abstract: The valve head of the present invention is designed for engaging both a Schrader and a Presta valve. It includes a housing having generally cylindrical sidewalls and a base wall. A collet is disposed within the housing. The collet has generally cylindrical sidewalls and a plurality of upwardly extending collet fingers. A generally cylindrical gasket member is disposed within the collet. The gasket is composed of a resilient material and has a valve insertion bore formed centrally therethrough. A camming lever is operably engaged to the collet and functions to pull the collet downwardly into the housing. The downward movement of the collet causes the collet fingers to move inwardly, thereby creating an inwardly directed force upon the resilient gasket such that the diameter of the gasket bore is reduced. When a Schrader valve is disposed within the gasket bore, a valve pin depression tip acts to depress the Schrader valve pin, thus permitting pumped air to flow through the Schrader valve.

Abstract: In the present invention the enhanced Raman spectra of a substance is obtained by depositing a metallic layer upon the surface of the substance. The Raman spectrographic laser is directed to and through the metallic layer, and the Raman scattered energy passes back through the metallic layer and is analyzed by the spectrographic detector. The metallic layer is therefore thin enough to permit passage of the laser energy and scattered energy without significant attenuation. In a preferred embodiment, the spectrographic laser is an argon ion laser and the metallic layer is composed of silver with a thickness of from approximately 1 nm to approximately 20 nm. The present invention is particularly adapted for the analysis of thin film smears deposed upon substrates, such as hard disks.

Abstract: The valve head of the present invention is designed for engaging both a Schrader and a Presta valve. It includes a housing having generally cylindrical sidewalls and a base wall. A collet is disposed within the housing. The collet has generally cylindrical sidewalls and a plurality of upwardly extending collet fingers. A generally cylindrical gasket members is disposed within the collet. The gasket is composed of a resilient material and has a valve insertion bore formed centrally therethrough. A camming lever is operably engaged to the collet and functions to pull the collet downwardly into the housing. The downward movement of the collet causes the collet fingers to move inwardly, thereby creating an inwardly directed force upon the resilient gasket such that the diameter of the gasket bore is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is a computerized medical diagnostic method. It includes a first database containing a correlation of a plurality of diseases with a plurality of indicators associated with each such disease. A second database includes human experience test results associated with each indicator. An individual's test results are then compared with the second database data to determine presence levels for each indicator. Thereafter the presence levels are compared with the data in the first database to provide a pattern matching determination of diseases associated with the various indicator presence levels.The presence level indicators for an individual may be affected by many environmental and/or personal factors such as age, sex, race, pregnancy, residence location, previous or current diseases, previous or current drug usage, etc., all of which are factors to be considered in creating an accurate analysis system.

Abstract: A magnetic resistive device that is suitable for use with a bicycle trainer including a rotatable shaft having a magnetic resistive force member engaged to an end thereof. In the preferred embodiment the magnetic resistive force member includes a cylindrical outer surface. A plurality of magnets are disposed on one side of said magnetic resistive force member, preferably in alternating polarity. Magnetic fields generated between adjacent magnets create eddy currents within the magnetic resistive force member to create a resistive force against the rotation of the magnetic resistive force member. In the preferred embodiment, the magnets are disposed outside of the cylindrical magnetic resistive force member, and the magnets are movable away from the magnetic resistive force member to reduce the force induced therewithin.

Abstract: The liquid transfer system includes a liquid supply tank and at least two pressurizable liquid holding vessels. The liquid holding vessels are placed beneath the supply tank, and a liquid supply line connects the supply tank to each vessel. The liquid supply line is operated as a siphon from the tank to each vessel, in order to move liquid from the tank to each vessel. Each vessel is alternately filled and pressurized to dispense liquid from the vessel, such that one vessel is being filled while the other is dispensing liquid, and a constant controllable liquid output flow is achieved. A preferred embodiment includes a liquid recycling line to recycle or constantly move the liquid within the system to achieve thorough mixing, and an in-line filter to improve liquid purity.

Abstract: A torque limiting ratchet mechanism disposed within a crank handle. The ratcheting mechanism includes a ratchet disk having inner projecting portions which engage a shaft for rotational purposes, and resilient outwardly projecting portions which are engagable in indentations formed in an inner surface of the ratchet handle. The torque limiting ratchet mechanism of the present invention is particularly utilized in a bicycle mounted exercise trainer. In this utilization, one cone of the mounting system is laterally fixed and the other cone, which is engaged to the torque limiting ratchet is laterally movable to clamp the axle of the rear wheel. Due to the large variation in bicycle rear wheel axle geometries, the roller portion of the wheel resistance mechanism is made longer to accommodate the single-sided movement of the mounting cones of the trainer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a malleable ferrule or connector that is impact mounted to an optical fiber at both its forward end and its rearward end. The mounting is accomplished utilizing an impact driver device and a shaped rearward stationary anvil. A tubular ferrule is placed upon an optical fiber and positioned within a mounting device such that the rearward end of the ferrule butts against the stationary rear anvil. An impact driver is then pressed against the forward end of the ferrule to deliver a mechanical impact that simultaneously deforms both the forward end and the rearward end of the ferrule to simultaneously mechanically deform both ends of the ferrule. The ferrule is thereupon mechanically engaged to the optical fiber at both ends, and the excess fiber projecting from the front end is then removed.

Abstract: The dual stage, dual mode air pump is selectively operable in a low pressure, high volume mode or a high pressure, low volume mode. It includes a pump head, an outer tube that is engaged to the pump head, an inner tube that is engaged to the pump head and a middle tube that is slidably engaged to both the outer tube and the inner tube. A mode pump switch is utilized to allow the pump operator to change the mode of the pump. In the preferred embodiment, the mode switch is disposed within the pump head. It includes an air passageway having a manually switchable valve disposed therein. In the high volume, low pressure mode the valve switch is closed, whereupon pumped air passes into a pneumatic article engaged to the end of the pump. When the valve switch is opened, the pump is operable in the low volume high pressure mode, and a portion of the pumped air is outletted into the ambient environment, rather than being pumped into the pneumatic article.

Abstract: The pressure gauge is designed for operative engagement with a fluid pressurized system such as a gas or a liquid. It includes a housing having a pressurized fluid inlet orifice and a cylindrical bore formed within the housing. A pressure reactive piston is slidably engaged within the cylindrical bore, and a resistance means is disposed within the cylinder to provide a resistive force to the movement of the piston. A calibration means engages the resistance means to apply a user selectable calibration force to the piston, and a calibration means engagement means is utilized to fixedly engage the calibration means in the user selectable position. An arm member is disposed proximate the piston, whereby movement of the piston will cause movement of the arm member, and a pressure indicator means is engaged to the arm to provide an indication of the pressure level of the fluid.

Abstract: The tube inner surface electropolishing device includes an electrolyte delivery system to cause electrolyte to flow through the tube whose inner surface must be electropolished. An electrical cable having an electrode engaged to its distal end is slowly moved through the tube while an electrical current from a power supply passes through the electrode and the tube wall and the electrolyte flowing therebetween. Several electrode embodiments are disclosed including electrodes that include a chain of elements having alternating insulator and electrode elements, an electrode including a quantity of metallic wool enclosed in a permeable insulating member, and a flexible insulating member formed from a cylindrical tubular section which is axially compressible to produce a series of projecting flexible arms, so that any one section can be compressed to enter a smaller opening than the tube to be polished.

Abstract: An extremely flexible piezoelectric pickup for stringed instruments is formed of a flat shielded conductor with a plurality of spaced piezo crystals embedded between the conductor and its shield. Its width is less than 0.090 inches, its height between piezo crystals is less than 0.020 inches and at the crystals is less than 0.050 so that the location of each crystal is clearly visible and can be accurately positioned on an instrument.

Abstract: The improved baby bottle device includes a liquid holding container having a flexible liquid flow tube engaged thereto. A nipple is engaged to the distal end of the liquid flow tube, and a liquid flow control device is disposed within an adaptor that serves to engage the nipple with the liquid flow tube to control the flow of liquid from the bottle to the nipple, such that liquid neither leaks from the nipple when the nipple is disposed below the container nor drains from the nipple when the nipple is disposed above the container. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid flow control device includes a spring loaded check valve. A bottle attachment device, generally including two velcro straps joined at their midpoints is used to attach the bottle device to adjacent structural support members.

Abstract: The liquid transfer system includes a liquid supply tank and at least two pressurizable liquid holding vessels. The liquid holding vessels are placed beneath the supply tank, and a liquid supply line connects the supply tank to each vessel. The liquid supply line is operated as a siphon from the tank to each vessel, in order to move liquid from the tank to each vessel. Each vessel is alternately filled and pressurized to dispense liquid from the vessel, such that one vessel is being filled while the other is dispensing liquid, and a constant controllable liquid output flow is achieved. A preferred embodiment includes a liquid recycling line to recycle or constantly move the liquid within the system to achieve thorough mixing, and an in-line filter to improve liquid purity.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a malleable ferrule or connector that is impact mounted to an optical fiber at both its forward end and its rearward end. The mounting is accomplished utilizing an impact driver device and a shaped rearward stationary anvil. A tubular ferrule is placed upon an optical fiber and positioned within a mounting device such that the rearward end of the ferrule butts against the stationary rear anvil. An impact driver is then pressed against the forward end of the ferrule to deliver a mechanical impact that simultaneously deforms both the forward end and the rearward end of the ferrule to simultaneously mechanically deform both ends of the ferrule. The ferrule is thereupon mechanically engaged to the optical fiber at both ends, and the excess fiber projecting from the front end is then removed.

Abstract: The flexible endoscopic probe of the present invention includes mechanically engaged components within the tip of the probe. That is, the probe includes a viewing system including a coherent optical fiber having a lens that is mechanically engaged to the tip thereof. Additionally, a metal sleeve may be utilized at the tip of the probe to mechanically bind all of the components within the probe at its tip. Potting materials or adhesives may also be utilized to seal the components within the probe tip. Owing to the usage of mechanical binding methods, the probe is more durable and may be heat sterilized in an autoclave, or the like, in order to permit repeated usage of the probe.

Abstract: A remote dial-up ATM system having a host emulator located proximate to an ATM and directly connected thereto, separated by a dial-up telephone connection, from an ATM emulator located proximate to the host and directly connected thereto. The host emulator maintains the on-line status of the ATM at the ATM site. The ATM emulator maintains the on-line status of the host. This configuration creates a virtual dedicated circuit linking the ATM and the host via a dial-up telephone connection.