Abstract: A multiple shell pressure vessel is fabricated in modular sections comprising a top head module, a nozzle course module and a bottom shell module, each module utilizing telescoping shells with filled interspaces, each shell being removable for inspection and repair with all modular sections and shells being held in compression by a pair of upper and lower single or multilayer tendon skirts held in place by a number of tension members in combination with hydraulic or mechanical jacks or rams. Both tendons and rams are located outside the pressure vessel. Included is a method of arranging the shell flanges and shell radial supports to reduce or eliminate torsional forces on the flanges and flange seals. A leak detection system monitors for leaks in all shells. A method of adjusting shell stresses during operation uses pumps to adjust the pressure of the filler material in the interspaces between shells.

Abstract: A load binder tool uses a pair of first and second coupler-tension members pivotal connected, at spaced apart centers, to an operating handle. A pair of major gear members engage a pair of minor gear members attached to the first coupler-tension member. A tension connector pin is journaled to both the major gear member and one end of the second coupler-tension member. The rotation of the connector pin about the axis of rotation of the major gear members creates an additional mechanical advantage. This rotation about the axis of rotation of the major gear members also causes the connector pin axis of rotation to be offset relative to the major gear axis of rotation in order to lock the load binder tool in the closed position using the tension applied to the load binding tension members or chains.

Abstract: The presented invention gives methods to construct two types and three kinds of variable area aircraft or kite wings. The wings share a common method of increasing or decreasing in area through fixed fuselage or fixed wing spars and opposing travel, travelling wing spars to which spars may be attached described airfoil forms or plates. Doubled back and threaded about these fixed and travelling spars are flexible, strong and laterally stable wing membranes cut in patterns to match the extensible framework of the fixed and travelling spars. The wing varies in area when the travelling spars are mechanically `gear train` actuated and the as yet un-utilized portion of the wing membrane is drawn from the internal wing stowage space. This unfurling process is reversible, the wing membrane may also be drawn back into the internal wing stowage space. The invention also gives a method to construct wingtip aelerons suitable for one of the two presented types of variable area wing.

Abstract: A truck-train system uses a railway dolly or bogie to support the front end of one truck-trailer and the rear end of another truck-trailer. A pair of truck-trailer support members are pivotally connected to the railway dolly. They are provided with a fixed incline ramp to raise and guide the truck-trailer onto the respective support member. The railway dolly is provided with a standard railway compressed air braking system with an air hose retrieving device to store the air hose. The railway dolly is also provided with standard railway couplers at each end. These couplers are adapted to retract or vertically rotate to a position below the surface of the incline planes.

Abstract: A three-dimensional large scale rectilinear array of hydrophones comprising a plurality of equally spaced, fixed position, omni-directional, electro-acoustic transducers, utilizes aperture steering circuits to create a polar coordinate map indicating the bearing and elevation of incoming sound signals. The attitude and depth of the array is controlled by an array maneuvering system to position the array for maximum signal strength and to rotate the array to a horizontal position for maneuvering in shallow water. The geometric configuration combined with digital signal processing circuits provide improved sound detection threshold over linear and single planar arrays. An acoustically transparent housing is used to enclose the array. The shape of the housing and supporting structural frame are adapted to limit self-induced background noise.

Abstract: A structural support is adapted to elevate the base of a structural member, such as, a wooden post, above a concrete surface where is would be subject to water related wood damage. A supporting shaft is connected at its upper end, to a generally U-shaped bracket member and is imbedded in concrete proximate its lower end. The lower end of the shaft is deformed or embossed to increase the resisting power in the vertical direction to the concrete. Indicia is provided along the supporting shaft to indicate maximum clearance elevation for the embedded shaft.

Abstract: A pressure wave supercharger utilizes a rotor having closely spaced conduits in a rectangular array whose inside surfaces are provided with a catalyst for exothermic oxidation of incompletely burned exhaust gases. The size, geometry and length of the conduits are arranged to achieve maximum energy transfer of the sonic velocity exhaust gases and exothermic expansion of those gases in supercharging incoming air to the intake manifold. The spent gases are discharged to the atmosphere with a minimum of sonic energy.

Abstract: A target shooting apparatus utilizes a plurality of light beam emitting guns or rifles to shoot at a plurality of targets, the individual light beam guns being identified by frequency encoding the light beam emitted by each rifle. The first rifle to "hit" a target deactivates the target and is credited with a score. Light and sound effects are generated when a target is "hit" to simulate reality. The number of rifles and targets is limited only by the physical size of the apparatus that would be practical to accommodate the players.

Abstract: A device for restraining a person utilizes a belt adapted to be attached to the waist of the person being restrained with a pair of right and left arm restraining members attached to the person's wrists. The end of each arm restraining member distal the wrists is slidably connected to the belt and permits the hands to move a predetermined distance longitudinally along the respective right and left sides of the belt. A device is provided for locking the arm restraining members in the forward position. The restraining device permits use of the hands for personal needs while restraining any arm movements that can be violent in nature.

Abstract: A safety warning light is adapted be mounted on the valve stem of a tire or clip to the clothing of a wearer. The apparatus includes a two-part housing and utilizes a light source, such as, a light emitting diode, powered by a battery that is connected to the light source using a switch actuated by rotating the top part of the housing with respect to the bottom part of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and dispensing multiple fluids utilizes two fluid reservoirs each in fluid communication with a respective pump for pumping the fluids to a mixing head, the pumps being mechanically connected to each other and adapted to pump fluids from the reservoirs at a predetermined volume ratio, and with a pressure switch provided for measuring fluid pressure to the mixing head and stopping the pumping of fluid at a predetermined maximum pressure while starting the pumping of fluid when the fluid pressure falls below the predetermined maximum pressure. A device for detecting an empty fluid reservoir is used to stop the pumping of fluids to avoid single component pumping. A mechanical torque-releasable coupling is used to disconnect a pump from the pump drive in the event of an internal pump overload.

Abstract: A multiple shell pressure vessel utilizes a number of spaced apart, concentrically disposed pressure vessel shells within and spaced apart from an outer pressure vessel shell, the spaces between each shell being filled with a low melting point, high boiling point material selected from the group, lead, tin, antimony, bismuth, or sodium and potassium, and mixtures thereof and subjected to a pressure whereby the innermost pressure vessel shell wall is maintained in compression while the main vessel is pressurized. Chemical compositions or compounds which contain boron or cadmium may also be added to the filler material. The vessel may include devices for keeping the pressure in the space between the innermost pressure vessel shell and the next innermost shell at a fixed predetermined multiple of the pressure within the innermost pressure vessel shell.

Abstract: A multiple fluid pumping system uses two or more fluid pumps each driven by a pneumatic piston or plunger and cylinder combination whose piston top stroke and bottom stroke positions are detected by reed switches in combination with a magnet attached to the piston. The top stroke reed switches are connected in series with one side of a two position pneumatic solenoid valve while the bottom stroke reed switches are connected in series with the other side of a two position pneumatic solenoid valve. The circuit is designed to prevent one of the pistons from changing the direction of its stroke prior to the other piston reaching the end of its stroke. A further embodiment utilizes a magnet mounted on one pneumatically driven piston or plunger and a pair of reed switches mounted on the other pneumatically driven piston or plunger to prevent one piston or plunger from moving faster or slower than the other piston or plunger.

Abstract: An improved mudsill anchor is provided with tabs is its attachment arm or arms for fastening the anchor temporarily to a form board without nails to achieve significant savings in labor and improvement in lateral stability of the anchor during installation of a concrete slab foundation. Further improvements include a bendable tab formed from the lower end of the anchor leg for tying the leg to a reinforcing bar and a bent tab proximate the upper end of the leg that is embedded into the form board to prevent the reinforcing bar from pulling the mudsill anchor up from the form board.

Abstract: A chair that converts from a conventional seat and back rest type of chair to a seat and knee rest type of chair utilizes a seat that is pivotally connected to a base support that, when pivoted, is rotated from a generally horizontal plane when used as a conventional chair, to a predetermined angle of tilt. The back rest is also pivotally connected to the base support by a bracket arm that permits the back-knee rest to be moved from a position above the plane of the seat, to support the back of a person sitting on the horizontally positioned seat, to a position below the plane of the seat and at a predetermined angle of tilt to support the knees of a person sitting on the tilted seat.

Abstract: A compression assembly is used to maintain engorgement of the penis and comprises a generally cylindrical compression member having one end adapted to engage and compress perpendicularly against the pubic region proximate the base of the engorged penis.