Abstract: A gas scrubber employing liquid droplets injected into a flowing gas stream at a higher velocity than the gas velocity, having means to create a gradient of increasing pressure downstream from the droplet injection site, which gradient decelerates the gas and thereby increases the velocity of the droplets relative to the gas, thus increasing the total path length of the droplets through the gas, so as to allow substantial increase of scrubber collection efficiency without use of increased scrubber size or increased liquid droplet flow rate.

Abstract: A miter measuring tape, for allowing a workman to readily and quickly measure a section of window or door frame casing stock from the inside point of a miter cut end of said stock section, having a tape measure with a hooking member of adjustable and fixable length pivotally connected to one end of said tape measure at the proximal end of said hooking member, with said hooking member having a hook at the distal end of said hooking member, said hook being used to secure the miter measuring tape to the outside point of said miter cut end of said stock section.

Abstract: Apparatus for temporarily securing a fishing rod in position while fishing, during the interval between fish strikes, having a fixed hollow tubular holder for the rod handle inserted in one end of the holder, the holder having an opening on the top, and having a clamp hingedly attached to one end of the opening, the clamp and opening being of a form allowing the user to secure the rod handle within the holder, by pressing down upon the clamp; and to free the rod handle from the holder by simply pulling up on the clamp.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for gas cleaning, as in HVAC systems or semiconductor manufacturing clean rooms, for removing 99.999% of particulate and gaseous contaminants, which may be effectively used to remove and neutralize Bio-chem agents introduced by terrorists, having a first stage in which large quantities of positively charged liquid droplets are introduced into the gas to be cleaned so as to remove virtually all negatively charged particulates and at least 90% of neutral particulates and soluble gases; a second stage in which most positively charged droplets from the first stage are removed and remaining particulates are given a positive charge; a third stage in which large quantities of negatively charged liquid droplets are introduced to remove positively charged particulates and more soluble gas contaminants; and a fourth stage in which the negatively charged droplets are removed from the cleaned gas stream.

Abstract: Linear electric motors suitable for transportation of one or more vehicles along a road which may be a railroad, having electric coils as powerable motor parts and either nonferous metal plates, superconducting magnets or shorted coils as passive motor parts; employing a pulsating power source for powered motor parts, which power may be of constant or varying frequency; and having motor part spacing, and a space time relationship of motor part spacing and timing of said power source operation so as to require a minimum number of road parts per mile, and so as to provide continuous power transmission for propulsion and braking of said vehicles.

Abstract: Effluent gas cleaning process and apparatus for effectively removing particulates in the 0.01 micron to 0.1 micron diameter range, and for removing water-soluble gaseous contaminants, by first bringing the effluent to a relatively high temperature and humidity in a first stage, and then exposing the effluent to copious quantities of small cool water droplets in a second stage, for particular combinations of: the first stage relative humidity; the first-to-second stage droplet temperature difference; the stage two water droplet mass flow rate vs. effluent flow rate; the second stage droplet size; the travel time of the effluent during exposure to the cool droplets; and the electrical charge state of the second stage water droplets and opposite charge state of the particulates. The combinations enhance effluent cleaning through the combined operation of up to four distinct physical processes which can be made to occur during the second stage.

Abstract: Security apparatus for preventing deception of a coin acceptor unit by use of a moving magnetic field which a thief may produce by moving a hand magnet near the coin acceptor unit to induce currents in the mechanism's circuitry to cause a false determination that a proper coin has been received and allow unpaid operation of the controlled machinery; said apparatus having circuitry elements to detect a moving magnetic field and upon detection of said field to turn off power needed for operation of the coin acceptor unit and the machinery, and to keep said power off for a predetermined time out period, and to restore the coin acceptor unit to normal settings, allowing normal operation of the coin acceptor unit and machinery after expiration of said time out period, until such time as a moving magnetic field is again detected.

Abstract: Apparatus for the interface of an elevated vertical roadway and vehicle wheel, for achieving greater traction than possible using vehicle weight, and for minimizing vehicle wheel oscillation against the roadway, for minimizing roadway damage associated with heavy vehicle motion, said apparatus having a roadway/wheel interface geometry comprising a substantially vertical roadway with substantially vertical but concave sides, and convex wheel rims rolling on said convex roadway sides, with wheel rim width which is equal to or less than the width of the concave part of the roadway side; and said apparatus having a compression apparatus, independent of vehicle weight, for causing the wheels to be in substantial compression against the side of the roadway, in one said embodiment said compression apparatus being formed by the combination of pairs of parallel wheel axles on opposite sides of the roadway, and cables wound in substantial tension around each said pair of axles, said tensioned cables urging said axles t

Abstract: A multi-purpose camper shell front window and frame assembly, for allowing quick and easy removal of a front camper shell window, without removal of the camper shell from the truck, to facilitate cleaning of the truck window and camper shell window; and for allowing use of one's choice among multiple front camper shell windows, including a picture window or a double pane sliding window; or for allowing use of a front pressure boot. A one piece outer frame assembly is readily secured to, or removed from, the camper shell front window aperture, and the picture window, sliding window, or pressure boot may be readily be installed within, or removed from, the outer frame assembly. Removal and reinstallation of a camper shell window, may easily be accomplished, without any special tools, in less than half an hour.

Abstract: Insulator terminator device, for attachment to the top or bottom of a high voltage power line insulator having a conventional end fitting, for prevention of high surface leakage currents and corona discharges, and the corrosive and erosion effects produced thereby, so as to lengthen effective life of the insulator. The device, which attaches around the region of the juncture of the insulator and its end fitting, has a disk shaped semiconductor element with rounded edges, and a rounded-edged surface conduction and strength layer element fitting the bottom, sides, and outer portion of the top of the semiconductor disk element. Surface currents and corona discharges are prevented by shunting of current as volume current though the semiconductor disk and its surface conduction layer, directly to the end fitting of the insulator. The rounded geometry of the device also avoids any high field points which might otherwise produce corona discharges on the surface of the device.

Abstract: Gas scrubbing apparatus and method, employing highly charged liquid droplets for removal of both particulates and pollutant gases from the gas to be cleaned, allowing scrubbing of uncharged particulates by means of monopole--dipole attractive forces between the charged liquid droplets and the electric dipoles induced in the uncharged particulates by the charged droplets; employing electrode geometry at the site of droplet production and charging, having spreading liquid sheet electrodes emitting the droplets from the edges of the liquid sheets, interspersed with electrically conductive induction electrodes, with electrostatic potential of no more than about 20 kv existing between the induction electrode array and the array of liquid sheets, and with spacing such that adequately high electric field strength can be maintained at the edges of the liquid sheets to allow adequate charging of the droplets emitted from the liquid sheets, without the occurrence of corona discharges which could deplete droplet charges

Abstract: A structure for housing a bed, for protection of a sleeper against serious injury or death from damage or collapse of the surrounding residence in an earthquake. The bed protection structure has two kinds of for this purpose: various structural integrity preservation, including means to both enhance the structural strength of the bed protection structure and to also allow the bed protection structure to respond to severe mechanical shocks resulting from impact of parts of the residence structure, while maintaining structural integrity of the bed protection structure; and anti-ballistic penetration, to resist ballistic penetration of residence structure debris fragments into the interior of the bed. The structural integrity preservation include an overall geometry of the form of a modified tetragonal anti-prism or MTAP; triangular spacing of structural members in the MTAP geometry; axially reinforced structural members; and vertical support members containing shock absorbing.

Abstract: Rubber fitting for installation on the saddle horn of a conventional saddle, to enhance friction with the rope during the cattle roping process, and to remain securely attached to the horn as long as needed, being a one piece hollow cylindrical fitting in the form of a sleeve of molded rubber of a type which will produce good friction with the rope wrapped thereon, with an inner diameter sufficiently undersized in relation to the saddle horn that it achieves a tight, tensioned fit over the saddle horn, though large enough that it can be stretched to be installed over the saddle horn after soap lubrication of the saddle horn and the interior of the fitting; having alternate forms for differing pommel and forks of various saddle and horn geometries of different conventional saddles, with suitable angling of the top and bottom edges of the fitting for achieving optimum fit with the pommel, fork and saddle horn geometry of each saddle model, so that the bottom of the fitting, when installed, will fit flush agains

Abstract: Apparatus for generating large quantities of highly charged droplets, which may be used in gas cleaning machines, as in air pollution control systems. Two opposing, colliding streams of liquid, emitted from opposingly oriented nozzles connected to a pressurized liquid source, generate a spreading disk shaped sheet of liquid, which sheet connected to ground by grounding of the nozzle assembly, and which sheet is emitted between equidistant induction electrodes, maintained at an equal voltage, which induce electric charges in liquid droplets as they leave the edge of the spreading liquid disk, which charges are conveyed to the droplets from the grounded liquid disk and nozzle assembly, through the ground connection of the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A system for detecting impairment of operating ability of transportation vehicle operators due to sleepiness, intoxication or other causes, and for sounding an alarm when operator impairment is found. The invention employs an array of at least three dual electrode capacitive coupling sensors, placed in the headliner above the operator's seat, which sense operator head position and motion. Outputs from the sensors, after suitable processing and amplification, are analyzed by a microprocessor to determine the operator's head position and motion, through triangulation analysis of distances from the operator's head to each sensor. The microprocessor records, tracks and compares the operator head motion data to profiles of normal head motion and impaired head motion, to detect any head motion indicative of operator impairment.

Abstract: A roof-mounted air bag system, having a passenger position sensor array of capacitive coupling passenger position sensors, to determine position and motion of a passenger by triangulation, from microprocessor analysis of distances of the passenger to the various sensors of the array and analysis of the changes of said distances with time; the combination of a three-axis vehicle rollover sensor and microprocessor analysis of the output of said sensor, to both block air bag deployment in the event that said sensor output indicates a vehicle rollover, and also confirm a crash event by sensing rapid angular vehicle acceleration; a microprocessor to analyze signals from the passenger position sensor array, and from the rollover sensor, and to order air bag deployment when it would be helpful but not otherwise; an air bag with an inflated configuration having two principal chambers, one inflating downward along the windshield and the other inflated to the rear of the first, with a reentrant slot-shaped space betwee

Abstract: A device for covering the end of a hair braid, having a hollow sleeve, open at its upper end and closed at its lower end, and having a W-shaped insert, which may be used to secure the end of the hair braid by wrapping the braid end around the lower middle portion of the W, and having rounded projections at the upper sides of the W, which spring into longitudinally oriented retaining slots in the upper sides of the sleeve, when the insert is inserted sufficiently into the sleeve. The insert is slightly oversized in comparison to the interior width of the sleeve, and is made of a material having sufficient elasticity to be insertable within the sleeve, and to cause the projections to snap into the retaining slots of the sleeve, when the insert is sufficiently inserted.

Abstract: A coordination-skill-oriented, action target game machine, affording opportunities to score points by successfully timing insertion of a coin or other token into the machine, by timing the token insertion in relation to the motion of a rotating aperture wheel having apertures which the token must traverse to reach a target aperture behind the aperture wheel, in order to score points for a corresponding award by a ticket dispenser mechanism. After insertion into a fixed accepting mechanism, the token rolls down an inclined ramp of the general form of a ski jump, acquiring sufficient momentum to jump to the aperture wheel, where it either passes through an aperture to reach the target aperture and score points for the player, or is blocked by the aperture wheel, if it misses any aperture of the wheel. The apertures of the aperture wheel are slots having varying widths, and the scoring is higher for plays which traverse the narrower apertures.

Abstract: A firearm security device, to temporarily disable a firearm. The principal components of the device are an anchor, formed of material which may be stretched, which is slightly oversized in relation to the gun barrel bore and chamber diameter; and an extractor, which may be screwed onto one end of the anchor, and is used both for inserting and removing the anchor from the gun barrel and chamber. The extractor also has an actuating rod passing therethrough, which is used to exert stretching force on a shaft passing through the anchor and secured to the opposite end of the anchor, for stretching the anchor longitudinally so as to reduce its diameter sufficiently to allow insertion of the anchor into the firearm barrel and chamber. After the anchor is inserted, with the stretching force applied, the user ceases applying the stretching force, so that the anchor becomes wedged within the barrel and chamber, as it seeks to return to its normal diameter.

Abstract: An overhead-mounted air bag deployment system, having overhead sensors and a microprocessor to measure and analyze passenger motion as well as vehicle deceleration, for consideration by the microprocessor in deciding whether to deploy the air bag, so as to deal with case-to-case variations in passenger motion. The system also has both a warning light and a warning sleeve on the steering wheel, to discourage the driver from remaining in a position involving an increased risk of injury, and has an automatic bag release means to release the air bag and free the passenger when the collision is over.