Abstract: A filament-reinforced plastic article has a fluid-impermeable wall with a relatively low surface resistivity to prevent buildup of dangerous electrostatic charge. The article includes overlapping bands of filaments coated with plastic. A minor portion of the filaments in at least some of the bands is electrically conductive so that electrically conductive filaments are distributed throughout the wall.

Abstract: A drive system for an electromagnetic flowmeter wherein the fluid to be metered is conducted through a flow tube to intersect a transverse magnetic field created by an electromagnet having an excitation coil. The resultant voltage induced in the fluid is transferred to a pair of electrodes mounted at diametrically-opposed points on the tube to yield a signal representing flow rate. The drive system, which is powered from an a-c line, includes a full-wave rectifier whose output voltage is applied periodically to the excitation coil at a rate which is low relative to the line frequency.

Abstract: A book support for maintaining a book in a suspended position comprises a book holder and a light source with a lamp shade. The book holder is supported by the lamp shade which depends from a suspension member, the lamp shade having three arms, two of said arms extending substantially in an orthogonal direction relative to the other two arms, the lamp shade being pivotable in a vertical plane so as to move the book holder on an axis which is parallel to the main axis.

Abstract: A headlight arrangement for a vehicle is provided, comprising a support frame fastened to the vehicle, a lamp turnably mounted on said support frame, said lamp having a beam radiation range, and a mechanism operative for automatically turning said lamp in dependence upon the direction in which the vehicle is steered to correspondingly adjust said beam radiation range.

Abstract: The disclosed protection circuit which is suitable for providing protection of transistors included in integrated circuits such as regulators and power amplifiers, includes thermal shutdown, safe area and current control circuits. The current control portion includes a sense transistor connected substantially in parallel with the transistor to be protected. In monolithic integrated circuit applications, the sense transistor has an emitter area that is a predetermined ratio of the emitter area of the protected transistor. A "sense resistor" is connected to the sense transistor and develops a control signal which is proportional to the instantaneous current being conducted by the protected transistor. A threshold circuit is coupled between the sense resistor and the drive circuit for the protected transistor and responds to the magnitude of the control signal crossing a predetermined threshold to remove or reduce the drive to the protected transistor.

Abstract: Reduction of battery effectiveness due to memory effect and unequal cell voltages is minimized by a spacecraft power control system which reconditions the battery preferably just prior to eclipse seasons of a geo-stationary orbit by discharging each battery cell through a network of shunting resistors. Recharging is accomplished by a low power dissipation charging sequence. The load of the system, except for during the eclipse season, is receiving power continuously from the solar cells and during peak load requirements receives supplementary power from the battery cells. During the eclipse seasons, the system power is supplied solely by the battery cells.

Abstract: A capacitor is connected in circuit with the output windings of an alternator in such a manner that it is charged in a first direction during selected half cycles and in a second direction during the other half cycles of the alternator alternating current output potential. During the selected half cycles, the alternator output potential and the charge upon the capacitor acting in series aiding relationship provides base drive current for a driver transistor to trigger this device conductive through the current carrying electrodes. Upon the conduction of this transistor, base drive current is supplied therethrough to another transistor included in an associated voltage regulator circuit to trigger this device conductive through the current carrying electrodes thereof which completes an energizing circuit for the alternator field winding.

Abstract: A monitor for disabling a selected operative function of the battery powered vehicle when the battery reaches a predetermined discharge state is disclosed. The discharge state of the battery is determined by continuously monitoring the terminal voltage of the battery. Automatic scaling circuitry is included so that the monitor automatically adjusts to the range which is appropriate for the battery being monitored. Two warning signals are generated with each warning signal indicating a progressively lower discharge state of the battery. After the second warning signal has been on for a predetermined time period, a selected operative function of the vehicle is disabled. If the vehicle is a fork-lift truck for example, the lift mechanism might be disabled however the main drive motor could remain operative so that the truck could be returned to the battery charging station. The monitor also prohibits the disabled function from being reenergized except when a fully charged battery is installed in the vehicle.