Abstract: A vertical takeoff ultralight aircraft having an operator controlled high volume vane axial fan in communication with a conduit configured to direct an air stream produced by the fan to a spanwise air duct disposed forwardly of a wing including an air foil. High velocity air is discharged from the air duct and directed over the upper surface of the air foil. An induced air stream flows upwardly and rearwardly through an air flow path defined by the spanwise air duct and the air foil. The wing and air duct are configured such that the induced air stream joins the air stream discharged from the air duct to create reduced static pressure zone on the upper surface of the wing of sufficient magnitude to effect vertical lift. Fan discharge may be partially deflected rearwardly to provide horizontal thrust.

Abstract: A fishing lure for a treble type fishing hook formed from an integral resilient elongate member having a body portion, a number of split fins formed on the body portion and a tail portion including a number of legs corresponding to the number of fins on the body portion, the body portion including an axially extending opening to accommodate the shank of the fish hook with the hooks of the fish hook aligned in and protected by the fins.

Abstract: A hybrid robot (10) for industrial applications comprises an articulated arm assembly (12) pivoted to a turntable assembly (14) mounted for rotation on a base assembly (16). The arm assembly (12) includes an upper arm (26) pivoted to a lower arm (30). A tool adaptor (52) is connected to the upper arm (26) by a wrist assembly (54). A pantograph linkage interconnects the wrist assembly (54), upper arm (26), and lower arm (30) so that the tool adaptor is normally maintained in constant orientation during movement of the arm assembly (12), subject to overriding control by actuators (122, 124). Pivotal movement of the arm assembly (12) is controlled by independent actuators (118, 120) which can be selectively coupled to the arms (26, 30) at different combinations of predetermined points (38, 40, 44, 46, 48) to facilitate adjustment of the work envelope.

Abstract: An industrial robot (15) is disclosed which has a flexible frame or body and is constructed so as to have six degrees of freedom and a work envelope which is substantially free of dead spaces. A free end of the body includes an end effector (27) for performing a task. To determine the position of the end effector (27) within the work envelope and to displace the end effector (27) according to the task requirements, a system is provided in which embedded microprocessors are interconnected with a signal transmitter (ST) located at the body free end (23) and receivers (R1, R2, R3) fixed in their positions on the stationary base (16) of the body. Continual monitoring of the end effector location is possible and adjustment in position may be made immediately. A remote computer linked to the microprocessors provides instructions for the operation and displacement of the robot.

Abstract: A radial tube centrifugal fan is disclosed. The fan is assembled from a first mating half (12) having a planar backing plate (16) with a group of half tubes (52) extending in spoke-like fashion from the plate and separated by webbing members (56), attached to a second mating half (14) having an axial inlet opening (18) and a like group of half tubes (54) and webbing members (58). The assembled fan has an inlet port (18) and a plurality of radially extending outlet tubes (26) formed from the mating half tubes and which are curved in a direction away from the preferred direction of fan rotation.

Abstract: A compact, self-cleaning, cabinet, dust collector is provided. The collector housing is a single-piece, molded unit having recessed areas and a molded air inlet. Entering dust-laden air is directed into two flows in a passageway surrounding a suspended, flexible, pleated filter element. An inner wall of the passageway contains a precleaner upstream from the filter element. A collector ramp, at the bottom of the passageway, directs pre-cleaned matter to a removable hopper. A fan, supported above the open upper end of the filter element draws air through the collector. A fan motor is isolated from the housing interior in one of the recessed areas of the housing. To gain access to the filter element the fan is rotated upwardly and away from the filter element. To prevent the pleats of the element from collapsing, hot-melt spacers are provided on the pleat surfaces. The element is flex-cleaned by a rotatable mechanism located beneath and adjacent the bottom closed end of the element.

Abstract: A valve (20) having a flow control element (30) with a small dimension in the intended direction of fluid flow is disclosed. The element (30) is wound about an axis (32) so that, when the coils of the element (30) are tightly compressed about the axis (32), a surface (48) occluding a fluid flow aperture (24) is formed.

Abstract: An accessory for a traction vehicle having a power plant requiring inlet air and producing exhaust gas and a cab with a roof (21, 40) on which the accessory is to be secured in the air stream resulting from forward movement of the vehicle, the accessory being configured to interact with and direct the air stream so as to reduce the effective wind resistance of a load compartment behind the cab, and to produce in the stream sites of pressure higher and lower respectively than the pressure ambient to the vehicle, an inlet located at a site of high pressure for extracting from the stream air to be supplied to the power plant, and at least one outlet located at a site of lower pressure for discharging into the stream exhaust gases supplied by the power plant.In one embodiment there are provided a pair of outlets (47) pivotable about a horizontal axis transverse of the cab roof.

Abstract: An air cleaner assembly (10) which includes a mechanism (14) for inducing the flow of air through the air cleaner (10) and for backwashing a filter element (18) is disclosed. A filtering chamber (28) is defined between the interior of a housing (12) and an exterior of a tubular shaped filter element (18). The mechanism (14) includes an air inlet plenum (32) and an accumulator chamber (34). Pressurized fluid is supplied to the plenum (32) through an inlet (54). To induce the flow of particulate laden air through the filter element (18), the pressurized fluid passes through an outlet (52) from the air inlet plenum (32). A flexible wall or diaphragm (42) is moved upwardly under the influence of the pressurized fluid supplied to the air inlet plenum (32) and moves wall member (44) upwardly into sealing engagement with top wall member (48). In this position, a portion of the pressurized fluid bleeds through holes (58) into the accumulator chamber (34) to be stored therein.

Abstract: A filter assembly (10) for use in the filtration of medical treatment liquids is disclosed. The filter assembly (10) includes a strip of porous filter media (12), first enclosure means (14), and a second enclosure means (16). An inlet connector (18) is connected to inlet end (20) of the filter assembly (10) and an outlet connector member (22) is connected to an outlet end of the filter assembly (10). The first and second enclosure means (14), (16) are formed of strips of flexible plastic material having longitudinal edges (30), (40) which are ultrasonically welded to the filter media (12). Dimples (36), (42) are formed in the first and second enclosure means (14), (16), respectively, and are ultrasonically welded to the filter media (12).

Abstract: A self-cleaning air cleaner having a housing with a first partition dividing the interior of the housing into a first generally vertically elongated chamber and a second generally horizontally elongated chamber. The partition lies in an oblique plane at an angle with respect to the elongation axes of the first and second chambers and has an opening which provides fluid communication between the first and second chambers. A fan or blower is provided within the housing for drawing air through the housing from a dust-laden air inlet to a clean air outlet. A filter is mounted within the housing and disposed to filter the air passing through the opening in the partition. A reverse pulse air valve is disposed within the housing to direct a pulse of cleaning air into the filter to dislodge the dust collected thereon. An electrical control circuit is provided for actuating the reverse pulse air valve which is connected to a suitable source of compressed air.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering particulate material from air and for removing the particulate material collected upon a filter is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. A hollow longitudinally extending filter is secured within the housing. The filter has an outer surface, an open interior, opposite ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between the ends. The filter is formed of a porous media. One end of the filter is removably secured relative to the housing so that the longitudinal axis of the filter extends generally vertically. The other end of the filter is closed. A first chamber is defined around the outer surface of the filter. The chamber is in communication with the air inlet whereby air moving from the inlet to the outlet passes through the filter into the interior thereof and deposits particulate material on the outer surface of the filter. A mechanism is provided for removing the particulate material collected on the outer surface of the filter.