Abstract: The exhaust sound attenuation and control system includes an outer housing having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe at opposite ends thereof. The interior of the housing includes upper, central, and lower exhaust sound attenuation elements. The exhaust gasses from the inlet pipe first enter the upper element and an upper arcuate flow guide directs the gasses leaving the upper element into the central element. A lower arcuate flow guide directs the gasses leaving the central element into the lower element. Gasses exiting the lower element are directed into the outlet pipe and exit the system. The upper element functions primarily as a muffler while the central and lower elements function as both a muffler and a resonator. The upper element includes a central elongated pipe surrounded by an outer housing. The central element includes a plurality of baffle elements. The lower element includes a plurality of baffle plates.

Abstract: The cutting board with a drainage valve allows for the collection and drainage of liquids associated with cutting, slicing and chopping of foodstuffs. The cutting board has first and second longitudinally opposed ends, first and second laterally opposed sides, an upper surface and a lower surface. A liquid collection reservoir is defined in the upper surface adjacent the first longitudinally opposed end of the cutting board. At least one peripheral channel is defined in the upper surface of the cutting board and is in open communication with the liquid collection reservoir. A drainage port is formed through the lower surface of the cutting board adjacent the first longitudinally opposed end. The drainage valve is mounted in the cutting board for selectively controlling drainage of liquid from the liquid collection reservoir to the drainage port.

Abstract: The cutting board with a drainage valve allows for the collection and drainage of liquids associated with cutting, slicing and chopping of foodstuffs. The cutting board has first and second longitudinally opposed ends, first and second laterally opposed sides, an upper surface and a lower surface. A liquid collection reservoir is defined in the upper surface adjacent the first longitudinally opposed end of the cutting board. At least one peripheral channel is defined in the upper surface of the cutting board and is in open communication with the liquid collection reservoir. A drainage port is formed through the lower surface of the cutting board adjacent the first longitudinally opposed end. The drainage valve is mounted in the cutting board for selectively controlling drainage of liquid from the liquid collection reservoir to the drainage port.

Abstract: A band brake for selectively holding a rotating element motionless includes means for evenly distributed application of force to the band brake. In some embodiments of the invention ball or roller bearings are used to apply evenly distributed forces to the band brake. In other embodiments of the invention, the band brake has variable thickness and the thicker portions are wedged between a rotating member and some outer member to hold the rotating member motionless. In at least one embodiment, selectively movable pairs of mirror-image ball or roller bearings are used to apply braking force directly to a rotating element.

Abstract: A forward/reverse clutchless transmission with a 1 to 1 forward drive ratio. The invention is a transmission having a housing with two support bearings supporting axially aligned input and output shafts. In a first embodiment, the input shaft is supporting a planetary carrier, a sun gear, a plurality of planetary gears, a clutching hub, a mechanical engagement ring, and a synchronizing ring. The output shaft is supporting a ring gear. In forward mode the mechanical engagement ring slides to engage the planetary carrier forming a solid mechanical coupling with the output shaft. During reverse operation the mechanical engagement ring is in a neutral position and an brake band is actuated thereby stopping the planetary carrier rotation and making the output shaft rotate in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for reciprocating internal combustion engines greatly reduces large quench areas in the combustion chamber, and substantially matches the combustion chamber periphery with the upper edge circumference of the mating cylinder wall, to reduce greatly or substantially eliminate narrow quench areas of relatively high surface area to volume ratios. This increases the average combustion temperature due to the reduction of surface area relative to the volume of the combustion chamber, thereby producing more efficient combustion resulting in a reduction in unburned hydrocarbons during the combustion portion of the cycle. The removal of material to eliminate such large quench areas also slightly enlarges the combustion chamber to reduce the compression ratio, thus reducing the production of oxides of nitrogen during combustion. The combustion chamber is also radiused and smoothed internally, to eliminate rough and sharp edges which may lead to preignition and detonation.