Abstract: A color selection mechanism for an integrated color selecting and blending system utilizes a disc having a flat surface with an axial projection therefrom for connection to an airbrush in order to supply selected color paint under regulated air pressure from a group of bottles storing different colors of paint. An opening in a convex surface of the disc opposite the flat surface thereof at a predetermined radial distance from the axis of the projection is connected by a slant bore to the axial projection for passing paint under pressure to an airbrush. A cylindrical block having a concave surface for a tight matching fit with the convex surface of the disc has bores parallel to its axis at the predetermined radial distance. By turning the cylindrical block on its axis, the parallel bores, to which the paint tubes are connected, can be individually selected to supply paint by aligning any one of those bores with the slant bore opening of the convex surface of the disc.

Abstract: Contaiminated hydrogen gas from a catalytic steam reformer is purified by passing it through a membrane assembly having a metallic membrane sealed between two tubular stainless steel members having perforations (or being formed as screen or mesh) and having an encapsulating chamber around it. Pressure regulating valve means in recycle path of residual gas flowing out of the membrane assembly maintains a constant pressure of contaminated hydrogen gas in the membrane assembly. The purified hydrogen gas may be further purified, if needed, by directing the purified hydrogen gas out of a side tube of the chamber through a second encapsulated membrane assembly that is a replica of the first encapsulated membrane assembly. A directional valve may be selectively set to recycle residual gas out of the first membrane assembly until it is virtually free of hydrogen. Residual gas out of the second membrane assembly approaches being 100% free of hydrogen and may always be exhausted to a burner.

Abstract: A new lossless switching DC-to-DC converter with novel lossless switching time control for up to four controllable switches, with each switch meeting the specific current-voltage switching characteristics, operates at ultra high efficiency in a very compact size and offers additional performance advantages, such as low EMI noise, low switching ripple currents, and improved reliability.

Abstract: An improved ball-and-socket joint for use with dental model articulators of a vertex type comprising two brackets hinged together at one end and each connected at the other end by a ball-and-socket joint to a separate one of two stone plates bearing dental castings. The ball-and-socket joints have releasable mechanical means for affixing the ball in the socket after the plates have been aligned for bite and occlusal fit between the dental castings. Affixing the ball in a socket is achieved by mechanically adjusting the diameter of one relative to the other of the socket and the ball to create a friction force that affixes the ball in the socket. In one embodiment, the mechanical means comprises a C-clamp having a concave band with a cross-sectional diameter substantially equal to the ball diameter and a gap to allow the ball to be snap-fit into the C-clamp.

Abstract: Soft switching DC-to-DC converter operates at record high efficiency despite its small size and weight and ultra high overload current capability of several times the nominal load current. Such performance is made possible by use of unique magnetic and switching circuits with special properties. Other desirable performance features are provided concurrently such as: zero ripple current on input and output, low conducted and radiated Electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise, as well as low component stresses for increased converter reliability.

Abstract: A self-contained, hand-held electronic stethoscope including built-in chestpiece, speaker and visual monitor, includes a memory containing prerecorded heart and lung sounds along with a brief description of the malady producing the sounds so that the technician may compare the actual sounds with the prerecorded sounds and observe a suggested diagnosis on the monitor.

Abstract: A new switching converter operates at record high efficiency despite its small size and light weight and enables ultra high overload current capability owing to two novel methods: new Lossless Switching method eliminates switching losses by use of a precise sequence and timing of the four controllable switches, while novel DC Transformer structure provides a method to eliminate the stored DC energy in magnetics, which further increases efficiency and reduces the magnetics and converter size.

Abstract: A steam reformer for producing H2 from a low pressure hydrocarbon gas (preferably propane) is comprised of a short and narrow cylinder, loosely packed with pelletized catalyst, into which cylinder the low-pressure gas is drawn in by the high-pressure steam that flows from one end of the cylinder to the other, by making the extent that the gas tube protrudes into the cylinder substantially greater than the steam tube, such as by cutting the latter flush with the inside of the end cap. The cogenerated electricity and H2O vapor or liquid at elevated temperature are put into use through a switching converter and heat exchanger, respectively.

Abstract: A stringed instrument intended to be alternately played in a fretted mode or an unfretted mode by raising a separate fingerboard to the tops of the frets for the unfretted mode and lowering it for the fretted mode. A pair of meshed rack-and-pinion assemblies are driven back and forth by a lever the motion of which racks are translated to rails that cam the separate fingerboard up and down through pins protruding inwardly from the rails into slide slots in flanges of the fingerboard.

Abstract: Soft switching DC-to-DC converter achieves simultaneously ultra high efficiency and very small size owing to a new magnetic circuit structure and a corresponding novel converter circuit configuration with special properties. Unique magnetic design also provides an overload current capability of several times the nominal load current. Despite its simple implementation requiring only proper drive timing of the switching devices, the unique soft-switching methods result in nearly complete elimination of switching losses over the entire operating range. This, in turn, permits operation at even higher switching frequencies, and leads to further reduction in size and weight.

Abstract: A unitary, self-contained apparatus for generating microbubbles using a pipe section with a constriction device for producing a venturi effect to cause a mainstream liquid flowing under pressure in the pipe section to draw a column of additive fluid into the mainstream liquid from an aspiration tube for mixing with the liquid and a turbulence part of the pipe section immediately downstream from the constriction device. Protrusions from the inside surface of the turbulence part of the pipe section protrude to at least the theoretical interface between the column of additive fluid and the surrounding mainstream liquid and preferably beyond, where the theoretical interface is a circumference of the column of additive fluid having a radius equal to the radius of the inside surface of the aspiration tube.

Abstract: A hand cart for transporting two cylinders, one with oxygen and the other with a liquified fuel gas, used in welding or metal cutting is provided with a firewall divider between the cylinders to protect the oxygen cylinders from a risk of rising cylinder pressure due to heat comprising a flue supported above the cart platform in order to allow cool air to be drawn in at the bottom as how air rises should leaking fuel on the gas side become ignited.

Abstract: A fluid power storage device is provided in which, the prime mover directly or through a slow-down gear train winds up a spring device having a latch attached therein. The spring device can be a spiral spring or simply a rubber band. When the stored up energy is great enough, an adjustable stopper automatically releases the spring device being latched. The spring device in turn, releases the stored energy which then activates a mechanism or drives an electric generator. After a certain amount of energy stored up is released, the latch will automatically be caught by the stopper. Hence the mechanism or the electric generator will be stopped and the fluid power storage device starts to store up energy again for the next release of the spring device.

Abstract: A portable platform for carrying to the beach a beach umbrella, umbrella support pole and pillow, all VELCRO fastened to the platform which serves to keep the pillow off the sand and to provide a cup holder and/or a box to secure small items, such as car keys and money, that may otherwise be lost in the sand. The platform may also be used to carry a stereo entertainment system onto the beach and to keep it out of the sand while the platform is placed on the beach to hold upright the umbrella support pole upon which the umbrella is fastened.

Abstract: A single-switch ac-to-ac converters for driving ac loads which are particularly suitable for gas discharge lamp ballast applications based upon integration of automatic current shapers and converters that resemble a class-E converter, both parts sharing a single active switch. The first part comprises a high power factor (HPF) converter having automatic input current-shaping means and internal energy storage means operated by the single active switch driven at a constant frequency and duty ratio, and the second part comprises a resonant converter means operated by the aforesaid single active switch as it is being driven. Integration of the HPF converter having automatic current shaping means and the resonant converter through the single active switch operation brings advantages from both parts into the whole circuit, such as soft-switching characteristics so that the combined circuit can shape the input current without switching losses in a compact structure.

Abstract: A discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) electronic ballast topology is presented which drives the lamp with line frequency voltage and current, just like a magnetic ballast. However, compared to magnetic ballast, its weight is substantially reduced due to operation at high switching frequency (40 kHz in the experimental prototype). The topology also ensures unity power factor at the input and stable lamp operation at the output.

Abstract: A golf-swing practice device is disclosed as a vinyl plastic sheet imprinted with guide marks, namely a plan view of a golf-swing practice device in accordance with the present invention with four marks, namely an arrow to be aligned with a target, a bar perpendicular to the arrow and behind an aperture for a ball tee, and two lines crossing on the arrow in front of the aperture and equally spaced from the center of the aperture.

Abstract: Barriers for contravention of the transfer of pathogenic organisms from one patient to another through an inflatable cuff comprised of a cuff and a bladder of a sphygmomanometer are supplied on a sterile roll of synthetic polymer segmented by transverse perforations so that each segment may be torn off and used as a barrier between a patient's skin and an inflatable cuff. The rolled segments may be tubular so that the barrier will be tubular in form in order to slip it over the patient's extremity. Each tubular barrier is perforated along one edge so that it can be torn longitudinally to convert the barrier from a tubular form to a rectangular form if needed. The tubular form is provided with ample circumference so that the excess can be gathered near the longitudinal perforations and folded over the longitudinal perforations in order to maintain the integrity of the barrier's function.

Abstract: The isolated, multiple output, switching converter is created with a number of unique performance characteristics. The converter operates in continuous inductor current mode (CICM) of operation for all load currents from no load to full load on all outputs despite the presence of simple rectifier diodes only on the converter secondary sides. The regulation of output voltages on all outputs against the changes of the input voltage is provided by use of a simple open-loop control circuit connected to the primary side and thus eliminating the need for isolation in the control circuit. The regulation against the load current changes in the single output case is also provided on the primary side by a load current sensing circuit. An additional benefit of the switching converter is in the elimination of the losses and voltage overshoots associated with the leakage inductance of the isolation transformer when operated as pulse width modulated (PWM) converter.