Abstract: An integrated air data probe capable of measuring pressure, temperature, relative humidity, turbulence, heading, air speed, the presence of ice, and other relevant measurements for use in building a real time map of the aircraft flying conditions. The probe is attached to the external surface of an airplane such as the wing, fuselage or empannage and is adapted to collect and relay these measurements to a receiving station. By utilizing these probes on numerous airplanes, real time data from numerous data points can be mapped to provide pilots and airlines complete information regarding flying conditions. Additionally, the probe includes a recessed surface for detecting the presence, thickness, and continued buildup of ice by mounting the recessed surface directly into the airflow. One or more light beams are passed over and parallel to the recessed surface, and if ice is present the beams are interrupted.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical ice detection probe capable of detecting the presence, thickness and continued buildup of ice. The invention works by attaching the probe to the external surface of an airplane such as the wing, fuselage or empannage. The probe has a recessed surface, which is mounted to face directly into the airflow. One or more beams are passed over and parallel to the recessed surface. These beams can be of any useful wavelength, however for best results visible, infrared or ultraviolet beams should be used. Ice on the recessed surface interrupts the beams thereby indicating the presence of ice. If two or more beams are used, then each beam emitter is paired with a beam detector and the corresponding beam detector only detects the beam from that emitter. This can be accomplished by numerous methods.

Abstract: A compact dual narrow band microstrip antenna particularly suited for remote wireless metering includes a dielectric, a directly fed radiating element, a parasitic radiating element gap coupled to the directly fed radiating element and a truncated ground plane. Each radiating element is partially shorted to the ground plane and each radiating element has a reactance window to lengthen the current path. The reactance window and partial shorting reduce the size of the each radiating element. The antenna is compact with good isotropic characteristics and sensitivity to two perpendicular polarizations.

Abstract: A net assembly includes a specially shaped double curved, elongated frame, a net on the frame, and an adjustable length handle attached to the rear end of the frame that is effective in inserting through a hole in the ice for retrieving a fish hooked on the end of a line.

Abstract: A pet enclosure that mounts to the wall of a building adjacent a window above the ground to provide a protected outside dwelling place for a pet. The enclosure disclosed includes a main housing fastened outside the building and a smaller side passageway member that connects to a lower corner of the window and to an end of the main housing. The main housing has a front panel forming a door to provide access into the enclosure for cleaning with aligning members, latching members and locking members for the front panel in the closed position. A mirror on the passageway member enables viewing of the pet from inside the building.

Abstract: A phase converter that converts single phase AC electric power to balanced three phase AC power. Two input terminal connected to the output of a single phase AC power source connect directly to two output terminals of the converter. The phase converter has two serially connected storage capacitors with a common connection, a charging circuit for controlled charging the storage capacitors and an output circuit for controlled discharge of the storage capacitors to provide single phase AC power to a third output terminal. The charging circuit controls input to the storage capacitor to provide a sinusoidal input current and to step up the voltage to the storage capacitors. The output circuit provides output power to the third output terminal of a predetermined phase and amplitude, relative to the other two output terminals, to result in balanced three phase AC power at the three output terminals.

Abstract: A signal generator and a method of generating a signal are disclosed that offsets phase and frequency of the output signal relative to the input signal by small increments, providing high resolution. The signal generator utilizes numerically controlled oscillators to instantly and independently offset phase and/or frequency.

Abstract: A repair tool that attaches to the handle end of the shaft of a golf club for repairing golf ball marks on a putting green includes a body with spaced, radially arranged, circumferencial, wedge shaped prongs on a first said. A slotted skirt attached to the second side of the body, in combination with a tapered plug, a bolt and a nut, fits into the shaft and expands outward to tightly attach the tool to the golf club. A cap fits over the prongs to prevent injury to the golfer. A ridge on the prongs fits into an internal groove in the cap to prevent accidental removal of the cap while allowing the cap to be removed when desired.

Abstract: A compact planar inverted F antenna suited for remote wireless metering includes a circuit element, a ground plane and a feed probe. The circuit element has a planar portion with a reactance window, and a narrowed tab that extends transverse to the planar portion and is connected to the ground plane. The reactance window and narrowed tab reduce the size of the circuit element. The feed probe is connected between the circuit element and the ground plane. The ground plane has conductive portions that are wrapped around a substrate to reduce the physical size of the ground plane. The length of the tab and thereby the distance between the planar portion and the ground plane is selected so that the feed probe is a radiating element. The antenna is compact with good isotropic characteristics and sensitivity to two perpendicular polarizations.

Abstract: A plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well includes circumferential recessed surfaces that define grooves spaced along the plunger body. A curved convex surface or radius is formed between the lower extent of each recessed surface and the plunger body, and a sharp edge or corner connects the upper extent of each recessed surface to the plunger body. The depth of the grooves decreases and the spacing between the grooves decreases from the bottom to the top of the plunger. The shape, sizing and spacing of the grooves improves plunger lift and decreases liquid loss during plunger lift.

Abstract: A bypass valve for a plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well is disclosed. The valve has a valve body, a piston and a spring. The pressure differential across the piston keeps the valve closed during the upstroke of the plunger. The spring opens the valve when the pressure differential decreases to below a selected value.

Abstract: A retrievable cane disclosed includes a cane body to which there is attached a retrieval line that is anchored at a lower end and extends from the inside of the cane body at the lower end up through the cane body out through the rear of the cane body below the grip. The retrieval line has an elastic section that allows an attachment end outside the cane body to be releasably attached to the body of the user preferably having the grip portion at the waist allowing normal walking by the user. The elastic section allows the user to pull the cane body away from the waist for use during walking and the elastic section automatically returns the cane to the user's waist when released.

Abstract: An oscillator having a tank circuit, an amplifier circuit and a switching circuit. The switching circuit switches the oscillator between a normal power consumption mode and a lower power consumption mode. The amplifier circuit includes an emitter biased transistor. The switching circuit switches between power consumption modes by switching between two selected voltages at the base of the transistor. When in the lower power consumption mode, the oscillator has sufficient current to sustain oscillation but insufficient current to meet the phase noise requirements for good fidelity and high data rates.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring two parallel spaced surface profiles is disclosed. The apparatus disclosed has dual laterally spaced beams linked to a transport device shown as a trailer that is towable by a motor vehicle. Each beam has a profiling wheel that measures road surface deviations and transmits the resulting measurements to a recording device. The beams are foldable and stowable on the trailer for transport of the apparatus between measuring sites.

Abstract: A node roller combination method and apparatus has a node roller and a backing roller between which sheet material is passed. The node roller has a series of ring shaped circumferential nodes at spaced intervals across the material. The nodes press the sheet material into the backing roller to form a series of small radius small angle bends between flat segments and repetitions of succeeding stages of node and backing rollers forming bends between previous bends that provide a curved shape that gives the appearance of a large radius bend without the tendency to spring back to an original shape.

Abstract: A hair drying assembly has a hair dryer that is particularly suited for using one of a plurality of interchangeable brush heads. The hair dryer has an ellipsoid shaped housing with a cylindrical outlet section at one end and a pivotal grip section at the other end. The handle is pivotally and removably attached to the housing. In one embodiment the handle is attached with air inlet passages formed by legs connecting to the housing and additional slots at the inlet end of the housing. Control buttons for regulating the motor are on the pivotal handle grip section. Outlet passages are provided in the outlet section. One form of brush head is hollow with peripheral openings and bristles extending therethrough and another brush head is solid with the bristles fixedly attached. In another embodiment there is a bifurcated handle with spaced arms that pivotally connect to the housing inwardly of the air inlet end.