Abstract: A rectangular frame contains a plurality of upwardly opening trays each having a heat absorber element with a plurality of upstanding vanes. A lens associated with each tray concentrates incident solar radiation on the vanes to preferentially heat a portion of the liquid filling the tray to a relatively high temperature at which vaporization is more efficiently accomplished than in prior solar stills. The evaporated liquid is condensed on an overlying surface and is collected for later use. The system may be used in distilling water and in solar refrigeration.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically flushing toilets includes an electric motor driven tripping mechanism, including a gear train with an arm for tripping the flush valve, and a control circuit having a first sub-circuit activated by weight on the toilet seat for activating the motor, and tripping mechanism for tripping a second circuit switch for readying a second circuit that is activated upon removal of the weight from the seat for activating the trip mechanism for tripping the flush valve.

Abstract: A mechanism for angularly positioning the work spindle of a program-controlled milling and drilling machine. The positioning mechanism comprises a drive unit mounted on the spindle housing for rotating the spindle after the main drive has been shut off, and a locating member for locating the work spindle when it has reached its predetermined angular position. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the drive unit comprises an electric motor the shaft of which is adapted to be selectively coupled by means of a pinion to a gear mounted on the spindle. The locating member is a spring-loaded indexing bolt having a centering cone for engagement in a bore formed in the gear. The electric motor and the indexing bolt are mounted on a pivot plate which is pivoted by an actuating drive from an upper inoperative position to a lower operative position.

Abstract: A cleanout extension adaptor for insertion into a cleanout extension construction in a plumbing arrangement. The cleanout extension adaptor includes a cylindrical body with a small, thin lip on the top for seating on the top of a cleanout extension. The cleanout extension adaptor has internal threads which accommodate a threaded plug that is contained within the confines of the cleanout extension when installed. The cleanout extension adaptor permits cutting the cleanout extension so that it is even with the surrounding surface. When the plug is inserted into the cleanout extension adaptor, the cleanout extension and plug are substantially even with the surrounding surface. This avoids cutting out or altering the surrounding surface in any way.

Abstract: A ski boot carrier comprises a double loop structure defined by a cord forming a first loop for looping through the buckles of a pair of adjacent ski boots, and a strap forming a second loop for looping over the arm of a skier for carrying the boots, leaving the hand of the arm free to grasp or carry other articles and the like.

Abstract: A rotary stream sprinkler unit comprises a body having a water flow passage in which is disposed a flow control unit having one or more passages configured to control the volume and pressure of a stream which strikes and rotates a rotary distributor head rotatably mounted at the outlet of the housing for dividing each stream into a plurality of final streams and rotating each of the final streams through a selected arc during the rotation of the rotary head with a damping device connected to the rotary head for controlling the rotational velocity thereof.

Abstract: A voltage-induced optical waveguide modulator is disclosed in which the inter-electrode gap is significantly reduced to a width on the order of 4 microns. The use of a dielectric layer between the electrodes and the electro-optic substrate is disclosed. A ridge of the electro-optic substrate between the electrodes is also disclosed. The dimensions of the device and operating voltage may consequently be signficantly reduced.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for optically measuring scalar irradiance or incident flux of radiant energy and for optically measuring naturally occurring chlorophyll fluorescence or upwelling radiance in a parcel of water in a natural setting. From a comparison of the two measurements, rate of primary photosynthetic production is calculated by appropriately programmed computer means. Readout means are provided to indicate the rate of primary production. Further, concentrations of chlorophyll that generate the primary production are also determined by means of the apparatus of this invention. The method of this invention, employing measurement instruments of the type disclosed, enables the determination of concentrations of chlorophyll and primary production in parcels of water.

Abstract: A plant grow and transport pallet is constructed to be stackable and includes an open, generally rectangular frame including a pair of siderails with a plurality of cross bars extending between the siderails and a pair of end rails or panels extending downward defining legs with a lower edge or foot to fit into internal ledges in the top of another pallet to facilitate stacking of the pallets. The end panels are of such depth as to serve as legs to support the trays within each pallet a sufficient distance above the next lower pallet to prevent crushing or damage to the plants on the respective lower pallets.

Abstract: An automobile body is provided that has a front windshield, a rear window and a pair of side panels cooperatively defining a passenger compartment with a roof opening. A transparent roof panel having an area corresponding to that of the roof opening is mounted for generally translatory movement from a normal position in which it covers the roof opening to a retracted position in which the roof opening is uncovered. When the transparent roof panel is in its retracted position it lies either above or below the rear window so that a person seated in the passenger compartment can view in a rearward direction through both the rear window and the transparent roof panel.

Abstract: A probe for sensing the moisture content in a porous medium such as soil. The probe includes an array of a multiplicity of conductors and resistors formed on a substrate, with contact pins or electrodes connected to one end of each resistor, typically extending outwardly from the substrate. The resistor array is preferably divided into at least two groups, providing a separate output for each group. An appropriate voltage source and indicator means are connected to the resistor array in a circuit to provide indication of soil moisture. The transfer characteristic of the apparatus is such that the probe has improved sensitivity in the area of primary interest, that is at, between 80 and 100% of saturation.

Abstract: A surfboard body is built around a hollow stringer which is used for the injection of a lightweight foam into a mold and for providing the support for the lightweight board. One embodiment includes a hard lightweight shell covering the body. Another embodiment includes an air bag built around a stringer.

Abstract: A two-stage pop-up sprinkler unit includes a cylindrical housing having a first telescoping sleeve reciprocably mounted in the housing and a second sleeve telescoping mounted within the first sleeve and containing the sprinkler head and driving mechanism, the first sleeve extending from the housing first for clearance of the ground surface and the second sleeve extends from the first sleeve with the head cleared to begin distributing water.

Abstract: A system for generating and cutting graphic illustrations from sheets includes a microprocessor with graphics programming with suitable input such as a digital pad connected to a graphics plotter having an adaptor for converting the graphics plotter to a sheet cutter, which includes a scribe holder having the size and configuration of a graphics pen for the plotter for substituting for the pen in the plotter with the scribe holder including a pointed scribe having an omni-directional cutting tip with the ability to cut sheet materials when forced in any direction about its axis.

Abstract: Means for reducing hoop stress in a silo cell comprising a grain tube located in the lower part of the silo cell, the wall of the grain tube having apertures at the silo base allowing entry of granular material into the grain tube, and a restrictor below the apertures restricting the material flow so that when the silo cell first discharges the material, all of that discharge is through the upper ends of the tube, downwardly through the tube and outwardly from the silo cell through valve means beyond the lower end of the tube and restrictor.

Abstract: A hand held probe unit has an infrared sensitive thermopile mounted in a metal housing kept at a constant reference temperature by a regulator circuit. A waveguide tube, surrounded by a thermally insulative probe, directs infrared emissions to the thermopile. The thermopile and regulator circuit of the probe unit are electrically connected to processing circuitry in a chopper unit. Prior to taking a patient's temperature, the probe unit is mated with the chopper unit so that the thermopile detects infrared emissions from a reference target which is also kept at a constant reference temperature by another regulator circuit. The processing circuitry repeatedly acquires the output level of the thermopile and stores calibration data. The probe unit is then removed from the chopper unit, the probe is covered with an IR transparent, disposable speculum, and is inserted in the patient's external ear canal.

Abstract: Clothes airer of the type having a pair of hinged frames each with a pair of legs joined by a beam, the legs being pivoted between their upper and lower ends so that the frames can fold or unfold between retracted and in-use positions, there being struts spaced from one another along each beam which will receive clothes pegs for carrying clothes requiring airing or drying when stretched between the beams, and a retracting line with a releasable line lock joining the beams and being adjustable for length so as to adjust the distance between the beams.

Abstract: A micro-optical building block system for optical processing of light signals and method for making the components used in the system. The basic system includes a master substrate on which is mounted at least one building block. Typically, there are a multiplicity of pre-defined positions at which the building blocks will mate with the master substrate. Building blocks can be positioned adjacent to each other on the master substrate in such a way as to allow light signals to be transferred between them. Mating relief patterns are formed on both the master substrate and the building block substrates, the relief pattern areas on the master substrate being adjacent and repetitive, or alternatively, different patterns. The mating relief patterns enable self alignment of the building blocks at predetermined positions on the master substrate. The relief pattern on the building blocks is adapted to be employed to embody a variety of optical components as integral or constituent parts of the relief pattern.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive in which a tape cartridge is endwise loaded and thereafter minutely moved into a precision alignment position with respect to a read/write head. The drive has a support frame with a front panel and an elongate tray dimensioned to have the cartridge inserted endwise thereon. The tray is supported by the frame for longitudinal sliding movement from a retracted position in which the tray is contained within the frame to an extended position in which a portion of the tray extends through a slot in the front panel. A mechanism is provided for opening the access door of the cartridge while the cartridge is supported on the tray and the tray is being moved from its extended position to it retracted position.