Abstract: An air pulse generator for a non-contact tonometer comprises a bi-directional linear motor drivably connected to a compression mechanism and responsive to an applanation signal for reducing unnecessary air pulse energy delivered to an eye. Upon receiving the applanation signal from an applanation detector, a motor controller reverses current flow in the coil of the motor to create a reverse electromagnetic force to stop generation of the air pulse. In a first embodiment, the linear motor includes a moving permanent magnet armature for reversibly driving the compression mechanism, while in a second embodiment, the linear motor includes a moving coil for reversibly driving the compression mechanism.

Abstract: A tarpaulin alarm system triggered by unsnapping a tarpaulin attachment snap from a snap member includes a hollow housing on which the snap member is mounted and a Hall effect sensor arranged proximate the snap member on a printed circuit board contained within the housing for cooperation with a magnet associated with the attachment snap. The housing is preferably cylindrical in shape for easy mounting in a drilled hole. The printed circuit board is connected to a switched power source external to the housing, and may be wired to a suitable alarm indicator, such as an existing horn. The circuitry includes an oscillator-based timer for providing a delay period after triggering during which the system may be reset by re-attaching the attachment snap to the snap member.

Abstract: Indicia is applied to opposite side surfaces of a housing of a slack adjuster for vehicle brakes and a pointer is fixed for movement with a connector serving to pivotally connect the housing to a brake operating rod; the pointer cooperating with the indicia to provide visual indication of when the brake operating rod is in a retracted brake release position and when movement of such operating rod away from the brake release position exceeds a desired limit of brake operating movement.

Abstract: A non-contact tonometer includes a fixation axis intersecting the corneal vertex, and a fluid axis angularly displaced from the fixation axis to form a non-zero angle therewith. A nozzle is axially aligned along the fluid axis for discharging a fluid pulse along the fluid axis to the corneal surface of the eye. In a preferred embodiment, the fixation and fluid axes reside in the same vertical plane, with the fluid axis below the fixation axis approaching the eye. Alignment and applanation detection optics are arranged coplanar with the fluid axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing material from a drum or barrel includes a conveyor for transporting drums one at a time through an emptying station at which a housing having an open end is arranged for sealing engagement with an annular rim of a drum bounding an opening through which material is to be withdrawn. The emptying station additionally includes a mechanism adapted to lift drums from the conveyor and place same in sealing engagement with the housing, a scraper supported to movably project from within the housing through its open end and into the opening of a sealingly engaged drum for scraping material from the walls thereof and conveying such material outwardly of the drum into the housing for subsequent discharge therefrom through a discharge opening. The discharge opening communicates with an inlet opening of an axially elongated material conveyor serving to transport material from its inlet opening to a discharge opening removably communicating with a material receiver.

Abstract: A wheeled load connector for connecting a load to a vehicle, such as a pickup truck, includes a tongue connected at its front end to the vehicle between front and rear axles thereof, and a wheel-supported frame fixed to a rear end of the tongue to extend behind the vehicle. A vertically extending channel defined by a pair of spaced plates fixed at the juncture of the tongue and frame is arranged to slidably receive a guide bar attached to the rear of the vehicle, thereby constraining the load connector against side-to-side pivotal motion while permitting vertical pivotal motion thereof. A load may be connected by a universal trailer hitch mounted on the tongue by a mounting member, or by a dump truck bed tiltably connected to the tongue.

Abstract: An adjustable support is provided for removably supporting a laptop computer relative to a table top for relative vertical and tilting movements. The computer is clampingly secured to a platform, which is in turn supported for vertical tilting movement relative to a bracket. The bracket is supported for vertical adjustment relative to a midportion of a pair of support arms having their free ends arrayed to engage with upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the table top.

Abstract: A flow directing conveyor mechanism includes a lower conveyor defining an article supporting surface for transporting articles for movement along a path of travel extending between inlet and discharge ends of the lower conveyor; and an upper conveyor having pushing mechanisms for displacing articles, while supported by the surface, transversely of the path of travel, as an incident to movement of the articles between the inlet and discharge ends.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for mounting an art device having a depending support bar on a rail extending horizontally lengthwise of a conveyor, which permits adjustment of the position of the clamp assembly lengthwise of the rail without effecting the vertical position of the art device and permits adjustment of the vertical position of the art device relative to the rail without affecting the adjusted position of the clamp assembly lengthwise relative to the rail.

Abstract: A microscope lens guide system is disclosed wherein a plurality of lens carriers are magnetically biased to guide rods to ensure rectilinear motion of lenses held by the carriers along an optical axis of the microscope. In a first embodiment, each lens carrier includes a first portion having a passage for slidably receiving a guide rod and a second portion having a magnet for biasing the second portion for engagement with another guide rod formed of magnetic material. In a second embodiment, additional magnets are provided to bias the passage for engagement with the guide rod received by the passage.

Abstract: A conveyor system particularly adapted for feeding vehicle tires to a shredder mechanism includes telescopic conveyor sections supported to removably, adjustably position an outlet end of a first conveyor section relative to an inlet opening of the shredder mechanism and to adjustably position an inlet end of a second conveyor section at a convenient elevation for tire loading purposes.

Abstract: A glare tester suitable for use with conventional subjective refractors for testing visual acuity is disclosed. The tester may be fitted to new refractors or retrofitted to existing refractors. The preferred tester is a plastic annular ring with a plurality of LEDs mounted in recesses to direct light toward the test axis and a surface to reflect the LED light toward the patient's eye. A coating on the ring surface opposite the patient's eye improves the LED efficiency.

Abstract: A bearing for supporting a load for axial and rotational motion relative to a shaft is disclosed as including an outer shell having a cylindrical inner wall supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate bearing pads for engaging the shaft. Each bearing pad includes a pair of elastically deformable lateral tip portions arranged for interference fit with the shaft to exert a static preload on the shaft, and a mid portion intermediate the lateral tip portions arranged for clearance fit with the shaft. A plurality of lubricant channels communicate with the shaft through gaps between the separate bearing pads.

Abstract: A flexible, perspiration-absorbing headband includes a downwardly extending flexible strip having a first end fixed to the headband and a second end end releasably attachable to the headband. The second end of the strip may be looped around a nose bridge of a pair of eyeglasses and attached to the headband to secure the eyeglasses.