Abstract: An aircraft passenger entertainment system projects three complementary color component images, preferably from a passenger cabin ceiling, onto a flat screen with the aid of three imaging devices, each of which presents a different color component image in an image display field, and three associated projecting devices including a lens for each imaging device. Each image display field is disposed in a plane which is either parallel to the plane of a flat display screen or which intersects the plane of the display screen along a line extending parallel to the cabin floor of the aircraft. Each of the mentioned projecting lenses has an axis which is either perpendicular to the plane of the display screen or which is disposed in one of three parallel planes extending between the cabin ceiling and floor at right angles to the display screen.

Abstract: Audio information in several audio channels is supplied via head sets to passengers seated aboard an aircraft in rows of seats including armrests and being distributed along an elongate passenger section inside a metallic fuselage. According to the subject invention, an antenna is run along the elongate passenger section of the aircraft for radio transmission inside such elongate passenger section. Individual antennas are provided for the passenger seats for receiving the latter radio transmission. These receiving antennas are distributed among predetermined armrests of the passenger seats. The audio information to be transmitted is provided in radio frequency channels in a band between 72 and 73 MHz. The distributed receiving antennas are coupled via seated passengers to the transmitting antenna. The radio frequency channels are transmitted in the mentioned band via the transmitting antenna, seated passengers and distributed receiving antennas to the predetermined armrests.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for drying a web of material running between a drying cylinder and a traveling covering cloth avoid the formation of air boundary layers which would impede heat exchange with respect to, and humidity removal from, the traveling web. In particular, these methods and apparatus avoid excessive wear of the covering cloth by locating a baffleplate at a distance from the covering cloth within a domain of the boundary layer, and promote a heat exchange and humidity removal through turbulence by impacting air from the boundary layer against a front surface of the baffleplate at a distance from the covering cloth, causing an exchange of air in the boundary layer and in meshes of the covering cloth. Effects of non-uniform humidity profiles are avoided by providing the front surface of the baffleplate with a varying configuration across the covering cloth.

Abstract: In an effort to condition a battery for its current supply function, the electric charge required to restore the battery from a given first level to a higher second charge level is determined. A conditioning operation is comprised of a first step of reducing an unknown electric charge in the battery to the given first level, and a second step of introducing only the determined required electric charge into the battery. The battery is conditioned by administering in sequence the first step to reduce the unknown electric charge to the given first level and the second step to restore the battery to the higher second charge level by introduction of only the determined required electric charge into the battery.

Abstract: Edging for the track inside of a sports installation consists of a plurality of individual sections (1) abutting at their interfaces, each of which has an upper header body (2) of hard polyurethane synthetic material with a longitudinal slot 2a. Each section at its lower side is connected to at least two spacer pieces (3) of soft, resilient polyurethane synthetic material which rest on a foundation and are releasably connected thereto. Between the spacer pieces (3), passages 4 enable the drainage of water. Each spacer piece (3) has at its lower side an elongate inverted U-shaped carrier rail (5) inserted in countersunk manner and laterally enclosed by spacer piece (3). The hollow space (5a) has fastened thereto an inverted U-shaped spring clip (7), the legs of which resiliently reach under the head (8a) of an attachment screw (8) inserted in the foundation.

Abstract: An advancing tape is guided with a tape guide which is provided with a taper. The advancing tape is applied to the tape guide and a guiding force is imposed on the advancing tape with the aid of the taper. This guiding force is varied by adjusting the taper.

Abstract: Magnetic actuation methods and apparatus provide in an air gap a first magnetic field and a magnet having a second magnetic field at an angle to and interacting with the first magnetic field. A pivot axis for the magnet is located laterally and entirely outside of the air gap, and such magnet is displaced in the air gap with the interacting first and second magnetic fields about the laterally located pivot axis. In practice, the air gap may be provided by a pair of pole pieces and the magnet may be located on a lever extending past the air gap. Such lever may be pivoted about an axis extending through one of the pole pieces. The lever is then displaced with the magnet and the magnetic field in the air gap.

Abstract: A spray shield for use at both projecting corners and recessed corners, such as in a spray painting operation, comprises an angled sheet of rigid material having integral first and second legs. The sheet has a first free edge along the first and second legs for hugging a projecting corner. The sheet also has a second free edge along the first and second legs and opposite the first free edge for congruity with or projection into a recessed corner. The sheet is slanted throughout at least one of the legs to extend at an oblique angle two vicinal surfaces of hugged projecting and congruent recessed corners. The integral first and second legs of the spray shield preferably constitute two adjacent sides of a truncated right or oblique pyramid or prism having at least one of its sides extending at an oblique angle to its base.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive is retrofitted with an on-off switching facility. To this end, a block is provided having a front portion fitting the drive at adjacent inlet and outlet openings and having a rear portion opposite the front portion. The block is provided with a first through-opening leading from the rear portion to the front portion for communication with the inlet opening, and with a second through-opening leading from the rear portion to the front portion for communication with the outlet opening. The first through-opening at the rear portion of the block is adapted for reception of a fitting or a hydraulic fluid delivery hose which ordinarily would have been received in the above mentioned inlet opening. Similarly, the second through-opening is adapted at the rear portion of the block for reception of a further fitting for a hydraulic fluid return hose which would otherwise have been received in the above mentioned outlet opening.

Abstract: An electronic dipstick or similar probe has an electrically insulated conductor which is diminished or otherwise adjusted with respect to a given point of reference and a predetermined low liquid level. Level monitoring functions on liquids having high volume resistivities in the megohm-centimeter range are attainable.

Abstract: The subject display systems are of particular utility in assisting interior decorators and homemakers in selecting appropriate color and fabric combinations. In particular, the subject display systems provide a luminance image of an interior decor including components, such as furniture, drapes and carpets. The system picks up colors from different samples, each of which typically has an area smaller than the area of any displayed component. These picked-up colors are selectively filled in the displayed components when the image is displayed and color arrangements are changed by substituting other picked-up colors in the display of particular components.

Abstract: A seal is attached to and curved around a floating roof of a storage tank for petroleum products or other liquid materials, to extend to an outer circumference at the tank wall. The curved seal is suspended at first suspension points on the seal spaced about the floating roof. These first suspension points are spaced from the mentioned outer circumference at the wall by a first distance greater than zero and from the floating roof at a second distance greater than such first distance. The curved seal is suspended at these first suspension points from a series of corresponding second suspension points spaced from the first suspension points by third distances. Each of the second suspension points is spaced from the tank wall by a fourth distance greater than zero and from a peripheral cylindrical reference surface about the floating roof by a fifth distance greater than the mentioned fourth distance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recording varying electric signals with a plurality of electrically actuable light gates illuminate the light gates with light of a first intensity above zero light intensity and provide a light-sensitive recording medium sensitive to illumination levels at light intensities including the mentioned first light intensity and starting at a second light intensity below such first intensity and above zero light intensity. These methods and apparatus precondition the light gates to subsequent opening in response to varying electric signals by electrically biasing the light gates to an initially open condition wherein the gates pass light from the mentioned illumination at an intensity below the second light intensity. The recording medium is thus exposed to light passed by the preconditioned gates at below the second intensity.

Abstract: A firearm has a firing device, a manually cockable and selectively releasable hammer for actuating the firing device and a selectively activable laser beam emitting device for providing an aiming mark on a target of the firearm. The laser beam emitting device is activated through cocking of the hammer to provide the aiming mark. The cocked hammer is released with a finger trigger for actuation of the firing device only after activation of the laser beam emitting device and provision of the aiming mark.

Abstract: A mounting structure for a pair of transducer heads has a base and integral riser beam for forming a rigid inverted T-shaped structure wherein the riser beam extends perpendicularly to a midportion of the base. The transducer heads are mounted on opposite sides of the riser beam. The supporting structure may have a pair of T-shaped profiles extending at right angles to each other. Individual tilt adjustment with or without azimuth adjustment facilities may be provided for each transducer head.

Abstract: A laser for assisting the aiming of a firearm is located in a tubular member for emission of a light beam through an end thereof. The tubular member is mounted at the first location with linear freedom of movement, and at a second location with angular freedom of movement, relative to the firearm. The laser may be potted or rigidly mounted in the tubular member. A relative position of an aiming mark in the form of a light spot on a target of the firearm may be varied by angular adjustment of the tubular member at the first mounting location or by selectively deflecting the light beam in or at the tubular member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting electromagnetic radiation in a space for illumination and communication provide in that space a gas discharge lamp, a first antenna for emitting radio frequency signals and a second antenna for receiving such emitted radio frequency signals. The first antenna is located at a distance from the lamp which is larger than the distance between the first and second antennas. The lamp is energized with alternating current for emitting light in the mentioned space. Radio frequency signals are transmitted via the first and second antennas and the mentioned space having the gas discharge lamp provided and energized therein. The gas discharge in the lamp may be confined to a length shorter than one quarter of the shortest wavelength of the transmitted radio frequency signals. The gas discharge lamp may be mounted in a cross-polarized relationship to the first antenna.

Abstract: The subject information recording methods and apparatus are capable of handling either a recording medium strip wound on a supply roll with the information recording surface layer facing inwardly, or a recording medium strip wound on a supply roll with the information recording surface layer facing outwardly. In particular, a drive roller is mounted at a recording station and the recording medium strip is run from the particular supply roll about part of the drive roller with the information recording surface layer facing away from the drive roller at the recording station irrespective of the direction in which the recording surface layer faces on the supply roll. The drive roller is rotated at the recording station and the recording medium strip is driven from the supply roll through the recording station.

Abstract: Electric signals are recorded on a recording medium having a light sensitivity extending to wavelengths shorter than 475 nm, with an array of electrically switched lanthanum modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) light gates located between a light polarizer and a complementary light analyzer. The light gates are illuminated through the polarizer with light whose wavelength essentially is longer than 475 nm. Such light is selectively gated through electrically switched light gates through the analyzer and to the recording medium having a light sensitivity extending to wavelengths shorter than 475 nm. Information recordings may be made in this manner over extended periods of time without the typical performance degradation through photoinduced birefringence observed with conventionalPLZT electrooptic shutters.

Abstract: An apparatus for sawing different kinds of materials has a supporting frame including a girder-type construction defining an opening for the feed-through of materials to be cut in longitudinal direction by a saw blade. A supporting platform for materials to be cut includes a carriage platform for materials to be cut includes a carriage displaceable in longitudinal direction, and a clamping arrangement for materials to be cut is located on the carriage. At least one supporting bracket is positioned laterally of the saw blade in front and back regions of the frame and mounted on said carriage, and an upper and lower cross-beam is provided for each supporting bracket, with each lower cross-beam being arranged at a distance from the carrier. Vertically movable rods are arranged between the upper and lower cross-beams and carry a clamping device for materials to be cut. The saw blades may be slanted for increased efficiency and durability.