Abstract: A mobile system for monitoring electrical, physical and/or environmental parameters and conditions associated with or in proximity to an energized electrical power conductor supported on a succession of towers extending along a power corridor. In a first embodiment, the system includes front and rear propulsion modules surrounding the conductor and carrying a payload module therebetween. The propulsion modules include linear induction or rotary DC motors deriving power directly from the power conductor. The payload module carries equipment such as video and infrared cameras, and apparatus for lightning flash, ambient temperature, acoustic and corona detection, and a transmitter for relaying appropriate signals to a remote ground station. In another embodiment, the payload module is mounted upon a lightning shield wire of the power line and is connected to a propeller-driven helium blimp for movement along the wire.

Abstract: An air conditioning system for an automotive vehicle has a central air outlet, and a pair of left and right air outlets arranged at left and right sides of said central air outlet, which are provided at least one of front and rear portions of the vehicle compartment. A center vent passage extends from a first diverging point and leads to the central air outlet. A side vent passage extends from the first diverging point in a manner separated from the center vent passage and leads to the left and right air outlets. The side vent passage has a pair of left-hand and right-hand vent passages extending from a second diverging point located at a different position from the first diverging point and leading to the left and right outlets, respectively. A flow rate ratio-adjusting door is arranged at the second diverging poing for adjusting the ratio between the flow rates of air delivered into the left-hand and right-hand vent passages.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system for an automotive vehicle equipped with windowpanes has a humidity sensor for sensing humidity on the inner surface of a windowpane, and a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the inner surface of the windowpane. When the sensed humidity on the inner surface is higher than a first predetermined value corresponding to the sensed temperature of the inner surface, the inner surface is determined to be in a state immediately before a mist occurs, and demisting control is executed. A second predetermined value lower than the first predetermined value by a predetermined amount is determined after the start of the demisting control. When the sensed latest value of the humidity on the inner surface becomes lower than the second predetermined value, it is determined that the mist has been cleared away, and the demisting conrol is stopped.

Abstract: A hot-stick mountable, line powered, EHV conductor mounted environmental monitoring apparatus. The sensor module contains sensors for monitoring solar insolation, wind speed, lightning flashes, ambient temperature, relative humidity and dew point, precipitation, conductor icing, acoustic corona detection and conductor vibration. The power line environmental monitoring sensor module is configured to be corona free and can be installed on or removed from an energized high voltage power conductor. Data commensurate with the measured parameters is communicated from the sensor module to a Central or Regional Power Dispatch Center via a Geosynchronous Orbiting Environmental satellite (GOES) or to a ground station in the vicinity of the sensor module.

Abstract: A utensil for cutting kernels from an ear of corn and thereafter extracting the cream from the cob. A cutting blade extends through an opening in the lower portion of a U-shaped trough, whereby an ear of corn may be manually drawn back and forth through the trough and the kernels will be cut from the cob and pass through the opening into an underlying receptacle. A second blade is removably inserted through laterally aligned openings in the trough wall and has a scraping edge over which the cob is drawn to extract the liquid which also passes downwardly through an opening in the bottom of the trough, into the receptacle below.

Abstract: A folding chair construction comprising a plurality of substantially U-shaped portions, each having a pair of parallel side sections connected by a right angle corner member to a medial section, providing back and seat portions and front and rear legs hingedly connected for movement between a folded position, wherein all of the U-shaped portions are superposed with one another, and an erected position, wherein the U-shaped portions are relatively angularly disposed. The side sections of the back and seat portions and the medial sections of all portions are formed of tubular members connected for relative, telescoping movement between extended and retracted positions when the chair is in the unfolded and folded positions, respectively. A flexible fabric support portion is permanently secured to the back and seat portions by outwardly extending portions of the fabric which are looped around the side and medial sections and stitched to themselves.

Abstract: A golf driving range of the single-user, stall-type especially constructed for driving golf balls in adverse weather conditions. A housing including a flooring, roof, side walls, back wall, and front wall with an open area is provided forming an enclosure from which balls are driven. A heating element is positioned behind the back wall upon a legged platform and communicates with an elongated duct section extending under the raised flooring of the housing. The duct section includes a duct fan which directs warmed air into two bin-type sections forming a plenum. An open grating is positioned in a front portion of the flooring adjacent the front wall and above the plenum such that warmed air rises from the plenum through the grating thereby heating the housing and the golfer.

Abstract: A fishing lure including a transparent body enclosing a programmable liquid crystal display device is disclosed. An integrated surface chip powered by a small battery drives the display and may be selectively actuated to produce images simulating various forms of natural fish baits, such as minnows, worms, crickets and other insects, or crayfish, any one of which may be selectively displayed, at the option of the user. The system may also be programmed to cause portions of the display to alternate in position, thereby creating an illusion of motion. Program controls and battery are housed within the body and are accessible through an opening normally closed by a removable plug. A fish hook is secured in position on the body in cooperative relation to the liquid cyrstal display.

Abstract: An air filter unit of the HEPA type having a filter core of zig-zag folded media enclosed by a four-sided frame having two side casings and two end casings. Each end casing includes a recess extending into the inwardly facing surface thereof and bounded on all four sides by marginal edge portions of the end casing. The end flaps of the folded media are adhesively secured to the inwardly facing surfaces of the side casings and the recesses in the end casings are filled with an adhesive initially in a flowable state and hardenable to a solid state. The zig-zag edges of the folded media are disposed entirely within the adhesive, as are tenons extending from the ends of the side casings, thereby forming a mortise type joint between the side and end casings. A plurality of channels, preferably of dove tail cross section, extend across and communicate with the recesses in the end casings.

Abstract: A bottle tote for temporary storage and transport of empty beverage containers includes a planar base with four upright members extending fixedly therefrom to free ends lying in a common plane. The upright members support a plurality of track structures, each adapted to receive an open-topped tray having dividers for holding the containers. A foldable and adjustable handle structure is attached to the uppermost track, and a plurality of rod-like members are selectively engageable with the free ends of the upright members to permit vertical stacking of two totes of the same design.

Abstract: A rifle or handgun bullet having a base and a leading end of ogival shape extending for a portion of its length is divided into a plurality of sections by parting lines extending radially from the central axis and terminating a short distance from the outer wall, whereby the sections are joined by relatively thin webs at their outer edges. The parting lines extend longitudinally from the leading end through at least the ogival portion to as much as 90% of the length of the bullet. Upon impact with a lubricious target the sections separate from one another and from the base, i.e., the portion into which the parting lines do not extend. The bullet is fabricated in a two-stage operation, first forcing a punch longitudinally into a cylindrical slug of malleable metal contained within a die, and then compressing the slug radially inwardly to force essentially all air from the spaces formed by the punch, thereby and forming the ogival leading end.

Abstract: In the case of a pizza home delivery system, customer addresses and mapping information may be auomatically retrieved and displayed based on customer telephone number, and order data including an assigned order number may be imprinted on a label to be attached to each pizza container. Preferably, the system produces the order number in the form of a bar code on an adhesively backed label. Each driver may check out order for delivery by inserting his coded identification key at a bar code reader station and having the bar code labels scanned into the system, so that each order is assigned to a particular driver in a reliable and accurate manner. A voice synthesizer unit at the station can then remind the driver that the order includes beverages or more than one pizza container, and can advise the driver when the sum of the cash payments he has received for his deliveries exceeds a certain amount, making it advisable to deposit some of the accumulated cash before the next delivery.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal incorporated in liquid filtration apparatus to prevent migration of unfiltered liquid carrying solid contaminants and air which may be entrapped in such liquid past the lateral edges of a filter media carried on an endless conveyor into an underlying chamber for receiving filtered liquid. The seal includes a pair of low friction strips and an underlying seal support fixedly attached in superposed relation along both interior sides of the tank and extending between positions where the conveyor enters and exits the unfiltered liquid. The seal further includes one layer in a first embodiment, and two, superposed layers in a second embodiment, of fluid-impervious material affixed to each lateral edge of the conveyor chain or belt about the entire periphery thereof, and movable therewith.

Abstract: A variable capacity compressor including a pumping device, and a control element the position of which can be changed to determine the capacity of the pumping device. The compressor comprises: a detector for detecting change in the position of the control element in a continuous manner; and a capacity-indicating device for visually indicating an output value thereof in a manner continuously variable in response to a continuous change in output from the detector, whereby the output value visually indicated by the capacity-indicating device varies continuously with a continuous change in the capacity of the pumping device.

Abstract: A demisting control system of an air conditioner for automotive vehicles, which comprises an evaporator, and a variable capacity compressor capable of being controlled in capacity from the outside. An actual cooling degree of the evaporator is detected. At least two desired cooling degrees of the evaporator are set. The detected actual cooling degree and each of the set at least two desired cooling degrees are compared with each other. On the basis of the comparison results, a value of the capacity to which the compressor is to be controlled is determined. The at least two desired cooling degrees are selected one by one in predetermined sequence and each selected desired cooling degree is compared with the actual cooling degree as above for a predetermined time period exclusively provided therefor. The compressor is driven so that its capacity is brought to the value of capacity determined as above.

Abstract: A system for automatically shifting the gears of a drag racing car transmission each time engine RPM reaches a predetermined level after leaving the starting line. The actual value of the predetermined level may be selectively adjusted by means of a potentiometer connected to the vehicle tachometer. A manually operable switch permits adjustment while racing an eight cylinder engine to only one-half the predetermined RPM level during adjustment. Additional potentiometers are preferably provided for limiting engine RPM to a first maximum value while racing the engine with the vehicle in first gear and held stationary at the starting line by the foot brake, and a second, higher, maximum value after leaving the starting line, both the first and second maximum RPM values being selectively and independently adjustable.

Abstract: A principal aspect of the disclosure concerns housing means for an electrical receptacle comprising front and rear sections which are retained in assembled relation by snap fit coupling of terminal ends of post members on one section with edges of wall portions on the other section. The housing is disclosed in the context of a receptacle having ground fault circuit interrupting capability. Other disclosed features include snap-fit connection means for other components of a ground fault receptacle, a wiring board having solid state components of a ground fault circuit mounted on one surface and electro-mechanical components on the other, and a ground fault receptacle having both screw-type and push wire terminations. The foregoing features are made possible by a unique design and arrangement of parts which facilitates automated assembly of the entire receptacle.

Abstract: A material having superior that insulating qualities which may be formed in flat sheets or any other desired configuration. The material in its basic form is produced by mixing an alkali metal halide or nitrate into an alkali metal silicate solution to form a polymerized silicate gel. The gel may be heated to cause intumescence and the formation of a dry cellular ceramic, or may be used in gel form, e.g., as a fireproof barrier which will expand upon exposure to heat. Physical properties of the end product are altered by the inclusion of one or more additives prior to the polymerization reaction. These additives may be any of a number of materials that do not significantly react with the alkali metal silicate solution or otherwise inhibit the formation of the gel.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle having front and rear casings forming an enclosed housing for a printed circuit board carrying contacts into which the blades of a plug connected to the receptacle are inserted. The housing includes portions cooperatively placed with respect to the circuit board to provide underlying support for the contacts, as well as to assist in positioning the circuit board relative to the housing. The circuit components carried by the circuit board include three varistor devices for suppressing high transient voltages and the housing includes internal walls providing spaced cavities to receive the respective varistor devices. Another aspect concerns a one-piece mounting strap positioned entirely exteriorly of the receptacle housing and connected thereto by cooperative engagement portions on the strap and the housing, requiring no screws, rivets or other fastening devices.