Abstract: A gasoline vaporizer associated with the carburetor of an internal combustion engine designed to improve the engine efficiency by delivering gasoline vapor directly to the carburetor.A portion of the fuel supplied by the fuel pump is diverted through a metering valve to a close chamber where it is sprayed over copper tubing through which hot water from the engine cooling system is circulated.Gasoline vapors thus produced are drawn into the venturi of the carburetor by the engine suction, or injected directly into the intake manifold.

Abstract: A device for stringing tennis rackets and the like, and for tightening sagging strings, which, in the preferred embodiment comprises three rows of rollers clamped around two adjacent strings inside the racket frame. Each row of rollers is attached to the end of a lever. The levers are rockingly linked together so that the strings can be gripped and released between the rollers as desired. The rollers are mechanically coupled to each other by way of a series of intermeshing spur gears. A crank, attached to the gears, drives the rollers and allows adjacent rollers to rotate in opposite directions. Thus, two strings in gripping engagement with the three rows of rollers are pulled in opposite directions as the crank is turned.

Abstract: A vending machine which comprises a replaceable, transparent loading magazine forming an array of honeycomb slots holding the goods to be dispensed. The magazine is positioned over the slanted top of the vending machine. Each honeycomb slot has a small hinged trap door upon which the goods held therein rest. The trap door is held closed by a flexible member associated with a system of crossbars. A solenoid is used at the end of each crossbar to shift it laterally. Only the flexible member positioned at the cross point of two activated crossbars is allowed to move and release the corresponding trap door. A chute under the trap doors directs the goods falling therethrough toward a dispensing station. The goods selection is made by dialing on a keyboard the identifying symbol of the slot holding the desired item. The keyboard is activated by signals issued from a coin box after detection of the correct change.

Abstract: A wide-range load cell is installed within a press in line with the work load. The load cell measures the actual force applied to the load irrespective of any friction, binding or drag in the press mechanism. The sensitivity of the load cell is adjusted in order to provide an accurate measurement over a wide range of pressures. In some embodiments of the load cell the least sensitive of the pressure or traction bearing elements become active as the applied force approaches the maximum limit of the more sensitive element. In other embodiments of the invention the most sensitive of the pressure or traction sensing elements are switched out of operation as the applied force approaches their maximum limits. A hydraulic version of the load cell uses a combination of pressure-sensing transducers of different ranges and sensitivities.

Abstract: In the operation of a network of data processing units, a method and apparatus for transferring information between units in a multi-processor environment at high throughput rates.The high throughput rates are achieved by concurrent send/receive direct-memory-access transfers between buffer memories associated with each unit. The invention provides for direct-memory-access (DMA) transfers between a buffer memory and the data port of the sending unit and direct-memory-access transfers between this data port and the buffer memory of the receiving unit; thus eliminating shared-memory resource allocation, memory access arbitration and other programmed operations which normally require execution of several instructions by each unit's processor for each transfer.

Abstract: A mail sorting rack is provided utilizing a rack structure with a plurality of parallel divider blades between which the postal worker inserts mail pieces for various addresses in order, there being a tray in the instant invention underlying the mail which enables the worker to pull the tray free of the extending blades, eliminating the dividers from the sorted mail so that he may more easily group and band them for delivery.

Abstract: A training halter is provided for animals having muzzles, such as dogs, which in essence replaces the collar and leash and which diverts the tugging force to a self-cinching strap looped around the muzzle, so that the trainer, rather than merely pulling against the mass of the animal, can turn its head in the direction to which he wishes the animal to move.

Abstract: A lift is provided characterized by its ability to be simply retrofitted into a van or similar vehicle of virtually any style construction without requiring the modification of the existing structure. The unit comes in a small, neat package which is hinged on a vertical axis to a door post adjacent the hinge of one of the doors. The mounting plate of the unit which mounts the hinge also mounts a slide in its distal end which slides in a track in the door, so that as the door is opened the mounting plate is supported at one end by its hinge and at the other end in the slide. A horizontal carrier slides outwardly on tracks on the mounting plate, so that the unit clears the vehicle structure, and then a vertical carrier descends from the horizontal carrier by virtue of a hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the Standing Wave Ratio and the RF transmitted power is in a transmission line. The ratio of the reflected component over the incident component of the transmitted signal is indicated on a logarithmic dot bar readout driven by the outputs of a stack of comparators. The comparators are separately referenced to a voltage divider ladder to which is applied a first DC voltage proportional to the incident component. The inputs of the comparator receive a second DC voltage signal proportional to the reflected component. The readout is provided with a scale directly indicating the Standard Wave Ratio. A similar circuit with linear readout referenced to a full scale voltage received the first DC voltage signal on its joint comparator inputs in order to display the power transmitted on the line.

Abstract: The latest in a series of wheelchair lift improvements is provided, the basic lift structure on which the improvements are made being the type utilizing a step configuration, the individual panels of which, being hinged together, are simply extended into a geometrical plane rather than a step structure. The resulting platform is then elevationally adjusted by the driver to commute the platform, and a wheelchair victim on the platform, between the curb and bus floor level. The improvements include the hydraulic means of deploying the mechanism between step and platform mode, the safety barrier structure which defines an extension of the platform to the curb level when it is dropped from its safety barrier mode, a safety locking mechanism and a stabilizing chain.

Abstract: An equipment bag is provided particularly designed for use with a video camera and characterized by an internal open-topped pouch generally semi-circularly shaped with a Velcro patch on one side which mates at any desirable position along another Velcro patch mounted on one or both of the internal surfaces of the sidewalls of the body of the bag, the pouch being intended to hold video accessories and ordinarily would lie inside the bag alongside the lens of the camera, which is narrower than the camera body. Other salient features include a specialized four-way opening zippered top, a tripod holder and a comfortable shoulder strap with a built-in shock cord feature.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting electrical current to a distal target via two concentric channels of electrically conductive gas. The conductive channels are created by multi-photon and collisional ionization along the paths of two concentric laser beams directed to the target. A pulsed high-voltage field traversed by the beams causes a current to flow along the channels of free electrons within the beams. The concentric channels are created by interposing a ring-shaped reflecting shield across a single laser beam. The pulsed high-voltage field is applied to two concentric electrodes made of conductive glass placed in the path of the concentric beams.