Abstract: Thermally induced stress between a quartz proof mass and the metal stators which constrain it are relieved by a suspension system employing pliant members. Contact points between the proof mass and the stators are formed by raised pads on the proof mass which contact beams formed in the stators. Each beam has an axis of pliancy, which axis extends through a fixed, stable contact point between the proof mass and the stators, the beam being otherwise rigid to applied forces along axes orthogonal to the axis of pliancy. The resulting suspension system exhibits compliance to thermally induced loads while providing rigidity in response to seismic loads.In alternative embodiments of the suspension system, the pliant beams are positioned to provide temperature compensation for compounds of the transducer.

Abstract: A print head for a dot matrix serial printer, including a high energy permanent magnet (13) surrounded by a plurality of coil/post combinations (15, 17) each aligned with a print hammer (23), is disclosed. The high energy permanent magnet (13) is centrally mounted on a ferromagnetic base plate (11) having a plurality of outwardly extending arms (41). A coil/post combination (15,17) is mounted on each arm (41). The coil/post combinations (15,17) are surrounded by an apertured spacer ring (19) formed on a nonmagnetic material. The hammers (23) are formed by the inwardly extending arms of a print hammer disc (21) mounted on the spacer ring (19) such that a hammer (23) is aligned with each coil/post combination (15,17). The tips of the hammers overly a stepped pole (25) mounted on the outer end of the high energy permanent magnet (13). When the coils (15) are deenergized, the magnetic flux produced by the permanent magnet (13) stresses the hammers (23) by pulling them against the tips of their related posts (17).

Abstract: A system for selectively positioning one end of a treadmill running machine at one of the plurality of locked positions in order to provide an inclined running surface. A support assembly having a ground engaging roller disposed between a pair of arms is pivotally connected to the frame of the treadmill for swinging movement between a retracted position adjacent the frame and one of a plurality of downward, extended positions. So that the treadmill may be easily raised and lowered to a desired operating position, a gas spring is provided for each of the arms of the support assembly. The upper end of each gas spring is securely connected to the frame, while the lower end is pivotally attached to its respective arm. To maintain the support assembly in one of its extended positions, a slide-tube assembly having a releasable clamping sleeve is associated with each of the arms and pivotally connected to the frame and arm to accommodate the swinging movement of the support assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a marine transfer device (10) having a ramp (18) which is connected at its inboard end to a stationary offshore platform (14) by a mount assembly (28) that allows the ramp to pivot about horizontal and vertical axes and restrains torsional ramp movement. The outboard end of the ramp (18) includes a landing pad (22) and support frame (26) which support the outboard end of the ramp on a ship's deck or similar surface when the transfer device is lowered into position by a crane or service derrick. A movable carriage assembly (20), which is located between the support frame (26) and the outboard end of the ramp (18), extends and retracts as the movement of the ship causes the support frame (26) to move away from and toward the ramp. Stairs (24) extend from the support frame to the ship's deck. The carriage assembly (20) provides a continuous, stable surface for the passage of personnel from the stairs to the ramp.

Abstract: A system for providing battery power to a portable defibrillator that includes a first housing having a generally vertical first sidewall (32). The system comprises battery pack (12) that includes a second housing having a second sidewall (38), battery means (80, 82) mounted within the second housing, and first electrical connector means (66) mounted in and extending through the second housing and electrically connected to the battery means. The system further comprises means forming grooves (46, 50) along the upper and lower edges of the first sidewall, and tongue means (40, 42) extending from the second sidewall, the tongue means being shaped to be slidingly received between the groove means to mount the battery pack to the defibrillator. A latch (68) is provided for latching the tongue means against lengthwise motion when the tongue means is received between the groove means.

Abstract: A tree vibrator (8) includes an electric motor (14) disposed within a housing (15) mounted on tree (10) by band clamp (18). An adjustable eccentric weight assembly (24) is mounted on the rotary output shaft (26) of motor (14) to impart vibrations of a desired intensity on tree (10). Motor (14) is powered by battery assembly (49) through an intermediate electronic power control circuit assembly (56) to intermittently energize motor (14), significantly extending the useful life of batteries (50) of assembly (49).

Abstract: A device is disclosed for sensing information relating to the orientation of a selected direction or plane with respect to the horizontal. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a housing (40), a vial (70) mounting in the housing, a source of electromagnetic radiation (62, 64), sensors (66, 68) and associated electronic circuitry, and a rail (12) for positioning the housing. The vial is elongated along a central longitudinal axis and is partially filled with liquid (72) to form a bubble (74) in the vial. The source of radiation is positioned in a housing plane to one side of the vial such that radiation passes through the vial and forms a shadow of the bubble on the other side of the vial. The shadow is detected by the sensors, and the associated electronic circuitry produces an output signal having a characteristic related to the bubble position along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for reducing flow pulsations and measuring fuel flow in a fuel system for a liquid fuel engine. The engine (54) has associated with it a fuel tank (30) and a pump (32) for causing fuel to flow through a fuel flow path from the fuel tank through the pump to the engine. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a flow sensor (50), gas inlet means (62), and a pulsation damper (46) that includes a chamber (70) in communication with the fuel flowing through the pulsation damper. The flow sensor is positioned in the fuel flow path (44, 48, 52) between the pump and the engine, and serves to measure the rate of fuel flowing to the engine. The gas inlet means introduces gas into the fuel flow path, and preferably directly into the chamber.

Abstract: A handle (30) for lifting a plastic bag (10) that includes one or more plastic loops (12, 14) adapted for allowing the bag to be carried in a person's hand. The handle comprises an elongated member having a recess (32) extending along one side and dimensioned to receive the plastic loops. The elongated member is shaped such that it can be held in a person's hand with the recess opening away from the hand. The recess may extend over both ends of the elongated member, and the lower wall of the recess may comprise a carrying surface (38) having a center surface (40) with a large radius of curvature and two end surfaces (42, 44) with a smaller radius of curvature. The elongated member includes a lower surface (50) opposite the recess that has a generally circular cross section and a center of curvature higher than the end surfaces when the elongated member is positioned with the recess opening upward.

Abstract: In an optical ranging apparatus, especially designed for measuring the range to a source of infrared radiation, a narrow band time-shift servoloop processor is used to resolve the offset (separation distance) of images of the infrared source that are projected onto first and second, juxtaposed photooptical detector arrays. The range (distance) to the infrared source is functionally related to the measured offset of the infrared images. To enable the servoloop processor to measure this offset, the outputs of the first and second detector arrays are automatically scanned by electronic scanning circuitry to develop first and second time-variable signals that represent the relative positions of the infrared images on the respective arrays. These time-variable signals are substantially overlapping, and the slight phase or time separation between these signals is related to the offset of the images on the detector arrays.

Abstract: A debugger for debugging, from a central location (e.g., a user terminal 13), jobs or processes running on one or more remote units (11) connected to the user terminal (13) via a communication network (15). The user terminal (13) includes a debugger (21) that receives and interprets debug commands produced by a keyboard and display console (19). The debug commands fall in any one of three categories--debug commands directed to the user terminal (USER TERMINAL CONTROL commands); debug commands directed to a particular remote unit (REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands); and, debug commands directed to a specific job or process of multiple jobs or processes running on a particular remote unit (LOCAL JOB/PROCESS commands). The USER TERMINAL CONTROL commands are executed at the user terminal (13). The REMOTE UNIT CONTROL commands and LOCAL JOB/PROCESS commands are transmitted to the remote units (11) via the communication network (15).

Abstract: A tensionmeter of the type that the tension of an elongated object is measured by the amount of displacement of a sensing roller, wherein errors caused by the bending stress of the elongated object as well as the weight of the detector including the sensing roller are substantially elimiated from the result of measurement.

Abstract: A mechanical security device for preventing disconnection between first and second objects. The first and second objects include a nut rotatable with respect to the objects in one direction to connect the objects and in an opposite direction to disconnect the objects. In one embodiment, the security device comprises a guard collar and a locking bar. The guard collar is adapted for positioning around the nut to prevent it from being accessed for rotation. The locking bar is adapted to prevent substantial rotation of the guard collar with respect to the first object, and to limit axial movement of the guard collar to a degree sufficient to prevent the nut from being accessed for rotation. The security device is particularly suited for preventing removal of a regulator from a compressed gas cylinder.

Abstract: Unitized automobile body repair apparatus comprising an arch frame with repositioners thereon connectable to opposite McPherson strut heads or other anchor elements to move the same by three-way screwjack action in any one or more of three lines of motion in either direction so as to reposition and hold such anchor elements. Cooperating with the repositioners are body side edge, flange-engaging, repositioning and holder jacks, beam-mounted for selective positioning on a floor frame carrying the vehicle.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism includes a magnetic circuit formed by a permanent magnet (43), a flux plate (45), a return plate (47), a post (49), and a long release coil (51). The outer end of the release coil (51) terminates slightly short of the tip of the post. Further, the post (49), long coil (51), flux plate (45) and return plate (47) are sized and positioned such that the tip of the post (49) lies coplanar with the outer surface of the return plate (47) and such that the end of the return plate (47) terminates just short of the release coil (51). The head (59) of a hammer (53) is positioned to be attracted to the post tip by the magnetic flux created by the permanent magnet (43). The permanent magnet attraction force bends the head (59) of the hammer (53) across the small gap resulting in the hammer (53) being cocked. When the long release coil (51 ) is energized, it produces a magnetic field that counteracts the permanent magnet attraction force, releasing the cocked hammer.

Abstract: A hand holder for receiving and supporting the fingers of each hand for application of a manicuring treatment comprises a plastic piece having first and second surfaces molded on opposite sides thereof. Each surface has recessed contours for supporting the palm and fingers of one hand in spaced relation such that the nail of each finger is readily accessible for application of a manicuring treatment. The holder is turned over for use in treating the opposite hand.

Abstract: A central processing unit for a digital computer has a central memory unit connected to a system bus. A data path unit decodes variable length microinstructions that are stored in the central memory unit and that include an operation code and one or more operand specifiers, issuing a microaddress of one of a set of microinstructions stored in a control store. The microinstructions have a data path control field, a condition/size field and a next address control field. A microinstruction logic control is responsive to the microinstructions, and a memory control unit that includes a data cache memory array operates asynchronously with respect to the data path unit, translating virtual memory addresses to access data from the data cache memory array or from the central memory unit.

Abstract: In a remote shifter for a vehicle transmission, a transmitter unit is located near the vehicle operator while a receiver unit is mounted on the transmission. The transmitter and receiver are coupled by flexible push-pull cables that transfer the motion of a gearshift lever operated by the vehicle operator to the transmission to select and engage the desired gears in the transmission. The shift lever is operable in two independent modes of pivotal motion about orthogonal axes. Motion in a first mode controls gear rail selection in the transmission and motion in a second mode controls gear engagement. The transmitter couples the gearshift lever to the cables so that pivotal motion of the gearshift lever in a transverse plane is translated to linear motion of the select control cable while pivotal motion of the gearshift lever in the fore/aft plane is translated to linear motion of the shift control cable. The transmitter maintains the motion of the two cables independent of one another.

Abstract: A fish meat product similar in taste and texture to shrimp which contains from about 15 to about 45 parts by weight of wavy fish gel fibers, from about 15 to about 50 parts by weight of linear fish gel fibers, and from about 30 to about 55 parts by weight of a fish paste binder is disclosed. The wavy fibers range from about 1.0 to about 4.0 mm in diameter, and the linear fibers range from about 0.3 to about 3.0 mm in thickness on each side. The fish gel from which the fibers are made is prepared from surimi by the use of a process which is very similar to that employed in preparing "Kamaboko," and an intermediate product in this process is a fish paste which is used as the binder. The foregoing components are mixed in the foregoing ratio. The resultant mixture is formed into the shape of peeled shrimp, coated on the surface with an appropriate coloring agent, and heated.