Abstract: A system is described for processing an entire tree into wood fiber material for molding the constituent wood elements into custom molded wood products. A delimber removes limbs and leaves from the trunk, a debarker removes bark from the trunk of the delimbed tree, and a splitter separating sequence is constructed and arranged for separating the debarked trunk into elongate pieces of substantially equal cross-sectional area. A graduated roller mill having a sequence of pairs of compressor rollers with the rollers of each pair spaced successively closer together receives the elongate pieces of wood and extrudes and delivers thin sheets of wood at the output end. Liquid squeezed from the wood sheets is collected and separated into resins and water. A shredder shreds and fragments the wood sheet wood fibers into a loosely bonded mat of substantially separate striated wood fibers. The mat is cut or chopped into wood fibers of substantially uniform length.

Abstract: Parameter sensors and monitors are described incorporating one of a variety of parameter responsive structures constructed and arranged for expansion and contraction causing a component of motion and displacement along at least one direction in response to variations of a selected parameter. A reference mounting supports the parameter responsive structure and either a magnet element or Hall effect transducer is secured relative to the reference mounting or housing in alignment with a selected direction of a component of motion and displacement caused by expansion and contraction of the parameter responsive structure. The other of said magnet element and Hall effect transducer is mounted for relative displacement along said selected direction in response to expansion and contraction of the parameter responsive structure.

Abstract: A diffused bubble aeration system for small scale water supplies includes a plurality of water holding vessels having water inlet and water outlet couplings operatively coupled in series for series flow of water through the successive vessels. The inlet and outlet openings are located substantially below the normal water level in the vessels, for example, substantially at the mid section of the respective vessels for equalization of volume and water level in the vessels. The series coupled vessels, barrels or drums comprise a first vessel having a supply water inlet coupling for coupling to a water supply and a last vessel or drum with a treated supply water outlet coupling to treated water supply water pump and pressurized treated water storage tank.

Abstract: A component extracting tool extracts larger electronic components and components difficult to remove from a circuit board such as pin grid array type electronic components, hybrid components and daughter boards. The tool is constructed with compressable and releasable handles which are compressable through first and second stages of tool action. Opposing grasping elements are operatively coupled to the handles for movement of the opposing grasping elements toward each other for grasping a component to be extracted upon initially compressing the handles through the first stage of tool action. Bracing elements abut against the circuit board from which a component is to be extracted and the bracing elements and grasping elements are mounted on the handles for extending and retracting movement relative to each other.

Abstract: A portable collapsible tank for storing and insulating hot water or other liquid is contained by an elongate flexible and foldable outer sleeve which defines the outer perimeter of the tank and is formed with sufficient tensile strength to support the tank and stored water. A side wall of insulating material is contained within the sleeve extending around the inside circumference of the sleeve from the top to the bottom of the tank. The outer sleeve and side wall layer overlap and frictionally engage the edge of a floor or base disk of rigid insulating foam material for stability of the tank without tilting and to prevent ballooning of an inner liner from the bottom of the tank. An inner liner of impervious flexible material suitable for contacting hot water, for example, for consumptive use is removeably seated within the side wall and base and extends over the top of the tank.

Abstract: A multiple phase-splitter TTL tristate output circuit having a feedback diode coupled between the signal output and the collector of a first phase-splitter transistor to accelerate sinking of current from the output to low potential during transition of binary signals at the output from high to low potential. An independent base drive is coupled to the base of the first phase-splitter transistor independent from any base drive coupled to the other phase-splitter transistor or transistors. Current hogging of the base drive current to the first phase-splitter transistor by the other phase-splitter transistors is thereby prevented. The first phase-splitter transistor which is coupled in the feedback circuit with the accelerating feedback diode to the base of the pulldown transistor element can therefore maintain the high current sinking mode through the pulldown transistor element with gain step-up proportional to .beta..sup.2 when the output is at the high voltage level.

Abstract: A blocking system or backing system for stud buildings provides expandable and retractable backing spans for placement and fitting between the studs. Each backing span is composed of multiple elements including a first backing element having a stud face for abutting against the web or wider dimension of a stud, and a second backing element for bearing against the first backing element. The first and second backing elements are formed with complementary bearing surfaces and are movable relative to each other with a component of motion in the lateral direction. The relative motion permits expansion and retraction of the backing span for spanning variable spacing between the studs. In the preferred example the backing span further includes a third backing element having a stud face for abutting against the web or wider dimension of an adjacent stud.

Abstract: A transistor-transistor logic (TTL) to emitter coupled logic (ECL) translator includes a TTL input gate for receiving TTL voltage level logic input signals in the positive voltage range compatible with TTL circuits and an ECL output gate for delivering corresponding ECL voltage level logic output signals in the negative voltage range compatible with ECL circuits. A translating current source operatively coupled between the TTL input gate and ECL output gate translates signals down to the negative ECL voltage range for application to the input transistor of the ECL output gate. A bidirectional bridge clamp also operatively coupled between the TTL input gate and ECL output gate limits the swing of the translated signals in the negative voltage range applied at the input of the ECL output gate thereby reducing propagation delay across the translator and reducing power dissipation.

Abstract: An eye shield device protects one or both eyes of an individual during medical treatment, or while the individual is comatose, semi-comatose, or under anesthesia. The eye shield includes at least one soft, pliable air-filled cushion member of thin plastic material, sized and shaped to fit within the cavity formed by the orbital bone structure around the eye. During use, the cushion member is placed upon the closed eye and is secured in place by the eye shield support removably affixed to the head of the individual. The cushion member or eye pillow is formed with a pleated side edge for expansion of the air in a "bellows" effect at the periphery to redistribute pressure on the eye to the perimeter and reduce direct pressure on the eye globe. The cushion member is also formed with a central cavity on the side placed upon the closed eye to accommodate the curvature of the eye ball.

Abstract: A precision linoleum seam cutting tool cuts the overlying layer of linoleum to be installed next to an underlying layer of linoleum previously installed on a floor to provide a flush straight flat seam in a single step. The elongate tool body is constructed and arranged for grasping and moving the tool in the elongate direction. A pair of adjustable spaced apart guides are mounted on the tool body with a first aiming guide at the lead end and a second blade guide at the trailing end where the linoleum scoring blade and cutting blade are positioned. The guides define channels or recesses for receiving the overlying or next layer of linoleum to be cut and installed and are formed with an edge follower for abutting against and riding along the edge of the underlying layer of linoleum for aiming and guiding the tool.

Abstract: TTL circuits are described for generating from an input signal complementary output signals useful in integrated circuit applications. For an enable gate, an alternate enable transistor element is coupled in emitter follower configuration in the enable gate with the base of the alternate enable transistor coupled to follow the enable gate input signal E and provide through the emitter circuit an alternate enable signal A complementary to the enable signal E. The complementary enable signals are applied in an improved TTL tristate output device with reduced output capacitance. The alternate enable signal A is coupled to the base of an active discharge transistor element at the base of the pull-down transistor of the tristate input device for actively discharging and diverting Miller feedback current caused by transitions on the common bus output when the enable signal E is at low potential and the device is in the high impedance third state.

Abstract: A voltage compensated bias generator voltage source includes an all NPN active collector load circuit operatively coupled between the line voltage V.sub.cc and the collector of the shunt regulator transistor of the bias generator. The all NPN active collector load circuit logarithmically reduces variation in shunt regulator transistor collector current with variations in the line voltage V.sub.cc. A transistor of the active collector load circuit also provides in combination with an output transistor of the bias generator a Darlington transistor pair of ECL current source voltage V.sub.cs. A temperature variation countervailing third transistor is also operatively coupled in the active collector load circuit to compensate for temperature variation problems introduced by the active collector load circuit itself.

Abstract: An emergency medical services (EMS) system for delivering primary care and emergency treatment by EMS personnel is provided by personnel vest jackets constructed and organized for carrying EMS equipment and supplies in wearable and accessible arrangement. The vest is formed with a plurality of outside pockets on the front left and right sides of the vest with first and second large outside pockets across the front bottom left and right sides for carrying bulkier EMS equipment and materials at lower center of gravity. Intermediate size pockets are arranged across the center left and right sides of the vest for carrying intermediate and smaller size EMS supplies. Small upper pockets at least some of elongate configuration are formed on at least one side of the front top of the vest for accommodating objects of elongate configuration. Loop holders are also provided on at least one side of the top front of the vest for holding airways.

Abstract: A field effect transistor (FET) structure suitable for MOS and CMOS IC fabrication processes includes spaced apart alternating source and drain regions distributed in a rectangular checkerboard pattern of horizontal and vertical rows. A first grid of intersecting horizontal and vertical conductive gate lines overlaps adjacent source and drain regions of the array and is dielectrically isolated from the source and drain regions by an insulating layer. The horizontal and vertical gate lines provide a single gate element distributed across the array which reduces FET channel length and channel resistance. A second grid comprising a set of parallel diagonal alternating source lead lines and drain lead lines is dielectrically isolated from the first grid. The source lead lines are electrically coupled to source regions and drain lead lines to drain regions.

Abstract: Secondary winding configurations and methods particularly applicable for toroid transformers are described for winding secondary windings over the indexed primary winding and toroidal core. The secondary winding is formed in the configuration of a multifilar winding of a plurality of coplanar parallel filaments with a first elongate strip of electrically insulating material bonded to the filaments on one side and a second elongate strip of electrically insulating material bonded to the filaments on the other side and to the first elongate strip. The resulting electrically insulated multifilar strap winding contains the filaments in substantially parallel coplanar relationship. The multifilar strap winding is wound around the toroidal core in substantially equally spaced turns. The strap winding maintains the filaments substantially in equally spaced relationship relative to each other over irregular surfaces and compound curvature of the toroidal core without crossover.

Abstract: A magnet switch or selector for selecting the functions of a multiple function electronic circuit device in a housing. A plurality of reed switches are incorporated into the electronic circuit device for switching on and off respectively the multiple functions. The reed switches are arranged in a sequence in proximity to a horizontal surface of the housing. An elongate sliding groove or sliding channel is formed in the horizontal surface of the housing in proximity to the reed switches, and the channel is oriented and arranged in a configuration along the sequence of reed switches. A magnet element having a cross-sectional profile substantially conforming to the cross-sectional profile of the channel is seated in the channel for restrained and controlled sliding motion back and forth along the sliding channel.

Abstract: A vertically oriented fuel bed elongate in the vertical direction provides a vertical radiant source of heat for cooking food in cooking zones on either side of the bed. A portable and collapsible grill frame is formed by light weight end rods and elongate cross rods assembled in three tiers, a top tier, a lower tier, and base level. The vertical radiant heat source is supported in the center of the frame removeably suspended from the top tier without extending below the lower tier. An ash tray is removeably suspended from the lower tier below the fuel bed and above the base level. First and second drip trays are removeably suspended from the lower tier below the cooking zones on either side of the ash tray. The ash tray and drip trays form a substantially continuous surface across the grill frame for reflecting heat upward and protecting a surface on which the grill may be placed. A plurality of removeable and replaceable panels provide greater or lesser enclosure of a cooking zone.

Abstract: A reticulated hydrophilic foam substrate and bonded active surface particle powder composite filter material is generated by foam polymerization of a prepolymer phase with an aqueous phase. The reticulated hydrophilic foam substrate is characterized by relatively low pressure drop and low resistance to flow through the foam substrate. The prepolymer phase is a hydrophilic polyurethane prepolymer receptive to the aqueous phase for foam polymerization upon mixing with the aqueous phase. The aqueous phase in turn is a pourable and flowable slurry mixture of water, active surface particle powder, and surfactant wetting agent. The aqueous phase includes sufficient water or other evaporable liquid to provide a protective liquid layer or coating over the active surfaces of the powder particles.

Abstract: A folding child support (10) for diaper changing and infant dressing includes an elongate housing (12) having a back (14) and side portions (15) for mounting on a wall or other vertical surface with hinge projections (16) projecting from the side portions (15) near the bottom of the housing (12). An elongate base (20) provides a recessed child support surface (40) with safety boundary panels (42, 44) and is constructed for complementary engagement in the elongate housing (12). The base (20) is provided with complementary hinge projection receivers or bearing surfaces (62) for removable and replaceable interfitting hinged coupling of the base (20) with the hinge projections (16) of the housing (12) and for pivotal folding of the base (20) relative to the housing (12) between a closed position and a substantially horizontal open position.

Abstract: A lead wire bonding machine is described for ball bonding the end of a lead wire held in a bonding tool to a die pad of an integrated circuit chip and for wedge bonding a segment of the lead wire spaced from the ball bond to a lead frame finger during successive ball bond wedge bond cycles. The bonding machine includes a variable linear drive such as a solenoid or small linear motor coupled to the bonding head for applying the first bond force to the bonding tool during ball bonding and the second bond force to the bonding tool during wedge bonding. A control circuit coupled to the solenoid or other variable linear drive delivers a first current having a desired profile or amplitude wave envelope for applying the first bond force with a first force profile during ball bonding to die pads and by delivering a second current having a desired profile or amplitude wave form for applying the second bond force with a second force profile during wedge bonding to lead frame fingers.