Abstract: A portable collapsible wheel is provided with fabric-type material spoke elements extending between the hub and the rim for performing the spoke function. The fabric-type material bears the weight of the load supported by the wheel in suspension from the rim. The spoke elements are secured to the hub and the rim and means are provided for tensioning the spoke material. The fabric-type material spoke elements diverge from each other toward the hub for triangulation and stability. The spoke elements may be in the form of disks or shallow conical elements secured to the rim as by hooks, and may be collapsed and folded into a small space. For tensioning, telescoping hub elements are described by way of example. A variety of rim constructions are also provided including a collapsible rim or segmented rim of a plurality of articulated polygonal abutting rim segments flexibly joined in sequence. Segmented rim may be folded and compressed into a circular arch with peripheral tread which forms the wheel tread.

Abstract: A stack winding apparatus and method is described for winding wire filament around selected teeth of a slotted stack. The apparatus and method are applicable for stacks of annular configuration with radially inwardly and outwardly directed teeth; for winding tapered or other complex distributions of copper turns on iron; and for winding stacks with high density teeth and narrow slots where a winding needle cannot pass between adjacent teeth. A wire feed winding needle mounting support and a stack mounting support permit movement of the winding needle and a stack in at least three coordinate axis directions relative to each other. The supports may be formed on separate modules for variable angular orientation relative to each other. A number of motors control relative movement of the winding needle and stack along the three directions for winding selected teeth in the desired distribution.

Abstract: An improved cribbage game having a gameboard formed with the graphic representation of a sporting course such as a golf course having a plurality of fairways, each beginning with a tee and culminating in a green and golf hole. The rows of cribbage game pegholes for scoring points are in the form of non-linear tracks following the fairways through the golf course. The non-linear tracks include a plurality of detours from the tracks starting from a sporting obstacle peghole on the track and terminating at a return peghole on the track with at least one additional off-track peghole in between. In the example of a golf course, the detours represent golfing obstacles or hazards. The additional off-track pegholes are followed by the pegs of players when the pegs stop in a sporting obstacle peghole after scoring and tallying the points.

Abstract: An improved lead wire ball bonding machine for bonding wire leads between an integrated circuit chip and the lead frame on which the chip is mounted is provided with a bonding tool position sensor coupled to receive the Z-motion velocity waveform signal to the servo motor which drives the bonding head and bonding tool. This sensor detects the signal level and direction of change or polarity of the Z-motion velocity waveform signal for determining the location of the bonding head and bonding tool. The bonding tool position sensor is coupled and adjusted for generating a first output signal corresponding to a first location of the bonding head and bonding tool during motion downward to the die pad of an integrated circuit chip prior to contact by the bonding tool and lead wire for ball bonding.

Abstract: A position angle transducer for voltage compensating tap changing transformers provides secondary tap number or tap position analog output signals which accurately reflect the secondary tap position even if a non-linear relationship obtains between the shaft angle and tap number. A shaft angle sensor generates shaft angle analog signals and an analog-to-digital converter converts the shaft angle analog signals to shaft angle digital words. A digital-to-digital converter receives the shaft angle digital words and provides at its output tap number digital words according to the transfer function or functional relationship of tap changing shaft angle to tap number for the particular transformer. A programmable read-only memory performs the digital-to-digital conversion and is flexibly programmed according to the transfer function of the transformer and in order to establish any desired transfer functional relationship.

Abstract: A wood-type solid fuel fired water heater of modular construction includes a radiation heat transfer section or module in the form of a first annular or cylindrical side wall of refractory material. A water circulating first coil is embedded in the inner surface of the first annular side wall or cylinder to provide a partial water wall or water jacket in the refractory material. The first annular side wall defines the combustion chamber and locus of combustion for direct radiant heating of water in the first coil. The convection heat transfer section or module is formed by a second annular side wall or cylinder of refractory material positioned above the first annular side wall. A second coil for water circulation is mounted inside the second annular side wall but spaced from the inner surface for circulation of hot flue gas around the second coil for convection heating of water in the second coil.

Abstract: A well water aeration system removes volatile contaminants from well water pumped through the well pipe of a well into a building. An elongate spray conduit is spliced into the well pipe at a location below the top of the well but above the average static water level in the well. The spray conduit is formed with spray holes for spraying, aerating and recirculating a fractional portion of the well water pumped through the well pipe with the fractional portion of sprayed water falling back down the well. The spray holes are selected in number and diameter to maintain adequate pressure for continued pumping of the well water through the well pipe. A check valve at the upper end of the spray conduit stops the backflow of water from the building into the elongate spray conduit when pumping of well water through the well pipe stops.

Abstract: A visual corrective device is provided in the form of a visual field occluder or lens occluder for use with a pair of eyeglasses. A generally flat pocket-like enclosure is formed from first and second gores of a soft flexible material joined along the bottom or base portion to form an envelope enclosure. The base portion is contoured with a curvature to accommodate and generally conform to the base of a lens frame portion and lens of a pair of eyeglasses. The gores forming the envelope enclosure are open at the top for sliding the enclosure from below over a lens frame portion and lens of the eyeglasses. The enclosure is constructed and arranged with side openings in the form of first and second notches between the gores extending downward from the top of the gores and meeting the joined base of the enclosure.

Abstract: An improved TTL tristate device with reduced output capacitance incorporates an active discharge sequence of three elements including first and second active transistor elements (Q8, Q7) in an inversion coupling and a third passive element comprising a passive diode cluster (D3, D4, D5) coupled between the base of the second transistor element (Q7) and the enable gate. The passive diode cluster is operatively arranged for delivering base drive current to the base of the second transistor (Q7) when the enable gate (A) is at high potential for operation of the output device in the bistate mode. The passive diode cluster also operatively diverts base drive current away from the base of the second transistor (Q7) when the enable gate (A) is at low potential for operation of the output device in the high impedance third state with reduced output capacitance.

Abstract: A pothole patching and roadway surface repair and paving machine is described having a mobile chassis frame mounted on wheels for transport over a roadway. The machine is formed with an elongate boom mounted on the frame at an upwardly directed angle with the lower end of the boom formed with an opening position for receiving repair material dispensed from a source. The boom is constructed and arranged with a boom conveyor extending internally the length of the boom for conveying repair material dispensed from the source to the top of the boom. The boom is mounted on the frame for movement right and left over a roadway surface on a vertical pivot axis and for movement of the boom up and down on a horizontal pivot axis for varying the upwardly directed angle of the boom. An elongate chute or hollow stick is pivotally mounted to the upper end of the boom at a downwardly directed angle.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable carrier for a vise comprises a vertical support tube and a mounting which can be secured to a work bench and which comprises two semicylindrical shells which embrace the support tube and which can be clamped together to fix the support tube in any desired vertical position. The shells extend downwardly from the mounting and define a cavity which accommodates a gas spring which abuts on one end on the support tube and on the other end on the bottom of the composed half shells and exerts an upwardly directed force on the support tube to ease its vertical movement.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable carrier for a vise or the like comprises a vertical support tube which is guided in a clamping device comprising two semicylindrical shells which can be clamped together. The shells are connected on one side by two support elements arranged vertically one below the other, and on the other side there is provided a clamping screw which is arranged between the horizontal planes through the support elements. By such arrangement a great resistance against unintended turning of the support tube even with a relatively slight tightening of the clamping screw is obtained.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable device for carrying a vise, an assembly platform or the like comprises a support tube which is vertically adjustably arranged within a guide tube arranged for attachment to a work bench or the like. In order to facilitate the vertical adjustment a gas spring is provided which acts between the support tube and the guide tube end exerts an upwardly directed force upon the support tube. The gas spring comprises a cylinder, a piston movable therein and a piston rod extending from the piston. The cylinder is arranged and held within the support tube so that upon removal of the support tube and the implement carried thereby by pulling the support tube out of the guide tube the gas spring is simultaneously removed leaving the work bench clear for other work.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for precise placement of an object or sensing or measurement of a parameter using a plurality of tilt plates in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship forming a stack. Adjacent pairs of tilt plates in the stack are joined by unitary hinge plates secured to respective edges of each adjacent pair of tilt plates on one side. Each hinge plate is constructed and arranged of rigid elastic material for controlled elastic bending and recovery under applied bending moment stress. A plurality of spreader elements are provided operatively coupled to each pair of adjacent tilt plates at the side opposite the respective hinge plate. A spreader actuator actuates the spreaders for imparting tilting motion to the respective pair of tilt plates by varying the spacing of the pair of adjacent tilt plates relative to each other at one side imparting bending moment stress to the hinge plate on the other side.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for protecting a welder in association with a standard welding helmet of the type which is open at the top and back of the helmet. An elongate flexible veil comprising fire resistant fabric material is provided having a width across the top sufficient to match the width of the welding helmet. The veil is formed with shoulder length for extending from the helmet edge contour across the top of the helmet over the back of the helmet and below the bottom of the helmet a sufficient distance so that the bottom of the veil lies on the back of the shoulders of a welder wearing the welding helmet.

Abstract: A method and circuits are described for sensing and detecting bond attempts and weld attempts during bonding and welding of lead wire. The method and circuitry are particularly applicable for detecting missed ball bonds and missed wedge bonds during bonding of lead wire between the die pad of a microcircuit chip and the lead frame on which the chip is mounted. A sensor (30) or sensing circuit (42) senses the different characteristic electrical condition of the lead wire (11) following a ball bond attempt and following a wedge bond attempt. A bond attempt indicator (45) indicates high resistance in the lead wire following a missed ball bond while weld attempt indicator (46) indicates low resistance in the lead wire (11) following a missed wedge bond. The lead wire (11) is isolated from uncontrolled contacts with ground potential while the lead wire is held in the bonding tool and bonding machine.

Abstract: Method for retrieving lobsters or similar objects from the floor of a lobster pound or other shallow water body are described. An upward flow of water is established in a flexible conduit or passageway of size sufficient to accommodate the objects to be lifted. This is accomplished by a low pressure air lift particularly suited for non-traumatic handling of lobsters. Objects to be lifted are drawn into the upward flow as the flexible conduit is moved over the bottom. As objects rise to the surface they are guided or diverted by a transfer guide chamber or coupling onto a conveyor which carries the objects onto a deck or support platform floating above the water surface. The transfer chamber and conveyor shed water away from the lobsters or other objects. The transfer guide chamber, conveyor and a pivotable boom for supporting the flexible conduit in an "S" configuration are attached to a deck or support platform floating above the surface.

Abstract: A method is described for monitoring and determining the degree of completion, pulp yield, and residual lignin content in a pulping or delignification reaction. The system provides an on-line, real time, closed loop process control system for the reaction of a known quantity of wood in process liquor. The desired pulp yield is achieved by sampling the liquor during the reaction; determining the total organic carbon content of the sampled liquor; and calculating the degree of completion of the reaction and pulp yield from the process liquor total organic carbon content determination using an appropriate mathematical model. The mathematical model is based upon conservation of carbon mass in the wood or pulp and liquor during the reaction, and includes a conservation of mass equation in which the total organic carbon in the sampled liquor substantially equals the total carbon in the starting quantity of wood or pulp less the total carbon in pulp wood residue at the time of sampling the liquor.

Abstract: A wire feed winding needle mounting support and a stack mounting support permit movement of the winding needle and a stack in at least three coordinate axis directions relative to each other. The supports may be formed on separate modules for variable angular orientation relative to each other. A number of motors control relative movement of the winding needle and stack along the three directions for winding selected teeth in the desired distribution. The invention provides as a basic component pliant bearing surface clamp members on either side of the row of teeth of a stack to be wound. A clamp mounting yoke and further motor means alternately move the pliant bearing surfaces toward and away from the row of teeth on either side between a clamp position and an open position.

Abstract: Controlled rocking action furniture such as a rocking chair is formed with curved side frame pieces for rocking engagement with the ground. Each curved side frame piece comprises a major smooth curved portion in turn composed of at least three component arcs of curvature of increasing radius. A seat frame joins the curved side frame pieces and defines an operating space near the base of the furniture. An upright stop mechanism is housed in the operating space and includes extendable and retractable legs which may be extended and retracted between a position substantially within the operating space and a position extending outside the seat frame in contact with the ground for stopping the chair in upright position. The side frame pieces are formed with first and second minor reverse curved portions at each end of the major curved portion providing forward and backward rocking stops.