Abstract: An electro-optical detection system for detecting objects within the boundaries of a monitored zone, comprises a plurality of LED emitter and photodetector pairs. Each emitter (12) emits a beam of pulses of light energy into the monitored zone, and its paired photodetector (14) detects light energy including light energy from the beam that is reflected from an object within the monitored zone and generates light detection signals. A controller (10) operates the emitter and photodetector pairs and evaluates the light detection signals to discriminate between light energy of beams reflected from an object within the monitored zone and other light energy. The controller can selectively adjust the evaluation of the light detection signals to adjust the effective boundaries of the monitored zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to toilet seat, body support, non food surface, disinfecting, cleaning and sanitizing by using a liquid cleaning or sanitizing solution, in general, and to provide a liquid for manual application, and alternatively for spray application; using a brush or disposable dispensing spray apparatus that permits an individual to quickly sanitize, or disinfect the surface, such as a toilet seat, which solution will rapidly dry or evaporate to allow almost immediate body part to body support non food surface contact use.

Abstract: A power operator raises and lowers a vehicle liftgate to open and close a vehicle rear hatch. A pair of double-acting hydraulic cylinders pivotally interconnect the vehicle and the liftgate to move the liftgate through a raise cycle and a lower cycle. First and second branches of hydraulic circuitry connect an electrohydraulic pump assembly and a hydraulic accumulator to the cylinders. A controller isolates the accumulator and causes the pump assembly to power the initial portion of the liftgate raise cycle through the first circuit branch. When the liftgate reaches a predetermined position, the controller deactuates the pump assembly and connects the accumulator to the first branch to power the remainder of the liftgate raise cycle. Fluid exhausts through the second branch to the pump assembly. The pump powers the liftgate lower cycle through the second branch, while cylinder exhaust fluid flowing through the first branch recharges the accumulator.

Abstract: A slope indicator for indicating the slope of a golf green, comprises a polycarbonate flat circular base and a dome-shaped transparent cover that is filled with distilled water and has an observable bubble. The base has a spike extending from its lower surface and a circular flange extending from its upper surface that has a circular slot. The cover has a periphery which has a circular slot that receives the base flange to form a dome-shaped chamber having a predetermined volume. A direction indicator and radially-spaced slope markings are molded into the cover. The slope indicator is assembled by inverting the cover and metering a predetermined quantity of distilled water into it that is less than the volume to create the bubble. The base is then assembled to it with glue. In use, the slope indicator is placed on a golf green with the spike engaging the golf green. If there is any slope, the bubble will displace from the top of the dome.

Abstract: An automobile has a convertible top storage well closed by a tonneau cover. The top has a pair of spaced articulated side rail linkages interconnected by a plurality of spaced bows supporting a top cover. The rear bow engages the tonneau cover when the top is raised, and is pivoted up adjacent the rear rail to provide clearance for the tonneau cover to open when the top is raised and lowered. A top operating mechanism includes a bow control pressure linkage, comprising a pair of control links, interconnects the rear bow and each rear rail and the rear bow via a lost motion pivotal connection. The pressure linkage folds to raise the rear bow and unfolds to lower the rear bow. When fully unfolded, the pressure linkage moves overcenter to lock the rear bow in contact with the tonneau cover. When the pressure linkage folds to raise the rear bow, it initially moves back overcenter to unlock the rear bow. In one embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder connects between the automobile body and the upper control link.

Abstract: A hybrid convertible top header is formed of a transverse steel tube flattened at its ends and having end fittings for attachment to the front ends of top front side rails. In one embodiment a pair of apertured latch-mounting steel plates are welded to the tube and the entire steel structure is encapsulated in a thermoplastic shroud comprising upper and lower moldings that are bonded along front and rear flanges. The top cover is secured to the front flange, while a closed or open cell foam pad is mounted on the rear flange to provide an energy-absorbing cushion in case of occupant impact on the header. In another embodiment, the plates are not welded to the tube, and the tube and plates are molded into a closed or open cell reaction injected molded polyurethane body that has sufficient rigidity to maintain a predetermined dimensional relationship between the plates and tube.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator for applying and releasing a cable-operated vehicle parking brake includes an operating lever pivotally mounted on a mounting bracket for movement between brake-released and a plurality of brake-applied positions. The operating lever is a unitary molding made of a glass-filled thermoplastic and has an integral footpad. A metal insert which mounts the cable end, includes a sector gear, that is secured to the operating lever by rivets and engages a pinion which is pivoted to the mounting bracket. The operating lever has a raised drive lug that is received in a mating drive aperture in the insert and transfers brake-apply forces from the operating lever to the sector. A one-way clutch normally permits the pinion to rotate freely when the operating lever is operated to apply the parking brake, but prevents reverse rotation of the pinion to maintain the parking brake applied.

Abstract: A vehicle convertible topstack comprises transverse bows and a header supported by spaced, articulated pivotally-interconnected front, center and rear side rails. The front and center side rails are aluminum extrusions each having a right-angle triangular hollow cross section in one embodiment. A C-shaped channel is formed on each triangle's outer hypotenuse and has inwardly-turned, facing flanges for mechanically retaining elongated window seals. The rear rail has a vertical I-shape, and can include a similar window seal retainer. In another embodiment, the front, center and rear rails each have a base and a C-shaped external seal retainer formed on a vertical leg, which forms a slot for receiving a wedge-shaped shims to adjust the angle of the leg and seal to the main body. The shims are formed of frangible sections that can be broken at the top of the slot to remove excess shim material.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator comprises a pedal lever mounted on a support bracket for pivotal movement between brake-release and brake-apply positions to release and apply a parking brake. A sector carried by the pedal lever engages a pinion rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket. A torsion clutch spring has one end fixed to the support bracket and a free end, and normally grips and locks the pinion against reverse rotation when the vehicle transmission is in PARK to enable the parking brake to be locked in applied position. A release lever is operable by a bistable solenoid when the transmission selector is moved out of PARK to expand the torsion clutch spring out of engagement with the pinion to prevent locking of the parking brake. A torsion latch spring has legs which embrace the lever in pinion release position and grips a stud with a greater force to block lever movement out of pinion release position after the solenoid is deenergized.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator housing is easily installed to a vehicle panel in four steps. The legs of spaced housing mounting brackets are first inserted into panel apertures until abutments on the brackets engage the aperture edges. The housing is swung toward the panel on bracket bearing surfaces to compress bracket spring fingers and engage first bracket shoulders with the panel underside. The housing is then slid on the panel until other bracket abutments engage the opposite aperture peripheries, and spaced second bracket shoulders engage the panel underside. This action aligns a housing flange hole with a mating hole in a panel boss, enabling insertion of a fastener. The panel is clamped between the spaced bracket shoulders and the spring fingers and/or bracket bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A foot-operated parking brake actuator applies a parking brake by moving an input pedal lever between a brake-released position and a plurality of brake-applied positions to operate a cable to apply and release a vehicle parking brake. A mounting bracket pivotally mounts the pedal for pivotal movement about a first pivot. A sector gear is secured to the bracket with its center on the first pivot, and mounts a cable take-up reel. The cable is attached to the reel which is pivotally mounted on the pedal lever about a second pivot. A pinion is secured to the reel for engagement with the sector gear upon pedal lever movement to brake-apply positions to wind the cable on the reel. Cable winding occurs at a sequence of variable input/output force ratios of input pedal lever force to output cable force or load to apply the parking brake, the ratio varying with pedal movement because of the complex movement of the reel.

Abstract: A method of defining a sensing system for detecting the presence of an object in a volume of space under surveillance by determining the optimal placement of a plurality of energy beams which are projected into the volume which comprises the steps of (A) placing the object at a preselected position within the space; (B) directing a plurality of sample beams of energy, which have a predetermined orientation, from a source onto the object; (C) detecting the reflections of the sample beam energy from points on the object by energy detectors; (D) recording the preselected position of the object, the predetermined orientation of sample beams, and the detection status of the energy detectors; (E) changing the equatorial and azimuthal angles of each of the beams and repeating steps (B), (C) and (D); (F) moving the source of the sample beams relative to the object; (G) repeating steps (B) through (F) to produce spatial maps of the locations at which the object is positioned when each of the energy detectors detect re

Abstract: A device is placed in a container containing flowing fluid to neutralize fluid contaminants and prevent their deposition on the walls of the container. The device includes a weak electrical current generator having an electric half-cell that forms an electric circuit with the earth-grounded container via the liquid and generates electrons to neutralize the charged contaminants. The generator includes one or more cupriferous tubes containing a mixture of vegetable oil, and powders of copper, zinc, manganese, cellulose and predominantly iron. Preferably, each tube contains:vegetable oil--5.0-20.0%iron powder--50.0-80.0%copper powder--2.0-10.0%zinc powder--2.0-10.0%manganese powder--2.0-10.0%cellulose powder--2.0-15.0%trace minerals--.ltoreq.0.50%.This device may be placed in the line of flow of a deep oil well to prevent deposition of paraffin and other contaminants onto the walls of the pipeline.

Abstract: A manual transmission shifter and ignition interlock is provided for a vehicle having a manual transmission operated by a shift lever (20). A bi-stable solenoid (86) is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition (78) to OFF. Another bi-stable solenoid (66) has an output arm (68) which operates a control linkage (54) and raise and lower a locking lever (48) to engage and disengage the locking level from a locking probe (34) on the shift lever to lock and unlock shift lever (20) when in REVERSE. The solenoids (66, 86) are controlled by a controller (74) that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits (90, 92) that include control switches (94, 96) operated by ignition position. The controller (74) causes solenoid (66) to extend the control linkage (54) when the shift lever (20) is moved to REVERSE, and the ignition (78) is moved to ACCESSORY.

Abstract: An aircraft inertial webbing reel is mounted in a housing and has a ratchet wheel. A dog is mounted for spring-biased movement into engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth to lock the reel. A spring-biased blocking cam normally blocks movement of the dog. An inertia mass movable within a chamber has opposed end mounting surfaces with conical fittings which define an axis. A linkage comprising a pair of interconnected levers each having a distal end having a conical fitting. The fittings each confine a ball to mount the mass on the lever distal ends. A sliding and pivotal fitting interconnects the lever proximal ends and provides an overcenter mechanism normally biasing the lever distal ends toward each other and against the mounting surfaces to clamp the balls within the conical fittings. A predetermined acceleration of the aircraft in any direction causes the mass to shift the balls and move the lever distal ends away from each other.

Abstract: A lighted display features a decorative mounting board having an outer display surface and a rear surface. A string of lights has a plurality of bulb sockets which mount bulbs in their openings and are interconnected by electrical wiring. The bulb lighting portions each have a diameter smaller than the diameter of a socket. A plurality of apertures are arranged in a predetermined decorative pattern on the board. Each aperture is sized to enable insertion of a bulb lighting portion, but presents a barrier preventing reception of a socket. The perimeter of surrounding board material provides a resilient edge which grips the bulb lighting portions. The string of lights is mounted to the board by inserting the bulb lighting portions into said apertures from the rear surface until the sockets engage the aperture perimeters.

Abstract: A ignition-controlled parking brake interlock is provided for a vehicle. The parking brake operating lever is latched in brake-applied positions by engagement of a lever-mounted pawl with fixed sector. A solenoid is movable between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the vehicle ignition to OFF. A lock bar carried by the lever is movable by a second solenoid between positions blocking and unblocking movement of the pawl to release the lever. In one embodiment, a brake lever position switch and a switch operated by the second solenoid control solenoid operation to prevent ignition key removal unless the parking brake is applied and to prevent parking brake release unless the key is inserted and the ignition moved to RUN. In another embodiment, bi-stable solenoids are controlled by a controller that is provided with high and low current inputs from branch circuits that include control switches operated by ignition position and parking brake lever position.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating a five-bow convertible top includes two multi-purpose hydraulic cylinders which are connected by linkages to the rear rails to operate the top, to operate the rear bow, and to operate the tonneau. The cylinder rods are pivoted to a rear bow control link and to a power link. A gas spring biases the tonneau open, while an intermittent drive connected to the cylinder rods overcomes the biasing device to close the tonneau. During initial extension of the cylinder rods, the control link raises the rear bow; then the tonneau is unlatched and is raised by the intermittent drive. Simultaneously, the power link latches to and drives the rear rail to begin lowering the top. The tonneau then begins to close as the top is further lowered. The tonneau closes when the top is fully lowered. The cylinders are retracted to raise the top. Initially, the tonneau begins opening as the power link rotates the rear rail to begin raising the top.

Abstract: A parking brake control device has a torsion lock parking brake actuator which is operated by a foot pad attached to an operator lever. The foot pad is pushed down to set the parking brake. The parking brake is released by pushing down on the depressed foot pad or by a servomotor.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control valve uses a stepped valve spool having a differential area exposed to supply pressure to provide a small resultant force on the spool. A linear electric solenoid provides a linearly variable force on the valve spool to variably position the spool. In a basic embodiment, the linear solenoid force opposes the resultant supply pressure force to position the spool and control hydraulic outlet pressure. Other embodiments are employed to control brake pressure in a transit car. In a second embodiment, the resultant hydraulic pressure force is opposed by the linear solenoid force to position the spool during normal service braking. Brake pressure is proportioned to car weight by varying current to the linear solenoid. When the transit car emergency brake pipe is dumped, load weigh air pressure and spring forces position the spool in an emergency brake pressure position proportional to car weight.