Abstract: A pallet is disclosed for housing plants during their growth, transport and display. In the preferred embodiment, the pallet has a generally rectangular central deck; four sides or rims that border that deck; and two rows of complementary W-shaped legs along opposite sides. The unique structures of these leg rows allow for: secure nesting of multiple pallets when empty; secure stacking of multiple pallets during transportation; and stacking in multiple configuration for display on store floors. Not only are the displays quick to assemble, they also provide easy access for maintenance of the housed plants by employees (e.g., watering), plus inspection and removal of the plants by perspective customers.

Abstract: An H-transistor, fabricated in a silicon-on-insulator ("SOI") substrate, includes opposing source and drain terminals or regions flanking a centrally-located body node or well. Above the body node or well is formed the H-shaped gate terminal of the transistor. One or more shunt body contacts or ties bisect the source terminal and connect the source terminal of the transistor to the underlying body node. In this way, the body node or well is no longer electrically "floating", but, instead, is connected to the fixed ground potential of the source terminal of the transistor.

Abstract: A two-stage mixer ejector concept ("TSMEC") is disclosed for suppressing the noise emanated by jet aircraft. This TSMEC was designed to help older engines meet the stringent new federal noise regulations, known as "Stage III". In an illustrated embodiment, the TSMEC comprises: a lobed engine nozzle attached to the rear of a turbofan engine; a short shroud that straddles the exit end of the engine nozzle; two rings of convergent/divergent primary and secondary lobes within the engine nozzle shroud and; and a ring of arcuate gaps that precede the shroud and the second nozzle ring. The lobes are complimentary shaped to rapidly mix the turbine's hot exhaust flow with cooler air including entrained ambient air, at supersonic speed. This drastically reduces the jet exhaust's velocity and increases jet mixing, thereby reducing the jet noise.

Abstract: A baffle insert or sleeve is disclosed for the integration of the downstream pressure tap into a pressure regulation valve ("PRY") for an aircraft environmental control system ("ECS"). The purpose of this insert is to return the flow, disturbed by the pivoting disk of a butterfly valve, to a more normal distribution within the length of the valve body. This allows the PRV downstream pressure tap to be part of the valve, instead of it (along with additional plumbing) being located four more pipe diameters beyond the valve housing.

Abstract: An improved double-locking mechanism for handcuffs is disclosed. In the preferred embodiments, a standard pawl and multi-piece slide-bolt assembly have been modified to prevent premature sliding of the bolt into its "double-locking" position, and to prevent dislodging of the bolt back into its "non-locking" position. The unique slide bolt, or the nearby lock casing, is angularly offset to create a fulcrum. The bolt also has an underlying tab that is designed to rest in either of two side-by-side locator notches atop a cuff's pawl. One notch firmly locates the bolt in a double-locking position, while the other notch normally keeps it in a non-locking position. To shift the bolt into its double-locking position, an authorized user presses any suitable actuator (e.g., the tiny end of a handcuff key or a ball-point pen end) against an exposed inclined end of the bolt. This pivots the bolt about the fulcrum and against the casing, so that it lifts the tab out of the non-locking locator notch.

Abstract: An air mixer, with a water collector, is disclosed for supplying recirculated cabin air in aircraft. In the preferred embodiment: used cabin air flows over pipes of colder fresh air to cool the used air and condense out most of the moisture contained in it; the fresh air and used air are passed over opposite faces of a ring of stator vanes, thereby imparting swirls to both types of airstreams; and the streams meet at the trailing tips of the stator vanes, where they corkscrew together to throw remaining coalesced moisture against a collection trough, from where it is discharged. The airstreams can now be injected into the cabin without droplets raining down on the passengers, nor ice clogging any pipes for the fresh air, which is typically supplied at below-freezing temperature.

Abstract: An improved hinge assembly is disclosed for interconnecting a pair of handcuffs. In the preferred embodiment, the hinge assembly comprises two parallel single-link hinges that are pivotally attached to the cuffs by trunnion pins. Each link has unique oversized slots, through which the pins extend. This permits the cuffs, when side-by-side, to collapse against one another; and it enables the cuffs to move away from each other for compact wearing over a user's belt. In addition, the trunnion pins are captured within the cuff frames. This avoids tampering found with exposed pivot pins in prior multi-link hinges.

Abstract: A monitoring system is disclosed to automatically indicate excessive wear of electrical brushes in deicer assemblies for aircraft. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator system includes an electrical brush with an initially insulated wire embedded in it; and an electrical detection circuit, connected to the brush, with a warning device such as a light. When the brush becomes worn, through excessive "end wear" and/or "flank wear", the insulated wire becomes exposed and eventually stripped at the point of wear. This creates a conductive path from the electrical brush, through the bare wire spot, to the detection circuit. This turns on the warning device to indicate that the brush has become worn and needs replacement.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method apparatus for the manufacture of wood products from tree trunks in the form of an integral work station utilizing modern splinter-chipping technology. In a preferred embodiment a tree trunk (6) is alignable on a feeder carriage (4) for optimal utilization of the wood, on the feeder carriage (4), and is moveable by means of the carriage lengthwise in the working zone (8). Laterally modular tool units (10, 12, 14, 16) are provided alongside the working zone (8). They are of modular design and can optionally, for a selective processing sequence, be brought into engagement with the tree trunk repeatedly passing by.

Abstract: A novel centrifugal pumping system is disclosed for supplying fuel to aircraft gas turbines. The system has a common rotor with two different sets of impeller blades on opposite sides. A regenerative/liquid-ring starting pump is located on one side of the rotor, and a centrifugal impeller is located on the other. During engine start-up, the regenerative/liquid-ring pump is capable of priming itself and supplies engine fluid and pressure. The starting pump delivers fuel until the main pump reaches a speed sufficient to provide adequate pressure for fuel delivery. At that time, the starting pump is switched off, via a valving system.

Abstract: An "adaptive synchrophaser" is disclosed for modifying the phase angle relationship between aircraft propellers to reduce cabin noise and/or vibration. Rather than use a constant pre-selected angle for a specific passenger cabin configuration during a particular flight mode (e.g., during liftoff or cruise), the synchrophaser periodically monitors actual operating conditions and modifies the phase angle accordingly. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of transducers (microphones) are installed at several cabin locations to sample noise periodically. The signals are then transmitted via a signal conditioner, a multiplexer and an analog-to-digital converter to a signal processor. The processor calculates the maximum acoustic noise at each microphone location for all possible phase angles. It then identifies the optimum phase angle that resulted in the lowest maximum noise anywhere in the cabin, and signals a synchrophaser to set that angle.

Abstract: A series of improved electron multipliers is shown which are capable of reducing the number of bombardments per unit area. In the preferred embodiment, the inner channel is significantly increased in surface area over that surface area of present-day multipliers. Because the surface area is increased, for the same charge throughout, the number of electron bombardments per unit area is decreased. Since the number of bombardments per unit area is reduced, there is less degradation on the inner surface of the channel and hence the device lifetime is also increased.

Abstract: A detection or safety system is disclosed for preventing leakage of harmful gases when fragile ampoules break during heating of components in crystal growth experiments. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes an inner silica ampoule to house the components and reaction product; an outer silica ampoule that encases the inner ampoule, leaving a gap between them; an inert gas (preferably neon) that is normally trapped in the gap; and a metal canister that houses or contains the ampoules. If the pressure becomes too great within the inner ampoule, during heating by the crystal growth furnace, both ampoules may break. If that occurs, the neon is released, where upon its presence is sensed by a thermal conductivity detector ("TCD"). The TCD then sends off a signal to a controller which shuts off the furnace power. The resulting decrease in temperature releases the pressure and prevents the canister from being breached.

Abstract: An air cycle machine (10) has four wheels mounted on a common shaft (20) for rotation therewith about a longitudinal axis (12), including a second stage turbine rotor (30) mounted to a first end (20a) of the shaft, a fan rotor (40) mounted to a second end (20b) of the shaft, a first stage turbine rotor (50) mounted to a central portion (20c) of the shaft, a compressor rotor (60) mounted to the central portion of the shaft in back to back relation to the first stage turbine rotor, the first and second stage turbine rotors being operative to extract energy from a flow of compressed air for driving the shaft (20), and the fan rotor (40) and the compressor rotor (60), in rotation about the axis, and first and second hydrodynamic gas film foil bearings (70, 80) for supporting the shaft for rotation about the longitudinal axis (12).

Abstract: A foldable rigid frame front entry safety walker having programmed resistance to backward motion, and having a porous seat to accommodate incontinent patients.

Abstract: An apparatus for administering self-adhesive labels is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the invention comprises an advance lever, which activates a driving mechanism which rotates two cooperating rolling bars; a wiper bar in cooperation with a deflection bar, which forms a stripping mechanism; and a clear label path. Because of the paucity of parts, the user can view a web at all times. In addition, some parts are transparent, which enhances the user's ability to monitor labels. Because of the sharp edge of the deflection bar, the labels are separated from the base ply and projected forward, while the base ply is pulled back and away from the label. Then, due to the beveled edge of the wiper bar, the labels are applied with a wiping motion, rather than a rotating motion.

Abstract: A sealed, quick-disconnect, hole-saw arbor is disclosed for affixing a hole saw to a drill. The arbor enables a standard hole saw to be firmly "snugged up" to a shoulder on the arbor, and then rotated without being "backed off" the shoulder, in order to align drive holes in the hole saw with adjustable drive bosses on the arbor. In the preferred embodiments, the sealed hole-saw arbor produces a gravity-responsive, reversible, one-way lock effect on a threaded mounting sleeve. Letter indicators "T" and "L" on the arbor help the user position the arbor in a tighten or loosen position. Holding the arbor so that the "T" is upright, positions the arbor in the tighten position. The mounting sleeve is thereby secured against movement in a tighten direction and the hole saw is then threaded onto the sleeve and "snugged up" to the shoulder on the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for transmitting laser energy to occlusions within obstructed vessels. In the preferred embodiments, a laser delivery catheter includes a hollow tip that encloses a laser energy optical fiber and retractable endoscope. In use, the hollow tip is first positioned adjacent an occlusion. The endoscope can then be retracted within the hollow tip to enhance utilization of the internal volume of the hollow tip for positioning of the laser energy optical fiber, thereby allowing targeting of the occlusion substantially beyond a cross-sectional area of the hollow tip. In a "balloon" embodiment, the position of the laser energy optical fiber is adjusted by an inflatable balloon, adjacent the optical fiber, within the hollow tip. In a "wire" embodiment, the position of the optical fiber is adjusted by a longitudinal movement of a torque wire.

Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of the interior of a vehicle, e.g., a railway carriage, comprising a refrigerant circuit (18) having an evaporator (21) through which air is passed to outlets (24) to the interior of the vehicle. A condenser (25) of the refrigerant circuit (18) is cooled by liquid-containing pipes which extend over the entire height of the vehicle to a liquid/air heat exchanger (19). The refrigerant unit is arranged in or on the roof of the vehicle and heat exchanger (19) is arranged on or under the floor of the vehicle, or vice versa.