Abstract: In a vehicle using a differential apparatus for enabling the operator to quickly stop a skid. A set of electric clutches is attached to the idler pinion gears of the differential and to the spider. A centrifugal switch attached to a pinion responds to rapid rotation of the pinion which occurs during skidding to engage the electric clutches which thereby stop the spinning of the vehicle wheels permitting the drive to regain control. A time delay device maintains the clutches engaged for a short time after the centrifugal switch reopens.

Abstract: A boat ladder for boarding an inflatable pontoon boat, dinghy or similar small craft of the type having opposed generally parallel gunwales. The ladder has two generally parallel ladder supports, each with a first end bendable across one of the gunwales. Plural and parallel ladder steps extend between the two ladder supports and a strap is coupled at one end to the first end of both of the ladder supports. The strap is dimensioned to extend across the space between the gunwales. A hook extends about the second gunwale for coupling the other end of the strap to the other gunwale, whereby the weight of a person climbing up the ladder is distributed relatively evenly across both the gunwales.

Abstract: A ducted fan type model aircraft power plant having a mounting for a one cylinder internal combustion model aircraft engine. The preferred engine utilizes a special vertically oriented carburetor. A duct is supported by a set of stators having an aerodynamic shape for straightening airflow through the duct. A fan having seven identical individual replaceable blades is disposed at the front of the duct and directly driven by the engine. One stator is adapted to essentially enclose the vertical carburetor and to smoothly direct the airflow from the fan around the carburetor to the engine cylinder for cooling. The stator has an opening to the carburetor air inlet for providing air under pressure thereto. The stator shapes cooperate with the duct and aft fairings of the power plant to deliver a smooth airstream having a uniform non-turbulent flow to produce a maximum propulsive efficiency.

Abstract: An inflatable hydroplane apparatus uses a pneumatic vehicle innertube with a flexible fabric cover including an annular flexible fabric positioned partly covering said innertube and forming a smooth bottom therefor. A handle strap is stitched to said cover for the rider to hold on to and a tow rope attaching strap is stitched to the bottom portion of the cover for attaching a tow rope from a boat for pulling the hydroplane. The innertube is inflated in the cover to form the hydroplane and deflated for storage.

Abstract: A flexible electrode catheter for rapid endocardial insertion has a "J"-shaped curved configuration. A wing extends laterally from the catheter at the proximal end, and has an established relationship between the lateral direction of the wing and the direction of the curve, allowing the physician to control the orientation of the distal end during and after insertion within the heart. The wing may then be used to stabilize the electrode by taping to the patient's skin. The curved end is opened between 20.degree.-50.degree. from the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

Abstract: A thermoformable plastic commerical refuse container is rotationally molded with a pair of metal lifting sleeves in situ' molded into the container. The side walls of the container are designed to accept the metal sleeves internally of the container and to distribute the lifting stress over the wall. The container walls are outwardly projected above the sleeves so as to increase the available storage volume of the container. An improved box-shaped top flange design is used to tie the walls of the container together and to provide increased strength and rigidity.

Abstract: A self flashing skylight for installation on the downwardly sloping roof is disclosed, in which a central portion is convexly curved and the side edges are provided with channels adjacent the convexly curved portion so that rain water impinging on the skylight will tend to be diverted into the channels which direct the water to the bottom of the skylight.

Abstract: An all electronic interconnect system having high flexibility, low cost, and higher reliability. A central matrix is formed from a multiplicity of solid state analog switches in which each switch is controlled by a digital address. Each switch can connect a common switch point to one of a multiplicity of outputs. For use with digital devices such as computers and peripherals, a multiplicity of rows of the matrix may be connected to accept an N-bit parallel byte and to output such an input selectively to one of several channels. The channel to which the input is connected is selected by a digital address to each of the analog switches in the row. By using a multiplicity of rows, the matrix is built up to interconnect a number of input digital devices to a number of output devices through control of the electronic addresses. Control circuits are provided which permit rapid interconnection of any input device to any output device.

Abstract: An improved hermetically sealed composite container formed by double-seaming a pair of compounded metal ends to extended length flanges on the opposite ends of a can body so that the compound is bonded to an inner liner on the can body to provide an effective seal. The compound material is placed in the seaming panel and curl area of the metal ends so as to provide a more extensive seal area when the metal ends are double-seamed with the extended flanges on the can body. The extended length flanges provide a considerably greater contact area between the can body inner liner and the metal ends when the metal ends are double-seamed to the can body.

Abstract: A game apparatus including a manipulatable container with a sinuous track having a concave surface mounted within the container and extending along a three dimensional path between a starting point and a finishing point, the track including a longitudinal twist between the starting point and the finishing point. A ball rolls along the track as the game is manipulated by a user. The container may contain two compartments communicating with one another through an aperture.

Abstract: A method and system for harvesting fruit, such as citrus fruit. A modularized housing is provided with a mechanism for disposing the housing opposite a picking zone of a tree, with an open side thereof defining a picking aperture. The picking zone is illuminated, and an electronic camera at the geometric center of the housing having a 256.times.256 sensor array records the picking zone. Electronic processing circuits identify the X-Y coordinates with respect to the aperture of each identified fruit with color discrimination means utilized for such identification. The X-Y coordinates are stored in memory. An extensible picking arm is then placed with a pivot at the geometric center and sequentially extended through each stored X-Y coordinate. An optical seeker, having a light source and a quadrature optical detector, disposed at the distal end of the arm detects a fruit in the path of the extending arm and controls the movement of the arm to cause a severance head on the arm to contact the fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting an automatic firearm of high caliber including a frame, a receiver mounted on the frame, a barrel mounted on the receiver, a bolt disposed on the receiver telescopically moveable relative to the breech end of the barrel against the action of a recoil spring, and the bolt being controlled by a sear which is movable in response to the movement of the weapon trigger and a disconnect lever, to a low caliber automatic firearm is disclosed. The apparatus for conversion includes a frame disposed in the receiver of the firearm, a low mass bolt assembly including a bolt carrier, a bolt, and a sear foot disposed in sliding contact with the frame. A pivotable camming lever is attached to the frame and pivots in response to impact from the bolt carrier. The camming lever provides sufficient mechanical advantage to enable the forward impact of the low mass bolt assembly to depress the disconnect lever on the original weapon.

Abstract: A radiation detector having a plurality of discrete fields of view with respect to a plurality of sensing elements. The sensing elements are connected such that their output signals are summed to zero if all elements are receiving the same radiation. Optical elements focus on the sensing elements to produce the discrete fields of view and are adapted to produce non-uniform sensitivity of the patterns over the solid angle thereof whereby a non-zero output will be produced when the sensing elements receive differing amounts of radiation. In one embodiment, a shield is disposed between elements to block radiation to a sensing element from one portion of the solid angle and to pass radiation from another portion of the solid angle.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for mixing concrete or the like is described and includes a support frame, a rotational drive mounted to the frame, a drum liner support rotatably connected to the rotational drive and a drum liner connected to and supported by the drum liner support and comprising a container having one open end for receiving therewithin the material to be mixed.

Abstract: A system for conditioning and removing aquatic plants growing on the surface of a body of water includes a water craft having at least one rotatable drum, the specific density of which is less than one. Conditioning ribs extend away from the outer peripheral surface of the drum and a prime mover is provided for moving the craft across an area of compacted aquatic plants. The drum is rotated to permit the ribs to separate and condition the plants for a relatively uniform distribution across the surface of the water. The craft has means, such as a rope, cable or pushing fork for drawing the aquatic plants into a conveyor for removal. The water craft is provided with a steering mechanism of rugged construction permitting relatively facile movement.

Abstract: An electric ceiling fan of minimum practical axial depth for conserving needed head room includes a wheel-like frame; a fan motor nested therein; a fan blades assembly nested around and driven by such motor; a shallow support adapted to be attached directly to a ceiling; shallow hanger arms pivotally suspending the frame from the support for generally varying the air flow; a shallow, air pervious upper guard enclosing the motor and fan blades assembly; a step motor nested in the frame beneath the fan motor; a thin air pervious lower guard nested within the frame, driven by the step motor in the same direction as the fan blades assembly, but at much lower speed, and having radially spaced parallel vanes directing the downwardly flowing air in both axial and outwardly inclined, slowly revolving columns, for distributing the air over a wider area, while avoiding excessive air flow and "dead spots" beneath the fan; and a control mechanism including a separate switch for operating the step motor independently of t

Abstract: A high speed processor for a digital modem which transmits and receives data over voice grade telephone lines, for performing logical addition and subtraction operations during encoding and decoding of data as phase shift keyed modulation. A quarter square multiplying circuit is provided which executes multiplying operations at high speed. A discrete-input multiplexer is provided and controlled to bring single-bit variables into the processor as word variables permitting logic operations to be performed rapidly and efficiently. A bitwise logic circuit is provided in conjunction with the multiplexer and the processor to perform logic operations on bit pairs within the same word or on pairs of bits from different locations in two different operands. An interrupt subsystem includes a toggle circuit which alternately monitors for transmit and receive interrupts.