Abstract: Educational devices using process-oriented educational methods are disclosed to prepare pre-school children, school children, and teenagers for keyboarding. The devices include sets of gloves and indicia applied to the fingers of the gloves to provide pictorial and alphanumeric representations of the computer keyboard. The visual and tactile memorization of the glove images are complemented by auditory and associative memorization provided by a story-telling educational method. Synergistic use of the gloves in the context of supervised story-telling also trains the pre-school children to develop and practice both lateral and vertical thinking skills.sup.1-2, thus preparing them for coping creatively with the inherent hardware/software limitations of computers. The memorization of the alphanumeric representation of the computer keyboard is reinforced through synergistic use of the gloves in a variety of activities including learning the alphabet, learning word-spelling, and learning languages.

Abstract: A piston end position limiter for a free piston machine of the type having a piston sealingly reciprocating in a cylinder and separating a work space bounded at one end of the piston from a second space bounded at the opposite end of the piston. The work space and the second space contain a working fluid having an average pressure. A first valve is connected in communication between a fluid reservoir and the work space and is adapted to open only when the working fluid pressure varies sufficiently in one direction from its average pressure. A second position responsive valve is connected between the reservoir and the second space and is operatively linked to the piston for opening in response to the piston reaching a selected end limit of its reciprocation.

Abstract: A restraining system for a foldable rear-seat back rest in motor vehicles including a flexible belt extending from the rear of the seat back and removably attaching to the rear door of the vehicle. The belt is tensioned by an automatic roll-up mechanism which is preferably secured below the rear-seat back rest and mounted to the vehicle chassis. The belt preferably extends from the automatic roll-up mechanism, upwardly through a channel in the rear-seat back rest, and extends out of the upper region of the back rest and removably attaches to the inside of the rear door.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of an electric potential to a mixture of molten metal droplets, molten salts, and optionally certain fluoride salt additives, whereby the molten metal migrates toward one of the electrodes. The migration encourages increased coalescence of the droplets into larger particles, whereby increased recovery of the metal from the mixture is achieved.

Abstract: Free piston Stirling coolers and engines are improved by a variable power transmitting linkage connecting the displacer to the piston and coupling more power from the displacer to the piston while piston displacement exceeds a selected limit than coupled while piston displacement is less than the selected limit. Adjustment of the position of the limit is used to control stroke amplitude, power output or thermal pumping rate.

Abstract: A method of measuring the distance at closest approach between the piston of a free piston compressor and the cylinder head. The method derives measurements of both the alternating and average components of piston position from direct measurements of the voltage and current applied to the linear permanent magnet motor that drives the piston, and thus eliminates any requirement for an additional position sensor located within the compressor.

Abstract: A paperboard pallet having generally U-shaped, parallel runners with notches along the distal edges of their legs for receiving stringers. The runner legs diverge from the central web and are formed by a plurality of nested paperboard laminations, each having a central web and distal legs. The central webs are defined by spaced parallel scores spaced progressively more closely toward the interior. The stringers each comprise a multi-layered coil of paperboard sheet wound into a tube of triangular cross-section. The sides of the triangle are defined by scores to form fold lines, the scores of the more interior layers being more closely spaced than the scores of the more exterior layers. After scoring, the sheet is wound and bonded. A generally U-shaped saddle cap has a central web which extends between the opposite distal edges of the runner legs and has opposite legs which are bonded to the legs of the runner.

Abstract: Educational devices using process-oriented educational methods are disclosed to prepare pre-school children, school children, and teenagers for keyboarding. The devices include sets of gloves and indicia applied to the fingers of the gloves to provide pictorial and alphanumeric representations of the computer keyboard. The visual and tactile memorization of the glove images are complemented by auditory and associative memorization provided by a story-telling educational method. Synergistic use of the gloves in the context of supervised story-telling also trains the pre-school children to develop and practise both lateral and vertical thinking skills.sup.1-2, thus preparing them for coping creatively with the inherent hardware/software limitations of computers. The memorization of the alphanumeric representation of the computer keyboard is reinforced through synergistic use of the gloves in a variety of activities including learning the alphabet, learning word-spelling, and learning languages.

Abstract: A method of custom trimming golf club shafts comprising (i) measuring the frequency of oscillation, f.sub.c, of a representative shaft at a plurality of different tipping amounts and effective shaft lengths, (ii) calculating the moment, m.sub.c, of the replica shaft for each effective shaft length, (iii) performing a linear regression on the measured frequencies to obtain the coefficients A and B in the formf.sub.c =A+C*tipping amount+B*m.sub.c,(iv) selecting an inventory shaft having a known natural frequency, f.sub.c, at a selected moment, m.sub.c, and (v) calculating the constant C=f.sub.c -B*m.sub.c. The tipping amount is calculated from the equationtipping amount=(f.sub.g -C-B*m.sub.g).div.Awhere m.sub.g is the desired moment and f.sub.g is the desired natural frequency of a golfer's finished golf club. A length of the narrow end of the inventory shaft equal to the tipping amount is removed and a length of the grip end of the inventory shaft may also be removed if necessary.

Abstract: A writing instrument hand grip to facilitate gripping ease and comfort and to improve handwriting for people with a hand and finger dexterity disability. A pyramidal tetrahedron has a writing material detachably mounted to one or more of its apexes. Its faces may be concavely contoured and provided with friction enhancing surfaces.

Abstract: A piston centering system for a free piston machine. The invention uses a centering passageway which is in communication between a work space and a second space which spaces are formed in a housing and are separated by a piston which reciprocates in a cylinder in the housing. The centering passageway has a valve, such as a spool valve formed in the piston and cylinder or a center post, the valve opening in response to the piston being near the center of the opposite limits of its reciprocation. The improvement is the inclusion of a pressure responsive, one way valve interposed in the passageway. The one way valve is oriented to permit the passage of the working gas through the passageway from one space to the other in a direction opposite to a net leakage flow from one space to the other through the annular gap between the piston and cylinder and to prevent substantial flow through the passageway in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing fire retardant cellulose fibers. The method comprises mixing limestone with shredded cellulosic fibers, mixing an acidic agent with the fibers, and depositing water on the mixture of fibers, limestone and acidic agent. A chemical reaction results from the limestone and the acidic agent being combined in a sufficiently moist environment. The reaction liberates carbon dioxide gas which causes a mechanical foaming action, thereby breaking down and distributing the produced particles of the chemical reaction. The preferred acidic agent is ammonium sulfate combined with boric acid. The method preferably includes the application of an anti-static agent in the step that includes mixing the limestone with the fibers. The water deposited preferably comprises an amount substantially in a range from 6%-16% of the weight of the fibers.

Abstract: A security apparatus for restricting the opening of a door in a frame consisting of lag bolts screwed into the frame near opposite edges of the door and a nylon belt fastened to each lag bolt. An aperture is formed near each end of the belt and the lag bolts are extended through the apertures in order to fasten the belt to the bolts. The belt can be elongated slightly, and it is preferred that the distance between the apertures is slightly less than the distance between the bolts. Any elongation above a specified amount requires substantially higher force than that required to elongate the belt for putting it in its operable position.

Abstract: An electrical circuit and method for generating a continuous train of width modulated pulses. A square wave is generated and a delay circuit provides a delayed analog of the square wave. A controllable duration one-shot multivibrator generates a modulating pulse having a duration proportional to the sum of the absolute value of the modulating signal and a constant offset. The constant offset is chosen so that, in the absence of a modulating signal, the offset provides the largest control signal to the one-shot multivibrator which causes an output modulating pulse from the multivibrator equal in duration to the minimum duration which the multivibrator intrinsically is capable of obtaining. The polarity of the modulating signal is detected, a logical OR operation is performed upon the delayed square wave and the modulating pulse and an EXCLUSIVE OR operation is performed upon the combination of the result of the OR operation and the polarity detector output logic level.

Abstract: A method for measuring the swing time of a golfer's swing and selecting a golf club having k divided by four times the club's natural frequency (f.sub.n) approximately equal to the golfer's swing time. The golfer's swing time is defined as the time elapsed between maximum deflection of a club shaft during downswing until ball impact. The adjustment factor, k is in the equation since the motion of a golf swing is not periodic motion. The adjustment factor, k is determined by measuring the swing time of a representative golfer, finding the preferred f.sub.n for his swing and solving the above equation for k. In the preferred embodiment, an accelerometer is mounted within the club head and is connected to an electronic data processor. A graph of club head angular or radial acceleration versus time is plotted and the swing time is measured from the graph, between either peak angular acceleration or the latest point of maximum slope for radial acceleration and ball impact.

Abstract: Anatase titania is used as the sensitive ceramic for sensing the amount of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in mixed gasses where the changes in electric current characteristics passing through such ceramic when it is exposed to such gases is used to determine the amount of carbon monoxide and hydrogen present. Such sensor is made selective to hydrogen when alumina is included in the ceramic and to carbon monoxide when yttria is included. Additions of a catalytic metal particularly iron or palladium is beneficial to the anatase titania-yttria ceramic in its selective sensing of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: An earthquake sensor in which a weight falls from a support surface and activates a switch in the event of an earthquake. The support surface is preferably a bell with its opened end downward and the weight resting on a concave, recessed region at the closed end of the bell. The bell is preferably supported by a shaft along the axis of the bell, the tip of which the bell pivots about like a pendulum. A conductive cylinder encircles the bell near its bottom. When the earth moves, the weight falls down the inclined surface of the bell, wedging between the bell and the cylinder, forcing the bell to pivot over to electrically connect the bell to the cylinder. In an alternative embodiment, the weight electrically connects the bell and the cylinder, and the bell does not pivot.

Abstract: The combination of the signed digit (SD) and the logarithmic number system (LNS) for the creation of a hybrid SD/LNS processor. An optimal radix was chosen for the SD system by taking into account both the speed of operations and the memory storage requirements. A technique for parallel converison of SD to sign-magnitude numbers is disclosed. The optimal-SD-radix hybrid LNS processor exploits the parallelism that is offered by the SD number system, and exhibits efficient overflow detection mechanism. It is at least 10 gate delays faster per each LNS addition/subtraction than state-of-the-art traditional LNS processor designs and 8 gate delays faster per each LNS multiplication/division. The gain in speed is achieved at the expense of some small PLAs that have to be included in the design and a small degree of additional complexity of the circuitry.