Abstract: A fluid control method includes providing fluid flow through a conduit having a pressure sensitive shutdown valve; driving an electrical power generator with the turbine wheel and delivering electrical power to a storage battery which in-turn powers the components of the system. The method further includes: detecting turbine RPM; calculating volume flow rate from the RPM value and conversion factors input to a computer program. Next, it is determined if average or peak flow rates exceed set point values and creating a shut down signal if it is true so as to close the shutdown valve. A fluid pressure delta is therefore established across the shutdown valve and it is only opened when fluid pressure equilibrium is restored across the valve after break or leak repair and after slowly refilling the downstream system.
Abstract: A practice goal apparatus comprises a box-like structure having an open face and providing plural interior faces adapted to rebound a resilient ball upon impact. The plural interior faces are set at selected angles such that the resilient ball, upon forcefully entering the box-like structure through the open face, from any direction will rebound in a manner resulting in forceful exit from the box-like structure back to the kicker. The apparatus has a hollow base that may be filled with water or sand to anchor it in place.
Abstract: A tracked vehicle adapted for receiving a wheeled vehicle and to be driven by the wheeled vehicle. The tracked vehicle has a chassis. Guide and drive wheels are mounted on the chassis at each side and a set of tracks are driven by the driven wheels and guided by the guide wheels. Rear wheels of the wheeled vehicle rest in a pair of drive rollers and rotating stiles are adapted for receiving steered wheels of the wheeled vehicle.
Abstract: A wall mounted shelf system comprises plural elongate bracket standards adapted for securement on a wall surface, and engaged in slots on faces of the bracket standards, plural shelf brackets support at least one shelf. Standard covers are positioned as an outer skin, in contact with opposing surfaces of the bracket standards. Apertures in the standard covers each are sized and positioned for tight-fitting around one of the shelf brackets and are open to an end edge so that the standard covers can be installed onto the bracket standards, without disassembling the brackets from the standards. In this manner, an inexpensive cover can be installed on existing shelf systems without disassembly. The butting edges of each of the covers are hidden behind the shelves so that the final appearance of the wall mounted standards may be changed in color, texture and other designer effects.
Abstract: A colored light water sprinkler head comprises an enclosure having a cylindrical body adapted at a lower end thereof, for engaging a water supply pipe. The cylindrical body encloses light projecting devices interconnected in an electrical circuit for switching a light display on and off. A water dispensing tube is engaged for linear motion within the enclosure and is adapted for moving between an upwardly extended position under the force of water pressure delivered through the water supply pipe, and a downwardly retracted position under the force of a retraction spring when the water pressure force is absent. The light projecting devices are positioned for directing light toward the dispensing tube when in the extended position.
Abstract: An apparatus and method for joint music production wherein a remotely separated plurality of musicians are joined by phone lines of a public telephone system. The public telephone system has a signal frequency cutoff limiting transmission to a low range which is incompatible with music. Each of musicians produces a local music signal (MSL) with full audio range. This signal is impressed on the public telephone system which creates a low-end outbound music signal (LEL). Also, separately, the MSL signal is filtered through a first high-pass filter and mixed with a mixer signal to produce a sum/difference signal (SDL). The SDL signal is impressed onto the second phone line of the public telephone system as a high-end outbound music signal (HEL). A second mixer circuit receives at least one remotely produced sum/difference signal (SDR) and the mixer signal and this is again filtered to obtain the high end signal only (HER).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 2, 2003
Date of Patent:
November 4, 2003
Inventors:
Dennis L. Ford, Michael R. Leggett, Cindy K. Leggett-Ford
Abstract: A clamping device for aligning confronting ends of a pair of pipe members having a joint therebetween, provides a support member for acting against one of the pipe members, a flexible clamping member having a first and second end and of such length as substantially to encircle one of said pipe members when positioned adjacent to the joint; an anchor member axially moveable relative to the support member; a coupler for releaseably coupling the first end of the clamp member to the anchor member; attachment device carried by the anchor member for releasable attachment of a portion of the clamp member that has been attached to the coupler, a section of the clamp member forming a loop. The section selected to be in conjunction with the support member to clampingly encircle, substantially, the circumference of one of the pipe members.
Abstract: A shelter apparatus comprises an open box base member having a bottom panel and a peripheral, box side wall. A front and a rear shelter walls are removeably engaged in spaced apart vertical slots on the inside of the box side wall. A tension beam is engaged with, and extends between the front and rear shelter walls for rigidity. A fabric cover is extensive between opposing portions of the box side wall and is draped over and supported by the shelter walls. The fabric cover is joined with the front and rear shelter walls and the box side wall by a surface fastening means so that the box side wall, the front and rear shelter walls and the fabric cover enclose a space for a pet. The same elements may be stored within the box base member and secured by the tension beam.
Abstract: A solid medicine crushing apparatus comprises: a solenoid mounted within an enclosure wherein the solenoid engages a crushing ram in an attitude for moving vertically downward when the solenoid is energized. A return spring engaged with the ram moves the ram to a starting position when the solenoid is deenergized. A cup assembly is used for holding a medicine to be crushed. The cup assembly includes an outer cup and an inner cup, where the outer and the inner cups are joined with a living hinge such that the inner cup is able to be rotated from a side-by-side position with the outer cup, to a position within the outer cup. A medicine is placed in the outer cup, the inner cup is then rotated into the outer cup to sandwich the medicine between the outer cup and the inner cup. The cups with the medicine are placed into the enclosure which is sealed by closing an interlocked door of the enclosure. The solenoid is then energized to bring the crushing ram into contact with the inner cup to crush the medicine.
Abstract: A housing for purifying an air flow moving through it provides a reception space for receiving the air flow. The air is treated with mechanical filtration of particles larger than approximately 2 micron, ionizing with energetic ions, exposure to ultraviolet light radiation, and electrostatic precipitation of particles in the air inflow. The ionizing and UV bombardment of the air inflow occur simultaneously.
Abstract: An apparatus and method for assuring that a machine operator is not under the influence of a chemical, comprising a first sensor positioned proximally to the machine operator and adapted for, measuring a vapor concentration proximal thereto, a second sensor positioned distally from the machine operator and adapted for measuring the vapor concentration distally from the operator, a device for comparing the proximal and distal vapor concentrations, and an automated remediating device responsive to the comparing device when the ratio of the first and the second vapor concentrations are within a specified range.
Abstract: A method using CC and MLO views localized in a display in 3-D as a breast virtual model, incorporating, feature capturing using gradient, energy and entropy codes, calibration classification according to features using binary decision trees, nipple detection, and 3-D spatial coordinate transformation and display of breast clustered microcalcifications.
Abstract: A non-integral frame apparatus provides, in combination, plural separate lengths of a frame structure mounted onto a mirror or similar object. Each of the lengths of the frame structure provide an outwardly facing surface with a generally decorative design, and an inwardly facing planar surface. The inwardly facing surfaces of the lengths of the frame structure provide mounting engagement devices such that the lengths of frame structure are fixed onto the mirror in an end-to-end, closed-figure arrangement without mutual engagement. This enables the mirror to appear as if framed by an integral frame assembly without suffering the drawbacks of making, handling and using such.
Abstract: A method of replacing radiator fluid in an automotive radiator includes providing two gas tight containers, a fluid conducting hose with a gas tight nozzle fitted into a radiator fill pipe nipple. The method further includes the steps of filling one of the containers with a fresh radiator fluid, drawing a high vacuum on a second one of the containers, drawing spent radiator fluid into the second one of the containers using only suction from the container, thereby leaving the automotive radiator under a partial vacuum and then drawing the fresh radiator fluid, from the first one of the containers, into the radiator using only suction from the partial vacuum in the radiator. A radiator flush step may also be applied following the same method, using two additional containers, one with initial high vacuum and the other containing flush fluid.
Abstract: A security apparatus comprises in combination, an aircraft having a flight deck, a passenger cabin, and a revolving door assembly for moving from one to the other within the aircraft. The door assembly includes a fixed outer cylindrical wall and a movable inner cylindrical wall, the later mounted for rotation within the outer cylindrical wall. The outer wall provides a pair of outer door portals or doorways in opposing positions, one common to the flight deck, the other common to the passenger cabin. The inner wall provides a singular door portal which may be aligned with either one of the pair of outer door portals depending on the rotational position of the inner wall. Locks are positioned on the outer wall to disable rotation of the inner wall in either passage positions as well as a neutral position for detaining a dangerous person within the revolving door assembly.
Abstract: A turkey call apparatus includes a first portion with a slate pad mounted on a backing panel, which is mounted on an index finger using an elastic band. A second, U-shaped portion has a base integral with spaced apart legs, the terminal edges of which support felt strips. A striker is engaged with the base and positioned between the legs for contact between a free end of the striker and the slate pad when it is moved across the felt strips in a back-and-forth motion. A second elastic band is adapted for engaging a thumb so that the apparatus may be used with only one hand.