Abstract: A supplemental cylinder head assembly for operation of an engine in a homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion mode. The supplemental cylinder head assembly provides a movable accumulator piston position above the main combustion chamber. The accumulator piston is upwardly responsive to the combustion event in the main combustion chamber and downwardly to a preload force. An engine adapted to receive the supplemental cylinder head assembly is capable of efficiently operating on any fuel in the octane range of zero to 130.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combination precast concrete traffic barrier element and a precast C-shaped retaining wall, and a method of constructing a traffic barrier using the element on the vertical face of the retaining wall. The barrier element is a profiled reinforced block of concrete having a bottom surface with a longitudinally extending channel therein. The traffic barrier element is supported on the retaining wall. U-shaped anchoring bars project from an interior portion of the traffic barrier element and from the top surface of the retaining wall to form an oval keyway the length of the longitudinal channel. A locking bar arrangement is inserted through the keyway in a locking relationship with the U-shaped anchoring bars. Concrete is then injected throughout the longitudinal channel and allowed to harden, thus providing a sealed and locked joint.

Abstract: An improved magnetostrictive wire based position transducer that has applications in both liquid level measuring systems and in position indicating systems. A cylindrically structured and circularly polarized piezoelectric element directly measures the torsional acoustic waves in the magnetostrictive wire as they are received by the sensor. The cylindrical structure of the sensor eliminates many of the inadvertently detected acoustic and electrical pulses within the wire that are not indicative of the passage of the torsional wave of concern. The present system provides an improved sensor configuration which is selectively sensitive to torsional waves while being insensitive to vibrations in alternate planes. This improved piezoelectric sensor in combination with the electrical configuration allows placement of the magnetostrictive wire apart from the liquid whose level is being measured or from the indicator whose position is of concern.

Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM) radiant energy beam source transmits a beam of reflectable EM energy toward the space in a hospital bed normally occupied by a patient being monitored. In one embodiment, the beam is reflected by the patient if found within the confines of the hospital bed, and the reflected beam is detected by an EM energy sensor located on the apparatus. A control logic circuit then receives data from the energy sensor regarding the level of reflected energy detected. If a certain beam intensity level has been detected, the control logic circuit sends a signal to an output relay that the patient is still in the bed. If the patient is no longer in the bed, an alternate signal is sent to the output relay. The output relay serves as an interface to an external occupancy monitoring system or may alternatively operate an alarm bell or light to indicate the absence of the patient.

Abstract: An improved watering/irrigation control system for use in conjunction with automatic domestic lawn and plant watering systems and/or automatic agricultural irrigation systems that utilizes historical rainfall data and/or predictive rainfall data or restrictive watering data for a determination of when standard timed periodic irrigation or watering operations should be interrupted or withheld given the existence of sufficient rainfall already on the ground or a sufficient likelihood that such rainfall will occur within a predetermined period of time such that the normal watering or irrigation cycle is made unnecessary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing undesired material from the internal spaces of parts and more particularly, air cooled gas turbine engine blades. The cleaning method employs a series of an immersion in water to saturate at least a portion of the material, an immersion in a liquid which will freeze the water remaining in the material and on the part or blade directly adjacent to the material and a pressure flush to remove the loosened material from the internal spaces.

Abstract: A putter for striking a golf ball. The putter has a shaft, a grip (a hosel), and a putter head attached to the hosel. The putter head has cavities in the heel and toe portions that are open to the face.

Abstract: A grip for a golf club having a shaft. The grip has a generally tubular body portion for a length which extends along an upper section of the shaft. The body portion of the grip has a first end proximal to the shaft and a second capped end which is opposite the first end. The body portion has a wall thickness which is variable about the shaft along the bottom side, right side, and left side from the first to the second end. At the second end, the wall thickness along the top side is thin relative in relation to the wall thickness along the bottom side, while at the first end, the wall thickness along the top side is substantially equal to the wall thickness along the bottom side. The wall thickness of the grip along the top side is generally constant the entire length of the grip, and the thinness of the wall provides the golfer with an improved feel when a golf ball is struck.

Abstract: The invention relates methods of determining Entamoeba histolytica antigenic reference patterns of proteins recognized by sera from patients having amebic liver abscesses, patients having intestinal amebiasis and patients negative for any amebic disease and methods using these antigenic reference patterns for aiding in the differential diagnosis of a patient with amebic liver abscesses or intestinal ambiasis by detecting the presence of antibodies in a sample of human serum which bind to Entamoeba histolytica proteins identified in the antigenic reference patterns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the nondestructive evaluation of ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials, particularly wire ropes, cables, and strands, and pipes utilizing the magnetostrictive effect for measuring minute variations in magnetic fields and characterizing these minute variations as indicative of the acoustic/ultrasonic behavior of fractures, cracks, and other anomalies within a substance under evaluation. The apparatus and method contemplate both an active testing application, wherein a transmitting sensor generates an acoustic/ultrasonic pulse within a material through the magnetostrictive effect and a second receiving sensor detects reflected acoustic/ultrasonic waves within the material, again by the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The advantages of utilizing magnetostrictive sensors as opposed to well known piezoelectric sensors lies in the ability to generate and detect acoustic/ultrasonic waves without a direct physical or acoustical contact to the material.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a bone fixation device composed of two separate connectable sections: a compression device and an elongated member. The compression device is further composed of four interacting elements: a hollow, elongated body; a flexible compression wire; at least two compression blades and a hollow cylinder. The elongated member may be adapted to accept shims. The present invention also discloses a bone alignment device composed of: two adjustable circular members; a tubular, longitudinally extending member connecting the two circular members; at least two longitudinally extending connectors also connecting the two circular members and at least one adjustable bone alignment means attached to each connector for applying pressure to the limb containing the fractured bone. The present invention also discloses a system for using the bone alignment device and bone fixation device of the present invention together to align and fix a broken bone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the nondestructive evaluation of ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials, particularly wire ropes, cables, and strands, and pipes utilizing the magnetostrictive effect for measuring minute variations in magnetic fields and characterizing these minute variations as indicative of the acoustic/ultrasonic behavior of fractures, cracks, and other anomalies within a substance under evaluation. The apparatus and method contemplate both an active testing application, wherein a transmitting sensor generates an acoustic/ultrasonic pulse within a material through the magnetostrictive effect and a second receiving sensor detects reflected acoustic/ultrasonic waves within the material, again by the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The advantages of utilizing magnetostrictive sensors as opposed to well known piezoelectric sensors lies in the ability to generate and detect acoustic/ultrasonic waves without a direct physical or acoustical contact to the material.

Abstract: The present apparatus and method utilizes a downhole electrolysis process implemented by means of an elongated gas generating apparatus containing an array of cascaded electrolysis cells distributed along all or part of the borehole length to be fractured. In one use of the present invention in a deep or a shallow drilled borehole, an electrical current delivered downhole converts an appropriate electrolyte to a stoichiometric mixture of combustible gases, such as, oxygen and hydrogen, which is ignited when sufficient gases have been collected to achieve the desired explosive force in the area surrounding the drilled borehole. In another use of the present invention, the gases are not ignited but rather at least one of the generated gases are delivered by pressure into the area surrounding the drilled borehole to enhance environmental remediation processes.

Abstract: A combination appliance door ajar, occupant emergency and abnormal temperature condition alarm system, in a single unit utilizing three visual indicators, one for each of the emergency conditions, and an audio alarm with multi-tone operation, for each of the emergency conditions. The alarm system incorporates a first light indicator and audio alarm that are triggered in response to a door ajar condition. The time period before the alarm is triggered may be adjusted by means of timer circuitry. The alarm system also incorporates a manually operated switch installed on the interior of the appliance that allows an occupant of the appliance to indicate an emergency condition that requires outside assistance. The occupant emergency system uses a visual indicator and an audible alarm signal that are distinctive from those used for the door ajar system.

Abstract: A method and system in a wide area radio communications network. The network has at least two central stations, each central station being assigned to at least one peripheral station. According to the method radio transmission at specific frequencies between stations positioned along an arbitrary line is coordinated during all time intervals. The stations are provided with timers, transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving during predetermined time intervals in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: An insulated retainer (10) for a beverage container. The retainer (10) is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve (12) with an open top (16) and open bottom (18), the bottom (18) having a flexible base (14), thereby providing stability to the beverage container.

Abstract: An adjusting device includes an upper and a lower ring element connected with each other by a pivotal device disposed therebetween, the pivotal device has two pairs of rods cross-pivotally engaged, the upper ring element has a plane portion which has a shoulder formed on an under side, the adjusting device includes a movable element engaged to one pair of rods of the pivotal device, a base engaged to the under side of the plane portion and an operation element pivotally engaged to the base. The movable element has a serrated portion defined in an under side and the base has an opening defined therein corresponding to the serrated portion of the movable element.