Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automatic shut off valve for a sprinkler system which closes the water flow path whenever a sprinkler head becomes dislodged from a riser pipe. The shut off valve includes a valve seat and a valve element. The valve element is attached to the stem of a valve assembly, which further includes a flange positioned in the water flow path. The valve element assembly is held away from the valve seat by a coil spring into which the stem of the valve assembly extends. The stem further includes a plurality of openings to allow water flow into the center of the flange and out through openings in the stem and thereafter through the center of the valve seat. The spring is calibrated in length and compression such that, during normal water flow with a head attached, the spring is not sufficiently compressed to allow the valve element to contact the valve seat.

Abstract: A device used to test the features of a mask used in a semiconductor lithographic machine. The device includes an array of charge couple devices and an array of pinholes positioned above the charge couple devices. The array of pinholes includes a small pinhole opening for each of the charge couple devices in that array and the size of each opening is dependent upon the resolution of the mask features desired to be inspected. The array of pinholes and the array of charge couple devices are moved in unison in discrete steps, related to the size of the pinhole openings, across an area of the mask related to the center to center spacing of the charge couple devices of the charge couple device array. By reading the data of each of the charge couple devices after each step, a comparison can be made against data previously obtained from a known good mask and a determination can be made whether the mask under test is acceptable or flawed.

Abstract: A wind direction finder for use on a golf course includes a fastener portion and a ribbon portion which is attached to the fastener portion. The fastener portion includes an adhesive material having a peel away sheet, which when removed, allows the wind direction finder to be attached to the canopy frame post of a golf cart, preferably on the portion at an angle away from a line perpendicular to the ground. As the wind freely blows between the main body of the golf cart and the canopy, the wind lifts the free end of the ribbon, and the angle and direction of the ribbon can be observed by the golfer to indicate both the direction and speed of the wind. With this knowledge, the golfer can make appropriate compensations in the golf shot to be made. The fastener portion includes an interior member having the adhesive on one side thereof and a backing member and the ribbon is affixed between the interior member and the backing member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an X-ray lithography system having a long life target. The life of the conventional target in X-ray generating systems for use in X-ray lithography systems is increased by providing means by which a single laser pulse can be provided to the same spot a plurality of times. In addition, new target designs are provided which are mechanically moved to allow laser pulses to be provided to adjacent points over a large surface area. One type of target is a cylindrical drum which is helically rotated to allow the laser pulse to intersect at all points along the helix of the drum. A second type of long life target is a long continuous strip in which a strip is moved from a feed reel to a take-up reel. The strip may be within a cassette.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a beach trash remover which includes a motorized vehicle having a conventional construction type shovel attached to the front thereof. An opening covered by a screen is provided in the center of shovel to allow the beach sand, containing the trash, to drop back onto the beach thereby leaving the trash within the screened opening portion of the shovel. The screen is held on a frame which is coupled to the shovel through shock absorbers and means are provided to provide a vibrating motion to the screened frame to further aid in returning the sand to the beach. A grader may be attached to the back end of the beach trash remover to cover any tire tracks or otherwise smooth the beach.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a X-ray lithography system in which X-rays are generated by a laser beam focused upon a target within an evacuated chamber to create a soft X-ray emitting plasma which also emits debris particles. A thin sheet of X-ray transparent gas is provided between the target and a mask used in the lithographic process to displace the particles away from the mask. The sheet of gas may also be used to maintain a pressure differential across an opening in the evacuated chamber through which the X-rays pass towards the target. In addition, the gas sheet may be used to cool the X-ray mask by placing the mask close to the sheet but at a sufficient distance so that the sheet does not interfere with the mask.

Abstract: Described herein is apparatus and a method for eliminating water trapped in a refrigerator system. The apparatus includes means to insert heated, dry gas, such as nitrogen, into the low side valve of the refrigeration system. The gas may be to a temperature between 175 and 220 degrees F. and is inserted until the pressure of the gas within the system is equal to between 35 and 65 PSI. The device includes appropriate temperature and pressure metering means for controlling both the temperature and pressure of the gas inserted. After the heated nitrogen gas is inserted into the refrigeration system, the compressor is turned on and allowed to run for approximately ten minutes and the heated nitrogen gas absorbs any water vapor in the refrigeration system. Thereafter the high side valve is opened and the escaping nitrogen containing the absorbed water escapes from the system. Then the refrigerant is added and when it begins escaping from the open high side valve, the high side valve is closed.

Abstract: Described herein is a refrigeration defrost cycle monitoring and bypass circuit which monitors the condition of the defrost terminator switch. More specifically, the circuit monitors whether the defrost terminator switch is stuck in either the open or the closed position. This is accomplished using timers to determine the period of time of the defrost cycle and the period of time the terminator switch is open. If either of these times exceed preset values, the defrost terminator switch function is eliminated from the circuit and the control it normally performs is substituted by predetermined times. This occurs by providing a resettable ground to the defrost relay so that it can sense the need to defrost and initiate a defrost cycle. After a defrost cycle is initiated, a user selectable timer ends the defrost cycle after the selected time.

Abstract: A separator-receptacle for holding waste products. A main body includes at least four separate cavities opening outwardly each closed by a door to facilitate the separation and holding of paper, metal, glass and miscellaneous waste products. The paper door includes a slot through which the paper waste products are inserted. A plurality of containers are positioned within the separator receptacle adjacent each door to receive the particular waste product. Baskets are provided for holding the containers. Indicia are provided for coordinating the particular type of waste product associated with each container and door. Dispensers are mounted within the separator-receptacle for automatically decontaminating and deodorizing the materials placed therein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pill dispensing machine which can selectively dispense a plurality of different medications into preformed recesses in a plastic strip. The machine includes data entry means for entering the various types of medications to be dispensed and the time and date at which such medications are to be administered to the patient. The machine controls a plurality of dispensing devices to dispense into each of the recesses one or more pills associated with a particular time and date for administration. The machine also includes printing means for printing the date and time of administration onto a backing label adapted to cover the recesses to form a wholly contained pill container. The machine also includes a conveyor mechanism for moving the plastic strips past the dispensing means and the label applying area so that, at the output of the machine, completed packages of pills ready for administration at the specified printed time can be given to the patient.

Abstract: A router attachment assembly is described herein which includes a pair of guide rails between which a router carriage assembly moves. A router is attached within the carriage assembly and the assembly includes mechanisms for lowering and raising the router carriage assembly to allow the router to perform desired cuts on a workpiece positioned beneath the guide rails. The carriage assembly itself rides directly on workpiece and is guided by the guide rails. Front stop and back stop means are included which can limit the movement of the carriage assembly along the guide rails to desired positions. The stop means further includes vertical edges against which the carriage assembly rests to cause the raising and lowering of the router to be perfectly vertical. The attachment further includes a pair of clamping rails positioned below the rails to clamp the workpiece in position or to define a path for moving the workpiece relative to a stationary positioned router.

Abstract: Described herein is a tanning system consisting of a six-foot high canopy containing six UVA radiation emitting bulbs. The canopy is attached to a frame in a rotational manner, allowing it to rotate from the vertical to the horizontal direction over a ninety degree arc. The frame is coupled to a base which includes a pair of casters and three ballast units causing the base to contain the majority of the weight of the entire unit while comprising only a small percent of the total volumn of the system. The type of bulbs are specially designed to emit approximately one tenth of one percent UVB radiation, which is the type which causes sunburn. Also included in the base is a 30-minute timer which allows the bulbs to be turned on for a maximum of thirty minutes. The canopy itself is constructed of molded 1/8" thick ABS material. The bulbs are held by bulb holders and the canopy material extends over the bulbs to prevent them from falling out if the become disengaged from the bulb holders.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a set of retractors which are coupled by releaseable locks to rods on the side of an operating table. A foot pedal is provided to release the locks and allow the retractors to be repositioned easily and with one hand by the doctor while performing the surgery. The foot pedal may utilize hydraulic fluid to lock or release the movement of the retractors. The joint holding the retractors is also rendered free to rotate to properly position the retractors, when the foot pedal is depressed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a two-in-one quick release cane in which an inner cane fits in the support member of an outer cane. The outer cane is longitudinally hinged to allow the two canes to be easily separated so that the user can quickly switch from using a single cane to a pair of canes to assist his mobility.

Abstract: A system for navigation and positioning based on reception of selected components of television signals radiated synchronously from known sites. A receiving apparatus is used at the unknown location for which navigational coordinates are to be determined. The receiving apparatus receives television signals and measures the time intervals between receptions of selected signal components. The time interval data are used with other known data to derive hyperbolic lines of position in accordance with established conventions and techniques and the hyperbolic lines define the location of the receiving apparatus. The system serves any number of users simultaneously.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus to precisely determine if a tennis ball hits in or out of the tennis court area. A pressure sensitive layered material which changes colors upon the tennis ball striking it is placed outside the tennis court bounderies and gives an indication whenever the ball strikes out of bounds. The material returns to its original color a short time later.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus and a method for extending a parallel channel of the host processor over a serial link to a remote peripheral device. The apparatus includes a microprocessor within I/O channel extension logic which responds to either instructions or data from a host processor. The instructions are of the type commanding the I/O device to perform a specific operation and the data is provided in response to requests for data from the I/O device. The channel extension logic is coupled to the host processor's channel and thus is able to obtain data from the host storage by cycle steal techniques. Within the channel extension logic are means to serialize the information and transmit it in a serial manner over the link. The microprocessor within the channel extension logic creates a frame, including a control byte, which identifies the type of information followed by the data, which frame is then communicated over the serial link to the I/O device.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a forms feed tractor mechanism having a belt with pins and driving elements extending threrethrough. The pins are adapted to engage perforated holes along the edge of a recorded medium. Driver means are provided for rotating the belt and pins and thereby rotate the engaged medium. Also, there is provided a spring tensioner for maintaining tension on the belt. The tractor includes a door which is rotatably snapped fitted into the housing of the tractor and maintained above the plane of the record medium by an extension on the lower surface thereof. The belt and pins are constructed by molding the pins around the belt side so that the belt is below the feeding surface of the tractor mechanism upon which the paper rests.