Abstract: A three-dimensional television camera system based on a spatial depth signal and receiver system therefor is disclosed wherein a video depth signal is generated in spatial synchronization with the raster scan of a TV camera viewing a scene. The video depth signal is generated by taking the ratio of the outputs of a pair of spaced apart sensors receiving a reflected laser beam of a laser projector situated between the sensors. The laser projector, sensors, and TV camera are in close proximity to each other. A portion of the energy receiving photocell of each sensor is blocked by a parallax barrier so that a proportion of the reflected laser beam energy is detected and that receipt of energy is angle dependent. By such construction, the depth difference of two points proximate each other is sensed. A continuous video depth signal is outputted in synchrony with the TV camera video signal to the receiver system. The described receiver system employs two TV cathode ray tubes to be viewed stereoscopically, i.e.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for purging floaters in top inlet baghouse construction wherein the upper plenum of a baghouse compartment and the clean exhaust gases duct are operably connected with a purge duct, a controllable purge damper inserted therein. At termination of the usual cleaning operation, clean exhaust gases are introduced into the top plenum by opening of the controllable purge damper to purge floaters from the upper plenum and down through the bag filters and out the bottom plenum to the reverse air duct. At the termination of the floater purge cycle, the purge damper is closed and the compartment returned to on-line operation. In alternate embodiments, a bottom inlet baghouse construction is purged of floaters wherein clean exhaust gases are given entrance into the upper portion of the bag filters with a controllable purge damper interposed. One embodiment connects with the clean exhaust duct and the other embodiment opens to the filter plenum.

Abstract: An improved motorcycle intercom communications system between the motorcycle driver and passenger providing for stereo of listening from a radio, cassette player, or the like in each of both right and left helmet speakers wherein intercom communications may be had through microphones always activated located proximate the mouth of both driver and passenger, where when initiating speaking over the microphone, the stereo output of both right and left speakers of the driver's and passenger's helmets is terminated completely and the intercom conversation is heard in full. Upon the termination of the intercom conversation, the invention circuitry returns both sides of speakers to the pre-existing level of stereo output. The above is accomplished by dividing all sounds which come in over the microphone into a low frequency range and an audio speaking range wherein the output of a low frequency range filter is constantly sampled and compared with the energy output of the audio speaking range of frequencies.

Abstract: A water saving device for toilets providing both partial flush and full flush capability is disclosed wherein for the partial flush, air is controllably removed from the interior cavity of a flapper valve to render the flapper valve non-buoyant to return it to its sealing position on the valve seat and terminate flow of water out of the reservoir tank. Removal of air from the flapper valve cavity is rendered a function of the dropping water level in the reservoir tank by attachment of one end of flexible tubing to the flapper valve contained air cavity, the other end of the flexible tubing communicating with the interior cavity of a cylinder, the cylinder having one closed end and one open end, the open end residing downward in the water. As water drops in the toilet tank, it also drops in the cylinder and air is sucked from the flapper valve cavity.

Abstract: An improvement in machines for laying agricultural plastic film is disclosed which provides means forcing the plastic film against the seed bed and inclined sides and bottom of oppositely situated furrows utilizing a forced air fan to blow air downwardly upon the plastic film to secure it in place against disturbing forces, such as winds, in order that the longitudinal side edges of the plastic sheet may be properly covered with a layer of soil thrown up by rearwardly located covering discs. In an alternate embodiment, a fluid, such as air or water, is forcibly directed against the plastic film overlying the inclined side and bottom of the oppositely situated furrows to hold the film in place for covering by soil thrown up by the covering discs.

Abstract: A device to secure binoculars to a tripod having a rectangularly shaped base plate of a durable material, a rectangularly shaped compressible resilient pad made of a high density closed cell foam material operably attached to the top side of the base, a holding plate situated centrally to the resilient pad and operably attached to the base, the holding plate securing the central point of an elongated flexible holding strap. The opposite ends of the strap emerging from under the holding plate provide a pair of loops to receive the monocular barrels of a pair of binoculars. The ends of the straps pass through individual openings at each end of the base not covered by the pad. At each end of the holding strap is a hook type cloth fastening material and a loop type cloth fastening material, each end of the strap passing through a respective oval opening to return on itself, the hook and loop fastening means engaging, thus securing the binoculars in place.

Abstract: A linearly adjustable fluid damper of the sliding plate adjustable orifice type damper system having a fixed flat plate with a plurality of specifically arranged trapezoidal shaped apertures therethrough, and a slideably adjustable flat plate also having a plurality of specifically arranged trapezoidal shaped apertures therethrough. The sliding plate is juxtaposed the fixed plate such that apertures of the sliding plate overlap apertures of the fixed plate, and aperture orientation of the sliding plate is reversed that of the orientation of the apertures on the fixed plate. The area of the resultant hexagonal composite orifice through both plates varies non-linearly from full open position to full closed position throughout movement of the sliding plate. The result is that fluid flow from zero fluid flow to maximum fluid flow through the resultant orifice is a straight line relationship with linear displacement of the sliding plate.

Abstract: A digital self-calibrating delay line is disclosed wherein in a chain of individual but identical time delay elements a calibrated signal running therethrough is compared with the subsequent input signal on each of the individual time delay elements until a coincidence time delay element is determined at which time an output is indicated. The period of the calibrating signal is chosen to be equal to the delay to be imparted to a signal to be delayed. Prior to or upon the appearance of the signal to be delayed, the calibration signal is removed and the incoming signal inserted into the time delay chain to output at the individual time delay element determined by the calibration signal. In an alternate embodiment, by the addition of a few components to each of the time delay elements, the subject invention is interconnected to output a signal whose frequency is a multiple of the input signal.

Abstract: A hunting broadhead for attachment to an arrow used in bow hunting of a game animal having two thin flat metal elongated blades juxtaposed each other pivotally secured in a slot situated in a rearwardly located tubular body. Each blade has a pointed first end adapted to precede the arrow in flight for penetration of the animal's hide and initial movement into the animal. Each blade has one sharpened lengthwise side and one blunted side with the outstanding spur, the blunted sides extending outwardly of the sharpened sides when the pointed front ends overlap permitting an elastic band to encompass both said blades to maintain such configuration for flight and initial penetration of the animal. After penetration into the game animal, rearwardly located outwardly protruding spurs engage the animal's hide causing a metamorphosis whereupon the blades rotate with the rear moving to the front to become the forward leading point.

Abstract: A circuit to selectively process dip switches onto bus lines in a computer or device utilizing digital logic circuits wherein the dip switches are operably connected to a changeable source of digital signals so that upon command at desired times, the output of the dip switches connected to the bus lines may be reversed. Such a circuit consists of connecting the dip switches on one side to the bus lines and the other side through a current limiting resistor to the output of a logic circuit such as a NAND gate or other circuit which constantly outputs a digital signal. The input then to this logic circuit may be changed as desired to reverse the logic circuit output and thus the output of the dip switches. If desired, in place of the NAND gate output, the current limiting resistor may be grounded or connected to digital "1" in which case a constant digital signal is outputted to the bus lines upon dip switch closure.

Abstract: An adjustable size hole cutter for ostomy adhesive wafers is disclosed having firstly a cylindrical body adapted to hold a cutting blade, a cylindrical pilot protruding outward from the bottom circular face of the cylindrical body to reside in a preformed hole in the colostomy wafer, and a Tee handle protruding outward from the top face. Adjustment of the blade's distance from the center of the cylindrical body for cutting different sized holes is accomplished by means of removable adjustment spacers situated in a radial slot formed in the wall of the cylindrical body, the cutting blade secured to the outside adjustment spacer by a set screw passing through a hole in the blade and aligned holes in the adjustment spacers. A circular base plate with centrally located hole receives the pilot of the adjustable hole cutter. The ostomy wafer is placed between the bottom face of the cylindrical body and the base plate whereupon the blade cuts into the wafer and the circular hole cut as the cutter is rotated.

Abstract: A carpenter's pencil sharpener for use in sharpening rectangularly shaped carpenter's pencils is disclosed wherein at the top of the housing the pencil sharpener is situated two rectangularly shaped openings juxtaposed to each other, the first a longitudinal opening and the second a transverse opening. Immediately below each of the pencil openings are a pair of oppositely driven rotary cutter assemblies. Each rotary cutter assembly is stepped, having a large diameter cylindrical cutting head mounted upon a shaft with a small diameter cylindrical cutting head juxtaposed to it, both on the same shaft. The two large diameter cutting heads receive the long side of the carpenter's pencil through the longitudinal opening to fashion an elongated point upon the pencil. The two small diameter cylindrical cutting heads receive the short sides of the carpenter's pencil through the transverse opening to chamfer the short sides. By interconnecting gears, an electrical motor rotates the rotary cutter assemblies.

Abstract: A solar water heater absorber with controllable freeze damage is described, the absorber having removable heat absorbing panels attached on opposite sides to each riser, each panel having a flat portion to receive the sun's rays and a folded curved portion to reside next to the horizontal pipe riser. An elongated "C" clamp compressing the curved portion of both panels to the riser provides efficient heat conduction. The risers are arranged in a serpentine fashion with manifolds attaching appropriate adjacent ends and vertical freeze expansion pipes attaching to the manifolds through bridge pipes, one freeze expansion pipe at each end of the risers. At one end of each freeze expansion pipe is a test cap. Water flow through the bridge pipe is restricted by an internal plug with orifice, a reduced diameter bridge pipe, or an opening formed in the manifold or into connected freeze expansion pipes encompassed by the bridge pipe.

Abstract: A one piece drapery guard for attachment to an electrical wall outlet which serves to hold hanging drapes away from the outlet as a safety fire preventive measure is disclosed. The drapery guard has two major elements, the first being a holding flange adapted to be operably attached to the electrical wall outlet and the second a drapery shield extending outward of the electrical wall outlet to engage the drapes. The holding flange is secured under the electrical outlet face plate and has an evacuated "T" slot formed therein to receive mounting hardware of the electrical wall outlet to help secure the guard when pressure is brought upon it by the fastening down of the face plate. The shield portion includes an opening adapted to accommodate the electrical cords of electrical plugs utilizing the electrical wall outlet as the cords drop to the floor.

Abstract: A shoulder holster is disclosed to be worn outside an officer's shirt operably attaching to a chest strap worn under the Officer's shirt without making a hole in the shirt. An annularly shaped shirt lock hub having a circular groove formed in the interior opening attaches to the chest strap, all under the shirt. Outside the shirt, an annularly shaped shirt lock of four movable segments is held together by a circumscribing spring. Around the periphery of each segment is an outwardly protruding circular tongue. A cone-shaped retractable cylindrical expander resides just partially interiorly the central opening of the shirt lock. Immediately juxtaposed the shirt lock is an annular seal plate followed by a leather strap attached to the shoulder holster, the strap in turned followed by a backing plate.