Abstract: A piano pedal extension including an adjustable height table with a pedal box at the top surface and piano-type auxiliary pedals extending from the box. Connecting rods between the auxiliary pedals and piano pedals are spring-loaded to balance out the weight of the auxiliary pedals and its associated hardware to thereby give the pianist the feeling of the piano pedals. The extension unit includes adjustable clamping members for firmly clamping the unit to an irregular shaped piano pedal box or to the piano box struts.

Abstract: A two-cylinder two-cycle LP gas operated internal combustion engine provides high speed high energy impacting for driving nails or the like. The two cylinders are geared together by rack and pinion gearing so that the expansion stroke of the smaller first piston provides the compression stroke of the larger impact piston. A first piezoelectric igniter in the nailing end of the tool is actuated by pressing the tool against the material to be nailed and fires a spark plug in the first cylinder. A cam connected to the shaft of the pinion gear intercoupling the two pistons, triggers a second piezoelectric igniter that fires a plug in the second cylinder to drive the impact piston and its attached hammer rod to drive one nail in a nail magazine in the end of the tool. The impacting high energy expansion stroke of the second cylinder provides the next compression stroke of the smaller first cylinder which is again fired by the next actuation of the first piezoelectric igniter.

Abstract: An earthquake safety system employing a shock triggered electrical switch for opening electrical contacts in the cables between the power utility input to a building and the distribution circuit breaker box. The switch is adjustable to be closed by earthquakes of predetermined magnitudes. Normally-closed solenoid gas and water valves coupled to breakers in the circuit breaker box will close upon the opening of the contacts to prevent gas fire and water damage and loss of water main pressure.

Abstract: A gate generator circuit for receiving a pulse type input data signal, wherein the locations of the pulse peaks are representative of the data, includes a comparator for comparing voltage levels of the pulses of the input signal with a reference voltage applied to the comparator so as to generate rectangular pulses, the reference voltage being varied in a controlled manner to assure that each rectangular pulse has at least a prescribed minimum time duration. A tapped delay line and logic circuits coupled to selected taps thereof respond to the rectangular pulses to produce a gating pulse signal by symmetrically expanding the rectangular pulses if the pulse widths thereof are less than or equal to a predetermined time duration and by transmitting the rectangular pulses unchanged in pulse widths if the pulse widths thereof are greater than the predetermined time duration.

Abstract: A method for the fabrication of field effect transistors with conduction channels divided into a plurality of segments, each implanted to conduct at various threshold voltages. Field effect transistors, heretofore essentially digital switching devices, may thus be fabricated for use in circuits wherein variations in applied gate voltages can result in three or more stable current levels or transistors may be designed to provide various electrical output characteristics such as that required for analog circuits, fast EPROMs, high density ROMs, etc.

Abstract: A caliper calibrated for the direct reading of electrocardiogram tracings. Each arm of the caliper is calibrated and is read by indexing the calibration against a curved index line on the opposite arm which is varied by the spacing between the caliper points. One such calibration represents the duration in seconds of the various deflections or complexes and a second calibration represents the amplitudes of a deflection in millivolts. On the reverse side of the caliper, an arm is calibrated to indicate frequency in deflections per minute between adjacent similar deflections or a count between three such intervals. A pair of coaxial calibrated discs attached for rotation about the caliper pivot provides a rapid and accurate means for the determination of mean vector and therefore axis deviation.

Abstract: A portable, compact, hygienic syringe apparatus employing a rigid transparent canister divided into upper and lower sections, each having a closeable cover. The lower section houses a flexible self-coiling tubing having one end releasably connected through a floor section into the upper fluid-containing section. A spring-loaded piston in the upper section is latched up while fluid is poured into that section. When the latch is released, the spring-loaded piston forces the fluid through the tubing.

Abstract: Very narrow lines, such as integrated circuit conductors, are accurately measured with consistent accuracy using a microscope that projects the image of the narrow object against a slit behind which is a photomultiplier tube. The photomultiplier tube and slit are moved in very small steps under the control of a microcomputer that measures the photomultiplier tube amplitude at each step, eliminates background error due to illumination irregularities, etc., and provides a printout of the line width in micrometers or microinches.

Abstract: A humbucking electromagnetic pickup for musical instruments, such as guitars having ferromagnetic strings. The pickup includes a permanent magnet for generating a flux path through the strings, a sensing coil in the flux path, and a humbucking coil substantially out of the flux path and concentrically wound closely around the periphery of the sensing coil and in opposition thereto to cancel radiating extraneous interfering electromagnetic hum from the sensing coil.

Abstract: A fuel-saving and emission reduction system for internal combustion engines includes electronic carburetor controlling circuitry and a carburetor by-pass system which stops fuel flow to the engine when power from combustion is not required. A normally open by-pass control butterfly valve in the fuel/air passage between the throttle valve and the engine intake manifold is operated by a motor, such as a solenoid or the like, under control of the controlling circuitry and is closed only upon release of the engine throttle and during the period that the vehicle has sufficient speed to assure restart upon reapplication of the fuel/air flow. A carburetor by-pass valve is held in a normally closed position by the combined effects of spring bias and the normal vacuum in the fuel/air passage.

Abstract: Flexible heat-sealable plastic bags to be filled with a fluid or loose particulate material without exposure to the atmosphere are connected to the elliptical nozzle of the filling machine by use of overlapping ellipses. A filling hole, either elliptical or circular, cut in a corner from another otherwise sealed bag will readily slip over the larger elliptical nozzle. The bag is then tightly clamped by a movable member pressing against the rear surface of the elliptical nozzle of the filling machine while the bag is filled with its material through the nozzle. The bag is subsequently heat-sealed around the hole with a heated ring, and a suction stem is inserted into the sealed-off filling hole to withdraw any residual fluid.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for a bulk container for portable liquids or the like. A rigid outer box contains a sealable flexible fluid-containing plastic bag having a tubular dispenser sleeve mounted at an oblique angle to a plastic mounting fixture which is attached to the box that is also sealed to the outer surface of the fluid-containing bag. The dispenser, which is stored prior to use within the box, may be withdrawn and snapped into a horizontal position into a plastic clamp that is part of the mounting fixture and which prevents rotation of the sleeve. A turncock barrel rotatable within the dispensing sleeve has a sharp cutting tip which is normally angled with the angled end of the sleeve positioned to prevent piercing of the fluid bag. When rotated a half turn, the sharp cutting tip pierces the bag to permit the fluid to pass into the bore of the barrel and out through mating apertures in the barrel and sleeve.

Abstract: A vibration and shock-sensitive electrical switch comprising a disc mounted tube with a small snap switch such as a Microswitch centered above the tube end on the disc surface. A switch-actuating wire extends from the switch trigger mechanism through the tube so that when the tube is balanced on its bottom end, the switch is in its first switching position, and when tipped over by vibration or shock, the switch-actuating wire is released and the switch goes to its second switching position. Vibration sensitivity may be adjusted by attaching various diameter or irregular shaped collars on the bottom end of the tube.

Abstract: An endodontic test file for use in root canal therapy for quickly and accurately measuring the length between the crown occlusal surface and the apex of the root canal without the necessity of x-rays. The test file has a smooth tapered shank with calibrations etched along the shank, a convenient handle on the larger end of the shank and at the narrow end, a sharp screw tip having a total screw length of only approximately 0.5 mm. In operation the test file is inserted into the previously prepared coronal cavity and is screwed through the root canal until rotation of the screw tip no longer advances the test file through the canal. At this point, the tip has passed through the apex and into the infected soft periodontal ligament. The etched shaft calibrations then indicate the precise tooth length.

Abstract: A high current, low voltage, regulated D.C. power supply incorporating a parallel pair of bridges connected across a D.C. supply and each having alternately switched opposite legs for producing across its output a relatively high frequency A.C. to a stepdown transformer. Each of the bridges is switched out of phase with the other to minimize output ripple in the combined D.C. produced from rectifiers at the secondary of the stepdown transformers. Regulation of the supply is provided by a current sensor at the secondary of each transformer which produces a signal that is compared with a signal representing D.C. output level to alter the duty cycle in the switching circuitry to the parallel bridges. The novel feature is that the regulation control circuits of two or more identical supplies may be coupled to produce master-slave power supply combinations capable of greatly increasing the output power capabilities.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for a bulk container of the type having a rigid outer box with a sealable flexible plastic inner bag. The dispenser includes a tubular sleeve having a flange that is heat-sealed to the outer surface of the plastic bag and a tubular turncock having a pointed inner end for piercing the bag of fluid. Extending from the tubular surface of the turncock barrel are keys that engage keyways in the bore of the tubular sleeve that both restrict longitudinal movement of the turncock to prevent removal or bag-piercing during storage and shipping and also, after the turncock is fully inserted to pierce the bag, restricts rotational movement of the turncock to prevent accidental removal and possible leakage. A second embodiment of the invention replaces the turncock with a conduit having the keys and the pointed tip, but with a tube fitting at the opposite end for dispensing the fluid at a remote valve or pump.