Abstract: A user manipulated apparatus for producing straight construction lines on sheet material includes a linearly extensive frame with integrally formed handle and an expendable marking strip affixed to a bottom edge of the frame. A user positions the frame so that its ends are in registry with the endpoints of a desired construction line, with the marking strip contacting the surface of the sheet material. The user then linearly displaces the frame a short distance along its length so that the marking strip rubs along the surface of the sheet material and produces a visible construction line. The portion of the frame that supports the marking substance may be compliant to ensure that the marking substance fully engages the surface of the sheet material even when the sheet material has surface irregularities or is not perfectly planar.

Abstract: A solar energy conversion and storage apparatus floats on a body of water and confines and stores a large quantity of solar-heated water for producing electricity with a closed-cycle heat engine. An expansive horizontal structure parallel to the surface of the water confines one or more horizontal layers of water, a distributed array of heat transfer structures gathers solar energy and imparts it to the confined water, and one or more heat engines produce electricity utilizing the temperature differential between the confined water and ambient water. The heat transfer structures can be configured to transfer solar energy to the confined water using a convective process; and some or all of the heat transfer structures can be configured to transfer solar energy to the stored water using a distillation process that optionally produces distilled water as a by-product.

Abstract: A moisture removal apparatus for a vehicular compressed air storage system includes a canister of mist-eliminating mesh that collects moisture and oil droplets in the air and exhausts them through a gravity drain. The mesh coalesces droplets of both water and oil vapor in the air stream, and is not contaminated by either. The mist eliminating canister can be a stand-alone device through which compressed air is delivered to a pressure tank, or may be integrated into a pressure tank for space efficiency.

Abstract: A load coupling apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes load linkage members that pivotally suspend the vehicle and load weight below the axles of the vehicle, allowing limited relative displacement of the axles and the load in the direction of vehicle travel. The load is displaced by moving the axles in the desired direction of travel, whereafter the suspended load follows the axles in a swinging motion as the effects of gravity overcome the load inertia. The effort required to initiate movement of the load is significantly reduced due to the relative displacement of the axles and the load, and the mechanical advantage afforded by the load linkage members. Once in motion, the load continues to track the axles in the direction of travel, providing continued reduction in motive effort even when the load reaches a constant forward speed.

Abstract: A linear FM pulse radar with Doppler processing of co-polarized and cross-polarized radar return signals isolates the target echo signal content associated with a moving pedestrian to provide high quality target echo data for standoff HCE detection based on polarimetric signature analysis. Baseband co-polarized and cross-polarized radar return signals are repeatedly and coherently integrated across numerous successive radar return pulses to create co-polarized and cross-polarized range vs. velocity (Doppler) data maps. The co-polarized data map is used to identify a moving pedestrian, and co-polarized and cross-polarized data subsets corresponding to the identified pedestrian are extracted and subjected to polarization signature analysis to determine if the pedestrian is bearing explosive devices.

Abstract: A mobile cooking apparatus is configurable and automatically controlled to regulate the cooking temperature. The cooking apparatus is configurable as to fuel source (liquid propane or charcoal), and the temperature control is adaptable to the selected fuel. Additionally, smoke flavor may be optionally used, and various adjuncts such as a rotisserie, grill and deep fryer may be included.

Abstract: A load coupling apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes load linkage members that pivotally suspend the vehicle and load weight below the axles of the vehicle, allowing limited relative displacement of the axles and the load in the direction of vehicle travel. The load is displaced by moving the axles in the desired direction of travel, whereafter the suspended load follows the axles in a swinging motion as the effects of gravity overcome the load inertia. The effort required to initiate movement of the load is significantly reduced due to the relative displacement of the axles and the load, and the mechanical advantage afforded by the load linkage members. Once in motion, the load continues to track the axles in the direction of travel, providing continued reduction in motive effort even when the load reaches a constant forward speed.

Abstract: A fifth wheel coupling includes a receiver that is suspended from the frame of a towing vehicle by a linkage mechanism to permit limited relative longitudinal and vertical displacement of the towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The receiver is mounted on a wishbone bracket that straddles the frame of the towing vehicle, and swinging linkage members couple the wishbone bracket to the frame. Initial forward movement of the tractor produces rotation of the linkage members with respect to the frame without producing forward movement of the towed vehicle. The rotation of the linkage members slightly elevates the receiver, whereafter the towed vehicle and receiver follow the towing vehicle in a swinging motion as the effects of gravity overcome the rolling resistance of the towed vehicle and its load.

Abstract: A miniature foam football with an internal weighting element and a swivel ring or clip is used for deploying a rope. The weighting element is insert-molded in the football foam for low cost of manufacture, and allows the ball to be thrown accurately for distances of up to 100 feet, while retaining overall water buoyancy due to the high buoyancy of the football foam. The swivel ring or clip protrudes from one axial end of the football for quick and easy attachment to the rope, and allows relative rotation between the ball and the rope as the rope is deployed to permit easy and unhindered payout of the rope once the ball has been thrown.

Abstract: A load coupling apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes load linkage members that pivotally suspend the vehicle and load weight below the axles of the vehicle, allowing limited relative displacement of the axles and the load in the direction of vehicle travel. The load is displaced by moving the axles in the desired direction of travel, whereafter the suspended load follows the axles in a swinging motion as the effects of gravity overcome the load inertia. The effort required to initiate movement of the load is significantly reduced due to the relative displacement of the axles and the load, and the mechanical advantage afforded by the load linkage members. Once in motion, the load continues to track the axles in the direction of travel, providing continued reduction in motive effort even when the load reaches a constant forward speed.

Abstract: A road vehicle utilizes hydraulic machines for primary and accessory vehicle drive functions. An internal combustion engine directly drives a first variable capacity hydraulic machine selectively operable as pump or motor, an electric machine electrically coupled to a storage battery is selectively operable as motor or generator and is mechanically coupled to a second hydraulic machine operable as pump or motor, and at least one hydraulic drive motor is coupled to a vehicle drive wheel. A controller regulates the capacity of the first hydraulic machine, and controls the functionality of the first and second hydraulic machines to selectively crank the engine or charge the storage battery. The first hydraulic machine also supplies hydraulic fluid to accessory drive motors including a power steering drive motor, an air compressor drive motor and a supercharger drive motor.

Abstract: Boiler tubes are removed from a boiler vessel without damaging the vessel by severing the boiler tube near the exterior periphery of the vessel, and using a piloted rotary cutting tool fixtured with respect to the longitudinal axis of the severed boiler tube to remove all but a very thin shell of the severed tube. The rotary cutting tool is then withdrawn, and the remaining thin shell of the boiler tube is manually peeled away from the periphery of the boiler vessel opening. In a preferred implementation, the rotary cutting tool is annular, and a tapered cylindrical pilot having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the expanded portion of the boiler tube is retractably mounted within the annulus of the cutting tool.

Abstract: A stringed racquet includes a built-in, user-adjustable mechanism for changing the tension of the strings. The user-adjustable mechanism is disposed in a cavity within the handle of the racquet, and includes a mandrel over which at least some of the vertical strands of string are looped. A wishbone bracket secured to the mandrel is axially adjustable within the handle to raise or lower the tension in the vertical strands looped over the mandrel, after which the tension becomes evenly distributed over the entire string.

Abstract: A soldered feed-through device that is inserted into a bulkhead opening has one or more sets of laterally protruding and symmetrically distributed teeth that cut through the bulkhead material as the feed-through is inserted into the bulkhead opening. The teeth automatically center the feed-through device within the bulkhead opening and resist tilting of the feed-through and its through-hole conductor so that application of solder to the area between the feed-through and the inner periphery of the opening produces a solder joint having uniform radial thickness of preferably about 0.14 mm (0.0055 in.).

Abstract: A press-fit feed-through device has one or more sets of laterally protruding and symmetrically distributed teeth that are laterally aligned and cut through the material of a bulkhead as the feed-through is inserted into a bulkhead opening. Lateral grooves disposed immediately inboard of each set of teeth receive the bulkhead material cut by the respective set of teeth. In feed-through devices having more than one set of teeth, the additional sets of teeth are located successively outboard of, and in axial alignment with, the first set of teeth, and cut successively deeper into the bulkhead as the feed-through is inserted into the opening.

Abstract: A supercharger injects air into the engine exhaust manifold of an engine to dramatically improve turbocharger boost at low engine speeds, while cooling the gases in the exhaust manifold to reduce NOx formation. The injected air additionally reduces other exhaust emissions through secondary combustion, allowing the air/fuel ratio to be controlled closer to the stoichiometric ratio for improved thermodynamic efficiency. The engine is particularly well suited to high torque, low speed applications, such as a vehicle hydrostatic drive in which the engine is connected to drive a variable capacity hydrostatic pump at a low and substantially constant speed.

Abstract: An electronic hollow grinder bevel angle indicator wherein a microprocessor calculates the grinding bevel angle that will be obtained when a tool is placed flat upon a tool rest and presented to the periphery of a rotating grinding wheel. The calculated bevel angle is the acute angle of intersection between the tool rest plane and a plane tangent to the grinding wheel periphery at the line of intersection between the grinding wheel periphery and the tool rest plane. The microprocessor also calculates the air-gap between the tool rest and grinding wheel, and warns the operator when the air gap exceeds a specified safety threshold.

Abstract: A capture apparatus for an insect containment trap includes a disposable capture vessel (which may be a plastic milk jug), a funnel element (which may be a modified plastic beverage container), and a mechanical spring-loaded clip. The funnel element interfaces the capture vessel to the baiting device, and the clip joins the mouth of the capture vessel to the mouth of the funnel element.

Abstract: An improved and accelerated method of producing vegetable sprouts with surprisingly high levels of vitamin nutrients. In general, retention of high vitamin levels is improved by accelerating the growing cycle, and the growing cycle is accelerated by initially saturating the seed bed with a jet stream of water at a pressure in the range of 80-90 p.s.i. After the initial washing, the seeds are covered with a greenhouse dome, and placed under a light source. After an initial period, such as 12 hours, the seeds are periodically misted with water to complete the growth cycle. In experimental trials with broccoli, the sprouts were harvested after only 36 hours, and chemical analysis showed that the sprouts possessed surprisingly high levels of vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine.