Abstract: A liquid dispensing device including a body generally having an air passage and a liquid passage. A valve seat is connected to the body and a valve stem is mounted for movement within the body with respect to the valve seat. A piston is caused to move by pressurized air, and is caused by a spring and optionally, air pressure above the piston, to return to its normal position when the air pressure is relieved. The stem is connected to the piston so that it is caused to move linearly to and from the valve seat. The stem is not rigidly connected to the piston, allowing the piston to find its center in the air cylinder and the stem to find its center in the liquid chamber. The piston is mounted with two bearing points so that it is not affected by uneven spring pressure. The stem is located by two bearing points, the adhesive seal and the seat. The air cylinder body and valve body are separated by a large open area.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the dimensions of moving packages includes a computer system connected to a position tracking system and a slice measurement system. The computer system uses the position tracking system to generate a series of position measurements of the packages as they move through the slice measurement system and uses the slice measurement system to generate a cross sectional slice of the packages at each measured positioned. The computer system then uses the cross sectional slice information to determine the height and width of the packages and uses the position measurements to determine the length of the packages.

Abstract: A tool system for inserting temple screws in eyeglass frames includes first and second scissor arms, with each scissor arm having proximal and distal ends, the arms pivotally connected so that the ends can be moved towards and away from one another when the arms are pivotally moved using finger-receiving devices at the distal ends of the scissor arms. A clamp locking mechanism is an extended ratchet device for providing stepwise engagement of the first and second scissor arms in a position where the finger receiving devices are moved closer together and prevented from moving further apart. Clamping and gripping surfaces at the proximal ends of the arms grip the spring hinge eyeglass frames, with an elongated projection extending away from the clamping surface on one arm to engage the eyeglass temples to temporarily secure the spring hinge in a state of extension.

Abstract: A thermally exposed centrally insulated geothermal heat exchange unit, which can be placed in ground and/or in water, consisting of at least one fluid supply line and at least one fluid return line, which lines are respectively separated by a thermal insulation material, but which lines are otherwise in thermal contact with their respective adjacent sub-surface earth and/or water surroundings by means of a heat conductive fill material inserted as necessary to fill any void space in the respective fluid transport line location areas situated between the thermal insulation material and the adjacent earth and/or water. When the unit is situated within a geothermal borehole, the thermal insulation material may have an expanded central area so as to decrease the amount of necessary heat conductive fill and so as to increase insulation efficiency.

Abstract: A case-burning rocket booster includes a combustible case containing a solid rocket fuel, a combustion chamber adjustably coupled to the case for burning the case and the solid rocket fuel, a nozzle connected to the combustion chamber for expelling the burned case and fuel to generate thrust, and a drive system for pulling the combustion chamber and nozzle up the case as the case and fuel burn. A hybrid version of the case-burning rocket also includes an oxygen supply system for supplying varying amounts of oxygen to the combustion chamber to vary the thrust generated by burning the case and the fuel.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the power supply voltage of an electric motor includes means for detecting the difference between a mains voltage and a reference voltage, and means for generating alternating correction voltage whose frequency is equal to the frequency of the mains voltage and which is phase-shifted with respect to the mains. The phase shift between the mains voltage and the correction voltage is proportional to the between the mains voltage and the reference voltage, and the correction voltage is added to the mains voltage.

Abstract: Diamond microtip field emitters are used in diode and triode vacuum microelectronic devices, sensors and displays. Diamond diode and triode devices having integral anode and grid structures can be fabricated. Ultra-sharp tips are formed on the emitters in a fabrication process in which diamond is deposited into mold cavities in a two-step deposition sequence. During deposition of the diamond, the carbon graphite content is carefully controlled to enhance emission performance. The tips or the emitters are treated by post-fabrication processes to further enhance performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bone grinding apparatus, which comprises a grinding chamber, primary and secondary cutting elements positioned within the grinding chamber to sequentially perform primary and secondary cutting operations on the bone, and a drive mechanism operatively engaging the primary and secondary cutting elements. The apparatus also includes a bone supplying cylinder engaging the grinding chamber and adapted to transport the bone to the cutting elements at a consistent pressure. The apparatus also includes a sealing component designed to operatively engage the drive mechanism and to separate the drive mechanism from the cutting elements.

Abstract: A sub-surface direct expansion geothermal heat exchange unit, which can be placed in sub-surface ground and/or water, consisting of at least one smaller interior diameter refrigerant liquid/fluid transport line with an optional vertically oriented U bend at the bottom, operatively connected to at least one larger interior diameter refrigerant liquid/fluid transport line, with at least one refrigerant flow metering device installed at either an accessible location in the liquid/fluid line or at the sub-surface point where the liquid/fluid line connects with the vapor/fluid line, for use when the system is operating in the heating mode, together with a refrigerant flow metering device by-pass means so as to enable additional refrigerant fluid flow around the refrigerant metering device when the system is operating in the cooling mode.

Abstract: A system and method for treating wastewater including: delivering untreated wastewater into a permeable container disposed in an impoundment. A wastewater input moves untreated wastewater to the interior of the permeable container. Treated wastewater is flowed through the permeable container and is removed via a wastewater output. A method of practicing wastewater treatment, comprising the steps of delivering untreated wastewater into a permeable container contained within an impoundment; treating the wastewater in the permeable container; moving treated wastewater from the interior of the permeable container to a position between the interior of the permeable container and the exterior of the impoundment; and removing the treated wastewater from the impoundment.

Abstract: A system and method for promoting and dispensing collector's cards to a plurality of users. The system includes a microprocessor connected to a currency acceptor, a collector's card dispenser, and a game piece dispenser. When currency is inserted into the currency acceptor, the microprocessor registers the signal provided by the currency acceptor and directs the collector's card dispenser to distribute at least one collector's card according to the amount of currency entered. As a promotion to encourage the sale of the collector's cards, the system also dispenses a game piece simultaneously with the collector's card, that allows the user to play a game of chance.

Abstract: A digital media communications and control system includes a plurality of audio devices each of which includes a device interface module for communication of digital media data and control data from at least one of the devices to at least one other of the devices. A universal data link is operatively connected to each of the device interface modules. The device interface modules and universal data links are operative in combination to connect the devices together in the system and provide full duplex communication of the digital media data and control data between the devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a helmet with self-adjusting padding designed to adjust to various head sizes of individual wearers of the helmet. The protective helmet comprises a helmet shell having a interior surface, a first helmet pad, a second helmet pad, and at least one expandable band. Each of the first and second helmet pads comprise a first pad section attached to the interior surface of the helmet and a second pad section spaced away from the interior surface of the helmet. At least one expandable band is attached to each of the second pad sections.

Abstract: A dual hoist bucket crane controller for operating a closing motor and a holding motor using a close inverter adapted to control the closing motor and a hold inverter adapted to control the holding motor where the hold inverter and the close inverter are internally controlled and operate independently from the other drive. Also covered is a dual hoist bucket crane controller for operating a closing motor and a holding motor using a dual axis master switch adapted to provide a close inverter input signal to the close inverter and a hold inverter input signal to the hold inverter.

Abstract: A modular chassis for use in a manufacturing process line wherein manufacturing process steps are performed by manufacturing devices on workpieces carried by pallets. The chassis top plate is machined attaching one or more different types of manufacturing devices to the chassis, such as a robot or automatic parts feeder. A non-synchronous incoming pallet conveyor is aligned horizontally to receive a set of incoming pallets. A pallet transfer and index module is attached and aligned to accept the set of incoming pallets from the incoming pallet conveyor. The transfer and index module includes an indexing mechanism to accurately position each of the retrieved incoming pallets in one of a plurality of workstations so that at the end of the transfer cycle the process steps can be performed on each of the workpieces.

Abstract: A method of deriving a prediction model and calculating a predicted lens power to provide a desired post-operative spherical equivalent to correct myopia in a phakic eye of a patient using an intraocular lens includes measuring and determining the predictive significance of certain pre-operative characteristics of the eye, including cycloplegic and manifest spherical equivalent, vertex distance, anterior chamber depth, and keratometry. The prediction model is derived using multiple regression analysis on the pre-operative and post operative data. Measured data corresponding to a particular patient is used in the lens power prediction model to calculate the predicted lens power for implantation in the patient.

Abstract: A lens for eyeglasses is provided with two or more optical zones on the lens body having different optical properties that enhance visualization of different scenes, including target objects within the scenes, that are associated with a specific recreational activity such as golf, hunting, or fishing. A first optical zone in an upper portion of the lens can be provided with pre-defined focus distance, transmission percentage, and/or transmission spectrum parameters for enhanced visualization of distant scenes associated with the specific recreational activity. A second optical zone in a lower or outer portion of the lens can be provided with different pre-defined focus distance, transmission percentage, and/or transmission spectrum parameters for enhanced visualization of close-in scenes associated with the specific recreational activity.

Abstract: A sealed well direct expansion geothermal heat exchange unit, whose sealed well can be placed in ground and/or in water, consisting of a conventional direct expansion, or other heat pump, system wherein the exterior refrigerant heat exchange lines are placed within an insulated and sealed container, which container is supplied with a circulating heat conductive liquid from and to a sub-surface sealed well encasement, which container liquid may be supplemented with heat from a solar heating system, and which unit's hot refrigerant vapor line may be supplementary cooled by means of condensate water evaporative cooling.