Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: A tool for dilating tunnels in bone, in order to compact the cancellous bone around the tunnel and providing better holding for interference screws and the like, comprises a plurality of elongated segments mounted for radial motion with respect to an axis of elongation. When actuated, the segments move radially outwardly, parallel to the axis of elongation, compacting the bone.

Abstract: The method comprises coupling an external load having a predetermined resistance directly in series with the battery, conducting a power transistor to supply a transient large current to the battery for sampling voltage of the battery in a set very short period of time, and determining the internal resistance of the battery. The internal resistance of the battery can then be compared with a predetermined warning value of internal resistance of the battery so as to determine whether the former is equal to or larger than the warning value, and displaying a warning on a display if the determination is affirmative. The invention enables a driver to correctly know the condition of the battery in substantially real time while consuming a minimum amount of current.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: The structural and termination characteristics of a telephone or other wiring circuit can be determined by generating a continuous stream of low-energy electrical signals, injecting these into the circuit under test, and analyzing the energy reflected at impedance changes in the frequency domain. Standing waves occurring in the circuit can be identified as a function of frequency and analyzed to locate the impedance discontinuities. An unambiguous numerical representation of the circuit can be generated and used to categorically determine if two circuits are indeed alike, or whether the structural and termination characteristics of a particular circuit has remained the same or changed over time. Waveforms are employed that are not sensed by circuits that carry digital telephone traffic, so that the invention is useful in characterizing and providing security protection for those type of circuits in situ.

Abstract: A two-step chemical precipitation process involving hydroxide precipitation and sulfide precipitation combined with “field separation” technology such as magnetic separation, dissolved air flotation, vortex separation or expanded plastics flotation, effectively removes chelated and non-chelated heavy metal precipitates and other fine particles from water. In the first-step, the non-chelated heavy metals are precipitated as hydroxides and removed from the water by a conventional liquid/solids separator such as an inclined plate clarifier to remove a large percentage of the dissolved heavy metals. The cleaned water is then treated in a second precipitation step to remove the residual heavy metals to meet discharge limits. In the second precipitation step, any metal precipitant more effective than hydroxide for metal precipitation can be used.

Abstract: Total organic carbon in an aqueous or gaseous sample is measured by admitting the sample and an oxidant gas to a cell transparent to plasma, establishing a relatively low energy plasma in the cell, and measuring the CO2 thus produced using FTIR, NDIR, or conductivity-based techniques.

Abstract: Contaminated water is disinfected by admixture of a highly reactive gas stream containing ions of oxygen and nitrogen, formed by exposure of air to short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, and of chlorine, formed by electrolysis of a brine solution. Solids removal can be accomplished by electrophoresis in the same unit employed for electrolysis of brine to release chlorine, or in a separate unit.

Abstract: A receiver for frequency shift keyed data transmission implemented using degenerate digital signal processing techniques, whereby complex circuitry can be avoided in favor of low cost, readily manufactuable logic gates.

Abstract: A method for testing various types of devices or systems employs a modular test instrument comprising a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions. The base unit is generic to all types of test to be provided, and comprises a display, a power supply, a user interface, and generic software to operate the display and user interface. Each application module is connected to the base unit in the same manner, so that the same base unit can be employed with a wide variety of application modules. The application modules can be readily and conveniently removed from and assembled to the base unit.

Abstract: In an improved sail for a sailboat, the trailing edges of a pair of serrated flaps of sailcloth are attached to the trailing edge of the sail, one on each side; the leading portions of corresponding members making up the serrated flaps are not fixed to the sail, but are connected to one another by short sections of line extending through holes in the sail. When the boat is tacked from one tack to the other, the leading portions of the members on the new windward side are pulled away from the surface of the sail by the wind, so that a serrated flow-impeding lip is provided on the windward side of the leech. At the same time, the lines pull the leeward members against the main body of the sail, so that drag is not increased substantially. Substantial improvements in sailing performance are realized, while no control action is required to cause the flaps to be suitably reconfigured upon tacking, and while ordinary sailing manuevers and all normal sail handling operations may be carried out without complication.

Abstract: Toy racing vehicles for operating on preexisting track of a particular scale comprise sub bodies including conventional chassis and larger-scale “visible cars”, which are supported by the sub bodies, but are not fixed or mounted thereto. Instead, a visible car simply rests on the sub body, and is retained loosely thereon by one or more guide pins mounted on the sub body, and fitting loosely within apertures in a plate fixed with respect to the visible car. Accordingly, when the larger-scale visible cars bump one another during racing, they can be jostled out of their normal positions on their sub bodies, but are not separated therefrom, and return to their normal positions when the contact ceases. Realistic and exciting racing action results.

Abstract: A toy racing car or other vehicle for operating on conventional track of a given scale a comprises a sub body, including a chassis, motor and gear set, pickup shoes and drive wheels, and a visible body of much larger scale, with large scale rear drive wheels. In one embodiment, the body is pivoted to the sub body, so as to swing outwardly in turns, simulating a broadsliding race car; large scale front wheels are carried by the sub body, so as to simulate countersteering. A toy motorcycle similarly comprises a sub body and modeled motorcycle components; the front wheel and fork of the motorcycle remain upright in turns, while the rider and frame lean over, simulating a motorcycle leaning in a turn.

Abstract: A yarn is produced which consists substantially of twisting filaments which are wrapped sequentially upon each other helically upon the yarn in layers, wherein the helically wound filaments preferably are wound right to left and then left to right alternatively to balance the yarn, wherein optionally a glue is applied to one of the filaments to maximize the performance of the yarn in producing paper.

Abstract: A printer/perforator unit for connection to a conventional personal computer allows documents to be conveniently perforated, both printing and perforating functions being controllable in response to a single software program. The single program can be a pre-existing word-processing program modified by addition of software provided together with the printer and perforator unit, a unique word processing program integrally including the perforator control functionality, or another type of program or interacting with a printer, such as a graphics program.

Abstract: A modular test instrument comprises a base unit and one of a selection of application modules, neither being capable of performing end-user functions without the other. When physically assembled to one another, the base unit and application module comprise a structurally unitary device specialized for performance of application-specific end-user functions. The base unit is generic to all types of test to be provided, and comprises a display, a power supply, a user interface, and generic software to operate the display and user interface. Each application module is connected to the base unit in the same manner, so that the same base unit can he employed with a wide variety of application modules. The application modules can be readily and conveniently removed from and assembled to the base unit.

Abstract: A three wheeled vehicle comprises a front subframe having a front wheel journaled thereto and a seat for a rider mounted thereon, and a rear subframe having a pair of rear wheels journaled thereto. The front subframe is journaled to the rear subframe at a kingpin axis, which defines a caster angle with respect to the vertical. The kingpin axis is spaced by a trail dimension from the rear axle axis. The caster angle and trail dimension, together with the wheelbase dimension between the front and rear axle axes and the track dimension across the rear wheels, are chosen cooperatively to define the desired handling characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.

Abstract: An in-vehicle positional recording device records the positions of a moving vehicle into a storage medium while the vehicle is operating. The stored positional data are later retrieved for subsequent analysis. In one embodiment, the recording device includes a control unit, an interface to a GPS receiver and storage unit. Data compression techniques can be used to increase the number of records that can be stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system provides real time monitoring of vehicles by receiving position and operational conditions from mobile units over a wireless communication link, such as a cellular telephony connection. In one embodiment, the mobile unit is equipped with both a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a dead reckoning device, which provides position information when the GPS receiver is unable to receive GPS positions from a GPS satellite (e.g., when the vehicle is in a city area surrounded by tall buildings). A novel position request protocol allows multiple position reports to be included in a single data packet, thereby reducing the air time cost of transmitting data over a cellular telephony link. A novel antenna cable detects and reports tempering of a GPS antenna.