Abstract: A system for lowering the power output of a video display monitor for a computer during periods of operator inactivity senses the presence or absence of horizontal synchronization (HSYNC) and vertical synchronization (VSYNC) signals, which are normally supplied by the host computer to synchronize data transfer to the video monitor with horizontal and vertical sweep circuitry. Time sensing means at the host senses inactivity, and suspends one or another of the HSYNC and VSYNC signals. Sync sensing and control means in the monitor senses the absence of one or both of the HSYNC and VSYNC signals, and controls power-using circuitry in the monitor in response. In an embodiment applicable to monitors having a microprocessor, the system may be incorporated entirely in software at the host and the monitor. In dumb monitors, the system requires add-in and/or add-on devices cooperating with software.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch which permits partial actuation without a change of state, including a body, a cover and a contact cup having a plurality of tabs, the cup rotatably mounted on the cover. A plunger and ratchet mechanism mounted in the body incrementally rotate the contact cup and tabs upon successive actuations of the switch. A first terminal mounted on the cover is interruptibly in contact with one of the tabs as they are rotated by operation of the ratchet mechanism, while a second terminal mounted on the cover maintains electrical contact with the contact cup. A plurality of camming ramps formed in the cover are in intermittent communication with the tabs, first lifting them above a planar portion of the first terminal, then permitting one of them to come to rest on the planar portion of the terminal completing an electrical circuit between the first and second terminals. In another embodiment, a third terminal is mounted on the cover in a coplanar spaced apart relationship with the first terminal.

Abstract: A U-shaped clamp fastens to a boat windshield frame with set screws and incorporates a protruding member having a recess with a hemispherical radius at the inner end and a straight bore tapped with internal threads at the outer end. A ball having a matching radius is held captive in the recess by a nut that engages the internal threads. The nut has a partial radius that matches the radius of the ball. A slotted elongated arm fastens to a mirror at the slotted end, and has an elbow at the other end that passes through a large opening in the nut and fastens to the ball. Another embodiment has a ball mounted on the protruding member that mates with a cylindrical ball socket member having a ledge at one end adapted to engage the ball. The ball socket member has a split that is squeezed together to hold the ball. Another embodiment has a cylindrical pivot member rather than a ball-socket pivot. In one embodiment the protruding member is formed as an integral part of the boat windshield frame.

Abstract: Two different embodiments of a kit for structurally reinforcing the handle pole for a jet water ski to make it stronger than new are disclosed. The kit includes two internal reinforcing members and two external clamping members. The internal and external member are made of an impact-resistant material such as fracture-resistant plastic, high-density aluminum or stainless steel. The internal and external members are also corrosion resistant. An epoxy cement or glue provides a flat foundation, acts as a cushion against impact and tends to prevent cracking. The internal members have a bend that acts as a suspension system, and orients journal bearing holes transverse to a main mounting bolt. The internal and external members are attached where the handle pole wall is strongest.

Abstract: The torque from differential solar pressure acting on a spinning spacecraft body and tending to tilt the spacecraft about an axis transverse to the spin axis, is reduced or eliminated by shifting the center of gravity of the spacecraft axially or longitudinally of the spin axis in a direction toward the center of solar pressure.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from a reusable launch vehicle such as the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.

Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting soft ductile materials such as came (a lead or lead alloy extrusion used for leaded glass) without distortion. A thin steel blade is rapidly accelerated by impulse to cut the same. The blade is accelerated either by an electrical solenoid, a hammer, or other suitable means.

Abstract: A spacecraft specifically adapted for launch from the space shuttle by means of a cradle having locking and ejection mechanisms mounted therein. The cradle fastens into the payload bay of the space shuttle and returns therewith for reuse in subsequent launches. The spacecraft mounts at three points to the cradle, and the cradle mounts at three points to the shuttle such that a plane through the attachment points passes through the roll axis of the spacecraft at approximately the center of mass thereof. The cradle utilizes the truss structure of the spacecraft to produce the required stiffness by providing a structural tie between the two ends and the bottom of the cradle. At launch, the spacecraft is ejected with both linear and angular momentum, the spin providing gyroscopic stability. The locking mechanisms in the cradle can be remotely controlled to relock the spacecraft to the cradle in the event of an unsuccessful deployment attempt.

Abstract: Water from existing clarifier tank is pumped to a centrifugal separator where solid particles are removed. A bypass valve is disposed between the outlet of the separator and the inlet of the pump to keep the separator operating at high velocity even when there is little or no demand for processed water. A vortex breaker is provided at the sludge outlet of the separator to prevent solid particles from being carried to the processed water outlet to the separator. A valve is provided at the outlet of the vortex breaker to prevent vacuum lock when the pump is turned off, and a priming valve is provided to prime the pump. A float tank and check valve may also be provided for expelling trapped air from the system. Two or more centrifugal separators may be employed in parallel when a higher volume of processed water is required.

Abstract: A motor active nutation damping system employing a rotor mounted accelerometer, a platform/rotor relative rate sensor, a despin motor and a controller. In the presence of nutation, the accelerometer senses a sinusoidal acceleration whose amplitude is proportional to nutation angle and whose frequency is rotor nutation frequency, i.e., the rate at which the transverse angular momentum vector appears to rotate in rotor fixed coordinates. The controller multiplies the filtered accelerometer signal by a square wave at relative rate generated by the relative rate sensor to obtain a signal consisting of sinusoids at platform nutation frequency and higher order frequencies.

Abstract: A ball-bearing retainer in which rigid members support a soft, flexible, highly porous annular body having ball pockets for receiving bearing balls. The annular body is made of a porous foamlike material capable of absorbing between 40 and 80% by volume of a liquid lubricant such as oil, and being capable of supplying 60 to 80% of the stored lubricant to the bearing. Because of its flexibility, the annular body may be of one-piece construction with spherical ball pockets, and may be closely fitted to the bearing races and balls.

Abstract: A velocity measuring instrument of the type having a rotatable, counterweighted, spring-controlled vane and pointer assembly in which the outlet aperture for the fluid is contoured exponentially or logarithmically to present an exit flow area that varies as a function of vane position for linearizing the movement of the vane and pointer assembly in response to the pressure of the fluid on the vane. In one embodiment a true logarithmically varying area port is provided. In other embodiments, two or more openings of varying area or geometry are configured to approximate a logarithmic outlet aperture. A baffle may be provided on the exterior of the case to prevent fluid from entering the outlet aperture, and the interior of the case may be contoured adjacent to the outlet aperture and along the path of the vane to provide a variable leakage path clearance between the vane and the case. A grease-coated surface that contacts the vane and pointer assembly provides viscous damping to prevent pointer oscillation.

Abstract: A method of bonding aggregates with resinous binder compositions to produce building materials of controlled strength, porosity and weight. Two types of building materials are made with this bonding method; one is a controlled strength, waterproof material, and the other is a controlled strength, porous material. The method employs either a phenolic resin binder composition in a semi-clear liquid form to maintain the natural coloration of the aggregate, or a furan resin binder composition which discolors the aggregate to a black or dark brown tone. In the controlled strength, waterproof product, the aggregate is gradated to provide a mixture of various particle sizes, including dust and fines, so that all the voids in the resulting product are filled. In the controlled strength porous product, the aggregate is gradated to provide a mixture of various particle sizes, excluding dust and fines, so voids in the product remain open, allowing moisture to pass through the product.

Abstract: A thermoelectric refrigeration unit in which the heat-sink plate and cold plate are separated by spacer blocks, and the space between the plates is filled with thermal insulation. A separator encloses the insulation and the space between the plates and has the fan and power supply mounted to it. A cover encloses the fan, power supply and heat-radiating fins and has openings for circulation of air. The separator and cover are fastened to the cold plate which serves as the base for the unit and as the means for mounting the unit in an insulated enclosure. In a modified embodiment, a shroud and fan assembly is mounted over the cold plate for circulating refrigerated air within the insulated enclosure.

Abstract: A machine for mixing a resinous binder compound with aggregates on a continuous flow basis to produce a building material or the like, without the use of cement or water. Aggregate is fed into a first mixing chamber where a metered amount of resin binder composition is added thereto. The mixture is then passed into a first rotating mixing tube having a rotating mixing screw conveyor therein with triangular teeth between the convolutions of the screw. The outer tube rotates contra to the direction of the inner screw which produces a thorough mixing action, coating each particle of the aggregate with the resin binder composition. This mixture is then fed into a second mixing chamber where a metered amount of a second resin binder composition is mixed with the aggregate. A second mixing tube, also having a rotating mixing screw conveyor and triangular teeth, then thoroughly mixes the blend. The resultant aggregate product is then conveyed to a discharge spout.

Abstract: An FM to AM converter which utilizes a source of unmodulated radio frequency energy, two mixers, and a filter to convert an FM signal to an AM signal. The incoming FM signal is mixed with the unmodulated RF energy. The mixed signal is then passed through a filter to generate AM on the mixed signal together with the FM. The amplitude modulated mixed signal is then mixed with the original FM signal to trip off the FM from the amplitude modulated mixed signal thereby generating an AM signal.