Abstract: A hybrid bridge construction comprises a pair of piers enclosed in the earth at a fixed predetermined distance apart with a cantilever section supported on each pier. Each cantilever section comprises one or more vertical towers with a pair of inner and outer rigid compression members fixed to and extending upwardly and outwardly from the base of each tower. Outer tension members are attached to the top portions of each tower and to upper end portions of the compression members. A suspension section interconnecting the cantilever sections comprises catenary cable members attached to the upper end portions of inner compression members. A road deck extends between the piers, and vertical suspender members extend between the cable members and the road deck.
Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in measuring the physical profile of a road surface and a methodology for frequency domain representation of the profile is disclosed. Force transducers and accelerometers are incorporated at each of the four wheels of a vehicle to measure the perturbations of the road surface in a direction normal to the surface over which the vehicle is driven. The disclosed implementation isolates the measurements from the motion of the vehicle body. A shaft encoder is incorporated at each of the front wheels to measure rotation of the wheels allowing the determination of distance traveled. A methodology for analysis of the data is also disclosed which provides vertical displacement data of the wheel/terrain interface while reducing the introduction of errors as the information is processed. Further methodology is used to analyze the data in the frequency domain and provide for the quantification of road/terrain characteristics useful for accelerated life testing of vehicles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 14, 1990
Date of Patent:
November 19, 1991
Assignee:
Hodges Transportation Inc.
Inventors:
Hency C. Hodges, Sr., Henry C. Hodges, Jr., Sam C. Ashmore, Allan G. Piersol
Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the velocity, whether rotary or reciprocating, of a servo shaft driven cyclically by a motor, without employing a tachmometer, while maintaining accuracy despite environmental electrical noise. From movement of the shaft a pair of overlapping square-wave signals in quadrature are produced with transition expressible in Gray Code for each cycle. A clock continuously produces a large number of evenly spaced clock pulses constituting a series of consecutive sample intervals. A signed value representing the algebraic sum of all the quadrature transitions occurring during a sample interval is determined and stored. The number of clock pulses between two quadrature transitions, each transition being the last qualified transition of the two most recent sample intervals having transitions is determined. A computer divides the sample intervals by the number of clock pulses which occurred between the selected quadrature transitions.
Abstract: A self-supporting pressurized or unpressurized membrane structure for lunar habitation and operation. The pressurized membrane is made up of continuous and leak-proof fabric membrane that encapsulates the entire structure and is capable of withstanding temperatures of about -190.degree. C. to about +140.degree. C. this structure has a skin preferably made up of two-spaced apart fibrous skins with a latticed web between them and foam material filling the space between the skins. Lunar soil supports the lower portions of the spherical, spheroidal, by means of a compression ring beam, or arched structure, and a lunar soil cover of up to ten feet covers the structure. The unpressurized membrane structure has a double-skin membrane arch or dome that derives its structural strength from structural foam injected into the double-skin wall of the roof.
Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter head assembly is described which comprises a body member having a tubular inlet portion adapted to connect with a water supply conduit. The body member includes a circular wall surrounding the tubular inlet portion forming a plurality of passages having open upper and lower ends. A flow control device in each passage forms a constricted emitter orifice. A cap connected to the body member covers both the tubular inlet portion and the surrounding upper ends of the passages. A removable filter retained between the cap and the body member filters water before it enters the passages at their upper ends. Flexible distribution tubes are connected to the lower ends of at least some of the passages in the body member for carrying fluid to preselected locations at their outer ends.
Abstract: A removable handle for a barbecue basket having an attached mounting bracket with spaced apart flange portions, each flange portion having an opening of a predetermined shape. The handle comprises elongated tong arms connected together by an integral flexible portion at one end with a projection at an outer unconnected end of each said tong arm. The projection is shaped in cross-section so as to extend and seat within the flange openings in the mounting bracket so as to retain the handle at different selected angles relative to the basket. A spring urges the tong arms apart so that the end projections will be held in engagement with the mounting bracket when placed within the bracket openings.
Abstract: A collapsible, reusable, livestock transport stable with interchangeable components that can be constructed without tools. The stable includes several types of component parts, with like parts each being interchangeable and useable in any position where such a part is needed. The first of those component parts is a platform which serves as the base of the stable. Next, there is a pair of side panels, each of which is rotatably attached to the side edges of the platform for providing the vertical sides of the stable. Interconnecting the two side panels is an aft panel. The aft panel is isntalled by resting its lower edge along the aft edge of the platform, its two vertical edges are captured by the side panels when the side panels are in the vertical attitude. The doors are attached to the forward edges of the side panels to provide closure of the stable.
Abstract: A composite structural member includes a substantially planar composite panel portion and an integrally formed joint-forming edge structure along at least one edge of the panel portion. The joint-forming edge structure is adapted to be bonded to a complementing joint-forming edge structure of a complementing composite structural member to form a load-bearing joint structure that is capable of withstanding loads that the panel portion of the composite structural member is unable to withstand. A core material sandwiched between two composite skin layers makes up the panel portion of the composite structural member. The joint-facing edge structure may include a flange portion extending from one panel skin, a flange-receiving portion extending from the other panel skin, and a web portion extending between the flange portion and the flange-receiving portion.
Abstract: An apparatus for automatically controlling the flow of fluid in an inlet conduit that provides the water supply for a home or building so as to prevent water damage due to a failure in the water system when unattended. The apparatus comprises a power circuit for supplying a low voltage DC power output which is connectable to a standard AC power source and includes an internal battery which operates in case of AC power failure. A flow sensor and a shutoff valve are connected in the inlet conduit. A control circuit which can be preset for different operational modes, receives and processes flow status signals from the flow sensor and provides output signals that control the shutoff valve, so that if continuous flow is detected in the conduit for a time period exceeding a preselected time, the shutoff valve will automatically close.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 8, 1990
Date of Patent:
August 13, 1991
Assignee:
Philip L. Ames
Inventors:
Philip L. Ames, Alexander Prokop, Rainer R. Schulz
Abstract: A dispensing container for a viscous substance comprising a sleeve defining an axis of rotation and having a pair of ends arranged at first and second locations along the axis, the sleeve further defining a helical travel path on an inward facing surface thereof. A dispensing member mounted in association with one of the pair of ends of the sleeve, and, a piston head mounted within the sleeve and defining an outward facing peripheral surface operative to cooperate with the helical travel path and further defining with the dispensing member and a portion of the sleeve extending therebetween a storage volume for the viscous substance. The piston head travels along the axis of rotation when undergoing rotation thereabout relative to the sleeve, a linkage apparatus is integrally formed with the piston head and defining an end portion associated with a predetermined portion of the sleeve.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 1989
Date of Patent:
August 6, 1991
Assignees:
Resdevco Research & Development Co. Ltd., Lageen Box & Can Factory Ltd.
Abstract: Diaper for disposal after use, comprising an outer sheet (1) which is impermeable to liquids, an inner sheet (2) which is permeable to liquids, an absorbent pad (3), elastic elements (18) extending in the extended state along the opposite longitudinal edges of the absorbent pad, and fastener elements (11) for closing the diaper around the waist of the user.The diaper also comprises two longitudinal strips (14) extending in the stretched state over the entire length of the diaper along the opposite longitudinal edges of the pad (3), between the two sheets (1, 2), each of the strips being fastened at least along its outer longitudinal edge (15) and along its two transverse edges to the outer sheet (1) and along its two opposite longitudinal edges (16) and along its two transverse edges to the inner sheet (2), and the elastic elements (18) are fastened in the extended state on the strips (14) between the two opposite longitudinal edges (15, 16) of the latter.
Abstract: A method for producing an UHMWPE product with enhanced planar mechanical properties. An initial UHMWPE semicrystalline morphology is solid-state deformed under compression in a mold including a mold cavity with an unenclosed perimeter zone or a perimeter zone with a reservoir enabling flow-through for molded UHMWPE. A polymer preform is oriented and extended in more than one direction in the mold cavity and the perimeter zone to an extent which is limited by the material properties of the polymer under the employed processing conditions. The oriented and extended UHMWPE is cooled under compression to ambient temperature for maintaining the maximum orientation and extension attained during the solid-state deformation process. The polymer product in the mold cavity is separated from the product in the perimeter zone of the mold cavity. The UHMWPE product has a markedly transformed morphology, as compared with the initial UHMWPE morphology.
Abstract: A microbridge device for use as a sensor or an actuator is driven parallel to a substrate as a resonant microstructure. The microstructure comprises a stationary thin-film electrode secured to the substrate and located in a plane above it. A movable plate overlaying the substrate is suspended above it. The movable plate and electrode are patterned to provide for each at least one comb with fingers interdigitated with those of the other.