Abstract: An extendable support arm for a carpet stretcher is provided. The extendable support arm is a multiple section telescoping arm having several telescoping sections made from angle aluminum extrusions. The angle extrusions all have the same cross-sectional shape and size thereby reducing manufacturing costs and allowing the changing of the total telescoping length by either removing or adding telescoping sections. Gravity-operated locks hold each section in the extended position, while a combination in gravity-actuated and manually-actuated locks allow fine adjustment of length on one of the telescoping sections. Turning the entire assembly over to the upside down position unlocks all sections allowing the arm to be collapsed. A tail block with casterable wheels is provided to allow easy movement of the stretcher within a room.

Abstract: A retractable arrow rest activated on the initial movement of an arrow is provided. The arrow rest has a retractable pin which is an articulated pin or alternatively a telescoping pin, having a spring-loaded retract mechanism. By moving the articulated pin to an extended overcenter position, the pin is locked to support an arrow. An adjustment on the pin permits setting the sensitivity of the pin to retracting. At the proper sensitivity level, the pin will immediately retract on the first movement of the arrow (well before fletching impact). An over arrow safety lock to prevent movement of the arrow out of the rest and to prevent retraction of the pin is also provided. The safety lock allows precise hair trigger settings on the retractable pin while preventing inadvertent retractions.

Abstract: A method and passive monitor for measurement of fatigue is provided. The method includes locating regions of high stress on a structure or material to be monitored, identifying the direction of principal stresses, and then aligning and bonding a specially fabricated passive fatigue monitor to the structure. After the structure has been subjected to a stress cycle, the passive fatigue monitor is removed and the striations formed in the monitor are evaluated. If necessary, contrast enhancement of striations can be performed prior to striation evaluation. Data from evaluations is assessed using rain flow cycle counting and Miners cumulative damage algorithms. The passive fatigue monitor is a small coupon of material fabricated from aluminum or other material known to form well-defined striations. The monitor is specially modified to contain a precrack which provides the location for striation formation.

Abstract: A computer-controlled life support system and method for mixed-gas diving, having separate supplies of oxygen and diluent gas or gases is provided. Multiple processor units provide redundant gas control and dive data recording. The primary processor automatically controls the oxygen make-up based on partial pressure of oxygen according previously determined dive parameter. A secondary CPU provides back up gas control information and displays system and dive parameters including decompression schedules. A tertiary CPU, independently powered and provided with duplicate sensors, provides an additional backup means for gas control and decompression calculations. No automatic gas control is available from the third CPU, but displayed data allows manual gas control.

Abstract: A boat cover device for attachment to the forward end of a boat trailer is provided. The cover has a rigid forward shield to which a flexible cover and support line are attached. The rigid forward shield provides protection from road debris during towing, provides an aerodynamic forward section which reduces flutter of the flexible cover and has a compartment for storage of the flexible cover when it is removed from the boat.

Abstract: A two-position geared steering device for an electric trolling motor is provided. The steering device has a tiller attached to a sector drive gear. The sector drive is rotatably mounted by a bracket on a fixed part of the electric trolling motor engaging the two-part split shaft gear which is clamped to the motor shaft. The electric trolling motor steering device provides steering with rotation of the tiller in either a vertical or horizontal plane. The sector drive gear assembly allows repositioning the sector and the tiller to operate in either the horizontal and vertical planes. The steering device may be easily adapted to an existing trolling motor using a simple clamp assembly.

Abstract: An inflatable bedpan assembly having an inflatable horseshoe-shaped seat and a detachable waste collection bag which is sealed by use of a drawstring is provided. The bedpan is almost flat in its deflated condition and has a shape similar to a thick toilet seat when inflated. A waste collection bag substitutes for the bowl in a regular toilet. The bag is inserted prior to use, then is pulled out through a gap in the front of the seat. The bag closes and seals as it is pulled out. The collection bag is attached to the bedpan by means of a sleeve which is around the opening of the bag and which contains a drawstring. The sleeve containing the drawstring is wedged into a groove or channel formed around the inner circumference of the seat just below the top surface. After use, the drawstring and sleeve, with the suspended collection bag, are pulled out of the groove in the horseshoe and removed through the front gap.

Abstract: A packed tower bio-reactor having an inlet turbine and a corrugated reactor element is provided. The inlet turbine provides intermittent columns of waste water to the reactor elements thereby permitting alternate slugs of water and air to pass through the reactor element both flowing in the same direction. The reactor media is made up of a roll of single-faced corrugated plastic sheeting and is formed in a packed roll to provide the reactor surface.

Abstract: An aerodynamically-stable collapsible basket for carrying a load suspended from a helicopter having a loaded and an unloaded flight mode is provided. The collapsible basket comprises a grated floor, mesh sides and a lifting harness assembly. The floor supports the load and comprises a rectangular bottom frame and a grate having four ends. Each end of the grate connects to a different side of the rectangular bottom frame. Apparatus for aerodynamically stabilizing the basket comprises collapsible side-frame assembly having four rectangular side frames pivotally mounted to different sides of the rectangular bottom frame. Stabilization of the basket results from airflow patterns developed by mesh screen sides attached to the basket and the floor grating. Apparatus for attaching the basket to the helicopter comprises two pairs of hooks, each pair being oppositely attached to the top ends of two oppositely-facing side frames.

Abstract: A garment for protecting a person against bites from insects uses a fabric of fine mesh for hindering the entry of small insects and an inner skeleton for supporting the fabric of fine mesh. The fine mesh includes a plurality of outer edges and elastic material. The elastic material connects to a different outer edge. The elastic material allows the fine mesh to fit snugly over the inner skeleton. The elastic material also constricts any openings around the neck, wrists, waist, and ankles of the wearer. The inner skeleton comprises a group of supporting bands, each band comprising a group of poly-filled spacers and a group of second spacers connected to the poly-filled spacers. Each band encircles and surrounds a particular area of the garment wearer's body. Each band also connects to a contiguous supporting band by stretchable material attached to the second spacers and by a poly-filled spacer on one side.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaned micro-strainer is provided. The apparatus uses a rotating cylinder-shaped set of filtering screens through which waste water flows. A vacuum head centered above the cylindrical screen assembly sucks particulate matter from the screens. The micro-strainer is constructed of inexpensive, corrosion resistant, lightweight materials which minimize replacement and maintenance. The invention offers a cost-effective means for filtration of particulate matter from water generated by fish culture systems, cooling tower systems and waste water treatment systems while minimizing the collection of water.

Abstract: An instrumentation system for measuring airspeed and angle-of-attack (AOA) is provided. The system includes a sensor assembly, a constant voltage anemometer, a microprocessor assembly with software, and an output device suitable for powering conventional cockpit display or for powering other speed AOA devices such as engine inlets and stability augmenters. The sensor assembly is a pair of orthogonal miniature cylinders with embedded micro-thin multielement hot film sensors. Operation of the sensor assembly by the constant voltage anemometer provides detection of cylinder leading edge flow stagnation point and oscillatory frequency. The stagnation point determination provides angle-of-attack data; the oscillatory flow frequency provides data to calculate cylinder shed-vortex frequency which is converted to airspeed data. The sensor assembly is solid-state, having no ports, diaphragms or moving parts and is heated in normal operation.

Abstract: A drive assembly for an exercise device is provided. The drive assembly is made up of a base with side supports and an electric motor drive mechanism. The electric motor drive mechanism is an electric motor with a worm gear attached to two driving pulleys via one way clutches. The drive mechanism is supported with outboard bearing mounts located in the side supports. A torque arm and spring assembly restricts rotation of the mechanism, but allows limited rotational movement. This limited movement attenuates shock torsional loads and as a result reduces the structural and electrical size requirements for the overall device.

Abstract: A method and air conditioning unit for storing energy and for utilizing stored energy is provided. The air conditioning unit includes a storage tank containing a phase change material, such as water. A plurality of coils are disposed in the storage tank and carry refrigerant. At least one indoor heat exchanger is connected to the coils. An electrical operated refrigerant pump is connected to the coils and is used to pump liquid refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger when required. A conventional condensing unit is connected to the indoor heat exchanger to provide cooling during normal hours. During peak energy periods, cooling is supplied from ice storage using the refrigerant pump. During low demand or off peak periods the condensing unit operates to freeze ice thereby storing energy in the storage tank.

Abstract: A method and portable microcomputer-based system for determining flow field stagnation points are disclosed. The apparatus uses hot film sensors wrapped around the leading edge of an airfoil to measure boundary layer oscillations. A plurality of sensor signals are provided which may be selected in groups. Signals from sensors in any group are read simultaneously. The signals are then converted to digital form and displayed on the video display of a microcomputer. Points of airflow stagnation are characterized by a doubling in frequency or other discrete harmonics and by a reversing of the phase of oscillations. Those points are identified by displaying and comparing signals from different sensor locations on a video display.

Abstract: A simulated stair climbing exercise apparatus having variable sensory feedback is provided. Sensory feedback, in the form of a lifting force acting on a lifting foot of the operator, varies with the operator's location in the stepping stroke. Maximum sensory feedback is provided at a lower portion of the stroke, minimum sensory feedback is provided at an upper portion of the stroke and maximum feedback at the lower portions. Sensory feedback is effected by means of direct interconnection of left and right foot mechanisms in combination with a spring. Direct interconnection is achieved by a cable routed around a series of pulleys such that a downward force on one foot mechanism results in an equal and opposite lifting force on the other foot mechanism. One of the pulleys is a floating pulley that is free to move and its positioned based upon the operating position of the stepping stroke.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based side scanning sonar system is provided. The system uses a personal microcomputer with a custom designed control and data collection circuit card to provide integrated sonar and navigational data to a display. A specialized software program allows navigational data to be collected from any standard navigational device compatible with NMEA 0183 standards and integrated with sonar data. The system allows accurate and repeatable navigation to sonar targets, including return to the target.

Abstract: A side-scanning sonar towfish constructed from a solid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rod is provided. The PVC rod is milled and slotted to provide recesses for electronics and transducers and slotted to provide attachment points for fins and tow rail. The entire fish is then filled and sealed with urethane thereby providing sealed solid unit. A special multi-layer acoustic matching system is bonded over the transducers to provide maximum coupling efficiency of the acoustic signal thereby allowing operation of the fish at reduced power requirements.

Abstract: The invention is a combination device for long-term intravenous therapy comprising an outer sheath 11 and an inner catheter 15. The outer sheath 11 is permanently implanted in the patient allowing repeated or continuous access to the venous system. Inner catheter 15 is inserted into the outer sheath and comprises several conventional configurations such as single lumen, dual lumen, depending on the particular therapy. When therapy is complete, or when needed to avoid blockage by clotting or infection resulting from contamination, the inner catheter may be removed. When the inner catheter 15 is not in place, the sheath 11 is sealed at the proximal or skin-surface end by cap 16. The cap provides a flat, inconspicuous surface which may be covered with a small bandage. In this configuration, the patient is also protected from injury in that the likelihood of physical damage to protruding hardware is minimized.

Abstract: The invention is a pair of dice, a first die 10 having inclined sides 12 such that the base 14 is larger than the top 15. This novel shape when combined with a selected range of numbers on the faces of die allows a selection of lottery numbers suitable for a variety of number ranges. The first die also have a logo inscribed which has a low probability of occurrence due to the bias caused by the design of the die. A second die has a conventional shape, but also has a unique number range 31 such that by rolling the dice either singularly or in pairs, a full range of lottery numbers may be rolled.