Abstract: A power management system is disclosed for providing power to one or more computers having provisions for communication with an external data source. A source of backup power, including a bank of batteries, is provided which is provided to the power bus during a utility power interruption. A microprocessor monitors the utility line and the energy remaining in the batteries and provides data signals to the computer in response to utility power interruption and to predetermined battery energy levels. The data signals enable the computer to transfer data to non-volatile media to prevent data loss. In one embodiment, two way data links are provided between the computers and the microprocessor, which also controls power cutoff switches connected to each computer. Each computer may signal the microprocessor to cutoff backup power after data has been transferred to non-volatile media.

Abstract: A device incorporates pressure transducers to measure the ambient water pressure and the pressure of the air in the tank and uses a microprocessor to combine those measurements with a time measurement. The microprocessor provides a digital readout of the tank pressure, the water depth, and the amount of air remaining in the tank calibrated in minutes of air remaining for the particular diver using the tank under the particular circumstances.

Abstract: A control circuit for protecting a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect power transistor from current overloads is disclosed in one embodiment of the control circuit. A silicon controlled rectifier is used to remove the bias voltage from the MOSFET in the event of a current overload. In another embodiment of the invention a bipolar transistor in combination with a second MOSFET is used to turn off the power MOSFET in the event of a current overload. The voltage appearing across the power MOSFET is used as an indication of a current overload condition.

Abstract: A vent system for a gas fired swimming pool heater is disclosed in which replacement of three components is all that is required to change the heater vent to one for use with outdoor installed heaters to one for use with indoor installed heaters. The parts replacement is sufficiently simple to enable unskilled purchasers of the system to effect the changeover.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for synchronizing multiple AC motor driven synchronous generators to the voltage on a common output bus. In one method, the rotating motor is disconnected from its AC power source, the generator voltage is phase synchronized to the output bus voltage, and then the generator rotor is caused to slip one generator pole at a time until the motor generated voltage is phase synchronized to the AC power source voltage. At that point, the motor is reconnected to the AC power source. Other methods are disclosed in which magnetic position sensors are employed to provide an indication of when the rotors on multiple motor driven generators are mechanically phase synchronized.

Abstract: A device for connecting an integrated circuit to a circuit board having a body of insulating material with a first surface adapted to fit flush against a circuit board, a second surface adjacent the first surface having a series of parallel grooves, and a third surface. Each of a series of parallel conductors is molded into a central portion of the body of insulating material and is bent to fit into one of the grooves in a manner that the insulating material underlying the bend is forced tightly thereagainst and the portion of the body which is grooved is forced tightly against the remaining portion of the conductor. The conductors protrude at one end from the first surface for connection to a circuit board and at the other end lie alongside the third surface and are bent to provide a spring to hold and make contact with a leadless flat circuit interposed between the conductors and the third surface.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for making electrical connections to a large area visual display in the form of a substrate having a plurality of spaced-apart contact pads arranged in parallel rows along the edges on one surface. The connector includes a base in the form of a rectangular frame for supporting the edges of the substrate, and having spaced-apart parallel rows of cavities formed in each side of the base. A plurality of contact assemblies each containing a row of electrical contacts are provided which are designed to fit within a respective one of the cavities. A cover is also provided which fits over one side of the substrate and fastens to the base in a manner which applies pressure to the substrate edges to maintain connection between the contact pads and the contacts. The connector includes alignment elements for positioning the substrate so that the contact pads are aligned with the contacts.

Abstract: An airtight telescoping rigid conduit is disclosed which includes rigid tubular sections which are coupled together using multiple bearings and a pressure actuated resilient seal ring. The tubular sections are constructed with a heat insulating foam core to minimize losses to, or gains from, the atmosphere. The conduit is designed to be attached to a telescoping passenger loading bridge which connects an airport terminal to an aircraft. The conduit provides preconditioned cooling or heating air from the terminal to the aircraft.

Abstract: Fluid pulsation apparatus is disclosed which includes an elastomeric sleeve designed to expand circumferentially and longitudinally in response to internal fluid pressure. A fluid barrier in the form of a disk valve is located within the sleeve, and is biased closed by an expansion spring extending between the upstream end of the sleeve and the disk valve. A rigid housing surrounds the sleeve and restricts its circumferential expansion to a predetermined level. The apparatus can be made to produce either pulsing or continuous fluid flow by adjusting the flow rate of fluid downstream of the disk valve.

Abstract: A connector with an integral ground plane for making connections between two circuit boards is disclosed in which the connector has a bar-shaped body including generally C-shaped contacts extending in a row on opposite sides of the body. A ground plane in the form of a thin conductive sheet is positioned in the body between the rows, and has a predetermined pattern of projections which are bent to contact specific ones of the C-shaped contacts when the connector is assembled between the two circuit boards.

Abstract: A winding and launching device for toy vehicles which includes a base covered by a shell, the shell having a shaft projecting therefrom and being adapted to mate with a coupling on a flywheel-driven toy vehicle for rotating the flywheel. The shaft is rotated at high speed through a step-up gearing arrangement by a crank positioned on the shell. A button protrudes from the shell and is connected to a platform which holds the shaft in place, depressing the button pulls the shaft from the vehicle coupling so that the vehicle may speed away.

Abstract: A solar tracking system is disclosed which includes a solar powered motor coupled to a rotatable collector using a high reduction gear arrangement. The collector rotates about pivot bearings and is counterbalanced about such bearings by counterweights. A light sensor which actuates the motor when illuminated by sunlight is mounted in relation to one of the counterweights so that the counterweight casts a shadow over the sensor when the collector has moved to a position slightly before the position where the sun is aligned with the collector. At this point, the motor is de-energized and the inertia of the motor, collector and counterweights in cooperation with the gear arrangement causes the collector to coast into alignment with the sun.

Abstract: A drawing device having a platform from which a marking instrument is suspended and wheels for moving the instrument over the surface of a drawing medium, a pair of these wheels being mounted equidistantly on opposite sides of the instrument, each of the pair of wheels being mounted to rotate freely, another of these wheels being a drive wheel depending from the platform and separated from the instrument on a line therefrom perpendicular to a line connecting the pair of wheels and the instrument. The device has an arrangement for moving the drive wheel to cause the drawing device to move and for varying the angle at which the drive wheel moves.

Abstract: A method of making an electrochemical sensor is disclosed in which a liquid electrolyte such as sulfuric acid is blended with fumed silica in an amount sufficient to powderize the mixture. The resultant mixture is compacted under pressure between electrodes to form an electrochemical gas sensor.

Abstract: A control system for a low mass hydronic boiler is disclosed which includes a sensor for measuring the temperature of the fluid exiting the boiler. The level of fuel flow provided to the boiler is reduced when the water temperature exceeds a predetermined high temperature limit. The level of fuel flow provided to the boiler is increased only after the water temperature has decreased below a predetermined reset temperature limit and a predetermined interval of time has elapsed.

Abstract: An improved method of interconnecting cells in batteries is disclosed, where the cells are connected using lead links which straddle the walls separating the cells in the battery housing. Grooves are provided in the surfaces of the links which are adjacent the walls and multiple indentations are provided in the opposite surfaces of the links. The links are coated with a sealant which flows into the grooves under the force of capillary action and forms a gas tight seal between cells.

Abstract: A frame-type electrical connector for connecting leadless integrated circuit packages to a printed circuit board is disclosed. The connector includes a frame member having generally rectangular sides. A lead frame containing a plurality of flat conductive elements is molded in place in each of the sides of the frame. After molding, the conductive elements are shaped to form both pressure contacts and pin terminals. The pressure contacts are designed to contact the leadless package, and the pin terminals are designed to be soldered into the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical display including a rotating focusing device and at least one light source. The position of the focusing device is monitored and the light source turned on under computer control to produce at a viewing position a plurality of light indications from a single source.

Abstract: A flow meter prover is disclosed which includes an outer fluid housing having an inlet and an outlet, a measuring conduit coaxially mounted within the outer housing and having first and second sets of fluid apertures adjacent, respectively, the upstream and downstream ends thereof, a fluid barrier mounted within the annular cavity between the outer housing and the conduit, a controllable piston mounted within the conduit, an actuating rod axially projecting from the downstream side of the piston where the free end of the rod extends through the downstream end of the outer housing, a bypass valve connected between the inlet and outlet of the outer housing, and first and second piston detection switches spaced apart along the length of the measuring conduit. There are provisions for automatically correcting for variations in the dimensions of the measuring conduit due to variations in fluid temperature.