Abstract: A clutch operated, bi-directional bicycle gear box assembly for forward and rearward peddling to still move the bicycle forward, comprised of: a gear box housing, the housing attached to the bicycle frame; a pair of foot pedals; a pair of crank arms; a bottom bracket spindle; a sprocket; a sprocket drive gear; a clutch subassembly, the subassembly consisting of a pair of clutch disks attached to a spacer, each clutch disk having a pair of pins; a reversing drive gear; a transfer gear, and; a shifting lever. The housing provides attachment of the components. The crank arms, attached to each pedal and to the bottom bracket spindle, transfer the pedaling motion to the bottom bracket spindle. Once the gear is in the first position, the rider can pedal forward (clockwise) in order to induce forward motion in the bicycle.

Abstract: A tape tension sensor unit comprised of a light source; a light detector; a rotating arm member having disposed thereon a plurality of reflecting surfaces. When the tape is in a non-tensioned state, gravity rotates the arm to a downward position such that an incident light beam is reflected by a plurality of surfaces to the light detecting source, such that when that tape is in a tensioned condition, the tape rotates the arm to an upward position, causing the reflected light to be misaligned and not be incident on the detector. The appropriate logic circuit is connected to the light sensor such that the condition of a tape is sensed and the appropriate command for the tape drives motors is given.

Abstract: An unconstrained removable protective cover for optical disks. With this apparatus a transparent protective cover can be mounted to an optical information recording disk wherein the different thermal expansion coefficients of the disk and the protective cover will not result in read write errors due to warping of the protective cover. An inner spacer ring is fixedly bonded to the inner diameter of the disk substrate and the protective cover. However, on the outer perimeter of the disk, a U-shaped spacer ring is fitted thereon and fixedly mounted to the outer perimeter of the transparent protective cover. This allows the transparent protective cover to expand and contract relative to the disk substrate by lateral movement of the spacer ring relative to the disk, without warping of the protective covering. A plurality of methods of mounting the outer spacer ring to the protective covering are disclosed.

Abstract: A robot arm attachment tool for handling workpieces, such as information recording disks. The tool is self aligning, has enhanced load handling load capacities and is able to handle workpieces having sensitive surfaces without damage to same. The tool is attached to the robot arm so as to allow the main portion of the tool to translate freely in a horizontal plane and to freely pivot about a center axis of the tool. The tool centers itself over a workpiece to be lifted, and has a pressurizable chamber having a piston for allowing powered removal of workpieces which is connected to housings which in turn engage workpieces to be lifted. In operation, the robot arm first generally centers and lowers the tool over the workpiece. The tool then precisely centers itself over the workpiece. The free attachment of the tool allows the tool to tilt and translate in a horizontal plane as the tool comes in contact with the workpiece, for a precise fit.

Abstract: The centering and clamping device consisting: a disk elevator, a disk support, a disk centering assembly, a disk clamping assembly, and a disk rotating assembly. In operation the disk is raised out of the disk insert tray cartridge by the disk elevating means and raised upward to engage a taper on the spindle of the device spin motor, moving upward until the cooperation between the taper on the neck spindle and the tapering on the disk centering collar cause the disk to move laterally until precisely centered on the spindle. Thereafter, the continued upward movement on the disk on the elevator lifting assembly causes a magnet located on the disk support means to come into magnetic contact with a steel plate on the spindle platform, thereby securely clamping the disk to the spindle for rotation. Thereafter, the elevator moved downward and clamping the disk from disk support means, thereby allowing the free rotation of the spindle disk and disk support assembly relative to a stationary elevating means.

Abstract: A magnetic or optical disk load/unload device for automatically centering and clamping a disk to the spindle of an information storage device. The apparatus is comprised of a toggle arm, a toggle arm rotating device, a support base, a support hub having a centering stem and a concentric annular steel ring disposed on its mating surface, a member for clamping the hub to the support base, a spindle having a centering hole on its mating surface and a concentric magnetic material ring on its mating surface, and a spindle rotating motor. In operation, the toggle arm is rotated from a first bent position causing the support base hub and disk located thereon to advance toward the spindle, the hub slidably retained on the base by a of clamping member activated by a cam assembly. Upon full extension of the toggle arm, the hub and disk are centered on the spindle, clamped to same by the magnetic and steel rings.

Abstract: Combined magnetic tape cleaner and rewind foot for cleaning foreign material from the oxide side of the tape during read/write operation and for lifting the tape away from the read/write head during rapid rewind. In the read/write mode, the cleaning screen located on the bottom side of the cleaning head loosen the foreign matter on the tape. This foreign matter is suctioned off and lifted from the tape through the holes in the screen, by means of negative pressure applied to the tape through a cavity in the cleaning head. In the rewind mode, the rewind foot, which is deposed around the cleaning head is rotated down into the tape path, lifting the tape off the cleaning head and away from the read/write head. The bearing surface of the rewind foot has a radial curve such that the rewind movement of the tape creates hydrodynamic pressure which lifts the tape off of the rewind foot.

Abstract: In mining operations, a number of mining machines will have flexible cable attached thereto which then drag along behind the machine as it operates. When the machine moves in a backward direction, the machine often times will run over and damage the cable. In the past, the cable has been moved manually to prevent damage. The disclosed invention provides an automatic device which will lift a predetermined length of cable above the groun so that the cable will not be cut as the machine moves backward a given distance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of gathering information from sensors from which the Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and the two principal stresses can be obtained. The absolute secondary principal stresses can also be obtained. The method involves the placement of two inclusions of different, but known, physical properties in a single bore hole with a strain or displacement rosette sensor placed in each inclusion and oriented so as to measure physical properties on a plane normal to the bore hole axis. It is extremely important that intimate contact exists between the inclusions and the bore hole surface, because the physical properties of the two inclusions are different and the interactions between each inclusion and the rock mass will be different. The measurements from each rosette sensor and the known physical properties of each inclusion, the Young's modulus, the Poissons ratio, and the two principal stresses for the rock mass can be derived by known mathematical formula.

Abstract: An air diversion and dust control system for primary use on longwall shearer mining machinery, consisting of directional fluid sprays and passive curtain barriers. The air moving characteristics of fluid sprays are combined with the splitting and blocking characteristics of passive curtain barriers in order to produce an air stream splitting and diversion system which acts to keep dust away from the breathing zone of the machine operator and contained in the area of the coal face until beyond the mining machine. The fluid sprays have a double function in that they both divert and suppress the dust generated during the cutting operation.