Abstract: A vehicle washing apparatus for mounting on a rotatable shaft which includes a substantially cylindrical surface having an inner face and an outer face, said substantially cylindrical surface having a plurality of spaced apart slots disposed therethrough; and a plurality of flexible elongated pads, each of said pads for insertion through adjacent said spaced apart slots for radially extending from the outer face of the cylindrical surface, a portion of each of the pads being exposed adjacent to the inner face of the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus which is configured for transportation to an object positioned for use for in situ cleaning and a method for accomplishing the cleaning. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a substantially planar transducer array which can be employed to clean biofouling from heat exchangers or other devices that are disposed in a contaminated liquid environment. Sufficient levels of power can be generated so that the liquid medium in which the cleaning apparatus is disposed can be caused to undergo cavitation to effect the desired cleaning action. Through the use of various types of instrumentation, areas which need to be cleaned as well as the effectiveness of cleaning and the operating parameters of the apparatus can be determined. The transducers are oriented so that they radiate in alternate directions to produce bi-directional radiation and are energized by a pulsating power input.

Abstract: An implantable programmable medication infusion system comprises an implantable portion (2) having a medication reservoir (10) at below body pressure and isolated at its input from the body in which it is implanted by an antechamber (8) the pressure integrity of which is checked before filling the medication reservoir (10). Safety features include a leak detector (35), inlet and outlet valves (14 and 212) used with flow impeding filters (12 and 218), and a maximum allowable pressure in a pulsatile bellows pump (202) all of which prevent undesired infusion of medication. Medication flow from the pulsatile bellows pump (202) is in response to programming commands from a drug programming system (1) and processed in an electronics section (30) which uses the commands to program memory units (320 and 322) and to request pulses of medication. Hardwired limit controls (324 and 326) prevent excessive dosage requests from reaching the pulsatile bellows pump (202).

Abstract: An inertial energy storage rotor device or superflywheel having a hub means affixed to a rim means by a plurality of spokes formed from a single filament which is wrapped partially around the rim means and alternately engages the upper and lower surfaces of the hub means to join the spokes. In one embodiment, the hub is secured by a single filament wound into a plurality of spokes to a ring means about which a rim means is wound. The ring means is secured to the rim means of this embodiment at a plurality of discrete locations about the circumference thereof.

Abstract: An implantable transensor device containing a passive RF resonant circuit having a natural frequency influenced by the pressure of the sensor's environment in a body cavity of a living entity. The circuit of the transensor includes an inductor and a capacitor, at least one of which varies in value in direct relation to variation of environmental pressure to change the resonant frequency of the circuit. The circuit can be externally interrogated to determine the resonant frequency thereof at any point in time by the imposition thereon of swept frequency electromagnetic radiation provided by a monitoring device which determines when some of the radiation is absorbed as a result of the frequency of the radiation being the same as the resonant frequency of the transensor circuit. An imposed relationship exists between the sensed environmental pressure, and the reactance of the reactive components of the circuit.

Abstract: An elastic joint mounting and rotatably coupling a rotary inertial energy storage device or flywheel, to a shaft, the present gimbal structure reduces vibration and shock while allowing precession of the flywheel without the need for external gimbal mounts. The present elastic joint usually takes the form of an annular elastic member either integrally formed into the flywheel as a centermost segment thereof or attached to the flywheel or flywheel hub member at the center thereof, the rotary shaft then being mounted centrally to the elastic member.

Abstract: A valve spool characterized by significantly lower flow induced axial force, the force being sufficiently low to render single stage servomechanical valves practical for small and moderately powered servomechanical apparatus. The present valve spool and servomechanical apparatus has a zero force metering edge which results from selection of a slope for the exit portion of the flow contour which is between that of a prior art rectangular port and that of the shallow slope typical of large negative axial force design. The present valve spool is further configured to allow metering across a small portion of the spool circumference in order to increase valve stroke and to minimize spool leakage. Preferably, a wedge is cut on two of the metering spool edges by grinding symmetrical flats across the valve spool edge to form the metering edges, the metering orifice then being defined by the intersection of the insert edge and the valve spool flat.

Abstract: Tissue stimulation apparatus for positive positioning of an electrode-bearing lead proximous to tissue which is to be stimulated electrically, the invention particularly includes a body penetration and insertion assembly which carries an elongated flexible strip of physiologically inert plastic material having at least one electrode positioned thereon into contacting relation with said tissue. The insertion assembly comprises a hollow needle having a slot formed longitudinally along the length of one wall thereof, the slot allowing transverse removal of the flexible lead from the needle after proper positioning of the lead and after removal of the needle from the body. The present slotted assembly allows use of a flexible electrode lead having electrical connections at the external end thereof which are too large to pass through the hollow needle.