Abstract: A sail magazine and rigging device for automatically rigging and stowing a stay sail, comprising a elongated flat member having a spear-shaped blade section for catching and opening sail hanks and removing them from the stay. When used on a properly configured vessel, the sail magazine allows the prerigging and interchangeable use of two stay sails without the assistance of additional crew members. The sail magazine includes a sail storage section providing for the retention of sails on the magazine and allowing the use of multiple magazines to facilitate quick exchange of sails and orderly stowing of unused sails.

Abstract: Speech and other audio output is produced from a digitally driven speaker which is turned on and off by a digital control signal derived from a digitally sampled audio input. Digitally encoded samples of an audio signal are converted to a sequence of bits, 1's and 0's, to control the application of a fixed frequency ultrasonic drive signal to a personal computer speaker. Prior to the signal conversion, the digital samples are compensated utilizing error propagation techniques for audio errors introduced by the conversion from audio levels to full on or full off speaker control bits.

Abstract: An electrical energy generating device which utilizes the potential difference between two dissimilar materials having different work functions and the ionizing properties of radioactive decay products is provided. A current generating cell includes a pair of electrodes of electro-chemically dissimilar materials separated by a space filled with a solid medium having a relatively high dielectric constant and a relatively low ionization constant. A current flows in an external circuit coupling the two electrodes together when the solid medium is ionized. Utilizing a suitable radioactive material mixed or dispersed in the solid medium provides an internal ionizing flux. Similarly, a current is generated in the external circuit when each of the electrodes are constructed of two plates of dissimilar materials in physical contact with each other and the medium is ionized.

Abstract: A dampening bar assembly comprised of a pair of support blocks held in parallel spaced-apart relationship by a pair of transverse frame members attached between the support blocks at each end of the support blocks forming a rigid rectangular frame. A number of dampening bars including string vibration dampening pads mounted to the bottom side of each dampening bar are slideably mounted parallel to each other transversely between the support blocks in vertical slots formed in the opposing support block sides. Compression springs mounted in cavities formed in the bottom of each slot provide an upwardly urging force on each end of the dampening bars. Each support block includes a lengthwise aperture therethrough for receiving a square hardwood rod to retain the compression springs in a compressed configuration to provide for assembly and disassembly of the dampening bar assembly. The dampening bar assembly is designed to be used with a stringed instrument such as an auto harp.

Abstract: A differentially encoded digital signal waveform is generated as a discrete time representation of a desired analog signal utilizing multi-frequency modulation techniques. The computational capability of present day, industry-standard microcomputers equipped with a floating point array processor or digital signal processor chip is utilized to perform digital frequency encoding and compute both discrete Fourier transforms and inverse discrete Fourier transforms to provide a transmitter and receiver system utilizing suitably programmed microcomputers coupled by a communications channel.

Abstract: The output signal of a phase tracking system maintains phase coherence with the dominant input signal while tracking the frequency of that same dominant input signal without additional phase shifting circuitry. Circuitry having a second phase locked loop is added to a conventional phase locked loop to form a phase tracking system which provides a precisely constant phase shift over a full range of frequencies of the signal captured by the conventional phase locked loop.

Abstract: A flying toy for use in short distance indoor or outdoor flight games involving a single player or many players includes a low mass, resilient peripheral tension ring, a lightweight flight surface and an inner ring and may be maintained in flight by repeated tangential strikes to impart additional rotational and translational speed. In an alternative embodiment, a bladed flying toy includes a central hub and deflectable radial blades which cause the toy to rotate in a predetermined direction when the toy is pushed upwards and which, upon release, cause the toy to rise and then fall slowly downwards in an autogyro fashion while continuing rotation in the same direction.

Abstract: A tendon or other smooth muscle support clamp which separates to pass around the tissue to be operated upon and supports said tissue by surrounding it on three sides by the walls and bottom of a channel in the upper surface of a support block is provided. The clamp provides a firm support base without risk of trauma to the tissue due to clamping pressure. The clamp resembles a conventional pliers-like surgical forcep but employs either fixed or detachable support blocks with lengthwise channels of various dimensions suitable for a variety of applications.

Abstract: An improved housing for an electrically operated vehicle backup alarm for mounting on a vehicle bumper or other structural component in preformed, standard size receptacles. A tubular body fabricated of plastic or nylon composite includes internal mounting lugs for removeably mounting modular electronic components and sound transducer. A removable rear cover and epoxy potting material seals the alarm components against dirt and moisture intrusion. Resilient mounting lugs or fingers external to the housing allow the housing to be mounted within preformed mounting receptacles. The mounting lugs or fingers are deformed slightly when the housing is inserted into the mounting receptacle and snapped into engagement with the edges of the mounting receptacle securely holding the housing in place within the mounting receptacle.

Abstract: Information pathways for communications among personnel, among computers, and between personnel and computers, in a local communication system, including remote communications via leased lines or the public network is described. To a public central office, the present invention appears as a private branch exchange (PBX), served by many trunks, WATS and "Foreign Exchange" lines, and providing all the standard PBX services; to the remote leased facility, it appears as a standard tie line terminator or, if the remote is another ICS, as a logical tie line terminator for which several logical tie lines are combined into each leased T1 line; to the in-house computer, it provides switched connection to other computers or to terminals at up to 19,200 Baud modulated data, at 32K-Baud for native (internal system) data (including 2K-Baud of forward error correction), or up to several gigabits direct binary transmission (such as the transmission scheme used with NDS and ANR displays, etc.

Abstract: A signal receiving system for receiving messages from each of several unequal amplitude FM carriers occupying the same portion of the frequency band. The signal receiving system receives power division multiplexed signals, each of which being allocated a portion of the total average power of an assigned FM band.

Abstract: A surgical instrument provides a handle for removably attaching blades having different sizes and different purposes for performing different surgical procedures.

Abstract: An automatic animal feed dispenser system comprising one or more batteries of hoppers for temporarily storing feed, each hopper having an outlet adjacent the base thereof through which the feed can be dispensed is provided. Each battery of hoppers is provided with a slide member having a plurality of holes therethrough, the slide member engaging the outlets of all of the hoppers in the battery. The slide member is articulated back and forth such that each of the bores through the slide member periodically receives a desired quantity of feed from a hopper and thereafter drops the feed for animal consumption. The quantity of feed received by each of the bores through slide member can be independently varied by means of inserts which are adapted to be positioned within or removed from a bore so as to decrease or increase the effective volume thereof. The slide members associated with plural batteries of hoppers can be articulated in tandem.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for holding a suture needle is provided. The instrument includes handle portions shaped to accommodate the human hand, jaws formed to securely grasp a suture needle and a latching mechanism to hold the device closed so that the physician can concentrate on manipulation of the needle. The contoured shape of the handle portions improves the ability of the surgeon to grasp and manipulate the instrument under the adverse conditions encountered during surgery.

Abstract: An apparatus for aerating fish ponds utilizes a cylindrical brush mounted for rotary motion below the top of a dam or headwall. Water passing over the dam and falling into a fish pond below the dam falls onto and over the cylindrical brush causing the brush to rotate. The rotating brush breaks up the falling water into droplets as the water passes through the brush bristles. Below the rotating brush, the water droplets fall through an air-water mixing zone where atmospheric oxygen is dissolved by the water droplets thus increasing the dissolved oxygen concentration of the water.

Abstract: A mud flap supporting assembly is provided that allows pivotal movement of mounting arm and mud flap about both the vertical and horizontal axes adjacent to the vehicle to which the arm is attached. A spring connected between the base plate and the end cap of the mounting arm holds the arm in the usual position parallel to the vehicle axle. Should the arm be pushed out of position by an obstruction making contact with the arm, the arm will automatically return to its usual position when the obstruction is passed. Upon return, the base plate's raised portion embeds itself into the exact duplicate negative opening of the mounting arm, and returns the arm precisely to center.