Abstract: An improvement to orbital welding heads and welding systems for welding pipe and tubing butt joints, consisting of a removable or retractable detector module in the welding head for sensing the proper alignment of the welding head to the pipe joint prior to welding. The module contains a light source that shires a light beam on the pipe wall, and a detector with associated circuitry and output indicators to signal when the reflected light is interrupted by the presence of a seam or pipe joint. The module may be in the form of a battery powered module that with the use of sleeves fits into the viewing port of a variety of welding heads, or it may be an integral capability that retracts into the side of the weld head out of the way of the welding tip orbiting mechanism.

Abstract: A limited action flow control fluid dispenser. The fluid dispenser includes a housing, a plunger positioned within the housing, and a nozzle. The housing has a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a cavity. The plunger is longitudinally positioned within the cavity, and is slidable between a first position and a second position. The first position permits fluid flow from the fluid inlet through the cavity and out from the fluid outlet. The second position prevents fluid flow. The plunger includes first and second ends, a substantially uniformly concave section, a velocity reducing section, a sealing section, and a constant volume section. In operation, the plunger serves to reduce foaming in carbonated beverages, such as beer, and facilitate pressurization of the fluid delivery system. In another aspect of the present invention, a velocity reducing device is provided that includes a first end mated with the fluid inlet and a second end that is mated with a fluid supply line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for golfers, a training aid for detecting and indicating an out of balance condition of stance during practice swings. The device senses weight at the outer edge of the aft shoe of the user, calibrates or sets the weight sensed in a balanced stance condition as a null value or zero value, and signals the user when the weight then exceeds the null value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously prompting a pilot to manually control and guide a vehicle along a selected line segment of a pattern of coverage of a target area. An on-board receiver and computer receives navigation reference signals, computes navigation parameters and generates navigation signals to an indicator. The indicator is placed within the normal forward field of outside vision of the vehicle's pilot. In a virtual flagman mode, the indicator has lower and upper horizontal lightbars on which discreet lights are illuminated to the left or right of the centerpoint to simulate the relative lateral position of actual flagmen at the beginning and end points of the line segment being tracked. In a flight director mode, the indicator shows a composite sum of factored navigation parameters including angle of intercept between the line segment and vehicle track, perpendicular distance of the vehicle from the line segment, and rate of turn of the vehicle, as a control instruction to the pilot.

Abstract: A rolling head diaphragm and dome-shaped piston configuration where the geometry of the diaphragm and piston, and the length of stroke, are modified to enable the commonly known rolling wall action of rolling wall diaphragms to be extended into the center section of the diaphragm up over the piston head when it is at the lower end of it's stroke, thus eliminating the right angle of the head/wall juncture of common pistons and the tight radius of the head/wall shoulder molded into other diaphragms, thereby extending the maximum available stroke and improving diaphragm reliability and longevity.

Abstract: A method for optimizing dynamic memory pool structures is presented. The size of unusable segments of dynamic memory is determined dynamically and those small segments are safely removed from the dynamic memory pool and placed on a separate list. Periodically or when dynamic memory is in heavy demand, the contents of the separate list are agglomerated and returned to dynamic memory for use. Consequently the time taken to search for a suitably-sized segment of dynamic memory is reduced considerably.

Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for applying catheters, dilators and occluders to mammalian genito-urinary and gastro-intestinal passages, using rotational manipulation of threaded or helically-formed catheters and threaded dilators and occluders. Threaded or helical catheters are inserted into the opening of the selected passage far enough to engage a thread segment, the other end of the catheter is then manually rotated to draw the catheter into the passage. Threaded dilators and occluders are similarly applied.

Abstract: A box-in-a-bag liquid soap container system for use in a soap dispenser where the container cavity has hinge point structure and sidewall strakes that interfere with the use of the full volume of the container cavity. The invention consists of a box sized to fit the full dimensions of the container cavity, with a collapsible plastic bag of liquid soap inside, where the lower front corners of the box are perforated and removable so as to provide clearance for the intruding hinge point structure, and strips of the sidewalls and back wall of the box are perforated and removable to provide clearance for the sidewall strakes. The box, with the perforations torn out fits the full size of the container cavity, and the bag conforms to the intruding hinge point structure and sidewall strakes, thus significantly increasing the liquid capacity over prior art containers sized to fit between the strakes.

Abstract: A transportable office work station enclosure with door and retractable casters, adequate interior room to stow a chair when closed, a desktop that is a level, full size, load bearing, wheelchair-accessible work surface but incorporates a front section that is alternatively vertically adjustable for use with a keyboard, overhead storage for major computer components with an elevator for raising and lowering them to user height, internal plug-in outlets prewired to external connectors for phone and power hookups, and interior cabinets for storage.