Abstract: Apparatus for trapping and collecting debris including an in-line trap contained in a subterranean chamber having an inlet and an outlet for connection to an underground conduit such as a sewer or storm drain conduit. The trap comprises a net being closed on all sides except on an inlet side which faces the inlet to the chamber. The chamber is contained in a vault having a set of upper doors and the bag is attached to a frame structure having suitable supports which may be grasped such that the bag may be lifted upwardly through the doors for replacement. An overflow weir is provided for allow flow past the trap when the bag is full of debris. Sensing systems are further provided for detecting and signalling when the bag is full. A multi-bag system is also disclosed in which at least two bags in parallel are provided such that one bag may accommodate overflow when the other is being serviced.

Abstract: A patient/nurse call system for a hospital includes patient stations capable of generating hospital calls and a remote master station which prioritizes and stores the calls. Hall units outside patient rooms identify the rooms from which the calls originate and the type of call. Each patient station allows selective retrieval and display of unanswered calls, and the system further permits audio interconnection between any two of the stations. Nurse-worn badges transmit pulse-coded infrared signals which are received by receivers at the patient stations and in response, the system generates identity and location signals which are stored at the master station. The nurse location and identity information may also be retrieved and displayed at any patient station. Receipt of a nurse's infrared signal at a room station automatically cancels a patient call originating from the room and display thereof by the respective hall unit, while actuating a display to indicate nurse presence.

Abstract: A manually operated tile cutter having a carriage slidably mounted on a pair of guide rails supported by a base. An operating lever is pivotally connected to the carriage at a point below the guide rails, and the carriage contains two interconnected operating lever pivot supports which position the scoring wheel at different heights thereby accommodating different tile thicknesses.

Abstract: A cloth cutting machine having a base mounted on at one end of an upright standard, and a motor mounted on the other end of that standard. A cloth cutting knife is connected to the standard, and is driven by the motor. A handle connected to the machine is manually gripped by the machine's operator to guide it during use. An air handler device connected to the machine is structured, in preferred form, to direct cooling air against the machine operator's hand which manually grips the handle. Also in preferred form, the cooling device includes a cooling air distribution manifold defined in the standard, that manifold having a hand air port at one end oriented to direct cooling air toward the handle, and a base air port at the other end which exhausts cooling air substantially rearwardly from the standard relative to the cutting direction of the machine so as to cool the standard.

Abstract: A circular multi-wave composite compression spring is formed from a carbon fiber reinforced laminate. The circular compression spring is comprised of unidirectional graphite fibers encased in a polymeric resin of generally rectangular cross-section such that adjacent crests and troughs of the waves in adjacent turns of the spring contact each other along a radial line generally extending from the longitudinal axis of the spring. The line contact provides for increased fatigue life and more stable loading of the spring under compression. The carbon fiber reinforced laminate provides comparable strength characteristics similarly configured springs fabricated from conventional materials while providing significantly reduced weight. Furthermore, the composite spring offers increased performance parameters such as increased linearity response over a wider spring deflection range and with insignificant hysteresis.

Abstract: A simulated multipane window consists of a thick transparent plastic resin layer molded onto a sheet of glass. The outer surface of the resin layer includes simulated came structure between adjacent panel portions of the window. The decorative window is produced as a replica of a glass master originally made using actual glass panels, such as beveled glass panels. The master is then covered with a mixture of silicone, catalysts for curing the silicone, and a light oil to form a mold. After curing, the mold is removed from the glass master, inverted and a glass sheet, which has been prepared of the process by being coated with organosilane ester, is clamped thereto. The mold cavity is then filled with a mixture of a clear plastic resin, catalysts for curing the resin, and organosilane ester. After curing, the simulated multipane window is removed from the mold.

Abstract: A portable refrigerant charging unit is described which is intended to facilitate the on site charging of refrigerant systems. The uncomplicated design of the portable refrigerant charging unit provides for system that is inexpensive and easy to transport. The portable charging unit includes high temperature and high pressure cut outs to interrupt power to the heater and blower when a predetermined temperature or pressure is reached.

Abstract: Apparatus for sputter etching a substrate includes a processing chamber with a plasma source coupled to the top of the processing chamber to seal the chamber and create a plasma therein. The plasma source comprises a dielectric plate having a generally centered pocket with a concave outer surface and a convex inner surface which physically extends into the processing chamber toward a substrate. An inductive coil is positioned outside the chamber generally inside the pocket and adjacent the concave surface and is preferably contoured to conform to the concave outer surface to form an inductive source relative to the substrate. The contoured inductive coil couples energy through the pocket to create a high density uniform plasma of ionized particles proximate a substrate in the chamber.

Abstract: A two position linkage mechanism for reclining an item action furniture between a fully upright position and a "TV" position. In the fully upright position, a footrest portion of the mechanism is fully retracted and a backrest portion of the mechanism is disposed at a first angle relative to a seat portion of the linkage. In the "TV" position, the footrest portion of the mechanism is fully extended, the seat portion of the mechanism moves forwardly, and the backrest portion of the linkage is disposed at a second, "opened up" or larger angle relative to the seat portion of the linkage.

Abstract: A compound engine that includes a gas turbine unit and a piston unit wherein a portion of the cycle air for the piston unit is diverted through cooling passages to provide impingement cooling of several areas of the piston unit including the upper cylinder area, the outer and inner surfaces of the exhaust valve and other selected areas of the cylinder head; and there after, the diverted cycle air is reintroduced into the cycle.

Abstract: A soccer training device that permits soccer kicking practice from one or more kicking locations and includes a generally vertical screen that is adapted to receive and absorb the kinetic energy of the soccer balls kicked into the screen. A trough is located immediately below the screen and collects the soccer balls dropping therefrom. The trough extends the length of and is generally parallel to the screen and is sloped toward a trough discharge. A soccer ball conveyor receives the soccer balls from the trough discharge and conveys the soccer balls to the kicking location of the kicking area. The training device reliably and consistently returns the soccer balls to the kicker such that, a high speed, highly repetitive soccer kicking exercise can be practiced.

Abstract: A loudspeaker system comprises two spaced-apart sound cabinets with the first cabinet housing a speaker driver directed toward a listener and couplable to a left channel signal to create a left channel sound image and a second speaker mounted in a second of the cabinets and couplable to a right channel to create a right channel sound image in a listening area. Third and fourth speaker drivers are positioned, one in each of the two sound cabinets, proximate to one of the first and second speaker drivers. The third and fourth drivers have axes which are angled with respect to the axes of the first and second drivers and are couplable to a signal having frequency components of center channels.

Abstract: A method of determining the optimum torque for securing a U-bolt assembly calculated according to the formula T=UL.multidot.d.multidot.K.multidot.LF, where T is the optimum torque, UL is a calculated value for the ultimate tensile load of one U-bolt leg, d is the diameter of the threaded end of one U-bolt leg, K is a torque coefficient of friction associated with the U-bolt assembly, and LF is a chosen load safety factor. A tool used in securing the U-bolt assembly includes at least one surface having torquing indicia located thereon and a radius for testing the bend radius on the U-bolt. The torquing indicia includes U-bolt assembly designation data and a corresponding optimum torque value.

Abstract: The multi-layer support system for conforming to and supporting an object comprises a first, compartmented, fluid-sealed layer containing a plurality of beads which are movable within the first layer when fluid is introduced and which are inhibited from motion when an amount of the fluid is evacuated from the first layer, the first layer is conformable to the surface contours of a body or object. A second compartmented, fluid-sealed layer is adjacent the first layer and moves when air is introduced therein, the first and second layers are coupled together and preferably co-extensive such that movement of a portion of the second layer causes movement of the portion of the first layer to further mold the first layer. Introducing fluid to the first and second layers conforms the first layer to the body and subsequently evacuating fluid from the first layer sets the first layer beads to provide a rigid, contoured surface which follows the contours of the body and supports the body.

Abstract: A system for managing an assemblage of entities. The entities interface within the assemblage for control of primary information handling functions and further interface with the system to permit the carrying out of management functions. The system includes management modules adapted to carry out management functions by independently interpreting and executing commands, a kernel including a table of dispatch pointers for directing the commands to the respective modules in which they are to be interpreted and executed, and an enroller for enrolling new modules into the system by adding further pointers to the table.

Abstract: A sectional door, which may be an overhead door such as a residential garage door, including hingedly connected door panels each being formed from a plurality of subpanels. The subpanels forming each door panel are disposed end-to-end to form the entire length of the door panel. Rigid connection between adjacent subpanels of the same door panel is made by at least one and preferably two connecting bars extending within channels of adjacent subpanels in a lengthwise direction. The connecting bars are each formed of a length substantially less than the overall length of the door panel but slightly longer than the length of an individual subpanel. All components of the door may be stored and transported in relatively small packages or cartons, yet may be assembled into a structurally rigid, wind resistant sectional door.

Abstract: A military press exercise machine for exercising the arms independently against a selected weight resistance includes a frame symmetric with respect to a midplane, a seat connected to the frame to define a declined exercise position for an exerciser, and a pair of levers with rearward ends pivotally connected to the frame on opposite sides of the midplane, above and behind the exercise position. Hubs located near the forward ends of the levers are adapted to hold weighted plates to resist upward movement of the forward ends of the levers with respect to the pivot connections. Handles located adjacent forward ends of the levers are adapted to be grasped by an exerciser in the exercise position and then raised upwardly in a military press motion against the weight of the plates. During upward movement, the handles move toward the midplane. When the arms are extended, the handles reside above the pivot connections of the levers.

Abstract: A bicycle hub body for the front hub assembly of a bicycle wheel has two hub flanges each with an opening therein having a spline structure formed around its circumference with alternating teeth and grooves extending radially inwardly of the opening. A tubular center section extends between the flanges to support and maintain the flanges apart and includes ductile ends which extend into the flange openings and are outwardly pressed into intimate surface-to-surface contact with the flange spline structures and the ductile ends are deformed against the flange spline structures to have cooperating spline structures including radially outwardly extending grooves and teeth which align with the teeth and grooves, respectively, of the bore spline structure.

Abstract: An improved calf exercise machine includes a frame with a seat for supporting an exerciser in an exercise position with the legs extended horizontally, a lever pivotally connected to the frame in front of and below the seat, and an engagement plate secured to the lever and adapted to be engaged and acted upon by the upper portions of the feet of the exerciser via an outward toe extension movement followed by a rearward toe retraction motion. This movement arcuately rotates the lever about its pivot axis, with a corresponding flexion and then extension of the calf muscles. Weight holding hubs connected to the lever hold a selected number of weighted plates to provide a desired weight resistance to pivotal extension of the lever via the outwardly directed foot movement. This machine optimally isolates the calf muscles during calf flexion/extension.