Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a remote annunciator 10 that includes an enclosure 11 and a control 12 within the enclosure 11. The control 12 receives signals S from a plurality of transfer switches 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and at least one generator 14 that is connected to at least one of the transfer switches 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D. The control 12 displays a status of electrical connections that include the plurality of transfer switches 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and the at least one generator 14. In some embodiments, the control 12 recognizes when the plurality of transfer switches 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and the at least one generator 14 are connected to the control 12.

Abstract: A carburetor for an internal combustion engine having a body that fastens at a first end to an air filter and at a second end to the intake port of a cylinder head. The body has an intake bore formed in the first end that receives air from the air filter, a throttle bore formed in the second end that provides a fuel/air mixture to the intake port, and a venturi formed between the intake bore and the throttle bore that receives air from the intake bore, provides fuel to form a fuel/air mixture, and provides the fuel/air mixture to the throttle bore. A bore is formed in the body from the venturi and receives a nozzle that communicates fuel to the venturi. A fuel enrichment system, which is responsive to the vibration of the engine, has a passage that communicates air from the intake bore, through the passage, to the nozzle. A valve seat is disposed within the passage and also has a passage to allow the flow of air therethrough.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having an oil drainback passage and integral check valve. The oil drainback passage allows the flow of oil from the valve box to the crankcase of the engine during normal operation and prevents the backwards flow of oil from the crankcase to the valve box when high pressures exist in the crankcase or if the engine is operated at elevated angles. The oil drainback passage is formed by a bore through a cylinder wall of the crankcase and a bore through the cylinder head. The check valve includes a cavity within the cylinder wall of the crankcase, located at the end of the bore in the cylinder wall where it meets the bore in the cylinder head, and a check ball disposed within the cavity. During normal operation, the check ball floats within the cavity and allows the flow of oil through the oil drainback passage back to the crankcase.

Abstract: A fluid flow device includes an actuator, an RF transmitter, a gated RF receiver, and a processor. The RF transmitter is configured and arranged to produce a plurality of pulses of RF energy spaced apart in time to form a sensor field. The gated RF receiver is configured and arranged to receive RF energy reflected by objects within the sensor field. The processor is coupled to the gated RF receiver for evaluating the reflected RF energy. The processor is also coupled to the actuator and is configured and arranged to activate the actuator in response to the reflected RF energy to control fluid flow. In addition, a new low power radar sensor operates by providing radar pulses that are non-uniformly spaced in time. In operation, a burst of pulses is initiated in the transmitter. Between each burst is a period of rest time in which the transmitter is not transmitting RF energy.

Abstract: A fluid flow device includes an actuator, an RF transmitter, a gated RF receiver, and a processor. The RF transmitter is configured and arranged to produce a plurality of pulses of RF energy spaced apart in time to form a sensor field. The gated RF receiver is configured and arranged to receive RF energy reflected by objects within the sensor field. The processor is coupled to the gated RF receiver for evaluating the reflected RF energy. The processor is also coupled to the actuator and is configured and arranged to activate the actuator in response to the reflected RF energy to control fluid flow. In addition, a new low power radar sensor operates by providing radar pulses that are non-uniformly spaced in time. In operation, a burst of pulses is initiated in the transmitter. Between each burst is a period of rest time in which the transmitter is not transmitting RF energy.

Abstract: A fluid flow device includes an actuator, an RF transmitter, a gated RF receiver, and a processor. The RF transmitter is configured and arranged to produce a plurality of pulses of RF energy spaced apart in time to form a sensor field. The gated RF receiver is configured and arranged to receive RF energy reflected by objects within the sensor field. The processor is coupled to the gated RF receiver for evaluating the reflected RF energy. The processor is also coupled to the actuator and is configured and arranged to activate the actuator in response to the reflected RF energy to control fluid flow. In addition, a new low power radar sensor operates by providing radar pulses that are non-uniformly spaced in time. In operation, a burst of pulses is initiated in the transmitter. Between each burst is a period of rest time in which the transmitter is not transmitting RF energy.

Abstract: A fluid flow device includes an actuator, an RF transmitter, a gated RF receiver, and a processor. The RF transmitter is configured and arranged to produce a plurality of pulses of RF energy spaced apart in time to form a sensor field. The gated RF receiver is configured and arranged to receive RF energy reflected by objects within the sensor field. The processor is coupled to the gated RF receiver for evaluating the reflected RF energy. The processor is also coupled to the actuator and is configured and arranged to activate the actuator in response to the reflected RF energy to control fluid flow. In addition, a new low power radar sensor operates by providing radar pulses that are non-uniformly spaced in time. In operation, a burst of pulses is initiated in the transmitter. Between each burst is a period of rest time in which the transmitter is not transmitting RF energy.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for controlling a plumbing fixture. The system includes at least two sensors, each sensor including a receiver, and a controller coupled to receive detection signals from the sensors and to generate a control signal in response to the received signals. An actuator is coupled to receive the control signal from the controller and couplable to the plumbing device to act on the bathroom device. The invention is also a method of controlling plumbing fixtures that includes receiving detection signals from a plurality of sensors in a central controller, selecting, in the central controller, which of a plurality of actuators attachable to the plumbing fixtures to operate and directing control signals to the selected actuator to operate the selected actuator.

Abstract: A fluid flow device includes an actuator, an RF transmitter, a gated RF receiver, and a processor. The RF transmitter is configured and arranged to produce a plurality of pulses of RF energy spaced apart in time to form a sensor field. The gated RF receiver is configured and arranged to receive RF energy reflected by objects within the sensor field. The processor is coupled to the gated RF receiver for evaluating the reflected RF energy. The processor is also coupled to the actuator and is configured and arranged to activate the actuator in response to the reflected RF energy to control fluid flow. In addition, a new low power radar sensor operates by providing radar pulses that are non-uniformly spaced in time. In operation, a burst of pulses is initiated in the transmitter. Between each burst is a period of rest time in which the transmitter is not transmitting RF energy.

Abstract: Methods and devices for controlling the flow of fluid in fixtures, such as bathroom, restroom, or kitchen fixtures, using a radar detector with a leaky transmission line and fixtures using such methods and devices are provided. A bathroom fixture, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes a fluid conduit, a radar detector for detecting one or more characteristics of one or more objects in a sensor field based on reflected electromagnetic signals from the one or more objects in the sensor field, and a controller coupled to the fluid conduit for controlling a flow of fluid in the fluid conduit in response to the detected one or more characteristics. The radar detector in particular includes a leaky transmission line for transmitting electromagnetic signals to form the sensor field and receiving the reflected electromagnetic signals.

Abstract: A coupling connects a pressurized flush water vessel held in a toilet tank to a toilet bowl. The coupling has a passageway which provides direct fluid communication between the vessel and the bowl and a chamber for accumulating drainage, which may be exhausted into the toilet tank from inlet devices for the pressure vessel. A swinging door type one way valve substantially seals against leakage from the passageway to the chamber but allows drainage accumulated in the chamber to flow through a port to the passageway. The inlet to the chamber is above the port and at or below the bottom of the toilet tank and the port and the chamber inlet open above the spill level of the toilet. The inlet of the coupling is offset from the outlet and a cradle elevates the pressure vessel above the toilet tank bottom and captures heads of fasteners which secure the toilet tank to the toilet bowl.

Abstract: An ignition system for an engine includes a position detector that generates a signal pulse while a segment of a member driven by the engine rotates past a given angular position. A first circuit produces a speed indicative voltage having a magnitude that is proportional to a duration of the signal pulse from the position detector. Upon termination of the signal pulse, a second circuit produces a second voltage the magnitude of which varies exponentially and an offset voltage is added to the second voltage at a node if the signal pulse is absent. A comparator has inputs coupled to the node and to the first circuit and produces an ignition signal when the voltage at the node and the speed indicative voltage are substantially equal.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for an electrical generator driven by an internal combustion engine is cooled by water flowing through a heat exchanger attached to the voltage regulator. The cooling water is obtained from the upstream side of a secondary cooling loop of water-to-water cooling system associated with the internal combustion engine, such secondary water typically at an ambient temperature less than or equal to that of the air. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is formed from a heat conductive tube attached to the heat sink of at least one semiconductor device regulating the current through the field coils of the generator.

Abstract: A drain valve activator assembly for a container such as a bathtub is disclosed. In one embodiment, there is an overflow plate mountable on a side wall of the tub at the overflow outlet. A stem is positioned through the plate so as to rotate on its own longitudinal axis, so as to have one end extending into the bathtub, and so as to have one end extending out of the bathtub. A solenoid is provided outside the tub with a holding member such as a leaf spring. Upon activation, the solenoid pulls the leaf spring away from the stem. Normally, the leaf spring is biased towards the stem. The holding member and a stem end are configured so as to be able to interfit and inhibit stem rotation when the leaf spring abuts against the stem. A torsion spring stores the rotational energy used to manually open the valve, and then uses that energy to drive the valve to the closed position in response to the solenoid operation.

Abstract: A switch has contacts constructed so that an electro-dynamic force is created by the current flowing through the switch which tends to maintain the switch in a closed state. This force counteracts other electro-dynamic forces which tend to open the switch. The contact design is particularly adapted from use in a single pole-double throw switch having a contact arm that is movable between two fixed contacts. The electro-dynamic force compensation exists between the contact arm and whichever one of the fixed contacts the contact arm is against. The fixed contacts also include arc runners so that any arc that develops as the contacts separate eliminates electro-dynamic force which tends to maintain the switch in a closed state.

Abstract: An improved engine generator set, especially adapted for a recreational vehicle or the like, includes a mounting tray dimensioned to be received through a recess in the floor board of the vehicle for mounting to the vehicle frame members. The mounting tray supports an engine whose drive shaft extends vertically downwardly through the mounting tray for mating with the shaft of a generator which is positioned directly underneath the engine so as to extend beneath the vehicle. In this way the overall floor space occupied by the generator set is reduced.

Abstract: An improved semiconductor heat sink for securing a semiconductor thereto for dissipating the heat generated by the semiconductor as well as for supporting those circuit board components which extend upwardly from the circuit board adjacent to the heat sink comprises a vertically extending leg fastened at its lower end to a printed circuit board. The leg has at least one mounting surface thereon for receiving a semiconductor in face to face relationship therewith. Extending outwardly from the leg in opposite directions are a pair of fins, each fin being perpendicular to the mounting surface on the leg. Running along the end of each fin is a downwardly extending projection for engaging a complementary groove in a separate one of a pair of circuit board components, such as connector blocks which each extend upwardly from the circuit board adjacent to a separate one of the fins so that the edges serve to impart further rigidity to the connector blocks.

Abstract: A rotary solenoid having an output shaft that is indirectly coupled to the rotor or armature of the solenoid, for rotation independently of or coupled to the solenoid. In one application of the solenoid the shaft is rotated through a limited range by a bimetallic torsional element, which is overridden by operation of the solenoid to increase the range of rotation. The range of travel can be limited by a disc having a slotted peripheral flange between the solenoid rotor and the output shaft. The armature has an integral hub and spaced poles with the pole pieces being rotatably positionable within the space between the hub and poles. Structure of the unit is very simple and all parts are readily accessible for adjustment and servicing.

Abstract: An automatic choke for an internal combustion engine includes a rotary solenoid which is energized when the engine is cranked by the starter motor. During starting, the solenoid rotates a choke valve to its starting position in which choking is applied, and a bimetallic temperature responsive spring coupling the solenoid to the choke valve adjusts the amount of choking in response to the ambient temperature. A stop element limits the range over which the bimetallic spring adjusts the position of the choke valve.