Abstract: A rotationally pivotal motion controller pivotally interconnects two adjoining elements and controls the pivotal motion of a first of the two adjoining elements with respect to a second of the two adjoining elements. The rotationally pivotal motion controller comprises a housing having a wall which defines an axial cylindrical bore through the housing. The wall is adapted for attachment to a first of the two adjoining elements and the wall also has a longitudinal aperture therethrough which communicates with the bore. A hub assembly comprises a hub which is at least partially disposed within the cylindrical bore of the housing and is axially rotatable therein. The hub has a substantially central cylindrical core and at least one lobe extending radially from the core. At least one end cap is affixed to one end of the hub to retain the hub in a fixed, fluidically sealed, axial relationship within the housing. The hub and the housing together define at least one fluid retention cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved controllers for externally powered prosthetic limb devices or similar extension devices such as orthotic devices or a sensor probe device. The improved controller operates a highly-efficient, compact, reliable and low-maintenance tactile force feedback system for translating a sensed pressure force from a prosthesis contacting an object or surface into a tactile sensory feedback pressure force to the user. The tactile force feedback system comprises at least one contact-responsive transducer which translates a sensed contact pressure from a portion of an extension device which contacts an object or surface into a corresponding electrical signal. The electrical signal is received by a microprocessor and processed into a proportional output voltage for producing a proportional torque from a motor.

Abstract: An improved commutation position detection system for accurately determining commutation position within polyphase brushless motors without employing proximity sensors or transducers. The present invention determines commutation position. by differentiating the current flowing within the stator coils and comparing the differentiated current waveforms to one another (absolute commutation position detection) or a predetermined threshold (incremental commutation position detection) to obtain a real-time assessment of commutation position.

Abstract: A sock processing apparatus provides devices for folding, trimming, stacking, and compressing socks. The method provides folding socks by tucking them into a slot in a plate, closing a pair of rollers beneath the plate upon the socks, and thereafter pulling the socks through the slot under roller compression. The socks then move to a trimming station, where they are held in place while a trimmer removes excess threads. The socks are then stacked and moved to a compression station for compression prior to packaging.

Abstract: A brushless, direct current, permanent magnet motor is disclosed, which comprises a stator and a rotor mounted for rotation about an axis in the stator. The stator has a plurality of stator teeth separated by axial interpolar teeth slots. Two pairs of ferrite ceramic magnets, formed as arc segments of equal circumferential length and axially constant radial thickness, are mounted on the rotor. Leading and trailing margins of each magnet are magnetized with a longitudinally varying magnetization strength or gradient while the central portion of each magnet is uniformly magnetized. This process produces axially alternating areas of low and high magnetization, which simultaneously cross each interpolar teeth slot upon rotor rotation to minimize cogging. An air gap of axially uniform width and the constant magnet thickness provides a constant reluctance path radially through the air gap and margins of the magnets.

Abstract: Railway car indexers are disclosed that include a high dog engaging member for engaging a bogey frame behind a railway axle. The high dog is pivotally attached to a dog carriage which is slidably inserted in an indexer track juxtaposed to the railroad track. The high dog is actuated between a raised and a lowered position by a lever arm which is pivotally attached to the dog carriage and a spring-piston cylinder connected to the high dog and the lever arm. The dog carriage is moved back and forth in the indexer track to engage the lever arm and high dog with the bogey frame to move the railway cars. In a reversing indexer, the dog carriage includes opposing high dogs for engaging the bogey frame behind either axle for moving the railway cars in either direction. The single direction or reversing direction indexers include a dog carriage on one or both sides of the railroad track.

Abstract: A micronaire testing apparatus includes a vertically movable carriage for receiving a test chamber formed by two telescoping cylinders. A scale is positioned below the carriage so that the chamber may be automatically weighed. Based on the weight information recorded for a sample, cylinders are telescoped together to produce an air flow test chamber of volume calculated to produce a constant density sample. A pivoting lid is used to close the top of the test chamber, and is spring biased to the open position. A latch bar is biased to a position firmly holding the lid in its closed position, and the carriage presses the test chamber against the lid to produce a peripheral seal of the lid.

Abstract: A piston assembly employs a central velocity tube which provides an increase in speed of the initial downward stroke phase while requiring less power than conventional hydraulic cylinder assemblies. A second stage hydraulic surge causes the piston to forcefully descend the final increment of the downstroke for an increase in power of the piston. The return or upstroke of the piston is of conventional hydraulic design.

Abstract: A fiber sampler has a flat collection surface and a carriage movable toward the surface to press a mass of fiber placed on the surface. The carriage, which includes a foraminous plate parallel to the collection surface, is pressed against the fiber with a predetermined pressure kept constant from one sample to the next with the pressure applied, a rake composed of parallel needles spaced rearwardly from a deflection bar is passed across the top of the foraminous plate to extract sample fibers from the portion of fiber extending through the plate holes. At the end of rake travel, the fibers are held between a fixed stop plate on the carriage and a back plate movable with the needles. A pinch clamp assembly is provided which can be lowered to grip the fibers collected on the needles.

Abstract: A piston assembly employs a central velocity tube which provides an increase in speed of the initial downward stroke phase while requiring less power than conventional hydraulic cylinder assemblies. A second stage hydraulic surge causes the piston to forcefully descend the final increment of the downstroke for an increase in power of the piston. The return or upstroke of the piston is of conventional hydraulic design.

Abstract: A compact traction device includes a housing and a plurality of constant tension spring units disposed within the housing. Each constant tension spring unit includes a cable which extends from the unit through an opening in the housing. As the cable is pulled out from the housing, a substantially constant tension is developed on the cable. Hook elements are coupled to the end of each cable to enable attaching the cable to a ring or other connecting structure which, in turn, would be attached to some part of the body of a person utilizing the traction device. A brake device is included in the housing for each constant tension spring unit to inhibit the rapid retraction into the housing of the cables when the cables are released. A clamp is mounted on the exterior of the housing to enable attaching the traction device to a support frame. The clamp allows positioning of the device to have almost any orientation.

Abstract: An iontophoretic bioelectrode includes an enclosure having a bottom wall formed of a membrane through which ions may migrate when subjected to an electric field, and an upper wall joined to the bottom wall to define an interior compartment for holding an ion-containing solution. An electrode in the form of the male portion of a conventional clothing snap is mounted to the enclosure to communicate electrically with solution contained in the interior compartment. A needle receiving element is mounted in the upper wall of the enclosure. This element is in the form of a section of conduit having a receiving end, which is directed upwardly, and a blocking end which includes a platform for preventing a needle inserted into the receiving end from passing all the way through the conduit. A resilient plug is disposed in the receiving end of the conduit to prevent solution from escaping from the interior compartment.

Abstract: An anti-backlash nut assembly is disclosed for longitudinal movement along a screw which has an external thread thereon, in response to relative rotational movement between the nut assembly and the screw. The assembly includes a first nut part having an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw, and a second nut part also having an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw. A coil spring is interconnected between the first and second nut parts for applying torque thereto and rotatably biasing the nut parts together to eliminate backlash therebetween and improve the positional accuracy of the nut assembly along the screw. A cylindrical collar is sandwiched between a pair of opposed portions of the nut parts and surrounds the coil spring. With this structural combination, the anti-backlash nut assembly can be adjustably preloaded by relatively rotating the nut parts to selectively preload the coil spring to a desired torque.

Abstract: An iontophoretic bioelectrode includes an enclosure having a bottom wall formed of a membrane through which ions may migrate when subjected to an electric field, and an upper wall joined to the bottom wall to define an interior compartment for holding an ion-containing solution. An electrode in the form of the male portion of a conventional clothing snap is mounted to the enclosure to communicate electrically with solution contained in the interior compartment. A needle receiving element is mounted in the upper wall of the enclosure. This element is in the form of a section of conduit having a receiving end, which is directed upwardly, and a blocking end which includes a platform for preventing a needle inserted into the receiving end from passing all the way through the conduit. A resilient plug is disposed in the receiving end of the conduit to prevent solution from escaping from the interior compartment.

Abstract: A bioelectrode for use in the iontophoretic delivery of ions into the skin or tissue of a person includes either a receptacle or a composition of material suitable for holding ions to be delivered, a metallic foil disposed on one side of the receptacle or composition of matter, and a coupling device for electrically coupling the foil to an electrical source. The other side of the receptacle or composition of material is for placement against a person's skin or tissue so that ions may be delivered thereinto. The receptacle or composition of material both include features or characteristics which inhibit the migration of ions laterally therein, i.e., in a direction generally parallel to the surface of the skin or tissue, but which allow migration in a direction generally perpendicular to the surface of the skin or tissue, and in particular from the metal foil toward the person's skin or tissue.

Abstract: A thermometer is disclosed comprising a housing with a lens member and a sensing sleeve extending from the lens member. The lens member is configured to define an enclosed chamber in which a temperature indicating means is disposed. The temperature indicating means is attached to a shaft which extends into the sensing sleeve. A temperature responsive element is mounted within the sleeve and operatively associated with the shaft to rotate shaft and indicating means in response to changes in temperature. Means for constraining mechanically induced rotation of the shaft and indicator means to a predetermined arc of angular displacement are provided. In an important aspect of the invention, the constraining means permit temperature induced rotation of the shaft and the indicator means to exceed the pre-determined arc of angular displacement. The constraining means utilized include fusible stop arrangements and the introduction of a dampening fluid to the enclosed chamber of the thermometer housing.

Abstract: A bioelectrode for non-invasive and inotophoretic delivery of chemical species (such as ions, polar molecules, etc.) into the skin of a person. The bioelectrode includes a pouch having flexible walls, at least a portion of which is composed of a microporous, permeable or semipermeable membrane. The pouch holds fluid which contains the chemical species to be delivered through the skin. An electrode is attached to the pouch so that when the pouch is placed against the skin, with the membrane portion in contact with the skin, and an electric potential is applied to the electrode, chemical species in the pouch are caused to migrate through the membrane and into the skin.