Abstract: An apparatus and method for discriminating between conventional earth tremors and those which are precursors to an earthquake are provided. The method involves detecting vibration signals indicative of an earthquake. The method provides a structural vibration detecting means for detecting vibration signals in a structure responsive to vibration of a substrate upon which the structure is mounted. The detecting means is mounted to a structure. The vibration signal of the structure, e.g. the vibrations received by the wall, is determined. Any extraneous vibration signal different from the vibration signal of the structure are compared. If the extraneous signal is within a predetermined alarm signal level, the apparatus is actuated to indicate that an earthquake is imminent. The apparatus involves the use of a detector, an amplifier for amplifying the received signal, and a comparator for determining whether a received amplified signal is an earthquake signal.

Abstract: A control system for a variable stroke free piston engine, sets the ignition timing as a function of measured piston velocity. This velocity proportional ignition system provides spark advance on a stroke by stroke basis as an aid to starting the engine. Ignition changes over to a piston position based system when the engine is running at steady state. Fuel injection occurs at either piston dead point or is set as a function of piston position. Fuel injection is suppressed during cycles were the ports are not uncovered. The control system can also regulate compression ratio based upon piston position or knock sensor data. The preferred control system includes a hybrid digital analog system which includes a microprocessor.

Abstract: A fuel injector for injecting gaseous fuel into an internal combustion engine. The injector includes an electromagnetic control valve which controls the admission of actuation gas to a metering valve assembly. The metering valve incorporates a positive mechanical stop to limit valve lift. The force to open the metering valve is supplied by the actuation gas.

Abstract: A coupling for interfacing hand controls to a handlebar which provides for adjustment about multiple axes of rotation. A positioning collar having an inner cylindrical bore and outer spherical surface is mounted upon the handlebar of a bicycle, motorcycle or other like vehicle. A hand control for the vehicle such as a bar end, brake lever, throttle control, shift lever or clutch lever is provided with a receiving sleeve having an inner surface which is adapted to slidably engage the outer surface of the collar. The force imposed upon the collar by the sleeve may be reduced to allow adjustment of the hand control or increased to fix the hand control in the selected position. When being adjusted, the hand control may be repositioned along the longitudinal axis of the handlebar, rotated about the axis of the handlebar and rotated about an axes which are angularly deflected to the longitudinal axis of the handlebar.

Abstract: A robust, lightweight g force trainer having low moment of inertia is powered by a relatively low horsepower motor. The trainer has an onset rate of 6 g/sec. or more and idle speed of approximately 13 rpm. The natural frequency of the trainer arm is in excess of 6 hz. The trainer includes a computerized target tracking and missile avoidance system, including a heads up display field at the pilot gondola, and a computerized medical monitor.

Abstract: Veneer edge treatment method and apparatus are described. The apparatus includes plural work stations distributed along the length of elongate conveyor means for transporting the veneer sheets as a series into and out of the work stations, with each work station having means for working on at least one of opposed terminal edges of a veneer sheet occupying the station. Selectively controllable scarfing, glue-applying and bonding work stations are provided, and the selectively controllable conveyor sections extending thereinto, therebetween and therefrom are vacuum-assisted to maintain alignment of the veneer sheets transported thereby. Sensing means and control means measure the distances between the opposed terminal edges of successive veneer sheets and determine their lengths, permitting the apparatus to handle veneer sheets or different lengths.

Abstract: A chamber door lock for a roller lock system wherein a vertically reciprocable locking bar is provided with a series of rollers and a vertically reciprocable chamber door is provided with spaced block weldments. The chamber door lock includes a cam beam pivotably mounted on the chamber and coupled to the locking bar. Upward movement of the locking bar to its uppermost position clears the rollers from the door block weldments and swings the cam beam away from the top of the door to a clearance position whereby the chamber door can be raised and swung to an open position. Downward movement of the locking bar to its lowermost position moves the rollers into engagement with striker plates on the door block weldments thereby urging the door against the chamber face so as to compress the door gasket and seal the chamber face.

Abstract: A series of melamine-phenol-formaldehyde resoles for pressure-free to low pressure, low/medium temperture conversion into moulded product. The molar ratio of melamine:phenol is the range 1:4.7 to 1:0.29; for each mole of melamine there are 1.5 to 3 moles of formaldehyde; and for each mole of phenol there are 1.2 to 2 moles of formaldehyde. The resin compositions may contain fillers/reinforcing fibers, glycols and water curing is at or near neutal pH and may be accelerated by the use of boric oxide or acid and also by microwave heating. Moulded products have good heat-and fire-resistance, and good smoke emission properties, and are non-toxic.

Abstract: Spatial disorientation trainer-flight simulator wherein a cockpit is gimballed on three independently-controlled axes, i.e., pitch, roll and yaw, which revolve about a planetary axis. Rotation of the cockpit about the planetary axis is controlled by a remote console computer. Rotation of the cockpit about the pitch and roll axes is controlled by an on board cockpit computer alone or in combination with the console computer. Rotation of the cockpit about the yaw axis is controlled by the console computer alone or in combination with the cockpit computer. Slip rings are employed at the planetary and yaw axes so as to provide 360.degree. cockpit rotation about each axis. Rotation about each of the pitch, roll and yaw axes is effected by a high torque direct drive dc motor under control of the computers. Smooth, continuous motor operation is possible over a wide range of speeds, including sub-threshold speeds not detectable by the pilot.

Abstract: A digital IR gas analyzer comprises a sample cell having a conical shaped interior wall and a filter wheel provided with HC, CO and CO2 interference filters. The filter wheel and IR detector are temperature stabilized. The HC, CO and CO2 gas samples are normalized to a precision reference voltage. The normalized samples are digitized and processed, i.e., for linearization, cross-talk correction and zero drift temperature compensation, by a digital processor. The processed samples are then converted to analog to drive HC, CO and CO2 meters. HC, CO and CO2 gas channels are zeroed simultaneously and calibrated automatically in response to control panel switches.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a waste effluent filter of the type including a tank, a generally flat fine mesh screen over the lower portion of the tank to define an underdrain cavity below the screen and a filter bed of particulate material having an upper surface and a lower general surface adjacent the underdrain cavity. The particle size of the particulate material being greater than the size of the apertures in the fine mesh screen. The filter improvement includes a jet creating grid for creating a plurality of upwardly directed hydraulic jets evenly distributed throughout the filter bed during the filtering of the effluent through the bed wherein the jet creating grid includes a plurality of nozzles in the bed itself substantially below the upper surface of the bed and above the fine mesh screen a selected distance to retain the lower layer of the bed undisturbed.

Abstract: A moulding composition which forms stable, durable mouldings which are color stable, have good water resistance and can be glass clear and fire-resistant, comprises a melamine-formaldehyde resole of mole ratio melamine:formaldehyde in the range 1:1.1 to 1:5.0, and from 20 to 80% by weight, based on the resole, of a glycol or glycol derivative. The composition may also contain one or more of water, polyvinyl alcohol, aluminium hydroxide and reinforcing fillers. The melamine in the resole may be partially replaced with urea. Cure of the resin composition, after shaping, takes place at a pH of at least 6.0, and is accelerated by boron oxide and also by microwave heating. Foamed products are especially useful.

Abstract: The magnetic switch is a plastic unit which is made up of a housing containing three pieces, a slideable magnet holder, a bracket, and a plastic leaf spring. The magnet holder and the bracket include keys and notches to provide positive "on" and "off" positions. The housing is aligned with a mercury wetted switch which is capable of handling large current surges without being damaged, whereby the magnet holder is depressed against the spring bias and slid into either the "on" or the "off" position.A hermetically sealed flashlight which includes the magnetic switch is also described. The flashlight comprises a case which is houses dry cells. A screw-on cap which includes a lens forms a hermetic seal when an O-ring is compressed as the cap is engaged.A reflector mount is aligned with the case using a notch and key system which insures the alignment of the mercury wetted magnetic switch and the housing for the magnet holder.

Abstract: A split-inner-ring ball bearing construction is provided with means for feeding proportioned amounts of lubricant from a single source thereof to several different locations in the bearing without using restricting orifices in the lubricant flow paths.

Abstract: Construction for a ball bearing retainer. There is provided a ball bearing retainer comprising an annulus having a plurality of circumferentially spaced ball receiving openings and one or more ball retaining fins extending radially from said retainer, arranged circumferentially therearound and positioned either tangent to, or for minor intersection with, the ball receiving openings. With balls in place in said openings, the outer ends of said fins are then displaced axially of said annulus toward said balls for retaining them in place. Such displacing of said fins may be accomplished by a single circumferentially applied rolling operation or a single press operation. By appropriate modification of the design, one, two, three or four such fins in varying sizes and arrangements may be used.

Abstract: A plurality of valves, including ball valves, regulates the flow of a sterilizing agent to and from a sterilizing chamber. Rotary means connected to a ball valve regulates the flow of the sterilizing agent through the valve. Driving means cause the rotary means to rotate, thereby opening or closing the ball valve at predetermined times. A plurality of switches regulate the driving means, and circuit means connected to the switching means regulate the temperature and pressure in the chamber in timed relation with the driving means. Camming means coupled to the driving means operate the switching means in timed relation with the driving means.