Abstract: The gathering, conveyance, and assembly of printed material utilizing one or more aerodynamic positioning devices in conjunction with binding machinery is disclosed. The aerodynamic positioning device utilizes controlled fluid flow via a series of discretely spaced jets that create a low pressure region beneath a signature dropping from an adjacent feeder. The aerodynamic positioning device allows the binding machinery to operate at high speeds with lightweight and unbalanced signatures while maintaining high-quality production with reduced paper jams.

Abstract: The gathering, conveyance, and assembly of printed material utilizing one or more aerodynamic positioning devices in conjunction with binding machinery is disclosed. The aerodynamic positioning device utilizes controlled fluid flow via a series of discretely spaced jets that create a low pressure region beneath a signature dropping from an adjacent feeder. The aerodynamic positioning device allows the binding machinery to operate at high speeds with lightweight and unbalanced signatures while maintaining high-quality production with reduced paper jams.

Abstract: An ice detector includes a pair of electrodes connected by a pair of leads to a control unit which measures the total impedance between leads to thereby sense and detect the presence of ice and other contaminants formed on top thereof utilizing a comparator circuit. The electrodes are integrated into patch which can be placed at different locations on an aircraft.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled valve train system for improving performance and emission characteristics of internal combustion engines over a wide range of speed and load. A master hydraulic cylinder containing a master piston replaces the valve lifter in a conventional engine and bears against the camshaft of the engine. A slave cylinder hydraulically coupled to the master cylinder has a slave piston coupled to open an intake valve of the engine. A control cylinder is also hydraulically coupled to the hydraulic line and increases the closed volume of the hydraulic line with increasing pressure in the hydraulic line caused by forced displacement of the master piston by rotation of the camshaft. A solenoid under control of a microcomputer dynamically varies the limit of movement of the control piston, and thus of expansion of the hydraulic line volume, thereby controlling the opening and closing, timing and displacement of the intake valve.