Abstract: The present invention includes a means of equalizing pressure within a sealed pin joint assembly. The pin joint assembly includes slidably connecting a pin through a bearing assembly fitted within a bore in an equalizer bar. The pin is circumferentially surrounded by a pair of seals disposed on either side of the bearing assembly for sealing within the equalizer bar. The seals are positioned adjacent the bearing assembly to define a pair of cavities therebetween. A receiving passage extends from a counterbore at an outer surface of the equalizer bar and terminates at the bearing assembly and is fluidly connected with the pin joint assembly. A grease zerk is disclosed within the receiving passage as a means to direct fluid into the joint wherein accumulation within the cavities is expected. As the pressure fluctuates within the cavities during operation, the lubricating fluid is free to travel through a pair of discharge passages and an interconnected cross passage therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of relieving pressure within a sealed pin joint assembly so that the seal is protected from excessive pressure. The pin joint assembly includes slidably connecting a pin through a bearing assembly fitted within a bore in an equalizer bar. The pin is circumferentially surrounded by a pair of seals disposed on either side of the bearing assembly for sealing within the equalizer bar. The seals are positioned adjacent the bearing assembly to define a pair of cavities therebetween. A receiving passage extends from a counterbore at an outer surface of the equalizer bar and terminates at the bearing assembly and is fluidly connected with the pin joint assembly. A grease zerk is disclosed within the receiving passage to direct fluid into the joint wherein accumulation within the cavities is expected.

Abstract: In a fly reel, drag is provided by use a helically wound wire spring mounted coaxially over a fixed post attached to the reel frame. The turns at one end of the helically wound spring loosely contact the fixed post, while at the other end of the spring the turns are in intimate contact with the post. One end of the spring is free and the other end is fixed to a spool axially straddling the spring-post combination. The spool contains a drag adjustment knob whose initial setting determines the angular travel of the spool until a pin on the knob contacts the free end of the spring. As line is stripped from the spool, the spool rotates and the loose turns incrementally tighten about the fixed post.

Abstract: Recovery of blood from a wound site (12) during a surgical procedure is accomplished with low blood trauma that enables collection of increased amounts of blood having relatively little structural damage for return to the surgical patient. Blood trauma is decreased by accelerating liquid blood from the wound site to flow at a relatively low velocity with a relatively high negative gauge pressure and accelerating a mixture of blood and foam from the wound site to flow at a relatively high velocity and a relatively low negative gauge pressure. A suction wand is provided in which liquid blood (32) is separated from a mixture of blood and foam (16) at the wound site through the transport of the two separated fluids at the different velocities and negative gauge pressures. The wand includes an outer blood foam tube within which are three resiliently compressed, side-by-side tubes for handling liquid blood, rinse solution and anticoagulant.

Abstract: A plastic cassette, having reel hub spindles and tape guides which are accurately machined inserts, is used as a tape supply and take-up container for a reel periphery driven tape transport. The reel hub spindle and the tape guide bases are accurately machined reference surfaces, and the spindles and guides are flexibly captive in the cassette shell with their reference surfaces extending below the cassette shell. Upon insertion into the transport, the reel hub spindle and tape guide bases are forced into abutment with a reference surface of the transport, causing the cassette tape path to conform to the transport tape path, substantially independent of the orientation of the plastic cassette body relative to the transport.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus electronically times and records a moving object as it travels over a measured course. The apparatus is especially useful in recording and timing an athlete running over a measured course in order to determine the overall athletic prowess of the athlete. The apparatus provides more accurate and uniform testing of an athlete's ability to run a predetermined distance as fast as possible. The apparatus includes a plurality of ultrasonic detectors positioned in predetermined spaced relationship along a course over which an athlete runs (object moves). A sequence of RF detection signals are sent to a timing circuit which computes the elapsed times of the athlete (object) over the course. The times are recorded along with video information produced by a video camera. When the timing information and recorded scene are played back on a video monitor, the timing information is displayed along with the video image to facilitate analysis of the recorded event.

Abstract: A compact video system includes a collapsible cart for housing the components of a video system which is usable outdoors to record athletic events and the like. A wheeled lower housing supports an upper housing by adjustable arms. When the upper housing is collapsed against the lower housing, a brake is actuated to lock the wheels to prevent easy removal of the cart and theft of components housed in the lower housing. Housed in the upper housing is a video monitor which has an upwardly oriented tube face. The monitor face is viewed by a mirror and glare screen which are operatively associated with a lid which covers the monitor when closed. When the lid is opened, the video monitor may be viewed in bright sunlight without a substantial loss of image brightness.

Abstract: A compact video camera which is operable at variable shutter speeds to capture high speed events which may be recorded and played back in slow motion for scene analysis. The video camera includes an image sensor, a variable diaphragm and a variable speed shutter. The variable diaphragm and variable speed shutter are controlled automatically to maintain constant the peak to peak signal level of the video signal produced by the image sensor so that the highest shutter speed is always maintained as scene brightness changes.

Abstract: A compact video camera which is operable at continuously variable shutter speeds to capture high speed events which may be recorded and played back in slow motion for scene analysis. The video camera includes an image sensor, a zoom lens, and a rotating shutter which is continuously adjustable to different shutter speeds. The camera components are dimensioned and configured in a compact design for easy-to-use hand-held operation. The shutter includes a pair of rotating shutter discs having openings which are selectively adjustable relative to each other to vary the interval during which the imager sensor is exposed to a scene projected onto it by the zoom lens. The shutter discs are mounted on respective first and second holow shafts. The first shaft is rotatably and slidably mounted on a portion of the second shaft by a linkage.

Abstract: A compact video camera which is operable at continuously variable shutter speeds to capture high speed events which may be recorded and played back in slow motion for scene analysis. The video camera includes an image sensor, a zoom lens, and a rotating shutter which is continuously adjustable to different shutter speeds. The camera components are dimensioned and configured in a compact design for easy-to-use hand-held operation. The shutter includes a pair of rotating shutter discs having openings which are selectively adjustable relative to each other to vary the interval during which the imager sensor is exposed to a scene projected onto it by the zoom lens. The shutter discs are mounted on a pair of spaced, hollow shafts. Adjustment of the relative rotational position of the two discs to control the size of the relative shutter opening is effected by a push rod linked to and slidably mounted within the hollow shafts.

Abstract: A fluid test sample apparatus has a plurality of fluid test cells arranged on the periphery of a motor driven test cell tray. The fluids to be tested and respective reagents are introduced separately into corresponding test cells and are subsequently mixed in a reaction chamber for subsequent analysis by viewing the end product on the reaction through transparent walls of the reaction cell. The fluid samples and reagents are stored in separate radially displaced adjacent chambers and are mixed by a centrifugal force exerted thereon to force the fluids through the interconnecting internal passages in the tray into the reaction cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing a continuous band of medical reagent test strips is disclosed which includes chambers for the storage of used and unused portions of the continuous strip separated by barrier member to prevent cross-contamination there between. A substantially flat interim space is provided between the accesses to the chambers wherein tests may be run utilizing the samples in conjunction with the strips. Mechanical means is provided for advancing the band of medical test strips as necessary. The apparatus may be fabricated of suitable, moldable plastic material which may be discarded after the band of unused medical reagent test strips is exhausted.

Abstract: A recorder using a carbon backed "self-developing" dry silver recording medium which is guided over a recording and developing path includes a pair of rollers one of which is connected to a ground potential and the other to a positive potential with the electrically conducting carbon coated side of the recording medium arranged to contact both of the rollers to enable electrical current to pass through the carbon backing to generate the heat required to develop the recording thereon. A third roller is arranged to contact the recording medium on the recording side and to press the carbon coated side against a second location on the ground roller to provide a second current conducting path between the positive potential roller and the ground roller. The electrical current is controlled in accordance with the speed of the recording medium to insure a proper developing time relationship at different recording medium speeds.

Abstract: There has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a recording system for light sensitive recording medium in which a latent image is developed by heating the photographic emulsion by means of a current passing through a conductive coating on the back of the record member. The record member is exposed to a light pattern to impose a latent image over a predetermined sheet length of recording medium. The recording medium is driven past the exposure station by a driving roller, a roller which may be the driving roller engaging the conductive back surface of the recording medium being grounded. The medium is driven past a shear mechanism to a clamp device. The clamp device grips the forward end of the record medium and serves as an electrode to pass an electrical current through the conductive back surface to the grounded roller to develop the latent image. The shear mechanism is then actuated to sever the sheet lengths. The clamp device then releases the severed sheets.

Abstract: An improved recorder for recording substantially simultaneously across the width of a relatively wide sheet of electrosensitive material has a fixed head made up of a laminar stack of recording styli or, as referred to herein, recording pins. Adjacent pins are offset from one another a distance sufficient to allow the passage of a purging fluid therethrough. The purging fluid conveniently may be supplied from a source of low pressure air.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for producing a dual scan of a scene containing an object to be automatically focused upon by the image producing means of an optical system. A first mirror is caused to sweep through a scene containing the object in a first direction and then back through the scene in the opposite direction. Radiation from the scene is presented to the range determining apparatus of an automatic focusing system which produces an output signal during the scan in the opposite direction which output signal is representative of the distance to the object. The output signal is used to stop the image producing means of the optical system in the desired position for proper focus.

Abstract: A recording head for electrographic recording has a plurality of electrically conducting flat plate electrodes arranged in a side-by-side electrically insulated relationship on an electrically insulating common support bar. A recording end of each electrode has a recording pin which is offset with respect to a center line of the electrode while a terminal end of each electrode has an electrical connection terminal. An air plenum is formed between the support bar and the electrodes by an adjacent cavity in each of the electrodes to allow a supply of air to be supplied to each of the electrodes. An air passage is formed by a depression in a surface of each of the electrodes extending between the air plenum and an exterior surface adjacent to the recording pin. A pair of end plates are arranged to provide an air-tight seal with the ends of the stacked electrodes and to provide hose connection means for admitting air from an air source into the air plenum.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for driving the scanning device of an automatic optical focusing system and for moving the primary optical element of such system to the desired focus position. A cam and cam follower arrangement is connected between a drive motor and the scanning device to cause the scanning device to sweep through a scene containing an object to be focused upon and to transmit radiation from such scene to the correlation optics of the system. The output of the correlation optics is processed to produce a signal indicative of the direction which the primary optical element must be moved in order to achieve the desired focus position. A bidirectional moving device is connected between the drive motor and the primary optical element and is operable in accordance with the signal to move the primary optical element in the proper direction.