Abstract: A step-wise tracking electronic filter comprises a parallel bank of a plurality of band pass filters respectively having a plurality of electronic switches and respectively having different band widths, and a command signal generating device generating a command signal from the frequency of a primary alternating electrical signal being transmitted through the step-wise tracking electronic filter and being conditioned thereby or from an auxiliary alternating electrical signal obtained for the sole purpose of generating the command signal therefrom; wherein the command signal closes one of the plurality of electronic switches belonging to one of the plurality of band pass filters having a band width substantially including the frequency of the primary alternating electrical signal and opens the electronic switch when the band width of the band pass filter substantially excludes the frequency of the primary alternating electrical signal in an operating mode wherein only one electronic switch is closed at a time,

Abstract: An electronic filter for conditioning a primary flow signal including alternating electrical signals generated in a flowmeter comprises a parallel bank of low frequency bandpass filters and high frequency bandpass filters, wherein the switching on or off of the individual low frequency bandpass filter is controlled by a command signal generated from an auxiliary flow signal provided by an accessory flowmeter supplying a crude but stable signal representing the level of fluid flow, and the switching on and off of the individual high frequency bandpass filters is controlled by a command signal generated from the frequency of the primary flow signal providing a highly accurate and extremely sensitive signal that represents the time rate of fluid flow.

Abstract: A positive displacement fluid machine comprises a body including a circular cylindrical cavity with two closed ends and two port openings respectively open to the two opposite halves of the cylindrical cavity respectively located on two opposite sides of a plane of symmetry, a vane assembly including a plurality of vanes disposed in a radially extending pattern from a central shaft rotatably and pivotally supporting the plurality of the vanes, which vane assembly is disposed within the circular cylindrical cavity in a coaxial relationship therebetween wherein the radial edges of the vanes slide on the circular cylindrical wall of the cylindrical cavity, and a cam follower-guide mechanism controlling separation angle between adjacent vanes in such a way that the separation angle between adjacent vanes increases from a minimum value to a maximum value in one of the two opposite halves of the cylindrical cavity and decreases from the maximum value to the minmum value in the other of the two opposite halves of th

Abstract: An electronic filter for conditioning a primary flow signal including alternating electrical signals generated in a flowmeter comprises a parallel bank of low frequency bandpass filters and high frequency bandpass filters, wherein the switching on or off of the individual low frequency bandpass filters is controlled by a command signal generated from an auxiliary flow signal provided by an accessory flowmeter supplying a crude but stable signal representing the level of fluid flow, and the switching on and off of the individual high frequency bandpass filters is controlled by a command signal generated from the frequency of the primary flow signal providing a highly accurate and extremely sensitive signal that represents the time rate of fluid flow.

Abstract: A flowmeter comprises an output cut-off circuit controlled by a command signal generated by a flow switch, wherein the flow switch generates a command signal switching on the transmission of an electrical signal representing the flow rate of media to an output terminal, when the flow rate of media being measured by the flowmeter is greater than a preset threshold value, and switches off the transmission of the electrical signal representing the flow rate of media to the output terminal, when the flow rate of media is less than the preset threshold value.

Abstract: A positive displacement fluid handling apparatus comprises a body including a circular cylindrical cavity with two closed ends and two port openings respectively open to the two opposite halves of the circular cylindrical cavity; a flap assembly including a plurality of flaps disposed in the circular cylindrical cavity in a radiating pattern and supported by the body rotatably about a first axis of rotation concentric to the circular cylindrical cavity in an independently rotatable arrangement, wherein the outer radial edges of the flaps slide on the circular cylindrical wall of the circular cylindrical cavity and the inner radial edges of the flaps are assembled in a radially converging leak-proof assembly; and a flap spacer assembly including a plurality of rollers or spacers disposed on a circular cylindrical surface enclosing the first axis of rotation and coaxial to a second axis of rotation eccentric to the circular cylindrical cavity and supported by the body rotatably about the second axis of rotation

Abstract: A flowmeter comprises a first electrode disposed on a first cross section of the flow passage and a second electrode disposed on a second cross section of the flow passage downstream of the first cross section, and an alternating electric power supply providing an alternating electric potential difference across the first and second electrodes, that creates flow of electric current across the first and second electrodes in two opposite directions, wherein the fluid velocity is determined as a function of difference between the electric current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode and the electric current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode.

Abstract: A device for ascending and descending following a vertically disposed rope comprises a handle assembly including a pair of handles, a stirrup asssembly including a pair of foot-holds and a harness depending from the handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly attached to the rope in a sliding relationship grabs the rope when the pair of handles are pulled down and the stirrup assembly attached to the rope in a sliding relationship grabs the rope when the pair of foot-holds are stepped on; whereby a person wearing the harness climbs the rope by repeating the movements of pulling up the stirrup assembly by bending the knees while pulling down the pair of handles and then pushing up the handle assembly while standing up on the pair of foot-holds, or slides down on the rope at a controlled speed by exerting a required amount of braking applied by means of the handle assembly and/or the stirrup assembly.

Abstract: The actuator of the present invention comprises a cylinder with a circular cylindrical cavity slidably engaged by a stationary piston secured to the frame of the actuator by at least one rod extending through one end wall of the circular cylindrical cavity in a leak-proof manner, wherein the stationary piston divides the circular cylindrical cavity into two compartments in a leak-proof manner. Pressurizing one and venting the other of the two compartments moves the cylinder relative to the stationary piston. The outer cylindrical surface of the cylinder includes fastening device for securing an object to be linearly actuated thereto or rack engaging a pinion gear that converts the linear motion of the cylinder to a linear motion of a sliding member with another rack or to a rotary motion of the pinion gear shaft.

Abstract: This invention discloses a self-sufficient device enabling a person to descend and ascend with ease, which device includes a closed loop of cord depending from a frictionally controlled cord release apparatus that exerts braking on the looping movement of the closed loop of cord in one direction releasing the first member and taking up the second member thereof, while it allows substantially free looping movements in the other direction releasing the second member and taking up the first member of the closed loop of the cord, wherein the first member of the closed loop of cord includes a harness securely affixed thereto and the second member includes a handle and a stirrup slidably secured thereto, which handle and stirrup freely slide on the second member of the closed loop of cord when no load is exerted thereon, while the handle and stirrup grabs the second member of the closed loop of cord when a load is exerted thereon.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for transporting a person or persons vertically that comprises a closed loop of cord depending from a cylindrical roller with frictional braking means on which roller the cord is wound over a plurality of laps wherein the speed of the lowering motion of one member of the closed loop of cord depending from the cylindrical roller is effortlessly controlled by a small amount of tension exerted on the other member of the closed loop of cord depending from the cylindrical roller as the small amount of tension exerted on the other member of the closed loop of cord controls the magnitude of the frictional braking on the cylindrical roller. Consequently, a person secured to the one member of the closed loop of cord is able to lower oneself at a safe speed with ease by exerting a small amount of pull on the other member of the closed loop of cord.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-sufficient device enabling a person to descend and ascend with ease, which device includes a closed loop of cord depending from a frictionally controlled cord release device wherein a person secured to one member of the closed loop of cord depending from the frictionally controlled cord release device by means of a harness is able to controll one's descending speed by exerting a small amount of tension on the other member of the closed loop of cord in the descending process. In the ascending process, a person secured to one member of the closed loop of cord by a harness is able to elevate oneself by using a stirrup slidably secured to the other member of the closed loop of cord 1 which stirrup includes a locking means that grabs the other member of the closed loop of cord when one stands on the stirrup applying a weight thereon, while the stirrup slides substantially freely on the other member of the closed loop of cord when no weight is applied thereon.

Abstract: A self-defense device comprising a spherical member and a tether cord. The tether cord is wound on a self-winding spool that is rotatably attached to the interior of the spherical member. The free end of the tether cord has a loop formed thereat for securing the device to a person's wrist. The spherical member may have an outer lining of elastic material or may have a plurality of barbs on its exterior surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-contained and self-sufficient device for lowering and raising oneself vertically without relying on any mechanical power, or any man power external to the system wherein the direction and speed in the vertical movement of a person is fully controlled with ease by that person himself or herself. The sky-ride vertical mobiity system of the present invention comprises a frictionally controlled rope release device secured to an upper level and a closed loop of rope depending from the frictionally controlled rope release device that is wrapped around a friction drum included in the frictionally controlled rope release device. Exertion of a pull of very small magnitude on one member of the closed loop of rope depending from the frictionally controlled rope release device creates a frictional braking of very large magnitude that is capable of suspending a heavy object secured to the other member of the closed loop of rope motionlessly in midair or lower it at a safe speed.

Abstract: This invention relates to an emergency escape system for escape from elevated structures such as sky-scrapers, high-rise apartment or office buildings, etc., which system enables one to lower oneself from any level of a high-rise building to ground level all by oneself without requiring any help from rescue crews wherein, with the minimum amount of physical effort, the descending motion and speed is completely controlled by the descending person. The sky-ride emergency system comprises a closed loop of rope or cable wound on a friction drum over a number of complete laps in a substantially tight relationship. The cylindrical surface of the friction drum nonrotatably secured to an elevated level has a high friction coefficient. The closed loop of rope depending from the friction drum includes at least one securing means such as a hook or ring affixed to the rope. The lower extremity of the closed loop of rope depending from the friction drum reaches down to a lower level such as ground level.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-propelled roller board that provides mobility for people in downtown areas, campuses and neighborhood localities. The pediroller board comprises one or two free-wheeling front wheels steerably affixed to an oblong board near one extremity thereof and a pair of rear wheels affixed to the oblong board near the other extremity wherein the rear wheels are driven by a pedal-powered gear driving a pinion gear including a ratchet drive driving the axle of the rear wheels. A person riding the pediroller board balances oneself by standing with one foot placed on the front portion of the oblong board and by holding a joystick type steering lever and propels the pediroller board by pedaling a pedal disposed near the rear extremity of the oblong board wherein the up-and-down motion of the pedal is converted to the rotating motion of the drive gear by a crank mechanism.