Abstract: In a two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine, opposed pistons disposed in a cylinder are coupled to a pair of side-mounted crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts. This geometry reduces or eliminates side forces between the pistons and the bore of the cylinder. The cylinder and the pistons are independently cooled to reduce cylindrical deformation caused by thermal expansion during engine operation.

Abstract: An external fixation system for connecting one or more bone segments together to facilitate healing of bone. The system may include one or more rings and/or ring segments. One or more linear distractors and/or angular distractors may connect the rings to each other so as to allow for distraction and/or reduction/compression of a bone. Linear distractors may enable an operator to move the rings towards and away from each other, while angular distractors may enable an operator to angle the rings relative to each other. In an embodiment using angular distractors, one or more angular separation assemblies may be positioned between the rings. These separation assemblies may have joints which may two portions which may be angled relative to each other and connected directly or indirectly to the rings. Various fasteners (e.g., nuts) and/or tightening members may configured for quick movement along and selective tightening to various components.

Abstract: A two-cycle, opposed piston engine with side-mounted crankshafts and cylinders isolated from mechanical stresses of the engine includes tailored cooling of cylinders and symmetrical cooling of the interior surfaces of piston crowns. Each opposed piston includes a compliant member that permits movement of an axially-centered rod mounted in the piston in order to maintain axial alignment with the bore of a cylinder in which the piston is disposed during engine operation. A single wristpin is disposed externally of the piston to connect the piston with connecting rods that run between the piston and the crankshafts.

Abstract: A scatter shutter is used to alternately provide non-scattered illumination for autofocus purposes and diffuse illumination for imaging purposes in a microscope system for high-throughput testing of protein samples in a multi-well tray. As the tray is being scanned continuously through the microscope objective for data acquisition, the scatter shutter is intermittently deactivated to allow collimated light to focus on the underside of the tray and produce autofocus signals, and then activated to produce diffused light and to image the protein sample in each well. The timing of each step is synchronized so as to place the droplet in focus prior to energizing the scatter shutter and switching to the imaging mode.

Abstract: A floor arrangement for use with livestock such as in a barn is in the form of a concrete panel and includes plural spaced, elongated, linear flumes, or channels, disposed within the panel and extending its length. Each flume is generally cylindrical in shape and opens to the upper surface of the panel via a narrow slot in the upper surface. Animal waste enters the flume via its upper slot and is carried away by flowing water introduced at a first end of the flume and discharged at a second, opposed end. The panel's upper surface is notched to provide safe, stable footing for the animals, with the notches terminating in a slot to facilitate discharge of animal waste into the spaced flumes. The floor is comprised of plural connected panels, with the flumes of adjacent floor panels aligned to provide continuous flow channels extending the entire floor.

Abstract: A floor arrangement for use with livestock such as in a barn is in the form of a concrete panel and includes plural spaced, elongated, linear flumes, or channels, disposed within the panel and extending its length. Each flume is generally cylindrical in shape and opens to the upper surface of the panel via a narrow slot in the upper surface. Animal waste enters the flume via its upper slot and is carried away by flowing water introduced at a first end of the flume and discharged at a second, opposed end. The panel's upper surface is notched to provide safe, stable footing for the animals, with the notches terminating in a slot to facilitate discharge of animal waste into the spaced flumes. The floor is comprised of plural connected panels, with the flumes of adjacent floor panels aligned to provide continuous flow channels extending the entire floor.

Abstract: A track mounting system for supporting equipment, such as a dental light, includes a pan-shaped carriage which is suspended from the track mounting system and to which the light or other equipment is attached. The track mounting system includes a pair of spaced, parallel tracks which are engaged by rollers rotatably mounted on inner walls of the carriage. At least one of the rollers is formed from a relatively hard material and is concave to mate with the complementary surface on one of the tracks to provide resistance against side loads. Other rollers are formed from a relatively soft material and are convex to provide a light frictional resistance to movement of the carriage along the tracks that inhibits drift, over-travel and other inadvertent movement of the carriage, while reducing noise.

Abstract: A track mounting system for supporting equipment, such as a dental light, includes a pan-shaped carriage which is suspended from the track mounting system and to which the light or other equipment is attached. The track mounting system includes a pair of spaced, parallel tracks which are engaged by rollers rotatably mounted on inner walls of the carriage. At least one of the rollers is formed from a relatively hard material and is concave to mate with the complementary surface on one of the tracks to provide resistance against side loads. Other rollers are formed from a relatively soft material and are convex to provide a light frictional resistance to movement of the carriage along the tracks that inhibits drift, over-travel and other inadvertent movement of the carriage, while reducing noise.

Abstract: A novel life-saving device comprising a buoyant disk having a top side, a bottom side, a leading edge and a cavity on the bottom side along and adjacent to the leading edge, the cavity having an inner side generally parallel to the leading edge the inner side having an upper edge and a lower edge and a length of line affixed through and about the center of the buoyant disk generally parallel to the leading edge and disposed around the inner side of the cavity.

Abstract: A novel life-saving device comprising a buoyant disk having a top side, a bottom side, a leading edge and a cavity on the bottom side along and adjacent to the leading edge, the cavity having an inner side generally parallel to the leading edge the inner side having an upper edge and a lower edge and a length of line affixed through and about the center of the buoyant disk generally parallel to the leading edge and disposed around the inner side of the cavity.

Abstract: A self-acting air bearing for a pressurized spindle air bearing includes a bearing that is located within a cavity of a housing. The bearing and cavity may be shaped as a segment of a sphere. The spindle may be connected to a pressurized air source which creates an air bearing within a gap that separates the bearing from the housing. The bearing is attached to a shaft that is rotated by a motor. Rotation of the bearing creates a flow of air within the gap. The cavity and/or bearing may have a slot which cooperates with the air flow to increase the pressure of the air bearing.

Abstract: A non-contact optical method and apparatus for use in inspecting and measuring defects on a disk. The apparatus generates an interference pattern from a reference beam reflected from a surface of a transparent slider with a second beam reflected from a surface of a test disk. The resulting interference pattern is processed by a set of photodetectors and processing electronics to quantify and map the location and magnitude of asperities on the disk.

Abstract: A method for calibration and correlation of flying height testers with a calibration slider. The calibration slider has an air bearing surface that contains a flat portion and a sloped portion. To verify accuracy and correlation between flying height testers, the calibration slider is loaded adjacent to a rotating transparent disk of a tester. The slider is separated from the disk by an air film and flies at a zero pitch angle. Zero pitch angle can be attained by adjusting the rotational speed of the disk. The flying height tester includes an optical system which can measure the air film with a light beam that is directed through the disk and reflected from the slider.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge device for a flying height tester which measures the air gap of a recording head. The tester includes a transparent disk that is rotated by a spindle motor. The spindle motor is mounted to a spin stand. The tester has a manifold that is mounted to the spin stand and directs a flow of ionized fluid to a bottom surface of the disk. The manifold is also electrically grounded. The ionized fluid and electrically grounded manifold provide an electrical path that discharge electrostatic charge located on the bottom surface of the disk. The manifold extends from an inner disk diameter to an outer disk diameter so that ionized fluid is introduced to the entire bottom surface of the rotating disk. Additionally, the manifold location is such that the ionized fluid provides an electrical path from the disk to the manifold that is relatively constant across the surface of the disk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a marketing display device and is directed more particularly to a restockable display device adapted to be accommodated to a wide variety of marketing locations or configurations as a result of varying the effective length of the display unit and the ability to utilize plural units in side to side conformation which, when assembled, give the appearance of a single monolithic display area. The device is further characterized by portions of the display area being disposed at obtuse angles relative to the back or main marketing panel area whereby a prospective purchaser walking in a path generally parallel to but laterally offset from the display unit or series of units is provided with visual access to a surface or surfaces generally normal to his gaze.