Abstract: A hot beverage cup and sleeve bring together two modes of heat transfer, conduction and radiation. The sleeve has an inner face with a plurality of high reflectivity surfaces for radiating heat back to the cup. The sleeve also has a plurality of insulating members for containing insulating air. Each of the insulating members is positioned to space the high reflectivity surfaces away from the cup. A low emissivity film can be adhered to the cup without touching the insulating members. The film can also be attached to the sleeve facing but spaced from the high reflectivity surfaces. This cup and sleeve arrangements minimize thermal contact and reduce heat transfer. Thus, the hot beverage cup and sleeve protect a person's hand as well as extend the time of keeping the beverage hot.

Abstract: The siwak tooth cleaning instrument provides a carrying, protecting and application instrument for a siwak stick, to be applied to the user's teeth for cleaning thereof. In some embodiments, the siwak tooth cleaning instrument includes a tubular housing with a siwak that may be selectively and adjustably raised and lowered to extend the siwak from the housing for cleaning one's teeth, and retracted within the housing for storage and transport, similar to a lipstick. In other embodiments, the siwak tooth cleaning instrument has tooth cleaning cartridges including a siwak that releasably engage the head portion of an elongated handle. A cover may be pivotally attached to the handle for covering the handle and attached cartridge, or a storage tube with replacement cartridges may be pivotally attached to the handle.

Abstract: The acoustic chamber for the detection of insects provides for the acoustic detection of insects living within the trunk of a tree. The chamber includes an annular shell disposed around the trunk of the tree to define an annular acoustic or sound chamber. Acoustic sensors are mounted in the shell walls. The acoustic sensors may be microphones that extend from the shell to be in direct contact with the tree trunk, or microphones spaced apart from the tree trunk, or other suitable acoustic transducers. The acoustic sensors are connected to data processing equipment for analyzing sounds picked up by the sensors for acoustic signals indicative of insect infestation.

Abstract: An apparatus for deicing a surface of an aircraft includes a pair of adjacent movable surface elements that lie in a common plane and cover a portion of an aircraft. The pair of surface elements are connected to a reciprocating actuator through a bell crank for reciprocal movement and in opposite directions to one another. The apparatus also includes a tie bar at one end of the surface elements for maintaining the surface elements in a parallel relationship. In a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair of coaxial, coplanar circular discs and a reciprocating actuator for rotating the discs in opposite directions relative to one another.

Abstract: The system for delivery of insecticide provides a portable enclosure for delivering insecticide to an infested tree trunk. The system includes an annular shell disposed around with the trunk of the tree that defines an annular tank. An annular base supports the wall(s) of the annular shell and has a liquid impermeable membrane attached thereto that can be wrapped around the base of the tree trunk to prevent pesticide seepage into the ground. A pump delivers insecticide into the annular tank at an upper end of the tank. A drain hose attached to the base of the tank returns insecticide to the pump for recirculation. The pump is actuated in pulsating mode to agitate insecticide in the tank, causing waves of sufficient pressure to induce the insecticide to penetrate deeply through any bores in the trunk to kill both adult insects and larvae.

Abstract: An apparatus for deicing a surface of an aircraft includes a pair of adjacent movable surface elements that lie in a common plane and cover a portion of an aircraft. The pair of surface elements are connected to a reciprocating actuator through a bell crank for reciprocal movement and in opposite directions to one another. The apparatus also includes a tie bar at one end of the surface elements for maintaining the surface elements in a parallel relationship. In a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair of coaxial, coplanar circular disc and a reciprocating actuator for rotating the disc in opposite directions relative to one another.

Abstract: The system for delivery of insecticide provides a portable enclosure for delivering insecticide to an infested tree trunk. The system includes an annular shell disposed around with the trunk of the tree that defines an annular tank. An annular base supports the wall(s) of the annular shell and has a liquid impermeable membrane attached thereto that can be wrapped around the base of the tree trunk to prevent pesticide seepage into the ground. A pump delivers insecticide into the annular tank at an upper end of the tank. A drain hose attached to the base of the tank returns insecticide to the pump for recirculation. The pump is actuated in pulsating mode to agitate insecticide in the tank, causing waves of sufficient pressure to induce the insecticide to penetrate deeply through any bores in the trunk to kill both adult insects and larvae.

Abstract: The acoustic chamber for the detection of insects provides for the acoustic detection of insects living within the trunk of a tree. The chamber includes an annular shell disposed around the trunk of the tree to define an annular acoustic or sound chamber. Acoustic sensors are mounted in the shell walls. The acoustic sensors may be microphones that extend from the shell to be in direct contact with the tree trunk, or microphones spaced apart from the tree trunk, or other suitable acoustic transducers. The acoustic sensors are connected to data processing equipment for analyzing sounds picked up by the sensors for acoustic signals indicative of insect infestation.

Abstract: An apparatus for deicing a surface of an aircraft includes a pair of adjacent movable surface elements that lie in a common plane and cover a portion of an aircraft. The pair of surface elements are connected to a reciprocating actuator through a bell crank for reciprocal movement and in opposite directions to one another. The apparatus also includes a tie bar at one end of the surface elements for maintaining the surface elements in a parallel relationship. In a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair of coaxial, coplanar circular disc and a reciprocating actuator for rotating the disc in opposite directions relative to one another.

Abstract: The flow meter probe with force sensors has the body of a frustum of a regular pyramid with a force sensor disposed upon each face. The force sensors are mounted in bores defined in the probe body and include a pin that may be displaced in the bore to exert pressure on an electrical transducer. The transducer may be a ceramic, piezoelectric sensor or a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor. The pin has an aerodynamically- or hydrodynamically-shaped head, a cylindrical body, and a frustoconical tail to concentrate force exerted upon the sensor. The head of the pin protrudes slightly above the face of the probe body so that aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces are exerted directly against the pin, and pin displacement measures the forces directly. A plurality of probes may be placed in the path of fluid flow in a variety of configurations, as desired.

Abstract: The flow meter probe with force sensors has the body of a frustum of a regular pyramid with a force sensor disposed upon each face. The force sensors are mounted in bores defined in the probe body and include a pin that may be displaced in the bore to exert pressure on an electrical transducer. The transducer may be a ceramic, piezoelectric sensor or a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor. The pin has an aerodynamically- or hydrodynamically-shaped head, a cylindrical body, and a frustoconical tail to concentrate force exerted upon the sensor. The head of the pin protrudes slightly above the face of the probe body so that aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces are exerted directly against the pin, and pin displacement measures the forces directly. A plurality of probes may be placed in the path of fluid flow in a variety of configurations, as desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for deicing a surface of an aircraft includes a pair of adjacent movable surface elements that lie in a common plane and cover a portion of an aircraft. The pair of surface elements are connected to a reciprocating actuator through a bell crank for reciprocal movement and in opposite directions to one another. The apparatus also includes a tie bar at one end of the surface elements for maintaining the surface elements in a parallel relationship. In a second embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a pair of coaxial, coplanar circular disc and a reciprocating actuator for rotating the disc in opposite directions relative to one another.

Abstract: An actuator is coupled between a head and a flexure, the actuator providing submicron positioning of the head while reducing undesirable vibrations of the flexure. The actuator includes a stator and a rotor, with a plurality of deformable elements coupled between the stator and the rotor. In one aspect the rotor, stator and deformable elements are constructed so that the rotor has a substantially fixed axis of rotation relative to the stator, and the actuation of a transducer in the head is magnified. In another aspect the rotor is coupled to the head so that the axis of rotation is substantially aligned with the center of mass of the head and rotor, increasing the frequency at which the actuator can move the head and reducing vibrations in the flexure caused by actuation of the head.

Abstract: A hybrid cooling system for cooling electronic devices includes a heat generating electronic device and an endless metal belt in sliding contact with a surface of the device for removing heat by conduction. The system also includes a fan or jet and an airfoil with and without a movable surface and/or flap for simultaneously directing a flow of coolant across the electronic device and/or the endless metal belt. An additional cooling element and cooling fins are also disclosed. Further, a method for cooling such devices is disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid cooling system for cooling electronic devices includes a heat generating electronic device and an endless metal belt in sliding contact with a surface of the device for removing heat by conduction. The system also includes a fan or jet and an airfoil with and without a movable surface and/or flap for simultaneously directing a flow of coolant across the electronic device and/or the endless metal belt. An additional cooling element and cooling fins are also disclosed. Further, a method for cooling such devices is disclosed.

Abstract: Windage proximate to a spinning disk within a disk drive is directed through a plurality of apertures in a ramp situated near the outside diameter of the disk. A tab extending from a load beam that supports a slider rests on the ramp when the drive is not in use. When the drive is started the disk begins to spin and an actuator moves the load beam to bring the slider over the surface of the disk. As the load beam moves, the tab is guided along the ramp and cushioned by the air flow emerging from apertures in the ramp beneath it. When the drive is stopped the actuator brings the load beam back so that the tab engages the ramp. A cushion of air is again provided as the tab is moved along the ramp as the tab is returned to a parked position.

Abstract: An optical switching component comprises a rotor with a reflective top surface pivotally mounted within a stator, and a piezoelectric actuator set between the rotor and the stator to move the rotor about the pivot point. A controller can also be joined to the piezoelectric actuator to effectuate actuation thereof. Two light ports can also be set proximate to the reflective top surface such that a beam of light emitted from one is reflected to the other. Multiple optical switching components can be arranged to form an optical switching device. Optical switching components and devices can be fabricated according to conventional microfabrication practices including film deposition, planarization, and photolithography techniques.

Abstract: An actuator is coupled between a head and flexure and gimbal elements, the actuator providing submicron positioning of the head while reducing undesirable vibrations of the flexure and gimbal elements. Such an actuator may have a frame that surrounds a cavity, the frame having an opening disposed adjacent to the head and a wall disposed on an opposite side of the frame from the opening. One or more active elements are disposed in the cavity and attached to the frame, the active element separated from the wall and having a dimension that varies in size in response to a control signal, with a moveable element coupled to the active element and to the head.

Abstract: Windage proximate to a spinning disk within a disk drive is directed through a plurality of apertures in a ramp situated near the outside diameter of the disk. A tab extending from a load beam that supports a slider rests on the ramp when the drive is not in use. When the drive is started the disk begins to spin and an actuator moves the load beam to bring the slider over the surface of the disk. As the load beam moves, the tab is guided along the ramp and cushioned by the air flow emerging from apertures in the ramp beneath it. When the drive is stopped the actuator brings the load beam back so that the tab engages the ramp. A cushion of air is again provided as the tab is moved along the ramp as the tab is returned to a parked position.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEM) actuator incorporates a dual-stator design operated electrostatically in conjunction with a rotor to affect a fine positioning of a thin film magnetic read/write head. The substantial gain in the frequency response bandwidth greatly improves the performance and accuracy of the track-follow control for fine positioning of the thin film read/write head. The stators are comprised of a plurality of electrodes arranged perpendicularly along a plurality of stationary radial spokes, which are interleaving and oppositely disposed to the same plurality of moveable radial spokes formed on the rotor. A track-follow control commands a voltage to be supplied to the rotor and stators, thereby inducing an electrical potential field to generate an electrostatically attractive force for each pair of radial spokes between each of the stator and the rotor.