Abstract: A Balance and Walking Trainer for improving the ability to walk, particularly for relearning to walk, which includes a base frame, three pairs of wheel casters, one front pair, one center pair aligned centrally with the user, and one rear pair, which is smaller in diameter than the front and center pairs and which floats above the ground. The Balance and Walking Trainer further comprises two pairs of telescoping risers affixed essentially vertical and also perpendicular to the base frame, wherein the first pair of telescoping risers are aligned substantially with the center wheels. In order for correct body mechanics to be maintained, a user may “scoop” his hands onto the handles to operate the Balance and Walking Trainer with correct body mechanics.

Abstract: A Balance and Walking Trainer for improving the ability to walk, particularly for relearning to walk, which includes a base frame, three pairs of wheel casters, one front pair, one center pair aligned centrally with the user, and one rear pair, which is smaller in diameter than the front and center pairs and which floats above the ground. The Balance and Walking Trainer further comprises two pairs of telescoping risers affixed essentially vertical and also perpendicular to the base frame, wherein the first pair of telescoping risers are aligned substantially with the center wheels. In order for correct body mechanics to be maintained, a user may “scoop” his hands onto the handles to operate the Balance and Walking Trainer with correct body mechanics.

Abstract: The reciprocating valve actuation and control system includes a poppet valve moveable between a first and second position; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic actuator including an actuator piston coupled to the poppet valve and reciprocating between a first and second position responsive to flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator; an electrically operated valve controlling flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator; and an engine computer that generates electrical pulses to control the electrically operated valve. The electrically operated valve includes a linear latching motor, which includes a solenoid coil associated with a permanent magnet, wherein the coil is energized to create a central axial repelling magnetic field relative to the permanent magnet field, and to generate concentric repelling and attractive fields to produce secondary repelling and tertiary attractive forces on the permanent magnet.

Abstract: An acoustic absorptive splitter consisting of two absorptive faces separated by a single on-quarter wavelength cavity support is disclosed as an equal substitute for a multi-layered splitter containing a central septum. This construction takes advantage of the reflective properties of the absorptive face sheets to support standing waves in the tuning cavities and in the duct cross modes. The utilization of these design principles permits significant silencer size and weight reduction. It also permits reduced splitter manufacturing costs by elimination of two layers of materials, difficult internal bonding and improvements in quality.

Abstract: The reciprocating valve actuation and control system includes a poppet valve moveable between a first and second position; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic actuator including an actuator piston coupled to the poppet valve and reciprocating between a first and second position responsive to flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator; an electrically operated valve controlling flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator; and an engine computer that generates electrical pulses to control the electrically operated valve. The electrically operated valve includes a linear latching motor. The hydraulic actuator comprises a self-contained cartridge assembly including an actuator piston with dampers for damping motion of the actuator piston, limiting the actuator stroke to assure soft seating of the actuator, and to avoid overshoot during the engine valve opening stroke and the engine valve return stroke.

Abstract: The reciprocating valve actuation and control system includes a poppet valve moveable between a first and second position; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic actuator including an actuator piston coupled to the poppet valve and reciprocating between a first and second position responsive to flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator; an electrically operated valve controlling flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator; and an engine computer that generates electrical pulses to control the electrically operated valve. The electrically operated valve preferably comprises a three path rotary latched magnetic motor actuating a rotary valve portion having a housing, a rotor, and a stator receiving and supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the rotor, which alternately directs the hydraulic fluid pressure to the valve cylinder for opening of the valve, or to return to the engine oil sump, for closing the valve.

Abstract: The reciprocating valve actuation and control system includes a poppet valve moveable between a first and second position; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic actuator including an actuator piston coupled to the poppet valve and reciprocating between a first and second position responsive to flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator; an electrically operated valve controlling flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator; and an engine computer that generates electrical pulses to control the electrically operated valve. The electrically operated valve preferably comprises a three path rotary latched magnetic motor actuating a rotary valve portion having a housing, a rotor, and a stator receiving and supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the rotor, which alternately directs the hydraulic fluid pressure to the valve cylinder for opening of the valve, or to return to the engine oil sump, for closing the valve.

Abstract: The reciprocating valve actuation and control system includes a poppet valve moveable between a first and second position; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic actuator including an actuator piston coupled to the poppet valve and reciprocating between a first and second position responsive to flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator; an electrically operated valve controlling flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the actuator; and an engine computer that generates electrical pulses to control the electrically operated valve. The electrically operated valve preferably comprises a three path rotary latched magnetic motor actuating a rotary valve portion having a housing, a rotor, and a stator receiving and supplying hydraulic fluid pressure to the rotor, which alternately directs the hydraulic fluid pressure to the valve cylinder for opening of the valve, or to return to the engine oil sump, for closing the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating the blade extension of a microkeratome includes a magnifying device and a fixture for holding the microkeratome assembly adjacent thereto. The magnifying device defines a line of sight and includes a reticle visible in the line of sight. The fixture supports the bottom surface of the shim of the microkeratome in a plane parallel to the line of sight of the magnifying device. In measuring the blade extension, the reticle is first aligned with either the cutting edge of the blade or the bottom surface of the gauge member. Relative movement between the reticle and the fixture is effected until the reticle is aligned with the other of the cutting edge and bottom surface of the gauge member. A measuring device monitors the relative movement. The reading of the measuring device equals the blade extension of the microkeratome.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine valve actuating device located directly above each cylinder which has a co-axial venturi shaped duct (20) that is removably attached with threaded capscrews (24) and sealed with an o-ring (28). The interior of the duct contains a number of inwardly facing vanes (30) that hold an electromechanical valve actuator (48) complete with an engine intake valve (50). When a pulsed electrical signal is received by the actuator, opposed electromagnetic fields are developed reciprocating the valve. A fuel injection system introduces combustible fuel into the duct at the trailing edge of the vanes. The valve actuating device may also be applied to the exhaust system, less the fuel injection, and the valve actuator may be cooled by interconnecting cavities (60) within the vanes using engine coolant or oil.

Abstract: A particle laden gas stream is cleaned by passing it through an all metal fabric including a base with pile fibers connected to the base. The flowing gas forces the pile fibers to lie down upon each other to form a depth filter media adapted to entrap fine particles. This depth filter media is cleaned to remove entrapped particles by passing air through the fabric in a direction counter to the direction the particle laden gas flows through the fabric. Consequently, the pile fibers tend to open and extend outwardly from the base, permitting entrapped particles to be carried by the air from the fabric. Apparatus including a tubular element made of an all metal pile fabric is also disclosed. The tubular element has associated with it one or more nozzles adapted to blow air through the fabric along an incremental portion of the tubular element. Consequently, a small portion of the fabric is cleaned while simultaneously the remainder of the fabric filters particles from the gas stream.

Abstract: An improved sound attenuating device characterized by several novel structures which include (1) a foraminous conduit covered by (2) a layer of sound absorbing material of increasing static flow resistance from the inlet end to the outlet end, and (3) a housing surrounding the conduit and defining a plurality of quarter-wave standing wave cavities in series after the inlet end in operative association with the covered conduit. The present structure provides an attenuating device having a continually changing flow resistance to match the decreasing sound pressure level of the fluid flow passing through the attenuator. The structure takes advantage of the interaction that exists between the sound pressure level and changes in the static and dynamic flow resistance, such that for decreasing sound pressure levels, the dynamic flow resistance will be maintained at an optimum for the system by increasing the static flow resistance.