Abstract: A phase angle difference between two alternating electrical signals is determined as a function of a ratio of a differential combination of two different numbers of pulse counts to an additive combination of the two different numbers of pulse counts, wherein the first of the two different numbers of pulse counts is obtained by counting a series of electric pulses generated by an electrical pulse generator in a time interval between an occurrence of zero value of the leading signal of the two alternating electrical signal and (i-1)th occurrence of zero value of the trailing signal of the two alternating electrical signals occurring after the occurrence of zero value of the leading signal, and the second of the two different numbers of pulse counts is obtained by counting the pulses in an time interval between an occurrence of zero value of the trailing signal and the (j)th occurrence of zero value of the leading signal occurring after the occurrence of zero value of the trailing signal, wherein (i) and (j) are

Abstract: A mass flowmeter comprises at least one conduit supported by a frame structure in a relationship allowing an enhanced pivotal vibration about two mutually orthogonal pivot axes, an electromagnetic vibrator generating a primary pivotal vibration of the conduit about one of the two mutually orthogonal pivot axes, and a pair of vibration sensors respectively included in two opposite halves of the conduit respectively located on two opposite sides of a plane including the other of the two mutually orthogonal pivot axes; wherein the mass flow rate of media moving through the conduit is determined as a function of an electrical variable such as the phase angle difference between two alternating electrical signals respectively generated by the pair of vibration sensors, which electrical variable represents the ratio of the amplitude of the secondary pivotal vibration to the amplitude of the primary pivotal vibration.

Abstract: A torsional vortex sensor comprises an extended member disposed across a flow passage extending through a flowmeter body and experiencing a fluctuating fluid dynamic force associated with vortex shedding occurring in a stream of fluid moving through the flow passage wherein the extended member is supported by the flowmeter body in a relationship allowing at least a minute amount of pivotal movement of the extended member about a pivot axis perpendicular to the center line of the flow passage and offset from the geometrical center line of the extended member defined by a line connecting the geometrical center of every cross section of the extended member taken parallel to a plane including the center line of the flow passage, and at least one lateral extension member disposed exteriorly to the flow passage and extending from the extended member wherein the lateral extension member is connected to two force transmitting members respectively extending from two piezo electric transducers disposed respectively on

Abstract: An electronic data processing method for determining mass flow rate of media moving through a conduit under flexural vibration comprises measuring of a first value of the first electrical signal generated by a first motion sensor located at a section of the conduit, which measurement is made at an instant determined by a triggering device activated by a zero value of the second electrical signal generated by a second motion sensor located at another section of the conduit, and measuring of a second value of the first electrical signal at another instant determined by a triggering device activated by a peak value of the second electrical signal; and determining mass flow rate of the media as a function of ratio between the first and second values of the first electrical signal by using an empirically obtained mathematical relationship that includes a term cancelling out an error introduced by a delay between the cueing of the measurement of the first electrical signal by the second electrical signal and the me

Abstract: A pivotable vane flowmeter comprises at least one pivotable vane disposed pivotably about a pivot axis parallel to the the direction of fluid flow and experiencing a fluid dynamic torque created by the fluid flow, a bias spring or counter-weight providing a bias torque counter-acting the fluid dynamic torque, and a rotary position sensor detecting the rotary position of the pivotable vane about the pivot axis, wherein the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow is determined as a function of the rotary position of the pivotable vane about the pivot axis, and the time rate of the fluid flow is determined from a combination of the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow and the known or measured value of the fluid density, or from another combination of the dynamic pressure of the fluid flow and the frequency of rotation of a rotating turbine or propeller installed in conjunction with the pivotable vane flowmeter.

Abstract: A turbine flowmeter employs a capacitive rotary speed sensor comprising an electrically conductive member with a sizable surface area kinematically coupled to the rotating motion of the turbine, and a pair of stationary electrically conductive members with a sizable area disposed in a side-by-side electrically nonconducting relationship therebetween on a plane closely adjacent to a plane defined by the sizable surface area of the electrically conductive member kinematically coupled to the rotating motion of the turbine, wherein a first alternating electrical signal is supplied to one of the pair of stationary electrically conductive members and a second alternating electrical signal is taken off from the other of the pair of stationary electrically conductive members, and the flow rate of fluid is determined as a function of the frequency of fluctuation of an envelope of the second alternating electrical signal.

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: A magnetic flowmeter provides a first alternating electrical signal with at least a portion thereof comprising a first electromotive force generated by an electromagnetic interaction between an alternating magnetic field and the velocity of an electrically conductive fluid moving transversely across the alternating magnetic field, wherein the first electromotive force varies as a function of the velocity of the electrically conductive fluid, and a second alternating electrical signal with at least a portion thereof comprising a second electromotive force generated by an electromagnetic induction from the alternating magnetic field and other ambient electromagnetic field, wherein the second electromotive force is independent of the velocity of the electrically conductive fluid, and determines the velocity of the electrically conductive fluid as a function of a phase angle difference between the first and second alternating electrical signals.

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 positive displacement fluid handling apparatus comprises a hollow circular cylindrical vane guide with a plurality of slotted axial openings included in the cylindrical wall thereof and a plurality of vanes, wherein the hollow circular cylindrical vane guide is disposed rotatably within a circular cylindrical cavity included in the body of the apparatus in an eccentric and tangential relationship to the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical cavity and the plurality of vanes are disposed rotatably about the central axis of the circular cylindrical cavity and respectively engage and extend through the plurality of slotted axial openings included in the hollow circular cylindrical vane guide in such a way that the radial edges of the vanes slide on the circular cylindrical wall of the cylindrical cavity and, consequently, the motion of fluid moving from the inlet to the outlet of the apparatus through a crescent-shaped flow passage between the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical cavity and the hollow circular cy

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: 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.