Abstract: A touch sensor 10 having a stylus 12 with a tip 12A making contact with a test piece W has an operational control structure including an oscillator 3 which oscillates the stylus 12 in the axial direction; a detecting circuit 4 which detects changes of oscillation of the stylus 12; an adjustor unit 5 which removes noise added to an output signal from the detecting circuit 4; a fine motion mechanism controller 6 which controls the operation of a fine motion mechanism 21 in such a manner that the change of the quantity of state of the detection signal is maintained constant; and a PZT driver 7 which operates the fine motion mechanism 21. The measuring force during surface configuration measurement can be adjusted by adjusting an alternating signal to be applied to the touch sensor or by reducing the noise added to the detection signal without making modifications to a shape or structure of the touch sensor.

Abstract: A control device able to find the intake air flow rate in an internal combustion engine having a plurality of intake passages upstream of a throttle valve is provided. The control device finds the intake air flow rate of the internal combustion engine by converting an output voltage of each of air flow sensors provided in the intake passages to a flow rate based on a relationship between an output voltage and flow rate found in advance for each air flow sensor, correcting the obtained flow rate in accordance with temperature characteristics of each the air flow sensor, and adding the corrected flow rates to calculate a total flow rate.

Abstract: The resistance to unseating of at least one tire mounted on a mounting rim and inflated to a predetermined pressure is determined by mounting the tire/rim unit on a vehicle in a steering axle position. The vehicle is set in motion in a straight path and stabilized at a predetermined speed. The steering wheel is then rotated to impose a steering angle which is maintained so that the vehicle travels along a circular trajectory arc. If the tire does not unseat, increases in the steering angle are made periodically so that the vehicle travels in progressively tighter circular trajectory arcs until either the tire becomes unseated or the steering wheel reaches its terminal stop.

Abstract: A self-dumping rain gauge including a collection container with value indications for gauging rainfall amounts is disclosed. The methodology discovers an apparatus comprising a rain collection container with a top hole, a replaceable rain collection cap containing a rain collection chamber and a plug with channels, a bottom hole, and a siphoning tube located within the rain collection container. The siphoning tube, including an open first end that protrudes through the bottom hole; a curved midpoint, or alternatively an intersecting midpoint, located near the top of the container; and a second end that is within the rain collection container, permits the rain collection container to be self-dumping. A flat surface, with easy to read numbers directly correlating to value indications (e.g., graduation marks, horizontal lines), is attached to the rain collection container to provide a method for gauging amounts of rainfall.

Abstract: A liquid hydrogen tank assembly that employs a level sensor inductively coupled through the tank walls so as to minimize one conductive heat path through the tank walls. The tank assembly includes an inner tank and an outer tank having a vacuum layer therebetween to maintain the liquid hydrogen within the inner tank under cryogenic temperatures. A capacitive level sensor is positioned within the inner tank and provides an electrical indication of the level of the liquid hydrogen within the inner tank. The level sensor is electrically coupled to an inner coil within the inner tank. An outer coil is provided proximate the outer tank wall and is electrically coupled to a signal processing and conditioning circuit.

Abstract: A mass flow sensor (1) has a sensor element whose measuring signal is representative of a mass flow in a main duct (4), specifically without taking into account the direction of flow of the mass flow which flows past the sensor element. In addition, a further sensor element is provided which is arranged in a recess in a body and which is coupled via a coupling element to the main duct (4), with the coupling element being embodied in such a way that the recess lies in the wind shadow of the main direction of flow of the mass flow in the main duct (4) and brings about a flow in the recess counter to the main direction of flow. A mass current is determined in the main duct (4) as a function of the measuring signal of the sensor element. A correction value is determined as a function of the measuring signal of the further sensor element. The mass flow which is determined is corrected by means of the correction value.

Abstract: A measuring device for determining the filling level of a product or the position of the interface between two media or phases in a container by means of high-frequency measuring signals which are guided along a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a wire cable with a plurality of individual wires of a predetermined diameter which are twisted together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided forming a plurality of semiconductor devices on a single substrate, and sealing two or more of the devices at different pressures. First and second semiconductor devices, each having a cavity formed therein, are formed on the same substrate. The cavity in the first device is sealed at a first pressure, and the cavity in the second device is sealed at a second pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microgyroscope, that is to say an inertial micromechanical sensor dedicated to the measurement of angular velocities, which is produced by micromachining techniques on a silicon wafer. The gyroscope comprises two symmetrical moving assemblies coupled via a coupling structure. Each of the two assemblies comprises a moving mass surrounded by a moving intermediate frame. The frame is connected to the coupling structure and can vibrate in two degrees of freedom in orthogonal directions Ox and Oy in the plane of the wafer. The mass is connected on one side to the frame and on the other side to fixed anchoring regions via linking means that allow the vibration movement along the Oy direction to be transmitted to the mass without permitting movement of the mass along the Ox direction. An excitation structure is associated with the frame in order to excite its vibration along Ox. A movement detection structure is associated with the mass in order to detect its vibration along Oy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gyroscope comprising at least one mass capable of vibrating along an x axis at a resonant excitation frequency Fx capable of vibrating along a y axis perpendicular to the x axis, at a resonant detection frequency Fy, under the effect of a Coriolis force generated by a rotation about a z axis perpendicular to the x and y axes. It includes, connected to the mass or masses, a feedback control loop for controlling the resonant frequency Fy so that Fy is equal or practically equal to Fx throughout the duration of use of the gyroscope.

Abstract: An oscillator is oscillatable in a predetermined direction. First and second driving electrodes are secured to the base and apply an electrostatic force to the oscillator to make drive oscillation of the oscillator in the predetermined direction. At the time of the drive oscillation of the oscillator, a predetermined electric charge is accumulated in the oscillator, and electric charges of opposite polarities are alternately and periodically accumulated in the first and second driving electrodes, respectively, to exert an attractive force between the oscillator and a corresponding one of the first and second driving electrodes and also to exert a repulsive force between the oscillator and the other one of the first and second driving electrodes, and vice versa.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal element and a sensor utilizing the same are presented for use in a sensor device for identifying at least one foreign material from environment. The crystal element comprises at least one crystal resonator in the form of an inverted mesa structure, which has a membrane-like region and has a certain resonance frequency value. A surface region of the crystal resonator is modified by reactive molecules of a kind capable of interacting with the foreign material to yield a reaction product that effects a change in the resonance frequency of the crystal resonator from said certain resonance frequency value. This change is indicative of the identity and quantity of the foreign material.

Abstract: An electric wire insertion hole (41) arranged in a housing (4), an ventilation path of inside space (422) of which one end is opened to a pressure sensor internal space (7) and an intersection portion (421) communicating the both each other are provided. Since the electric wire insertion hole (41) and the intersection (421) intersect at right angles, water or dust entering into the electric wire insertion hole (41) does not enter a lot into the intersection (421). Therefore, water or dust hardly enters into the pressure sensor internal space (7). There is no need of a waterproof or a dustproof filter or the like to prevent water or dust, hence low cost manufacturing can be achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly corrosion-resistant diaphragm pressure sensor capable of obviating the effects of temperature drift that arises when a pressure-travel coefficient changes with temperature of a fluid whose pressure is sensed, and a method of manufacturing the same. A fluororesin thin film diaphragm pressure sensor comprises a pressure sensing element (10, 20) having a pressure receiving part with a deposition electrode formed on each of the opposing faces of sapphire or alumina ceramic diaphragms which are arranged in opposing relation, and a welding portion (10A, 20A) on a part of each of the surfaces of the diaphragms; and a fluororesin base (41, 61) for securing the pressure sensing element at the welding portion of the pressure sensing element. The pressure sensing element is coated with a fluororesin thin film having a cross-linked structure, and the pressure sensing element and the fluororesin base are welded together via the fluororesin thin film having a cross-linked structure.

Abstract: In a piezo resistance type semiconductor device, a detecting sensitivity and output linearity are improved without increasing a forming region of a diaphragm. In a piezo resistance type semiconductor device having: a diaphragm; a supporting frame which is connected to an external periphery of the diaphragm, supports the diaphragm, and is formed relatively thicker than the diaphragm; and piezo resistance type stress detectors (4a, 4b) each for detecting a stress caused when the detector is distorted by deformation of the diaphragm by application of an acceleration or a pressure in the direction perpendicular to the diaphragm, at least a part of the diaphragm is cut off in a position where it is come into contact with the piezo resistance type stress detector and a groove is formed.

Abstract: A pressure sensor (30) for sensing a fluid pressure in harsh environments such as the air pressure in a tire, by using a chamber (58) partially defined by a flexible membrane (50), the chamber (58) containing a fluid at a reference pressure, such that the flexible membrane (50) deflects due to pressure differentials between the reference pressure and the fluid pressure; and, associated circuitry (34) for converting the deflection of the flexible membrane (50) into an output signal indicative of the fluid pressure; wherein, the membrane (50) is at least partially formed from a metal ceramic material. Metal ceramics can be deposited as a thin membrane with sufficient flexibility for sensing pressure while providing corrosion and wear resistance. Furthermore, these materials are generally well suited to micro fabrication processes and electrically conductive so they can be used in capacitative and resistive type pressure sensors.

Abstract: A fiber optic differential pressure sensor. In a described embodiment, a differential pressure sensor system for use in a subterranean well includes a fluid property sensing housing having a flow passage formed therethrough. A differential pressure sensor has an optical fiber extending in a wall having a first side and a second side, each of the first and second sides being exposed to pressure in the flow passage.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus worn on the wrist such as a diver's wristwatch or an altimeter, a pressure sensor (10) is mounted from the exterior in a housing (11), located in one flank (9) of the case (2) of the apparatus and closed by a cap (13) provided with at least one orifice (32) for transmitting the ambient pressure towards said housing. The sensor is mounted in the housing by means of a sealing gasket (12). A protective screen (14) is placed between the central wall (31) of the cap and the exposed surface (22) of the sensor, in order to prevent solid bodies and/or solar light being able to damage the sensor. Preferably, this screen is formed by a perforated plate fixed to the cap and whose holes (42) are shifted laterally with respect to each orifice (32) of the cap, such that all of the transmission paths of the ambient pressure from the exterior to the exposed surface of the sensor are sinuous.

Abstract: Systems and methods of measuring residual stress are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of measuring residual stress in a material under test includes directing radiation onto a stressed material and detecting the resulting diffraction peaks to measure known residual stress of a control specimen, inducing and sensing magnetoelastic interactions onto the control specimen, developing an empirical database of the diffraction and magnetoelastic interaction measurements of the control specimen, inducing and measuring magnetoelastic interactions on a material under test, and correlating the empirical database to the magnetoelastic interaction outputs from the material under test.

Abstract: A capacitive load cell includes upper and lower capacitor plates and an intermediate array of dielectric pads formed of silicone-impregnated open-cell urethane foam (i.e., gel pads). The silicone essentially displaces air that would otherwise be trapped in the foam, contributing to a dielectric having minimal humidity-related variability. The upper capacitor plate is defined by an array of individual charge plates, the lower capacitor plate defines a ground plane conductor common to each of the charge plates, and the dielectric pads are disposed between the ground plane conductor and each of the charge plates, leaving channels between adjacent dielectric pads. When occupant weight is applied to the seat, the dielectric pads transmitting the weight distend laterally into the channels to reduce the separation between the respective upper and lower capacitor plates, and the consequent change in capacitance is detected as a measure of the applied force and the force distribution.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the flow rate of a fluid in a pipe. The apparatus includes a device for providing acoustic energy on a diametrical path through the fluid. The diametrical providing device is in contact with the pipe. The apparatus also includes a signal processing device for determining the speed of sound of the fluid in the pipe based on the acoustic energy of the diagonal providing device and the acoustic energy of the diametrical providing device. A method for determining the sound velocity of a fluid in a pipe.

Abstract: A tube mounting assembly for total traverse or static traverse sensing tubes is provided for use with Pitot tube devices where the tubes are allowed to expand and contract independent of the flow element shell. A female threaded pipe cap is tack welded or otherwise affixed to the inside internal surface of the flow element shell. A ½ inch NPTX tube fitting of the bore-thru fitting type is affixed to the pipe cap, and a traverse tube, sealed by high temperature packing or thread sealant between the tube and a tube nut, are then affixed to the opposite end of the bore-thru tube fitting.

Abstract: A sampling device is disclosed. The sampling device is portable and capable of taking two samples in parallel. The sampling device can include two filter locations that are subjected to similar environmental conditions. The sampling device design facilitates easy assembly and disassembly, and can be designed so that a single filter holder design can be used in both filter locations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sampling semivolatile compounds is disclosed. A collection bag is placed around an air conditioning vent on an aircraft. An opening in the collection bag receives air from the air conditioning vent into the bag. An exit in the collection bag allows the air sample to escape from the collection bag. Vacuum applied by tubing at the exit pulls the air sample from the bag. Flow is adjusted so that the inflow into the collection bag exceeds the outtake, thereby inflating the bag. The inflation of the collection bag assures that the air being sampled is only air originating from the air conditioning vent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the non precise placement of measuring sites on measuring sensors and for reducing measuring errors, which result from the movement between the measuring sites and the measuring sensors when measuring the most diverse quantities to be measured, with the aim of creating robust measuring systems for recording measured values under real or challenging conditions. The invention is characterized by: detecting whether and which sensor elements are covered and thus in contact with the site to be measured; tracking and/or adapting the sensor elements so that the contact is not interrupted even during movements, and; the resilient arrangement of the contacts for constantly maintaining the mechanical bearing pressure when measuring the electrical skin resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring deformation of a surface of a pipe. The apparatus has a central portion to which a detector section is mounted. At each side, guides are connected to the housing via arms. The housing has a platform below which an inverted U-shaped section is provided, with the platform forming the base of the U. At the rear of this section a wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle. Forward of this, and also within the U-shaped section is mounted a further U-shaped section. This is pivotally mounted at its rear end by means of a pin such that its forward end is free to move vertically. The forward end has mounted within it a further wheel on an axle. Projecting upwards from the second U-shaped section is a rod which passes through a hole in platform. Around the lower portion of the rod is provided a spring which biases the detector downwards and away from the platform. The rod moves vertically with the wheel as it passes over bumps in the pipe.

Abstract: A test system is provided for simulating pre-tensioner systems that use pyrotechnic gas generators. In a preferred form, the test system includes a pneumatic cylinder energized by pressurized air from an accumulator and passing through a fast acting ball valve. A substantially linear relationship is established between accumulator pressure and the time rate of change of acceleration of a piston in the pneumatic cylinder. Use of the test system allows improved evaluation of seat belt systems employing pre-tensioners with pyrotechnic gas generators.

Abstract: An active damping method for a stabilized mirror, and a corresponding active damper apparatus, comprising providing a tachometer measuring speed of a motor driving the mirror, employing compensation electronics receiving input from said tachometer and the motor, and employing drive electronics providing output to the motor.

Abstract: A pinion slip-off preventive structure of a starting apparatus is provided in which a bearing applied to a snap ring 17 can be decreased to make the snap ring 17 less prone to being worn out and damaged, thus preventing the snap ring 17 from slipping off from a pinion shaft 7. The pinion slip-off preventive structure includes a projected portion 52 extending from an end face of the pinion shaft 7 in an axial direction thereof and having a groove 51 formed on a smooth surface thereof in a circumferential direction thereof, the snap ring 17 fitted in the groove 51, and a stopper 57 having an abutting surface 54 in abutting engagement with an end face of the pinion 9 and an engaging portion 56 engaged with the snap ring 17.

Abstract: In a ball screw device comprising a screw shaft and a nut which make relative movement to each other through a multiplicity of balls, as well as in a linear motion device comprising an outer member and an inner member which make the relative movements to each other through the multiplicity of balls, a spacer having two concave surfaces facing respectively to balls, is disposed between the balls adjacent to each other. In one preferred form, the spacer has such a configuration that the balls adjacent to each other come into contact with at least three or more outer edge portions of the spacer or portions vicinal to the outer edges.

Abstract: An electric actuator comprises a gear mechanism which transmits the rotary driving force of a rotary driving source, and a ball spline mechanism which includes a ball spline shaft provided movably back and forth from a connecting block to the outside and which converts a rotary motion transmitted by the gear mechanism into a rectilinear motion. The electric actuator has a ball spline nut which is externally fitted to the ball spline shaft to be meshed with the gear mechanism and which is integrally formed with a gear section having a plurality of teeth arranged circumferentially about the gear section.

Abstract: It is sought to simplify the arrangement of the drive power switching system for an acoustic apparatus, thus permitting immediate switching of the drive power. A drive power switching system comprises driven gears always in mesh with a main drive gear located between a first and a second gear and a rocking member rotatably supporting the driven gears. The inter-axis distance between the axes of rotation of the first and second gears, is set to a length, in which the driven gears can be meshed with both the first and second gears as they are revolved together with the revolution of the rocking member.

Abstract: A linear motion device includes an inner member and an outer member cooperatively forming a ball circulating path therebetween, a plurality of balls rollably disposed in the ball circulating path, and a plurality of retaining pieces interposed between the balls, wherein the ratio of a ball-to-ball direction force applied to the retaining piece by the balls disposed at the both sides thereof to the elastic displacement of the retaining piece by the force is adjusted to a range of from 0.1 to 10 [N/?m] from 0.1 to 10 [N/?m] by predetermining a bore diameter of a through-hole formed at the central portion of the retaining piece to a range of from 35% to 65% of a diameter of the ball.

Abstract: A drive assembly 21 is provided for an electric motor 10 having a rotatable shaft 12 including a worm 14. The drive assembly includes an output gear 16 constructed and arranged to mesh with the worm. The output gear includes a plurality of arms 22 extending generally from a periphery of the output gear radially towards a center of the output gear. A driver 18 is operatively associated with the output gear to rotate therewith. The driver includes a plurality of cams 24 near a periphery thereof. The cams are operatively associated with the arms so that when the driver stops rotating while the output gear continues to rotate, each cam engages an associated arm to absorb kinetic energy of the output gear while the motor stalls.

Abstract: A joint arrangement in a shift mechanism for a motor vehicle includes a coupling element cooperating with a gear shift lever, a mounting element joinable to a gear lever carrier, and a damping element arranged between the coupling element and the mounting element. The damping element includes cooperating first and second slide surfaces, which, by a relative movement, damp vibrations and substantially prevent vibrations from being transmitted between the mounting element and the coupling element.

Abstract: A method for forming a drill bit body is disclosed which comprises infiltrating powdered tungsten carbide with a binder alloy in a mold. The mold has therein at least one displacement adapted to form a mounting pad for a cutting element. The displacement comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a diameter selected to substantially conform to a radius of the cutting element and a projection adapted to form a relief groove under a position of a diamond table in the cutting element when the cutting element is mounted on the pad. The width of the relief groove is selected so that the relief groove extends back from an outer surface of the bit body at least about 40 percent of that portion of a thickness of the diamond table which does not extend past the outer surface.

Abstract: A cork bottle opener is disclosed. The cork bottle opener comprises a stand, a clamping element, a cork opening element and a cork removing element. The clamping element holds the bottle neck when the bottle is being opened. Spinning a turning crank drives the cork opening element upwards or downwards. The cork opening element connects to and controls a screw drill through a pair of gears and connecting structures. After the cork is pulled out from the bottle, the cork opening element collaborates with the cork removing element to remove the cork from the screw drill.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a holder which holds a container blocked by a cap, and a transport path which has a correcting position. A rotation mechanism is provided at the correcting position. When the container is rotated by the rotation mechanism, a posture of a knob portion of the cap is corrected by a correction mechanism. The corrected knob portion is grasped by a removing mechanism. The removing mechanism removes the cap from the container. The correction mechanism can be moved between a first position at which the correction mechanism advances to the correcting position and a second position at which the correction mechanism retreats from the correcting position. The removing mechanism can be moved between a third position at which the removing mechanism advances to the correcting position and a fourth position. The removing mechanism is moved to the third position when the correction mechanism retreats to the second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bottle injector for injecting fluids. The present invention uses a bottle reservoir connected to a long, flexible tube, which is in turn attached to a connector. A plunger mechanism expels the fluid located within the reservoir through the tube and connector. One use for the bottle injector can be to inject tire sealant into a tire. The connector can have two different threads, Schrader and Presta, to accommodate both types of valve stems currently found on tires. The Schrader type threads are larger than the Presta type threads and thus the Presta type threads are positioned further into the connector than the Schrader type threads. The larger, Schrader type threads are used on automobiles and less expensive bicycles. The Presta threads are more common in Europe and are used on most high performance bicycles.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench, the ratchet wrench having a head portion defining a substantially cylindrical inner engaging surface and a plurality of ribs extending radially inward therefrom. The socket includes a first portion defining a plurality of depressions axially aligned with the longitudinal axis in an outer surface thereof, the first portion being releasably received by the substantially cylindrical inner engaging surface, and a second portion including a cylindrical outer surface and defining a hexagonal recess therein. A grip ring includes a knurled outer surface and is disposed on the second portion outer surface. A magnetic insert is received in the hexagonal recess.

Abstract: A wrench tool is described comprising an orifice which has a predetermined geometry for controlling the rotation of a hexagonal work piece. The orifice is substantially cylindrical and comprises an array of only eighteen longitudinal grooves positioned therein. The grooves form a symmetrical pattern around an imaginary central axis. The grooves are formed and spaced apart so as to create an array of only eighteen longitudinal protuberances. The protuberances form a symmetrical pattern around the imaginary central axis for engagement with the work piece. In one embodiment, the protuberances are positioned apart relative to each other and to the imaginary central axis by predetermined dimensions.

Abstract: A driving bit linking device in a box wrench includes a box wrench on a handle having a central bore, a pair of checking slots of different level in the opposing middle peripheries, an annular collar on a lower periphery and an annular groove in an upper periphery for disposing a retaining ring, a bottom spring disposed in the circular section of the central bore, a pair of compression springs wrapped on the outer periphery each including a transverse checking rod respectively inserted into the hexagonal section of the central bore through the checking slots and a cap wrapped on the box wrench and secured by the retaining ring. It is characterized that this device is capable of linking up a C type bit, a E type bit and even a double tips bit.

Abstract: A torque wrench for preventing transmission of torque in excess of a threshold level to avoid damage to replaceable scaler tips and hand pieces of ultrasonic dental instruments. The torque wrench has a housing with a core seated therein, with a cam mechanism or spring engagement between the core and the housing, such that the core may remain stationary when the housing is rotated passed the threshold level of torque. The core has an axial bore to receive a connecting shaft of a scaler tip, such that a working end and a functional shank of the scaler tip are received in a chamber of the housing, with the housing acting as an isolation cage for the scaler tip.

Abstract: A bar magazine for lathes includes at least one channel designed to receive a bar being machined and pushed along the channel by a bar-pusher collet. The magazine includes at least one bar centering member arranged in a zone along the channel. The bar centering member is movable, upon passage of the collet in the zone, between a first position of engagement with the bar for to center the bar in the channel and a second position removed from the bar to allow passage of the bar-pusher collet through the zone.

Abstract: A portable vise and saw combination includes a vise element having three attachment points. One attachment point is used to attach the vise to an existing support such as an existing horizontal rail, and another attachment point allows a saw to be mounted to the vise. A workpiece is mounted in the third attachment point. The saw is aligned with the workpiece so that the workpiece may be selectively cut at a desired length and angle. A measuring apparatus is also incorporated within the vise to allow an operator to set the saw to cut successive workpieces at the same lengths without having to remeasure each workpiece.

Abstract: A saw such as a chop saw, a circular saw, a compound miter saw or a sliding compound miter saw having a rotatable saw blade is provided with a laser arbor alignment system. The laser arbor may include a power generator that generates power as the saw blade and the laser arbor are rotated by a spindle. The generator may include a stator comprising an electrical magnet or a permanent magnet mounted on a fixed portion of the saw. The other portion of the generator is a rotor comprising a coil that is rotated with the laser arbor to generate power for the laser. Power may also be provided to the laser by slip ring contacts from a stationary source to the laser arbor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved miter box for guiding a handheld portable circular saw. The miter box facilitates several conventional workpiece trim cuts using a handheld portable circular saw, including 45 degree and 90 degree straightcuts, as well as 45 and 90 degree straightcuts with a 45 degree undercut. The invention includes an I-beam that is formed from a rigid base plate having opposing first and second base plate edges disposed along its elongated length. A first and second flange can be respectively attached to the opposing first and second base plate edges. Each of the flanges can include a pair of opposing support faces. One or more transverse guide members can extend either 45, 135, or 90 degrees from one support face of the first flange to another support face of the second flange. The transverse guide member(s) and the support faces provide a friction reduced medium by which the bottom of a handheld portable circular saw's shoe can glide with greater ease and stability.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for operational support and guidance of pivoting movement of portable band saws are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pivoting mount maintained at a work surface. A support is connected with the mount and includes a forward bracket adjacent to the mount for receiving a front portion of a blade housing structure of the portable band saw. An extension bar of the support supports a rear portion of the blade housing structure, a securing latch at the extension provided to releasably maintain the rear portion of the blade housing structure supported thereat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention enable the dynamic discovery and operation of at least one over a public network such as the Internet. The system may comprise dynamically discoverable sensors such as a video camera or video surveillance system or any other type of sensor capable of detecting a target. Sensors may be collocated or distantly located from weapons and there may be a different number of weapons and sensors in a configuration. An operator may control more than one weapon at a time and may obtain sensor data output from more than one sensor at a time. One or more weapons may be aimed simultaneously by performing a user gesture such as a mouse click or game controller button selection with respect to a particular sensor data output. An operator user interface may be cloned onto another computer for real-time supervision or for later analysis or training for example.

Abstract: An underwater missile launch system includes one or more missile loading modules for supporting a plurality of missiles in a stackable, in-line configuration within a pressure vessel. The missiles are arranged inside the modules, which may be stacked in groups inside a single pressure vessel, or payload bay. Each module is preferably substantially identical including a common size, shape, and payload of missiles in common with the module above and below it. A one-way positioning latch is provided that prevents the upper missiles from dropping down on top of the lower missiles, while allowing the lower missiles to later pass up through the same launch tube as the upper missiles, after the upper missiles have been ejected.