Abstract: An acceleration measuring device to offset the limiting factors associated with the maximum acceleration an accelerometer can measure by attaching the device onto a mount system pre-calibrated to a specified angle relative to the horizontal axis of the object on which the system is mounted on.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for determining postures, in particular the attitude (&thgr;) and the inclination (&phgr;) of an aerodyne, comprising: a strap-down gyrometer device providing the components of the vector ({right arrow over (&OHgr;)}) of instantaneous rotation of the aerodyne, means for calculating, from gyrometric measurements, a matrix of postures ({right arrow over (b)}1, {right arrow over (b)}2, {right arrow over (b)}3), accelerometers integral with the said gyrometric device, and means for comparing data calculated from the accelerometers with data calculated from the gyrometers so as to provide corrections for compensating for the errors or drifts of the gyrometric device. This apparatus is characterized in that the comparison is performed between a vertically directed vector {right arrow over (U)}g provided by the gyrometric device and a vertically directed vector {right arrow over (U)}a provided by the accelerometers.

Abstract: A cutter device comprising: a rigid rectangular support frame, including an elongate guide bar for positioning the frame at the edge of a web article; a transversely extending slide bar joined to and extending across a midportion of the rigid rectangular support frame, secured to the elongate guide bar; and a knife holder assembly which is transversely slidable on the transversely extending slide bar. The knife holder assembly comprises a main body member which is transversely slidable on the transversely extending slide bar, and which may be locked in a selected transverse position, with a knife blade secured on the main body member for engagement with a transversely inward region of the web article.

Abstract: This invention is a clear plastic board used specifically for scoring a straight line when place on top of glass or stained glass. The invention allows the artisan to comfortably move the board so as to score by seeing his pattern through the clear plastic and selecting exactly the color of the stained glass that he wishes to use in his artwork. A slot in the middle of the board allows a more expensive type of cutter as well as the less expensive glass cutter to score and glide easily from bottom to top or top to bottom (as some artisans prefer) and effectively score a straight line on the glass. The slot also prevents slipping to the side as would be true when using a straight edge or T square and allows for a stronger and more rigid scoring. The scoring board also has topside and underside rubber strips to prevent slippage, as would be true when using a straight edge, allowing for the effective scoring of horizontal and vertical lines and to diminish wear and tear to the cutter's carbide wheel.

Abstract: An edge guided tool for scoring flat panels comprises a cutter assembly sliding on a track mounted on a conventional T-square vertical rail. A cutting tool body supporting a cutting plate over a panel to be cut is slideably mounted in the track on a resilient spring plate such that when the cutting blade is urged down toward the panel on the bending spring plate, the slide is urged against track sides to prevent further sliding, locking the slide and the blade in an alignment position. With the blade locked parallel to a T-square fence rail, as the T-square is moved with its fence rail abutted along a panel edge as a guide while the cutting blade is urged into the panel, the panel is scored along its length parallel to its length.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a sizing and cutting tool for accurately and quickly producing pieces of wall board of predetermined size from a larger sheet, wherein a cutting instrument is affixed to one end of a bar, and having a sizing plier disposed in releasable gripping relation along the bar, and adapted to grip said bar at a determinable distance from said cutting instrument to thereby determine a dimension of the piece to be cut, and wherein the sizing plier includes a flange adapted to slide on a reference edge of the wall board, and a cam for engagement with the face of the wall board to permit limited rotation of said tool relative to the surface of said wall board during cutting thereof.

Abstract: An artwork mat marking and cutting apparatus for use in cutting mat and similar material for picture framing and the like is disclosed. The apparatus includes a combined marking and bevel cutting device and a dual scale conversion ruler for ease of measurement in laying out mat borders. The conversion ruler has a cooperating extension which fits within a grooved guide, the guide having a T square like end for squaring the mat material with the apparatus. The outer borders of the mat material may be cut using a straight cutting device in combination with the above guide. The guide includes a feature allowing the cutter to traverse the entire sheet of material. Both the bevel and straight cutting devices allow the blade to be retracted when not cutting, and have various adjustment and other features. An alternative adaptor provides for the use of the bevel cutting device to make cuts perpendicular to the mat material surface.

Abstract: An adapter apparatus mounted on a marking instrument to achieve movement in a straight line for marking through a pen/pencil member; highlighting with use of a highlighter pen member; magnifying fine print for ease of reading; and cutting a a support surface with movement in a straight line. The pen/pencil adapter assembly includes 1) a main support member connected to the marking instrument; 2) an alignment and ruler member connected to the main support member for measuring and and movement in a straight line; and 3) a support wheel assembly connected to the alignment and ruler member to achieve movement in a straight line on the support surface. Other embodiments include a magnifying adapter assembly having a magnifying member to magnify fine print; a pen/pencil adapter assembly having a projection support assembly; a highlighter adapter assembly for highlighting; and a cutter adapter assembly for cutting a surface in a straight line.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for a hand-held image scanner has a working surface with a longitudinal straight edge against which a brace for the scanner smoothly slides. A gap in the longitudinal member allows materials to be scanned to be slid through the longitudinal member onto or off of the working surface. A transverse alignment portion is perpendicular to the longitudinal member and allows a subject to be aligned on the working surface prior to scanning. Once the subject is aligned, the hand-scanner is placed in the scanner brace and a column of the subject is scanned by moving the scanner with the scanner brace along the straight edge of the longitudinal member.

Abstract: A tool guide temporarily attachable to vehicle body panels or other surfaces to provide a straight edge, and a contour sander for use in connection with a straight edge. The tool guide includes an elongated member having a longitudinal edge surface for guiding a work tool, and suction cups mounted on tongues extending laterally from the body of the tool guide. The tongues are angled in relation to the body, so that the tongues exert a cantilever force urging the tool guide against a surface when the tongues are secured against the suction cups. The contour sander includes a number of flat blades mounted side-by-side and each having a longitudinal edge for contacting a contoured work surface. A clamp holds the blades in parallel juxtaposition and selectively loosens the blades for conforming contact with the contour. Finger grips are formed at the ends of the blades, allowing the operator to raise or lower any particular blade and obtain a sharper or more accurate reproduction of contour if desired.

Abstract: A guide for guiding wallpaper knife includes a planar member with a right-angled lip formed at a forward end portion of the planar member. The right-angled lip and the planar member form a press for pushing an overlapping sheet of wallpaper into a corner, while a flat linear edge of the right-angled lip provides a guide surface for guiding the wallpaper knife along a linear path substantially parallel to the corner of a room.

Abstract: A first positioning rule is oriented for mounting overlying edge portions of associated plaster drywall sheets. A second rule slidably mounted to the first rule includes a series of slots for receiving a cutting tool therewithin to effect scoring and cutting of the associated drywall sheet. The slots include overlying plate members of metallic construction received within recesses of the drywall rule to avoid damage to the rule in use of a cutting tool.

Abstract: A tile spacing gauge for gauging the space for a last row of tiles is also a tile holder that is coupled to a tile cutter so that the tile spacing gauge forms an integral component of the tile cutter. Tiles for the last row are held in position at a butting edge of the tile spacing gauge for scoring by the tile cutter along a line set by the tile spacing gauge without requiring an intermediate step of actually measuring and marking the tiles. In the described example, an elongate frame cross arm of the tile spacing gauge is formed with brackets spaced apart at either end. The brackets slideably receive elongate gauge arms in parallel with each other and at right angles to the frame cross arm. Positioning of the gauge arms affords parallel and independent measurement of distances from reference edges on the brackets placed against the second to last row of installed tiles to a boundary. The independent measurements take account of "out of square" wall frames and structures.

Abstract: An automatic self-centering cutting guide base plate for electric routers which can be utilized as either the main base plate or as an auxiliary sole plate and is adjustable for variable work surface heights and widths.

Abstract: A guide roller attachment for a cutting torch which consists of a clamp member secured to hex nut of the cutting torch and a pair of elongated legs with knurled wheels rotatably coupled thereto. The legs are adjustably coupled to the clamp member to control distance of the torch tip to a workpiece and stabilize the cutting torch during its push/drag along the work piece when straight and bevel cutting.

Abstract: A first body part having a rubber rim wheel and a second body part having a rubber rim wheel are interconnected by a vertical hinge. The first body part has a pencil holder between its wheel and the hinge and the wheels have distance measurement scales. An angle measurement scale is provided for the hinge.

Abstract: The rotor suspension electronics of an electrostatic gyro suspension system is required to perform flawlessly to sustain the life of the gyro. Transient abnormalities as short as one millisecond duration will cause the spinning rotor to come in contact with the surrounding electrodes and result in destruction of the gyro. Thus, not infrequently after a catastrophic dropped rotor incident no trace of the fault is evident upon ensuing check of the system. To remedy this problem a built in test (BIT) system is used to provide fault isolation. The test circuitry is built into the navigation system electronics and integrated with the system program. The fault isolation electronics comprise sensor circuits to monitor functional subdivisions of the electronic suspension system for signal abnormality and a processing circuit which receives the sensor circuit outputs and identifies the primary source of the fault. The faults are detected and the source is flagged at the time of occurance.

Abstract: A two-gyro four-gimbal attitude sensing system having gimbal lock avoidance is provided with continuous azimuth information, rather than roll information, relative to the magnetic cardinal headings while in near vertical attitudes, thereby to allow recovery from vertical on a desired heading. The system is comprised of means (48) for stabilizing an outer roll gimbal (14) that is common to a vertical gyro (12) and a directional gyro (10) with respect to the aircraft platform (50) which is being angularly displaced about an axis substantially parallel to the outer roll gyro axis, and means (38) for producing a signal indicative of the magnitude of such displacement (62, 64) as an indication of aircraft heading. Means are provided to cause stabilization of the outer roll gimbal (14) whenever the pitch angle of the aircraft passes through a threshold prior to entering vertical flight and destabilization of the outer roll gimbal (14) upon passing through the threshold when departing vertical flight.

Abstract: A gyrocompass comprises a gyroscopic element having a stabilizing gyro with a relatively heavy rotor rigidly secured to a driving shaft and a control gyro with a rotor of lower inertia mounted on the same driving shaft as a free rotor gyro. A case enclosing the gyroscopic element and a drive motor is mounted in a vehicle with the spin axis in the north south plane in gimbals with a nominally vertical outer axis and an inner or tilt axis in the east-west plane. The stabilizing gyro is slaved to the control gyro by means of signals from pick-offs associated with the latter so as to zeroise misalignment, and the tilt gimbal is pendulous to provide a gravity reference, so that the azimuth misalignment signal between the gyros generates an opposing tilt torquer current which is a measure of the gyro tilt angle.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for parting tiles, particularly ceramic tiles, along a predetermined path. The device includes measuring means having a caliper arrangement to measure the width of an area to be covered by a tile, a tile-receiving region including a fixed point and a slidable member, said member having an elongate slot in which is engageable a cutting edge of a combined scoring and parting means, also provided with tile parting jaws. The caliper arrangement may be arranged to allow for a grouting gap.