Other

Ssi Medical Services, Inc.

Vernon D Beard

William G Fontaine

Barry D Hand

William T Sutton

Robert C Novack

Ryszard S Ozarowski

James O Threlkeld

A proportional flow control valve is provided for use with low air loss patient support systems. The valve includes a valve housing having an inlet and an outlet defined therein with a valve passage defined through the housing between the inlet and outlet. A chamber is defined in the housing, the chamber further including a nipple cavity defined in the bottom thereof and a cam stop extending from the bottom into the chamber. A valve spool is rotatably disposed within the chamber. The valve spool includes an alignment nipple fitting into the nipple cavity and a cam defined on the bottom thereof through a predetermined rotational arc. The cam and cam stop cooperate to limit the rotational arc of the valve spool within the chamber. A proportional flow control groove is defined in the valve spool. The flow control groove establishes linear air flow through the valve depending on the angular displacement of the spool within the chamber. A motor is provided mounted to the housing to rotate the valve spool within the chamber and, preferably, a torque limiting clutch is disposed between the motor and valve spool. The valve spool further includes a friction reducing substance coated thereon or impregnated therein, such as teflon or the like, to reduce binding of the valve spool within the chamber.

Proportional control valve for patient support system

Automotive vehicle protection system which includes a brake actuator, that is responsive to brake-activating and brake-deactivating signals generated by protective circuits in the vehicle. These circuits include a keypad for deactivating the brakes when a proper number is keyed into the keypad, a card reader for entering a proper number by means of a card, theft alarm circuits, engine monitor circuits and other miscellaneous circuits as may be found to be beneficial for protecting the vehicle.

Automotive protection system with a telescoping protective sleeve

A vehicle creep control system which has: a speed transducer arrangement coupled to the vehicle's speedometer cable or the like, which provides an active output whenever the vehicle stops; an accelerator switch connected to the accelerator pedal, which has an active output whenever the driver's foot depresses the accelerator pedal; a latching circuit with a set input connected to the speed transducer arrangement and a clear input connected to the accelerator switch; a first delay circuit connected to the output of the latching circuit, such that when the latching circuit is set due to the vehicle slowing down to the given low speed value, a first set signal is connected to the delay circuit, which in turn produces a delayed output, after a given first delay time, so that the brakes are actuated and hold the vehicle. There is further provided a switch which may be a seat switch which goes active if the driver leaves his seat, and sets a second delay circuit; the latter goes active after a two-second delay has elapsed. The second delay bridges any bouncing of the driver in his seat, and serves also to stop the vehicle in case the driver should be thrown from his seat for any reason.

Vehicle creep control

Growing community of inventors

Lauderhill, FL, United States of America

Vernon D Beard