Randam Electronics, Inc.

Other

Hill-Rom Company, Inc.

Sportsman's Market, Inc.

William M Stevens

Jack W Matthews

Eugene L Timperman

Thomas E Kimble

William J Dirr, Jr

Banning K Lary

William E Atkinson

Jeffrey J Rampello

Clifford E Schmucker

John E Gauch

The present invention relates to a digital DC voltage and horse power multimeter device unitized in determining the voltage and horse power on a locomotive system. The meter is permanently mounted onboard the locomotive and is capable of instantaneous determination of the voltage reading and horse power to provide real time evaluation of the locomotive's functions. The meter is built into the voltage test panel, replacing the test receptacles, and is designed to prevent operator error in that a voltage range is not required to be set before the multimeter reads a desired voltage. The meter is capable of reading the main generator, a load shunt test millivoltage, and is capable of determining the horse power of a locomotive system. The invention is therefore a device for metering electrical energy and calculating the horse power on a locomotive system which is permanently installed which operates off the existing 74V DC accessory power and is safer due to the absence of manual range settings.

Onboard digital locomotive horsepower multimeter

A sports swing exercise device composed of a weight attached to a shaft by means of a spring. When the shaft is swung, the muscles used in the swing are not only strengthened with repeat use, they are stretched toward full articulation with the spring as it eases the transition of momentum and inertia at the ends of the swing from one direction to its opposite.

Golf swing muscle articulator and rehabilitation device

A digital, DC voltage meter device utilized for metering electric power on a locomotive system. This invention will eliminate the need to use a hand held meter to perform these functions. The meter is permanently built into the Voltage test panel, replacing test receptacles with a large 7/10' LED display that can be read day or night. It is designed to operate in temperatures from -32 degrees Fahrenheit to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. A three position spring loaded switch returning to the off position is used to operate the meter. The present invention is a custom DC voltage meter that is capable of measuring two voltage ranges on a locomotive system; 0-1500 Volts ('V') for main generator voltage can be measured when the switch is in the top position; and 0-75 millivolts ('mV') for load test shunt millivoltage can be measured when the switch is in the bottom position. The meter is also capable of displaying the Dynamic Braking Voltage when the locomotive's dynamic brake is engaged.

Onboard digital locomotive multimeter

Hand held electronic checklist

An adaptor affixing a video camera to a film camera. The adaptor permits the transmission of the image formed on the focusing screen of the latter to reach the former in a correct left-right and up-down orientation. For this purpose, it utilizes a mirror which, in one position, transmits the image to the video camera. In the other, it permits the viewing of the image on the film camera's focusing screen with or without magnification. Nonetheless, it permits visual and manual access to the normal controls of the camera. A shield prevents the access of light not from the film camera's image to the video camera for a sharper and clearer image. The adaptor attaches to the usual coupling devices of the film camera which generally permits the affixing of photographic accessories. To permit a more compact system, the adaptor bends the light path from the image screen to the video camera through an angle greater than 90 degrees but not greater than 180 degrees. For a single lens reflex camera, this angle may amount to 130 degrees. For a view camera, the light path bends 180 degrees.

Video camera adaptor for film cameras

This invention encompasses simplified equipment to provide a fully charged direct current portable light that may be readily mounted in the passenger compartment of a car.

Portable automobile light

A gamma counter linearly moving two rows of linked trays each having a two-dimensional array of sample tubes. A noncantilevered crane plucks each of the tubes and carries them to the counting well. A coupling mechanism between trays allows the operator to add further trays while the instrument performs analyses on previously added sample tubes. A microprocessor in the instrument allows the operator to place into memory information for the assay contemporaneously with the addition of the new trays. Tabs on the tray interrupt photosensors on the instrument associated with the two channels of trays to properly stop the trays where the fingers on the crane can reach the rows of tubes. The fingers on the crane, when descending to grip a tube, do so off to the side of the tray to avoid contacting and possibly damaging the tops of the tubes. An internal standard of Iodine.sup.129 provides gamma particles and acts as a known sample. A microprocessor within the instrument requires a calibration whenever the power to the instrument is turned on and at a preset time of each day. Additionally, the instrument's microcomputer stores management and service data relating to the quality and the patterns of the instrument's use.

Analytical instrument with two moving trains of sample holder-carrying

A sample tray carrying a two-dimensional array of sample tubes for analyses by an instrument. Tabs on the side of the tray inform the instrument as to the location of the rows of sample tubes within the tray. A short wide rack gear followed by two long thin rack gears cooperate with a pinion gear on the instrument to move the sample tray along a channel established by the instrument. The wide short rack gear serves to properly orient the tray in the instrument's channel. A C-hook at the rear of one tray can engage a T-tab at the front of a following tray to couple the two trays together. The coupling components do not extend below the upper half of the tray to assist the operator when coupling two trays together. Overhanging rack gear segments between the two coupled trays allow for their continuous propulsion by the instrument's cooperating pinion gear. The tray may take the form of a hollow shell into which fit holders providing the actual locations for the sample tubes. The holder may have a composition of plastic, cardboard, or styrofoam. Alternatively, the tray may have a nonremovable holder and operate as a solid unit.

Linkable sample-tube carrying tray with tabs and gears

A method of calibrating a gamma counter that makes two separate measurements over the peak of the standard source of I.sup.129 and a computational technique to obtain the center of that peak. A microcomputer controlling the instrument's operation changes the high voltage on the instrument's photomultiplier (PM) tube to find the setting which generally brings the I.sup.129 peak into the range of the preset pulse height analyzer (PHA) window. Each measurement in the first pass takes a relatively short period of time and looks for the arbitrarily defined end points of the peak. The microcomputer temporarily defines the midpoint of this range as the location of the I.sup.129 peak. In the second pass, the instrument takes longer measurements, for greater accuracy, at six points on either side of the temporary peak. The microcomputer then curve-fits a first line to the logarithms of the counts obtained at the six points on one side of the temporary peak and a second line to the six points on the other side of the peak. The intersection of the two lines then represents the actual center of the I.sup.129 peak. To bring another peak within the PHA's window, the instrument alters the voltage on the PM tube from the I.sup.129 peak just determined.

Calibration with double-pass measurements and computational peak finding

A reference cell simulating the light amplitude spectrum of an alpha scintillation cell containing radon.sup.222. The cell includes a gas-tight container having a transparent window. The interior of the container, aside from the window, has a coating of a luminescent material. Inside of the container lies an amount of radium.sup.226. The radium radioactively decays to produce alpha particles and radon.sup.222. The radon.sup.222 and its daughter particles also undergo radioactive decay to produce further alpha particles. The 1620-year half life of the radium.sup.226 assures an adequate supply of the radon.sup.222 for a greater time period than radon's 3.825-day half life. The production rate of the alpha particles within the container increases for a period of approximately 22 years after the cell's construction. Although the radium.sup.226 generally has a nonuniform distribution in the cell, the produced radon assumes a gaseous form and uniformly diffuses throughout the entire cell. The decay products of the radon.sup.222 return to the solid state and deposit uniformly on the cell's walls. The cell may allow the alpha particles from the radium.sup.226 to contact the luminescent material and produce light. Alternately, the cell may prevent the utilization of these alpha particles by interposing a barricade between the radium and the luminescent material. Making the cell involves coating the inside of the container with luminescent material while leaving the window clear. After placing the radium.sup.226 inside, the cell undergoes permanent sealing against the ingress or egress of gaseous components.

Long-lived reference cell simulating the .alpha. scintillation of

A safety circuit employing pulse transformers to protect hospitalized patients from high-voltage currents. The circuit finds use on switches controlling the operation of a hospital bed's motors, as well as on other types of controls. The pulse transformers prevent the motor's high-voltage levels from reaching the switching devices contacted by the patient. To operate the bed, the circuit provides a high frequency, low-voltage current to the pulse transformer which transfers it to a controlling triac. When in receipt of this current, the triac assumes a conducting state. A separate frequency generator provides this high-frequency current. The circuit may employ electronic devices to control the performance of the bed or other load. CMOS components operate satisfactorily with nonregulated voltages, produce delay periods with small capacitances, and consume little power. The CMOS components may, however, require a buffer in order to provide the pulse transformers with sufficient current. Furthermore, the circuit may require protecting diodes to prevent current spikes produced at the motors from reaching the CMOS components.

Safety device for hospital beds employing electric current

A scintillation cell having cylindrical symmetry, thickened walls, and components with different coefficients of thermal expansion. A pliable epoxy bonds the components together and accommodates their varying expansions during temperature changes. The glass through which passes the luminescence produced by the radioactive particles to the photomultiplier tube sits inside of the cylindrical metal tube to which it attaches. This recessed configuration protects the glass when the cell contacts a flat surface. Producing the cell involves spraying the luminescent material onto the inside of a metal tube. The metal tube receives the luminescent material while both heated and spinning. The spinning, heated cell can receive a multitude of coats of material at each application and, thus, prepares for use rapidly and economically. Subsequently, the substantially clear glass bonds sufficiently far inside of the tube over its open end to provide the recessed configuration.

Strengthened scintillation cell

Ground-test device operating intermittently for brief periods of time to limit the current entering the ground system. The circuit itself, on the occurrence of a predesignated event in other circuitry, may initiate the tests for ground. The circuit disconnects itself from ground between tests. The device also develops an indication when the wiring from the source of a.c. power suffers from reversed polarity.

Pulsing ground-test circuit

A pulse height analyzer determining, by about the end of an input pulse, whether the pulse's magnitude falls within a preselected range. Two comparators, which establish the preselected range, couple to a coincidence means, such as a D-type flip-flop. The coincidence means provides one indication when the pulse falls within the selected range and another indication when the pulse exceeds the upper limit. Output means, typically one or more flip-flops, may then operate upon these indications to provide, as usual, one output pulse for each input pulse falling within the range. The circuit obviates the need for R-C delaying components and results in greater resolution between close pulses, quicker response times, and less sensitivity to the particular value of the components used. The timing for the output means may derive either from an external clock or from the effect of the input pulse itself upon the comparators.

Growing community of inventors

Loveland, OH, United States of America

William M Stevens