Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5442671 | Circuit and method of detecting actuator movement An actuator movement detector (10) indicates proper engagement of a solenoid (12). The current flowing through a field coil (16) is converted to a sense voltage that exponentially increases and then follows a dip before increases again to a steady state v... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5390109 | Sensor for detecting location of metal body The present invention comprises a sensing matrix (20) comprised of matrix-arranged sensing units for sensing an object, a driving means (40, 50, 63) which drives the sensing matrix (20) and receives a signal showing a state of each sensing unit, and a det... | 02/14/1995 |
| 5258755 | Two-source magnetic field guidance system A magnetic field guidance system for guiding a movable carrier such as a drill assembly with respect to a fixed target includes a pair of magnetic field sources at one location, such as the carrier, and a highly sensitive magnetic field detector at the ot... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5227948 | Electromagnetic support with position-independent characteristics A device for positioning a body (5) by means of at least two electromagnets (13, 15). A position sensor (29) measures the size of an air gap (23) between one of the electromagnets (13, 15) and a guide beam (1). An output signal of the position sensor (29)... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5187475 | Apparatus for determining the position of an object A position sensor is provided which incorporates the first and second magnetic members which are attached to an object whose position is to be determined. First and second magnetic sensors are disposed at positions in association with the two magnetic mem... | 02/16/1993 |
| 5153513 | Apparatus for processing output signal of sensor with magnetic rotary member In an apparatus for processing an output signal of a rotation sensor having a magnetic-electric transducer and the associated magnetic rotary member, a first level discriminator responsive to the output signal produces a first signal whose level changes a... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5148711 | Apparatus and method for removing common mode vibration data from digital turbine blade vibration data A sensor produces a signal indicative of the actual arrival time of each turbine blade at the sensor. A first circuit is responsive to the sensor for producing digital data representing the actual arrival time of each blade at the sensor. A second circuit... | 09/22/1992 |
| 5148107 | Inductive proximity switch means and method A proximity switch including an inductor having an actuator rod movable in proximity thereto to affect the inductance thereof. An electrical pulse of relatively short duration is applied to the inductor and the current from the inductor is measured at a s... | 09/15/1992 |
| 5130866 | Method and circuitry for in-situ measurement of transducer/recording medium clearance and transducer magnetic instability A method and circuitry are described for sensing the clearance between a magnetic transducer and a moving magnetic recording medium in a magnetic disk or tape storage system or alternatively sensing the degree of magnetic instability of a magnetic transdu... | 07/14/1992 |
| 5125681 | Method and apparatus for determining the displacement of a piston within a shock absorber An apparatus for determining the displacement of a piston within a shock absorber. The shock absorber includes a pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. A piston is provided for control... | 06/30/1992 |
| 5121054 | Method and apparatus for determining the angular velocity of a shaft using a pair of proximity sensors A tachometer particularly adapted for operation as a rotational velocity feedback transducer is provided. First and second proximity detectors are used to monitor orthogonal positions of an irregular surface portion of a rotating shaft and provide x and y... | 06/09/1992 |
| 5115195 | System and method for measuring the absolute position of one body which is constrained to move with respect to another body A system and method for measuring the absolute position of one body which is constrained to move with respect to another body includes a plurality of magnetic identification units, which are adapted to be mounted in a predetermined absolute position on a ... | 05/19/1992 |
| 5109193 | Inductive digital encoder array A multiposition sensor device includes a plurality of inductive-type coils arranged in a first array and a plurality of plates arranged in a second array being juxtaposed and movable relative to the coils, allowing the coils and the plates to register in ... | 04/28/1992 |
| 5103172 | Piston and cylinder device with fixed conductive guide on periphery of cylinder A control device for piston and cylinder units comprises a sensor adapted to be operated by a moving member and arranged on a guide device which has at least one electrical track conductor. Via a contacting device the sensor is connected with the electric... | 04/07/1992 |
| 5087879 | Construction for adjustably mounting sensor portion of magnetic rotation sensor and method of adjusting gap between sensor and rotating drum A magnetic rotation sensor is disclosed, in which by raising the precision of the size between a first hole for positioning a magnetic rotation drum and second holes for positioning pin guides and at the same time by keeping the outer diameter of the pin ... | 02/11/1992 |
| 5059900 | Method and apparatus for determining the angular velocity of a shaft A tachometer particularly adapted for operation as a rotational velocity feedback transducer is provided. First and second proximity detectors are used to monitor orthogonal positions of an irregular surface portion of a rotating shaft and provide x and y... | 10/22/1991 |
| 5053701 | Device for measuring the spacing between aligned rails In a device for monitoring the distance of the front surfaces (3, 4) of rails (1, 2), for example, in connection with expansion joints or supporting structures in which the rails are subjected to multi-axial load, one rail (2) is connected with at least o... | 10/01/1991 |
| 5021737 | Proximity sensor resistant to axial and torsional forces A proximity sensor has a metal case with a sensing coil at one end and a coaxial cable extending out the other end for placement in proximity to rotating machinery to sense imbalances by position change of, for example, a shaft. The sensor includes a cyli... | 06/04/1991 |
| 4987555 | Turbine blade shroud clearance monitor A system for monitoring the clearance between a plurality of turbine blade shroud segments connected to form a turbine blade shroud and the stationary portion of the turbine comprises a sensor responsive to eddy currents generated in each of the shroud se... | 01/22/1991 |
| 4972145 | Speed sensor gap fault-detection arrangement for multiple-axle rail vehicles A magnetic speed sensor air gap fault-detection arrangement having a two-input AND gate for each of the two-axle trucks of a railway vehicle for conditioning a gap process circuit common to each axle. Each of the gap process circuits of each axle is activ... | 11/20/1990 |
| 4962331 | Rotatable control signal generator A rotary control signal generating device, such as a resolver, which comprises an internal stator including a magnetic system having first and second ring-shaped pole pieces with generally cylindrical, axially spaced, outwardly facing first and second pol... | 10/09/1990 |
| 4952855 | System for monitoring the closing of a door The invention relates to a system for monitoring the closing of a door or other such barrier, such as a sliding door of a vehicle. This system has a circuit outside of the door which serves to emit a signal indicating the open or closed state of the door.... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4946587 | Automated gauging apparatus To qualify the heights of inwardly projecting nuclear fuel rod-positioning stops formed in the sidewall of tubular ferrules 12 utilized in fuel bundle spacers, an automated gauging apparatus, seen in FIG. 6, is provided to handle successive ferrules on an... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4945305 | Device for quantitatively measuring the relative position and orientation of two bodies in the presence of metals utilizing direct current magnetic fields A device for measuring the position (location and orientation), in the six degrees of freedom of receiving antennae (3) with respect to transmitting antennae (2) utilizing pulsed DC magnetic signals. The transmitting and receiving components consist of tw... | 07/31/1990 |
| 4879511 | Flat, multiconductor cable coil device for in situ detecting of axial motion of a generally cylindrical member A device is disclosed for in situ detecting of axial motion of a generally cylindrical member in which both ends of the member are unavailable for the installation of a prewound coil. The device comprises a predetermined length of generally flat multicond... | 11/07/1989 |
| 4841246 | Multiturn shaft position sensor having magnet movable with nonrotating linear moving nut The present invention is a shaft position sensor for detection of the position of a multiturn shaft. The rotation of the multiturn shaft is converted into a linear motion via a multiturn screw and a nonrotating nut. A magnet is mounted on the nonrotating ... | 06/20/1989 |
| 4717874 | Reluctance type linear position detection device This detection device comprises a coil section and a rod section which is capable of linear displacement relative to the coil section. The rod section has a magnetic substance portion changing reluctance of a magnetic circuit passing through the coil sect... | 01/05/1988 |
| 4688037 | Electromagnetic communications and switching system An electromagnetic communications and switching system provides for line-of-sight remote selection and actuation of a wide variety of apparatus. The system has a plurality of radiating antennas having independent components defining a reference coordinate... | 08/18/1987 |
| 4612501 | Self-adjusting magnetic sensor A sensing mechanism has a retainer ring which is secured in an aperture formed in a housing in which the sensor is to operate. The retainer ring has a plurality of tabs which cooperate with axial and circumferential slots on the sensor to permit removal a... | 09/16/1986 |
| 4609869 | Magnetic sensor and circuit for detecting the edge of a target as it passes the centerline of the sensor A magnetic sensor for detecting the leading edge of a ferrous target as it passes the centerline of the sensor. The magnetic sensor includes a coil output representing the rate of change of magnetic flux as the target passes the sensor. The coil output is... | 09/02/1986 |
| 4583207 | Magnetohydrodynamic geophone A magnetohydrodynamic geophone for seismological detection. The geophone is of rigid shock resistant design, including a sealed, rigid generally conically shaped housing which is adapted to be firmly embedded within the ground in bedrock or the like, in o... | 04/15/1986 |
| 4491018 | Pig detector The present invention includes a ferrous conduit mounted over an aperture in the pipeline, launch tube, or receiver through which the pigs pass. A non-magnetic sensing rod is reciprocally mounted within the conduit with the rod extending through the apert... | 01/01/1985 |
| 4465975 | Scanning apparatus and method for measuring a magnetic field produced by a sample There is disclosed a technique for measuring the magnetic field of a sample, such as sheet material having one or more magnetic poles, including effecting relative movement between a magnetically responsive transducer and the sample to scan the magnetic f... | 08/14/1984 |
| 4412177 | Eddy current inspection tool which is selectively operable in a discontinuity detection mode and a discontinuity magnitude mode A miniaturized inspection tool, for testing and inspection of metal objects in locations with difficult accessibility, which comprises eddy current sensing equipment (12) with a probe coil (11), and associated coaxial coil cable (13), coil energizing mean... | 10/25/1983 |
| 4309902 | Method for continuously measuring steepness of defective flatness of metal strip during rolling A method for continuously measuring the steepness of a defective flatness of a metal strip during rolling, which comprises: detecting a variation in the relative distance between a metal strip during rolling and a distance-detecting means arranged adjacen... | 01/12/1982 |
| 4194383 | Modular transducer assembly for rolling mill roll adjustment mechanism A modular linear transducer assembly is mounted between relatively displaceable piston and cylinder members of a hydraulic roll gap control arrangement in a four-high rolling mill stand. The piston and cylinder members have coaxial openings centrally ther... | 03/25/1980 |
| 4191951 | Device for sensing fluid forces A device capable of sensing forces exerted by fluids, particularly liquids, and thus may be used to sense fluid level and fluid flow. Preferred embodiments of the device include a switch means capable of being actuated without the exertion of substantial ... | 03/04/1980 |
| 4164864 | Method and apparatus for supporting a sensor in a normally inacessible area of a machine A noncontacting axial position monitor or probe is carried on an extending rod which reaches into a normally inaccessible area and there is provided adjusting means operable to effect an internal position adjustment of the probe externally of the device b... | 08/21/1979 |
| 4066949 | Probe holder for a machine body position sensor, with means to increase its natural frequency A probe holder assembly includes a probe holder mounted in cantilevered fashion within a support structure. The support structure includes a generally elongated cylindrical housing. The elongated free end of said holder extends substantially coaxial withi... | 01/03/1978 |
