William H Dourlain

US Patent:

53200578, Jun 14, 1994

Filed:

May 30, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/066603

Inventors:

William H. Dourlain - Orchard Park NY

International Classification:

B63B 2100

US Classification:

114230

Abstract:

Apparatus and a method for guiding objects such as boats in and out of slips. A pair of guide lines on opposite sides of the slip receive guide blocks for movement along the lengths of the guide lines. Each guide block has a pair of block portions movable toward each other to a first position for securing the boat line thereto and movable away from each other to a second position for releasing the boat line. A release line is anchored at one end and attached to each guide block at the other end to have slack during movement of the boat into and out of the slip. When slack in the release lines is taken up during movement of the boat out of the slip, tension applied to the guide block by the release line and the boat line moves the block portions to the second positions for releasing the boat lines.

US Patent:

59734892, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Dec 8, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/207723

Inventors:

William Dourlain - Manlius NY

Assignee:

Philips Electronics N.A. Corporation - New York NY

International Classification:

G05F 500

US Classification:

323299

Abstract:

In a complex AC power distribution network (e. g. CATV), a switching mode power supply at a node, automatically operates in a first mode when the input AC power is at a lower potential and operates in a second mode when the input AC power is at a higher potential. A controller switches between modes of operation depending on the input voltage and on the current mode of operation to proved stable switching between modes which in turn provides stable output voltage from the power supply.