Abstract: The electron emitting cathode of an initiator (spark plug or ignitor) comprises a small button of high temperature, preferably austenitic, stainless steel powder welded to a support conductor. The stainless steel powder has distributed through it a dopant powder consisting of a minor portion of a highly stable oxide of an element having a low work function. The dopant powder has a much smaller mesh size than the stainless steel powder (1/5or less). Rare earth lanthanides are preferred that have a low work function, preferably under 3.0 eV and are not radioactive. Cerium, in the form of CeO.sub.2 is most preferred. The compositions of the low work function stainless steel electrodes and methods of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A locking arrangement suitable for use in precision optical instruments comprising first and second mountings (56, 58) defining respective opposing first and second concave surfaces (60, 62) and a member (64) for location between the mountings and defining oppositely directed convex surfaces (66, 68) for engaging a respective concave surfaces. A clamping arrangement (72, 74) is provided and has an adjustment configuration in which the member (64) is rotatable about an axis passing through the engaging surfaces and a locking configuration in which, with the first mounting (56) fixed in position and the second mounting (58) fixed against movement along the axis, the surfaces are held in locking engagement.

Abstract: Multiple internal reflection, MIR, rods or internal reflection elements, IRE, use the principal of frustrated total internal reflection, FTIR, (also known as attenuated total reflection, ATR,) in infrared spectroscopy, spectrometers, and spectrophotometers. The rods have polished ends which may be wedges with parallel apexes intersecting the optical axis of the rod. One wedge is convex and the other concave. The concave may be a cone with the axis of the cone coincident with the optical axis of the rod. The angle of the concave wedge or the apex of the cone is slightly greater than twice the critical angle of incidence of the wavelengths to be used for optical analysis incident on the inner surface of the rod when immersed in a material to be analyzed. The angle of the apex of the convex wedge is slightly less than twice 90.degree. minus the critical angle.

Abstract: Each dispenser, which may be used for candy, is identical except for a identically sized top rectangular panel. The back, bottom, front, and a baffle are formed of one piece of thermoplastic material. A right angle bent is adhered to the top of the baffle. The top panels for a top row of dispensers are adhered to the dispensers and each has a hole communicating with a cylindrical reservoir. Those for a bottom row are hinged to the back. All sides are identical. Depending chutes are rectangular and have a sliding door. The sliding doors and the bent each have identical cylinders adhered to them. The walls of each chute have holes aligned with its cylinder. The hinged tops have a hole through which a cylinder protrudes. A locking cable has a large finial at one end and a small finial at the other. Two washers are provided that fit over the large finial, but not the smaller. A washer is threaded against the large finial and the cable passed through aligned cylinders.

Abstract: For weight distribution in a golf iron club head, the use of construction material from a location thereon never used in play, namely centrally along a top edge of the ball-striking face, advantageously relocated to the toe, sole, heel or combinations thereof, to contribute to sweet spot-enhancement in at least two respects, viz. first, that weight in the removal location is counterproductive to a good hit and removal is a benefit even if not relocated elsewhere, and second that said weight that is relocated being sourced from the club head itself, does not change the overall swing weight of the club head, which typically is selected according to the size and handicap of the golfer and should remain unchanged.

Abstract: The method involves directing first and second separate illuminating beams towards a photosensitive film from separate fixed apparent beam source positions respectively in such a manner that the beams are caused to overlap at the point of incidence at the photosensitive film. Stationary interference fringes are generated and the beams are caused to scan in a raster type pattern over the photosensitive film in such a manner whereby overlapping of the beams is maintained throughout the exposure of the film. The apparatus in one embodiment involves the generation of a third illuminating beam which is used to control means to control an associated scanner to effect synchronised movement of the second beam with the first beam. A further embodiment involves memorising the scanning movement of beam in a memory and using the memorised scanning pattern to control the scanner to maintain beam overlap.

Abstract: A system utilizing adaptive frequency-hopped spread spectrum modulation to communicate over AC power lines and other noisy communications channels is described. The system employs a modulation structure in which individual packets of data are transmitted with FSK modulation using two frequencies chosen from a larger set. An error coding system is used which provides a controlling microprocessor with data on the quality of reception at each transceiver in the network; this information is used to alter the gain of the receiver, the bit rate of the transmission, and the specific frequencies employed by the network, in real time, to optimize communication error rate. Messages are organized in packets. A Master transceiver, controlling network management, transmits channel control information to other transceivers on the network, enabling system synchronization, acquisition of an existing network by new subscribers, and changes to the bit rate and frequency set in use.

Abstract: The globe is rotationally molded of iron particles and a plastisol of polyvinyl chloride and has embossed therein, from the mold, lines of longitude and latitude. Two or more layers of magnetized puzzle pieces are formed by printing their indicia on flat, soft, magnetized thermo plastic sheets and then die cut. The indicia is printed such that, when necessary, successive layers of puzzle pieces have their magnets aligned so that specific pieces adhere to specific places on pieces of adjacent layers. When necessary, the pieces are heat formed to conform to the globe shape. Preferably, the first layer contains continental and longitude and latitude information; the second layer, geologic features; and the third layer, political information. The globe stand has a recess therein, the bottom of which is of the same curvature as the globe and may incorporate or have sprayed on iron containing material so that the puzzle pieces may be conveniently stored there when not applied to the globe.

Abstract: Fuel pellets for use as targets in a device employing thermonuclear fusion by inertial confinement (Laser fusion) are manufactured from high polymer hydrocarbons in which bound hydrogen has been replaced with tritium. The required polymer is prepared by polymerizing monomer(s) which contain carbon and tritium. The hollow pellets are filled with thermonuclear fuel, e.g., a mixture of deuterium-tritium. To improve the sphericity of the pellets and the uniformity of their wall thickness, manufacture of the pellets is contemplated in the near-zero gravity of space.

Abstract: Liquefied petroleum gas (propane), natural gas, hydrogen gas, or the like, is continuously injected at substantially constant pressure into the air intake manifold, or air induction system, of a conventional internal combustion engine, the engine being electronically, or mechanically, controlled to adjust the air to liquid fuel mixture to a optimum value. The engine may use liquid gasoline, methanol, diesel, or any other, primary fuel. When retrofitted to a conventional 2 or 4 stroke, spark or compression ignited engine, the gaseous fuel preferable is supplied from a reservoir where it is stored in liquefied or compressed form through an appropriate pressure control valve to a pipe T installed in the crankcase ventilation pipe. The supply of gaseous fuel is controlled by an ON-OFF solenoid valves which are only operated when the alternator or generator of the engine is running and the engine has attained a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A packing machine for wrapping compressed insulation products in heat sealable plastic film, including a forming tube having product feed means to move or hold the product within it, a former to reconfigure a web of heat sealable plastic film into a longitudinally open tube around the forming tube, a heat welder to close the longitudinal opening and provide a continuous plastic tube, take-off conveyors which receive the plastic tube containing the product at a point downstream of the forming tube and displace the product a preset distance from the forming tube to create a pocket, means to close the plastic tube behind the displaced product and ahead of the next product which is fed into the forming tube as the product is displaced, and means to cut the plastic tube between the two closures so formed, characterised in that air is removed from the pocket before closure by applying vacuum, thereby reducing the time for closing the plastic tube.

Abstract: An optical system for a display having a combiner (1) with a non-conformal reflection hologram and in which an intermediate image (II) of a display source is formed at a location in the light path to and spaced from the combiner (1), the system comprising at least one diffractive element (5,7) disposed in the light path between the display source (2) and the intermediate image (II) and arranged to counter, at least partially, the chromatic dispersion of the non-conformal reflection hologram (1).

Abstract: A cut or slit is provided in the holder generally perpendicular to the actual opening through the holder in which the shaft of an engraving quill is held. The cut or slit completely intersects the opening and divides the cut portion into two sections of unequal thickness. Means are provided for opening or closing the slit to thereby engage and disengage the quill shaft. This means is provided by a pair of set screws; one in the portion of the holder above the slit and one in the portion of the holder below the slit. A polymer insert is provided for smoothly engaging the shaft of an engraving quill when the slit is forced open. It is on the opposite side of the opening from the set screws. Turning a set screw causes the thinner portion of the cut holder to bend locking an engraving quill shaft.

Abstract: A sealed bag of a pliable multi-layered barrier film substantially impervious to air is partially filled with generally spherically closed cell foam plastic particles deformable under a pressure of less than about 0.2 atmospheres. A bag for use in a typical camera is typically 2 to 3 inches wider and longer than the inside of the case and filled with particles from about 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch in diameter. When flattened uniformly, the bag with the particles inside is about 1/2 an inch in thickness. The bag is placed inside a camera case or the like of smaller dimensions than the bag, e.g. 14.times.6 inches when the pressure in the bag is atmospheric and relieved through an air tube. One or more objects are then depressed into the upper surface of the bag which deforms about them until about a single layer of particles is underneath the object and the particles surround the objects up to about an inch or an inch and a half in depth.

Abstract: A system for digital communication over a wire lain along the path of guided vehicles to a modem and a loop driver, the modem providing high frequency signals and the loop driver providing low frequency control signals. Instead, the modem and the loop driver are connected to one end of the wire and the other end of the wire is connected through an impedance matching network to earth ground. The impedance matching network provides an impedance approximately equal to the impedance of the wire at the frequency of the high frequency signals. The impedance matching network may conveniently comprise an inductor (choke) in parallel with a capacitor connected between the end of the wire and earth ground and a plurality of resistors connected in parallel with said inductor and capacitor. The resistors are selectively clipped to eliminate the echo bringing the impedance of the impedance matching network to approximate equality with the impedance of the wire at the frequency of the high frequency signals.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with display apparatus of the Head-Up-Display (H.U.D.) type which finds utility in e.g. fighter aircraft. The invention is concerned with providing an H.U.D. which has a profile depth which is substantially and preferably much less than the diameter of the exit lens. The arrangements of the H.U.D. include a cathode ray tube (C.R.T.) display source, a collimating optical means having a plurality of lenses with at least an entrance lens and an exit lens together with a prism and combining means for combining displayed visual information with the view of the scene or object. The prism is so arranged in relationship to the display source that internal reflection of light from the display source within the prism and transmission of light towards the combining means is such as to enable the modular unit profile depth to be between 40% and 60% less than the exit lens diameter.

Abstract: Pnictide thin films, particularly phosphorus, grown on III-V semiconductors, particularly InP, GaP, and GaAs, are amorphous and have a novel layer-like, puckered sheet-like local order. The thin films are typically 400 Angstroms thick and grown preferably by molecular beam deposition, although other processes such as vacuum evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, and deposition from a liquid melt may be used. The layers are grown on the <100> <110>, and surfaces of the III-V crystals. The pnictide layer reduces the density of surface states, and allows the depletion layer to be modulated, the surface barrier reduced, the electron concentration at the surface increased, and there is a decrease in the surface recombination velocity and an increase in the photoluminescence intensity.

Abstract: The system comprises transceivers employing identical modems, one located at a fixed position and connected to the wire and one on a vehicle guided along the wire. The transceiver's specialized modems may be connected to a central host which may be a computer, to a programmable controller, or to a communications bus as required. Additional transceivers may be connected to the communications bus for communication between the central host and additional wires. All central host signals are transmitted to all wire connected modems and sent out on all wires. All signals from vehicle modems are transmitted back to the central host. Each transceiver is adapted to employ one or more identical modem, each connected to a different wire.

Abstract: The method involves directing first and second separate illuminating beams towards a photosensitive film from separate fixed apparent beam source positions respectively in such a manner that the beams are caused to overlap at the point of incidence at the photosensitive film. Stationary interference fringes are generated and the beams are caused to scan in a raster type pattern over the photosensitive film in such a manner whereby overlapping of the beams is maintained throughout the exposure of the film. The apparatus in one embodiment involves the generation of a third illuminating beam which is used to control means to control an associated scanner to effect synchronised movement of the second beam with the first beam. A further embodiment involves memorising the scanning movement of beam in a memory and using the memorised scanning pattern to control the scanner to maintain beam overlap.

Abstract: A plurality of wickets are assembled into a unitary structure each wicket having a plurality of marker receiving means. Individually visibly identifiable direction markers are adapted to engage said marker receiving means in two positions so as to indicate passage through a wicket in either of two directions. The home and return stakes are also provided with marker receiving means and a bell at their base adapted to ring when struck by a croquet ball. Means are provided for adjusting the openings through the wickets and for defining a four-sided field at the wicket assembly. The wickets are recessed to receive a mallet head which fits end to end in said recess to define passage of a ball through the wicket. A ball retainer has an elongated axis and spaced members adapted to confine a ball to permit it to be struck by a croquet mallet when croqueting a ball and means operated by its handle to cause the space members to confine a ball and permit the ball to be lifted from the playing surface.