Abstract: A laterally movable ultrasound transducer, comprising the sensor of a rail fault detection device, is automatically centered on the rail as the detection device moves along the rail. The sensor includes a pair of ultrasound receiving transducers positioned to either side of a transducer which generates and receives ultrasonic energy. Signals provided by the receiving transducers are compared and any difference therebetween employed to control the lateral position of the sensor with respect to the rail.

Abstract: A billfold of utmost simplicity and practicality, produced in only two operations, comprising a folded blank and having separate bill and credit card compartments. The bill compartment allows a portion of the bills to project beyond the body of the billfold so that a desired bill can be grasped and removed without opening up the billfold; a tab covers the projecting portion of the bills. Another tab which forms the end of the credit card pocket can be unfolded to allow access to the credit cards.

Abstract: A method of detoxifying organotin-containing paint residues that are sandblasted from the bottom of a ship's hull comprising cleaving the tincarbon bond by application of an oxidizing agent, preferably nitric acid.

Abstract: A tire bead inspection machine comprises a base on which a tire may be mounted for inspection. A frame is mounted on the base from which a first roller is cantilevered with a generally vertical axis and a pair of rollers on either side of the first roller are cantilevered in a direction transverse to the first roller, that is with generally horizontal axes. The frame is moveable on the base in a fashion to insert the first roller into the tire and force the bead outward, and at the same time swing the pair of rollers toward the vertical against their spring mountings in such a way that they exert force against the sidewall of the tire. In this fashion, the bead is grasped somewhat scissor fashion between the first roller and the pair of rollers. The first roller exerts a force against the inner part of the bead and the pair of rollers resist the force exerted by the first roller.

Abstract: A hose testing system comprising a source of pressurizing fluid, a distribution system for supplying the fluid from the source to a hose under test, a pump for pumping fluid through the distribution system into the hose under test, a regulator for maintaining a constant volume flow rate for the fluid being pumped into the hose and a gauge for indicating the fluid pressure existing in the hose at any specific time. Because of the constant volume flow rate provided by the test system, the monitored pressure vs. time of the hose under test is indicative also of its pressure vs. volume. Consequently, the system can be used to dynamically measure the internal pressure vs. volume characteristic of a given hose which measurements can in turn be employed to predict its structural integrity.

Abstract: A pendulum antenna for a microwave landing system is disclosed. The antenna is an elevation scanning antenna of the phased array type. The aperture, phase shifters, drivers and power distribution manifolds form a column-like structure. The column is suspended like a pendulum inside a fiberglass radome and windshield. The column has a degree of freedom limited by stops, damping means, and lock member. The stops set the allowable pitch angle, the damping means prevents the antenna from swinging back and forth from wind gust effects, and the lock member is used to constrain the antenna during transportation. The radome is freely mounted in a base support having adjustable legs for antenna leveling.

Abstract: The separation between aircraft approaching a common runway is minimized by measuring the existing wind conditions at a preselected point relative to the runway threshold and basing a prediction of the movement of wake vortices on the measured conditions. The prediction of vortex movement is based upon a vortex advisory algorithm prepared from a plot of wind conditions which predictably remove vortices from the flight path.

Abstract: A system for dynamically measuring and displaying track curvature information to a locomotive engineer on a real-time basis. A car mounted sensor produces a variable output responsive to changes in the car's orientation caused by variation in track curvature, a control circuit converts the sensor output into an electrical signal representative of the changes in orientation, and an indicator receives the signal and provides a dynamic display of the derived track curvature information. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor comprises an extendable line having one end attached to a bracket that is connected to the center of a supporting truck cross-frame, while the other end is wound on a retractable supply reel mounted on the car's frame.

Abstract: A bifocal pillbox antenna system is disclosed comprising a controller means providing control voltages and sequential switching signals to scan circuits. The scan circuits provide RF energy selectively to feed elements of a contoured feed array for radiation in a waveguide means. The waveguide means includes a waveguide and a pair of reflectors specially shaped to provide a pair of spaced focal points. The energy radiating from the feed elements with a non-linear phase distribution is guided to the specially shaped reflectors and reflected with a nearly linear phase distribution for transmission.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a test subject's level of intoxication. Included is a display visible to the test subject and in which is produced by test equipment a pair of randomly moving, spaced apart objects. The test subject operates an actuator to indicate his selections of changing imaginary positions in the display having a predetermined constant spatial relationship to the moving objects. Dynamically determined by a computer system are the actual locations of those positions which are compared with the test subject's selections. Because of the requirement for determining imaginary positions by mental extrapolation, a very rigorous test of the subject's psychomotor capability is obtained.

Abstract: Wind conditions along the projected flight path of an aircraft are measured and displayed. Wind velocity and direction at the aircraft and at the projected touchdown or takeoff point of the aircraft are compared and the existence of a wind gradient or wind shear line along the flight path is predicted. The possible presence of a wind shear line and the velocity differential there across is used, in cooperation with altitude and airspeed information and the performance characteristics of the aircraft, to determine whether the planned maneuver may be successfully completed under the instantaneously existing wind conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is improved distance measuring equipment comprising an airborne FM coded, chirp, interrogator transmitter in combination with a weighted matched receiver in a ground transponder. The airborne transmitter produces a long low power frequency modulated output pulse. Detection in the transponder receiver is accomplished by pulse compression matched filter techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed is an omnidirectional antenna comprising vertically stacked pairs of folded slot antennas. Each slot antenna is electrically loaded to allow reduction of slot physical dimensions to the point that the diameter of two slots when mounted back-to-back is less than one wavelength. The resulting antenna produces a highly omnidirectional signal having vertical polarization. Vertical beam shaping is achieved by selection of the phase and magnitude of the signal transmitted by each pair of folded slot elements.