Abstract: A pulse-width-modulated solenoid valve has a body provided with an elongated chamber. The body has inlet and outlet openings communicating with the chamber, and has a seat surrounding the inlet opening and arranged to face into the chamber. An armature is mounted in the chamber for movement therealong toward and away from the seat. A coil is mounted on the body, and is adapted to be selectively energized to move the armature in one direction relative to the body. A return spring is arranged to urge the armature to move in the opposite direction relative to the body. The improvement provides a valve element which is mounted for movement with the armature toward and away from the seat, but also mounted for movement relative to the armature when the element engages the seat, such that the mass of the armature will not exert a substantial force against the seat. According to the improvement, the operating life of the valve may be greatly extended.

Abstract: A method of testing the integrity of a package seal (14) provided between a container portion (11) and a lid portion (12), includes the steps of: initially reducing the pressure acting on the outer surface of the container portion to cause the lid portion to bow inwardly to a position of substantially maximum concavity while maintaining the ullage volume within the package substantially constant; further reducing the pressure acting on the outer surface of the container portion to distend the container portion for increasing the volume of the ullage space; and sensing for a change in position of the distended container wall.

Abstract: A pulse-width-modulated solenoid valve has a body provided with an elongated chamber. The body has inlet and outlet openings communicating with the chamber, and has a seat surrounding the inlet opening and arranged to face into the chamber. An armature is mounted in the chamber for movement therealong toward and away from the seat. A coil is mounted on the body, and is adapted to be selectively energized to move the armature in one direction relative to the body. A return spring is arranged to urge the armature to move in the opposite direction relative to the body. The improvement provides a valve element which is mounted for movement with the armature toward and away from the seat, but also mounted for movement relative to the armature when the element engages the seat, such that the mass of the armature will not exert a substantial force against the seat. According to the improvement, the operating life of the valve may be greatly extended.

Abstract: A neutron-absorbing material is formed by a process which includes the steps of: mixing an absorptive material having a high thermal neutron capture cross-section (e.g., B.sub.4 C), a neutron-moderating material (e.g., graphite) and a binder (e.g., a phenol formaldehyde resin); shaping such mixture; curing such shaped mixture (e.g., to complete polymerization of the resin and to have only a carbon residue); and siliconizing such shaped and cured mixture. The resulting product has been formed to be denser and stronger, and more oxidation- and abrasion-resistant than prior art compositions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a push button apparatus for operating a flush valve or the like of a water closet, comprising button actuator means including a button and housing, said housing having a shank for passing through an opening in a water closet tank wall, the button having an actuator within and reciprocally movable relative to said housing shank. Means are provided for securing bracket means to the button shank in a predetermined orientation therewith. Means are provided for actuating lever arm means. Means on the bracket means and the lever actuating means for mounting the lever actuating means for pivotal movement relative to the bracket means upon reciprocal movement of the button actuator operatively contacting the cam means. The mounting means comprises pivot means and pivot socket means with means providing lateral access to the socket means.

Abstract: A spray hose comprises a plurality of ducts extending through the length thereof, and a plurality of spray slots which are distributed over the lengths of the respective ducts and which open under pressure to provide a spray from the hose. Mounted at the ends of the hose are suitable fitments. Each fitment has a plurality, corresponding to the number of ducts in the hose, of insertion nipples providing internal ducts therein. The outside diameters of the insertion nipples correspond at least to the inside diameters of the ducts in the hose and the insertion nipples are jointly carried on a plate member which also has openings therethrough, communicating with the ducts in the insertion nipples. The region of the hose into which the insertion nipples are fitted is embraced by a clamping means to clamp the hose around the insertion nipples, with a substantially liquid-tight seal between the insertion nipples and the respective ducts in the hose, into which the nipples are fitted.

Abstract: A leak detector is adapted to test the fluid-tight sealed integrity of a hermetically-sealed package having a movable wall portion. An enclosure surrounds a package-to-be-tested, and the space within the enclosure is evacuated by a vacuum pump. As the pressure acting on the outer surface of the package begins to fall,the gas within the package will be expand, pushing the movable wall portion outwardly. Such displacement of the movable wall portion is sensed and compared with a predetermined value. If desired, the reduced pressure within the enclosure may be held constant for as time interval, and the sensor used to determine whether the distended wall portion has relaxed.

Abstract: An aqueous medium containing contaminant ions such as hexavalent chromium ions is treated by introducing electrolytically generated ferrous ions which are preferably generated in water acidified to a low enough pH to prevent the formation of flocculent material. The ferrous ions reduce the hexavalent chromium ions to a trivalent state, and thereafter alkaline material is introduced into the medium to raise its pH high enough to cause insoluble chromic hydroxide and ferric hydroxide to precipitate. The apparatus includes a ferrous ion generator for recirculating liquid through an electrolytic cell and a receptacle, from which receptacle liquid for end use can be withdrawn and to which makeup water and acid can be added.

Abstract: An improved piston-and-cylinder arrangement has a pressure-balanced piston head mounted on an actuator rod. The piston head is mounted for axial movement with the rod, and for radial movement relative thereto. Three annular ring-type seals are provided between facing cylindrical surfaces of the piston head and rod. The frictional impediment to radial movement of the piston head relative to the rod is minimized, and the improved device exhibits a reduction in the average maximum longitudinal frictional force per stroke.

Abstract: A metal-encased light conductor having a continuous pressure boundary seal capable of use to transmit light signals in an environment having a pressure up to about 5000 psi based on a sealing length of a minimum of 6 inches and a temperature falling in the range of from about -40.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C., and comprising a core/clad optical fiber, coated with polyimide, surrounded by a jacket of thermoplastic resin on which there is a cured film of epoxy resin, and compressed by a surrounding mechanically reduced ductile metal sheath.

Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing is provided between two relatively movable members. Opposing sensing and bearing pads extend into either member and face the other member. These pads communicate with one another. An inlet orifice is defined between the members and extends from a fluid source to the sensing pad. An outlet orifice is defined between the members and extends from the bearing pad to the fluid return. The areas of the inlet and outlet orifices vary reciprocally in the sense that as one area increases, the other area decreases. The bearing exhibits reduced flow characteristics when one member moves axially and/or radially relative to the other member.

Abstract: A time-delay valve is adapted to be used in association with a source of pressurized first fluid, such as CO.sub.2. When CO.sub.2 is admitted to the inlet of the time-delay valve, an entrapped liquid is pressurized to a known level. Such pressurized liquid is constrained to flow through a restricted orifice, to enter an expanding chamber having a movable piston. The piston is thereafter displaced from a first position to a second position, between which the CO.sub.2 is not permitted to pass from the inlet to the outlet. However, after the piston passes beyond the second position, pilot and main valve elements are moved off their respective seats, and first fluid is permitted to flow directly from the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: An improved transfer chamber for a space vehicle has an enclosure mounted on the hull of a spacecraft, and is provided with inner and outer doors. Two bladders are placed within this transfer chamber, and are selectively movable toward and away from one another. Conduits communicate these bladders with an outer reservoir exposed to space pressure, and with an inner reservoir exposed to cabin pressure. The conduits, bladders and reservoirs are all filled with liquid. When it is desired to egress an object from the cabin to space, liquid is pumped into the bladders, which move toward one another and deform about the object. This reduces the volume of air which is lost to space when the outer door is opened.

Abstract: A fluid coupling device have separable male and female sections. Each section has a ball valve mounted for rotational and axial movement relative to a housing. When the sections are joined together, each ball valve rotates automatically to a flow-permitting position. When the sections are separated, each ball valve rotates automatically to a flow-preventing position. The ball valves interfit with one another so that a minimum volume of fluid is lost when the sections are separated.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator has a ferrous alloy armature movably mounted within a body chamber. Two axially-spaced permanent magnets are arranged radially inwardly of the chamber and partially define the chamber at the ends thereof. A coil surrounds the chamber. The body is formed of a magnetically-permeable material. Because of the high reluctance of the magnets, each magnet forms a short magnetic loop which passes through the adjacent air gap, and forms a long magnetic loop which encircles the coil and passes through the distant air gap. The armature has a bistable toggle-like movement, and may be latched proximate either end wall. If springs are added between the armature and the body, the improved actuator may be used as a proportional position of force transducer within an operating range of armature movement.

Abstract: A linear force motor has an elongated body provided with an annular chamber therewithin. An armature is arranged within the chamber for axial movement relative thereto. Two axially-spaced permanent magnets, with their like poles arranged to face one another, are arranged within the body radially inwardly of the chamber, and are separated by a common polepiece. The force motor has four axially-spaced active air gaps, arranged in various reciprocal pairs and various parallel pairs. When the armature is shifted one direction relative to the body, the majority of each magnet's static flux passes through one parallel pair of air gaps. When the armature is shifted in the other direction relative to the body, the majority of each magnet static flux passes through the other parallel pair of air gaps. The motor has one or more coils operatively arranged to generate control flux in a path which passes through at least one reciprocal pair of air gaps.

Abstract: A coupling device has a male section selectively insertable into a female section. At least one of the sections has a ball valve rotatably mounted within a housing. When one section is inserted into the other, the ball valve is constrained to rotate about an axis eccentric to the center of the ball from a flow-preventing position to a flow-permitting position.

Abstract: A connector for sealingly joining the ends of a pair of electrical cables which provides a reusable quick-disconnect metal-to-metal sealing joint. Without the use of elastomeric seals. The connector has a male housing encircling the marginal end portion of one cable, has a female housing encircling the marginal end portion of the other cable, and has a coupling for selectively drawing the two housings into sealing engagement with one another. Each housing is sealed to the outer surface of the associated cable. An insert, provided with a flexible tab, is snapped into each housing to maintain the spacing of the conductors from one another and from the housing.

Abstract: A way of terminating an optical fiber is provided by collet-chuck type means which do not involve stripping, crimping or cementing.