Abstract: An electrical connector for establishing a positive interconnection between a first set of electrical contacts and a second set of electrical contacts which employs the use of a receptacle section and a plug section. The receptacle section includes a collet receiving opening therein. The plug section includes a plurality of collet fingers which are to be locatable within the collet receiving opening and establishing a positive interlocking therewith. The collet fingers are integrally formed within a sleeve which has a drawbolt slideably mounted therein. The drawbolt is movable by a manual actuation means between an extended position and a retracted position. With the drawbolt in the extended position the collet fingers are capable of being deflected thereby permitting movement of the receptacle section with respect to the plug section.

Abstract: An electrical connector having cooperable mating and unmating plug and receptacle means carrying a dielectric insert member within a cylindrical shell and having an insert member compressible retainer ring for immovably axially holding an insert member against a positioning shoulder within the shell.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a receptacle means including a receptacle shell and a plug means including a plug shell, coupling means including a coupling housing engaged with a coupling nut for rotation of the coupling nut, the coupling nut having threaded engagement with the plug shell and the coupling housing having a breech lock means engageable with cooperable breech lock lands on the receptacle shell, the plug means and receptacle means being adapted to be fully electrically mated and locked by rotation of the coupling housing through about 90.degree.. An arcuate detent member of about 180.degree. keyed to the plug shell for relative axial movement and received within an annular groove in the coupling housing for resilient forcible selective engagement of opposite radially outwardly enlarged ends of the arcuate detent member with two sets of radially outwardly formed recesses in the coupling housing.

Abstract: A machine for and a method of forming a continuous tubing of flexible material, said tubing being wound in helical fashion and having interlocking edge portions. The machine includes a pair of spaced askew related rollers about which a strip of flexible material is wound, one of the rollers having a plurality of annular fins spaced apart the width of the strip of flexible material to partially receive the strip between portions of adjacent fins. The other of said rollers may have a single annular fin. Guide means contact external surfaces of edge interlocking portions of the wound strip. Both of said rollers are driven at the same speed. In the method of forming such a flexible continuous tube the improvement comprises positively engaging internal surfaces of turns of the strip being wound for advancing the strip in one direction and positively engaging external surfaces of a portion of at least one turn of the strip being wound for guiding the strip on the pair of rollers.

Abstract: A multi-contact electrical connector having a plug section and a receptacle section is provided with a breech lock for releasably securing the separate sections of the connector together. Toggle action biasing means such as a conical disc spring and high lead threads with a predetermined amount of lost motion therein insure a "snap-action" mating and unmating of the two sections and the parts thereof as the breech lock is set and unset. This prevents a "false mating" and insures that the connector will always be either fully and completely mated or unmated. A short pin or remote mate monitor contact is included whereby the condition of the connector can be automatically and/or remotely monitored.

Abstract: A distance amplitude compensation system is disclosed herein for comparing received signals with a reference signal having a time varying amplitude. The preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is particularly adapted for use in an ultrasonic nondestructive testing system to vary the reference signal of the system as a function of time to compensate for variations of the echo signal produced by changes in the amplitude of the ultrasonic energy as it propagates through the workpiece as a result of attenuation or other causes. A pulser/receiver transmits ultrasonic signals into the workpiece, receives echo signals returned therefrom and produces received signals corresponding to the echo signals. A distance amplitude compensation generator produces a reference signal that has an amplitude that varies with time as a function of the manner in which the ultrasonic energy changtes as it propagates through the workpiece.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a coupling assembly breech retaining means carried by one of the mating sections of the connector to maintain a coupling ring housing, a coupling sleeve nut within the housing, and a spring means biasing said coupling nut in assembly in the coupling ring housing. The retaining means comprises an annular ring having outer circumferentially spaced locking lugs axially movable with respect to the coupling housing and within one end portion for engagement with spaced recesses in the end portion of the housing and biased in locking position by the spring means.

Abstract: The method of transferring radioactive material into and out of the cask comprises positioning a tank with an open end in a well. Then a cask having a passage for moving radioactive material into and out of the cask is placed in the tank through the opening in the tank. The tank opening is then sealed to the cask relative to the well without sealing the passage relative to the well to prevent water filled into the well from leaking into the tank. Then the well is filled with water above the seal, and radioactive material is then moved through the water in the well through the passage into the cask. The tank may be filled with demineralized water from a separate source to pressurize the space in the tank on the other side of the seal from the well to prevent water in the well from entering the tank.

Abstract: An electrical connector and method for providing an electrical connection wherein a receptacle having a current-carrying cable is insertible into a plug having a current-carrying cable and the cables are interconnected providing electrical connection therebetween. An endless spring coil of circular form having closely spaced turns each at an angle to its tangent to the circular form, when uncompressed, is inserted into an annular groove on the plug prior to insertion of the receptacle. When the receptacle is inserted into the plug, the coil is radially compressed thereby reducing the spacing between the turns and increasing their slant and wiping the coil along the contacting surfaces of the plug and receptacle to present the electrical effect of a solid coil and to minimize radio frequency and electromagnetic interferences.

Abstract: An ultrasonic nondestructive testing system and a "sled" for use in such a system are provided for nondestructively inspecting a workpiece. The "sled" includes an ultrasonic search unit effective to radiate or transmit ultrasonic energy in response to a driving signal and to receive ultrasonic energy and produce a received signal corresponding to the incident ultrasonic energy. The sled includes a sealed chamber filled with a liquid couplant. A resilient, elastomeric diaphragm forms one side of the chamber and is adapted to slide along the surface of the workpiece. An ultrasonic search unit projects into the chamber so as to be acoustically coupled to the diaphragm. In addition, an elastomeric member having a high acoustical attenuation and an acoustical impedance corresponding to that of the liquid couplant is provided inside of the chamber for absorbing spurious ultrasonic energy.

Abstract: An aircraft altimeter-encoder is provided with an altitude sensitive barometric or aneroid bellows which simultaneously drives a visual altitude indicator and an altitude digital encoder. The indicator includes one or more pointers that register with a dial. The encoder includes a wheel or disc having a series of transparent and opaque regions scanned by photo-optical means. This generates digital signals corresponding to the altitude indicated on the face of the altimeter. The digital signals are adapted to be fed to a transponder for telemetering to a ground station. The altimeter-encoder includes means for simultaneously adjusting both the indicator and the encoder disc to compensate for variations in the local or ambient barometric pressure. Means are also provided for adjusting the relationship between the indicator and the encoder disc whereby the digital altitude signals coupled to the transponder correspond exactly to the altitude indicated on the face of the altimeter, referenced to 29.