Abstract: A perforating gun (10, 210, 310, 410) is provided for retaining a plurality of explosive charges (16, 16′) in an angular phased array with the discharge ends (16a, 16a′) of each succeeding explosive charge (16, 16′) disposed at a selected angular orientation relative to the other explosive charges (16, 16′) as determined by the configuration of an undulating path defined by support wires (14, 14′) or wire pairs (19a, 19b). The perforating gun (10, 210, 310, 410) comprises a plurality of support wires (14, 14′) disposed about a common longitudinal axis (L—L) and extending in an undulating path so as to define a wire carrier or cage in which the explosive charges (16, 16′) are retained by securing the discharge ends (16a), or the initiation ends (16b), or both, to support wires (14, 14).

Abstract: The present invention provides several embodiments of tension-indicating fasteners that include tension indicators having indicating arms equipped with a laterally-extending contact member or a foot portion. A contact member extends in a tangential direction from the fastener head. The indicating arm is secured to the fastener and, by having laterally-distant contact points, the deflection of a substrate caused by the fastener head causes a distal end of the indicating arm to move with amplified magnitude. In still other embodiments of the invention, a fastener includes tension indicia for indicating a target degree of substrate deflection. The tension indicator may be disposed within a recess in the fastener head to allow the use of conventional tightening tools.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing a parting composition for facilitating the release of foodstuffs from cooking utensils, the composition containing an edible oil, lecithin, water, a organic, non-soap fluidizing agent. The water is present in an amount sufficient to partially, but not fully, hydrate the lecithin so as to render the partially hydrated lecithin insoluble in the edible oil. The method includes combining at least the lecithin and fluidizing agent and homogenizing the ingredients to reduce the size of the lecithin platelets. The composition, which may further include a suitable normally gaseous propellant to discharge the composition from a conventional aerosol spray can, provides a substantially clear and smooth spray coating on cooking utensils at ambient temperatures, without the need for ethyl alcohol in the composition. The composition may optionally include conventional modifying agents such as suspending agents, anti-oxidants, preservatives, flavorants, etc.

Abstract: A signal transmission fuse is made of a tube (36) which encases a support tape (14) having a reactive coating (18′) which is adhered to one side of the tape by a binder. A method of making the signal transmission fuse includes depositing on the support tape (14) a reactive paint (18) including a binder, which paint dries to form a reactive coating (18′). The coated support tape (14′) is then folded, i.e., formed into a channel configuration, to provide an inner concave side of the tape on which the reactive coating (18′) has been disposed. The coated support tape is then enclosed, e.g., within an extruded plastic tube (36). One side of the support tape may be made of a first material (14a) to which the reactive coating adheres, and a second side may be made of a second material (14b) which bonds or adheres to the inner surface (36a) of the plastic tube (36) enclosing the coated support tape (14′).

Abstract: A shock-resistant electronic circuit assembly (10) is provided in which an electronic circuit is encased in an encapsulation (14) that engages a surrounding enclosure (18, 22) in shock-dispersing contact therewith. The encapsulation may have a plurality of edges (16, 16a, 16b), fins (24) or bosses (70) that bear against the enclosure. The encapsulation may include a shock-absorbing material (14f) disposed against the enclosure to protect the circuit against vibrations and a structural support material (14e) to protect the circuit against stress. The circuit assembly (10) may contain a capacitor (34) for storing an electrical signal and timing circuitry for releasing the stored energy after a predetermined delay. The circuit assembly (10) may be part of a transducer-circuit assembly (55) that includes a transducer module (58) for converting shock wave energy into electrical energy for the electronic circuit, and the released energy may be converted into a detonation initiation signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor element, e.g., a semiconductor bridge element (30), is surface mountable as it has thereon a metal layer comprised of metal lands (44) and electrical connectors 45a, 45b and 45c) which terminate in flat electrical contacts (47) on the back surface (35) of the element. Optionally, the element may also contain back-to-back zener diodes (46a, 46b) to provide unbiased protection against electrostatic discharge. When configured as a semiconductor bridge element (30), the element, among other uses, finds use as an igniter (13) for an explosive element. The elements may be made by a method including a cross-cut technique in which grooves (60) cut in the front surface (58) of a silicon wafer substrate (56) intersect grooves (64) cut in the back surface (62) of the wafer. The intersecting grooves (60,64) form a plurality of apertures in the wafer (56), the apertures and grooves helping to define a plurality of dies having side surfaces.

Abstract: A disposed system for medical waste, and particularly sharp ended waste, includes a sharps receptacle and a companion needle holder. The needle holder has an actuation mechanism capable of detachably mounting an externally threaded hub of a needle assembly to the holder. The sharps receptacle has a top with an automatic release structure disposed thereon for engagement with the actuation mechanism of the needle holder. The automatic release structure cooperates with the actuation mechanism of the needle holder to automatically detach a mounted needle assembly from the holder into the sharps receptacle in response to placement of the holder into the automatic release structure.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device (10) formed in a chip of an indirect bandgap semiconductor material such as silicon is disclosed and claimed. The device comprises a visibly exposed highly doped n.sup.+ region (16) embedded at the surface of an oppositely doped epitaxial layer (14), to form a first junction region (15) closed to the surface of the epitaxial layer. When the junction region is reverse biased to beyond avalanche breakdown, the device acts as a light emitting device to the external environment. When it is reversed biased to just below avalanche breakdown it acts as a light detector. The device may further include a further junction region for generating or providing additional carriers in the first junction region, thereby to improve the performance of the device. This further junction can be multiplied to facilitate multi-input signal processing functions where the light emission from the first junction is a function of the electrical signals applied to the further junctions.

Abstract: A dispenser apparatus (36) permits dispensing from different model machines sheet material from a standard size supply roll (40), mounted as part of a supply roll member (38) on a support bar (46) having a locator (48a, 48b) which adapts the dispenser apparatus (36) to be mounted on any one of a variety of models of under-stencil wipe fixtures (26). Support bar (46) has a plurality of radial bores (52a-52d) to enable positioning supply roll member (38) at a selected longitudinal position in support bar (46) to permit aligning the supply roll (40) with a given cut-out pattern (18) on stencil (16). Supply roll member (38) comprises a supply roll (40) mounted on a core member (42) having a core member extension (42a) which protrudes beyond supply roll (40) and has a radial bore (42b) for mounting supply roll member (38) on support bar (46) by screw fastener(54).

Abstract: A self-blunting needle medical device comprises a needle cannula (18) fixed to a hub (20) having a receiving structure therein such as ferrule (22) and a movable blunting member (14) movably received within the cannula (18). Ferrule (22) defines a sleeve bore (38) extending therethrough, within which both the cannula (18) and the movable member (14) can be received and which establishes a coaxial relationship between them. The ferrule (22) defines a first guide surface (40) for directing the blunting end (14a) of the movable member (14) into the central bore of the cannula (18) during assembly. A second guide surface (42) performs the function of guiding the proximal end (18b) of the cannula (18) into ferrule (22) for mounting therein. Typically, the cannula (18) has a tissue puncture tip (18a). When the movable member (14) is retracted into the cannula (18), the puncture tip (18a) is exposed for use, e.g., injection into tissue.

Abstract: An explosive particle-containing carrier material (24b) and a fully jacketed finished explosive material (33, 33') containing it, e.g., detonating cord, are produced in a high-speed continuous process by impregnating an absorbent carrier material such as cotton yarn (14) with a solution (12) of an explosive. Explosive particles (46) are precipitated from solution within the solution-impregnated carrier material (20) either by contacting the latter with a non-solvent fluid and/or subjecting it to flash evaporation under a vacuum. Rapid precipitation yields superfine explosive crystals (particles 46) within the carrier material (24b). Residual liquid non-solvent and/or solvent is removed from the carrier material, which may be encased in a plastic cover (38, 38') to provide a finished article (33, 33').

Abstract: An electronic delay circuit (10) for use in a detonator (100) has a switching circuit (20) and a timer circuit (22). Switching circuit (20) controls the flow of a stored charge of electrical energy from a storage capacitor (12) to a bridge initiation element such as a semiconductor bridge (18) or a tungsten bridge. The timing of the release of this energy is controlled by timer circuit (22). Switching circuit (20) is an integrated, dielectrically isolated, bipolar CMOS (DI BiCMOS) circuit, whereas timer circuit (22) is a conventional CMOS circuit. The use of a DI BiCMOS switching circuit allows for greater efficiency of energy transfer from the storage capacitor (12) to the semiconductor bridge (18) than has previously been attained.

Abstract: The presence of hydrocarbons in soil is detected by immersing a soil sample in a water-miscible solvent capable of dissolving the hydrocarbons to extract hydrocarbons from the soil into the solvent. An aqueous developer is mixed into the solvent to produce a test mixture. The turbidity of the test mixture is observed to determine the presence of hydrocarbons in the soil. The aqueous developer may contain at least 0.5% salt, e.g., at least 1%, preferably 5% salt, and an emulsifier. Turbidity may be measured quantitatively by measuring light scattered at 90.degree. to a test light beam or by visual comparison to a reference scale.

Abstract: A fabrication assembly (10, 18, 24, 30, 38, 44, etc.) for the manufacture of prosthetic and orthotic devices allows various components of these devices to be aligned on a common mast with respect to height, distance, flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and rotation alignment criteria, and each of these criteria can be adjusted apart from the other criteria. There are planar translation components (62, 62') that permit true planar, medial-lateral movement relative to a mast (10) without imposing rotation or angular deflection to a component mounted thereon. Accordingly, the assembly of a prosthetic or orthotic device according to physiological alignment criteria is an efficient step-by-step process, whereas prior art devices required that at least two criteria be adjusted and checked simultaneously. Among the features of the fabricating system are an angular/rotational fixture (38) that allows for separate settings of angular and rotational orientations for a given component.

Abstract: A power log splitter includes a base (28) and a wedge (12) and a ram (34) mounted on the base for receiving a log (31) lengthwise between them. A motor (16) turns a cam means (26) to deliver a series of short, quick blows onto one of the wedge (12) and ram (34), to generate strokes by which the wedge (12) splits the log (31). Preferably, there are more than two strokes per second; each stroke preferably has a duration of not more than about 0.05 second and the length of each stroke is preferably not more than 5 percent of the log length capacity L.sub.m, typically not more than 0.75 inch. The device includes a worm shaft (36) and transmission box (38) to urge together wedge (12) and ram (34) in a motion that is independent of the strokes produced by the rotating cam means (26).

Abstract: An electronic delay circuit (10) useful for the delayed initiation of detonators illustrates several novel features that may be combined, including a novel oscillator (34), a programmable timer circuit (32) and a run control circuit (46). The oscillator (34) generates a clock signal determined by the rate of discharge of a capacitor (34a) relative to a reference voltage REF. A second capacitor (34b) is charged to a voltage that exceeds REF, and when the first capacitor (34a) falls below REF, an internal signal is generated and the capacitors are switched, so that the first capacitor gets charged while the second is discharged. A latch (34f) produces clock pulses in response to the internal signals. The programmable timer circuit (32) includes a ripple counter (38) and a program bank (40) that loads a count in the counter upon initialization.

Abstract: A sealing device (30) is provided for sealing the interior of a pressure vessel such as the containment tube (20) of a separation device (8). The sealing device may comprises a detonation manifold (130, 230 or 330) having a body portion (31) having at least one initiation port (32) for receiving a secondary device such as initiation devices (15a, 15b) and at least one mounting boss (138 or 238) having an annular locking channel (162 or 262) along the side surface (138b or 238b) of the mounting boss. A locking collar (150 or 250) having an integral crimping band (158 or 258) which extends along and protrudes from an inner circumferential contact surface (151 or 251) of locking collar (150 or 250).

Abstract: A detonator (100) assembled from a housing (112), an output charge (144) and an initiation means (110, 120, 58, 54) includes a pulverulent ignition charge (46a) disposed in direct initiation relation to the initiation means, and an output charge (144) that may contain a pulverulent deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) charge (144a) and a base charge (144b). The ignition charge (46a) has an average particle size of less than 10 microns, or even less than 5 microns, e.g., 1 to 2 microns. The initiation means may include a semiconductor bridge (18) and the ignition charge (46a) may be compacted with a force of less than about 5880 psi, e.g., with a force of 1000 psi.

Abstract: The manufacture of a signal transmission tube (10a) comprising a polymeric tube (12) having an interior surface (14) with a thin layer of reactive material (18) disposed on the interior surface (14) is rendered more efficient and less costly by the use of reclaim polymeric material obtained from pre-existing signal transmission tubes. The reclaim material is obtained by deactivating the pre-existing tube, e.g., by initiating a signal in the tube to deactivate the reactive material. Alternatively, deactivation may be achieved by thermally degrading the reactive material or physically removing the material from the interior of the pre-existing tube. The reclaim material is then used to extrude the new tube (12), reducing the consumption of virgin polymeric material. When the reclaim material is obtained from a multi-layered tube, it may comprise a blend of polymeric materials and may advantageously be used as a tie layer (26) between layers (20', 24') that comprise materials present in the blend.