Abstract: A catch basin may be retrofit for isolating/diverting spills and/or initial storm runoff for the subsequent treatment or recycling of the collected material. A sloping, peripheral trough is provided in the catch basin and is connected to one or more storage or recovery tanks or the like. A plurality of catch basins may be provided with troughs connected to one or more common storage or recovery tanks.

Abstract: The electrical and mass efficiencies of an electrically excited flowing gas laser are improved by lining the discharge tube with a filler which minimizes the regions of slow or recirculating gas flow, and by utilizing a wire anode gas injector to feed laser gases into the discharge.

Abstract: A chaff cartridge is made up of a plurality of chaff interpackets contained in subprojectiles. The subprojectiles are each provided with fins and the fins of each subprojectile in a chaff cartridge provide a different drag to cause the spacing out of the subprojectiles. The fins, additionally, cause the subprojectiles to rotate and thereby radially disperse the chaff.

Abstract: The generation of visible or ultraviolet chemical laser radiation is achieved by the vapor phase combustion of metal atoms. The vapor is formed in a precombustor and metal vapor is extracted from the precombustor and fed via a supersonic nozzle to the laser cavity where it is reacted with an oxidant to produce excited molecules and thereby lasing.

Abstract: The quality of and/or transmission speed for fingerprint facsimiles transmitted over telephone lines are improved by image enhancement prior to transmission. Image enhancement is achieved by using a multi-element photodetector array and simultaneously processing the signals from the component elements of the multi-element photodetector to produce a binary video output indicating whether the center of the scan is on a ridge or a valley portion of the fingerprint.

Abstract: A frangible member isolates a rupture disc from a pressurized fluid system. Under abnormal conditions such as might be encountered in a crash or derailment, the frangible member breaks and thereby permits direct contact of the rupture disc with the fluid system. If the pressure is sufficient, this causes the rupturing of the disc and the venting of the fluid system down to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A pliable optical prism for use in an optical imaging system such as a fingerprint reader where the prism is physically contacted and the nature of the contact determines the efficiency of the device. The pliable prism deforms under applied pressure to partially mirror the topographic configuration of the source of applied pressure.

Abstract: A scuff-resistant, waterproof environmental quality indicator suitable for field use to blot-test unknown spills or wet containers, as field markers of spray distribution, as floating markers of water contamination, as personnel protection badges and as integrating dosimeters. The environmental quality indicator has a topographically varying surface having substantially uniformly located raised portions defining the scuffing and abrasion level and relieved portions beneath the scuffing and abrasion level to protect the indicator formulation from physical environmental hazards, which can produce an initial false indication, while remaining freely exposed to chemical environmental hazards.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a pair of rotatable impellers in mating engagement in working chambers, each impeller having a plurality of constant cross-sectional profiles, each profile having a plurality of lobes and wells, the trailing well region of each profile communicating with the leading well region of an adjacent profile, an inlet communicating with the working chambers and an outlet located out of the plane of at least one of the profiles on each impeller.

Abstract: This invention relates to low range fluid speed sensors for the measurement of fluid currents in any direction, down to near zero velocity for dense fluids. Two signals with a 90.degree. space phase relationship are used which permits the instantaneous resolution of the fluid speed vector into its two orthogonal components.

Abstract: Apparatus for the detection of buried objects comprising a broadband, high resolution short pulse transmitter and a bistatic or monostatic noncontacting antenna for radiating the transmitted signal through the ground for reflection from a buried object, a sampling type receiver which reduces the bandwidth and center frequency of the received signal, and a locking circuit controlled by the first reflection from the ground or soil surface to thereby lock the range sweep to the soil surface and eliminate the effects of antenna height variations.

Abstract: Fluid density is measured in a fluid speed indicating apparatus by using a pair of rotor arms having a pair of asymetrically located venturis or equivalent venturis. A steady state pressure difference will be produced between the two pressure locations and will be a function of the rotational velocity and fluid density. Since the rotational velocity is a known constant, the fluid density can be derived directly from the steady state pressure difference.

Abstract: A chaff cartridge is made up of a plurality of chaff interpackets contained in subprojectiles. The subprojectiles are each provided with fins and the fins of each subprojectile in a chaff cartridge provide a different drag to cause the spacing out of the subprojectiles. The fins, additionally, cause the subprojectiles to rotate and thereby radially disperse the chaff.

Abstract: A process for interpreting remotely sensed data to determine the nature and presence of several conditions. Data sensed at two different wave bands are mathematically divided to determine the ratio of the energies coming from the observed object at the two wave bands. Unlike density addition or subtraction which furnish only the difference in the densities on the film, the step of mathematical division produces a change in pattern as well as density. The changes in the pattern can be interpreted to provide additional information from the data.

Abstract: A shaped-charge projectile having a cylindrical chamber containing a main charge, a fluted liner projecting into the chamber and means causing the liner to expand upon impact with a target and prior to firing of the main charge to thereby increase the penetrating power of the projectile. According to one aspect the means comprises a pyrotechnic material located within the liner, according to a second aspect the means comprises a ram driven into the liner and according to a third aspect the means comprises a plurality of rigid rods fixed to the flutes of the liner.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a pair of rotatable impellers in mating engagement in working chambers, each impeller having a plurality of constant cross-sectional profiles, each profile having a plurality of lobes and wells, the trailing well region of each profile communicating with the working chambers and an outlet located out of the plane of at least one of the profiles on each impeller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a belt stabilizing apparatus for maintaining a belt stable about a pair of rotating drums in response to lateral forces applied thereto. One of the drums is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the normal axis of rotation thereof and contained in a plane perpendicular to the planes containing the loaded and unloaded spans of the belt such that as the drum pivots in response to lateral forces the belt tends to move in a direction opposite thereto and resilient means is provided to limit the pivotal movement of the drum and prevent the belt from riding off the drums in such opposite direction.

Abstract: Following an emergency ejection from an aircraft, a radar altimeteris used to sense when a pilot or crewman, descending by parachute, is within 100 to 500 feet of the underlying terrain. When the predetermined altitude range is reached, the radar altimeter actuates a release mechanism and deploys a survival kit which remains connected to the parachutist via a strap or lanyard. The device can also be modified to measure and indicate the altitude above the terrain to function as a normal radar altimeter.

Abstract: A pattern recognition apparatus for recognizing or identifying fingerprint images and the like is described. The apparatus enables the determination of the coordinates and angular positions of characteritic points such as fingerprint minutiae. The pattern recognition apparatus includes a high resolution scanner for scanning a fingerprint impression or image, an analog to digital converter to convert the scanner signals to a digitally encoded image having many levels of gray scale data, an image enhancer to eliminate imperfections in the imagery, pre-editing circuits to edit out areas of the image which should not be further processed, a minutiae detection system having high redundancy to reduce the probability of missed minutiae, and a post-editing subsystem to eliminate false minutiae detections.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having mating rotary impellers defined by lobes and well spaces therebetween, a discharge port sealed by the peripheral surface of one of the lobes and passages for communicating one impeller well space with a well space of the other impeller as the discharge port is sealed by the one impeller peripheral surface. According to one form, the passages are defined by conduits in the compressor housing; whereas according to a second form the passages are defined by a recess in one impeller and the interior of the compressor housing.