Abstract: An eye splice is disclosed for a hollow braid type of cord for use in a parachute shroud or the like. It comprises a bight 22 in the free end of the cord which is folded back to form an eye 16 with the bight extending through braided wall of the cord at an entry point 34 and then through the center to a take-out point 36 and then through the wall to provide a cinch loop 28 of the bight extending beyond the wall. The end of the standing part of the cord passes through and the cinch loop which is tight around the standing part.

Abstract: An electric horn having a diaphragm connected to a ferromagnetic plunger is driven by an electromagnetic coil to cause vibrations of the diaphragm at the resonant frequency of the diaphragm and plunger combination. A solid state driver has a timer tuned essentially to the frequency of the diaphragm assembly and controls the driver power output to effect coil energization to drive the diaphragm movement synchronously with the timer frequency. The driver output stage comprises a power MOSFET or a Darlington pair.

Abstract: A clutch for a tire lift/carrier winch includes a drive plate and a driven plate having a plurality of elongate springs thereon. The driven plate includes circumferentially spaced driven end portions which are positioned in driving engagement with circumferentially spaced drive portions of the drive plate to permit rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate when the load on the cable winding spool is within a prescribed limit. However, when the load on the cable winding spool exceeds the prescribed limit, the elongate springs on the driven plate function as cantilevered spring segments deflectable about respective fulcrums in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the driven plate upon rotation of the drive plate.

Abstract: A service brake and shift lever interlock system for a vehicle is operably controlled by a logic control circuit to prevent movement of the shift lever from the "Park" position when the ignition switch is in the "Start" or "Run" position and the service brake pedal is in a brake release position (i.e., the vehicle brakes are not applied). The interlock system does not prevent movement of the shift lever from the "Park" position under other conditions when the ignition switch is in the "Start" or "Run" position. An ignition interlock system prevents movement of the shift lever from the "Park" position when the ignition switch is in the "Lock" position.

Abstract: A remote meter reading system has equipment at a telephone company office coupled by modems to a utility company computer which issues requests for customer data. Telephone test trunks are used to access individual meter sites and initiate meter readings using a number of single frequency bursts. Meter sending units emit a pulse for each unit of consumption and a microprocessor counts the pulses in RAM to derive separate meter readings. When interrogated, the microprocessor outputs the readings in a binary coded decimal format to a DTMF tone generator which emits each decimal number as a tone pair which is transmitted via the telephone line and is detected at the telephone company, translated into ASCII code and transmitted by modem to the utility computer.

Abstract: A plurality of addressable transducers at remote locations are connected to a home station by a pair of transmission lines which carry power as well as address signals to the transducers, and carry response signals from the transducers, when addressed, to the home station. Each transducer carries a decoder which is programmed to recognize a particular code, and a response circuit comprising a current sink oscillator to modulate the transmission line current at a frequency corresponding to the measured parameter. The response circuit operates on an analog voltage representing the measured condition by an A/D converter to generate a corresponding digital number, a clock provides a fixed frequency, and a divider divides the fixed frequency by the digital number to provide a resultant frequency, which in turn is divided by a flip-flop to yield a square wave output.

Abstract: The housing of a transducer supports both dynamic and static pressure sensors to obtain depth information as well as pressure wave signals. A semiconductive diaphragm with diffused resistances connected in a bridge is used as the static sensor which is centrally located on an end face of the housing. Several parallel-connected dynamic sensor elements are arrayed around the static sensor. Each dynamic sensor element is an edge supported brass disk with a thin piezoelectric ceramic disk soldered to it such that the disks flex in response to low frequency pressure waves to generate corresponding electrical signals. A low noise amplifier and filter is capacitively coupled to the dynamic sensor array to process hydrophone signals at a frequency below 1 Hz.

Abstract: The pivot axis of a locking lever is used as the main gage or reference point relative to which the dimensions of components of the shift control mechanism are taken and, together with the geometry of the bellcrank, provide a transmission shift control mechanism that has no need for adjustment of the components involved upon assembly of the shift control mechanism with the ignition lock mechanism in the vehicle.

Abstract: A liquid level indicator uses a conductive probe and when the circuit is energized a logic signal indicates whether the liquid is above or below a certain level. The signal is processed by a logic circuit and the output of the logic circuit controls an indicator circuit. An inhibit circuit provides an input to the logic circuit and prevents the indicator circuit from indicating low liquid within a start time delay period after energization of the sensing circuit. The logic circuit includes a time constant circuit which interposes time delays in the logic signal output of the logic circuit to prevent false indications from momentary changes in liquid level.

Abstract: The transmission shift control mechanism includes a shift lever with a pushbutton mechanism for releasing a detent mechanism so that the shift lever can be moved from the "Park" position to other operative positions. A shift lever locking mechanism prevents movement of the shift lever from the "Park" position when the ignition lock mechanism is actuated to the "Lock" position and also prevents actuation of the ignition lock mechanism to the "Lock" position when the shift lever is in other than the "Park" position. The locking mechanism includes a pivotal locking lever, such as a bellcrank, having one arm operably connected to the push-pull cable of the vehicle ignition lock mechanism and a locking arm movable to block release of the detent mechanism upon actuation of the ignition lock mechanism to the "Lock" position with the shift lever in "Park".

Abstract: A small sonobuoy for dropping without a parachute and quickly deploying hydrophones is cylindrical and adapted to float with its axis parallel to the water. The hydrophone cable is wrapped around the housing so that the housing rotates as the cable is payed out. The antenna is also wrapped around the housing and is released after the cable is fully deployed. A retainer covering the coiled cable and the stored hydrophones is held in place by a releasable pin which is released by an electrical device activated by a sea water sensitive switch. The device heats a resistor which melts a lanyard which releases the pin.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled automatic transmission range shift selector positions the range shift valve in accordance with a shift request by an electric motor. A feedback transducer provides valve position information for motor control purposes. Vehicle conditions transducers including a door switch, a seat switch, vehicle speed and RPM sensors, ignition circuit status and key presence detectors, a parking brake sensor and a foot brake switch provide inputs to the microprocessor which is programmed to determine appropriate shifts to prevent requested range shifts in some cases and automatically initiating shifts into park in other cases. An automatic parking brake actuator and door lock actuators are also controlled by the microprocessor system.

Abstract: An electric horn has a diaphragm driven by a plunger which is vibrated by a coil having a pole piece. A small air gap between the plunger and the pole piece is required to assure that they will not touch during vibration. The gap is adjusted by assembling the horn with the gap small enough to permit the plunger to be pulled into contact with the pole piece by magnetic force when a preset direct current is applied to the coil. After assembly a calibration procedure is to apply the preset current to the coil, mechanically pull the pole piece away from the plunger until the diaphragm force overcomes the magnetic force causing the plunger and pole piece to separate, electrically detect the time of separation, and then stop or optionally pull the pole piece an additional fixed amount to set the required gap. Apparatus automatically performs the calibration procedure.

Abstract: A self-orienting device is disclosed for a transducer adapted to be dropped from an aircraft or other vehicle. An elongated body is provided with first, second and third arms each of which is pivotally connected with the body for pivotal motion between a stowed position parallel to the body and an erect position perpendicular to the body. The first and second arms are disposed on opposite sides of the body and the third arm is disposed therebetween. An actuator spring is provided on each arm urging it from the stowed position to the erect position and a tubular housing over the arms and body retains the arms in the stowed position. The third arm is also retained in the stowed position by a separate releasable retainer. After the transducer comes to rest on the ground, an ejector spring is released to separate the housing from the arms and the body whereby the first and second arms move to the erect position.

Abstract: A sequential launching system is disclosed for sonobuoys and the like in which each of a plurality of sonobuoys is provided with a separate launch mechanism. The launch mechanism comprises a piston and piston chamber at the aft end of the sonobuoy. The cross-sectional area of the piston chamber is substantially smaller than that of the launch tube and air flow passages are provided for allowing ambient air to flow to the aft end of the sonobuoy to equalize the air pressure with that at the forward end. Air passages around the plural sonobuoys are provided by longitudinally extending, radially spaced ribs which extend from the muzzle end to the breech end of the launch tube. The ribs serve to support and guide the sonobuoys in the launch tube.

Abstract: An electric horn, especially adapted for automotive vehicles includes a pole piece and adjusting cap for the driving motor. The pole piece and adjusting cap include a cylindrical shank and an enlarged head including a conical flange. The flange terminates in an annular rim which is in contact with and secured to the horn housing by resistance welding. A magnetic circuit for the motor extends from the pole face of the pole piece and adjusting cap through the shank and the head to the housing and the cross-sectional area for the flux path through the head is at least as great as that in the shank and sufficiently large to avoid undue magnetic saturation. The rim of the enlarged head has a diameter greater than that of the shank and less than the diameter of the housing coil cup to thereby obtain increased stiffness in the connection of the pole piece and adjusting cap with the housing.

Abstract: A tapered wiring harness is disclosed for an array of hydrophones with spaced take-out points on the harness at which a signal wire and a ground wire are connected with a hydrophone. The harness comprises a bundle of signal wires, which diminish in number from one end to the other, and it also comprises a ground wire and a strain cord, which extend throughout the length of the harness. The bundle of wires and the strain cord are held in a bundle of substantially circular cross-section by a lacing of thread formed as a sewing machine stitch of the zig zag type. Hairing members of uniform length are secured to the bundle under the lacing at predetermined intervals with the hairing more closely spaced on the larger diameter of the bundle. In another embodiment, the hairing members are spaced uniformly but are of variable length with longer members on the larger diameter of the bundle.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer, especially adapted for hydrophones, is disclosed. The transducer comprises a piezoelectric ceramic disk with a main or signal electrode, a common electrode and a feedback electrode; negative feedback is provided around an associated amplifier and the transducer. The transducer is useful in either a sonic receiver or a sonic transmitter. Various ceramic disk configurations are disclosed and several electrode configurations are disclosed. The negative feedback minimizes the undesired effects of the high Q characteristic of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer. The transducer exhibits improved frequency response characteristics including increased bandwidth and reduced resonance effects, fixed or linear phase shift over a broad range and improved transient response. Also, the effect of normal manufacturing variations upon sensitivity, frequency and phase response is minimized.

Abstract: An addressable transducer is disclosed for use in a monitoring system of the type including a central station and multiple addressable transducers for monitoring physical conditions. The transducer is connected across a single pair of transmission lines having a voltage thereon modulated at controlled intervals to produce successive binary address signals. Each address signal is produced as a level shift, pulsewidth modulation of the line voltage. An address signal processing circuit includes a memory for storing multiple bits of an assigned address signal. A multiplexer coupled with the memory and operated under clock control derived from the transmitted address signal generates a train of pulses representing the stored address signal in bit-by-bit synchronism with the train of pulses of the transmitted address. A match detector pairs the trains of the pulses and a match counter produces a control signal in response to a match of all bits of the addresses.

Abstract: An electric diaphragm horn includes a housing having a diaphragm mounted thereon defining a chamber, the chamber being vented to the atmosphere through the diaphragm.