Abstract: A self-calibrating radiometer comprising a block having a front surface for receiving incident radiation flux, an identically configured rear surface for receiving internally applied heat and a midportion for thermally insulating the rear surface from the front surface, the front surface being capable of absorbing as heat substantially all radiation flux incident thereupon and capable of reradiating substantially all of the absorbed heat, and the rear surface being capable of radiating substantially all heat applied thereto, a thermocouple configuration for sensing the heat radiated by each of the front and rear surfaces, an indicator for indicating any difference in the sensed heat, a heating element for applying enough heat to the rear surface so that no difference in heat radiated by the front and rear surfaces is indicated by the indicator, and a measuring circuit for measuring the heat applied to the rear surface, such measurement being indicative of the radiant flux incident on the front surface.

Abstract: A device for recording a drop in temperature below a pre-selected temperature minimum. The device provides a permanent record of the drop in temperature. The device is reuseable.

Abstract: An angle of attack indicating device for use in indicating the sail trim of a sail boat or the angle of attack of an airfoil in order that the sail or the airfoil may be optimized. The device of the present invention employs wind operated sensing vanes coupled to associated indicator vanes mounted on either side of the leading edge of an airfoil such as a sail or wing, which are employed to sense the airflow differential on the opposite sides of the airfoil. By visual indication of the relative positions of the wind responsive vane and the indicating vane appropriate adjustment may be made to maintain the proper attack angle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the machinability and/or the friction factor and relative roughness of holes in solid bodies, particularly of holes in bodies of refractory composition, such as of graphite, are described.One objective in the design and processing of graphite, such as is used in a nuclear reactor core, is the optimization of the pressure drop through the coolant channels or holes in said core. In many instances, frictional head losses provide the chief contribution to a given pressure drop. Among other objectives, the present invention is designed to permit ready measurement as to when optimization of pressure drop through such holes has been achieved, and to thereby also indirectly provide a means or monitoring device for ascertaining the best drilling parameters and/or processing conditions to be used in producing said graphite core.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the vertical displacement between a remote point and a reference point. The apparatus comprises a pair of reservoirs, each having a liquid working fluid disposed therein, a differential pressure transducer and a hydraulic coupling means for each of the reservoirs. Each hydraulic coupling means couples a point in the reservoir below the top surface of the working fluid to an associated input port of the pressure transducer. A vapor pressure equalization means is provided for the reservoirs whereby the points above the top surface of the working fluid in each reservoir are maintained at substantially equal pressures. The apparatus further includes a volumetric temperature compensation means for offsetting temperature dependent changes in the volume of the working fluids which occur in the hydraulic coupling means.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for testing a moving elongate strip of material to determine the coefficient of friction with respect to a control sample having known surface characteristics with a predetermined correlation to the surface characteristics normally encountered by the strip of material in use or processing, and/or the proportion of increased tension caused by movement of the strip in contact with the control sample to the original tension in the strip are provided by this invention. This determination is made by moving the elongate strip of material under tension of any magnitude in sliding frictional engagement with the control sample which moves in response to unbalanced forces generated by the incoming tension and the sliding frictional engagement along a predetermined path of travel, preferably arcuate, until the forces exerted on the control sample become balanced at a given position along the path of travel.

Abstract: A method of sensing the presence and proper positioning of an annular sealing gasket encircling the neck of a closure flange employed in the fabrication of steel shipping drums. The closure flange consists of an upstanding internally threaded cylindrical neck surrounded by a laterally extending noncircular base at its lower end. An annular, resilient sealing gasket is placed over the flange neck so as to seat above the flange base. The gasket is sensed for presence and proper positioning as the flange moves along a predetermined path with automatic ejection of improperly gasketed flanges.

Abstract: The specification and drawings disclose a gauge glass assembly including a gauge glass protected by a tubular shield including means for permitting visual observation of the gauge glass. The gauge glass is positioned in a cylindrical receptor which is in flow communication with the liquid whose level is being observed. The shield surrounds the gauge glass and has a length sufficient to enclose the exposed length of gauge glass. At the upper end of the shield an upper nut member is threadedly received on the shield and arranged such that when tightened it applies an axially directed force to drive the glass into the receptor. A lower nut member is positioned about the lower end of the gauge but is threaded to the receptor. Outwardly extending tabs or ears on the shield are engaged by the lower nut such that tightening of the nut drives the shield axially toward the receptor.

Abstract: The temperature of a metal surface is measured by positioning a radiation detector so that the angle between its optical axis and a line normal to the surface is equal to the principal angle of incidence of the radiation emitted by the surface and interposing a polarizer between surface and radiation detector adjusted to pass only radiation polarized parallel to the plane of emittance. In this way the effects of emissivity variations of the surface are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A testing device for filter-tipped cigarettes comprises a first source of positive or negative pressure arranged to be connected to at least one end of each cigarette to be tested, to produce an air flow through the wrapper of the cigarette, means for monitoring the pressure or flow rate of the air flow to detect the presence of an excessively leaky wrapping, and means for defining a chamber around the cigarette in the region of the joint between the filter and the tobacco-filled part of the cigarette and for connecting the chamber to a second source of negative or positive pressure.

Abstract: A transducer to monitor a parameter and produce an acoustic signal from which the monitored parameter can be recovered. The transducer comprises a modified Galton whistle which emits a narrow band acoustic signal having a frequency dependent upon the parameter being monitored, such as the temperature of the cooling media of a nuclear reactor. Multiple locations within a reactor are monitored simultaneously by a remote acoustic receiver by providing a plurality of transducers each designed so that the acoustic signal it emits has a frequency distinct from the frequencies of signals emitted by the other transducers, whereby each signal can be unambiguously related to a particular transducer.

Abstract: A liquid level transmitter in which the level of liquid in a tank is detected by a sensor formed by a housing attached to the tank over an opening therein, the housing having a fill chamber defined by a sensing diaphragm which is exposed to the liquid in the tank and an insert incorporated within the housing and spaced from the diaphragm. The sensor housing is joined by a support tube to the body of a force balance meter which includes a pivoted force beam whose lower extermity is mechanically linked to a force measuring diaphragm disposed in a diaphragm chamber. The fill chamber of the sensor communicates with the diaphragm chamber of the meter by way of a capillary extended through the coupling tube. The fill chamber, the capillary and the diaphragm chamber contain hydraulic fluid, whereby tank liquid pressure imposed on the sensing diaphragm is transferred hydraulically to the force measuring diaphragm to deflect the force beam.

Abstract: A viscous damper for damping linear vibrations along an axis to isolate a precision instrument such as a vibrating beam accelerometer having a divided sealed cavity containing a damping fluid with a diaphragm disposed on each side of the division and a narrow gap coupling the spaces next to the two diaphragms, the diaphragms coupled respectively between an internal and an external mount with the instrument to be protected mounted to the internal mount and the external mount mounted to the body to which the instrument is attached.

Abstract: A method of testing a Hydraulic Release and a test appliance therefor using elevated air pressure.

Abstract: A temperature probe measures temperature changes of biological tissue while he tissue is being irradiated with microwaves. The temperature probe is completely nonmetallic to minimize perturbation of the microwave field, and the structure of the probe includes a plurality of optic fibers which carry light to and from a reflective liquid crystal film. The liquid crystal is enclosed in a housing at the tip of the probe which is in contact with the biological tissue, and the liquid crystal undergoes changes in absolute reflectance proportional to the temperature changes of the tissue. The optic fibers are gathered in a bundle with a first portion of the bundle transmitting light from a light generation device to the liquid crystal and the remainder of the bundle transmitting reflected light from the crystal back to a photo transistor. The reflected light received by the photo transistor is converted into an electrical signal and displayed as a representation of temperature.

Abstract: An accumulator warning system utilizing an electric system with an electric signal and wherein a movable member is disposed in a container having a gas on one side of the member and oil on the other side of the member. The movable member moves toward electric conductors when the gas in the container is depleted, and thus the electric signal is activated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring areas of workpieces, especially skins such as sheepskins in which the wool extends beyond the edges of the pelt, is provided. Air under pressure is supplied to a row of jet members and the skin to be measured is passed below the jet members. The pressure within the members is sensed, increase in this pressure indicating that the jet member is blocked off by the skin. By repeatedly counting how many of the jet members are blocked off, as the skin is passed underneath, a measure of the area of the skin is obtained. Since the wool does not interfere with the air issuing from the jet members, the measurement obtained represents the area of the pelt.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the stiffness characteristic of structural adhesives which encompasses a critically patterned series of sensor points which enables the recording of minute movements of a bonded specimen to which force is applied with exacting precision.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the stiffness characteristic of structural adhesives which encompasses a critically patterned series of sensor points which functions cooperatively with a novel mounting mechanism to enable the recording of minute movements of a bonded specimen to which force is applied with exacting precision.

Abstract: Pressure converter for use between a hydraulic load sensing element and a gauge or other device to indicate a property of the load directly in desired units. The pressure converter comprises a first force-pressure transducer connected hydraulically to the sensing element, a second force-pressure transducer connected hydraulically to the gauge, and a pivotally mounted beam having first and second arms connected to the transducers for producing a pressure in the second transducer corresponding to the pressure from the sensing element and the relative lengths of the arms. In one embodiment, the beam pivots about an adjustable fulcrum member which can be moved axially of the beam to vary the lengths of the arms and provide the desired calibration. In a second embodiment, the pivot for the beam is provided by a flexure plate, and the lengths of the arms are adjusted by changing the distances between the load cells and the flexure plates.