Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming die typically includes a rigid backing section, a series of spaced ribs extending forward from the backing section, and an elongated face sheet secured to the ribs forward of the backing section with a convex forward-facing die face. The ribs elastically deflect during thermal expansion of the face sheet when a heated metal bar is forced against the die face so that the metal bar transfers heat to the face sheet. The die typically includes stiff ribs secured to the backing section and the face sheet which provide substantially fixed points for the face sheet during its thermal expansion. The face sheet may include several face sheet segments which together from the die face. The face sheet may also include contour plates which form respective portions of the die face and which may be used to adjust the specific contour of the die face.

Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming die typically includes a rigid backing section, a series of spaced ribs extending forward from the backing section, and an elongated face sheet secured to the ribs forward of the backing section with a convex forward-facing die face. The ribs elastically deflect during thermal expansion of the face sheet when a heated metal bar is forced against the die face so that the metal bar transfers heat to the face sheet. The die typically includes stiff ribs secured to the backing section and the face sheet which provide substantially fixed points for the face sheet during its thermal expansion. The face sheet may include several face sheet segments which together from the die face. The face sheet may also include contour plates which form respective portions of the die face and which may be used to adjust the specific contour of the die face.

Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming die typically includes a rigid backing section, a series of spaced ribs extending forward from the backing section, and an elongated face sheet secured to the ribs forward of the backing section with a convex forward-facing die face. The ribs elastically deflect during thermal expansion of the face sheet when a heated metal bar is forced against the die face so that the metal bar transfers heat to the face sheet. The die typically includes stiff ribs secured to the backing section and the face sheet which provide substantially fixed points for the face sheet during its thermal expansion. The face sheet may include several face sheet segments which together from the die face. The face sheet may also include contour plates which form respective portions of the die face and which may be used to adjust the specific contour of the die face.

Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming die typically includes a rigid backing section, a series of spaced ribs extending forward from the backing section, and an elongated face sheet secured to the ribs forward of the backing section with a convex forward-facing die face. The ribs elastically deflect during thermal expansion of the face sheet when a heated metal bar is forced against the die face so that the metal bar transfers heat to the face sheet. The die typically includes stiff ribs secured to the backing section and the face sheet which provide substantially fixed points for the face sheet during its thermal expansion. The face sheet may include several face sheet segments which together from the die face. The face sheet may also include contour plates which form respective portions of the die face and which may be used to adjust the specific contour of the die face.

Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming die typically includes a rigid backing section, a series of spaced ribs extending forward from the backing section, and an elongated face sheet secured to the ribs forward of the backing section with a convex forward-facing die face. The ribs elastically deflect during thermal expansion of the face sheet when a heated metal bar is forced against the die face so that the metal bar transfers heat to the face sheet. The die typically includes stiff ribs secured to the backing section and the face sheet which provide substantially fixed points for the face sheet during its thermal expansion. The face sheet may include several face sheet segments which together form the die face. The face sheet may also include contour plates which form respective portions of the die face and which may be used to adjust the specific contour of the die face.

Abstract: A hot stretch wrap forming die typically includes a rigid backing section, a series of spaced ribs extending forward from the backing section, and an elongated face sheet secured to the ribs forward of the backing section with a convex forward-facing die face. The ribs elastically deflect during thermal expansion of the face sheet when a heated metal bar is forced against the die face so that the metal bar transfers heat to the face sheet. The die typically includes stiff ribs secured to the backing section and the face sheet which provide substantially fixed points for the face sheet during its thermal expansion. The face sheet may include several face sheet segments which together form the die face. The face sheet may also include contour plates which form respective portions of the die face and which may be used to adjust the specific contour of the die face.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring accommodation of a lens in an eye includes a target, a Badal lens, and a viewing aperture, where the Badal lens and the viewing aperture are positioned so that when the target moves towards or away from the lens, the apparent size of the target remains constant to a subject looking in the viewing aperture regardless of the distance the target moves. The apparatus may be provided in a compact housing and may include a mirror placed in the housing so that the viewing aperture can be placed away from the optical axis of the lens. The apparatus includes a controller to control the movement of the target. The apparatus measures the accommodation of a lens based on the distance the target moves during an examination. Methods of measuring accommodation of a lens in an eye of a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring accommodation of a lens in an eye includes a target, a Badal lens, and a viewing aperture, where the Badal lens and the viewing aperture are positioned so that when the target moves towards or away from the lens, the apparent size of the target remains constant to a subject looking in the viewing aperture regardless of the distance the target moves. The apparatus may be provided in a compact housing and may include a mirror placed in the housing so that the viewing aperture can be placed away from the optical axis of the lens. The apparatus includes a controller to control the movement of the target. The apparatus measures the accommodation of a lens based on the distance the target moves during an examination. Methods of measuring accommodation of a lens in an eye of a subject are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining various physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, stress, strain, distance and the like in a manner such that a change in the physical quantity of interest results in a measurable change in the frequency of oscillation of a signal generated within the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining various physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, stress, strain, distance and the like in a manner such that a change in the physical quantity of interest results in a measurable change in the frequency of oscillation of a signal generated within the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining various physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, stress, strain, distance and the like in a manner such that a change in the physical quantity of interest results in a measurable change in the frequency of oscillation of a signal generated within the apparatus.

Abstract: A position encoder system is disclosed for determining the position of an object. The system includes a camera, a ruled scale, and a control system. The system first obtains a pixel brightness image of the ruled scale attached to the object and downloads this data image to a computer. The computer, running a fast position determination, determines the fundamental frequency of the image through the use of a Fourier transform of the pixel brightness variations in the image. The phase difference between the fundamental frequency and a reference is then converted into an actual position of the object since the spacing of the individual rulings on the scale is known and one cycle of the fundamental frequency corresponds to one spacing interval on the rulings. With this measurement of the actual position, the control system compares it to the desired position and, if necessary, corrects the position of the object.

Abstract: A portable electric warning light comprises an elongated electrically conducting housing to which an end cap is connected at one end to provide an on/off switch function and to which a gas discharge flash tube is connected at the other end for emitting, through both end and side walls of a cover connected to the housing, bright flashes of light in response to the operation of batteries and an electronic circuit contained within the housing. The batteries are rechargeable, which can be accomplished in a particular implementation wherein external terminals provide access to the batteries without disassembling the light. The connection of one end of the batteries to the electronic circuit is made through the end cap assembly and the housing, and in one embodiment the connection of the other end of the batteries to the electronic circuit is made through the metallic housing of a flash capacitor forming part of the circuit.

Abstract: A portable electric warning light comprises an elongated electrically conducting housing to which an end cap is connected at one end to provide an on/off switch function and to which a gas discharge flash tube is connected at the other end for emitting, through both end and side walls of a cover connected to the housing, bright flashes of light in response to the operation of batteries and an electronic circuit contained within the housing. The batteries are rechargeable, which can be accomplished in a particular implementation wherein external terminals provide access to the batteries without disassembling the light. The connection of one end of the batteries to the electronic circuit is made through the end cap assembly and the housing, and in one embodiment the connection of the other end of the batteries to the electronic circuit is made through the metallic housing of a flash capacitor forming part of the circuit.

Abstract: An improved fluid actuating system for imparting motion to a body such as a spacecraft is disclosed. The fluid actuating system consists of a fluid mass that may be controllably accelerated through at least one fluid path whereby an opposite acceleration is experienced by the spacecraft. For full control of the spacecraft's orientation, the system would include a plurality of fluid paths. The fluid paths may be circular or irregular, and the fluid paths may located on the interior or exterior of the spacecraft.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely locating the position of a transmitter either along a line, or a surface, or within a three dimensional space. More particularly the apparatus of the invention is adapted for use with a computer and includes a pen sized movable transmitter, or mouse, whose exact position can be determined without the use of any physical connection between the transmitter and the balance of the apparatus.

Abstract: Piezoelectric sensor devices are attached across pairs of circularly arranged spokes arrayed on the periphery of an annular ring. The sensor devices each include a preloaded steel ball mounting arrangement for mounting a piezoelectric sensor element. A first circular interface plate on one side of the sensor structure attaches to alternate ones of the spokes, and a circular interface plate on the opposite side of the same diameter as the first interface plate attaches to the remaining spokes.

Abstract: A valve assembly for allowing entry of a sampling device or probe device from an ambient atmosphere to a vacuum chamber comprises an electromagnet means which controls a ball made of magnetic material. Upon entry of the device into an entry inlet of the apparatus, the ball is seated in response to activation of the electromagnet means so as to seal an aperture leading to the vacuum chamber. As the device is moved towards the vacuum chamber, the magnetic force is removed, which allows the ball to drop away from the aperture allowing entry of the device into the vacuum chamber. Upon withdrawal of the device from the vacuum chamber, the ball is actuated by the electromagnet to seal the aperture, thereby maintaining the integrity of the vacuum system.