Abstract: A detector for detecting the removal and/or insertion of a weapon out of and/or into a holster. The detector may transmit a message each time the weapon is removed from the holster. A recording system may receive the message and determine whether or not it will begin recording the data it captures. A detector may detect the change in a magnitude of an inductance and/or an impedance of a circuit to detect insertion and removal of the weapon into and out of the holster. The holster is configured to couple to the detector to position the detector to detect insertion and removal of the weapon. An adhesive tape may couple a detector to a holster.

Abstract: A tubular fluid flow device of varying outside dimensions adapted for use in a high pressure, rapidly cycling temperature environment, an isolation ball valve, a ball valve isolation method and a catalyst transfer method. The flow device 10 can have a tubular member 12 having at least one locus 14, 16 of non-uniform outside dimension and an axial flow passage 20 with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements. A thermal sleeve liner 22 can be disposed about the axial flow passage in a bore 24 formed in the tubular member, wherein the sleeve comprises an outer surface having a thermal barrier coating 26. A pressure-relief passage 28 is provided in fluid communication between the axial flow passage and an interface between an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore.

Abstract: A tubular fluid flow device of varying outside dimensions adapted for use in a high pressure, rapidly cycling temperature environment, an isolation ball valve, a ball valve isolation method and a catalyst transfer method. The flow device 10 can have a tubular member 12 having at least one locus 14, 16 of non-uniform outside dimension and an axial flow passage 20 with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements. A thermal sleeve liner 22 can be disposed about the axial flow passage in a bore 24 formed in the tubular member, wherein the sleeve comprises an outer surface having a thermal barrier coating 26. A pressure-relief passage 28 is provided in fluid communication between the axial flow passage and an interface between an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore.

Abstract: A thermally compensated mounting flange 10 useful for mechanically attaching equipment to a device which can be operated at a relatively high temperature is disclosed, such as an actuator 32 to operate valve 12. The mounting flange 10 and valve 12 can be made of different materials with unequal thermal expansion coefficients. The mounting flange 10 has a flange portion 14 and one or more legs 16A,16B extending from the flange portion 14 to a distal end mechanically secured to the valve 12. At least one pin 36 can be disposed through an attachment bore 22,24,26 in a leg 16A,16B and into or through the body of valve 12. An open-ended slot 30 is formed from the distal end and terminates at an aperture 28 spaced from a periphery of a leg 16A,16B. Aperture 28 can conveniently serve as a sight hole for inspection of the top of valve 12.

Abstract: Autonomous control of steering, speed, forward and reverse movement of a motor vehicle is provided by transmitting a signal from a transmitter carried by an ambulatory user, receiving the signal with three signal-receiving antennae on the motor vehicle, generating first, second and third sub-signals with a three-channel receiver connected to the three antennae, generating sum and difference outputs with the first and second sub-signals, affecting the steering with the difference output, affecting the speed, forward and reverse control with the sum output, generating a distance-to-user output from the third sub-signal, and limiting the proximity of the motor vehicle to the user with the distance-to-user output.

Abstract: A rifle scope has a body with a number of optical elements. An adjustment knob is rotated we connected to the body and interacts with at least one of the optical elements to provide an image shift in response to rotation of the knob. A detent mechanism interacts with the knob, and has a number of detent positions. Many of the detent positions have a first detent force, and a selected subset the detent positions have a greater second force. The selected subset of detent positions may correspond to selected major distance intervals.

Abstract: A thermally compensated mounting flange 10 useful for mechanically attaching equipment to a device which can be operated at a relatively high temperature is disclosed, such as an actuator 32 to operate valve 12. The mounting flange 10 and valve 12 can be made of different materials with unequal thermal expansion coefficients. The mounting flange 10 has a flange portion 14 and one or more legs 16A,16B extending from the flange portion 14 to a distal end mechanically secured to the valve 12. At least one pin 36 can be disposed through an attachment bore 22,24,26 in a leg 16A,16B and into or through the body of valve 12. An open-ended slot 30 is formed from the distal end and terminates at an aperture 28 spaced from a periphery of a leg 16A,16B. Aperture 28 can conveniently serve as a sight hole for inspection of the top of valve 12.

Abstract: A valve 100 comprising a one piece valve body 112 having an axial fluid bore 124 therethrough and a fluid control element 110 rotatable between open and closed positions. The body 112 includes an integral bracket 128 which provides an open access area between the bracket 128 and the main body 112 of the valve 100. A valve stem 130 is disposed within a stem bore 135, and 137 extending from the valve body 112 to the bracket 128, and engaging the flow control element 110. A contiguous single piece gland flange 142 secures packing 134 disposed between a valve body bore 137 and the stem 130. The stem 130 includes an enlarged shoulder 152 which engages a contiguous single piece shear bushing 148 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the stem bore 130, thereby preventing removal and/or blowout of the stem 130 without prior removal of the shear bushing 148.

Abstract: A ball valve apparatus 10 for clearing an obstruction in a conduit is disclosed. The ball valve apparatus 10 incorporates a wear resistant choke tube 42 in the downstream opening 40B of the ball 36. The choke tube 42 can be two to four times smaller than the opening 40A on the upstream side of the ball 36. Removal of catalyst through the choke tube results in lower velocity of the flow through the bore of the valve, thereby reducing wear and erosion. In normal operation in an FCC unit, catalyst is extracted from the system through the choke tube 42. When the conduit becomes plugged, the ball valve apparatus 10 can be cycled into a fully opened position, thereby creating a high flow rate of fluid through the conduit, removing any existing obstructions.

Abstract: A valve 100 comprising a one piece valve body 112 having an axial fluid bore 124 and a rotatable fluid control element 110. The body 112 includes an integral bracket 128 which provides an open access area between the bracket 128 and the main body 112 of the valve 100. A valve stem 130 is disposed within a stem bore 135, and 137 extending from the valve body 112 to the bracket 128, and engaging the flow control element 110. A contiguous single piece gland flange 142 secures packing 134 disposed between a valve body bore 137 and the stem 130. The stem 130 includes an enlarged shoulder 152 which engages a contiguous single piece shear bushing 148 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the stem bore 130, thereby preventing removal and/or blowout of the stem 130 without prior removal of the shear bushing 148.

Abstract: A ball valve for use in the pressure acid leaching of nickel ores is disclosed. The valve has a valve body and a ball centrally positioned in the valve body, which has a central passage rotatable in the valve body between open and closed positions. At least one seat is disposed between the ball and the valve body. The ball and seat each comprise a titanium substrate and an ultrafine or nanostructured titania coating. The titania can include from 5 to 45 volume percent of a second phase material that is immiscible with the titania and exhibits corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A rifle telescope has a scope body having an objective end and an eyepiece end. A front mount and a rear mount are spaced apart from each other and connected to the scope body. The front mount is connected more proximate to the objective end, and the rear mount is connected more proximate to the eyepiece. The scope body is axially fixed to the front mount while being pivotally connected to the front mount. The rear mount includes an adjustable suspension operable to establish a selected vertical and horizontal position of the scope body portion received within the rear mount. The scope body may include a ball portion that interacts with a socket portion of the front mount to provide pivoting, or may include a flange that is constrained by elastomeric rings on the front mount to provide pivoting, centering, and shock absorption. The rear mount may be split in two portions to open and permit removal of the scope body.

Abstract: A ball valve for use in the pressure acid leaching of nickel ores is disclosed. The valve has a valve body and a ball centrally positioned in the valve body, which has a central passage rotatable in the valve body between open and closed positions. At least one seat is disposed between the ball and the valve body. The ball and seat each comprise a titanium substrate and an ultrafine or nanostructured titania coating. The titania can include from 5 to 45 volume percent of a second phase material that is immiscible with the titania and exhibits corrosion resistance.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for safely welding a stud into an overhead workpiece that includes a ferrule having an interrupted perimeter surrounding the stud for contact with the overhead workpiece and a support assembly for connection to a stud gun including a shield surrounding the support assembly and having a continuous perimeter defining a free space by being spaced from the stud and wherein the free space is in communication with the interrupted perimeter of the ferrule. The free space has a width and depth sufficient to receive and contain all molten substances produced during the welding. A fire resistant material is positioned within the free space to hold all these molten substances to thereby safely protect the operator of the stud gun from the gravity induced falling molten substances.

Abstract: A geothermal well apparatus which includes the well casing head, the expansion spool, an improved hanger spool which both supports and allows communication to a tubing string through the hanger spool and a master valve which is positioned above the hanger spool so that the presence or absence of a tubing string within the well supported from the hanger spool will not prevent the operation of the master valve. This improved hanger spool structure allows the use of the injection tubing string support and communication thereto solely by and through the hanger spool. The hanger which supports the tubing string is landed within a pocket in the flow passage of the hanger spool and the weight of the string provides the setting force for the sealing means carried by the hanger. A holddown screw is included to retain the hanger in it landed and sealed position within hanger spool.

Abstract: An improved, one-piece slide clip suitable for molds having at least one cam-actuated slide for pulling a core element outward and inward from the parting line of the mold as the mold is opened and closed, the said slide clip being wholly enclosed within the mold and non-restrictive of the normal and required movements of the mold remains inoperable until such time the slide moving along the cam outwardly is gripped by the jaws of the clip upon the removal of the cam from the slide, during the opening operation, holding the slide in a cam-aligned position, releasing the slide only upon the re-engagement of the cam pin into the slide during the closure of the mold, thereby allowing the slide to return to the molding position in the fully closed mold.

Abstract: A gate valve 10 of slab gate variety with "floating" seats having means for protecting the seat ring seals and seat pockets in severe operating conditions. Each seat ring (40,41) is provided in its rear face (43,44) with an annular groove (49) coaxial with the ring axis and of a diameter to be located closely adjacent the flow passage (16,17) through the valve and accommodating an O-ring seal (49,50) therein. A second annular groove (51) is formed in the outer cylindrical surface (40a, 41a) of the ring near the front face (43,44) of the ring and accommodates an O-ring seal therein. The two O-ring seals (49,52) and (50,51) by their location establish a "trapped" volume chamber (55) behind the seat ring and seat pocket (32,33) which protects and isolates the seat pocket from corrosive ladings and solids deposition.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring electrical resistance or reactance comprises a sine wave generator which generates an a.c. signal and reference signals for a phase sensitive detector. The a.c. signal is applied to a decade attenuator which adjusts its amplitude in dependence on a range switching. The signal is passed to a bridge section, wherein it is applied to a component to measure the value thereof. A voltage output, indicative of the value, is fed to a gain block, wherein its amplitude is re-adjusted in dependence on an input from the range switching. The voltage output is operated on by a phase sensitive detector and passes to a digital display. In the reactance mode, set by a function switching, the a.c. signal is phase shifted before being applied to the component, so that the voltage output is in phase with the reference signals.