Abstract: The vehicle rack and pinion steering system has an elongated rack bar. Tie rod connectors are provided on the ends of the bar. A rack gear teeth section is provided on the rack bar in a position parallel to and spaced from the rack axis. A cylindrical bearing surface is on the opposite side of the rack axis from the rack gear teeth section. The bearing surface has a fixed radius and is concentric with the rack axis. The rack section width is at least twice the fixed radius. Secondary bearing contact surfaces join the bearing surface, extend toward the rack gear teeth section and diverge from each other. Contact between the bearing and surface shifts the point of convergence of forces on the rack toward the pitch point.

Abstract: The vehicle rack and pinion steering system has an elongated rack bar. Tie rod connectors are provided on the ends of the bar. A rack gear teeth section is provided on the rack bar in a position parallel to and spaced from the rack axis. A cylindrical bearing surface is on the opposite side of the rack axis from the rack gear teeth section. The bearing surface has a fixed radius and is concentric with the rack axis. The rack section width is at least twice the fixed radius. Secondary bearing contact surfaces join the bearing surface, extend toward the rack gear teeth section and diverge from each other. Contact between the bearing and surface shifts the point of convergence of forces on the rack toward the pitch point.

Abstract: A frame for a door or window includes a plurality of frame portions, which may be lineals, and a plurality of corner blocks. For a door frame, three frame portions and two corner blocks are used. For a window frame, four frame portions and four corner portions are used. Each corner block comprises first and second mounting flange portions for attaching the corner block to a surface, such as an exterior wall of a building. First and second channel portions are each attached to a respective mounting flange portion. Each of the first and second channel portions is shaped to engage a respective one of a first and a second frame portions. A cover portion is attached to both of the first and second channel portions. The cover portion has first and second overlap portions which overlap the first and second frame portions, respectively, when the first and second channel portions engage the first and second frame portions. An ornamental "rosette" may be attached to the cover portion of the corner block.

Abstract: A system for managing I/O requests directed to a disk array comprises a processing unit, predetermined amounts of Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM), an operating system, a virtual disk driver, an input device, an output device, and a disk array. The virtual disk driver comprises a request modification memory, a pending queue, an active queue, a stripe buffer, a span buffer, and a parity buffer. The system breaks each I/O request received into one or more subrequests according to request type, request length and the storage capacity of a sector-row within the disk array. Subrequests are entered into a pending queue in first-in, first-out (FIFO) order. Subrequests within the pending queue corresponding to write operations directed to a common sector-row are merged into a corresponding array request. Each array request is stored in an active queue. Once the number of array requests exceeds a predetermined constant, each array request is issued to the RAID type disk array.

Abstract: A system in which a characteristic of individual picture points is provided to an accuracy of m binary bits but conveyed by n bits, where n is less than m. The value of a lower order bit of the n bit signal is switched to cause said binary value to represent, for any one picture point, either a value above or a value below the original value. The new values are distributed without order among the picture points with a probability dependent upon the value of the (m-n) lowest order bits of the desired value.

Abstract: A system in which a characteristic of individual picture points is provided to an accuracy of m binary bits but conveyed by n bits, where n is less than m. The value of a lower order bit of the n bit signal is switched to cause said binary value to represent, for any one picture point, either a value above or a value below the original value. The new values are distributed without order among the picture points with a probability dependent upon the value of the (m-n) lowest order bits of the desired value.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to features which are to be incorporated into remote automobile starter units. These features include a diagnostic system to aid in the installation of a remote automobile starter unit. Another aspect is a security feature which ensures that a vehicle is not driven away by an unauthorized driver after it has been remotely started. Another aspect is a feature which prevents a remote automobile starter unit from being functionally placed in automobiles with manual transmissions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing silicon nitride wherein the crystal morphology is controlled. The method involves heating a mixture consisting essentially of a chlorosilane and ammonia at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time to produce a nitogen containing silane as an intermediate. The bulk density of the intermediate is controlled to less than about 0.1 g/cc to result in the silicon nitride having a crystal morphology which is essentially all fibrous, or the bulk density can be controlled to greater than about 0.3 g/cc to result in the silicon nitride having a crystal morphology which is essentially all equiaxial, or the bulk density can be controlled to between about 0.1 g/cc and about 0.3 g/cc to result in the silicon nitride having a crystal morphology which is a mixture of fibrous and equiaxial. The intermediate is then heated at a sufficient temperature for a sufficient time in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to produce the controlled crystal morphology silicon nitride.

Abstract: Fired phosphor powder is deagglomerated by introducing a slurry thereof to the bottom of a vibratory mill while water is added to the top of the mill. This establishes a vertical gradient in the phosphor concentration in the slurry, the bottom being thicker than the top. The fine phosphor particles move out faster through an outlet at the top, while the coarse particles receive longer milling time.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling electrical connectors to multi-conductor insulated cables, comprises a table which is movable along a first path past a fixed cable clamp, the table carrying a cable stripper assembly and a connector applicator assembly, which are independently movable on the table along paths perpendicular to the second path. The table and the two assemblies are arranged to be moved cyclically so that first a cable held by the cable clamp has the insulation stripped from an end portion thereof by the stripper assembly, whereafter a connector previously fed to the applicator is applied to the end of the cable. The stripper assembly may have cable shield slitting means and the applicator may have cable shield folding back means.

Abstract: A process for the growth of silicon nitride whiskers consists of reacting a mixture of carbon and silicon dioxide powders at elevated temperature in a stream of nitrogen, said reaction mixture containing small amounts of metals such as chromium, magnesium, and nickel which promote the growth of silicon nitride whiskers by vapor phase transport. The whiskers obtained as a result of this invention are of much higher purity than those obtained by prior art.

Abstract: An applicator for applying an electrical connector to a cable, comprises a roller having a recess in which is an anvil. The roller can be moved between a first angular position to allow a connector to fall from a connector magazine into the recess and a second angular position in which the anvil is opposite to a crimping die which is actuable to cooperate with the anvil to apply a connector in the recess to the cable.

Abstract: A chuck accessory for grasping a tubular workpiece at the interior wall by action originating in the jaws of a conventional three-jaw chuck makes use of an internal split jaw mandrel, the jaw elements of which are forced into outwardly directed engagement with the interior wall of the workpiece. To transfer conventional chuck action to the interior split jaw mandrel use is made of a transfer assembly in which a set of circumferentially disposed tilting fingers in the form of bell crank levers mounted on an accessory body have extensions which project endwardly against one end of an axially movable draw sleeve. There is an expansion plug at the opposite end of the draw sleeve which, when drawn into the expanding portion of the split jaw mandrel, expands the jaw elements into engagement with the workpiece. A spring return disengages the mandrel.

Abstract: Optical waveguide terminating apparatus applies a pair of plug members of the type having metal retention sleeves therein to cut and strip the ends of a jacketed optical waveguide cable. Plug members are delivered to a insertion station attached to a metal carrier strip and are clamped securely between an anvil and an upper clamp which move together vertically under the action of followers riding in cam slots in a moving cam block, which also determines movement of other components. Cable is positioned relative to insertion station by aligning exposed fibers in narrow channels in top of shear bar which drops to remove carrier strip and positions cable guide channels in cable feed path. A pair of cam actuated jaws grip the cable and advance the ends toward the terminating station; the guides drop away during this advance to permit the jaws to fully insert the cable ends in the plug member.

Abstract: A continuous process for manufacture of brushite, CaHPO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, is disclosed. Calcium and phosphate ions are mixed in a container to produce brushite precipitate, which is then continuously introduced into second and third containers where the pH is raised to reduce brushite solubility. The brushite is then filtered in a continuous process, washed, refiltered, and rewashed before being converted to anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for pre-assembling a connector housing, which is pre-loaded with a plurality of terminals, with a respective connector cover and subsequently applying the pre-assembled connector to terminate a multi-conductor flat cable. The pre-loaded connector housings and the covers are separately fed to the apparatus by magazines. Each cover is positioned with respect to a housing and applied thereto with the assembly thereafter being rotated and moved to a termination station where a multi-conductor flat cable is terminated by the connector. The feed arrangement assures that only a single cover and connector will be fed from the respective magazines for each pre-assembly operation thereby obviating the possibility of jamming.

Abstract: Terminating apparatus for flat multi-conductor cable comprises a gravity discharge magazine which dispenses connector having a cover partially assembled to a housing preloaded with terminals at a delivery station. A carriage which reciprocates transversely beneath the magazine transports the connector from the delivery station to a terminating station where the cable is inserted between the cover and housing from the opposite direction. A ram presses the housing against the cover to terminate the cable in the terminals while the carriage holds the connector at the terminating station and a clamp holds the cable in a guide channel which aligns the cable for termination.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved boring and facing apparatus for performing in-situ machining on nuclear reaction feedwater inlet nozzles. The apparatus comprises a boring machine mounted upon a main frame which main frame is suspended from a structure mounted above the plane in which the inlet nozzle is located. Means are provided for adjusting the boring machine to permit a tool to operate along the center line axis of the inlet nozzle.

Abstract: A liquid cooling tower has a series of vertically spaced rows of unitary louver panels for controlling air flow into the tower and for preventing escape of liquid falling through the tower. The panels are non-planar, and they are shaped so as to increase their stiffness for withstanding wind and ice loads.