Abstract: A Modular Bottle-Mounted Gas Management System (10) that overcomes the problems encountered by previous gas cabinet equipment is disclosed. The present invention comprises a complete gas manifold (22) that includes computer-controlled valves, actuators, regulators and transducers. The entire system resides within a housing (11) that sits atop a conventional gas bottle (12) that would normally be enclosed within a gas cabinet (25) that is many times the volume of the Modular Bottle-Mounted Gas Management System 10. Outside the housing (11), an upper control panel (13) contains an LCD display (14) and a lower control panel (15) holds a keypad control (16), a removable data pack (17), LED indicator lights (18), and an emergency shut-off switch (19). Inside the housing (11), a bottle neck (20) protrudes up from the gas bottle (12) and provides a connection for a supply of gas within it to a gas manifold (22).

Abstract: A support system for supporting an experimental apparatus or a prime mover and decoupling the same from the environment comprises a vessel immersed in a tank of liquid and having support structure extending out of the liquid to support the experimental apparatus or prime mover. The mass of the total combination of the vessel, support structure, and experimental apparatus is adjusted with respect to the density of water so that the support system exhibits neutral buoyancy. Preferably the support structure is of small cross-sectional area so that a small additional mass or a force such as vibratory energy applied to the experimental apparatus produces a large excursion of the system within the water. In this way the system experiences substantial static deflection upon addition of a small additional mass, or the imparting of a small force thereto, and exhibits an extremely low resonant frequency. The device may also be readily adapted for use as a low resonant frequency oscillator.

Abstract: A precision small scale force sensor utilizing a strain gauge for measurement of foces associated with small scale surface typography, minor pressure variations or other force phenomenon. A sensor or probe is connected to a thin filament of electrically conductive material whose electrical properties vary proportionate to changes in the physical dimensions of the filament. In surface topography applications, the sensor or probe is brought into close proximity with the surface to be measured, in non-contact interaction with the surface. The resultant attractive and/or repulsive forces between the probe and the surface produce deformation of the strain gauge material. Deformation of the strain gauge material results in a change in its electrical properties. The changes are monitored to determine the extent of interactive forces between the probe and the surface. By measuring the changes in the interactive forces as the probe is scanned parallel to the surface, a surface typography can be plotted.

Abstract: A power source for an arc welder which employs a high voltage, short duration impulse for periodically exciting an arc for use in arc welding. The device operates from an AC power source and employs a single silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) which is triggered in response to the output of a voltage controlled oscillator. The frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator is controlled by a programmer in conjunction with a feedback signal which is in accordance with the arc welding current, the output of the voltage controlled oscillator thus being varied as needed to maintain the welding current at the value programmed by the programmer. The output of the oscillator is divided down to produce a series of pulses which are used not only to trigger the SCR but also to trigger the arc starter and provide synchronization for the programmer. An inductor is used to commutate the SCR, i.e., cut the SCR off a predetermined time period after the triggering thereof.

Abstract: A photometric calibrator is disclosed wherein a known and continuously vable amount of light flux received at a detector is linearly proportional to the inverse fourth power of the optical path length between the detector and a primary, quasi-point source of the light flux. The calibrator includes a secondary, quasi-point light flux source wherein the total flux emitted thereby is proportional to the flux received thereby over a quasi-point detecting area located at some distance, d, from the primary source. The detector is located at an equal distance d from the secondary source.