Abstract: An arrangement for removing toxic sedimentary material (101) from a large dy of water (102) by forming a large number of core holes (100) in at least the sediment layer (101); inserting sediment trap receptacles (200) in the core holes (100); allowing the sediment trap receptacle (200) to fill up with toxic sediment (101); and then withdrawing, emptying and reinserting the trap receptacles (200) within the core holes (100) to effect the removal of the toxic sediment (101) from the body of water (102).

Abstract: An inverted offset system is used for sending and/or receiving electromagnetic energy. The system, which is preferably a Cassegrainian microwave antenna system, includes a water-tight cover to protect the feed compartment, subreflector, and main reflector of the antenna. The cover protects against the effects of precipitation and is especially useful when the system is used for measuring atmospheric conditions such as rain or snow. A waterguard ridge and drain passageway are used to protect the feed compartment from precipitation when the antenna is disposed in a position to send or receive beams which are substantially vertical.

Abstract: The continuous NITROX mixer is a pre-calibrated, continuous flow, gas mix system and a method which combines pure oxygen and air at atmospheric pressure, to create a final mixture of predetermined composition. Constituent gases are regulated to the same pressure and temperature before oxygen is metered through precision micro-metering valves. The system proportions the amounts of each gas and delivers the final mixture to a common mixing chamber. Delivery pressure can be adjusted up to 3000 PSI, making the system suitable for filling SCUBA or storage cylinders.

Abstract: A wide-throw parallel-action gripper of the split-rail design is disclosed. The gripper includes a pair of preloaded linear bearings which engage the outward surfaces of each rail and two roller bearings spaced on either side of a pinion, all mounted onto a pinion shaft, which engage the inward sides of each rail. A single finger is mounted at opposed ends of each rail and an actuator is connected either to one of the rails or to the central pinion. The actuators can include a pneumatic cylinder of electrical stepping motors or D.C. servo motors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for on-line measurement of a lathe cing tool position using a measuring head with a rotatable square plate engaged with three cylindrical plungers and a positioning mechanism for pivoting the measuring head. The positioning mechanism includes a movable member mounted on a base on the lathe headstock and a rotating unit for rotating the movable member about an axis. A stop member is provided to stop the movable member at a locating position. The measuring head includes a square plate supported inside a housing and rotatable about a y-axis therein. The plungers extend into the housing to contact the plate near its corners. In response to a force applied by a cutting tool mounted in a turret, the plungers move respectively in +x, -x, -z directions relative to the housing to cause the square plate to rotate correspondingly.

Abstract: A micromanipulator system for precisely positioning an object in an xz plane and then grossly moving the object in the y direction into a hole z is disclosed. The micromanipulator system includes a base and a platform mounted to the base having five different degrees of movement (in the x direction, y direction, z direction, about the x axis, and about the z axis). Suitable moving mechanisms are provided for reversibly moving the platform in the five degrees of movement. Four of the degrees of movement being for fine or precise positioning of the platform and the fifth degree of movement in the y direction being a coarse positioning movement. A device for holding the obejct to the platform is then provided such that after precisely positioning the platform in the xz plane, the object is coarsely moved in the y direction toward the hole. Preferably, a device is provided for detecting an opposition force to the coarse movement of the object in the y direction.

Abstract: A programmably controllable vise has mechanisms for automatic adjustment of orkpiece position relative to three orthogonal axes. The positions of the vise jaws (during clamping) establish workpiece position along a first axis, and stop members (e.g., piston actuated stops) selectively extendable from the jaws establish workpiece position along a second axis. Two levelling bars supported adjacent the jaws by respective servo-actuators (e.g., double-acting piston type actuators) which adjust the bars along the jaws establish workpiece position along the third axis, as well as workpiece tilt about the first and second axes. Because the adjustments may be made automatically, the vise may operate unattended, with workpieces being loaded and unloaded by a robot. The vise jaws preferably incorporate replaceable jaw elements which are constructed for attachment and removal by a robot and which may be machined to accommodate non-prismatic workpieces.

Abstract: Thin films of hygroscopic, halogenated organic polymer having pendant groups of a relatively strong acidic type (e.g., sulfonic groups) and pendant groups of a relatively weak acidic type (e.g., carboxylic groups) are employed for humidity sensing by electronic, acoustic, and optical techniques.

Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acid moieties in fish oil are concentrated by transesterifying fish oil glycerides with a lower alkanol to form a mixture of lower alkyl fatty acid esters, and extracting the esters with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: An acoustic method for measuring the quantity and installed density of thal insulation includes introducing a sensing apparatus comprised of one or two acoustic transducers which are so placed as to measure the attenuation and/or phase shift of acoustic waves passing through the insulation. The thermal conductivity for a given insulation material may be monitored as a function of insulation depth by relating the acoustic amplitude and/or phase to a predetermined relationship for that particular insulation material. The relationship may be simply a set of tabular guides relating the quantity of insulation to an amplitude or phase value. This method may be applied to material in an enclosed space, an attic for example where remote access would be desirable, or to material in an open space.

Abstract: A diagonal phased antenna array for use as a wind profiler by means of Doer shift measurements comprises a plurality of Yagi-Uda antennas which are oriented in a predetermined direction such that Yagi-Uda antennas have a polarization 45.degree. offset from the principal planes of operation of the antenna array resulting in similar radiation patterns subject to a geometric taper in the array aperture with respect to the principal planes.

Abstract: A Josephson junction amplifier comprising an array of series connected Josephson junctions which are maintained in a finite voltage, mutually electromagnetically phase-locked state. An input signal is applied across a first group of one or more but less than all of the Josephson junctions, and the output is taken across a second group of the junctions which has a greater number of junctions than the first group. Alternatively, two arrays may be connected in parallel to provide stable electromagnetic phase locking.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing remote profiling beams pointing altetely to the north, east, west or south by ordered distribution of phase shifts to elements of a square antenna array. Elements within a given group of four array elements share a related group of four phase shift means. Elements in a group trade phase shift means intragroup but there is no intergroup trading. The arrangement permits four-beam capability without unduly increasing the cost or complexity of the radar assembly over prior art assemblies. Also disclosed is a system for "tipping" the array either virtually or physically to obtain a vertical beam.

Abstract: An improved process for shale oil dearsenation comprises coking a retorted hale oil stream following by contacting the liquid coker product with water. Water washing is preferably carried out under ambient conditions to achieve a reduction to less than 3 ppm w soluble arsenic.

Abstract: A process for producing any desired Ba/Ti mixture to be formulated as an amorphous solid which crystallizes at very low temperatures to yield a desired phase or phases is disclosed. The process yields products free of undesirable impurities and allows macroscopic production of certain phases in the baria-titania system, having exceptional high frequency dielectric properties, that were previously unattainable through solid-state high temperature production techniques.

Abstract: Refractory borides or carbides are prepared by contacting an alkali-metal ducible metal chloride or silicon tetrachloride with boron trichloride or carbon tetrachloride in an inert solvent in the presence of an alkali metal, the metal chloride or silicon tetrachloride and the boron trichloride or carbon tetrachloride being present in an amount about stoichiometrically equivalent to the boride or carbide to be prepared and the alkali metal being present in an amount about stoichiometrically equivalent to the amount of chloride in the metal chloride or silicon tetrachloride and the boron trichloride or carbon tetrachloride, until all chloride present has reacted with the alkali metal to form alkali metal chloride, separating the inert solvent to leave a solid residue containing a metal boride, silicon carbide or metal carbide precursor together with the alkali metal chloride, and calcining the residue while separating the alkali metal chloride until the precursor is converted to the refractory boride or carbide

Abstract: An iconic-to-iconic low-level image processor is provided which comprises a lurality of identical sequential intermediate stages located between an input stage adapted to be connected to image sources such as analog or digital television cameras, ranging devices and conformal mapping arrays and an output stage adapted to be connected, e.g. to monitors, robot vision systems, iconic symbolic mapping devices and image processing computers. The intermediate stages are provided with forward pathway connections which afford sequential image processing as well as retrograde (feedback) pathway connections between adjacent stages in reverse sequence and within stage, recursive pathway connections for each stage. The stages each include neighborhood operators and image buffers and a number of operations are supported including neighborhood operations on images within each stage and between-stage operations on each pixel such as threshold, boolean and arithmetic operations, function mappings and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for precisely stabilizing a laser to a sub-Doppler resonance of an absorbing gas contained in a cell located external to the laser resonator. Stabilization is based on the detection of modulation transferred onto a previously unmodulated probe beam by the non-linear interactions of the absorbing gas located in a cell which is subject to a counter-running, frequency-modulated saturation beam. Alternatively, the further modulation of the saturation beam can be detected.

Abstract: A temperature measuring device suitable for high temperature measurements in the range of 500.degree.-2400.degree. C. utilizing a blackbody cavity to emit radiation in the wavelength band of 0.3 .mu.m-1.0 .mu.m. The emitted light is transmitted to a photodetector via a high temperature ceramic fiber which is transparent to the wavelength band radiated. The radiance of the cavity is utilized as a measure of its temperature.

Abstract: An improved flexure hinge permits both angular pivoting and longitudinal expansion and contraction and is made of a body member of solid material which is normally not flexible or expandable. A first recess is defined part-way through the body member at one longitudinally extending edge opposite second and third recesses defined through the opposite longitudinally-extending edge of the body member. The first recess is separated from each of the second and third recesses by web-like portions which are sufficiently thin to permit flexure of the body member about respective first and second axes extending through the first and second web portions, respectively. A stage, moveable along a single axis, employs four such body members, each body member having two double web hinge devices, one double web device being located at each end of the body member. The four body members are disposed symmetrically about the axis along which the stage is moved, and symmetrically about a transverse axis.