Abstract: A modular plug is locked in a modular receptacle by a frangible locking member disintegral from such modular plug. An internal first catch on that frangible locking member catches an inside of the modular receptacle. The internal first catch is rendered inaccessible from outside the modular receptacle when the frangible locking member and the modular plug are in place in that modular receptacle. A second catch on the frangible locking member detains the modular plug in the modular receptacle until the frangible locking member has been broken up. A device for locking a modular plug in a modular receptacle has a locking member disintegral from such modular plug and having a frangible head. A pair of spaced flexible prongs project from such head. A catch on each of such flexible prongs is spaced from the frangible head and a third or middle prong projects from the head between the pair of spaced flexible prongs.

Abstract: Any one of several rotary objects of various diameters is gripped between a pair of joined jaws, without a need for manual adjustment of such jaws to any of the various diameters. To this end, the jaws are spaced at a taper to each other for all of the various diameters, and are pivoted, biased and rendered moveable relative to each other in diminution of that taper against the bias and conversely in self-restoration of the taper by the bias upon a release of the object from the jaws. Any one of the rotary objects may be wedged between the jaws at the taper, and one of the jaws is propelled with such wedged rotary object against the bias relative to the other jaw of the pair in diminution of the taper until the jaws exert optimum grip on the object. A loosening or other operation may then be performed on the wedged rotary object, and such wedged rotary object may be released from the jaws [for self-restoration of the taper by the bias.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a honeycomb table having a table leaf with apertures suitable for mounting components in sensitive applications, attaches a supporting section to that table leaf, attaches a sealing sheet to that supporting section, attaches a section of honeycomb core to that sealing sheet, and attaches a facing sheet at a position on the table such that the section of honeycomb core is positioned between the table leaf and that facing sheet. Apertures are drilled and tapped in the table leaf.

Abstract: A principal object of the invention is to detect sparks or arcs (12) in electric circuits (13) or otherwise to detect a spectrum of a broad band of distinct instaneous radio frequencies in radio frequency noise. The invention rejects extraneous narrow-band signals having frequencies within the broad band, such as by means of filters (21, 27, 29) or a balanced mixer arrangement (32-39 ) . The mixer 37 may be fed from a radio frequency signal duplicator (32, 33, 34) having an input (25) coupled to a source of the spectrum, a first output for one spectrum as duplicated by that duplicator connected to one mixer input (35), and a second output for the other spectrum as duplicated by that duplicator connected to tile other mixer input (36). Alternatively, the radio frequency mixer (37) may receive the output of a wide band noise generator (68) at its other input (36, FIG. 5 ).

Abstract: A methods and apparatus for exhausting flue products and removing condensate from a combustion of air/gas mixtures provide a condensate collecting pan for flue products. That pan is provided with an inlet for flue products and condensate, and with an outlet for flue products spaced from that inlet. That inlet is provided with a larger cross-section for flue product and condensate flow than the outlet. A space is provided in the pan for a flow of flue products from the inlet at a substantially even velocity across the larger cross-section of the inlet to the smaller cross-section outlet. Condensate collecting in that space is removed from the pan.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring gravitational and inertial forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on an object or fluid in space provide an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and that object or fluid in space and vary that gap with any selected one of such forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on that object or fluid. These methods and apparatus sense a corresponding variation in an electric property of that gap and determine the latter force, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy in response to that corresponding variation, and thereby sense or measure such parameters as acceleration, position, particle mass, velocity, magnetic field strength, presence or direction, or wave or radiant energy intensity, presence or direction.

Abstract: Air pollution from combustion of air/gas mixtures is reduced effectively and reliably at a porous burner providing flames with a downstream reaction zone where the ignition of the air/gas mixture initiates. The porous burner is loaded with the air/gas mixture sufficiently, such as at from 1000 to 2500 kWm.sup.-2 or 2200 to 5500 Btu/sqin-hr, to locate the downstream reaction zone at a downstream surface of the porous burner, while the air/gas mixture is provided with sufficient excess air, such as more than a quarter of excess air, for the flames to burn blue. In a typical combustion of that air/gas mixture, less than 20 ppm of NO.sub.x are produced. A related method loads the porous burner with the air/gas mixture at from 1000 to 2000 kWm.sup.-2 or 2200 to 4400 Btu/sqin-hr, while providing that air/gas mixture with more than about forty-five percent of excess air for the flames to burn blue. That combustion of the air/gas mixture including its excess air produces less than 10 ppm of NO.sub.x.

Abstract: A method of simulating a creeper for mechanics servicing a vehicle spaced from a floor and for catching vehicle drippings provides a sheet of cellular material with a lower surface for contacting the floor therealong and with a parallel upper surface. That method and simulated creepers provide for a catching of vehicle drippings and avoid a need for creeper casters by coating the upper surface of that sheet with a dripping-impervious layer facing the vehicle having a lower surface friction than the cellular sheet at its lower surface so that a mechanic may slide along the surface of that layer while the lower surface remains stationary on the floor.

Abstract: Resonant cavity apparatus comprise a Fabry-Perot optical resonant cavity of a type having families of transverse modes between longitudinal TEM.sub.00 modes. In such resonant cavity apparatus and in methods of minimizing the effect of transverse modes, families of such transverse modes are merged into longitudinal TEM.sub.00 modes of the non-confocal Fabry-Perot optical resonant cavity, providing superior optical performance. This may be manifested by a transmission spectrum similar to that of a flat-flat Fabry-Perot cavity, but with superior Finesse and transmission efficiency.

Abstract: Intermittent stabilization of a load table supported by pneumatic vibration isolators is provided by determining a load shift condition, increasing passage of gas to the pneumatic vibration isolators and imposing external or internal damping on the load table in response to that load shift condition. For internal damping, the pneumatic vibration isolator is provided with damping fluid in one of its pneumatic chambers and a damping fluid friction passage is provided between that damping fluid in that one pneumatic chamber and the other pneumatic chamber.

Abstract: The reflectivity of a porous burner matrix is enhanced in order to enhance burner performance, capacity and capability. More specifically, a porous matrix is coated with a layer of a material, such as gold, having a higher reflectivity than the porous matrix by itself, and gas-flow pores of the porous matrix are preserved in that layer. A burner has a porous matrix and a porous coating on that porous matrix including a porous layer of a material, such as gold, having a higher reflectivity than the porous matrix by itself.

Abstract: A principal object of the invention is to detect sparks or arcs (12) in electric circuits (13) or otherwise to detect a signal having a spectrum of a broad band of distinct instantaneous radio frequencies in radio frequency noise. The invention rejects extraneous narrow-band signals having frequencies within the broad band, such as by means of filters (21, 27, 29) or a balanced mixer arrangement (32-39). The mixer 37 may be fed from a radio frequency signal unbalanced to balanced converter (32) having an input (25) coupled to a source of the signal having the spectrum and having balanced outputs connected to the mixer inputs (35, 36). Alternatively, the radio frequency mixer (37) may receive the output of a wide band noise generator (68) at its other input (36, FIG. 5).

Abstract: A supporting structure of one piece of sheet material constituting a top and several legs depending from that top in one piece has for each of these several legs an angled profile of that one piece of sheet material and in one piece with the top across the entire profile. Such supporting structure may be made of a blank of sheet material forming a pattern having a central portion for the top, first and second portions projecting from a first side of that central portion for first and second legs, third and fourth portions projecting from an opposite second side of the central portion for third and fourth legs, and first and second side panel portions projecting from opposed third and fourth sides of the central portion. These first, second, third and fourth portions are provided, respectively, with lateral ledges of which each is spaced from an adjacent one of the first and second side panel portions by a notch for a butt joint of each of the lateral ledges with an adjacent side panel portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for isolating a load structure from vertical, horizontal and rotational vibrations of a supporting structure operate with the aid of displacement of a pneumatic fluid from and to a fluid chamber of a pneumatic vibration isolation system. A fluid-tight diaphragm extends from a circumferential edge of the fluid chamber into that fluid chamber, and has a circumferential compliance section inside that edge of the fluid chamber. The diaphragm is structured inside of that compliance section with alternate stiffened and reinforced diaphragm portions in the fluid chamber. The diaphragm and the fluid chamber are coupled between the supporting structure and the load structure. Vertical vibrations are damped by displacing pneumatic fluid from and to the fluid chamber with the fluid-tight diaphragm and horizontal and rotational vibrations are damped with the reinforced diaphragm portion in the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A fluid valve has a valve housing defining a corner and having a valve housing cover opposite that corner. That valve housing and cover enclose a valve chamber therein. A fluid inlet or outlet is in the valve housing cover. First and second valve seats for further fluid inlets or outlets are in first and second sides, respectively, of the corner in the valve chamber. A flapper is in that chamber for selectively closing the first valve seat and alternatively the second valve seat. A flapper actuator is in the corner of the valve housing. There may be an expansible valve closing member for each valve seat. Such expansible valve closing member may have an aperture paralleling that valve seat. A pilot valve may be at the expansible valve closing member for closing its aperture. Opening of the valve is initiated by moving the pilot valve away from the aperture in the expansible valve closing member, and such opening of the valve is completed by pulling the expansible valve closing member away from its valve seat.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring gravitational and inertial forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on an object or fluid in space provide an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and that object or fluid in space and vary that gap with any selected one of such forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on that object or fluid. These methods and apparatus sense a corresponding variation in an electric property of that gap and determine the latter force, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy in response to that corresponding variation, and thereby sense or measure such parameters as acceleration, position, particle mass, velocity, magnetic field strength, presence or direction, or wave or radiant energy intensity, presence or direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring gravitational and inertial forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on an object or fluid in space provide an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and that object or fluid in space and vary that gap with any selected one of such forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on that object or fluid. These methods and apparatus sense a corresponding variation in an electric property of that gap and determine the latter force, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy in response to that corresponding variation, and thereby sense or measure such parameters as acceleration, position, particle mass, velocity, magnetic field strength, presence or direction, or wave or radiant energy intensity, presence or direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring gravitational and inertial forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on an object or fluid in space provide an electric tunneling current through a gap between an electrode and that object or fluid in space and vary that gap with any selected one of such forces, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy acting on that object or fluid. These methods and apparatus sense a corresponding variation in an electric property of that gap and determine the latter force, magnetic fields, or wave or radiant energy in response to that corresponding variation, and thereby sense or measure such parameters as acceleration, position, particle mass, velocity, magnetic field strength, presence or direction, or wave or radiant energy intensity, presence or direction.

Abstract: Throughput between two objects of light or another physical quantity having a substantially unimodal throughput profile in terms of relative orientation of said objects, is maximized. To this end, the physical quantity is initially transmitted between the objects at other than optimum throughput in the substantially unimodal throughput profile, and relative movement in loops in the substantially unimodal throughput profile is imposed on the objects. Throughput intensities are detected at different specific points along the loops, and detected throughput intensities are arranged at corresponding different specific points in an array, from which the relative orientation of the objects at which a maximum throughput has occurred is identified. A discrepancy may be displayed or the objects are moved unto that optimum relative orientation. The process may be reiterated until maximum throughput has been achieved, at least within an acceptable tolerance.

Abstract: A control for a spa and swimming pool pump and heater assembly with diverter valves, includes a selectively actuable pump and spa heater actuator or relay having a first latching circuit, and having a separate first unlatching switch or relay contact, a selectively actuable pump and pool heater actuator or relay having a second latching circuit including the first unlatching switch or relay contact, and having a second unlatching switch or relay contact in the first latching circuit. The control also includes a diverter valve actuator in parallel to one of the pump and spa heater actuator or relay and pump and pool heater actuator or relay.