Abstract: Fully integrated self-contained connectors for standard tubes include a first annular member having an axial bore preferably of a continuously hollow-cylindrical configuration for receiving ferrules of those standard tubes. A locking arrangement peripheral of the first annular member carries locking members extending through openings in that first annular member for retaining a ferrule at a tube retention shoulder in a locking position. At least one further annular member is axially slidable on the first annular member and houses the locking arrangement outside that first annular member. The locking members are actuated to a locking position upon axial sliding of the further annular member in one direction. Conversely, the locking members are actuated to a release position upon axial sliding movement of the further annular member in another direction. The further annular member may define one or more internal ramps for that purpose.

Abstract: Processes for continuous conversion of granulated PVC material and additive substances to free-flowing pre-blends mechanically intermix at room temperature granulated PVC material and additive substances in a first zone continuously transversed thereby to provide a macroscopically homogeneous admixture thereof. The additive substances are melted in a subsequent second zone and the molten additive substances are absorbed with the granulated PVC material in a subsequent third zone to provide the free-flowing pre-blend. This pre-blend advantageously may be passed through a second set of three zones corresponding to the mentioned first, second and third zones.

Abstract: Self-supporting paint shields are wound into a spiral having an inside diameter different from a diameter of a raised circular object being shielded and having portions overlapping each others sufficiently to remain overlapping when this wound paint shield is adapted in diameter to a raised circular object. The overlapping portions in the wound paint shield are slidable relative to each other and are adapted to remain slidable relative to each other when the wound paint shield is fitted onto the raised object whereby the overlapping portions of the wound paint shield continue sliding relative to each other until the wound paint shield on the raised object is adapted in inside diameter to such raised object and exerts a gripping action supporting the wound paint shield on the raised object, whereby paint may be applied to a surrounding surface exclusive of the shielded object.

Abstract: During electrolytical treatment, a printing cylinder is held between center points, of which one is provided adjustably with a centering sleeve in a tail spindle. A belt connects the tail spindle in force transmitting relationship to a drive. The tail spindle is axially displaceable together with the inner housing of the apparatus, so that an electric contact ring at the end of the tail spindle is engageable with the front surface of a printing cylinder. The current conduction to the contact ring takes place via cooled carbon brushes located between the tail spindle bearings and the contact ring. A current conducting sleeve encompassing the end region of the tail spindle and being contacted by the carbon brushes, prevents the tail spindle carrying the printing cylinder from being exposed to electric current.

Abstract: The disclosed mounting system is capable of fixing a base for mounting an optical component or other object anywhere on the surface of an optical table or other support having a two-dimensional pattern of mutually spaced fastener mounting holes. Such base includes two complementary base parts rotatable relative to each other. One of these base parts is provided with a radial or at least partially eccentric aperture for receiving a bolt or other fastener insertable into any one of the mounting holes. Such fastener is inserted through the base part aperture into one of the mounting holes, and the base may be shifted relative to that fastener to any one of a multitude of positions about that one mounting hole. If the above mentioned aperture is provided as herein preferred, the base may be positioned or fixed anywhere on the surface, even though the above mentioned mounting holes are mutually spaced from each other.

Abstract: A milling machine head assembly has a milling machine head mounted on a movable carriage, for movement with the carriage and for angular movement relative to the carriage about a predetermined axis. A motor is mounted on the carriage for movement with the carriage but is maintained stationary during angular movement of the machine head. Drive power is transmitted from the motor to the machine head in any angular position of the machine head within said angular movement. For this purpose, a power transmission is twistable relative to said predetermined axis and extends along said predetermined axis through the carriage from the motor to the machine head in the form of a twistable endless belt. The power transmission may include two parallel shafts comprising a spindle shaft for operating a tool bit, and an auxiliary shaft adapted to be driven off the motor by a first belt via one end of the auxiliary shaft. A belt and pulley transmission interconnects another end of the auxiliary shaft with the spindle shaft.

Abstract: Biaxial strain gage and similar systems include or provide a substrate of semiconductor material having cubic unit cells and an absolute value of piezoresistive coefficient in a first direction different from an absolute value of piezoresistive coefficient in a second direction transverse to said first direction. A first strain gage has a dominant dimension oriented in the above mentioned first direction and is diffused into the substrate. A second strain gage has a dominant dimension in the above mentioned second direction and is diffused into the substrate. A pressure responsive diaphragm having a central area displaying essentially symmetrical biaxial strains is provided, and the substrate is attached in said central area to the diaphragm to expose the gages to the biaxial strains.

Abstract: Sheet transporting apparatus and methods provide an elongate guide for the sheet in contact with the drive belt. The guide is bowed along an arc extending into the transport path in parallel to the direction of sheet transport. The drive belt is bowed by that guide and is driven along the path for moving the sheet along the bowed guide. The sheet guide may also be tilted on an axis extending in the direction of sheet transport. Preferably, the sheet guide is tilted by different angular amounts at different points along the transportation path to provide a skew adjustment for the traveling sheet.

Abstract: A tub is supplied with hot water through a water circulation system including a pump, a water filter and an electric flow-through heater energized through an electric contactor upon closure thereof. A user of the tub is urged to service the water circulation system upon clogging thereof. For this purpose, water flow fluctuations occurring in the circulation system upon restriction of the water circulation system are sensed and closure of the contactor is precluded for a time interval of predetermined duration in response to a sensing of water flow fluctuations.

Abstract: Thermal shift in Wheatstone bridge-type transducers is reduced by providing a diaphragm of semiconductor material accepting formation of strain gages therein having a uniform temperature coefficient of resistance therethrough. That diaphragm is supported in a mechanically floating condition, such as by interposing a cushion of compliant material between the diaphragm and a support which is subject to mechanical strains. An amount of unbalance required for balancing the strain gages on the diaphragm is determined. One of these strain gages is provided with a series balance equal to one-half of that determined amount, while an adjacent one of the strain gages is provided with a shunt balance equivalent to one-half of that determined amount.

Abstract: An edging element for playing fields and sports installations has an elongate elastic profile top and a strip for anchoring the edging element inside of the profile top in a concrete slab in interlacing relationship with a straight reinforcement rod. That anchoring strip extends along and projects from the elongate profile top and has a series of apertures distributed along at least one line parallel to the elongate profile top for receiving the reinforcement rod alternatively from different sides of the anchoring strip which is of sufficiently elastic material to form an interlacement with the straight reinforcement rod. The anchoring strip is made flat prior to its enlacement with the straight reinforcement rod but is interlaced with that straight reinforcement rod to have sections between successive apertures located alternatively at opposite sides of said straight reinforcement rod.

Abstract: Self-supporting paint shields have at an end thereof a continuously annular wall portion defining an opening for receiving a circular object to be shielded. This annular wall portion has around that opening a tapering brim and has across that opening a diameter different from a diameter of that circular object. The annular wall portion is adaptable in diameter to the circular object and is adapted to extend with its tapering brim to a surface to be painted, while the continuously annular wall portion is in contact with the circular object at the mentioned end, thereby exerting a gripping action supporting the paint shield on the circular object. The paint shields preferably have a circumferential bevel extending in a continuous transition from an outer shield surface to the paint shield opening. Such opening preferably is smaller in diameter than the circular object, and the paint shield is twisted at the annular wall portion onto that object.

Abstract: One or more optical fibers are provided with different numerical apertures for differently transmitting light from an object. Light is thus transmitted for a given range at a predetermined ratio corresponding to a difference between the different numerical apertures. That ratio is varied by variations in the range. The varying ratio is detected and a range finder operation is performed in response to that detected varying ratio.

Abstract: Holograms of objects are made on a light-responsive medium with the aid of a reference beam and an object beam reflected by the object and, throughout the light-responsive medium, are rendered insensitive to object size by projecting the reflected object beam onto the medium at an angle to said reference beam which is constant throughout the medium within a tolerance imperceptible to that light-responsive medium in terms of spatial frequency of the hologram. Preferably, the reflected object beam is projected onto the light-responsive medium at a constant angle of incidence throughout that medium, and is projected through an aperture having a diameter equal to the angle of the reflected object beam to the reference beam, divided by the product of an angular resolution of the hologram and the above mentioned spatial frequency.

Abstract: Television viewer reaction determining systems generate distinct signals indicative of different viewer reactions to television programs. These systems generate a further signal identifying any of the mentioned distinct signals as indicative of a viewer reaction to an unspecified person appearing in any video program. The mentioned distinct and further signals are gathered, and the unspecified person is identified from such gathered signals. The gathering of the mentioned signals is preferably effected in real time within a tolerance corresponding to an average rate of change of persons appearing in the video programs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced recovery of subterranean deposits employ a heated fluid driven into the subterranean formation. A heating fluid is heated at the surface of the earth remote from the subterranean formation to a heated state providing a temperature sufficient for a conversion of a liquid to a vapor phase at the subterranean formation by a transfer of heat from the heating fluid to that liquid. The heating fluid is circulated in a closed circuit extending for the heating fluid at the heated state to the subterranean formation and then back to the earth surface for repeated reheating at that surface to the heated state and for circulation of the heating fluid at said heated state to the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The presence of persons in a space is sensed with the aid of ultrasonic pulses which are sent out into the space when echoes of such ultrasonic pulses are received. Echoes attributable to the floor or to parts of a door in the space are timed out, and a remainder of such echoes is employed for sensing persons in the space. For example, sliding or revolving doors may be controlled and operated with the aid of such ultrasonic echoes, and limited access to secured areas may be provided thereby.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recording information with a magnetic recording head advance magnetic recording tape from a first rotating tape coil into a second rotating tape coil and assure constant head-to-tape contact with constant tape tension independently of variations in coil diameter and in tape velocity. There is determined or stored, for a series of diameter ratios between the first and second tape coils, a series of corresponding values of the first and second tape drive control signals for effecting advancement of the magnetic recording tape relative to the magnetic recording head with the first and second tape drives at constant head-to-tape contact with constant tape tension for all diameter ratios of that series. An electric third signal indicative of instantaneous diameter ratio between the first and second tape coils is provided in response to first and second tape coil tachometer signals.

Abstract: A catheter is flushed intermittently at a flushing flow rate higher than a seeping flow rate with the aid of a valve connected to a supply of flushing liquid. The valve has an operator of an elastic material providing an integral elastic sleeve about a valve stem, for biasing the operator to a rest position before and after manual actuation to a depressed position for a temporary opening of the valve. The operator is protected against accidental depression at all points thereof by a shield completely surrounding and surpassing the operator, so that a human finger has to penetrate into the shield for engagement of the operator prior to depression from its rest position against the bias of the elastic sleeve for an opening of the valve. The seeping flow rate is realized with a capillary passage which may extend along either a valve body or a valve seat in the valve and which is laterally bounded either by the valve seat or the valve body when the valve body is seated in the valve seat.

Abstract: Honeycomb tables with apertured table leaves are rendered clean-room compatible by sealing the honeycomb cells against the table leaf apertures inside the table leaf. A sealant covering inside surface areas of the table leaf at the honeycomb core may be employed for releasably covering the table leaf apertures. Alternatively, the honeycomb cells may be sealed at a level thereof spaced from the table leaf by a distance several times smaller than a distance between the table leaf and a facing sheet spaced from such table leaf by the honeycomb core.