Abstract: A twist capsule includes a rotor and a stator which are rotatable relative to one another. Two portions of a flexible cable are fixed to the rotor and the stator with an intermediate cable portion therebetween. The intermediate cable portion is arranged in either a "Z" configuration or a helical wrap to prevent coiling and sliding of the cable on itself as the twist capsule rotates. The ends of the cable extend from the capsule for connection to external wiring.

Abstract: A cable cutting and stripping machine has a primary and a secondary cable drive mechanism, both driven by stepper motors. The primary drive mechanism includes two driven gripper belts which contact the cable along the top and bottom surface to eliminate slippage between the belts and the cable. Stripper blades cut through the cable insulation and are driven in one direction along the cable length to strip the right end of a cable, and in the opposite direction to strip the left end of the cable. A programmable machine controller controls all operations of the machine including feeding preselected lengths of cable through the machine by controlling the stepper motors. The programmable machine controller also controls actuation of the stripper blades, a cutting blade, and various clamps by controlling a number of air cylinders.

Abstract: A connector for fiber optic cables includes an elongated tubular housing and a pair of termination assemblies which surround the end of each fiber optic cable. A lens element is adjacent one end of each termination assembly, and a sleeve surrounds each lens element and a portion of the termination assembly, and a lip on the sleeve spaces and coaxially aligns the lens elements one from the other.

Abstract: A twist capsule conducts signals between an input and an output which are rotatable relative to one another through one or more flat cables which are fixed to both the capsule rotor and the capsule stator. Each flat cable is folded over onto itself to form a rolling loop which propagates around the axis of the capsule in response to rotation of the rotor. The propagation of the rolling loops is equal to half the rotation of the rotor disk allowing capsule rotation of up to 175 degrees in either direction, or 350 total degrees.

Abstract: A gripper mechanism has opposed parallel fingers which open and close while remaining parallel to one another. The gripper mechanism is driven by a reversing electric motor which rotates a drive screw. A pair of arms support the fingers and are driven by the engagement of a pair of angled drive slots with a roller which travels along the length of the drive screw. The pair of arms are supported and guided by three parallel shafts which are arranged in a triangular configuration. A resilient drive coupling between the motor and the drive screw prevents the threads of the drive screw from locking with the roller mechanism.

Abstract: An incremental angular encoder includes a device for the selected setting of an absolute zero reference pulse. The device consists of a reduction mechanism 16, which is connected on the input side to the shaft 11 of the angular encoder and, on the output side, to an output disk 18 which has an opto-electronically scannable hole or light reflection mark 19. The disk 18 is provided with gear teeth 23 and is connected by a friction clutch 17 to the reduction unit 16. The angular position of the output disk 18 can be adjusted relative to the reduction mechanism 16 by means of a toothed key 22 provided with a pinion, allowing the absolute zero point to be exactly set. By selection of the gear wheels (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4) of the reduction mechanism 16, the reduction ratio can be varied within wide limits and, consequently, the absolute zero point can be set over a wide range.

Abstract: An oxygen partial pressure controller regulates the oxygen partial pressure (PPO.sub.2) of the product gas of a pressure swing adsorption oxygen enriching system by means of a bleed valve which increases gas flow through the adsorptive system thereby decreasing the PPO.sub.2 of the product gas. The controller includes a solenoid valve which permits the bleed valve to function when the adsorption system pressure and PPO.sub.2 is high.

Abstract: An amusement device comprises a solid cube which may be disassembled into a plurality of blocks of differing geometric shapes wherein each of the geometric shapes is formed from one or more modular units. Each modular unit comprises an isosceles right triangular prism having a triangular face formed by two legs each of which has a length A and which meet at a right angle, and a hypoteneuse which has a length B, said modular unit having a depth which is equal to A, and a volume which is equal to C. Each of the differing geometric shapes is formed from one or more modular units and has a volume equal to an integral number times C, and the total volume of said solid cube is equal to 16C.

Abstract: A hub moment sensor is disclosed for an aircraft having a horizontal rotor, a rotor fixed mast for supporting the rotor above the aircraft body, and a support ring formed on the aircraft body for attachment to the rotor fixed mast. The sensor comprises an annular flange formed on the end of the rotor fixed mast remote from the rotor, and coupling means for securing the flange to the support ring, the coupling means including stress measuring means, whereby the moments acting on the aircraft may be sensed.

Abstract: A game set comprises a plurality of individual pieces of substantially the same size and proportion, wherein each of the pieces has playing indicia on two opposite sides thereof. The number of forms of indicia is equal to N, and the number of pieces in the set is equal to (N)(N+1)/2, and each piece in the game set displays an indicia combination on two opposite sides which is unique in the set.

Abstract: An oxygen partial pressure controller regulates the oxygen partial pressure (PPO.sub.2) of the product gas of a pressure swing adsorption oxygen enriching system by means of a bleed valve which increases gas flow through the adsorptive system thereby decreasing the PPO.sub.2 of the product gas. The controller includes a solenoid valve which permits the bleed valve to function when the adsorption system pressure and PPO.sub.2 is high. An aneroid controls the product gas flow as a function of altitude when the bleed valve is permitted to function.

Abstract: A pneumatically actuated pressure transducer has a wiper assembly which is movable from an off position through a range of positions wherein the transducer has a varying voltage output. The pressure transducer comprises a high thermal conductivity substrate which forms a base for a potentiometer element and a resistance path coated onto the substrate. The resistance path includes a first area of low resistance material and a second area of high resistance material which meet in a chevron shaped transition zone. An insulating material coated onto the substrate defines the off position for the transducer.

Abstract: A fiber optic rotary joint which couples an optical signal across a rotary interface includes an annular reflective wall formed on a stator and an optic fiber mounted on the stator having one end in close proximity to the annular reflective wall. A rotor includes a rotor optic fiber which has one end positioned in close proximity and tangential to the annular reflective wall. A signal emitted by one of the optic fibers will be reflected in short chordal paths along the annular reflective wall and received by the other of the optic fibers.

Abstract: A preassembled press fit connector and method of mounting the same on a printed circuit board in an array of plated thru holes comprises a selectively configured connector housing and first and second adjacent rows of contacts mounted within the housing. Each contact has a press shoulder portion within the housing and a press fit section extending downwardly below of the housing. A removable insert includes a plate portion for defining an external connector press surface above the housing and first and second rows of integral teeth extending downwardly into the housing. The rows of teeth engage one each with the press shoulder portions of the first and second row of contacts. This allows the press fit sections of the contacts to be simultaneously forced into mating engagement with the plated thru holes of the printed circuit board by applying pressure to the external connector press surface presented by the removable insert.

Abstract: A rotary compression bending machine comprises a radius die, a wiper die, and a flexible ball mandrel. Hydraulic cylinders are provided to simultaneously drive the wiper die around the radius die and to draw the ball mandrel through the tubing in order to reform the tubing while bending. The reformed tube will be wrinkle and distortion free around the bend radius.

Abstract: A paper feed and drive mechanism for use in a high speed printer comprises a pair of arms which may be selectively positioned in a first lowered position, or in a second raised position. When the arms are in the lowered position, a line of contact is formed between a pressure roll and a drive roll and a narrow printing gap is formed between the platen and the inked ribbon. Spring means bias the pressure roll onto the drive roll and clips mounted on the arms hold the arms in the lowered position against the bias. Allowing the arms to raise to a second position in response to the spring bias creates a gap between the pressure roll and the drive roll and a wide non-printable gap between the platen and the inked ribbon. Additionally, a narrow tear bar slot formed between a fixed saw tooth tear bar and a backing plated attached to the arms opens to form a wide space when the arms are raised. The wide space eliminates the necessity to thread the paper tape through the narrow tear bar slot.

Abstract: A selector valve for an aircraft breathing system wherein oxygen enriched gas is provided by two sources, the primary source being fractionalized air and the secondary, backup, source being bottled oxygen is comprised of a control valve with three operating modes and a shuttle valve. In the first operating mode gas is provided from the primary source, in the second operating mode gas is provided from the primary source within certain operating parameters and outside these parameters gas from the secondary source is provided. In the third operating mode, gas from the secondary source is provided. The shuttle valve responds to the secondary source gas pressure and directs gas from either source to the pilot based on preset conditions.

Abstract: A fluid separator apparatus having a control member for allowing a source of pressurized fluid mixture to flow in a first direction through a bed of adsorption material to produce a product fluid and for allowing a purge fluid to regenerate the bed of adsorption material by flowing in a second direction substantially opposite to the flow of the fluid mixture. The bed of adsorption material has a variable cross-sectional area corresponding to a substantially uniform and optimum rate of adsorption of an element in the fluid mixture by the individual particles of adsorption material. A shroud which surrounds the bed of adsorption material directs the purge fluid over the bed of adsorption material to retain any heat generated during adsorption within the bed of adsorption material.

Abstract: A high speed printer comprises a molded base having a plurality of plastic towers integrally molded thereon. A cylindrical platen is mounted on a first pair of plastic towers and a drive shaft having a helical groove along the length thereof and an eccentric drive pin at one end is mounted on a second pair of plastic towers. A slide bar mounted for reciprocating motion and having a drive slot for receiving the eccentric drive pin supports a paper feed pawl and a ribbon feed pawl. A single motor drives the drive shaft, whereby the helical groove drives a print head across the platen and the eccentric drive pin reciprocates said slide bar to drive the paper feed pawl and the ribbon feed pawl.