Abstract: A tape drive for use with magnetic tape includes a drive body and a cleaning member supported by the drive body. The tape drive also includes a tape guide moveably associated with the drive body, such that the tape guide is moveable between a tape-unloaded position and a tape-loaded position. When the tape guide moves between the tape-unloaded position and the tape-loaded position, the tape guide engages the cleaning member such that the cleaning member may remove debris from the tape guide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for rapidly and accurately processing the chemical composition of a molten metal bath within a furnace. The apparatus includes a robotically-controlled probe which operates to obtain a sample from any predetermined depth of the vessel. The probe is moved from the vessel to a thermostabilized atomic emission spectrometer in nearby proximity to the vessel wherein a part of the probe containing the sample is joined with an upper chamber housing to form an excitation chamber. Within the excitation chamber, the optical emission spectrum of the sample is excited by an excitation source. The optical spectrum is transmitted to an analyzer where the elemental concentration of the sample is determined. Immediately responsive to this analysis, adjustments are made in processing to achieve the target grade of steel.

Abstract: An orbital tool includes a housing, a motor, and an eccentric drive member rotatably driven by the motor shaft. A working member has an input portion engaging an output portion of the eccentric drive member. An annular pivot control member includes an annular central hub cooperating with the working member, an annular flange attached to the housing, and a web extending between the flange and the central hub. The pivot control member controls pivotal movement of the working member relative to the housing. The web enables the working member input portion to orbit about the drive axis as the eccentric drive member is rotated by the motor shaft.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for mounting a wheel assembly to any wheel position of a vehicle, the suspension assembly being pneumatically controlled to adjust both the ground clearance of the vehicle and its wheel-track width, the suspension assembly also being mountable at any wheel position whether the wheel at that position is to be steerable or nonsteerable. The suspension system includes upper and lower control arms connected between a frame attachable to the vehicle and a kingpin assembly to provide a parallelogram linkage. It also includes at least one pneumatically actuated linear actuator to control the angular disposition of the lower control arm with respect to the frame and thereby control the ground clearance and wheel-track width of the vehicle. The parallelogram geometry provides the upper and lower control arms with at least 120 degrees of angular travel.

Abstract: A heat exchanger (10) having a pair of spatially separated manifolds (12 and 14) interconnected by a plurality of transverse tubes (16). The ends of the tubes are attached to a plurality of manifold inserts (20) slidably received in the manifolds. The lengths of the individual manifold inserts may be controlled to adjust the pitch and the number of the transverse tubes. The heat exchanger configuration is ideally suited for fabricating low production runs and prototype heat exchangers.

Abstract: A lapping sensor is provided for measuring a throat height of a thin film recording element during a mechanical lapping process. The recording element is fabricated in a photolithographic process and has a zero throat location. The lapping sensor includes a sensor device for generating an output signal indicative of the throat height during the lapping process, and a calibration switch in electrical communication with the sensor device. The switch is fabricated during the same photolithographic process as the recording element and generates an output signal during the lapping process indicative of a low resistance value up to a selected distance from the zero throat location of the recording element, and indicative of a high resistance value thereafter. Transition of the switch output signal from the low resistance value to the high resistance value during the lapping process is used to calibrate the sensor device output signal to the selected distance from the zero throat location of the recording element.