Abstract: A unitary retainer socket device for providing positive interconnection between a male pin conductor of an electrical instrument and exposed conductor runs of a flexible printed circuit material is formed to be inserted into and extend from both ends of an open ended aperture in a rigid panel that supports the flexible printed circuit. A base element is centrally formed in the socket and has spring biasing tabs extending therefrom to prevent insertion of the base element into the support panel aperture and to provide holding forces to the flexible circuit material against the surface of the support panel. Pairs of legs extend from the base element at a distance that exceeds the depth of the support panel aperture so as to extend therethrough. Retrorse tabs are defined at each leg pair to lockingly retain the socket in the aperture by engaging the end of the aperture opposite to the insertive end.

Abstract: A conformal coating protects electrical components used in a high voltage high vacuum evironment from flashovers caused by patch charging. The coating comprises a semiconductor powder, preferably elemental boron, having a low atomic number and uniformly dispersed throughout an organic binder such an an epoxy. The coating's surface resistivity is made to be high enough so that the coating acts as an electrical insulator. On the other hand, the coating's surface resistivity is sufficiently low that any patch charge is siphoned off to the nearest conductor. The surface resistivity is regulated by the proportion of semiconductor present. The coating's secondary electron emission coefficient is 1 or just under 1. The coating has the properties of adhesion, stability, elasticity, provision of mechanical support, and resistance to solvents and heat. An example is given in which the epoxy comprises resin, fine particles of elemental boron, and a polyamide hardener.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism for a Bowden cable, in particular for heating and ventilation flaps in a motor vehicle, is described in which the outer cable sleeve is connected to a casing and the inner cable 17 is connected to a flexible push and pull element 5 guided in the casing. The push and pull element 5 is connected to a sector-shaped lever arm 4 to which is further connected by way of a pin 24 a second flexible push and pull element 6. The latter push and pull element 6 is guided in a second guide 15,16 and is displaceable by a control knob 22 which moves along an essentially liniar path.

Abstract: An automotive type diesel engine provided with a conventional fuel filter water separator has a solenoid operated drain or dump valve for removing liquid contaminant/water automatically when the contaminant or water reaches a predetermined level actuating a sensor. The removed contaminant or water is then inducted into the engine by means of a venturi/aspirator which in one embodiment has an outlet connected directly to the engine intake manifold to provide the necessary pressure drop or, in another turbocharged diesel engine embodiment, the boost pressure is connected to the inlet of the venturi/aspirator to again induct the liquid contaminant/water into and through the aspirator to be disposed of in the exhaust system of the engine, both embodiments thereby automatically providing for a complete disposal of liquid contaminant/water within the engine and thereby eliminating the need of a periodic draining of the same from the fuel filter by the vehicle operator, for example.

Abstract: An electrically conductive liquid level sensor utilizing a pair of parallel closely spaced electrically conducting probes that are exposed within a liquid container for immersion in said liquid. The sensor includes an electrical insulator partition extending between the probes so as to interrupt any direct path therebetween while at the same time localizing the conduction path to a narrow band of liquid levels due to the close spacing of the probes.

Abstract: A hand held voltage sensor in which a low impedance test lamp mode or a high impedance voltage test mode is selectable via a thumb accessed slide switch. In the high impedance mode, three light emitting elements provide indication of the value of voltage potential between a probe conductor and an associated ground conductor being above, below or pulsing above an adjustable threshold level.

Abstract: Non-invasive and non-destructive apparatus and method for imaging, recording, and comparing the mass density distributions and thicknesses of test specimens (19F, 19B). A source of medium-to-high-energy photons (3) directs a photon beam (4) at an electron source (17) comprised of high atomic number material, which emits in response thereto electrons (9F, 9B), some of which are not absorbed and not widely scattered by the test specimens (19F, 19B), but are transmitted therethrough and captured on one or more photographic films (15F, 15B) in contact with said specimens (19F, 19B). Net recorded film (15F, 15B) densities are in inverse relation to the mass density distribution of the corresponding test specimen (19F, 19B). A filter (5) is interposed between the photon source (3) and the capture film (15B) when back emission imaging (B) is employed. The filter (5) is optional when forward emission imaging (F) is used.

Abstract: A plurality of sensing means are actuated by the rotation of a take-up reel in a reel-to-reel type tape deck wherein the frequency of activation of switches determines whether or not drive power should be continued to the tape deck drive mechanism. Monostable multivibrator circuits are employed to respond to the bi-level signals output from the switch means and provide respective enabling signals to a logic circuit so that when either one of the multivibrators circuits provides an output in response to the rotating switch means, the logic circuit will continue to allow driving power to be supplied to the tape deck.

Abstract: A system for controlling the velocity and attitude of an exoatmospheric projectile (10) that spins about a spin axis (z). Several thrusters (e.g., 1-7) are disposed along the outer surface (8, 9, 11) of the projectile (10) for performing three prescribed functions. The number of thrusters (e.g., 1-7) is minimized to save weight. As few as four thrusters (1-4) can be used to perform the three prescribed functions, which are: (A) reorienting the spin axis (z) in inertial space, by firing the axial thrusters (1, 2, 6, 7); (B) adding velocity to the projectile (10) in any direction, without a concomitant change in the orientation of the spin axis (z), by firing continually a combination comprising at least one of the thrusters (1-7); and (C) changing the projectile's spin rate (W), by firing one of the radial thrusters (3, 4). Nutation dampers, such as ball-in-tube nutation dampers (20), can be used to decrease the cone angle E and thereby improve the pointing accuracy of the spin axis (z).

Abstract: An inlet manifold which has long inlet tracts 12 has valves 26,28 at the downstream ends of the tracts to control the air flow close to the cylinder head 24. Sufficient air for engine idle enters the cylinder head through a bypass passage 42. The valves, which are all linked together, are provided by a rotary spool inside a cylindrical bore which is integrally cast with the manifold. A valving portion 30 is associated with each tract.

Abstract: A waveguide coupler for quickly, easily, and reliably coupling and decoupling two waveguide sections (1A, 1B). The ends (17A, 17B) of the waveguide sections (1A, 1B) are translationally aligned by means of closely fitting coaxial cylindrical shells (41, 21) surrounding the waveguide ends (17A, 17B, respectively). The ends (17A, 17B) are recessed within the shells (41, 21, respectively). A freely rotatable cylindrical sleeve (31) is axially positioned around one of the waveguide ends (17B) by means of a retaining means (13). Less than one revolution of the sleeve (31) is sufficient to effectuate coupling or decoupling of the waveguide sections (1A, 1B), by means of a set of substantially identical helical grooves (34) within the inner surface of the sleeve (31) engaging pins (49) protruding from one of the shells (41).

Abstract: A heating and ventilating unit for motor cars of decreased structural volume and increased efficiency provides air temperature regulation by a heat exchanger which may be variably slidably moved into the fresh air stream with its surface acted upon in a defined constant position approximately at right angles to the fresh air stream from a heat-insulated space into the fresh air stream.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has n member of cylinders, a piston in each cylinder connected to a crankshaft (2), each piston being in phase or out of phase with the others by A.degree. or a multiple thereof (A=720/n), cams for actuating inlet and exhaust valves to each cylinder, and a cam drive mechanism (5) which rotates the cams in phased relationship with the crankshaft (2) to open the valves in sequence for a desired angle of rotation of the crankshaft. The cam drive mechanism also includes means for combining the rotational movement of the cams with a phased oscillatory movement of the camshaft (3) and cams of variable amplitude about the axis of rotation at a frequency f times the crankshaft frequency so that over the period which the valves are opened and/or their timings variable, f has the following values:f=2n when the number of cylinders n=1;f=n or n/2 when n=2;and f=n/2 when n=3 or more. The selection of the frequency of the oscillations allows all the cams to be mounted on the same camshaft.

Abstract: A fuel feed system for an automotive type internal combustion engine has a fuel reservoir from which fuel normally is supplied at a constant volume to the inlet side of a high pressure pump from a low pressure supply pump located in a fuel tank; the reservoir contains valving that automatically redirects fuel, which normally is returned from the high pressure pump directly to the fuel tank, back into the reservoir to maintain the constant supply of fuel to the inlet side of the high pressure pump even though the normal supply line is exposed to air and therefore not supplying fuel to the reservoir, thus preventing fuel starvation of the high pressure pump during the momentary exposure of its fuel supply line to air.

Abstract: A vehicle door locking system uses a simple latch mechanism (10) without internal locking means connected to an external door handle (28) through a collapsible bellows (32). A solenoid controlled valve (44), when open, vents the bellows to atmosphere, allowing the bellows to collapse and transmit no movement from the door handle to the latch mechanism or, when closed, presents collapse of the bellows, which then transmits movement of the door handle to the latch mechanism.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating lightweight bipolar metal-gas battery cell stacks (1), a segmented frame (21, 23) for insulating and mechanically supporting the stack (1) is fabricated of dielectric materials. Each cell (3) has associated therewith first and second frame segments (21, 23) associated with negative and positive electrodes (5, 7, respectively). Weld tabs (25, 27) are welded to the negative and positive electrodes (5, 7, respectively), and are welded together external to the cell frame (21, 23). Electrolyte is added to each cell (3), preferably as it is fabricated within the enveloping cell frame segments (21, 23). Alignment rods (34) align the stack (1) components, and assist in compression-sealing adjacent frame segments (21, 23) by means of compressing mating tongues (43) and grooves (41).

Abstract: A simplified heads-up display system for projecting a virtual image of a broad-band display source employs a pair of identically constructed reflective holograms, wherein one of the holograms is in the field of view of the observer to correct dispersion and provide the virtual image of the display source within the observers field of view.