Abstract: A laser beam (FIG. 1; 28) is reflected from a first oscillating galvanometer controlled mirror (14) onto a second oscillating galvanometer controlled mirror (15). The laser beam is reflected from the second mirror as a pattern (29) having an annular cross section by individually controlling the amplitude and phase relationships of the oscillations of the mirrors. The annular beam is directed at a frustoconical reflector (21) which reflects the annular beam radially inward to heat a portion of a glass preform (25) positioned along the axis of the reflector to form a melt zone therein from which an optical fiber (36) is drawn.Additionally, the amplitude of the mirror oscillations are modulated to vary the diameter of the annular beam to cause the beam to reciprocate along a portion of the length of the preform to expand the size of the melt zone.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to maintaining a blanket of secondary vapor intermediate a hot primary vapor and the atmosphere, in a condensation heating facility, to prevent losses of the primary vapor to the atmosphere. A secondary liquid is transported through the secondary vapor into the hot primary vapors where the secondary liquid is vaporized to supplement the secondary vapor.

Abstract: A beam lead device which has been thermocompressively bonded to a substrate is non-destructively tested to determine the strength thereof by directing a short burst of air at the device and detecting the Stress Wave Emission (SWE) signals emanating from the bond site subsequent to said burst of air. The SWE signals are then processed to determine the strength of the adhesion bond.

Abstract: Signals emanating from a weld are detected during the post weld period and excursions of the detected signal above a predetermined threshold are counted. Simultaneously, an envelope of the signal is developed and excursions thereof above the threshold are also counted. A ratio of the signal excursion count to the envelope excursion count is formed. The ratio so formed is compared to known ranges of ratio values to determine whether the detected signal is mechanical noise or a stress wave emission signal.

Abstract: Stress wave emission signals emanating from a weld during an AC welding operation are detected during (1) the time when the AC power is on, (2) the post weld time period, and (3) during each half-cycle of the AC weld when the absolute magnitude of the current is decaying. The stress wave emission signals are counted in each of these periods and compared to predetermined ranges of values to determine the acceptability of the weld.

Abstract: A metallized substrate is flexed to conform to the surface of a segment of a right circular cylinder. The metallized substrate is arcuately rotated and a planar apertured mask is simultaneously moved linearly in spaced tangential relationship to the flexed substrate. A laser beam is directed through the apertured mask to traverse a line formed by the intersection of a plane parallel to the planar apertured mask and tangent to the flexed metallized substrate. As the metallized substrate and the apertured mask are moved, the laser beam is continuously reciprocated along the line to raster scan the metallized substrate through the apertured mask to remove metal therefrom in a desired pattern.

Abstract: Selected portions of a thin film coating of metal are removed from an insulative substrate by directing a coherent beam of light energy from a laser at the coating, to heat the coating and cause the evaporation and entrapment of the substrate material at the coating-substrate interface. A positive pressure builds up at the interface resulting in an explosion which removes the coating material.

Abstract: A glass fiber is drawn through a rotating body of flowable coating material to apply the material thereon and then is further drawn through a throat section of an open ended cage formed by a plurality of wire strands forming a hyperboloid of rotation. As the glass fiber is drawn through the throat section the previously applied flowable material contacts the wire strands causing a vortex of material which centers the fiber in the throat and distributes the material uniformly and concentrically thereon.

Abstract: A tapered array of apertures are provided in a wall of a solder pot to permit passage of molten solder therethrough. Molten solder is pumped along an outside channel, perpendicular to the axes of the apertures, and through the apertures to cause the solder pot to overflow with a uniformly distributed wave. The array tapers in the direction of pumped fluid flow.

Abstract: Parameters of a clad optical fiber are measured by irradiating the fiber with a laser beam to generate a scattering pattern. Measurements are made of fringes and modulations in the scattering pattern and these measurements are translated into such parameters as the diameter of the core and cladding thickness as well as the deviation from concentricity of the core of the clad optical fiber.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to maintaining a blanket of secondary vapor intermediate a hot primary vapor and the atmosphere, in a condensation heating facility, to prevent losses of the primary vapor to the atmosphere. A secondary liquid is transported through the secondary vapor into the hot primary vapors where the secondary liquid is vaporized to supplement the secondary vapor.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for stripping a protective coating from multi-conductor flat ribbon containing a plurality of parallel, spaced optical fibers. The ribbon is clamped to the periphery of a rotatable cylindrical stripping wheel and a cutting blade is brought into contact with, and cuts into, a portion of the protective coating. The stripping wheel is rotated to cut the protective coating while simultaneously optimally bending the fibers preparatory to subsequent fiber breaking operation.An alternative embodiment is directed to shaving a small section of the protective coating and capturing that section in a clamp. The clamp is moved away from the ribbon to peel a portion of the protective coating therefrom as the cylinder is simultaneously rotated to optimally bend the fibers preparatory to the fiber breaking operation.

Abstract: Articles are heated in a condensation heat transfer facility to effect soldering thereof by transporting said articles into a body of hot saturated vapor within the facility. The hot saturated vapor condenses on, and gives up latent heat of vaporization to, the articles to effect solder reflow. The articles are subsequently quenched in a liquid prior to the withdrawal of the articles from the facility.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of growing a single quartz crystal stone. In particular, a method for hydrothermally growing a quartz stone from a quartz seed is disclosed. A substantially stress-free quartz stone is grown in an autoclave by clamping a quartz crystal seed plate in a clip so as to permit substantially unobstructed growth of the stone in the plane of the seed plate, and growing at least a portion of the stone through at least one aperture formed in the clip.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a parameter of a clad optical fiber from the scattering angle at the maximum of a modulation component in a forward far-field scattering pattern produced by directing a monochromatic coherent light beam at the fiber. One such parameter is the ratio between core radius and cladding radius.

Abstract: A plurality of window comparators and voltage controlled oscillators are arranged to receive analog input signals which are converted to output frequencies that are linearly proportional to the analog signals over a substantially infinite amplitude range.

Abstract: Spot welds are evaluated using stress-wave emission techniques by measuring the stress-wave energy emitted from the weld area during n time intervals of the weld cycle, where n.gtoreq.4. Each of the time intervals corresponds to a different aspect of the weld cycle such as, for example, the initiation of heating, the separate solid-to-liquid phase transformation in each of the articles being welded, material combination within the weld nugget, cooling stresses occurring during resolidification, and post-weld cracking. The energy values obtained for each of the time interval can be compared with predetermined acceptable energy value ranges for corresponding ones of the intervals and/or compared with predetermined ratio values between two or more of the obtained interval values to determine the quality of a weld.

Abstract: A band-pass filter comprising a plurality of coupled electromechanical filters is disclosed. Each electromechanical filter has a frequency pass-band centered about a fundamental frequency and a plurality of higher frequency pass-bands which are centered about overtones of the fundamental frequency. At least one of the electromechanical filters has a fundamental frequency that is different from the other filters and all the filters have a common overtone frequency. The band-pass filter will pass all frequencies falling within the band about the common overtone frequency, while all other frequencies will be suppressed.

Abstract: A wire wrap bit has a rotatable drive member with an axial bore to receive a terminal to be wrapped, and a ridge extending longitudinally along the outer periphery thereof. A hollow rotatable outer member having a longitudinal opening therein to receive the ridge is positioned circumferentially of the drive member. A wire is inserted in a channel formed by the ridge and an edge of the longitudinal opening and is releasably clamped therebetween upon rotation of the drive member. Continued rotation of the drive member causes the wire to be withdrawn from the channel and tightly wrapped on the terminal due to the tension on the wire resulting from the rotational clamping action.

Abstract: The strength of an adhesion bond can be determined using stress-wave emission techniques. One method measures the stress-wave emitted from the bonding area during the compression phase of the formation of the bond and compares this measurement with a predetermined substantially linear relationship between the emitted stress-wave energy and the strength of the adhesion bond. For more accuracy, a second method measures the stress-wave energy during both the compression phase and a pressure-relief interval, determines the difference between the two measurements, and compares the difference value with the substantially linear relationship. An alternative to the second method subtracts a predetermined threshold value from the pressure-relief interval measurement, reduces the compression phase measurement by the excess determined by said subtraction step, and compares the reduced compression phase measurement with the predetermined substantially linear relationship to determine the strengh of the bond.