Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the normal force exerted on a pin by a receptacle contact comprises a pair of beams profiled as the pin and having inward facing deflecting surfaces defining a central space. A thin film integrated circuit bonded to one of the beams includes a pair of strain gages at each end of the deflecting surface and leads extending to solder pads remote from the probe.

Abstract: Two piece shroud for fixing to a back panel about an aperture therethrough provides latching and aligning means for a mating connector received by a bulkhead connector mounted on the opposite side of the panel. Latches are provided on cantilever sidewalls which pivot about axes parallel to the direction of insertion of the mating connector.

Abstract: Right angle surface mount connector comprises a housing loaded with stamped and formed contacts, each having a mating portion, a solder tail, and a bend therebetween. The rear face of the connector has a rib with side-by-side channels having V-shaped floors therein, a portion of each solder tail being disposed resiliently against a respective floor so that the tails are self-centering but can move laterally. The contact is retained in the housing by a scalloped plate adjacent the mating portion, a cantilever arm between the plate and the bend assuring compliance of solder tails against the circuit board.

Abstract: Connector for ribbon cable comprises a housing having rows of terminals with C-shaped body portions in respective rows of passages of square cross section. Each body portion has a substantially planar first plate which extends to a coplanar slotted plate portion which receives a cable conductor. The plate is stamped with opposed lugs which engage opposite walls of the passage for angular orientation which does not depend on formed dimensions of the body portion.

Abstract: A transistorized power switching circuit for controlling the conductive state of a Darlington transistor. The circuit, driven by a single signal driver, operates to switch the Darlington transistor from a conducting state to a nonconducting state as well as from a nonconducting state to a conducting state. The circuit minimizes the number of components in the circuit that introduce time delays in switching the Darlington transistor. To further enhance switching the Darlington transistor from a conducting state to a nonconducting state, a reverse bias is employed to sweep the charge back out through the base of the Darlington transistor rather than permitting the charge to pass through the Darlington transistor then to the load. The reverse bias is maintained on the Darlington transistor for the duration of the off time regardless of the duration of the off period.

Abstract: A hot support rack (46) for supporting an in-bed heat exchanger (44) of a fluidized bed furnace (22) is comprised of a plurality of support bars (54, 56) disposed diagonally between spaced vertical support posts (58). The support bars (54, 56) form a criss-cross array of quadrangular openings through which the tubes (44) of in-bed heat exchanger (44) pass with each tube (44) passing through a quadrangular opening being supported by the upper surface of the lower bars (54, 56) forming the quadrangular opening.

Abstract: A distributed control system controlling a plurality of energize-to-start, energize-to-stop subprocesses is designed for on-line maintenance. One or more of the process control computers (86) forming the distributed control system (86-100) can be removed from service and the input and output connections (130) thereto switched to another of the process control computers that remains on-line. A bumpless transfer of control is achieved by reconstructing the status of the latches in the process control computer (86) removed from service that are history dependent and establishing that status in the latches of control circuits of the process control computer (96) assuming control. The status that the history dependent latches should have is derived based upon the operating status of the subprocess at the time switching is complete. Control functions dependent on the status of a latch are delayed until the reconstructed status of latches are complete.

Abstract: Press element insertion apparatus (10) is a press-like apparatus used to insert pins (28) or sockets (28) into a cable connector (14) where the outside diameter of the insulation on the conductor (30) is less than or equal to the outside diameter of the element (38) shank. One-piece element insertion tool (24) wraps more than 180.degree. around the shank of element (28) and securely holds element (28) with a conductor (30) attached thereto during the insertion of an element (28) into a cable connector (14).

Abstract: A microwave transmitter irradiates each outlet pipe flow path of a coal pulverizer with a beam of electromagnetic energy at a microwave frequency. The microwave energy absorbed in each outlet pipe flow path is monitored and is proportional to the pulverized fuel flow therethrough. Knowing the fuel flow rate into the pulverizer, the fuel flow rate through each outlet pipe flow path may be determined. The portion of pulverized fuel flow exiting the pulverizer through a given pipe is determined as the ratio of microwave energy absorbed in each outlet pipe flow path to the average microwave energy absorbed in all outlet pipe flow paths of the pulverizer, multiplied by the fuel flow rate into the pulverizer divided by the number of outlet pipe flow paths.

Abstract: Apparatus for making a transition from leads (12-26) of a temperature measuring thermocouple to extension wires (44-58) within a hermetically sealed cable sheath (60) of small diameter. The interior of the cable sheath (60) is shielded from electromagnetic radiation by an electrically conductive liner (62). A thermally conductive, electrically insulating material (66) surrounds the intermediate junctions (28-42). The temperature of the intermediate junctions (28-42) is measured (64) providing a signal to compensate the voltage generated by the temperature measuring thermocouples due to the thermoelectric effect of the intermediate junctions (28-42).

Abstract: A hot support bracket for supporting an in-bed heat exchanger of a fluidized bed furnace is comprised of a plurality of plates having openings or cut-outs along and intersecting at least one edge at each tube support location. Adjacent plates may be interconnected for stability. The hot support bracket is coupled to the top and bottom heat exchanger tube supported thereby with the resulting assembly slidably engaging a wear channel which supports the support bracket and to which the mechanical load of the in-bed heat exchanger is transferred.

Abstract: Electrodes, in the form of plates, are held parallel to each other to form passageways in which electrostatic fields are generated when the plates are charged by a source of variable voltage. The variable voltage is programmed to establish an initial electrostatic field strong enough to mix polar and nonpolar fluids. The mixture is then flowed through the electrostatic field which is of the strength needed to coalesce the polar fluids which have united with a contaminant in the nonpolar fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically testing a rotational torque producing device (22) during calibration under conditions simulating actual operating conditions. The torque produced by the torque producing device under controlled (28) load conditions similar to actual operating conditions is converted by a transducer (12) to an electrical signal and monitored (26) to assure that the stall torque of torque producing device (22) is within an acceptable band.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting disbond in laminar workpieces. Energy is transmitted to a workpiece (8) by repetitive impacts. A transducer (12) converts energy emitted from the workpiece (8) to an electrical signal. The energy emitted in response to each of the repetitive impacts is analyzed. After filtering out the DC component (20) and amplifying the signal (30) the maximum amplitude of the energy from each impact is selected (50) and passed to a sample and hold circuit (60). The piecewise linear output of the sample and hold circuit (60) is passed through a low pass active filter (70) prior to recording on a strip chart recorder. The strip chart record is analyzed to ascertain areas of the workpiece (8) having defective clad bonding (7).

Abstract: Element basket (55) includes lifting means (66, 74) integral with element holding bar (64) to facilitate removing element baskets from or placing element baskets into a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (20).

Abstract: Element basket (55) includes lifting means (66, 74) integral with element holding bar (64) to facilitate removing element baskets from or placing element baskets into a rotary regenerative heat exchanger (20).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the voltage and hence the power delivered to a thermal print head heater. The voltage and hence the power delivered to a thermal print head heater is controlled in response to the ambient temperature surrounding the thermal print head so as to produce printed characters with uniform contrast between the character and the paper surrounding the character independent of the ambient temperature surrounding the print head.