Abstract: Autocorrelation traces of laser pulses of short duration are produced by a method and apparatus that uses a rotating glass block to vary the path length on a time scale rapid enough to display the traces on a synchronized oscilloscope. Both paths of a split input beam of a laser pulse pass through the glass block. Rotation of the glass block changes the relative time of travel for light pulses along the two paths. The paths of the two beam arms pass through the block from different directions at a relative angle chosen so that the relative travel time difference is nearly linearly related to the angular position of the block during its rotation.Autocorrelation with rapid scanning through rotation of the block enables measurement of repetitive laser light pulses of very short duration, down to the order of one picosecond.

Abstract: Two concave spherical metal mirrors are used to scan a continuous wave laser beam for heat treating of metals. The mirrors are rotated in opposite directions and each is tilted at a small angle with respect to its axis of rotation. The frequencies of rotation of the mirrors are made constant by a precision timing drive linkage which also allows for phase adjustment. The beam deflection from an individual mirror describes an ellipse, but the deflection when added to that from the second mirror with the proper phase relationship to the first is a straight line. The input laser beam, which is too large in diameter for heat treating, is made to converge by the two mirrors, oriented so as to compensate for astigmatism. Spot size and scan width are adjustable over a wide range, as is scan frequency, which is equal to mirror rotational frequency. The scan produces a uniform, time-averaged distribution of power on the work piece.

Abstract: A datapath system and protocol is disclosed in which data is transferred between a computer memory and one or more peripheral devices through device controllers, each of which includes a buffer, through periodic connection of the device controller to the channel. The system and protocol are structured to permit multiple device controllers to cooperatively interact on a single channel, without direct communication between device controllers. Each device controller monitors the level of stress on its buffer and at appropriate times presents a reconnect request to the channel, together with indica for permitting the channel to determine the priority of a particular request relative to other reconnect requests. The times at which a reconnect signal should be presented are determined by monitoring the level of information storage in the buffer and relating that level to a threshold level; both overfilling and overemptying are prevented.

Abstract: Non woven fabrics are made by a method and an apparatus in which a preformed, planar set of adhesive coated or impregnated fill strands having a fixed orientation, spacing and tension of the fill strands is laminated to warp strands in the nip of pressure rolls.Adhesive lines are printed on a side of the warp strands opposite that engaged by the fill strands to prevent warp strands from hanging loosely from that side of the fabric.

Abstract: The bag roller in a fixed position serves as a transport device for supporting and moving material having uneven and/or fragile surfaces and, in a specific embodiment, is mounted in a support for use as a transportation element in a conveyer system, or as a forceful puller for lineal objects, such as pipelines, accommodating uneven dimensions.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system the kind in which two or more separate processor modules are interconnected for parallel processing includes two redundant interprocessor buses dedicated exclusively to interprocessor communication. Any processor module may send information to any other processor module by either bus.The multiprocessor system includes a memory system in which the memory of each processor module is divided into four logical address areas--user data, system data, user code and system code. The memory system includes a map which translates logical addresses to physical addresses and which coacts with the multiprocessor system to bring pages from secondary memory into primary main memory as required to implement a virtual memory system. The map also provides a protection function. It provides inherent protection among users in a multiprogramming environment, isolates programs from data and protects system programs from the actions of user programs.

Abstract: An off road vehicle of the kind having fluid-distensible bag rollers for supporting the vehicle load uses bag rollers which are constructed to afford maximum flexibility in both the walls and tread and which are also constructed to be dynamically balanced.The vehicle also incorporates suspensions which effectively dampen oscillation of the bag rollers to facilitate and to permit high speed operations of the vehicle across rough terrain.A top drive roller is associated with a bag roller in certain embodiments of the off road vehicle in ways which minimize bag wear.Specific bag constructions are provided for improved operation of the off road vehicle for on-highway use.The vehicle includes two frame sections which are connected to permit frame (yaw) steering and swiveling (roll) between the two sections while preventing a bending between the frame sections (pitch) to thereby provide a strong back mode of operation. When equipped with 4 bags on each frame, the vehicle permits increased speed over rough terrain.

Abstract: Non woven fabrics are made by a method and an apparatus in which a preformed, planar set of adhesive coated or impregnated fill strands having a fixed orientation, spacing and tension of the fill strands is laminated to warp strands in the nip of pressure rolls.Adhesive lines are printed on a side of the warp strands opposite that engaged by the fill strands to prevent warp strands from hanging loosely from that side of the fabric.

Abstract: An off road vehicle of the kind having fluid-distensible bag rollers for supporting the vehicle load uses bag rollers which are constructed to afford maximum flexibility in both the walls and tread and which are also constructed to be dynamically balanced. The vehicle also incorporates suspensions which effectively dampen oscillation of the bag rollers to facilitate and to permit high speed operations of the vehicle across rough terrain. A top drive roller is associated with a bag roller in certain embodiments of the off road vehicle in ways which minimize bag wear. Specific bag constructions are provided for improved operation of the off road vehicle for on-highway use. The vehicle includes two frame sections which are connected to permit frame (yaw) steering and swiveling (roll) between the two sections while preventing a bending between the frame sections (pitch) to thereby provide a strong back mode of operation.

Abstract: An adjustable saw guide for hand-held power saws facilitates a straight-line cut. The guide is adjustable for any width of portable power saw by adjustment and locking of an elongated saw guide member in the proper position on the surface of a saw table slide member which serves as a base of the apparatus.A hand-held power saw rests and slides on the saw table slide member while engaging against the guide member to assure a straight cut.In proper adjustment of the saw guide member for the particular saw being used, the saw (when against the saw guide member) will have its blade just outside and very close to the edge of the saw table slide. This minimizes fraying of the upper surface of the workpiece where the sawblade teeth move upwardly through the surface in cutting.The saw guide apparatus is attached directly to the workpiece by clamps which are adjustable by sliding along a bar. The apparatus may be extended for long or wide workpieces by securing it to another similar apparatus.

Abstract: A multiprocessor system, the kind in which two or more separate processor modules are interconnected for two power supplies, provides the entire power for the device controller in the event the other power supply fails. The distributed power supply system permits any processor module or device controller to be powered down so that on-line maintenance can be performed in a power-off condition while the rest of the multiprocessor system is on-line and functional.The multiprocessor system includes a memory system in which the memory of each processor module is divided into four logical address areas--user data, system data, user code and system code. The memory system includes a map which translates logical addresses to physical addresses and which coacts with the multiprocessor system to bring pages from secondary memory into primary main memory as required to implement a virtual memory system. The map also provides a protection function.

Abstract: A pump for producing a substantially smooth and continuous outflow of liquid at relatively high pressure has two piston assemblies flow connected in series. The first piston assembly includes a pressure piston having a long suction stroke and a relatively short and abrupt expulsion stroke. A valve at the inlet of the pressurization piston allows flow to enter (but not exit), and a valve at the outlet of the pressurization piston allows flow to exit (but not enter). The second piston assembly includes a damper piston which functions as a mechanically driven damper to smooth the outflow from the pressure piston. This smoothing is accomplished by storing of the liquid displaced by the expulsion stroke of the pressure piston and then delivering the stored pressurized liquid to the pump outlet during the suction stroke of the pressure piston.

Abstract: An off road vechile of the kind having fluid-distensible bag rollers for supporting the vehicle load uses bag rollers which are constructed to afford maximum flexibility in both the walls and tread and which are also constructed to be dynamically balanced. The vehicle also incorporates suspensions which effectively dampen oscillation of the bag rollers to facilitate and to permit high speed operations of the vehicle across rough terrain. A top drive roller is associated with a bag roller in certain embodiments of the off road vehicle in ways which minimize bag wear. Specific bag constructions are provided are improved operation of the off road vehicle for on-highway use. The vehicle includes two frame sections which are connected to permit frame (yaw) steering and swiveling (roll) between the two sections while preventing a bending between the frame sections (pitch) to thereby provide a strong back mode of opertion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a wafer at a drying station includes a wafer holder which grips the wafer on its edge so that there is no contact with a face of the wafer. This eliminates contact areas which could cause stains on the face. A carriage mechanism brings a wet wafer into the drying station at one level and takes the dry wafer out of the drying station at a different level to prevent any contact between the dry wafer and residual moisture at the incoming level.

Abstract: Non woven fabrics are made by a method and an apparatus in which a preformed, planar set of adhesive coated or impregnated fill strands having a fixed orientation, spacing and tension of the fill strands is laminated to warp strands in the nip of pressure rolls.Adhesive lines are printed on a side of the warp strands opposite that engaged by the fill strands to prevent warp strands from hanging loosely from that side of the fabric.

Abstract: A variable air flow volume conditioned air distribution system of the kind having an air flow duct for supplying conditioned air to a room and a valve in the duct for regulating the volume of air flowing through the duct has a controller which senses the flow velocity in the duct and the room temperature in the room.The controller combines a temperature signal with a flow velocity signal through a velocity spring. A temperature change resets the flow velocity set point and produces a corresponding change in the volume flow through the duct.The controller includes an adjustable bias for the velocity spring for varying the rate of the velocity spring from a low spring rate for control at a low maximum permitted flow velocity in the duct to a higher spring rate for control at a higher permitted maximum flow velocity flow in the duct and vice versa.

Abstract: A dye laser is stabilized for operation at a narrow line width by a control system which utilizes two reference interferometers.One reference interferometer has a small free spectral range for stabilizing the frequency of operation of the dye laser at the relatively narrow line width, and the other reference interferometer has a free spectral range substantially larger than the first reference interferometer.The dye laser is servo locked to a side of a transmission fringe of the first reference interferometer to maintain operation at a selected frequency with the narrow line width in the absence perturbations that can cause a mode hop.When a perturbation does cause a mode hop, the second reference interferometer detects the extent and the direction of the mode hop. It then automatically stops the scanning system of the dye laser, resets the servo back to the selected frequency and restarts the scanning system of the dye laser in operation at the selected frequency, all within a short period of time.

Abstract: Parts having centered spherical surfaces are produced by a method and by a tool which seats an inner spherical end of each part on a very accurately generated spherical surface of the tool while a spherical surface is ground and polished on an outer end of each part. The ground and polished surface is formed concentric with the underlying precisely formed spherical surface of the tool or block. The seating of a part against the spherical surface eliminates problems of tilting of the optical axis of the part.A shell is attached to the spherical surface of the block, and a plurality of openings are drilled through the shell. The sidewalls of the parts are located and supported by the side surfaces of these openings so that the shell holds the parts against any lateral movement during the grinding and polishing operation. As a result the parts can be vigorously ground and polished while being held firmly in a fixed position. A single tool has a large number of openings in the shell.

Abstract: A linear array of optical sensing elements is moved transversely to the relative motion of an optical image such that each element can sense the optical density of pixels over which is passes, and such that all pixels in each of successive rasters across the image are sensed by at least one optical sensing element.The linear array of optical sensing elements may be combined with a linear array of printing elements in a single moving head to share components and thus to reduce cost of a facsimile transceiver.

Abstract: An ocean mining system for mining manganese nodules comprises a surface subsystem and an ocean bottom subsystem.The ocean bottom subsystem includes a mobile, maneuverable, self-propelled, miner vehicle which picks up, handles, washes and crushes nodules while retaining nodule fines.The underwater subsystem also includes a buffer which functions to provide temporary storage for nodule material picked up and crushed by the miner vehicle. The buffer further serves to isolate the miner vehicle from the dynamics of a pipe string extending down from a surface ship. All equipment not needed for operation of the miner vehicle is located on the buffer to distribute the weight between the buffer and the miner vehicle in a way that provides maximum mobility of the miner vehicle.The underwater subsystem also includes a flexible linkage extending between the miner vehicle and the buffer. A flotation block holds the flexible linkage up and out of the way of the miner vehicle during operation of the vehicle.