Abstract: A high-velocity jet of solvent is introduced through a nozzle into one end of a passage. A slurry of ore particles is feed into the passage through a narrow inlet port extending across the width of the passage in front of the nozzle of the jet. The resulting high-energy impact of the solvent jet on the ore particles causes a rapid, turbulent flow of the mixture of solvent and ore particles through the remaining length of the passage and into a mixing chamber. This flow impinges on the back wall of the mixing chamber further increasing abrasion and mixing between the solvent and ore particles.

Abstract: The control loop instability detection and correction apparatus monitors an error signal produced by a control system to detect any instability in the control loop before the instability significantly affects the performance of the controlled apparatus. This is accomplished by monitoring the error signal to detect a change in the error signal greater than a predetermined limit and to tabulate the number of times the change in the error signal is in excess of the predetermined limit over a fixed period of time. Whenever the change in the error signal is in excess of the predetermined limit, it is reduced in magnitude to a predetermined value and this resultant signal is applied to the controlled apparatus in place of the originally generated error signal. In addition during each sampling time interval, the result of this comparison is used to increment or decrement a counter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the presence of non-zeros in the prefix and completion frames of a high density magnetic storage tape and for issuing a pointer identifying the track and frame that the non-zero error condition arose.

Abstract: An improved broom holder to finish newly laid concrete surfaces is provided having a collar designed to accept a number of different commerically available broom handle adaptor attachments. A broom head is adjustably mounted to the collar so that the broom handle can be positioned along the length of the broom head in order to brush hard to reach areas. Interchangeable broom fiber strips are easily mounted to the broom head. A broom fiber strip appropriate to the job at hand can be chosen and slipped into the broom head where it is clamped in place. The broom fiber strips are available in a variety of configurations and color-coded fiber types.

Abstract: A protective glove for protection against infection due to puncture or rupture of the glove during surgery formed from two protective layers. The outer layer is formed with substantially the same finger lengths as the inner layer and slightly larger diametrical width than the inner layer. This forms a protective clearance space while providing tactile sensitivity to allow fine surgical techniques to be performed.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved saddle blanket having compartments attached to the periphery of the rear end of the blanket. The compartments include a center compartment contoured to conform the cantle of the saddle. The skirt of the saddle is slipped between the compartments and the blanket so the center compartment is pushed against the cantle of the saddle. The saddle and compartments are thus stabilized from bouncing and slipping relative to another.

Abstract: Coal is mined using water jets to a remove a layer of thin horizontal slices of coal. The thickness of the layer is sufficiently small that elastic deformation of the roof of the layer due to settling will cause the roof to rest against the floor of the layer. A number of additional layers of slices are then extracted in the same manner, each immediately below the floor of the preceding layer. The thickness and location of these layers wiht respect to previous layers is such that elastic deformation of the roof of the first layer due to settling will cause the roof to rest against the floor of the last layer of slices. Through the sequential mining of layers in this manner from top to bottom, the entire seam of coal is extracted and the mine roof rests upon the mine floor without the need for artificial roof support.

Abstract: Laser welding and annealing is accomplished by using a single laser and a single automated fixture that secures a workpiece at the focal point of a laser beam for welding and removed from the focal point for annealing without requiring alignment and positioning operations for each of the functions performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locking the drive hubs of a forms overlay station in a laser electrographic printer to its transparent forms overlay drum includes counterboring a plurality of holes through the drum into the hubs, inserting a resilient member such as an O-ring into each counterbored hole, and compressing the resilient member to form an interference fit among the compressed resilient member and an interface formed within the counterbored hole by the drum and hubs.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes back lighting optics to produce converging white light over an area larger than an area of the edge of the convex object being profiled by the present invention. Opposite the back lighting optics are located a shadow image detector which detects the shadow image of the edge of the convex object, which is located between the back lighting optics and the shadow image detector. The detector generates a plurality of pixel outputs from each of a plurality of vertical locations for the shadow image of the edge. A rotating stage provides relative movement between the convex object and the detector/optics arrangement. The output of the detector which is a high resolution camera is fed into a data processing system which determins a sub-pixel distance measurement for each of the plurality of vertical locations and arranges the sub-pixel distance measurements into rows and columns to construct a surface profile of the convex object.

Abstract: An automated waveform analyzer for designing, on a computer, a logic implementation of an interface circuit connected between a first digital device and one or more other digital devices. The analyzer identifies from the remaining input and output waveforms those waveforms that, when logically combined together, construct the waveform of a selected output waveform in order to provide the proper logic and timing compatibility between the devices.

Abstract: A water-ski locator device is comprised of a buoyant body fixed in position on the top surface of the water-ski's toe piece by a number of straps. So positioned, the buoyant body does not create water drag while the ski is in use. The device is also particularly adapted to restore the body uppermost over the ski and to visibly project above the water's surface in the event the ski becomes detached, or is purposely left by the skier, and comes to rest in an upside down orientation, i.e., if the ski initially comes to rest, as a water-ski is otherwise often inclined to do, with its bottom surface floating on the water and its shoe piece facing downward.

Abstract: A wind resistant, two axis tracker is used to direct a solar reflector, heliostat, or dish antenna. An elevation drive ring is supported in a vertical orientation by dolly wheels rotatably attached to a base. The reflector is attached at two points along the circumference of the elevation drive ring. In the prreferred embodiment, a reflector having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the elevation drive ring is mounted to the elevation drive ring. A number of support members, such as cables, extend from the elevation drive ring to the periphery of the reflector. Azimuth adjustment is either provided by incorporating a horizontal turntable or drive ring as part of the base, or by pivoting the reflector within the elevation drive ring by adjusting the respective lengths of the support cables extending laterally from the elevation drive ring to the periphery of the reflector.

Abstract: A cart for the transport of a workload over rough terrain. The cart has a low center of gravity, to make heavy loads easier to carry, a bumper that protects the cart against obstacles, a waistband extending between handlebars to provide for increased user comfort in pushing the cart, and diagonally inclined struts interconnecting the handlebar portion of the frame with the top and bottom load carrying elements of the frame.

Abstract: A single diagonal syndrome generator receives first (forward reading) and second (reverse reading) sets of eight-bit data and a single vertical syndrome generator receives the first and second sets of eight-bit data from a progammable read only memory. The second set of data is reversed in bit order prior to delivery to the syndrome generators. The output of the two syndrome generators are delivered into an error processor and an error correction circuit for correcting errors in the first and second sets of eight-bit data. Upon error correction, the second set of eight-bit data is again reversed to put it in the same bit order as originally read.

Abstract: A ribbon reverse mechanism for a high-speed line printer having a towel ribbon driven between a pair of spring-loaded spools by gear means coupled to band drive motor includes an input shaft coupled to the drive motor and having mounted thereon a pair of spaced-apart worms for driving respective gears. The gears are each coupled a wrap-spring clutch, housed within a clutch stop collar having a plurality of teeth engageable with a floating disk, to an output shaft coupled to the spools. Each of the floating disks are alternately engaged to its respective clutch stop collar, thereby permitting the wrap spring clutch to be wound up, through energization of a coil. As one spool becomes full, a ribbon direction sensor outputs a signal indicative thereof to a machine co-processor in order that the active engagement may be de-energized, while the inactive engagement coil may be energized for reversing the direction of ribbon travel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning a magnetic read/write head with precision orientation on a suspension assembly arm. The arm contains a plurality of mounting indicia. Computer controlled apparatus, including an optics system, scans the mounting indicia and the head and mounts the head on a predetermined desired location on the arm and with the desired orientation.

Abstract: A portable shock-proof instrument for determining the presence of defects in the surface profile of a container. The instrument includes a portable housing having shock-mounted therein an optical table carrying a point source of light, mirrors for reflecting the light in an inverted U-shaped path thereby providing compactness to the instrument, a lens in the middle portion of the U-shaped path for collimating the light and directing it past an edge of the container thereby producing a shadow image of the edge, a rotating stage for selectively turning the container, a cylindrical telescope for magnifying the horizontal field of view of the shadow image in order to enhance the detection of defects, and a camera for capturing a plurality of shadow edge images as the container is being turned. A processor is connected to the rotating stage and to the camera for analyzing the captured plurality of shadow edge images for the presence of defects.

Abstract: The tape cartridge movement management apparatus for an automated tape cartridge library system includes a database that identifies each tape cartridge stored in the library system and its physical location, whether in its home position or in transit. In addition, a path selection apparatus is used to regulate the movement of the tape cartridges between their home positions and the designated destinations. This apparatus selects a path between two end points, reserves the apparatus to transport the designated tape cartridge between these two end points and maintains the apparatus reservations until the movement of the tape cartridge is successfully completed. In this fashion, if the movement of the tape cartridge is blocked somewhere along the path, the apparatus remains reserved to return the designated tape cartridge back to its original or home position.