Abstract: A control circuit operates with a small toroidal transformer, having a ferrite core, to produce high voltage pulses efficiently. The circuit applies a magnetizing force to the transformer core that is in excess of the force required to produce maximum magnetization of the core. The initial magnetizing force is opposed by current flow in the secondary winding. As the secondary current flow approaches zero, it no longer can act to demagnetize the core and the primary can generate a rapid change in magnetic strength resulting in a high voltage in the secondary winding. The rate of change of current in the primary circuit is limited by a small inductor in series with the primary winding of the transformer. The charging circuit is interrupted simultaneously with discharge of a capacitor through the transformer primary. The core is insulated for high voltage and carries a secondary winding of about 300 turns extending over about 300 degrees of the circumference and a primary winding of about three to five turns.

Abstract: A sensing system for the detection of trace gases in the atmosphere or contaminates on a surface. Particular chemical substances are detected at remote points by placing a sensor unit in the vicinity of the area to be examined and illuminating the area with a laser beam generated by the sensor unit. An optical detector, also carried by the sensor unit, registers the fluorescence produced by the substance illuminated and relays this information by a telemetry link back to the base site. The utility of the system is broadened by providing a chemical reactant selected to react with the substance to be detected to produce a reaction product that fluoresces strongly at the wavelength of the laser light. The chemical reactant is carried by the sensor unit and is sprayed into the area to be examined.

Abstract: A mechanically balanced pulsed ink droplet mechanism includes a disk or ring of piezoelectric ceramic material positioned within a metal ring of rectangular cross section having an annular channel in its inner surface that is sealed by a thin metal diaphragm to form an annular ink chamber. The piezoelectric transducer is in mechanical engagement with the inner surface of the annular diaphragm, but the ink is electrically insulated from the ceramic. A voltage pulse applied to opposite sides of the disk causes it to expand and eject a droplet of ink from the printing orifice.The ink chamber is shallow and has a ratio of cross section to wetted perimeter or hydraulic radius approximately equal to the diameter of the orifice which quickly damps oscillations resulting from the ejection of each droplet of ink and permitting higher speed operation. The ink chamber is sealed without the use of compliant materials resulting in minimal additional compliance to the liquid.

Abstract: The method of making a print head of the type that includes a piezoelectric transducer positioned within a metal housing having an annular channel in its inner surface that is sealed by a thin metal diaphragm to form an annular ink chamber. The transducer is in mechanical engagement with the inner surface of the diaphragm. The sudden removal of a voltage applied to the transducer expands the disk to reduce the volume of the ink chamber, rupture the meniscus, and force a droplet of ink from the printing orifice.The housing is formed with an internal taper which permits a groove to be cut readily either by a casting or by a tool entering from the larger end of the central opening in the housing. An aluminum mandrel is tapered to match the taper on the inner surface of the housing and provided with an annular groove that corresponds to the groove in the housing. The mandrel is plated with nickel that will later form the diaphragm. The housing and mandrel are then plated with indium.

Abstract: A gas laser having an outer conductive shell and two axially displaced spaced plastic cylinders mounted within the shell. The inner plastic cylinder supports the high voltage components to produce a transverse electrical discharge. The outer plastic cylinder is spaced from the outer shell by rubber feet and forms an acoustic baffle to decrease the noise radiated during operation. High speed fans circulate the laser gas around the annular path between the two cylinders and between the high voltage electrodes. The inner plastic cylinder is manually removable for repair or other reason and carries with it all of the electrical components within the outer shell. High voltage is fed to the high voltage electrodes by means of a circuit that does not include the outer shell. This arrangement minimizes operating noise, provides maximum safety for operating personnel, and minimizes electrical interference.

Abstract: A speed reducer with an orbital rotor, mounted for free rotation on a rotor drive wheel driven along an orbital path, has a perimeter defined by an epitrochoidal curve that simultaneously engages each of a series of rollers arranged in a circle around the rotor.The rotor drive wheel is driven by a compensation coupler that prevents radial forces of the rotor and the rotor drive wheel. The drive shaft provides only a rotary thrust on the rotor drive wheel and is shielded from reaction movements of the rotor and rotor drive wheel.The rotor drive wheel is driven by a variable-length crank arm that extends into a radial opening in the rotor drive wheel and makes sliding engagement with opposite faces of the radial opening. The driving surfaces that engage the faces of the radial opening form, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft, arcs of a circle equal in diameter to the width of the radial opening.

Abstract: A speed reduction mechanism having an orbital drive system. A first crank arm drives the orbital system and a second crank arm, offset by 180 degrees, carries a counterweight for counter balancing the off center forces produced by the orbital system.To minimize inertia, the counterweight is symmetrically shaped about its axis and is mounted for free rotation about the second crank arm. Such a counterweight may have a smaller degree of eccentricity and a correspondingly greater mass than a conventional counterweight, but because the inertia is a function of the square of the eccentricity of the counterweight, the inertia may be significantly less.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a waveguide polarizer of the kind arranged to alter the propagation modes of an incident wave to produce elliptical or circular polarization. The phase shift is produced by the simultaneous use of dimensional perturbation and dielectric loading distributed along a waveguide section. Embodiments are illustrated using square, circular and crossed waveguide sections. The use of relatively light, symmetrical and continuous loading provides improved performance over that which can be attained by discrete element phase shifters or those that make use of only a single kind of loading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mail box alarm system arranged to notify the owner of a rural mail box when mail has been received. A transmitter positioned in the mail box radiates a coded signal each time the door of the box is opened or closed. A receiver, positioned in the associated residence or business, operates a visual and audible alarm. When mail is delivered, both the visual and audible alarm are energized during the time the door is open for the delivery of mail. When the door is closed, only the visual alarm remains energized. When the mail is picked up, the visual alarm is automatically deenergized and the mechanism re-positioned for a new cycle.

Abstract: A wingless aircraft having a power channel with two parallel ducts afixed to the top of the fuselage. A jet engine or other drive mechanism is positioned within each duct. No air flow is permitted between any part of the lower surface of the power channel and the fuselage. Each duct contains a number of variable-pitch airfoils that are independently adjustable. This independence of adjustment between variable-pitch airfoils within a single duct and the ability to adjust the variable-pitch airfoils in one duct as a group independently of those in another duct provides horizontal stability and compensates for undesired yawing. The lift is controlled to somewhat by adjustment of the variable-pitch airfoils and the angle of attack, and to an even greater extent in cooperation with adjustable auxiliary wing panels mounted above openings in the upper surface of each duct above one of the variable-pitch airfoils. The auxiliary wing panels nest in openings above the airfoils when not in use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing backlash and improving the efficiency of speed reduction mechanisms in which a series of rollers are equally spaced in a circle on a disk to perform operationally somewhat like an internal ring gear. Mounted for eccentric movement and simultaneously engaging each of the rollers is an orbital rotor having a perimeter defined by an epitrichoid curve with a number of lobes equal to one less than the number of rollers. The rotor is mounted for free rotation on an eccentric keyed to a drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft causes the rotor to move orbitally and to rotate with a speed reduction equal to the reciprocal of the number of lobes on the rotor. Each roller is mounted for controlled omnidirectional compliance and preloaded to provide a controlled pressure between each roller and the adjacent surface of the rotor. The outer surface of each roller is crowned to increase the efficiency and prevent binding that might be caused by angular deflection of the roller.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a pressurized ink supply system for a three color ink jet printer. In order to provide a relatively large ink supply, three stationary primary ink reservoirs, formed as three long tubular sacks of flexible plastic film, contained in a pressurized disposable cartridge, are connected through flexible plastic umbilical tubes, and three solenoid-operated valves, to three secondary ink reservoirs mounted on the movable carriage of the print head.The pressure in the primary reservoirs, under automatic control, forces the ink to the secondary reservoirs and, under manual control, purges the ink passages and orifices by momentarily opening all of the solenoid valves. The waste ink that is discharged by this purging operation is captured and returned to a separate waste-ink storage chamber in the disposable cartridge. This waste-ink storage chamber is maintained under a slight vacuum by the same pump that provides the pressure for the ink reservoirs.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a pressurized ink supply system for a three color ink jet printer. In order to provide a relatively large ink supply, three stationary primary ink reservoirs, formed as three long tubular sacks of flexible plastic film, contained in a pressurized disposable cartridge, are connected through flexible plastic umbilical tubes, and three solenoid-operated valves, to three secondary ink reservoirs mounted on the movable carriage of the print head. Automatic ink replenishment and an out-of-ink alarm are controlled entirely from the secondary ink reservoirs.The ink level in each secondary reservoir is maintained within close limits without attention from the operator. When the primary reservoir runs out of ink, as indicated by failure of the secondary reservoir to fill within a specified time period, an alarm alerts the operator to remove and replace the ink cartridge.

Abstract: A fastener for bundling wires or packaging other articles in which the ends of a smooth flexible plastic strap are inserted into parallel passageways through a plastic body and retained by locking ears extending into the passageways. An anchor member, formed from a single piece of spring sheet metal, includes a base portion, the two oppositely-extending locking ears and two intermediate oppositely-extending retaining ears that retain the anchor member within the body. The locking ears extend into the passageways to cinch the strap and prevent its being withdrawn. The outer ends of the locking ears are beveled to improve the holding power of the head. When the fastener has been applied to tie a bundle of articles, the forces operating on the fastener are in directions transverse to the axes of the passageways, thereby substantially increasing the holding power of the fastener.

Abstract: A variable pitch propeller is controlled by a hydraulic mechanism responsive to forces urging an unsymmetrically mounted propeller towards its maximum pitch. Spring bias means maintains the propeller at minimum pitch under conditions of rest. The propeller is prevented from increasing its pitch by the pressure produced on a closed hydraulic chamber until it reaches a predetermined r.p.m., when a centrifugal valve opens a first port and relieves the pressure in the cylinder and allows the propeller to increase in pitch. The increase in pitch opens a second port communicating with the pressure chamber, but that channel remains closed by a second valve that is normally closed but opens in response to a reduction in the throttle setting. The reduction in throttle setting closes the centrifugal valve so that the only channel from the pressure chamber is through the second port.

Abstract: A log splitter having a manually adjustable wedge and a power driven base for supporting the log and forcing it upwardly into the splitting wedge. The wedge is supported by a carriage that is releasably secured to two standards by a pair of quick-release clamps, operable with one hand. The support includes a central projection extending toward and in alignment with the terminus of the wedge to minimize twisting moments generated by the splitting forces.

Abstract: Apparatus for screen printing on cylindrical surfaces in which the driving force is created by rotation of the object to be imprinted. The force is transmitted by a belt mechanism and by direct friction between the object being printed and the stencil frame. The stencil frame is mounted for linear movement with minimum yawing and with freedom for vertical movement as required. The printer has particular advantage when the object being printed has a large moment of inertia or is circumferentially unbalanced.

Abstract: A laminate consists of two layers of non-woven elastic foam enclosing a non-elastic scrim formed by treating all of the materials with a latex solution, combining the materials under pressure while the two layers of elastic foam are in stretched condition, allowing the material to retract and slitting the material lengthwise into bandage material.

Abstract: A tool for trimming the downward hanging foliage of willow trees including a blade secured to a U-shaped handle having an unobstructed central area designed to pass over the torso of the user as it is swung overhead. The distance between the arms of the frame increase with distance from the blade. The dimensions, weight, and balance of the tool are such as to minimize the effort required in trimming.

Abstract: A graphic position-determining system incorporating two Sell-type transducers that generate acoustic shockwaves and receive their reflections from a surface whose position is to be determined and from fixed calibration reflectors positioned at known distances from the transducers. The design of the transducer includes plastic microspheres between a metalized membrane and a back-electrode to improve the sensitivity, the back-electrode having non-parallel surfaces to reduce unwanted vibrations and permit rapid damping. Apparatus is illustrated for determining the position of a movable cursor and for the verification or transmission of handwriting.