Abstract: A strip lighting fixture having a hollow base structure and a cover for closing an open face of the structure. At least one bracket member is mounted in the base structure, and a hinge arm is rotatably attached to the bracket member so that the cover can be rotated away from the base structure. In addition, at least one pin is provided for maintaining the cover in a substantially 90.degree. relation to the plane of the base structure when the cover is rotated from the base structure.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing the compositions of metal particles. The apparatus includes a cup which, when filled to maximum capacity will hold substantially the same amount of metal particles each time it is filled, and has a profile that diverts any excess particles away from the cup. A vessel is provided for receiving the particles from the cup and for dissolving the particles when a solvent is sent to the vessel. A known amount of solvent is directed to the vessel to dissolve the particles and thereby provide a dissolved sample of metal for analysis. An optical emissions spectrometer receives the dissolved sample and is employed to produce emission spectra from the dissolved sample. The spectra is compared to emission spectra produced by a known amount of a known alloy of the same metal as the sample metal to determine the composition of the sample metal.

Abstract: Apparatus for commutating an electrical current to an electrically conductive rod of an alloying element during the feed thereof to a body of molten metal for purposes of changing the alloy composition of the metal. The apparatus includes a power supply capable of providing electrical current in amounts sufficient to melt a free end of the rod of alloying material into the molten metal, and a pair of parallel adjacent shafts of substantial cross-section. A pair of commutation wheels are mounted respectfully on said shafts for rotatably engaging the rod between the wheels and for conducting current to the rod. Means are provided for forcing the wheels against the rod to provide intimate electrical and physical contact between the rod and wheels. A plurality of stationary brushes are disposed to physically engage each of said shafts along the length thereof for supplying current to the shafts from the power supply, and from the shafts to the wheels engaging the rod.

Abstract: Means and method for assembling an optical fiber cable with a tubular member that secures an outside protective jacket of the cable. The inside wall of the tubular member is provided with serrations such that when the wall is physically reduced on the protective jacket, the serrations engage and retain the jacket without compressing the inner optical fiber so that it is free to move longitudinally within the jacket. This is accomplished by using a crimping device having a crimping aperture that is sized to precisely control the amount of reduction of the tube wall onto the protective jacket.

Abstract: An inclined cassette for holding and indexing a stack of planar items. The cassette includes a floor that is inclined at an angle sufficient to overcome the coefficient of friction of the planar items such that they slide to the lowermost corner of the floor. Two upstanding wall portions intersect each other at the lowermost corner to align the cards in a vertical stack, i.e., in a stack at an angle to the vertical. An elongated opening is provided in the wall portions at the corner, which opening extends upwardly from the location of the floor. The cassette further includes a base means for supporting the cassette in the inclined manner and in a manner that precisely locates the cassette for repeatable automatic removal of the planar items from the cassette.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the correct temperature of a heated coil of sheet material and for using said measurement to control a heat treating furnace. The method includes providing a spot of heat resistant material having a known and constant emissivity that is substantially unity on an uneven edge of the coil, the material of the spot remaining on peaks of the uneven edge. The constant emissivity of the spot is independent of that of the edge, the emissivity of which changes and indicates a temperature is substantially different from the true temperature of the edge. The coil is heated and the spot emits infrared energy in an amount that is substantially representative of the correct temperature of the coil and edge. This infrared energy is sensed by an infrared detector aimed at the spot, the output of the energy being indicative of the true temperature of the edge and of the coil mass after it attains the temperature of the edge.

Abstract: A method of handling a fragile, flexible card on a perforated plate. The method includes first locating the card on a tray having an open center, and disposing the tray and card on the plate. The plate is located on a hollow platen which is evacuated to draw the card to the plate. The hollow of the platen has a center compartment and peripheral compartments located about the center compartment. The evacuation process begins with the center compartment and gradually evacuates the peripheral compartments such that the center portion of the card is drawn first to the periphery plate while the peripheral portions of the card are drawn later to the periphery of the plate. In this manner, the drawing process begins with the center of the card and progresses outwardly from the center to the periphery of the card. After the card is drawn to the plate, the card is secured to the open tray by clamps.

Abstract: Method for making blanks from a fragile, flexible material cast on a supporting strip and rolled to form a composite roll of the flexible material and strip. The method includes the process of separating the supporting strip from the flexible material, winding the supporting strip on a take-up roll and cleaning the flexible material before it reaches a station for blanking cards from the flexible material. The cards blanked from material are collected on a conveyor, while a remaining skeleton of the flexible material is collected for reuse in making the flexible material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the uppermost article from a stack of alternating first and second articles. The apparatus includes a plurality of pins and a plurality of suction devices, the pins and suction devices being supported from the lower side of a support structure. The support structure, with the suction devices and pins, comprise a head or end effector for sequentially removing the alternating articles from the stack. Means are provided for moving the head from the stack to two respective locations for receiving the first and second articles in respective piles of the articles. The stack of alternating articles, and the respective piles of the articles after they are removed from the stack, are preferably held in an inclined cassette that aligns the articles and maintains the articles in alignment.

Abstract: A method of inspecting the surface of an object for the detection and analysis of surface variations that exceed established acceptable surface conditions. The surface has a directionally specific pattern that tends to obscure surface variations in a spatial domain of the surface. The method includes detecting the presence of one or more surface variations with sensors located to view the surface and to provide an electronic image of an area of the surface containing said variations and directionally specific pattern. The electronic image is transmitted from the sensors to a storage device for subsequent display and analysis. The spatial domain of the image is transformed into a two dimensional frequency domain to obtain a spectral response of the image. Frequency components of the two dimensional spectral response are then evaluated to identify the direction of the directionally specific pattern.

Abstract: An inexpensive light weight hollow frustum of a cone for suspending items on or from a host surface. The cone has a high strength-to-weight ratio provided by a thin wall of material forming the hollow cone. The cone has a bushing-like end at the apex thereof for receiving and holding the suspended item. An opening is provided in the bushing-like end for receiving a removable fastener. The base end of the cone is provided with a flange for receiving removable fasteners for securing and removing the cone and item to and from the host surface.

Abstract: A method of rolling metal in a plurality of rolling stands with each of the stands having two or more rolls. The method includes first polishing the surfaces of the rolls to a mirror finish, after which the roll surfaces are textured with a plurality of minute micron size craters. The roll surface and craters are then coated with a dense, hard material before the rolls are lubricated and used to reduce the thickness of the metal in the stands. To this end, the metal is directed through the stands, the craters being capable of retaining and carrying lubricant into the bites of all of the rolls without substantial adherence of metal to the roll surfaces and without substantial generation of wear debris on the surfaces of the rolls and rolled material.

Abstract: A method for rolling material between rotating rolls utilizing a lubricant, at least one of the rolls having an anistropic working surface that comprises a topography of smooth bearing areas spaced apart by at least one micron-size groove extending around and along the face of the roll in the general direction of rolling. The groove receives and conducts lubricant freely therealong during the rolling process, i.e., as the material to be rolled is directed through the rotating rolls, and is compressed between the rolls, the smooth-bearing areas force lubricant from the areas to the location of the groove in the roll. In this manner, the material is rolled under boundary lubrication conditions.

Abstract: A method and plate structure for peelably sealing lidding stock to a sealing flange of a container. The plate structure has a face portion that is configured in cross section to contact the lidding stock and force the same against the flange surface without cutting the sealing layer of the stock and in a manner that indents the stock and flange, and retains sealing material in a sealing area to effect a good but peelable seal between the lidding stock and flange. The face portion includes an indentor made of a material of high thermal conductivity relative to the material of the remainder of the plate structure.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for expanding at least a portion of a cylindrical sidewall of a generally cylindrically shaped, electrically responsive, metallic body. This method comprises the steps of retaining at least a first portion of the metallic body, disposing a coil of electrically conductive material inside the metallic body, and energizing the coil to create an electromagnetic force sufficient to expand at least a portion of the generally cylindrical sidewalls of the metallic body outwardly of the original generally cylindrical shape. During such expansion, a fluid is introduced between the coil and the inside surfaces of the container to maintain positive gauge pressure as the sidewalls expand. This invention also provides an apparatus for expanding at least a portion of a cylindrical sidewall of a generally cylindrically shaped, electrically responsive, metallic body.

Abstract: A method of superplastically forming a part from a blank of material. The blank is placed between opposed die structures and heated to a superplastic forming temperature. Positive fluid pressure is supplied at an increasing rate against a front surface of a blank to stretch the same into a cavity of one of the dies to begin formation of the part. A positive fluid pressure is also applied against the back surface of the blank, and acoustical energy emitted by the material of blank resulting from the occurrence of cavitation in the material is sensed. The sensing of acoustical energy is employed to control one or more of the above parameters until the formation of the cavities substantially reduces or ceases altogether.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making metal flakes from a body or stream of molten metal. The apparatus includes a wheel with serrations on its periphery, and means for rotating the wheel in a vertical plane. Means are provided for controlling the relative positions of the wheel and the upper surface of the body of molten metal which is subjected to change. In this manner, the serrations on the bottom of the wheel are disposed a preselected distance into the body of molten metal. When the serrations rotate out of the body, molten metal collects on the serrations and freezes into solid flakes. Means are provided for removing the flakes from the serrations and for collecting the flakes at one location on the periphery of the wheel.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for retaining the configuration of an aperture formed through a coil when the coil is supported on a saddle. The saddle has a pair of spaced apart upstanding legs. The apparatus includes a first and a second member, with the second member having a length sufficient to span the legs of the saddle. A pair of arms are pivotably attached to the first member and the arms are joined to the second member by a pair of links. The links enable the arms to move between a first position in which the arms are spaced inward and apart from the perimeter of the aperture when the second member is not in contact with the legs of the saddle and a second position in which the arms cooperate with the first member to support the weight of the coil when the second member is in contact with the legs of the saddle. The apparatus is particularly useful for supporting a coil during a heat treatment operation.

Abstract: A method of rolling material in a rolling mill in which the material is directed from an unwind coil of the material to the mill and/or to a rewind coil of the material from the mill, the material being under tension as it is directed to and from the mill. The directing process has at least one cyclic disturbance which ordinarily causes cyclic changes in the tension of the material and in the thickness of the material exiting the mill. The method includes measuring changes in tension and/or thickness, and providing time domain samples of such changes during revolutions of the unwind or rewind coil. The samples are then processed by characterizing them as frequency, magnitude and phase-angle components of the changes using a function that transforms the time domain of the samples into the frequency domain. These components are then emloyed in an update algorithm to provide a current estimate of the cyclic disturbances.

Abstract: An inexpensive light weight spacer and support for suspending items on or from a host surface. The spacer and support comprises a cone-type structure, the structure having a bushing-like end at the apex thereof for receiving and holding the supported item. An opening is provided in the bushing-like end for receiving a fastener. The base end of the cone-shaped structure is provided with a flange portion for receiving fasteners for securing the cone and item to the host surface.