Abstract: A counterbalance shoe of a tilt sash lock shoe system runs in a resin shoe channel of a jamb liner and locks against a rib extending into the shoe channel so that the rib is backed up by a surface of the shoe. A locking element carried by the shoe is counterbalanced into a locked position in which a biting edge of the lock element bites into a front side of the rib. A non-circular sash pin carried by a sash and supported by the shoe at the bottom of an open top slot in the shoe engages and separates confronting surfaces of the shoe and the locking element. The pin is configured for separating the confronting surfaces by enough to hold the locking element out of locked position when the sash is untilted and for reducing the separation of the confronting surfaces to move the locking element into locked position when the sash tilts.

Abstract: A continuously variable automotive transmission (10, 30, 110, and 130) uses an orbital drive having an engine input to an orbit shaft (21, 41) orbiting a cluster gear (25, 45) around a control gear (27, 47) and an output gear (26, 46) meshed with the cluster gear on a common axis. Holding the control gear still produces an orbit drive reduction from engine to output; rotating the control gear forward, which can be done with a hydraulic pump (17) and motor (18), diminishes the reduction for higher speed and lower torque; and reversing the control gear reverses the output drive. A pair of clutches (60, 65 and 67, 70) are available for connecting the orbit drive between the engine and the output for a low range and for connecting the engine directly with the output for a direct drive in high range. The transmission is disclosed in four different preferred embodiments, with an underdrive unit which can be used with any of the embodiments to provide a low-low transmission for use in heavy trucks.

Abstract: The optical testing method of the invention permits the reliable elimination of discontinuities, i.e., the determination of the integer values of modulo 2.pi. phase differences, even when the measured data includes seriously noisy signals. The intensity signals from a two-dimensional raster of camera image points are used to compute differences in phase values between adjacent image points in lines, as well as between adjacent image points in columns. The phase differences are summed along a closed path around each of a plurality of partial fields which are delineated by a predetermined set of adjacent image points. A filter (21) searches the vector field of these phase differences; and those partial fields where vortexes exist, i.e., each field for which the sign-correct sum along its closed path is not zero, are masked, thereby creating holes in the image pattern.

Abstract: A gear differential having multiple gear trains interconnecting a pair of output shafts is provided with an arrangement of gearing having an expanded relationship between tooth numbers of the gearing for fitting the gear trains into mesh. The gearing includes two side gears (20 and 21) coupled to respective output shafts and three pairs of combination gears (24 and 25, 26 and 27, and 28 and 29) for interconnecting the two side gears. Each of the combination gears includes a middle gear portion (40) and two end gear portions (42 and 44). The middle and end gear portions have respective numbers of teeth that share a greatest common factor (GCF) that is more than one but less than the number of teeth in the middle gear portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spatially-adjustable supporting frame for a surgical microscope unit which can be selectively locked in any adjusted position. The frame includes a hinged parallelogram which can be pivoted about a bearing supported on a column. The hinged parallelogram carries a second structure in the form of a coupled-hinge parallelogram which, in turn, carries the surgical microscope. Two counterweights are independently adjustable along paths parallel with two adjacent sides of the hinged parallelogram to permit the continuous balancing of the weight of the surgical microscope.

Abstract: The disclosed pivoting device is used with a frame structure that supports optical units, such as surgical microscopes and the like, for viewing a predetermined observation point, the frame structure being adjustable in height and in relation to three coordinate axes. The pivoting device carries the optical unit and permits adjustment of the unit about three axes of rotation to any desired position over a spherical surface. The pivoting device includes counterbalancing apparatus that adjusts synchronously with the movement of the optical unit. With this apparatus, it is easy to move the optical unit, and minor adjustments in the position of the optical unit do not require an adjustment of the frame structure. In addition, since the pivoting device's three primary axes of rotation all intersect at the observation point, focus of the optical unit relative to the observation point is not changed by such minor spatial adjustments of the unit.

Abstract: Frictional resistance is appreciably increased in parallel-axis/torque-proportioning types of automotive differentials to improve torque bias characteristics. A pair of sun gears receive, respectively, the ends of coaxial drive axles, and the sun gears are interconnected by at least one planetary pair of combination gears positioned in the housing circumferentially around the sun gears. Each combination gear of the pair has a first engagement portion that is in mesh with a respective one of the sun gears, and each also has a second engagement portion that is in mesh with its paired combination gear.

Abstract: A connector provides access to intravenous fluid lines, bags, and vials with either conventional needles or needleless fittings. The connector has a housing with at least one input port and an output port. Two valves normally biased to closed positions control passage of fluid between the one input port and the output port, One of the valves is displaceable to an open position by a needleless fitting, and the other valve is displaceable to an open position by a conventional needle.

Abstract: A magnetic conditioner is arranged with a plurality of magnets surounding a central axis of a conduit. The magnets include like magnetic poles facing the conduit for concentrating magnetic energy within the conduit. The magnetic poles are also arranged in a helical pattern along the length of the conduit to expose fluid flowing through the conduit to a more uniform amount of magnetic field energy. The magnetic conditioner is also assembled as a part of an emission control system that includes a coalescing filter and a positive crankcase ventilation valve.

Abstract: An integral strip of resin material is used to cover exposed portions of jamb liner slots of take-out windows. Side walls on either side of the slot are displaced by passage of the tubular body. The winged flanges are drawn partly into the slot against outer portions of the side walls by a snap-fit engagement between inner portions of the side walls and the tubular part. Resilience of the winged flanges against the outer portions of the side walls helps to hold the strip in place and cover the slots. The tubular part of the strip also serves as a stop for limiting movement of a windown sash along the liner.

Abstract: A catadioptric imaging system is used to form a converging test beam for measuring large aperture optical elements having convex spherical surfaces. A beamsplitter block divides a collimated beam of coherent monochromatic light from a laser source into a test beam and a reference beam. A focusing system receives the test beam and transforms the beam into a spherically diverging beam emanating from a point source. A beamsplitter plate partially reflects the diverging beam into a further diverging beam that impinges against a concave spherical mirror at a small angle from normal incidence. The mirror reflects the further diverging beam in the form of a converging beam having a numerical aperture at least nearly equal to numerical apertures of the test surfaces. The converging beam is also interrupted by the beamsplitter plate; but on this occasion, the beamsplitter plate partially transmits the converging beam toward a focal point coinciding with a center of curvature of the test surface.

Abstract: A fire-resistant safe has a main body and a closure, both of which are formed from integral resin shells filled with insulation materials. When exposed to fire, a portion of the resin material burns away leaving gaps between the insulation materials of the main body and closure. However, formation of convection air currents in vertical sections of the gaps is resisted by reducing spacings between insulation materials of the main body and closure. The amount of heat energy carried by the convection air currents is similarly reduced, thereby avoiding significant concentrations of heat that can promote burning through the gaps.

Abstract: A spring balance for counteracting the weight of heavy window sashes includes both a torsion spring and a tension spring. The two springs are separated by a rigid tube. One end of each spring is connected to an end of the rigid tube. A spiral member engages a follower carried by the other end of the torsion spring and includes a stop along its length for engaging an anchor carried by the other end of the tension spring. The spiral member can be attached by conventional means to a shoe or other connection to the window sash.

Abstract: A dual series valve is formed with two plungers within a central bore of a solenoid. Each of the plungers is formed with a guide bore that is supported on respective guide members through opposite ends of the guide bore. The guide members are firmly supported from respective plugs in the solenoid bore to prevent the plungers from contacting the central bore of the solenoid. Two of the guide members supporting respective plungers define valve seats that are opened and closed by respective valve seals carried within the guide bores of the two plungers. The valve seats and the valve seals are maintained in alignment with each other within the respective guide bores between the guide members supporting opposite ends of the plungers.

Abstract: A variable speed transmission includes parallel driver and driven shafts (54, 56) which mount respective series of intermeshing gears (60-65, 70-75) of progressively increasing gear ratio for selectively transmitting power from one shaft to the other. A series of two-way roller clutches are interposed between the driven shaft (56) and respective gear members (70-75) of the series of driven gears. The roller clutches are engageable for rotatively coupling the driven gears (70-75) to the driven shaft (56) and are disengageable for permitting relative rotation between the driven gears and the driven shaft. Each of the roller clutches includes a cam disk (10) having a plurality of recesses (20) formed in its peripheral surface and a roller retainer (12) circumferentially supporting a plurality of rollers (32) within respective recesses (20) in the cam disk.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the influence of temperature on the focus of an IR optical imaging system, radiation from an auxiliary heat source is deflected through the IR optical imaging system such that said radiation impinges on an autocollimating reflector from where it is reflected back into said IR optical imaging system and then impinges on detector elements which are arranged in a detector image plane. Electrical signals generated by the affected detectors are analyzed, digitized, and then compared in a computer whose output signals control a motor for adjusting the axial position of at least one of the optical lens elements of the IR system such that the autocollimating condition between the auxiliary heat source and its image in the detector plane is maintained at all times.

Abstract: The invention is an inverted microscope with a housing having multiple integrated ray paths leading from the specimen being examined to (a) the viewer/operator and (b) one or more auxiliary ports used for image recording and/or measurement by accessories such as cameras and video recorders. The microscope lens is positioned below the specimen stage; and, positioned below the lens is a simple reflector which deflects the combined rays from the lens diagonally upward toward the viewer at exactly the same angle at which the viewer looks into the microscope's binocular eyepieces. The position of this simple reflector is the lowest point in the unit's paths of rays, thereby significantly lowering the lens turret and, therefore, the specimen stage to a relatively low, ergonomically-appropriate position. The optical arrangement is simple and compact, minimizing the number of deflections in the path of the viewing rays.

Abstract: A swimming pool coping that can be used for covering a top edge of curved swimming pool walls includes an integrally formed body having a hollow nose-shaped portion and a mounting seat portion. The hollow nose-shaped portion has a rounded profile with top and bottom portions that are connected by a web. A notch-shaped relief joint interrupts the bottom portion of the rounded profile in a position that contracts in response to bending of the coping body in either of two directions to match concave and convex curvatures of swimming pool walls. The rounded profile projects from the web through a distance that is decreased by the contraction of the relief joint so that the coping exhibits a similar appearance while matching either concave or convex curvatures of the pool walls.

Abstract: Several bar patterns are projected in sequence on the object (O) to be measured by time-division multiplexing, and images of the bar patterns are recorded by a camera (K). The phases of each bar pattern, as distorted by the object, are calculated for preselected image points by a computer connected with the camera. For each image point, the calculated phases for one of said bar patterns are compared to the phases calculated for at least one other of said bar patterns, thereby producing a beat frequency which can be used to determine height measurements in the direction of the camera axis (z). In order to increase the range of the height measurements, at least two beat frequencies of quite different effective wavelengths are generated and evaluated. Different systems are disclosed for generating the different beat frequencies. In one embodiment, the bar patterns are projected by three different projectors (P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3) which are inclined at different angles relative to each other (.alpha..sub.

Abstract: Two bar patterns are projected sequentially on the object (O) to be measured, e.g., by time-division multiplexing, at angles which are inclined toward each other. The bar patterns are produced by projectors having respective rectangular gratings. The periods of the gratings are the same, and the phase relationship of the gratings is fixed relative to each other. Each reflected bar pattern, as distorted by the surface of the object, is individually and sequentially recorded by a camera (K); and the bar phases (.psi..sub.1, .psi..sub.2) of each sequentially reflected bar pattern are calculated for each image point by a computer connected with the camera. The computer also computes the differences (.DELTA..psi.) between the bar phases of the two projections for each image point. These phase differences remain stationary even when the bar patterns are moved relative to the camera.