Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the direction of motion from a reference signal, R, and a quadrature signal, Q, derived from the output signals X+0 and X+90 of a position transducer, wherein the polarity of the reference signal alternates with every fixed increment of motion of a transducer and the quadrature signal which maintains phase difference of +90.degree. or -90.degree. with respect to the reference signal depending on the direction of motion, is comprised of: digital means for producing a narrow pulse, P, at each low-to-high transition of the quadrature signal and a narrow pulse, N, at each high-to-low transition of the quadrature signal; means for determining the direction of motion from these narrow pulses and the reference signal once during each half cycle of the reference signal, and means for storing this direction information until a subsequent determination is made in order to provide a continuous signal indicating the direction of motion.

Abstract: In order to verify the authenticity of the signature of an individual, first a sample signature is written with a pen which can generate electrical signals representative of the forces exerted in the plane of the paper in the process of writing. These signals are sampled and then scaled so that the signature when displayed, can be fitted within a predetermined display area. The scaled signals generated from the sample signature are then stored. When it is desired to compare the sample signature with a signature which is subsequently written, called a specimen signature, the specimen signature is written and is processed for display in the same manner as was the sample signature. The scaled sample signature signals are then called out of storage and displayed, as are the scaled signals generated in the course of writing the specimen signature. Any deviations between the signatures are very readily detectable by observing the display.

Abstract: A cuff system particularly useful with tracheal tubes and the like including an expandable cuff insertable into a patient's trachea for sealing engagement with the trachea wall. The cuff is formed around an elongated tubular member by a flaccid readily deformable non-distensible wall. A liquid reservoir comprised of a flaccid readily deformable wall communicates with the cuff via a filling pipe whose ends respectively open into the reservoir and cuff. The reservoir is mounted in a semi-rigid squeezable protective housing. The cuff system interior volume enclosed by the reservoir, filling pipe, and cuff contains no gas and is supplied with the cuff evacuated and lying against the tubular member and with the reservoir and filling pipe containing a quantity of liquid. A selectively operable valve is provided to control flow through the filling pipe.

Abstract: An arrangement for and method of inserting a glass microelectrode having a tip in the micron range into body tissue is disclosed. The arrangement includes a microelectrode. The top of the microelectrode is attached to the diaphragm center of a first speaker. The microelectrode tip is brought into contact with the tissue by controlling a micromanipulator. Thereafter, an audio signal is applied to the speaker to cause the microelectrode to vibrate and thereby pierce the tissue surface without breaking the microelectrode tip. Thereafter, the tip is inserted into the tissue to the desired depth by operating the micromanipulator with the microelectrode in a vibratory or non-vibratory state. A mechanism including a second speaker disclosed. Such mechanism is useful to sense tissue motion to control the microelectrode position with respect thereto substantially constant.

Abstract: A check valve which closes more rapidly to prevent wearing of the valve seat and of the valve member that seals thereagainst, including a solenoid or other actuator that aids the normal spring to quickly close the valve at approximately the time when downpath fluid flow would stop, the actuator then being deenergized. The control circuit that operates the actuator can include a pair of pressure sensors sensing pressure both upstream and downstream from the valve seat. Where the valve is utilized to control flow to or from a piston pump, energization of the actuator can be controlled by sensing when the pump piston reaches its extreme of travel.

Abstract: A structure for supporting floor-molding forms in a multi-story building, including a truss that supports the forms and four telescoping leg units with upper ends pivotally connected to the truss, for supporting the entire weight of the truss on the previously-cast floor. The leg units are pivoted and telescoped out until the lower end of each leg unit lies on an area of the floor which is adjacent to a column or load-bearing wall of the building, within the 45.degree. shear plane lying about the column or wall, so that the weight of the truss and load thereon is transferred directly to the columns or walls to thereby eliminate heavy loading of the already-formed floor.

Abstract: A coupling which permits the rapid assembly without tools, of furniture frame members into a complete furniture frame. Each coupling of the system includes a hook member formed of a metal plate and having a pair of hooks that can hook onto corresponding rods in another frame member to connect the frame members together. The hook member lies in a slot formed in one furniture piece, while the other furniture piece has a corresponding slot for receiving the hooks and has a pair of dowel rods which receive the hooks. The rods extend through the slot, in the case of a thick furniture piece, and lie behind the slot in the case of a panel furniture piece.

Abstract: A buoy for mooring vessels, has a rotatable turntable on the top, which rotates about the vertical axis of the buoy. A mooring yoke which couples to ships at one end has the other end pivotably attached to the turntable so that it is pivotable about a horizontal axis. The mooring yoke has bumper equipment on either side of the location of the pivotable axis so that its pivotable motion can be restricted to a predetermined arc.

Abstract: Means for hinging or removably attaching a cover to a chassis comprising a retainer device including a pair of arms spring-urged away from one another. The retainer device is fixed to the chassis with the ends of the arms extending outward into openings in the cover. The arms can be manually pinched to disengage them from the cover openings to thereby permit the cover to be removed from the chassis. Utilization of a pair of retainer devices on the chassis enables one of the devices to be disengaged while the other remains engaged to thus hinge the cover relative to the chassis.

Abstract: In a system for reducing sidelobes in adaptive receiving array antennas, an auxiliary signal is radiated through an omnidirectional antenna collocated with the phase center of an adaptive array antenna. The auxiliary signal is so transmited as to form a probe or pilot beam with a notch in the main-beam direction by transmitting through both the omnidirectional and the array antenna simultaneously. The relative phases of both antennas are controlled to obtain near-zero radiation in the main-beam direction. Adaptive control loops receive returns from the probe beam and adjust the weights of the receiving array antenna. The receiving array weights are used to form a low sidelobe antenna pattern for reception of the main radar signal, which is transmitted with a directional pattern. Either time or frequency separation may be used to distinguish the probe beam from the main beam.

Abstract: A tape cartridge of the floating roller type, wherein a drive belt is utilized which is thin enough and of a material stiff enough in compression, as compared to the tape rolls, that much of the deformation required to produce tape tension occurs by reason of compression of the tape rolls at the point of contact with the floating roller. The drive belt can lie in a groove of the floating roller, so that the floating roller presses directly on the tape rolls.

Abstract: A very high pressure pump apparatus which minimizes wear on the seals thereof and on valves connected thereto, by utilizing a very long stroke piston rod whose opposite ends are received in long cylinders. An electric motor which drives the rod, includes a rotor with a threaded aperture that receives a long threaded middle portion of the rod, so that as the rotor turns it advances the rod.

Abstract: A door designed for use in conjunction with a gate that covers the end of an enclosed rail car whose sides are sloped at the top, to cover the portion of the car end which lies between the top of the gate and the roof of the car. The top door is supported by members fastened to the roof, which permit the door to be stowed by tipping the bottom of the door outwardly and then sliding it onto the roof. The gate structure has upper ends that lie outside the lower end of the door when the gate is closed, to prevent outward tipping of the door.

Abstract: A multi-product swivel assembly for carrying oil or other cargo and transmitting electrical power and signal currents, between a ship and stationary oil wells or other installations. The swivel assembly includes a non-rotating or stationary unit, a large upper unit that rotates about the stationary unit, and a center unit that rotates with the upper unit and which extends down within the stationary unit. The center unit includes a large vertical cylinder which surrounds a group of vertical pipes carrying inflammable fluids, and a vertical pipe filled with inert gas and surrounding a conduit that carries an electrical cable. In order to repair the upper rotating unit, as to replace one of the muliple seals thereon, bolts can be loosened to separate it from the center rotating unit. When the bolts are loosened, a shoulder on the stationary unit prevents the center unit from dropping, so that during later reassembly, the bolts will lift up the center unit to its rotating position.

Abstract: A fuel pump for providing fuel at relatively high pressure is activated by gas pressure, created during the compression stroke of an internal combustion engine. The pump includes a piston and a hollow plunger which are biased by a single spring in opposite directions. The piston, which is exposed to gases in the engine's cylinder, is urged, by the gas pressure in the cylinder during the compression stroke, to move upwardly. A limit is placed on the piston's upward stroke. When reaching the upward limit the pressure which is applied to fuel in a fuel chamber is only a function of the force applied by the spring to the plunger. When fuel ejection is enabled, the spring pushes the plunger toward the fuel chamber to eject the fuel therefrom. Toward the end of the exhaust stroke the piston moves toward the engine cylinder, forcing the plunger to move in the same direction until the latter's travel is limited by limiting means. Fuel is then injectable into the fuel chamber for subsequent ejection.

Abstract: Apparatus for engaging and moving a film strip through a light-tight processor having tanks of processing chemicals, including a film clip which fastens to the front of the film and which has a rearwardly-facing opening, and a pickup member which enters the opening in the film clip to drag it and the film strip through the tanks of chemicals.

Abstract: For the purpose of mooring a vessel in deep water, as well as to load or discharge a fluid cargo from the vessel, mooring terminals consisting of a buoy anchored to the seabed or a column coupled to the bottom are used. Hoses transfer fluid between the vessel and a fluid swivel in the terminal, allowing 360.degree. rotation of the vessel around the terminal. Pipes and/or hoses from the swivel to a sealed pipeline allow fluid transfer between the ship and any desired location. This invention provides a fluid swivel which has a toroidal shape and can be easily removed from a buoy or column for maintenance, or repair, or replacement.

Abstract: A drawer mounting arrangement of the type which includes a pair of slider elements mounted on the drawer and a pair of rail elements mounted on the drawer frame for slidably supporting the slider elements. A first of the elements has a pair of longitudinally-extending first flanges, while a second of the elements has a second flange that extends between the first flanges and that has an enlarged rounded distal end. The first flanges can be formed with ridges to provide a narrow contact area with the enlarged rounded end of the first flange. A pair of low friction plastic spacer elements lie at either side of the wooden drawer to keep it spaced from the sides of the frame and provide low friction guiding of the drawer.

Abstract: A rotary mandrel which can directly engage sandpaper or other wearing material, to eliminate the need for intermediate devices to couple the mandrel to the sandpaper. The mandrel is constructed with slots that closely receive the edges of the sandpaper to form an interference fit that has been found to avoid flying out of the sandpaper when the mandrel rotates and engages the work piece being sanded. The mandrel is tapered at its outer end, and the sandpaper holding slots have open outer ends that allow the sandpaper sheets to extend beyond the tapered mandrel end, which enables the sheets to deform into a cone shape to sand a small hole or other concave workpiece region. In one mandrel, a group of sheets are stapled together along the edge, and the staple lies in an undercut slot in the mandrel.

Abstract: A fluid purification apparatus of the type which includes a stack of membrane packs and a stack of gaskets located at the peripheral portions of the membrane packs to keep them separated from one another, wherein the gaskets have outer lands bearing on one another and surrounding the membrane packs, inner lands pressing against the faces of the packs to seal against them, and elongated bendable middle gasket portions connecting the inner and outer lands to allow the inner lands to adjust position so as to compensate for variations in thickness of the membrane packs.