Abstract: A weld rod is prepared by placing a plurality of tungsten carbide/cobalt nuggets, preferably mixed with loose material, into a steel tube. The nuggets are previously sintered and have a generally ellipsoidal shape. A substrate is hard faced by progressively melting the weld rod onto the surface to be hard faced, and allowing the melted material to solidify on the surface.

Abstract: In a dispensing system such as a pressurized can or hand-pumped bottle, a liquid to be dispensed from a container flows through a composite dip tube that feeds an inlet of a liquid transfer device. The dip tube includes a straight dip tube that extends from the inlet to the bottom of the container and a U-shaped tube that extends from the inlet to the bottom of the container and then returns to the top of the interior of the container. The U-shaped tube acts as a siphon that, in combination with the conventional tip tube, provides liquid to the liquid transfer device when the container is upright, inverted, or oriented in any other position as long as one of the two open ends of the dip tube is in communication with the liquid.

Abstract: A folding knife has a knife body and at least two blades pivotably mounted to the knife body. The blades are independently movable between a closed position within the knife body and an open position extended from the knife body. The blades are locked in the open position and released from the locking with a single hand of the user. The knife includes a blade selector feature which allows the user to select which blade is to be opened by rolling the knife about the knife longitudinal axis in the single hand of the user, and tactile coding so that the user can identify the position of the knife from its feel in the hand.

Abstract: A controller commands the memory refreshment of a pseudo-static random access memory (PSRAM) accessible from a remote host processor. The controller includes a detector for the end of a memory access cycle by the host processor. A tapped delay line is activated by the detector at the end of the memory access cycle of the PSRAM. The tapped delay line produces a series of delay line output signals at a series of preselected times after activation. An automatic refresh of the PSRAM is initiated upon receipt of a first tapped delay line output signal. The automatic refresh is discontinued upon receipt of a second tapped delay line output signal that follows the first tapped delay line output signal by a sufficient time to permit performance of an automatic refresh. Further refresh cycles can be initiated if the host does not seek memory access, and the further refresh cycles can begin immediately or be delayed by some selected amount of time.

Abstract: An apparatus used to interface a peripheral device to a computer has an adapter card that plugs into the computer and a smart cable that plugs into the adapter card at one end and the peripheral device at the other. The adapter card includes a reconfigurable interface circuit that is in communication with the computer when the adapter card is connected to the computer. The smart cable includes a first memory containing configuration information for the reconfigurable interface circuit, and a second memory containing adapter card information structure information for the reconfigurable interface circuit. The two memories are accessible by the reconfigurable interface circuit when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card. The smart cable further includes a peripheral device interface circuit communicating with the reconfigurable interface circuit and with the peripheral device when the smart cable is connected to the adapter card and the peripheral device is connected to the smart cable.

Abstract: A measured magnetocardiography signal has a relatively small heart signal mixed with a large noise signal. To produce a heart signal having a reduced noise content, the times of occurrence of a time-series of isoelectric intervals of the measured signal is first determined and a time-series isoelectric artifact curve is formed from the measurements made at those times of occurrence. A time-series non-isoelectric artifact curve for other times is determined from this information. The time-series isoelectric and nonisoelectric artifact curve is subtracted from the measured magnetocardiography time-series signal to yield a time-series heart amplitude signal having reduced noise and undistorted form.

Abstract: A spectroradiometer images a scene as a repeating sequence of spectral images, each of which spectral images depicts the scene at a preselected wavelength. In a preferred embodiment, the image is of size 256 by 192 pixels, and the sequence repetition rate is about 20-30 cycles per second. Full spectral analysis on the resulting sequences is performed substantially in real time. The spectroradiometer includes a collector of energy in the X-ray or infrared ranges with a lens, a circularly variable spectral filter, and a gate which gates the output of the filter to a detector array which outputs the sequence of electronic spectral images. These images are corrected for systematic errors and calibrated, and correlated with a preselected spectral response function. The image may be further post-processed and displayed in video format or used otherwise.

Abstract: A bayonet system includes a bayonet and a scabbard in which the bayonet is received for storage. The bayonet is formed with an integral blade-and-tang unit. A plastic handle is molded over the tang, with a portion of the tang protruding from a butt end of the handle. A latch plate is attached to the butt end of the handle assembly by a radial rivet to the protruding portion of the tang. The latch plate includes a pair of retainer arms fixed to the latch plate with pins that can be driven out to effect removal of the release arms. The scabbard has a housing with an integral load assembly at its upper end, integral recessed tie-down loops adjacent to its lower end, and an integral hand guard extending from one side at a position intermediate the upper end and the lower end.

Abstract: A method of forming a high-Tc microbridge superconductor device is disclosed, which comprises the steps of forming an inclined step on the surface of a substrate, the inclined step having an angle of inclination of from about 20 to about 80 degrees; depositing a layer of c-axis oriented superconductor material overlying the substrate such that there is a break in the layer of superconductor material at the inclined step; and depositing a layer of normal material overlying the layer of c-axis oriented superconductor material.

Abstract: A system has the capability to determine the termination status of a data-communication bus therein. The system includes a source of a bus signal from a bus, a selectively activated current sink that communicates with the source of the bus signal, with a detection activation input, and a source of a detection signal in communication with the detection activation input of the current sink. There is a source of a first reference voltage, and a source of a second reference voltage, the second reference voltage being less than the first reference voltage. A high-termination comparator has an upper voltage input that communicates with the source of the bus signal, a lower voltage input that communicates with the source of the first reference voltage, and a logical high-termination output.

Abstract: A knife sheath has a skeleton housing and an attachment that is continuous with the skeleton housing at its upper end. A liner is formed within at least part of the interior of the skeleton housing and a coating is formed over at least part of the exterior of the skeleton housing. Preferably, the liner covers the entire interior, and the coating covers the edges and lower end of the skeleton housing, except for an optional access opening in each case. The liner and the coating are desirably continuous through communication holes in the skeleton housing and made of the same material. The skeleton housing is preferably made of a rigid plastic, and the liner and coating are preferably made of an elastomer.

Abstract: A reinforcement-containing metal-matrix composite material is formed by dispersing pieces of reinforcement material throughout a melt of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metal and solidifying the mixture at a sufficiently high rate that the solid metal matrix is amorphous. Dispersing is typically accomplished either by melting the metal and mixing the pieces of reinforcement material into the melt, or by providing a mass of pieces of the reinforcement material and infiltration of the molten amorphous metal into the mass. The metal preferably has a composition of about that of a eutectic composition, and most preferably has a composition, in atomic percent, of from about 45 to about 67 percent total of zirconium plus titanium, from about 10 to about 35 percent beryllium, and from about 10 to about 38 percent total of copper plus nickel.

Abstract: A diamond-containing metal-matrix composite material is formed by dispersing pieces of diamond throughout a melt of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metal and solidifying the mixture. The mixture may then be remelted and resolidified at a rate sufficiently high that the metal matrix retains an amorphous structure upon cooling. The metal preferably has a composition of about that of a eutectic composition, and most preferably has a composition, in atomic percent, of from about 45 to about 67 percent total of zirconium plus titanium, from about 10 to about 35 percent beryllium, and from about 10 to about 98 percent total of copper plus nickel. The diamond is preferably low-grade or artificial diamond.

Abstract: The blade of a folding knife is pivoted on a D-shaped pivot axle which also serves to lock the side pieces and belt clip of the knife in place. A thumb pin used to open the blade is also D-shaped and press fit into place in the blade. The blade has transverse grooves at its base to aid in extracting the knife from a sheath. The blade is locked into place by a side-lock plate, which is held in place by ridges in the side pieces. The side pieces are preferably made of rigid plastic, but with soft inserts in the sides for improved gripping.

Abstract: The breathing of a patient is monitored with a movement sensor, taped to the abdomen of the patient, that produces an output signal indicative of the movement of the diaphragm of the patient. The rate of change of the output signal with time is determined. When the rate of change with time exceeds a preselected value, a ventilation of the lungs of the patient by an external ventilator is initiated.