Abstract: An improved electrical slide switch having a housing portion, a slidable actuator within the housing, and a resiliently engageable and removable cap which may itself be the actuator, the actuator having a pair of precisely spaced integral leaflike elements which form a trackway of predetermined length which slide over an integral centrally disposed fixed pin carried by the base, with the pin being adapted to repose at opposite ends of the trackway when terminals within the housing are properly engaged with selected slider elements carried by the actuator.

Abstract: A bulkhead fitting for use with plastic material for conducting fluid through an aperture in the material and comprising coupling components on either side of the material which interfaces with the plastic material by an abrasive element pressed against the plastic material by an intermediate compressible member whereby leakage is prevented.

Abstract: A microwave corn popper having means for dispensing butter during or shortly subsequent to the corn popping process, and comprising a chamber containing the corn kernels to be popped and having a cover with a recess in which is disposed a butter container, whereby the butter in the container is heated by the same microwave source as the kernels and consequently is melted during the popping process.

Abstract: An X-ray generator which produces a beam of parallel substantially non-spreading radiation, the generator including a housing containing a tube having an envelope containing an X-ray generating target and an X-ray transmissive window, the target having a focal spot from which the useful X-rays are emitted which is located at the side of the tube remote from the window, and aperture means in the path of the beam either within the envelope or adjacent the housing for collimating the beam and shaping it to the desired cross-sectional configuration and for restricting beam divergence.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube comprising a sealed envelope having therein means for controllably liberating oxygen within the envelope, and an iput screen including an oxygen conditioned layer of fluorescent material and an overlying layer of photoemissive material which may be oxidized to improve the photo-to-electron conversion efficiency of the input screen.A method of improving the conversion efficiency of an image intensifier tube input screen including the steps of exposing a layer of fluorescent material to oxygen prior to the deposition of an overlying layer of photoemissive material, and subsequently exposing the layer of photoemissive material to oxygen, if desired, after the tube envelope has been sealed.

Abstract: An appliance for heating seeds, nuts, grains and the like such as popcorn kernels, for example, by means of microwave radiation, comprising a bowl which is transparent to microwave energy and which has in its lower region an area of restricted size for holding unheated seeds in a clump, the area of the bowl above the restricted area being larger to allow heated seeds to expand, and means for directing the microwave energy upon the clump of seeds.

Abstract: A handle for a small appliance, utensil or other body such as a coffee maker, for example, and particularly designed to be used in a microwave environment, the handle being made entirely of material which will remain cool when subjected to microwave radiation and being constructed of a ring encircling the appliance body and a gripping member fixed to the ring by a rigid inseparable joint, and a compressible member between the ring and the body which allows the handle to be applied to bodies having variations in dimensional tolerances.

Abstract: An appliance for heating seeds, nuts, grains and the like such as popcorn kernels, for example, by means of microwave radiation, comprising a bowl which is transparent to microwave energy and which has in its lower region an area of restricted size for holding unheated kernels in a clump, the area of the bowl above the restricted area being larger to allow heated kernels to expand, and means for concentrating the microwave energy upon the clump of kernels.

Abstract: A travelling wave tube of the coupled cavity type including a slow wave propagating structure comprised of a linear array of transverse plates axially spaced apart to provide a sequential series of interposed cavities, each of the plates having a cavity coupling aperture radially spaced from an electron beam transmitting aperture and spanned by at least one thermally conductive, dielectric member made of diamond material, which has respective surface areas disposed in thermal contact with opposing side walls of the cavity coupling aperture.

Abstract: A solar collector which includes a radiation-absorbing panel having a surface provided with integral fluid-conducting conduits whereby heat absorbed by the panel may be efficiently transferred directly to fluid circulating in the conduits.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube control system comprising a cathode ray type tube having a tubular envelope wherein an electron gun is disposed to direct an electron beam onto a spaced anode target screen, the gun including an electron emitting source aligned with an adjustably biased grid means for controlling the current level of the electron beam, and external circuit means connected to the grid means and to the source for adjusting the current level of the electron beam and the electron emission capability of the source correspondingly.

Abstract: An image intensifier tube comprising a sealed envelope having therein means for controllably liberating oxygen within the envelope, and an input screen including an oxygen conditioned layer of fluorescent material and an overlying layer of photoemissive material which may be oxidized to improve the photon-to-electron conversion efficiency of the input screen.A method of improving the conversion efficiency of an image intensifier tube input screen including the steps of exposing a layer of fluorescent material to oxygen prior to the deposition of an overlying layer of photoemissive material, and subsequently exposing the layer of photoemissive material to oxygen, if desired, after the tube envelope has been sealed.

Abstract: A radiographic system comprising an X-ray source disposed to direct an X-ray beam through an adjustable shutter aperture in an aligned collimator and onto an image receptor in a holder located at a preselected distance from the source; and automatic means for preventing an X-ray exposure until prescribed operating conditions have been satisfied, the automatic means including a readily interchangeable read-only-memory module for storing the prescribed conditions therein and ascertaining whether or not the prescribed conditions have been met.

Abstract: A fluid valve for utilization in a beverage-making appliance such as a coffee maker subject to microwave energy comprising a valve housing containing the operative parts of the valve, and a metal casing enclosing at least a portion of the housing and having spaced encircling radiation shields between which the adjacent portions of the appliance are disposed, the shields forming a choke to prevent penetration of microwave energy such as could cause arcing and consequent damage to the appliance and to the valve itself.

Abstract: A push-to-turn knob assembly comprising a tubular hub disposed for attachment to an axially inserted end portion of a rotatable shaft and having a slotted end portion releasably engaged by a plurality of resiliently biased wedges annularly spaced apart within an encircling race, the hub and race being enclosed by an axially movable knob shell having projection means for disengaging the wedges from the hub and having keying means for engaging the hub and rotating the attached shaft to a desired setting.

Abstract: An X-ray system comprising an X-ray tube provided with a target focal spot area from which an X-ray beam emanates from the tube, an X-ray Fresnel zone plate disposed interceptingly in the path of the X-ray beam, and an image receptor disposed to receive the resulting image of the zone plate conveyed by the X-ray beam.

Abstract: A high capacity materials separation apparatus including a conductive metals segregator in the form of a magnetic ramp for receiving commingled materials from an air classifier, the air classifier comprising means for separating materials into heavy and light fractions, and means for maintaining positive air pressure within the classifier for propelling the nonmagnetic heavy fractions at accelerated velocity from the classifier so as to achieve high capacity separation of conductive materials at the ramp.

Abstract: A system utilizing solar energy collectors for heating water, which system embodies a piping circuit whereby water from a storage or supply tank is pumped in a continual upward path through the collectors to a peak elevation and thence through sized return piping so as to return with any entrapped air to the storage area, with the return piping being vented adjacent to the storage area to allow escape of such entrapped air to the storage area, with the return piping being vented adjacent to the storage area to allow escape of such entrapped air while the water is circulating through the system and to allow influx of air to replace water in the collectors when the pump is not operating.

Abstract: A coffee brewing appliance for making coffee by the drip method and comprising a reservoir containing a thermally controlled valve adapted to open at a predetermined temperature when heated by water in the reservoir which is subjected to microwave radiation allowing water to flow out of the reservoir onto and through coffee grounds in a filter beneath the valve.

Abstract: An x-ray tube including an evacuated envelope having therein a rotatable anode target comprised of a cup-shaped body having a sloped inner wall provided with an annular groove wherein a plurality of pinlike members form an x-ray generating focal track, the members interfitting with the groove at their upper ends and being retained in place at their lower ends by a circumferentially extending removable band or spaced retainers enabling the members to be more easily assembled and retained in place.