Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a machine tool saddle for movement along an axis of travel includes a pair of ways rigidly joined to a support structure in parallel relation with the axis of travel, each of the ways being in slideable engagement with a slot formed in the saddle. Each of the ways is provided with a face selectively angled to line on one of the legs of an imaginary "V" positioned so as to be bisected by a plane parallel to the ways and positioned midway between them. A number of keeper blocks are inserted between the saddle and each of the angled way faces to lock the keeper blocks having an angled face in closely spaced parallel relation with one of the angled way faces. Devices are positioned between the angled faces of the keepers and their respective closely spaced angled way faces to transmit forces between the ways and the saddle through the keeper blocks to maintain the saddle in alignment with the axis of travel as the saddle is selectively moved and positioned along the axis.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for mounting a rotatable member such as a machine tool spindle within a bore provided in a housing, the rotatable member being journaled in a number of bearings. A bearing support sleeve disposed within the bore to support the bearings includes a first portion tightly fitted in the bore, a second portion slip-fitted in the bore and positioned to apply a pre-load force to the bearings, and a yieldable member joining the first and second portions. The pressure in a fluid system associated with the yieldable member is increased to deform the yieldable member and to thereby urge the second portion axially to apply a pre-load force to the bearings which corresponds to the pressure increase.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a stable platform for equipment to be employed in underwater environment includes a fin assembly for preventing uncontrolled azimuthal motion of the equipment when the fin assembly is suspended in the underwater environment to a level at which a current is present. The equipment is joined to a mounting which is rotatably positioned upon the fin assembly, and is oriented to a selected azimuth by the rotatable mounting in response to control signals received thereby, the fin assembly remaining at a fixed azimuthal orientation determined by the direction of the current as the mounting azimuthally displaces the equipment.

Abstract: Transfer machine apparatus is provided, which includes a load station for receiving parts during at least some of the part reception periods in a succession of part reception periods, and which further includes a number of selectively located work units for performing prespecified work tasks upon received parts. A transfer mechanism is provided for moving a given one of the received parts from the load station to each of the work units in a prespecified sequence, the given received part being moved from one work unit to another during a part transfer cycle in a succession of part transfer cycles. A digital code storage device receives a digital code during each of the part reception periods, a first digital code being received if a part is received by the load station during a part reception period, and a second digital code otherwise being received.

Abstract: A programmable bootstrap loader device for loading or transferring programs nto the main memory of a computer system includes a processor-peripheral interface for decoding instructions of the computer system and for generating control signals to operate peripheral equipment coupled to the system. An alterable or programmable memory stores a set of instructions which makes up a bootstrap loader program, is not lost when power to the system is shut off. An alterable memory access circuit is coupled between the processor-peripheral interface and the alterable memory to enable an operator to alter discrete instructions of the stored bootstrap loader program.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically loading a cylindrical workpiece into a machining system so that the workpiece is presented to the system in a prespecified orientation, the cylindrical surface of the workpiece containing a number of perforations, indentations or like apertures. The apparatus includes a feeding system for placing the workpiece in an initial position upon an upwardly inclined guideway, and further includes a pin, mounted in an advancement system, for alternatively contacting the cylindrical surface of the workpiece and engaging one of the apertures to urge the workpiece up through the guideway. The pin applies a frist frictional force to the workpiece when it is in contact with the cylindrical surface of the workpiece, and structure included in the guideway applies a second frictional force to the workpiece which interacts with the first frictional force to rotate the workpiece until the pin engages one of the apertures.

Abstract: A neutron detection apparatus is provided which includes a selected number f flat surfaces of lithium-6 foil, and which further includes a gas mixture in contact with each of the flat surfaces for selectively reacting to charged particles emitted by or radiated from the lithium foil. A container is provided to seal the lithium foil and the gas mixture in a volume from which water vapor and atmospheric gases are excluded, the container having one or more walls which are transmissive to neutrons. Monitoring equipment in contact with the gas mixture detects reactions taking place in the gas mixture, and, in response to such reactions, provides notice of the flux of neutrons passing through the volume of the detector.

Abstract: A device for monitoring low levels of light emission in a selected underwr environment is provided with a photodetector having a light sensitive surface oriented into the environment, the photodetector generating electrical signals which are representative of light impinging upon the light sensitive surface. A window is positioned between the light sensitive surface and the underwater environment to protect the photodetector from the underwater environment, and a first material is positioned between the window and the underwater environment to prevent biological growth upon the window. A second material is placed in cooperative relationship with the first material to shift the wavelengths of certain light photons occurring in the underwater environment from a first wavelength range to a second wavelength range, in order to increase the attenuation lengths of the photons before they pass through the window.

Abstract: A system is provided for applying a force to selected compliant material ch is in adjacent relationship with the inner surface of a rigid spherical segment. The system includes an elastomeric spherical segment having an apex and a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the inner surface of the rigid spherical segment when the elastomeric segment is in an undeformed condition. Operative structure is provided for initially spacing the elastomeric segment from the rigid spherical segment, so that the elastomeric segment is in point contact relationship with the compliant material, and for controllably urging the elastomeric segment toward the compliant material after the initial spacing, until the curvature of the elastomeric segment is conformed to the curvature of the inner surface of the spherical segment.

Abstract: A depth monitoring device monitors the period of a diver's maximum depth. A aximum depth display is coupled to the depth monitor to enable the diver to quickly determine, at any given time during the period, his maximum depth of submergence. When the diver reaches a preselected critical maximum depth, an audio alarm coupled to the depth monitor is activated to alert the diver.

Abstract: A coupling which is readily attachable to a plate, panel or like structure ncludes a rotatable shaft for thrusting a bearing element through a circular hole in the structure when the bearing element and the hole are in concentric relationship. Thereafter, the shaft is rotated by less than a complete revolution to bring the bearing element and the hole into a selected eccentric relationship, and also to activate a locking mechanism to maintain the eccentric relationship. When the bearing element and hole are in the eccentric relationship, a bearing surface of the bearing element abutts the structure to impose substantial force thereupon.

Abstract: A system for minimizing the power requirement of a flowmeter intended for long-term unattended deployment in a current flowing through a body of conductive fluid. The system includes a pair of electrodes in contact with the fluid, and a permanent magnet which generates a magnetic field which is orthogonal to a line passing between the electrodes. An electromagnetic coil is also provided, and is selectively activated and deactivated to establish the orthogonal magnetic field at a first level during first time periods in a series of first time periods, and at a second level during second time periods in a series of second time periods. The ratio of the time duration of a first time period to a second time period is substantially less than one.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for analyzing the structure of light burst activity ich is generated by a particular light source, such as a group of bioluminescent organisms. The apparatus includes a photon detector for detecting discrete photons of light occurring proximate to the source during each sampling time in a series of sampling times, and further includes a counter coupled to the photon detector for providing successive photon counts, a photon count being the number of discrete photons detected by the photon detector during one of the sampling times. A pulse height analyzing device is coupled to the counter for providing a distribution of the photon counts over the sampling time series.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the bearing of an acoustic source from a selected ocation in an acoustic environment includes a plurality of discrete acoustic sensor elements and a flexible member, having first and second ends, which may be deployed in a linear configuration in the environment. The sensor elements are attached along the flexible member in spaced apart relationship, one of the elements, comprising a lead element, being closer to the first end than any of the other elements. A motion measuring device is coupled to the lead element when the flexible member is deployed in the environment to generate signals which indicate the velocity of the lead sensor element in the environment.

Abstract: A device is structured to pass along a towed array of hydrophones, from the orward end thereof to the rearward end thereof. The device carries a small acoustic projector to project test signals to respective hydrophones as the device passes them by. The responses of respective individual hydrophones to the test signals are recorded to enable calibration of the array in situ, and additionally, or alternatively, are recorded to determine the departure of the array from the ideal straight, (generally) horizontal line.

Abstract: Apparatus for electrically isolating a DC voltage source while the voltage f the source is being measured or otherwise monitored. An electronic switch is provided for selectively coupling the apparatus to the source, and a first optical device coupled to the switch receives a control signal which directs switch operation. The first optical device electrically isolates the switch from electrical equipment which generates the control signal. A device for generating an internal voltage data signal is also coupled to the switch, the frequency of such signal varying according to the voltage of the source. A second optical device receives the internal data signal, and couples an external data signal to voltage monitoring equipment, the external data signal having a frequency which varies according to the frequency of the internal data signal, the second optical device electrically isolating the switch from the voltage monitoring equipment.

Abstract: A spectral analysis system includes a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processor which receives a time domain signal and provides a specified number of initial signal strength estimates, each of the initial estimates being equal to one of the frequency domain coefficients of the Fast Fourier Transform of the time domain signal which is generated when the time domain signal is sampled at a number of intervals equal to the number of initial estimates, over a time period of specified duration. The system further includes an adjustable window element receiving a selected number of the initial estimates for sensing or detecting the presence of a leakage component in a given one of the initial estimates, and for providing an adjusted signal strength estime, the adjusted signal strength estimate comprising the difference between the given initial estimate and the leakage component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of tissue located in a specified reg of a mammal, the region being proximate to a gas filled cavity which is contained in a fluid medium within the mammal. The resonance frequency of the cavity is determined, and an acoustic signal having a frequency which is equal to the resonance frequency is directed upon the cavity to resonate the cavity, at a selected level of intensity, until a first phase of treatment has been concluded. Thereupon, a selected second phase in the treatment of the tissue is performed.

Abstract: Apparatus for protectively housing radiation transmitting or receiving eqment is provided with a window in the form of a spherical segment, which is formed of material transmissive to radiation of the frequencies of the equipment, and which has a seating surface. A mounting for providing forces to support the window and to resist external pressure applied thereto has a bearing surface, and a heated bearing gasket abutts both the bearing and seating surfaces. The gasket is provided for resisting wear between the bearing and seating surfaces, and also for transferring selected amounts of heat to the window. A heat regulator is coupled between the window and the gasket to control the amount of heat transferred to the window by the gasket, and structure is provided for continuously joining the window, the mounting and the gasket.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for calibrating a hydrophone array comprising a plurty of electrically interconnected hydrophones over a range of acoustic signal frequencies having a lower limit on the order of 1 Hz. Apparatus includes a container having a sealed cavity for sealing the hydrophone array in a selected fluid, an electro-acoustic projector for projecting acoustic signals of frequencies selected from the frequency range into the sealed cavity, and a reference hydrophone contained within the sealed cavity for generating a reference signal in response to each projected acoustic signal. Apparatus further includes monitoring equipment coupled to the reference hydrophone and to the hydrophone array for enabling a selected characteristic of one of the reference signals to be compared with the same characteristic of a signal generated by the hydrophone array when an acoustic signal is projected into the sealed cavity.