Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for taking up and winding a strip of material which is advancing at a selected velocity from a moving casting surface. Generally stated, the apparatus includes a take-up web supply mechanism for supplying a flexible, take-up web, and a winding mechanism, which has a reel for taking up and concentrically winding the strip and take-up web thereon in a laminated configuration. A connection mechanism connects the take-up web to the reel, and a reel drive mechanism rotates the reel to provide a peripheral velocity at a winding surface on the reel that substantially matches the velocity of the advancing strip. A directing mechanism directs the advancing strip onto the take-up web for transport to a winder nip region between the take-up web and the winding surface of the reel means to initiate winding.

Abstract: An undercarpet cable comprises a signal-carrying core surrounded by a jacket having a rectangular cross section. Adjoining the jacket on opposite sides are two tapered side members that are easily peeled from the jacket to facilitate attaching a connector to the jacketed core.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for slitting sheet material. The apparatus includes a first arbor shaft for mounting and rotatably driving a first rotary cutter. The first cutter is comprised of at least one rotary knife element having two opposite side faces, and the first arbor shaft is constructed to allow axially movement of the knife element along the first arbor shaft. A second arbor shaft mounts and rotatably drives a second rotary cutter. The second rotary cutter is comprised of at least one rotary knife element which has two opposite side faces and is movable axially along the second arbor shaft. The second arbor shaft is also selectively movable radially with respect to the first arbor shaft to provide a selected intermeshing overlap region between the first cutter knife element and the second cutter knife element.

Abstract: An optical device that stabilizes the power in a cw laser beam comprises a material whose absorption coefficient increases with increasing incident intensity. The same device acts as an energy limiter and pulse shortener for a pulsed laser. In either case, the device can be located either within the laser cavity or outside it. Materials suitable for use in the device include Cr-doped crystalline solids and organic solutions, such as laser dyes, saturable absorber dyes, etc.

Abstract: A radio frequency excitor apparatus and method produce an inductively coupled plasma to heat an analytic sample. The apparatus includes a radio frequency generator mechanism for producing electrical power of selected radio frequency. The generator mechanism has a power output tuning mechanism comprised of at least one output tuning inductor for determining the generator radio frequency. A separate plasma load circuit is coupled to the generator mechanism and is comprised of a work coil and a series connected, impedance matching capacitor. The work coil is adapted to produce an inductively coupled plasma and the capacitor is adapted to substantially balance the combined inductive reactances of the work coil and plasma. A control mechanism for controlling the power input into the plasma load circuit stabilizes the plasma.

Abstract: By applying to a laser Q-switch a staircase-shaped control signal, a plurality of laser pulses are emitted with controlled energy and time separation. Compared with conventional Q-switching, the invention enables the laser to emit pulses with shorter time intervals, narrower linewidths, higher output energy, and more uniform power density across the laser beam cross section. The apparatus and method are particularly well-suited for use with low-gain lasers, such as alexandrite.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for cutting a magnetic core spirally wound from a ribbon of glassy metal. The core is mounted on a mandrel, and a portion of the core is appointed to be cut. A clamping mechanism applies to the outside peripheral surface of said portion, a compressive clamping force directed toward said surface and normal thereto. A positioning mechanism locates and fixes the core and mandrel onto an indexing mechanism. The indexing mechanism moves the core and mandrel to a preselected fixed position, and a cutting mechanism cuts the core.

Abstract: A system that is particularly useful in biological fluid analysis includes a face plate member and a mating flexible member, one of which has a plurality of passages. Selected motion of the flexible member provides a valving action to control fluid flow into, through, and out of the passages. An analysis chamber in a surface of the face plate member is in fluid communication with a passage and has an analyzer which, for a hematology analyzer, is preferably an impedance-type particle counter.

Abstract: The present invention is for a flat B containing amorphous powder based in Fe, Ni, Co or a combination thereof; a coating resulting from deposition of the powder; and a method for depositing the powder.The composition of the powder and the resulting coating consists essentially of the formulation: (Fe,Ni,Co).sub.bal Cr.sub.0-20 (Mn,Mo,W).sub.0-35 (B,Si,C).sub.5-25 (Al,Ti).sub.0-10 where the subscripts are in atomic percent and with the proviso that 4.ltoreq.B.ltoreq.15, and that the balance will exceed 50%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a consolidated article composed of a transition metal alloy. The method includes the step of selecting a rapidly solidified alloy which is at least about 50% glassy. The alloy is formed into a plurality of alloy bodies, and these alloy bodies are compacted at a pressing temperature of not more than about 0.6 Ts (solidus temperature in .degree.C.) to consolidate and bond the alloy bodies together into a glassy metal compact having a density of at least about 90% T.D. (theoretical density). The compacted glassy alloy bodies are then heat treated at a temperature generally ranging from about 0.55-0.85 Ts, but, in any case, above the alloy crystallization temperature, for a time sufficient to produce a fine grain crystalline alloy structure in the compacted article.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for consolidating rapidly solidified, transition metal alloys which includes the step of compacting a plurality of alloy bodies at a temperature ranging from about 0.90-0.99 Tm (melting temperature in .degree.C.) for a time period ranging from about 1 min to 24 hours. The alloy bodies contain at least two transition metal elements and consist essentially of the formula (Fe,Co and/or Ni).sub.bal (W, Mo, Nb and/or Ta).sub.a (Al and/or Ti).sub.b (Cr).sub.c (B and/or C).sub.d (Si and/or P).sub.e, wherein "a" ranges from about 0-40 at. %, "b" ranges from about 0-40 at. %, "c" ranges from about 0-40 at. %, "d" ranges from about 5-25 at. %, and "e" ranges from about 0-15 at. %. The alloy bodies also have a substantially homogeneous and optically featureless structure.

Abstract: A large single crystal of metal orthophosphate is grown from a plurality of seed crystals by first mounting the seed crystals with one planar surface of each seed crystal substantially in contact with a planar surface of an adjoining seed crystal and a second planar surface substantially parallel to a second planar surface of the adjoining seed crystal. By known methods, the seeds are then grown into a large single crystal in an acid medium at elevated temperatures. The process is particularly useful for growing large crystals of berlinite, which can then be cut into wafers useful in surface acoustic wave devices.

Abstract: A moire microscope comprises an objective lens, a collimating lens, and a pair of spaced-apart gratings arrayed along an optic axis and adapted for providing a magnified moire deflectogram of a phase object. The microscope provides a simple apparatus for preparing a map of optical thickness gradients, from which quantitative data concerning the object can be computed.

Abstract: An improved laser tuner assembly of the type that includes a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, birefringent plates comprises means for independently adjusting the orientations of the individual plates, clamping means for demountably securing the positions of the individual plates without substantially altering their orientations, and means for rotating the plates as a unit to tune the laser. The tuner permits simple and reproducible orientation of the plates. In a preferred embodiment, tuning is electronically controlled and motor driven.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for casting continuous metal strips includes a nozzle for extruding molten metal. The nozzle has a nozzle body, a nozzle inlet opening, a nozzle exit orifice and a nozzle mounting surface located proximate to the nozzle inlet. A reservoir contains the molten metal and is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The reservoir has a reservoir outlet opening for flowing molten metal therethrough and has a reservoir mounting surface located proximate to the reservoir outlet. The reservoir mounting surface is adapted to mate with the nozzle mounting surface and allow a relative, sliding-type movement therebetween due to a differing thermal expansion of the nozzle relative to the reservoir. A heat resistant seal between the nozzle mounting surface and the reservoir mounting surface minimizes molten metal leakage therebetween, and a force mechanism resiliently urges the nozzle mounting surface toward the reservor mounting surface to mate the nozzle and reservoir together.

Abstract: Metallic filament is continuously cast by directing a stream of molten metal onto the quench surface of a rotating quench wheel. Expansion mechanisms disposed about the quench wheel and between the quench surface and quench wheel drive shaft allow unrestrained radial and lateral thermal growth of the hoop-like quench surface while maintaining concentricity of the quench surface with the shaft. Crowning or thermal bowing of the quench surface is minimized and a transverse cross-sectional uniformity of the cast filament is maintained.

Abstract: Large single crystals of berlinite are grown onto seed crystals by maintaining the crystals at a fixed elevated temperature in a pressure vessel containing a nutrient of coarse berlinite crystalline powder, held at a fixed lower temperature, and concentrated phosphoric acid. Because berlinite shows retrograde solubility, the nutrient goes into solution, and berlinite deposits on the higher-temperature growing crystal. The vessel is rocked to promote motion of saturated solution to the crystal and depleted solution to the nutrient. Large single crystals of alpha-gallium orthophosphate may be grown using the same apparatus and a similar process. The resultant crystals may be cut into wafers useful in surface acoustic wave devices.

Abstract: Berlinite crystalline powder of uniform particle size and high purity is prepared by repeated thermal cycling to react a mixture of aluminum hydroxide or aluminum oxide and an excess of concentrated phosphoric acid in a sealed pressure vessel. The vessel is preferably held in a horizontal orientation and rotated about a longitudinal axis during the reaction. The product powder is useful in growing large single crystals that have surface acoustic wave applications. Crystalline powder of alpha-gallium orthophosphate may be prepared using the same apparatus and a similar procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for permitting long-term continuous casting provides a plurality of orifices. By temporarily casting simultaneously from two adjacent orifices, it becomes possible to replace orifices without interrupting the casting process. Thus, the duration of continuous casting is not limited by the useful lifetime of a single casting orifice. Among the applications of the invention is the long-term continuous casting of metallic ribbon, such as amorphous metal ribbon.

Abstract: The present invention is for an improved carrier particles for use in electrophotographic reproduction machines. The improvement is a core of amorphous ferromagnetic metal. It is preferred that the carrier particles of the present invention are flat.