Abstract: The invention is an improved cutting blade for use in connection with a rotary wire stripper. The blade is notched in a manner so as to define one or more chipping points along the blade's edge. The notches are interconnected by sharp sections of the blade's edge. This configuration permits cutting through both hard and soft forms of wiring insulation. If the insulation is hard, the corners provided by the notches chip through it. If the insulation is soft, the sharp edges cut through it in conventional fashion.

Abstract: A circular cutter wheel (34) is mounted on a work head housing (24) to rotate about a vertical axis (Y). A chain saw (76) is mounted on the housing (24) above the wheel (34). The saw (76) is mounted by a swivel device (42) which continuously rotates the saw (76) about a vertical axis (X) between a nonuse position in which the saw (76) extends over the housing (24) and a plurality of use positions in which it projects forwardly and/or laterally therefrom. The device (42) includes coaxial cylindrical housings (44, 48). The saw (76) is secured to an outer circumferential surface (82) of the outer housing (48). A motor (50) carried by the inner housing (44) rotates the outer housing (48) and saw (76).

Abstract: A grilling surface is cooled by circulating water from a reservoir. The surface is preferably formed by two parallel metal sheets which are deformed to space them apart and to form heat passageways therethrough. The sheets and the circulation passageway formed therebetween extend continuously between and around the heat passageways. Reservoirs on the sides of the circulation passageway are in direct communication therewith and are configured to receive pans. Food in the pans is cooked by heat from the water in the reservoir. Covers on the grill and pans may be aligned to communicate steam from the pans to a grilling chamber formed by the grill cover. The grilling surface may be flat. Alternatively, it may have a wok-like configuration.

Abstract: Material is removed from a panel (10) in the region surrounding an undesired opening (12) caused by damage or incorrect forming or wear of a fastener hole. The resulting prepared opening (21) has a bearing load transmitting sidewall surface that is substantially perpendicular to the outer surface (11) of the panel (10) and tapers slightly in an inward direction relative to the surface (11). The prepared opening (21) may extend all the way through the panel (10) or only part way through. A prefabricated insert (22) is positioned in the prepared opening (21) and bonded to the load transmitting surface. The bonding may be accomplished by applying an adhesive or using a fusing procedure. The insert (22) may have a constant angle of taper, preferably about two degrees, or may be concavely curved in the direction of taper. The insert (22) may be trimmed prior to and/or following the bonding procedure. A new fastener hole may be drilled through the bonded insert (22).

Abstract: A course includes a plurality of greens and teeing locations with varying terrain to provide iron shots of varying length and difficulty onto the greens. In three embodiments, the greens are located in a central green area, and the teeing locations are in a peripheral area around the central green area. In a fourth embodiment, the greens are in the peripheral area, and the teeing locations are in the center portion of the course and between the greens. Television cameras are positioned to receive images of the greens. Monitors at the teeing locations have grids overlaying the images to enable accurate determination of the distance of the ball from the green's flag stick. A green clearing device has a sweeping mechanism rotatably mounted on the flag stick to sweep balls off the green into the center cup or a peripheral outer ball collector. The clearing device may be remotely activated at the TV monitor.

Abstract: An open topped carrier (2) has a space (6) dimensioned to receive a plurality of coiled wire segments (100) hung on hangers (26) carried by upper portions of dividers (22). The dividers (22) are held in vertical, horizontally spaced use positions by slots (12) formed on the inner wall surfaces of the carrier (2). Each divider (22) may be independently grasped and slid into an elevated use position to facilitate hanging the coiled segment (100) on the hanger (26). A clamping device (32) extends along each of opposite side portions of an upper flange (14) of the carrier (2). The ends (102) of each segment (100) are clamped in an accessible transport position by the clamping device (32). The carrier (2) may have portions to facilitate handling of the segment ends (102) by an operator and/or an indicator bar (58) with a plurality of lights (62) aligned with the segment ends (102) for a human operator.

Abstract: The manufacturing system includes a wire segment preparation subsystem and a termination subsystem, each of which operates independently under the direction of local computer controllers. The preparation sybsystem measures and marks wire and cuts it into segments. The termination subsystem processes the ends of the wire segments. A transport subsystem selectively transports batches of wire segments from the preparation subsystem to the termination stations of the termination subsystem. A system controller oversees the operation of the system and transmits batches of computer process control data to the subsystems. The local controllers use the downloaded batches of data to direct the processing of batches of wire segments. The system may be entirely automated, or may include a mix of automated and manual work stations. The segments are preferably loaded in batches in carriers for transport between subsystems and work stations. The carriers may be transported by hand, along roller tables, and/or on conveyors.

Abstract: An open topped carrier (2) has a space (6) dimensioned to receive a plurality of coiled wire segments (100) hung on hangers (26) carried by upper portions of dividers (22). The dividers (22) are held in vertical, horizontally spaced use positions by slots (12) formed on the inner wall surfaces of the carrier (2). Each divider (22) may be independently grasped and slid into an elevated use position to facilitate hanging the coiled segment (100) on the hanger (26). A clamping device (32) extends along each of opposite side portions of an upper flange (14) of the carrier (2). The ends (102) of each segment (100) are clamped in an accessible transport position by the clamping device (32). The carrier (2) may have portions to facilitate handling of the segment ends (102) by an operator and/or an indicator bar (58) with a plurality of lights (62) aligned with the segment ends (102) for a human operator.

Abstract: A piston rod (32) retracts to close gripper jaws (50, 52) and cutting jaws (54, 56) and then to pivot the two pairs of jaws away from each other. The upper jaw (50, 54) of each pair is connected to a corresponding actuating lever (78). The levers (78) are pivotally mounted on a housing and are connected to an end connector (42) on the rod (32) by a flexible chain (94) which engages sprocket wheels (92) carried by the levers (78). Retraction of the rod (32) exerts a pulling force on the levers (78) to pivot the levers (78) toward each other. The pulling force has a component parallel to the actuating axis and a perpendicular component to maintain mechanical advantage.

Abstract: One or more decoys (22) are towed by an aircraft (18) to confuse hostile radar. The tow lines (20) to the decoys (22) include fiber optic components which optically transmit to the decoys (22) both radio frequency signals for retransmission to hostile radar (24), and direct current power. The fiber optic components absorb strain forces imposed by towing the decoys (22). Multiple decoys (22) are deployed at varying distances from the aircraft (18) to increase the overall range of frequencies covered by the system, simulate a plurality of false targets, or accomplish angle gate deception. The deception may be accomplished by transmitting signals from the decoys in sequence and can be enhanced by dynamically varying the power levels of the decoy transmitting antennas. The fiber optic components may be separate optical fibers deployed separately or joined together for simultaneous deployment. The preferred configuration is a single optical fiber with coaxial inner and outer cores.

Abstract: A system for processing wire segments includes a wire segment transport subsystem and at least one automated termination station (2, 102). The station (2, 102) includes a robot (4, 104) with a work envelope (105) in which a plurality of wire segment end processing devices are positioned. A work depot (32, 132) is positioned within the envelope (105) and is dimensioned to receive a batch of wire segments (100) loaded in a carrier (72, 172). The depot (32, 132) is independent of the transport subsystem but accessible thereto via an input station (24, 124) and an output station (26, 126) in which carriers (72, 172) may be queued. The robot (4, 104) processes the ends of the segments (100) loaded in the carrier (72, 172), one at a time.

Abstract: A plurality of circumferentially spaced hooks (32, 36) extend upwardly from a ring (14) to which netting (18) is attached. A pair of retaining devices (40) are carried by the ring (14) and are circumferentially spaced from each other and from the hooks (32, 36). One of the hooks (32) may be pivotable to aid in installing and removing the attachment (12). The retaining devices (40) comprise a coil torsion spring (52) from which an integral latch member (54) extends. The member (54) terminates in a cradle (58) that is biased to pivot upwardly into engagement with the lower surface of the hoop (2). In an alternate embodiment, each retaining device (72) includes a flat spring (74) that bends radially inwardly and is biased radially outwardly to urge a hard rubber engagement portion (76) against the hoop (2). The attachment (12, 12') may be provided in combination with an installation pole (60, 82). The pole (60) engages the pivotal hook housing (28) to pivot the hook (32).

Abstract: A fluid such as a fluidized bed or a molten bath, is heated to a temperature sufficiently high to soften a substantially rigid body of material and sufficiently low to avoid damage to the material. While maintaining the fluid at this temperature, the body is immersed in the fluid to heat the body uniformly. Pressure is applied to the heated body to form it into a desired three-dimensional configuration. The heated body is removed from the fluid either before, after, and/or while the pressure is applied. The body is allowed to cool and harden into its desired configuration. The body is preferably formed between a flexible member and a mold surface. The method may be used to form various types of material, including honeycomb core, laminated sheets of plastic, plastic tubing, and titanium. The body may be precut and indexed and secured to a mold which is immersed in the fluid with the body.

Abstract: A poppet valve structure has a valve plug biased inwardly to close a vent opening (10). A connector member (40, 58) includes a cage (40) extending inwardly from the valve plug and a separately formed bottom plate (58) secured to the cage (40). The plate (58) defines a radially outwardly opening recess (64) and a first pair of axially spaced apart confronting surfaces. A spring abutment member (66) surrounds the plate (58) and defines a radially inwardly opening recess (74) and a second pair of confronting surfaces. The two pairs of surfaces confront and substantially contact each other. The recesses (64, 74) together define a substantially closed annular chamber. The chamber may be formed by a pair of confronting channels (64, 74) or defined axially between two flanges (61, 67) on the plate (58') and the abutment member (66'), respectively. A ring of fusible material (76) is cast in situ within the chamber to interconnect the plate (58) and the abutment member ( 66).

Abstract: A plurality of cutter teeth (50) are mounted on outer peripheral portions of a rotary cutter wheel (22). Each tooth (50) forms a socket (74) that receives a projections (26) on the wheel (22). Opposite parallel inner socket surfaces (76) and a parallel outer surface (78) of the tooth (50) abut side surfaces (28) of the projection (26) and an edge surface (34) on the wheel (22) to snugly engage the tooth (50) on the wheel (22). The abutting surfaces (76, 28 and 78, 34) are substantially tangent to the wheel's cutting direction. A roll pin (80) may be used to further secure the tooth (50). The pin (80) fits snugly in a hole (70) in the tooth (50) and loosely in a hole (32) in the projection (26). Upper and lower tooth walls (56, 58) preferably extend along opposite surfaces of the wheel (22) beyond the projection (26).

Abstract: A variable bandwidth factor KALT is applied in a total energy control system to obtain a reduction in throttle activity while maintaining system stability. The system has a total energy control loop and an energy distribution control loop. In the former, a net thrust command signal T.sub.c is generated to reduce the total energy error to zero. In the latter, an elevator position command signal .delta.e.sub.c is generated to reduce the energy rate distribution error, i.e. correct the distribution of energy between kinetic energy (speed) and potential energy (altitude). The error signal input into each loop has a flight path component and a speed component. The factor KALT is applied to both components of the total energy error to reduce the bandwidth of the total energy control loop with increasing altitude and thereby reduce throttle activity.

Abstract: Light from a plurality of light emitting diodes is transmitted through optical cables (12) to a lens system. The lenses (56, 58) expand and collimate the light and project it in a sheet (16) across the supersonic inlet of an aircraft power plant perpendicular to incoming airflow. A normal shock bends a portion of the sheet of light (16). A linear array of a multiplicity of optical fiber ends collects discrete samples of light. The samples are processed and compared to a predetermined profile to determine the shock location.

Abstract: An aircraft's horizontal flight path and sideslip angle is controlled in a system having a roll control loop and a yaw control loop. An incremental aileron position command signal is generated in the roll control loop as a function of the sum of a yaw rate error and a sideslip error. An incremental rudder position command signal is generated in the yaw control loop as the function of the difference between these errors. The yaw rate error is determined as a function of a heading error. The manner in which the heading error is computed varies with the control mode in which the system is operating. In the simplest heading mode, the heading error is the difference between a heading command a sensed heading of the aircraft. In the inner loop of the roll control channel, a roll attitude command signal is generated as a function of heading error plus sideslip error. In the inner loop of the yaw control channel, a yaw rate command signal is generated as a function of heading error minus sideslip error.

Abstract: A plate (42) is mounted to the outer flange (12) of a standpipe (10). A valve element (96) and a float (68) are mounted on the plate (42) to pivot about fixed axes A.sub.1, A.sub.2, respectively. A toggle link (90) extends between the valve element (96) and the float (68) and is connected thereto at pivot points P.sub.1, P.sub.2, respectively. When the float (68) moves into its down position in which the valve element (96) is in an open position, the float (68) passes over a center line C defined by the fixed axis A.sub.2 and the pivot point P.sub.1. This overcenter movement of the float (68) prevents the valve element (96) from moving into a closed position unless the float (68) is moved upwardly by a rising liquid level.