Abstract: An optical scanning device, for reflecting a light beam produced by a laser light source, having an entrance window; a rotatable scan optic having a reflective surface and a spherical exit window; the reflective surface of the rotatable scan optic positioned adjacent the entrance window and central to the spherical exit window such that the light beam successively encounters the entrance window, the reflective surface of the rotatable scan optic, and the spherical exit window surrounding the reflective surface of the rotatable scan optic, the light beam encountering and passing through the spherical exit window after being reflected away from the rotatable scan optic; the reflective surface of the rotatable scan optic circumscribed by a chamber defined by the entrance window, the rotatable scan optic device, and the spherical exit window.

Abstract: An interferometer delay line includes an optical payload displaced along a guide track under the control of a control device including at least one sensing device which senses the position of the payload along the guide track and a drive device acting on the payload. The sensing device includes a linear succession of fixed optical read heads parallel to the guide track and a graduated rule carried by the optical payload in any position on the latter facing at least one of the optical read heads. The sensing device also includes a synchronizing/switching unit causing a counter to count pulses from the heads in succession, the pulses representing distance increments.

Abstract: A magnetic bar includes a magnetized core extending along a median line between two parallel polepieces extending along the magnetized core transversely to its permanent magnetization. The magnetized core embodies, substantially along the median line, a discontinuous succession of identical separate magnets. The magnetic bar can be used in the manufacture of magnetic bearings and thrust bearings.

Abstract: A device for detecting at least one gas with an absorption band in the infrared range. The device includes a cell containing a gas mixture to be tested, an infrared radiation source, a power supply circuit for the source, an infrared radiation sensor and a signal processing line connected to the output of the sensor. The cell is compact and the radiation source and the radiation sensor are held in direct contact with the gas mixture therein.

Abstract: A device for finding an inoperative bulb in a series string of lights, such as a string of Christmas tree lights having a plug, a pair of electrically conductive leads connected to the plug and having their ends terminating within a casing of the device, a polarity switch having first and second terminals each connected to a lead of the pair of leads connected to the plug, a probe for insertion into and contact with the wire of the socket of the light string, and an indicator circuit for determining whether an electric current is passing through the series string thus indicating the presence or lack of an inoperative bulb. The indicator circuit is located between the polarity switch and the probe and a protective sheath is provided to prevent any part of the probe from being exposed to avoid a user from being shocked, the protective sheath being continuously biased to cover the probe.

Abstract: A conical microstrip antenna carried by a frustum of a cone with a half-angle at the apex .alpha., height H.sub.0 and a circular reference line of radius R, includes an annular succession of N radiating patches disposed on the frustum and divided into at least one sub-array of radiating patches connected with equal phase by a respective tree-structure feed array to the same common point, the N radiating patches being made on a dielectric material to resonate in a predetermined frequency band having a center frequency Fo. The tree-structure array is formed of n stages each including dividers of the same order, either the second order or the third order. When developed onto a flat surface, the dividers within the same stage i are made up of an integer number of substantially identical straight line segments with equal angles .gamma.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembling to an automotive wheel an overlay composed of a solid plastic panel member that is directly attached to the surface of the wheel. In one aspect, an intermediate positive fixing element is provided for temporarily positioning and securing the overlay to the wheel during an interval in which a slow-curing, high strength adhesive that permanently adheres the overlay to the wheel is allowed to cure. An interrelated aspect involves the selective placement of adhesive between the overlay and the wheel so as to improve the overall manufacturability, performance, and consumer-perceived quality of the resulting wheel assembly.

Abstract: Retroreflective target for laser ranging embodying at least one hollow cube corner retroreflector constituted by three reflective surfaces which are substantially planar and perpendicular to each other and intersect at three edges which are substantially orthogonal and converge at an apex (S), the cube corner retroreflector being associated with a geometrical normal at the same angle to each of the edges, the target including a reference point (O) substantially on the normal on the opposite side to the reflective surfaces at a distance e..sqroot.

Abstract: To purify untreated water, for example waste water, containing organic pollution, materials in suspension and nitrogen-containing pollution, reagents are added under conditions adapted to coagulate all of the materials in suspension, including colloidal materials, to form granular physical/chemical floc. Diluting water is added, preferably after the reagents, in a flowrate ratio of at least 2/1. The dilute flocculated water is caused to flow through a bed of sludge in the form of such dense and granular floc and denitrifying bacteria. The bed is subject to turbulent but intermittent agitation. A denitrified effluent is recovered. This denitrified effluent is caused to flow through a biological filter or preferably through a fluidized bed containing nitrifying bacteria and into which oxygen or air is injected. A clarified effluent is obtained, some of which is recycled as the diluting water.

Abstract: An automotive-type air conditioning refrigerant fluid dryer assembly composed of a receiver tank and desiccant cup assembly that are configured to enhance the operation and durability of the refrigerant fluid dryer assembly, as well as facilitate its assembly. The receiver tank is formed to have a unitary construction. The desiccant cup is provided with a number of axially-spaced nib segments disposed adjacent its open end that form detents and a cap that is received in the open end of the cup such that a peripheral edge of the cap engages at least some of the nib segments so as to secure the cap to the cup. During assembly, the cap is pressed downward into the cup until contact is made with the desiccant within and is thereafter secured within the cup by the nib segments. As such, assembly of the cap with the cup involves a simple push-type operation, yet enables the cap to positively confine the desiccant within the cup, such that relative movement of the desiccant within the chamber is restricted.

Abstract: A device for handling an automobile seat having a bar suspended from a cable and a rotor connected to the bottom end of the bar with the output shaft of the rotor used to rotate a clamp-like device. The clamp-like device has a pair of blades which are moved together and apart using piston-cylinders. The blades have a first portion and an angularly offset second portion specifically designed to be utilized for handling an automobile seat without damage to the seat.

Abstract: A composite vehicle wheel having a disk, a rim circumscribing the disk, and an ornamental metal-plated plastic overlay attached to the outboard surface of the disk. The overlay has a pair of oppositely disposed surfaces which form interior and exterior surfaces of the overlay. The interior surface mates with at least a portion of the outboard surface of the wheel while the exterior surface has a metal layer plated thereon. The overlay is formed from a relatively thin plastic panel such that the exterior surface uniformly and closely conforms to the outboard surface of the wheel and the metal layer is substantially flush with the adjacent portions of the outboard surface to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect to the wheel. The integrity of the metal layer is such that the overlay successfully meets corrosion resistance requirements for automobile manufacturers' original equipment.

Abstract: An array antenna embodying on a dielectric support, a periodic succession parallel to an alignment direction of rectangular patches having alternating active patches and parasitic patches. The active patches are identical, fed with electromagnetic energy in areas such that their sides parallel to the alignment direction are radiating sides, sized to have the same resonant frequency and disposed so that their phase centers are at a distance apart less than the wavelength in air associated with the resonant frequency. The parasitic patches are separated from the active patches by slots of constant non-null width extending transversely to the alignment direction and sized to have resonant frequencies near the resonant frequency of the active patches.

Abstract: A cube-corner retroreflector for laser telemetry corrects speed aberration .delta. and has three substantially orthogonal mirror surfaces defining three substantially orthogonal edges converging at an apex. Each edge is associated with the surface substantially orthogonal to it. The shape of each surface is at least approximately that of a portion of a cone whose axis is coincident with the associated edge. The generatrices of this portion of a cone have a non-null average generatrix slope relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the portion. The average .alpha..sub.0 of the average slopes of the surfaces at least approximately satisfies the equation:.alpha..sub.0 .about.0.2.delta./kwhere k is a predetermined parameter dependent on the number, the geometry and the refractive index or indices or the media constituting the interior volume of the retroreflector.

Abstract: A wheel and overlay assembly having an overlay that extends to the perimeter of the wheel in order to maximize the aesthetic effect of the overlay, while also accommodating balance weights at the perimeter in order to permit proper balancing of the assembly. The result is a wheel and overlay assembly having a fully integrated appearance in which the two-piece construction of the assembly is more fully concealed. The wheel and overlay assembly is an improvement over prior art assemblies which use an overlay of the type formed separately from the wheel, and particularly overlays formed as a solid plastic panel member that is directly attached to the outboard surface of a wheel. Furthermore, the invention is applicable to both aluminum and steel wheels of the type currently existing in the industry, as well as standardized balance weights utilized in the industry.

Abstract: To manufacture a reflector formed by a reflective metallic layer on a metallic matrix composite support, a metallic layer having a reflective surface whose shape is at least approximately identical to the required geometrical shape is disposed on a mold surface having a geometrical shape complementary to the required geometrical shape of the reflector. Fibers to constitute the composite support are draped on the metallic layer. They are metallized by the metallic or intermetallic material to form the metallic matrix. This layer and the metallized fibers are subjected to temperature and pressure conditions adapted to press the reflective surface strongly against the mold surface and to cause diffusion welding of the layer with the metallized fibers and of the metallized fibers with themselves so as to integrate the layer to the composite support during consolidation of the latter.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for calibration of a set of rate gyros on a three-axis stabilized satellite in orbit, the satellite including an attitude sensing system including the set of rate gyros, a set of actuators and control logic adapted to apply to the set of actuators control signals U derived from measurement signals M supplied by the attitude sensing system. From a time t.sub.0 satellite attitude errors (E1) relative to a reference frame of reference and constant drifts (E2) of the set of rate gyros about three axes (XYZ) of the satellite are estimated conjointly. The estimated values of the attitude errors and the difference between the measured speeds (.omega.) of the set of rate gyros and the estimated values of the constant drifts are applied in real time to the control logic and these estimated values of the constant drifts are stored when they become constant to within a first predetermined tolerance and the estimated values of the attitude errors become constant to within a second tolerance.

Abstract: A reversible electric device M is connected in an H bridge with a first side formed by first top and bottom switches and a second side formed by second top and bottom switches. The current Im flowing in the device from the first side to the second side is determined cyclically with a given constant switching frequency. The difference .DELTA. is determined between Im and an instantaneous set point current. Each cycle is divided with a ratio R into a first part and a second part. R is determined and for each part a set point setting for the switches (diagonal mode or freewheel mode) is chosen according to the sign .DELTA., the sign of the set point current (or of Im) and the value of a preselected correlation law relating to .DELTA. the mean value of the voltage that can be applied to the device during each cycle.

Abstract: A torque embodying an armature placed radially between a central bar and an external ferromagnetic tubular portion. The central bar is composed of two portions of the same cylinder diametrically opposite each other and having substantially equal angular amplitudes below 180.degree. and separated by generally parallel longitudinal flats. A radial permanent bar magnet is incorporated in the central bar between the cylinder portions. The armature has a winding formed from longitudinal strands connected by transverse strands and arranged into bundles within which all currents flow in the same direction at all times.

Abstract: A transfer device for a very high speed adiabatic face milling machine whose configuration and operation provide a highly efficient machining process suitable for production manufacturing conditions. The milling machine preferably operates at speeds of approximately 15,000 sfm and at efficiencies of approximately 7 cubic inches per minute per horsepower. The preferred milling operation is conducted without the use of cooling liquids, instead employing a chip removal system which enables the milling machine to operate truly adiabatically such that no heat is transferred to the workpiece or the cutter. The efficiency of the chip removal system is such that chip recutting is nearly eliminated and tool life is improved.