Abstract: A coupling system for an induction motor type generator (10) to an A.C. power line (18) wherein an electronic switch means (28) which is controlled by a control system (30) is regulated to turn "on" at a relatively late point in each half cycle of its operation whereby the energizing power supplied by the line (18) to the induction motor type generator (10) is decreased and the net power delivered to the line is increased.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical impacting device (10) for testing the bonding of foam insulation (22) to metal (26). The device lightly impacts foam insulation (22) attached to metal (26) to determine whether the insulation (22) is properly bonded to the metal (26) and to determine the quality of the bond. A force measuring device, preferably a load cell (12) mounted on the impacting device, measures the force of the impact and the duration of the time the hammer head (16) is actually in contact with the insulation (22). This information is transmitted as an electric signal (20) to other elements of the invention's associated system (not part of this invention) which are capable of conditioning the signal and evaluating it electronically in order to provide a visual display on a video screen. This allows an operator to make decisions relating to bonding and the quality of bonding.

Abstract: A power factor controller for an A.C. induction motor (10) is provided which is of the type comprising thryistor switches (110), (111) and (112) connected in series with the motor, phase detectors (122), (124) and (126) for sensing the motor current and voltage and providing an output proportional to the phase difference between the motor voltage and current, and a control circuit, responsive to the output of the phase detector and to a power factor command signal, for controlling switching of the thyristor. The invention involves sensing the induced emf produced by the motor during the time interval when the thryistor is "off" and for producing a corresponding feedback signal for controlling switching of the thyristor. The sensed emf is also used to enhance "soft" starting of the motor.

Abstract: A tracking system for measuring and recording the movements of a longwall shearer vehicle (10) includes an optical tracking assembly (B) carried at one end of a desired vehicle path and a retroreflector assembly (A) carried by the vehicle. Continuous horizontal and vertical light beams are alternately transmitted at (38) by means of a rotating Dove prism (58) to the reflector assembly (A). A vertically reciprocating reflector (34) interrupts the continuous light beams and converts these to discrete horizontal and vertical light beam images transmitted at (68) at spaced intervals along the path. A second rotating Dove prism (64) rotates the vertical images to convert them to a second series of horizontal images while the first mentioned horizontal images are left unrotated and horizontal. The images are recorded on a film (74, 104). An overlay (106) with X and Y co-ordinates may be utilized to view the images and provide a graphical representation of the vehicle's path along the longwall coal face.

Abstract: A system for testing space engines at sea level under a very low pressure environment. The system includes a space simulation chamber connected to a diffuser which has two variable area ratio ejectors connected to it in tandem. Each of the ejectors is driven by a jet engine, preferably a turbo jet. The system is capable of providing a low pressure environment of about three or four millimeters of mercury for testing of engines mounted in the space simulation chamber. The system also may be used for other purposes requiring very high vacuum, such as evaporation and dehydration of food products or drugs.

Abstract: The apparatus 11 according to the present invention effectively eliminates losses to reflection and/or secondary emission of the charged particle beam 13 being measured. It comprises a sense cup (17) with an interior chamber and an entry opening (25) through which the charged particle beam (13) enters. A sense cone (19) forms the rear wall of the interior chamber with the cone apex adjacent the entry opening (25). An outer case (21) surrounds the sense cup (17) and is electrically insulated therefrom. Charged particles entering the interior chamber are trapped and are absorbed by the sense cup and cone and travel through a current measuring device (15) to ground.

Abstract: A space shuttle system (11) having an orbiter spacecraft (16) with main rocket engines (43) a large external propellant tank (12), and two solid rocket boosters (13,14). The propellant tank (12) has a forward pressure vessel (19) for liquid hydrogen and an aft pressure vessel (20) for liquid oxygen. The two solid rocket boosters (13, 14) are joined together by a thrust frame (15) which extends behind the external tank. The thrust of the orbiter's main rocket engines (43) are transmitted to the aft portion of the external tank (12).

Abstract: A three stage rocket vehicle (11) having a large forward propellant tank (12) and a small aft propellant tank (13) axially aligned. Secured to the rear end of the aft propellant tank (13) is an engine mount structure (14) carrying rocket engines (15). Offset and secured to the propellant tanks (12,13) is a payload structure (18). The propellants from the large forward tank (12) are fed into the aft propellant tank (13) and the rocket engines (15) are fed propellants from the aft propellant tank (13). This arrangement enables the vehicle to parallel stage its use of engines and components.

Abstract: A sonic levitation apparatus (A) is disclosed which includes a sonic transducer (14) which generates acoustical energy responsive to the level of an electrical amplifier (16). A duct (B) communicates with an acoustical chamber (18) to deliver an oscillatory motion of air to a plenum section (C) which contains a collimated hole structure (D) having a plurality of parallel orifices (10). The collimated hole structure converts the motion of the air to a pulsed, unidirectional stream providing enough force to levitate a material specimen (S).

Abstract: A motor power control of the type which functions by controlling the power factor wherein one of the parameters of power factor current "on" time is determined by the "on" time of a triac through which current is supplied to the motor, and wherein, by means of a positive feedback circuit, a wider range of control is effected.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sequentially processing multi-level interconnections for microelectronic circuits are disclosed which includes a vacuum system having a vacuum chamber 12 in which wafers 20 are processed on rotating turntables 16 and 18. The vacuum chamber is provided with an RF sputtering system 24 and a DC magnetron sputtering system 28. A gas inlet 34 is provided in the chamber for the introduction of various gases to the vacuum chamber and the creation of various gas plasma during the sputtering steps. The rotating turntables 16, 18 insure that the respective wafers are present under the sputtering guns for an average amount of time such that consistency in sputtering and deposition is achieved. By continuous and sequential processing of the wafers in a common vacuum chamber without removal, the adverse affects of exposure to atmospheric conditions are eliminated providing higher quality circuit contacts and functional device.

Abstract: An X-Y scanner is illustrated which utilizes an eddy current or ultrasonic current test probe for detecting surface defects in small flat plates and the like. The apparatus includes a scanner C which travels on a pair of slide tubes (20) in the X-direction. The scanner is, in turn, carried on a carriage B which slides in the Y-direction. The scanner C is driven in the X-direction by means of a helix shaft (44) having a closed-loop helix groove (46) in which a follower pin 38 carried by scanner C rides. The carriage B is moved incrementally in the Y-direction upon the completion of travel of the scanner back and forth in the X-direction by means of an indexing means E which includes an indexing actuator (54) and an indexing gear (50). Actuator (54) is in the form of a ratchet which engages ratchet gear (52) upon return of the scanner to the indexing position whereupon the indexing gear (50) is rotated a predetermined increment along a rack gear (48) to move carriage B incrementally in the Y-direction.

Abstract: A power control circuit for a three phase induction motor wherein power factors for the three phases are summed to provide a control signal, and this control signal is particularly filtered and then employed to control the duty cycle of each phase of input power to the motor.

Abstract: Double-exposure holographic interferometry is carried out using first and second lasers (11), (12) responsive to respective applied firing signals for producing respective pulsed output beams. An optical system is provided oriented such that the output beams of the lasers produce coinciding scene (20) and reference (21) beams. An initiator circuit (30) generates and applies a firing signal to the first laser (11); and a timer/firing device (31), responsive to the generation of a firing signal by the initiator circuit (30), generates and applies a firing signal to the second laser (12) a predetermined period of time later.

Abstract: A trigger control circuit is provided for producing firing pulses for the thyristor of thyristor control system such as a power factor controller. The control circuit overcomes thyristor triggering problems involved with the current lag associated with controlling inductive loads and utilizes a phase difference signal, already present in the power factor controller, in deriving a signal for inhibiting generation of a firing pulse until no load current is flowing from the preceding half cycle and thereby ensuring that the thyristor is triggered on during each half cycle.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an improved converter for converting one direct current voltage to another.A plurality of phased square wave voltages are provided from a ring counter (14) through amplifiers (A.sub.O1 -A.sub.O6) to a like plurality of output transformers (TO). Each of these transformers has two windings, and S.sup.1 winding and an S.sup.2 winding. The S.sup.1 windings are connected in series, then the S.sup.2 windings are connected in series, and finally, the two sets of windings are connected in series. One of six SCRs (SCRs 1-6) is connected between each two series connected windings to a positive output terminal (22) and one of diodes (D1-D6) is connected between each set of two windings of a zero output terminal (0). By virtue of this configuration, a quite high average direct current voltage is obtained, which varies between full voltage and two-thirds full voltage rather than from full voltage to zero.

Abstract: A clamp-mount device is disclosed for mounting equipment B to an associated I-beam 50 and the like structural member of the type having oppositely extending flanges 52, 54 wherein the device comprises a base 10 and a pair of oppositely facing clamping members 12, 14 carried diagonally on the base clamping flanges therebetween and having flange receiving openings facing one another. Lock means 20, 22 are carried diagonally by the base opposite the clamping members locking the flanges in the clamping members. A resilient hub 30 is carried centrally of the base engaging and biasing a back side of the flanges maintaining same tightly clamped and facilitating use on vertical as well as horizontal members. The base turns about the hub to receive the flanges within the clamping members. Equipment B may be secured to said base 10 by any suitable means such as bolts in openings 10b. Slidable gate latches 24, 26 secure the hinged locks 20, 22 in an upright locking position.

Abstract: A self-aligning electrical connector device is disclosed as including a receptacle component (A) having a conically contoured interior and a plug component (B) having a correspondingly contoured conical body receivable in the receptacle component. The plug component B includes a plurality of spaced conductive ring elements 22 having a mating face (22a) and the receptacle component includes a plurality of corresponding spaced conductive ring elements (14) providing mating interface with the mating face of the ring elements of the plug component when connected therewith. Each ring element of the receptacle component includes a plurality of segmented portions, (16a), which defect downwardly when the plug component is inserted therein to assert a biasing force against the face of the ring elements of the plug component providing positive electrical contact and connection between the ring elements of the components.

Abstract: A control circuit for an induction motor powered system wherein a power factor controlled servo loop is used to control, via the phase angle of firing of a triac (16), the power input to the motor (14) as a function of load placed on the motor (14) by machinery of the powered system. Then, upon application of torque by this machinery to the motor (14), which tends to overspeed the motor, the firing angle of the triac (16) is automatically set to a fixed, and relatively short, firing angle.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater comprising the steps of subjecting the wastewater to an anaerobic settling step for at least 6 hours and passing the liquid effluent from the anaerobic settling step through a filter cell in an upflow manner, wherein the effluent is subjected first to the action of anaerobic and facultative microorganisms and then to the action of aerobic microorganisms and the roots of at least one vascular aquatic plant.