Abstract: A mechanism (10) for adjustably mounting a laser mirror includes fixed and movable plates (20, 22) with a pivot assembly mounted therebetween. The mirror (44) is mounted on the movable plate (22). A pair of wedge structures interface between the two plates at locations spaced from the pivot assembly and function to vary the angle between the plates about the pivot assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the wedge structure includes a threaded screw (54) for driving a sphere (58) against an inclined plane (50). The assembly allows adjustment of the mirror face (46) about all axes.

Abstract: A thin film printed circuit inductive element exhibiting low Q wherein a conductive spiral is deposited on an insulating substrate and resistive links are connected between adjacent turns of the spiral. Inherent resonance is thereby damped out.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for data detection signal processing for removing echo interference and/or distortion from a received 2B1Q coded signal. According to the preferred technique, the received 2B1Q signal Q, where q=(-3, -1, +1, +3), is shifted one bit to the left to generate a corresponding shifted symbol alphabet S, where S=(-2, 0, +2, +4). The shifted received signals are then processed through a transversal filter. That is, the signal is provided to a delay line which is tapped at intervals corresponding to the symbol width of the received signal. Each tap along the delay line is connected through an amplifier to a summing device that provides an output y(n), where ##EQU1## The tap gains, or coefficients a.sub.j, are set to subtract the effects of interference from symbols that are adjacent in time to the desired symbol. In an adaptive embodiment of the invention, the output y(n) resulting from the convolution between the transmitted symbols s(n) and the gain coefficients a.sub.j.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pitting olives and then slicing the pitted olives. In a preferred embodiment, each olive is carried in a cup positioned between a coring knife and a pitting knife in a manner so that the longitudinal axes of the cup and the knives coincide. As the cup and knives rotate around a drive shaft along parallel circular paths, a system of cams extends and retracts the knives relative to the cup, in order to pit the olive. After the pitting operation, the cup (containing a pitted olive) continues to rotate along its circular path past a set of slicing knives or water jet cutters. The slicing elements are oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the cup's circular path, so that the slicing elements will sever the olive cleanly into slices as the cup translates past them. In the inventive method and apparatus, both the pitting and slicing operations are performed on each olive while the olive is held in a known orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method in which a color graphics display system can run software written for either a color graphics system or a monochrome system, and in which a monochrome graphics system can run software written for either a monochrome system or a color graphics system, in which color image data is separated into monochrome image data and color control information so that a central processing unit can operate upon the image data as if running a monochrome program, yet continue to provide a color visual display by use of color control information which designates the colors to be displayed as part of a control operation.

Abstract: An improved process for separating sulfur from low grade surface ore is disclosed. The process involves mixing small particles of sulfur ore with a dilute aqueous solution of an agent to form a slurry. The agent used should be capable of combining with the gangue constituent of the sulfur ore particles such that the overall density of the combination of agent and gangue is substantially less than the density of the aqueous solution. The slurry is heated to a temperature under pressure so as to liquefy the sulfur and yet maintain substantially all of the water in liquid form. The slurry is agitated while heated, forming a dispersion of small sulfur droplets in the aqueous medium. The presence of the dilute agent allows the mixture to settle by gravity to form a molten sulfur phase and an aqueous gangue phase. The sulfur product is recovered as a single continuous phase of molten sulfur.

Abstract: A novel product obtained by reacting an alkali metal salt of nicotinic acid with a trivalent chromium salt and having glucose tolerance factor activity, a process for its production and a method for its use, are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a manually operable wet sander which uses standard strips or rolls of sandpaper. The sander has a one-piece generally solid body containing a means for removably securing the sandpaper to the sander without piercing the sandpaper. Conduits contained within the sander body regulate the flow of water, or other suitable liquid, from an external pressurized source to a plurality of liquid outlets along both sides of the sander. The water then flows past the edges of the sandpaper strip and onto the surface being sanded. Edge strips are preferably added to direct the water when the surface being worked is vertical or near-vertical or overhanging.

Abstract: A photographic method of collecting and reducing photographic film density data for monitoring air quality is disclosed in which photographic film is first calibrated using calibration scales of known reflectance and the measured radiance of one calibration scale step to relate the photographic film density to the known radiance. Measurement of a target's radiance and sight path radiance is made via target photographic image density analysis and mathematical expressions which convert density information into radiance and/or atmospheric transmittance data using expressions developed from the calibration scale data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a pre-placed prosthetic joint from a bone cavity and conditioning the cavity for receipt of a replacement joint. The pre-placed joint is first pulled from the mantle of hardened cement holding it within the cavity, thus leaving a cavity within the mantle. A mass of fluid cement is then placed within the cement cavity, after which a pulling appliance is inserted into the fluid cement and the fluid cement is permitted to cure to bond the appliance to the mantle. Tension is then applied to the pulling appliance to remove the appliance and the cement mantle from the bone cavity as a unit. The fluid cement partially dissolves and softens the hardened cement mantle so that an integral cement mass is formed upon curing of the fluid cement. The pulling appliance is of a screw-like configuration, with means to connect a slap-hammer to its proximal end.

Abstract: An error amplifier is disclosed for use in linear or switched-mode voltage or current regulators that use a transconductance type power-amplifier, enabling easy modular parallel connection of said regulators by simply parallel wiring of normally externally accessible nodes of the individual regulators: power-input, power-output, error amplifier output, and error amplifier input, to boost the system's total output power by about equally sharing the total output power among the individual regulators, includinga. an amplifier with grossly asymmetric output current capability in sink and source directions; andb. a sense circuit to slightly modify the voltage on the reference input of the said amplifier when the lower value output current limit becomes active so that it causes positive feedback thereby ensuring that at any time only one of the plurality of parallel operated amplifiers is active and controls the system's output while all the other amplifiers are in current limit and thereby inactive.

Abstract: A screw lift comprises a lift car (2) which is movably supported on an upright fixed screw (4) and carries a nut (54) in engagement with the screw and a belt drive for rotating the nut on the screw and thereby driving of the lift car along the screw. The nut (54) is rotatably journalled in a lubrication and bearing housing (62), which is connected with the lift car (2) and out of which it extends with a portion, that widens essentially conically and carries a belt pulley (56) with a correspondingly conically shaped hole. The belt pulley and the nut are mutually somewhat axially shiftable. A pulse transmitter (130,132) is arranged as the only position, direction and velocity determining device for the lift for sensing the position of the nut on the screw and emitting signals corresponding thereto.

Abstract: An air valve for controlling the supply of air to a venturi jet of a spa includes a housing, a cylindrical barrel, means for sealing between the housing and the barrel, and means for rotating the barrel. The housing has an interior chamber extending between an open, cylindrical bore at one end and a pipe coupling at the other end. The housing mounts on the inside wall of the spa, with the open end of the bore facing the inside of the spa and the rest of the housing extending through the side wall and positioned outside the spa. The cylindrical barrel is insertable into and rotatably mounted within the cylindrical bore of the housing. The housing and barrel each include ports that, when overlapping, provide a path for air to flow from a point exterior of the housing, through the overlapping ports, through the interior of the barrel and housing to the pipe coupling. Rotating the barrel to a position where the ports do not overlap blocks the air flow path.

Abstract: The invention enables owners of backhoes and similar equipment to use their machines either as a backhoe or as a crane with only minor modifications. The invention provides an attachment for a backhoe that takes advantage of existing hydraulic pistons on the backhoe as the lift implement for the crane.

Abstract: An improved sensor for detecting vibrations uses a flexible moving beam supported by two flexible leg members. The flexible moving beam can be moved in two directions. A protrusion extends from near one end of the flexible moving beam. The protrusion is placed against a transducer element 22 which is against a rest element 24 . When the moving beam is moved parallel to its length, the protrusion is pushed against the transducer element 22 and against the rest element 24, thereby generating electrical signals. When the moving beam detects vibrations in a direction perpendicular to its length, the protrusion is rotated upward and outward and pushes against the transducer element 22, causing the generation of electrical signal. The improved sensor is particularly adapted for detecting vibrations from a stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: A method for designing and constructing pass transistor asynchronous sequential circuits, and a class of pass transis tor asynchronous sequential circuits designed in accordance with the inventive method. The inventive circuit design method generates a design for each next state variable, Y.sub.i, of an asynchronous pass transistor circuit, where each design corresponds to a portion of the circuit. In a first preferred embodiment, the invention produces an asynchronous circuit design comprising a pass transistor network and a buffer (having no long term memory) for receiving the output of the pass transistor network. In a second preferred embodiment, the inventive method results in a critical race free, asynchronous circuit design comprising an enable pass transistor network, a disable pass transistor network, and a buffer (including a memory) for receiving the output of both pass transistor networks.

Abstract: A fused, hardened composition containing CaO, MgO and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 for use in purifying molten metal during steel production and a method of making the same. The composition can be made up of electric arc furnace dust and lime or dolo-lime fines which would normally be wasted. The mixture of ingredients is hydrated, molded into a uniform size and carbonated using a CO.sub.2 containing gas and then heated so as to produce a molded non-dusting composition which dissolves quickly and uniformly in the slag process. Components such as PbO from the furnace dust which normally make slag a hazardous waste under environmental regulations, are reacted within the molded composition to form stable ceramic spinels. These spinels are not water soluble and therefore not subject to strict disposal requirements.