Abstract: A blind snap mounted clip fastener for anchoring into a round hole pattern stamped from a single sheet metal piece with a base portion (50) that is substantially flat, from which a cylindrical sleeve (24) is drawn and internally threaded. A pair of locking arms (26a) and (26b) projecting outwardly from the base portion, with an anti-rotate tab (20) projecting outwardly from a locking arm (26a) and bent downwardly and perpendicularly to the locking arm. A pair of spaced apart cylindrical shaped segments (28) projecting outwardly from base portion (50) and bent downwardly generally perpendicular and concentric to the sleeve. Along the vertical surface of each cylinder segment, a locking pawl (22) is sheared, shaped and bent outwardly away from the segment with its top edge placed at a predetermined distance from the top surface of the base portion and concentric to the segment perimeter.

Abstract: A retracting ring seal valve is disclosed for adjustably restricting and permitting fluid flow in a two-direction fluid control system. In a particular embodiment the invention comprises a valve body that defines a central passage through which the fluid passes, a side chamber adjacent the central passage, and a sealing shoulder around a circumference of the passage. A gate assembly adjustably moveable between the central passage and the side chamber includes a ring seal surrounding a peripheral edge of a sealing surface of the gate assembly so that a retainer moves the ring seal to seal a flow gap defined between the sealing surface and the sealing shoulder of the valve body to restrict flow of fluid through the central passage. An actuating assembly secured between the gate assembly and the valve body both positions the gate assembly to restrict or permit flow of fluid through the passage and also moves the ring seal into and out of the flow gap.

Abstract: An automatic temperature alarm system is disclosed for alerting an operator of a heated apparatus that the apparatus has been heated and untouched for an excessive period of time. In a particular embodiment, the invention comprises a temperature sensor affixed to the heated apparatus that senses its temperature; a vibration sensor that senses motion of the apparatus; a horn to alert the operator; and a system control intelligence in communication with the temperature and vibration sensors and horn for setting an alarm timer to measure an alarm period in response to sensed temperatures and motions and for activating the horn upon expiration of the alarm period.

Abstract: An improved facial insulator is disclosed for restricting heat loss from exposed skin surfaces. In a general embodiment, the facial insulator comprises a support pad having a design surface for displaying a design and an opposed adhesive surface having an edge strip along a perimeter edge of the pad and an insulating area defined by the edge strip as a circumference of the insulating area. A pressure-sensitive adhesive covers the edge strip, and an insulating material is affixed to the insulating area of the adhesive surface of the insulating pad. At least one downstream vent break and at least one upstream vent break are in generally opposed locations on the edge strip for permitting air to flow through the insulating material to remove any perspiration or moisture. A release layer is affixed to and covers the adhesive surface of the support pad.

Abstract: A mechanical contour follower is disclosed for maintaining a transducer ninety degrees to a workpiece surface, with respect to longitudinal and transverse axes of the workpiece surface, and for keeping the transducer at a constant distance from the workpiece surface during an ultrasound inspection of the workpiece (these conditions being referred to as keeping the transducer normal to the workpiece surface).

Abstract: A hybrid braze alloy is disclosed that includes an aluminum alloy and a magnesium alloy mixed together. In use of the hybrid braze alloy, the ratio by weight of aluminum alloy to magnesium alloy making up the mixture may be altered within a working braze ratio range of about forty nine to one (49/1) to about four point eight to one (4.8/1), so that the braze melting temperature of the hybrid braze alloy is a function of the ratio. By altering the ratio of the alloys within the working braze ratio range, a braze melting temperature may be achieved that is most appropriate for brazing a specific component to a specific apparatus.

Abstract: An improved pressure differential regulator is disclosed for controlling pressure differentials within a supply source such as an electrolytic cell stack. The regulator is positioned downstream of the supply source and basically includes a first sensing chamber that receives a first fluid from the source; a second sensing chamber that receives a second fluid from the source; a multi-layered diaphragm secured between the first and second sensing chambers; a first contracted sensing chamber outflow restriction valve secured within the first sensing chamber between the diaphragm and a first fluid outlet; and, a second contracted sensing chamber outflow restriction valve secured within the second sensing chamber between the diaphragm and a second fluid outlet.

Abstract: A propellant generator is disclosed that automatically adjusts rates of input of lean and excess reactants to compensate for changes in rates of reactions in the generator. In a particular embodiment, the invention generates propellants methane (CH.sub.4) and oxygen gas (O.sub.2) from a lean reactant carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and an excess reactant hydrogen gas (H.sub.2) utilizing stored hydrogen gas transported to a remote site such as the surface of the planet Mars where carbon dioxide is accumulated and stored. A lean reactant flow controller measures the level of excess reactant passing through a sabatier by measuring a current consumed by an electrochemical separator that separates and pressurizes the excess reactant from a mixture of first propellant, water and excess reactant produced by the sabatier.

Abstract: Accumulated dimensional variations in fuel cells and electrolysis cell assemblies can reduce the efficiency of the assembly and provide leakage paths for fuel and oxidant. A metal compression pad comprised of a metal having an elastic strain of about 3% to about 40% at about 2,500 psig can compensate for component dimensional variations and improve inter-cell conductivity at pressures up to and exceeding about 10,000 psig.

Abstract: An improved system is disclosed for downloading, verifying, and/or testing software from a remote programmer to an Electronic Engine Control ("E.E.C.") unit on a gas turbine engine. The invention includes a remote programmer that communicates with the E.E.C. unit through a serial communications link. The E.E.C. unit receives the communications through a serial memory that transmits them to a shared memory and on through a central processing unit ("C.P.U.") to a program memory. A redundant control circuit is controlled by the remote programmer and directs the E.E.C. unit through three operational modes. In a first, or download/verify, mode of operation, the E.E.C. unit may receive and store a boot program. In a second, or program memory, mode, the C.P.U. executes the boot program to allow the C.P.U. to read from and/or write to the program memory in response to communications from the serial channel. In a third, or normal, mode of operation, the C.P.U.

Abstract: Fluid leakage restriction in multi-layered systems that contain fluids such as electrochemical cell devices with sealing surfaces defining patterns of ridges forming concentric rings surrounding through apertures within the surfaces require a new surface design for use of a potential through aperture site. A crossed-ridge sealing surface is comprised of a first plurality of aligned ridges and a second plurality of aligned ridges that crosses the first plurality of aligned ridges to define sealing cells that surround the existing through apertures and potential through aperture sites, so that one sealing surface design may enhance fluid leakage restriction for a variety of actual and potential through apertures.

Abstract: A redundant engine starting system is disclosed that includes at least first and second sub-starters that rotate corresponding sub-starter output shafts affixed by a joining gear to rotate an engine starter shaft to start the engine. Each sub-starter includes a speed sensor for detecting rotational speed of the sub-starter, and a control valve to control rotational speed of the sub-starter. A system control intelligence interprets sensed rotational speeds of the sub-starters and commands the control valves, so that the control valve of an operative sub-starter is commanded to allow increased rotational speed of the sub-starter and therefore its corresponding output shaft whenever the system control intelligence interprets the sensed rotational speed of an inoperative sub-starter.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell electrode plate includes a laminar and preferably laminated assembly of at least two substantially identically configured plate-shaped components of an electrically conductive high-strength material, each including a fluid-pervious central portion and a solid frame portion integral with and surrounding the central portion. At least one through aperture is provided in the frame portion and forms a continuous fluid-flow conduit with the corresponding aperture of the other component. The frame portion of each of the components has at least one channel therein that is situated between the aperture and the central portion and opens onto the first major surface. The channels of the two components may be constituted by interrupted rows of mutually staggered slots that complement each other into a continuous passage that establishes communication between the aperture and at least one of the spaces of the central portion of one of the components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recycling contaminated industrial liquids. In the preferred embodiment, a conventional, medium-sized "van" type of truck houses, transports and powers a dual-loop assembly. A filter-loop assembly receives and stores recycling liquid in a waste liquid holding tank. The liquid is pumped through a pasteurizing heater and a separating centrifuge and back to the tank. Filter-test valves in the filter-loop enable testing to determine desired heating and separation.When flow-rate adjustments produce satisfactory heating and separation, the recycling liquid is directed through a cooler, out of the filter-loop and into an additive-loop assembly where the liquid is pumped from a clean liquid holding tank, by additive compound injections, and back to the clean tank. Additive-test valves in the additive-loop enable testing to determine required quantities of specific additive compounds.

Abstract: A light transmitting and diffusing apparatus is disclosed for activating photodynamic therapy in soft cancerous tumors. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is affixed to a standard medical laser that transmits light through an optical fiber to a point adjacent to or within a cancerous tumor. The apparatus includes an unclad fiber-optic core with a reflective cap at a terminal end of the core. A diffuser matrix coats the unclad fiber-optic core and a transparent tubular sleeve encases the matrix and core. The transparent tubular sleeve includes a conical tip adjacent to the terminal end of the core for easy penetration of the cancerous tumors. In use, light leaves the medical laser, travels along the optical fiber into the unclad fiber-optic core. There, some light passes directly out of the core through the diffuser matrix, and the remaining light is reflected, by this reflective cap, back into and around the core, away from its terminal end.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that converts a manual adjustment procedure of a lathe on an existing pulp-grinding machine into an automated electronic procedure. The pre-existing lathe has a sharpening burr affixed to a movable plunger. The plunger is manually lowered by a hand crank until the burr contacts a surface of a pulp-grinding stone. The present invention replaces the hand crank with a reversible, variable speed motor. A transducer is affixed to the plunger wherein electric signals are produced in response to vibrations resulting from contact between the burr and the grinding stone. The signals are processed by a standard programmable controller to control the motor. An electronic encoder electrically measures the position of the plunger and communicates the position to the programmable controller. When the burr on the plunger contacts the grinding stone, the motor is programmed to automatically stop.

Abstract: An endoscope relay lens is disclosed for transmitting an optical image along a narrow cylinder. Relay lenses are typically utilized in pairs to constitute a relay lens set and one or more sets are utilized in medical endoscopes. In the preferred embodiment, the relay lens includes two identical end lenses affixed to opposed ends of a center lens to define a cylinder. The relay lens is symmetrical about a plane bisecting the center of the center lens. The axial length of each end lens is equal to or greater than one-half its diameter. Optimal performance characteristics are achieved when the radii of curvature of the lenses and the axial lengths of the lenses cooperate so that the distance from an object being viewed to the exterior surface of the end lens closest to the object is one-half the distance between relay lenses in a pair and one-half the distance between sets of relay lens pairs. In one embodiment the center lens is spherical.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for recycling contaminated industrial liquids. In the preferred embodiment, a conventional, medium-sized "van" type of truck houses, transports and powers a dual-loop assembly. A filter-loop assembly receives and stores recycling liquid in a waste liquid holding tank. The liquid is pumped through a pasteurizing heater and a separating centrifuge and back to the tank. Filter-test valves in the filter-loop enable testing to determine desired heating and separation.When flow-rate adjustments produce satisfactory heating and separation, the recycling liquid is directed through a cooler, out of the filter-loop and into an additive-loop assembly where the liquid is pumped from a clean liquid holding tank, by additive compound injections, and back to the clean tank. Additive-test valves in the additive-loop enable testing to determine required quantities of specific additive compounds.