Abstract: By providing a hand-held remote controller capable of controlling, at a low voltage level, all operational functions of an X-ray generating module with all high voltage lines contained within the main housing, a portable X-ray unit is achieved having both mobility and flexibility. This is chiefly attained by employing kVp line selection in the remote controller with high speed solid state switching in the main housing for energizing the desired windings in the high voltage transformer, and digital control of the current in the remote controller for delivery to the filament transformer of the X-ray tube. The filament current to the X-ray tube, which is automatically varied as a function of the kVp level and exposure time selected, is controlled by changing the frequency of the pulse delivered to the filament transformer. The particular current level being employed is automatically determined by the system, to assure maximum power utilization of the X-ray tube within its heat dissipation capabilities.

Abstract: The instrument is generally shaped and operated in the manner of prior clip applying instruments. Shaped like a pair of dog-nosed pliers, the outer ends of the jaws are adapted to hold a clip which may be applied to a blood vessel with the instrument. The rearward portion of the jaws overlap and a rectangular channel is formed in one of them through which clips may be pushed by a pusher extending down the center line of the instrument. One of the jaws is adapted to receive a cartridge containing a stack of U-shaped clips which may be pushed one at a time to the distal end of the jaws by the pusher.The instrument basically comprises only three pivoted members, the pusher and its operating linkage, and one or two springs.Several forms of pusher-actuating means are disclosed, two of these include a bell crank and cam so that the pusher will be operated before the jaws can be closed. The third comprises a free bell crank and a pair of unbalanced springs to achieve the same object.

Abstract: An animal handling system incorporating in one embodiment a vertically movable platform connected by cables to a drive mechanism for lowering an animal into a pool of water. In another aspect, a hydrotherapeutic apparatus for horses comprises a horse accommodating tank having anatomically positioned whirlpool hot water/air injection nozzle jets for administering hydrotherapeutic treatment. The animal is preferably lowered directly into the tank, and the vertically movable platform is combined with the hydrotherapy tank for this purpose.

Abstract: A swing-type check valve designed for allowing the flow of fluids in one direction only is constructed with a swinging hanger assembly comprising two hanger members, each member held pivotally captive on a hanger pin secured to the valve casing, whereby each hanger member is rotatable on the hanger pin. A portion of each hanger member defines a convex recess such that the pair of hanger members can interfit with and embrace the valve disc neck of a unitary valve clapper. The unitary valve clapper comprises a valve disc, a protruding cylindrical valve disc neck and a buttonhead of larger diameter than the valve disc neck. The hanger members closely embrace the valve disc neck and hold the valve clapper firmly in position. This hanger design allows the valve clapper to be constructed in one piece, eliminating problems of valve failure due to dimensional variations resulting from inability to define tolerances in composite valve clapper assemblies.

Abstract: By providing a plow and scraper blade assembly with a camming and securing member at one end and a pivotable, blade locking member at the other end, along with a cooperating, interfittingly engageable plow blade, a plow and scraper blade assembly is achieved wherein the plow blade is easily and quickly installable and removeable. In the preferred embodiment, a blade nesting and engaging channel is incorporated along with a plurality of stiffening ribs spaced along the channel to provide rigidity to the plow blade while enhancing the blade's rapid installation and removal qualities.

Abstract: By reacting an aromatic compound containing at least one trichloromethyl group bonded to an aromatic carbon atom with an aliphatic acid anhydride in the presence of a catalyst, an aromatic acid chloride and an alkyl carboxylic acid chloride are produced. The desirable products are preferably obtained through distillation at ambient conditions. Although various catalysts can be employed, an acid catalyst, such as sulphuric acid is preferred.

Abstract: A composite electron microscope grid for support of specimens and suitable for energy dispersive X-ray analysis is fabricated from a low atomic number composite material comprising a polymer formed from a combination of some or all of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, to which carbon, preferably in the form of carbon fibers is blended. The dispersed carbon in the polymer strengthens the grid and greatly increases the electrical and thermal conductivity of the resultant grid so as to minimize the otherwise present electron charge buildup in the vicinity of the grid during the electron bombardment associated with the X-ray analysis. The high thermal conductivity of the grid minimizes the temperature rise in the grid and specimen under analysis; thereby ensuring a stable specimen image.The composite grids according to the present invention are fabricated from an etched surfaced mold which is sacrificed after the grid casting.

Abstract: A parallel process controller capable of expandable, parallel operating multi-function control of processes. The process controller comprises programmable command memory modules, data memory modules, an input/output system, a programming panel, and a high speed data bus (N-bus).The input/output system comprises input/output channels for intercommunication between the process controller and the external world. This intercommunication is repetitively updated for each input/output channel in an error-free manner that operates autonomously with respect to the remainder of the process controller. Each input/output channel incorporates a first dedicated area of a dedicated data memory module in which information is read and a second dedicated area of the data memory module in which information is written. The information read from the first dedicated area is transferred to external devices via a local modem-remote modem combination.

Abstract: An economical rotary index table holds workpieces on machine tool beds and tables, changing rotational position in angular increments with precision. Accurate angular indexing is achieved by a curvic coupling with meshing radial teeth disengageably connecting an axially movable locking plate to the juxtaposed facing rotational worktable member, separate and apart from the drive system. An annular, axially expansible pneumatic chamber is employed to engage and disengage the curvic coupling teeth, alternately locking the worktable in the desired angular orientation, and unlocking it for angular indexing movement. In the preferred embodiment, the movable angular indexing apparatus of the present invention incorporates automatic counting means for precisely determining the degree of rotation and automatic stop means for preventing further rotation when the desired position has been reached.

Abstract: An audible voltage-impedance tester for generating distinct sounds when its test probes are connected across an unknown source, be it a resistive source, a DC voltage source, an AC voltage source or combination thereof. No switching is required between resistive testing and voltage testing nor between DC voltage testing and AC voltage testing. The tester is able to generate distinct sounds for different resistance values, for different DC voltage amplitudes, for different AC voltages with the same frequency but different amplitudes, and for AC voltages with different frequencies but the same amplitudes.A visual indicator of the audible sound is disclosed along with circuitry that utilizes a multi-vibrator whose powered operation by a battery is not affected by the unknown source.

Abstract: By providing a deep drawn substantially V-shaped body longitudinally tapering from front to rear with an upwardly extending head and tail portion, the unique construction is achieved capable of simulating the undulating, rolling, wagging, zig-zagging motion of a wounded bait fish moving through the water. In the preferred embodiment, the V-shaped body cooperates with a plurality of form-fitting lead weights, each having a different mass, in order to effectively achieve a plurality of different weighted lures using a single fishing lure body and a variety of replaceable weights.

Abstract: This invention provides a head up display apparatus particularly for use by the pilot of an aircraft including a cathode ray tube to display visual information to the pilot, means for mounting the cathode ray tube on the head of the pilot and a combiner also mounted on the pilot's head to superimpose an image of the displayed information on the pilots view. The apparatus includes a visual information relay system with a visual information source and display means arranged to view the visual information source and operatively connected with the cathode ray tube to display the visual information so viewed. The relay system includes a component arranged to be mounted at a fixed position and a component arranged to be mounted on the pilot's head so that a change of angular position of the pilots head produces a change of position of the visual information relative to the display means and a corresponding change of position of the display of the information on the cathode ray tube.

Abstract: In a ribbon cable extrusion die assembly, a large plurality of fine electrical conductor wires, numbering from 20 up to 50, 60 or more, are led through a core tube via individual quills. Molten plastic insulating material is delivered to the exterior of the core tube, and surrounds the plurality of the conductor wires as they emerge from the core tube to enter the extrusion die. The aligned array of conductor wires and the molten plastic insulating material pass together through the extrusion die, which incorporates a cylndrical die passage for each individual conductor wire, with web passages connectng the cylindrical passages to form a unitary ribbon cable extrusion emerging from the extrusion die. The guiding quills are individually removable from the core tube, in response to the actuation of automatic wire breakage sensing and alarm systems for quick replacement of a broken conductor wire by a new unbroken conductor wire.

Abstract: This invention provides a lens which operates in a waveband in the infra-red region of the electromagnetic spectrum and which has a variable focus or magnification. The invention relates particularly to an infra-red zoom lens. The lens has a front part and a rear part which are adjustable axially towards and away from one another and a middle part whose function is to provide different focal length or magnification settings. The adjustability of the front and rear parts of the lens assists in overcoming the defocussing effect of temperature variations, the front and rear parts being held stationary when a focussed image of an object is formed in a desired image plane. In a zoom lens the middle part is a zoom part with elements movable axially to vary the image size in the image plane, the front and rear parts being adjustable axially relative to each other and to the range of movement of the elements of the zoom part.

Abstract: A high frequency self-contained emergency lighting fluorescent pack is exteriorally mountable to a fluorescent fixture either in line with a fluorescent lamp having a length shorter than that normally installed in the fluorescent fixture or in a side-by-side relationship near the fluorescent lamp. In either configuration, the emergency lighting fluorescent pack de-energizes all electrical connections when the interconnected fluorescent lamp is not properly in place, and only energizes the electrical connections when the fluorescent lamp is properly installed.The emergency lighting fluorescent pack incorporates a battery pack, a battery charger for maintaining the batteries in the battery pack at full charge, a high frequency emergency power generating inverter module for igniting and maintaining the fluorescent lamp in the illuminated state by energy supplied by the battery pack, and transfer circuitry for causing the energization of the emergency power module by the battery pack when utility AC power fails.

Abstract: A solar pond for collecting solar energy preferably filled with a shallow layer of water over a blackened sunlight-absorbing surface which is in turn in contact with a heat-storage or heat exchanging medium. Convection in the solar pond is inhibited by raising the viscosity of the pond by adding gelling agents, for example, a polyethyleneoxide adduct of a hydrophobic residue. Convection is further inhibited by dividing the pond into cells such that the Rayleigh number of the fluid within the cell structure is less than the critical Rayleigh number at which convection may occur. The dividers may be translucent or transparent generally horizontal sheets or generally vertical sheets, forming matrices which are rectangular, hexagonal or triangular in horizontal cross-sections. Alternatively, the gelled fluid medium of the solar pond may be bagged in translucent elongated bags which when arranged in the pond have their shortest dimension less than that which will support convection.

Abstract: By providing a ramped plate which is removably positioned in a swimming pool directly abutting the swimming pool wall with the ramped plate forming an acute angle therewith, a starting assist device is provided for backstroke swimmers by which they can securely position their feet during the start of their swim. Preferably, this starting assist device incorporates a support assembly for supportingly maintaining the device underwater during the start of the swim with said support assembly having at least one member extending out of the water for easy removability of the device after the swimmer has begun.

Abstract: A loudspeaker having precise imaging, neutrality of frequency response, and controlled mid-range and tweeter dispersion. The loudspeaker incorporates an open cell, reticulated polyurethane cartridge for placement of a supertweeter mounted in the loudspeaker at an angle of 45.degree. from other speaker axes. The housing therefore may be positioned so as to adjust the high frequency acoustic radiation to the right or the left of the loudspeaker frontal axis, thus making a mirror image pair of the loudspeakers possible. In addition, angled corner posts are arranged at the front corners of the loudspeaker in order to reflect back into the loudspeaker mid-range and high frequency sounds that strike the posts.

Abstract: A multi-track machine press is disclosed having a base, a vertically movable ram mounted to the base, and a plurality of horizontally movable slides under the ram. A plurality of master die sets each comprising a plurality of step-height dies arrayed parallel to the motion of the slide have a lower half mounted to the slide and an upper half mounted to the corresponding portion of the ram directly over the particular slide. The slides move horizontally in unison. The upper and lower portion of each master die set come together during a work stroke for a stamping operation when the slides are at a first zero velocity position, and are indexed one die lead for a transfer operation during a deposit stroke when the slides are at a second zero velocity position. The multi-track machine press is thus capable of performing a series of separate die stamping operations while minimizing the amount of scrap from the coil strip stock fed into the press for producing parts.

Abstract: By providing a wind deflecting panel with illuminating devices mounted thereto and an information bearing overlay positioned in spaced juxtaposition to said illuminating devices, an illuminated drag reducer is provided. In this manner, advertising messages or warnings can be provided on the overlay for both daytime and nighttime visibility.