Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible robot arm structure utilizing an elongate skeletal frame member which can be controlled to assume any of a number of curved shapes as in the performance of automated operations. The arm functions somewhat like the body of a snake or an elephant's trunk. The skeletal frame defines a plurality of similar elemental segments disclosed in the form of disc-like structures as well as turns in a helical loading configuration. The helical form includes interleaved flexible helix members interconnected in a chain-link form. Displacement of sections in the arm is accomplished by the action of two separate mechanisms. A deflection mechanism provides power to flex or curve an arm section while a distribution mechanism distributes the curvature along the length of the arm to seek a smooth, circular curve. Illustrative embodiments use hydraulic actuators integral with the frame; however, equivalents are disclosed. The resulting arm is a highly repetitive, mechanical structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a circuit arrangement including a load (7) and a current source (1) for supplying current to the load via a current path with a winding (3). A core of magnetizable material (2) is coupled inductively with the winding and a Hall effect transducer (4) detects magnetic flux in the core for use in producing an output indication dependant on the magnitude of the load current. For testing the correct functioning of circuit(s), the circuit arrangement is further provided with an additional winding (6) on the magnetizable core, through which a further current source supply a further current, in which the core is also inductively coupled so that the transducer also detects flux in the core due to the further current.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel cutting tool. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel cutting tool which is specifically adapted to cutting the sheath of conducting cable without cutting or damaging the underlying conducting elements of the cable. A cutting tool useful for cutting sheathing on a cable comprising: (a) a holder for holding a cutting blade in a retracted or in an extended position; (b) a mechanism for pushing manually the blade from a retracted to an extended position and alternatively from an extended position to a retracted position; (c) a spring for urging the cutting blade into a retracted position when the cutting blade is in an extended position; and (d) a blade travel stop for controlling the distance that the cutting blade extends from the holder when in an extended position.

Abstract: A disposable finishing article for mounting on a rotatable threaded spindle of a power tool. The finishing article contains a retaining nut on one side and a backing flange on the other non-removably secured together on the finishing article without the aid of the adhesives in such a manner that the finishing article is placed in compression when it is operably secured upon the spindle of the power tool under operative loads. The nut and flange are secured together by upsetting one end of the nut causing it to protrude outwardly over the outer surface of the flange. A pressure cap member is secured by rotation to a plurality of fingers formed on the backing flange for engaging a shoulder formed on the spindle of the power tool during operation of the finishing article.

Abstract: A slack adjuster has a non-rotatable fast-threaded output member (19) threadedly engaged by a pair of nuts (20, 21), one of the nuts being a first brake-force-transmitting nut (20) clutchable to prevent rotation thereof and the other being a second adjustment nut (21) clutchable to land. Relative axial movement of these nuts relative to the output member (19) is a measure of "excessive" brake clearance and restoration of the normal spacing between these nuts serves to restore brake clearance to "normal". The nuts (20, 21) are housed in a housing (8) which is non-rotatable but axially movable with respect to the output member (19). The first nut (20) is clutchable to a thrust member (26) resiliently loaded with a force which is overcome only by forces of the magnitude of braking forces transmitted through the slack adjuster.

Abstract: A process of making a combustion element and the resultant element which includes heating a body of felted graphite fibers to a temperature of between 1500 degrees and 2100 degrees F. in an inert atmosphere and thereafter contacting the body at the elevated temperature with an atmosphere of a decomposable gaseous source of silicon atoms for a time and at a concentration to in situ convert the graphite fibers to silicon fibers and silicon carbide fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus for varying the angle at which a stack of paper is cut by a conventional paper shear has a base mountable to a back gauge of the shear and a movable element carried by the base for relative sliding movement between a plurality of operative positions. The movable element has a rib or other surface portion engageable with an edge of a stack of paper for orienting the edge at a different angle to a cutting blade in each operative position of the apparatus. The movable element preferably slides between a continuous range of operative positions and can be secured in any one of the positions.

Abstract: A card construction is adapted for preparation of several information-carrying mediums, insertion of the mediums and completion of the construction at a location different than the location for the prior manufacturing of the construction. The construction is particularly formed to avoid false indications of a card edge in apparatus which receives the card, e.g., to read magnetically-coded information on the card or to initially encode such information on the card. The card construction incorporates: first and second protective coverings, each capable of transmitting information through the covering; and structure between the coverings defining first and second openings, the first opening disposed toward the first protective covering and the second opening disposed toward the second protective covering; wherein the openings have boundaries, along a boundary of the card construction, which are out of registration with one another.

Abstract: Corrective forces are applied to a movable sensitive element of a force balance instrument by inducing a current within a coil of conductive material carried by the sensitive element so that the coil interacts with an external magnetic field. The sensing element is typically maintained at a null position by controlling the interaction between the coil and the external field. In a specific embodiment, the sensing element has at least one coil wound about each of three orthogonal axes and currents are induced within each of the coils to suspend the element.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly useful as a sampling or test device includes a cartridge and a closure tubing adapted to close either or both ends of the cartridge and to serve as a conduit for liquids eluted from the cartridge.

Abstract: An inoculating device having an inoculating loop, an improved streaking portion and a picker. The device is constructed of high impact polystyrene material which is injection molded to form a long thin member. One end of the device comprises a loop. The other end of the device forms a head having a plurality of distinct streaking surfaces. In the preferred embodiment, these distinct streaking surfaces have a convexity and come together to form a common point or apex, for example as in a curved pyramidal shape.

Abstract: A self-contained hand-held bidet device, for providing lavaging action with portability and convenience. The device comprises a housing having a motorized pump with a power source and switch for activating the pump. The pump draws fluid from a reservoir mounted at one end of the housing and pumps the fluid through a pivotal conduit to exit as a spray. Lightweight construction, a collapsible reservoir and the pivotally mounted wand facilitate convenient storage.

Abstract: A water ski binding includes: a flexible rear boot member for the rear part of the foot of the skier; a rear mounting structure for the boot member having wall surface structure which rises generally upwardly with respect to the top surface of the ski; and another rear mounting structure for the boot member, also having wall surface structure which rises generally upwardly with respect to the top surface of the ski, which slides relative to the first mounting structure in order to press the boot member between such wall surface structures and mount the boot member on the ski. The second mounting structure is formed to support the heel of the skier and the flexible boot member is formed to be held in position substantially solely through abutting wall surfaces of the mounting structures and boot member.

Abstract: Thiol gels are prepared from hydroxyl containing polymers by forming a 2-fluoro-1-methylpyridoxy derivative of the polymer followed by reacting the derivative with sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate and reducing to produce a sulfhydryl substituted polymer. Alternatively, the derivative is reacted with dithiothreitol to produce a sulfhydryl substituted polymer having free sulfhydryl groups spaced from the polymer. The thiol gel can be activated by means of 2,2'-dipyridyl disulfide and reacted with a free sulfhydryl containing biologically active ligand in order to provide an insolubilized ligand which can be used for various purposes including use as an immobilized biologically active material or use as a matrix in covalent chromatography.

Abstract: A doubly-curved crystal for use in a scanning monochromator is oriented with respect to a reference plane containing source and image locations of the monochromator. The crystal has concave planes of lattice points and a concave crystal surface which satisfy Johannson geometric conditions within the reference plane for a Rowland circle of radius R. The planes of lattice points are substantially spherically curved to a radius of 2R, and the crystal surface is substantially toroidally curved with a radius of substantially 2R within a plane perpendicular to the reference plane. The crystal may be formed by plastically deforming a cylindrically curved crystal blank over a doubly-curved convex die.

Abstract: A disposable finishing article for mounting on a rotatable threaded spindle of a power tool. The finishing article contains a retaining nut on one side and a backing flange on the other non-removably secured together on the finishing article without the aid of adhesives in such a manner that the finishing article is placed in compression when it is operably secured upon the spindle of the power tool under operative loads. The nut and flange are secured together by upsetting one end of the nut causing it to protrude outwardly over the outer surface of the flange. A pressure cap member is secured to a plurality of fingers formed on the backing flange for engaging a shoulder formed on the spindle of the power tool during operation of the finishing article.

Abstract: A tread-brake unit copmrises, as a unitary structure, a brake shoe (300) for engaging a vehicle wheel tread, a brake actuator (100) having an output member (19) via which the brake shoe (300) can, firstly, be moved into engagement with the wheel tread and, thereafter, a braking force generated by the actuator (100) can be transmitted to the brake shoe (300), and a slack adjuster (200) by which clearance between the brake shoe (300) and the wheel tread, in the "released" condition of the unit, can be maintained substantially constant. The slack adjuster (200) has a pair of fast-threaded units (20,21), each nut being threadedly engaged with and rotatable on the output member (19) of the actuator (100).

Abstract: An improved method for making solar cells of the type wherein a thin film silicon hydrogen alloy structure is deposited upon a transparent zinc oxide conductive film. Before deposition of the TFS film, the zinc oxide film is treated with a glow discharge comprising oxygen.

Abstract: A line-filtering antialiasing apparatus for a computer graphics display, with a set of parallel pixel processors functioning independently in a line drawing system and with plotting apparatus assigning individual pixels to the processors so as to track to the line. An optimum number of sixteen processors filter proximity data based on the vertical distance from a pixel center to the line center for shading pixels to gray-scale intensity in an area of influence four pixels wide. Line terminations are extended and shaded at the termination area. Pixel values for individual lines are summed to develop a total display image.