Abstract: Patient controlled analgesic (PCA) infusion apparatus and method are disclosed, in which a liquid desired to be self-infused into a patient is controllably supplied from a positively pressurized supply reservoir to a lower pressure dose chamber of a patient operable syringe from which the patient may expel the liquid and infuse such into a suitable infusion site, as through a cannula inserted into the patient, the supply of liquid from the reservoir to the dose chamber being controlled by a flow control metering tube assembly which provides a selected flow rate for a reference fluid and reference pressure differential. A vacuum-induced void is created in the dose chamber after each infusion by the patient in order to aid in effecting a desired substantially constant pressure differential between the pressurized supply source and the dose chamber, so as to effect a desired selected substantially constant refill flow rate of liquid from the supply reservoir and into the dose chamber.

Abstract: An adjustably controllable accuracy-enhancing pump arrangement and method is disclosed, as embodied in a digitally pulse-driven rotary peristaltic pump having a rotor which acts on a fluid pumping conduit to effect pumped output of fluid. Inaccuracies in volume pumped for a given quantity of pulses applied to the pump intended to effect a selected desired volume are minimized by adjusting the total quantity of pulses applied to the pump for a given desired volume, and/or for subsequent selected volumes, if desired, as a function of an adjustment factor formed by the ratio of the given desired volume relative to actual volume pumped by the application to the pump of the quantity of pulses estimated or calculated to be required for pumping the given desired volume through a given sized tube set conduit.

Abstract: A rotary peristaltic pump arrangement and method, with a set of specially constructed tube set conduits interchangeably interconnectable in selectively responsively sensed and operationally affecting relationship with the pump. The pump is driven by a pulse-actuated stepping motor, and the total quantity of pulses fed to the pump for any selected volume from one of the conduits is controlled by and as a function of which one of the set of plural sizes of tube set conduits is connected to the pump. The control is automatically affected through actuation or nonactuation of at least one switch sensor on the pump by special anchor-connecting flanges on the tube set conduits which interchangeably mate in anchored connection with corresponding anchor-connection slots on the pump and adjacent one which the switch sensor is disposed.

Abstract: An extendible probe projectile and an extendible probe assembly therefor, in which the extendible probe reduces drag on the projectile in its extended position and is moved to its extended locked drag-reducing position by ram air action which is converted into a forwardly acting force on the probe during forward motion of the projectile.

Abstract: An invertable tray/vial package assembly is disclosed formed of separable interlockably connected top and bottom vial holding and locating tray sections which tray enables and effects holding and spatial positioning of a plurality of vials therein for selective external access to the vials at their respective opposite fluid content filling ends and fluid serving ends, for ease of vial filling, closing, handling, labeling and visual identification of vial contents, and for dispensing of the vials and serving the fill content of a vial to a patient. The tray has vial holding and spatially positioning pockets formed on one of its separable sections, with fluid-fill enabling openings formed in the bottom end of each of the pockets, and which are effectively registrable with closeable fill openings of vials disposed therein.

Abstract: A syringe infusion or other patient health care fluid delivery arrangement or system having a substantially constant force syringe holder/driver for a fluid-dispensing, preferably disposable, syringe to which an on-off valve and effectively bendably flexible tube connecting set are connected. The outside diameter of the tubing of an available flow-rate assortment of suitably identifiably marked tube connecting sets is formed of a desired single size by extrusion addition of a plastic outer overcoat layer over the inner fluid-carrying tubing, enabling interchangeable accommodation and securing thereon of standard single-size conventional or other desired connectors, whereby a single health care professional may fill a syringe with a prescribed dosage and concentration of health care fluid, and may also preselect and fix the delivery rate for the fluid, by selecting and assembling a given syringe holder/driver, fluid-filled syringe and tube connecting set.

Abstract: A back-actuated forward ignition cartridge having a case, a puller sabot and rod penetrator projectile in the forward mouth end of the case, and a combination compacted propellant solid mass and loose propellant charge ignitable by back ignition through actuation of a rear primer and guided flame propagation through a guide tube extending through the compacted propellant mass and to the vicinity of the loose propellant charge, while preventing ignition of the compacted propellant mass as the flame passes along the tube therethrough. The guide tube has a booster ignition charge therein to assist in forward flame propagation and ignition of the loose propellant. Burning of the loose propellant charge effects pressurized constriction of the sabot about the projectile and drives the sabot/projectile from the case and along a barrel bore, thereby increasing the effective burning volume prior to ignition of the compacted propellant solid mass.

Abstract: A projectile having a light-settable photodetector assembly, in the form of a plurality of photovoltaic cell units mounted internally of the projectile, with corresponding respective light passageways, formed preferably by optical fibers, connecting between the exterior of the projectile and the photocell units. Circumferential angular position indexing means is provided on the projectile for index location of an external light source setting device therewith. Each photodetector also electrically connects with an electrical signal storage unit, in the form of a capacitor, which is activated by light acting on the photodetector, thereby enabling inputting and storage of a selected composite digital signal.

Abstract: A syringe infusion or other patient health care fluid delivery arrangement or system having a substantially constant force syringe holder/driver for a fluid-dispensing syringe to which an on-off valve and effectively bendably flexible tube connecting set are connected for delivery of a health care fluid to a patient delivery site at a preselected preset rate which is precision self-metered and determined by the fluid pressure and viscosity and the resistence to flow of fluid from the syringe and through the tube connecting set. The tube connecting set may be precision made to enable enhancement of predictability of fluid flow rate therethrough, and the various sets may be individually provided with indicia indicative of flow rate for given fluid and fluid pressure conditions.

Abstract: A cartridge case and cartridge arrangement and method in which a base is joined along an annular intermating chevron-shaped joint with a sleeve. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment the base is metal and the sleeve is glass-fiber-reinforced plastic. The case has a propellant, projectile, and a percussive primer. A plurality of circumferentially spaced vent holes are formed in the plastic sleeve along a portion of the chevron joint as an aid to reducing excessive interface friction loads at the chevron joint during firing of the cartridge. A less preferred modification and mode of practice of the invention is disclosed in which the base is formed of plastic material or a composite glass-plastic or other composite plastic material, and the sleeve is formed of metal. A further less preferred modification and mode of practice is disclosed in which both the sleeve and the base are formed of similar materials.

Abstract: A grenade arrangement for forming a visual and infrared screening cloud, having a frangible body, a hollow cylindrical solid compact cohesive mass of compacted generally mutually adhered fine metal flakes of a copper composition, particularly brass, and of submicron thickness and multimicron in lateral dimensions, a cylindrical mass of HE explosive within such hollow cylindrical mass for aerosoling such metal flakes into the atmosphere, and having HE explosive percussisvely activating detonator means, a launch propulsion charge and pyrotechnic delay means between the propulsion charge and the HE explosive detonator.

Abstract: A visual and infrared screening cloud is formed, comprised of an aerosol of fine metal flakes of copper composition, particularly brass, in which the flakes are of submicron thickness and multimicron lateral face dimensions. The cloud is formed by aerosoling a compact generally cohesive mass of copper composition metal flakes of submicron thickness and multimicron lateral dimensions through the action of explosively bursting such compact mass in the atmosphere at the desired cloud location.

Abstract: A visual-and-infrared-screening cloud-forming product is made by forming a slurry of fine metal flakes of copper composition, particularly brass, of submicron thickness and multimicron lateral face dimensions, together with a volatile surface-wetting agent liquid, in the form of a liquid hydrocarbon, extruding and severing the extended slurry mass into small segments, drying the small segments, placing the small segments into a desired container shape and crushing such segments in place and into such shape, in particular in a hollow cylindrical shape. An HE explosive mass is inserted into the resulting compacted hollow cylinder, enabling bursting of the compacted mass.

Abstract: A vibratory feeder arrangement includes a top segment removably connected to a bottom feed segment through a quick-release hinge arrangement, in which the hinge is freely movable when the top segment is disposed at angular positions away from its closed position, but which hinge has levered zero lash in the closed position of the top segment, with a suitable quick-release locking or clamping device for locking the top segment in effectively closed position. The arrangement also provides for levered zero lash between interengaging parts-guiding or retainer elements secured to the hinged bottom and top segments. A rigid zero-lash vibratory feeder is effected which enables an improved life span and less maintenance under the severe vibration encountered with vibratory feeders.

Abstract: A communication system and method is provided, in which synchronous (i.e., clocked) serial digital data may be sent and received from any given node to any other given node along a multinode loop of any desired mode quantity, with each node being capable of and maintained ready to assume the role and function of master node to provide the time-base or master clock for the loop. One node will serve as master node and all other nodes as slave nodes until the master becomes inoperable in its master clock function or until it is removed from the loop, at which time another node will assume the role of master node, and this status will continue as above-indicated. Small loop size is accommodated by adding a suitable delay to retransmitted data at the master node.

Abstract: A solar energy concentrating and collecting arrangement in which a plurality of laterally adjacent partial cylindrical oblong concave reflector-concentrators form the roof of a house, school or other building, particularly a heat utilization building, with a corresponding plurality of ganged movable collectors movably supported in spaced relation above and along the length of the oblong roof/reflectors. Each roof/reflector-concentrator has at least three radii, for enabling accommodation of wide variations of the sun angles during the various seasons of the year and during each day of a given season, while still affording a desired concentration of solar energy on the collector. The roof/reflector-concentrators are preferably substantially symmetrical in curvature and width about a vertical central plane, and face vertically upward to form an inverted modified cycloid-like surface.

Abstract: A multiple reflector solar energy reflecting arrangement has a pair of concavely arcuate reflectors constructed for side-by-side interlocking relation, the adjacent sides of the reflectors having respective interfitting connectors thereon, the connector on one of the reflectors being a male connector unit and the connector on the other reflector being a female connector unit.

Abstract: A portable length probe having a length measuring wheel with light transmission holes at equally spaced angular intervals thereon, which wheel is rotatably mounted in an integral one piece nose body having a photo-responsive element and a light-emitting element disposed in aligned facing relation in a common bore formed in the nose body transverse to the wheel. The photo-responsive element is an infrared sensitive photo-transistor and the light emitting element is an infrared light emitting diode (LED), and both are encased in cylindrical opaque cases which fit in generally complementary sliding relation within the bore, the cases each having an optically open end facing one another. Increased accuracy is provided by employing frequency doubler circuitry in conjunction with the wheel, in which the wheel light transmission holes are substantially uniform in angular width and are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to such hole angular width.

Abstract: A tracked vehicle having propulsion imparted by two driven continuous tracks, with a plurality of suspension arms each carrying a road wheel for engagement of the lower traction run of the respective track, and one or more of the suspension arms for each track also carrying a respective return roller for engaging and supporting the return run of the respective track.