Abstract: An electrical contact pair for use in a programmed socket, a programmed socket using the contact pair and a method of making such a socket are disclosed. The programmed socket includes a printed circuit board with tracings for transposing pin positions between the input and output sides of the socket. The tracings end in pairs of terminal pads located on opposite sides of the printed circuit board. Each contact pair includes a pair of bases to be soldered to respective terminal pads and a male contact extending from one base and a female contact from the other base. The two bases are at least temporarily interconnected by an arcuate resilient strip which causes the bases to grip the terminal pads. This facilitates assembly and soldering since the contact pair will remain in position without additional support. Further the strip serves to position the contact pair accurately with respect to the edge of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: Briefly, a liquid crystal material composition has a low, preferably zero or near zero, birefringence characteristic. Such material is mixed with a quantity of pleochroic dye to form a solution therewith to increase absorption characteristics and is encapsulated; and such encapsulated material may be used as an optical light control device or optical shutter in which light intensity may be controlled without distorting or at least without substantially distorting the optical image transmitted therethrough.

Abstract: A fluid servo actuator control/damping mechanism and method which utilize and combine the functions of an electro-mechanically driven servo valve to achieve ram or actuator fluid flow and load control even after loss of fluid power as well as the main ram position control function under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A plug and filter assembly for a paint sprayer is characterized by a hand turnable knob that is rotatably coupled to a sealing plug to reduce the torque needed to install or remove the assembly from a paint head by axially advancing the plug into or out of an O-ring seal without having to turn the plug in the O-ring. The rotatable coupling is effected by a fastener having a head and a cylindrical shank portion which is received in an oversized central axial bore in the knob. The cylindrical shank portion has a diameter greater than that of a threaded end portion of the fastener secured in the plug and thus defines a shoulder which engages an axial end face of the plug positively to fix the axial spacing between the fastener head and plug to a distance greater than the axial length of a portion of the knob axially trapped between the fastener head and plug for free nonbinding rotation of the knob.

Abstract: An ejector device which comprises a housing and a number of ejector nozzles positioned in partitions between successive suction chamber is produced by making the housing, producing suction chambers in the latter, forming communication opening between successive chambers, drilling holes through the walls of the housing and the partitions, inserting ejection nozzles into the holes in the partitions, providing flaps to cover the communication opening and closing the housing with a top cover.

Abstract: Landing gear mechanism includes a built-in hydraulic actuator which may be actuated to provide a heavy load range, soft spring rate during take-off with a heavy take-off weight and a lower load range, softer spring rate after take-off and prior to landing with a lighter landing weight to yield more shock strut stroke for a given range of vertical load during landing. A special taxi valve allows for some fluid to bypass the main orifice more freely to and from the lower piston damping chamber to the shock strut air-oil chamber as soon as the landing energy stroke is complete to greatly reduce or eliminate high damping loads that might otherwise take place as the gear negotiates bumps. Such a valve may automatically be set to close for landing by the action of the gear extension during a subsquent take-off, thus reactivating the main orifice.

Abstract: A heater system having improved efficiency and performance embodies air and fuel regulator valves, water and air supply jackets, and flow directors for the hot combustion gas generated by the heater burner which gas passes through a central flue in a water storage tank and is then exhausted through an exhaust vent to atmosphere. The air and fuel regulator valves are non-electrically controlled and are responsive to water demand requirement for improved heater efficiency and performance. The water supply jacket closely surrounds the central flue and receives supply water at the top thereof and discharges same to the bottom of the storage tank thereby increasing the heat transfer characteristics of the heater. The air supply jacket surrounds the exhaust vent and air is drawn in through the top of the jacket along the exhaust vent for preheating and then is directed to the burner to support combustion.