Abstract: The present invention pertains to a commutator containing a semiconductor operable with unidirectional current and bidirectional voltage and with controlled interruption and automatic ignition, and in which a semiconductor device with controlled commutation is utilized. In accordance with the invention, the commutator includes a logic gate (61) having an input which, when the anode-to-cathode voltage of the semiconductor device (2) is below a specific positive voltage close to zero, receives a logic signal from an adapting circuit (4) connected to the semiconductor anode. The other input of the logic gate receives a control logic signal, and the output of the gate is connected to another adapting circuit (5) which converts the logic signal output by the logic gate into a suitable control signal which is transmitted to a the control terminal of the semiconductor device (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to supplying a load either from a direct-current source or from an alternating-current source. The power unit, according to the invention, is characterized in that it consists of a single conversion unit (CV) having unidirectional semi-conductor power components forming switches (I1, I2, I3, I4) controlled in appropriate fashion by a logic control in such a manner as to ensure the functioning of the conversion unit (CV) either in a chopper mode, or in a rectifier mode when the load functions to draw power, or to ensure energy regeneration when the load functions in a generating mode. The present invention has application particularly for supplying direct-current motors used in dual-current railroad locomotives.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with a novel technique for achieving higher switching speeds than emitter-open switching, with lower forward voltage drops particularly for very high current applications and at lower cost, and with freedom from reverse biased secondary breakdown, through utilizing a relatively standard base drive configuration for the bipolar transistor, GTO or similar semi-conductor switching device(s) but with the connection of a diode from the emitter to ground, with the diode cathode being grounded, and with a high base drive which, together with low inductance in the connection between the emitter and the diode anode ensures against forward biasing of the diode during the turn-off period.

Abstract: The invention involves an "AND" logic circuit with built-in safety comprising a first and a second input to which pulses can be applied, and respectively tied to the base of a first and a second transistor (1,2) each having a collector to which a reference voltage (5) is applied by means of a corresponding resistance (6,7), and comprising, in addition, a third transistor (3) having its base tied to ground by means of the secondary winding (15) of a transformer whose transforming ratio is less than unity, its collector tied to the positive terminal of the d.c. voltage supply by means of a resistance (13), and its emitter having the reference voltage (5) applied thereto. According to the invention, the first transistor (1) has its emitter tied by means of a first diode (8) and its collector tied by means of a capacitor (9) to ground, whereas the second transistor (2) has its emitter directly tied and its collector tied by means of a branch comprising a capacitor (10) and a second diode (11) in series to ground.

Abstract: In electrical apparatus of the type having a column of stacked semiconductors and interposed heat sinks mounted between a pair of end plates, a precalibrated clamping element is provided for applying a predetermined clamping force to one end of the column to secure the column between the end plates. A hollow cylindrical body of the clamping element threads into one of the end plates and houses a spring which has been placed in precalibrated compression by a press. The spring is retained in a precalibrated state between a shoulder portion of a piston within the body and a fixed inner surface of the body. A cap is secured to an end of the body and is positioned to abut the shoulder to retain the spring in the precalibrated state.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an elastic supported mechanism consisting of an elastomer ring in which are arranged rigid intercalated rings adhering to the elastomer and capable in particular of being mounted in series with a helical spring, notably in a railroad bogie side suspension.The mechanism is characterized by the fact that it comprises, in the center of the bore (14) of the elastomer ring, a central plug (2) whose outer surface (24) is separated, in the absence of pressure, from the elastomer surface of the bore of the ring and is capable of progressively coming into contact with the aforesaid elastomer surface of the bore when the ring is subjected to an increasing horizontal pressure.

Abstract: This disclosure involves an electron-beam permeable window assembly or cassette mounted in a frame readily insertable and removable from an electron-beam generator housing and, upon insertion, sealable thereto and to pathways carrying materials to be electron-beam irradiated through the window.

Abstract: A cervical mucus extractor embodying a semi-flexible hemispherical cup carried at the end of a tube for insertion into the vagina to position the cup over the cervix, with a plunger extending coaxially within the tube and terminating in a tip that, by operation of the plunger, is inserted through the cup into contact with cervical mucus, the same being removable therefrom to extract the desired sample of such mucus, as for testing.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with providing metallic articles, such as cutting and drilling tools, gears, bearings and other structures subject to wear in use, with wear-resisting coatings adhered at desired surfaces thereof, preferably in the form of a thin, generally fractional mil, nickel-boron porous deposit within the voids and over the surface of which a molten mixture of soft metal and organic plastic material of low friction coefficient has been adhered. Improved properties are imparted by cryogenic treatment.

Abstract: A safety device to be applied to the vertical displacement of, for example, the control rods of a nuclear reactor, comprises the combination of a stator placed on the outside upper part of an impervious, nonmagnetic cylinder within the inside of which a rotor is mounted about its shaft, free in axial translation, with the shaft rotatable with the rotor but fixed in translation, and with the rotation of the shaft transferred to a hollow threaded rod which will transfer rotation to a nut slidable vertically inside the cylinder, supporting the control rods therebelow; the rotor also controlling the opening and closing of a jaw for holding and releasing the hollow threaded rod.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with adapting very high-voltage, low-current, high impedance power source circuits, such as CRT anode supplies and the like, to employ the efficiency over wide input voltage ranges and other advantages, including small size, of switching-mode operation through combining variable frequency (or period) output control circuitry with resonant high-voltage transformers, wherein the transformer resonant frequency is rendered comparable to the desired range of conversion frequencies; and in which resonant flyback circuit operation drives a voltage multiplier such as to accommodate the resonance caused by the stray capacitance shunting its storage inductance.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with catalytic gas-diffusion structures such as electrodes and barriers comprising, as an integral part of a portion thereof, a non-ionic aqueous gel such as a polyvinyl alcohol, rendering said electrode impervious to gas percolation, while retaining electrolyte contact with the structures; and with methods of using said electrodes or barriers in a variety of electrochemical systems including electrolysis cells, fuel cells, batteries and others, as well as in metal-recovery systems involving no electricity.

Abstract: An anchor bolt for clamping an object tightly against a receiving surface comprises a threaded elongated anchor rod having a head, an expansion body threadedly received on the rod in spaced relation to the head, and an expansion sleeve on the expansion body that is expanded as the rod is threaded into the expansion body. The anchor rod extends through an outer sleeve between an abutment on the head and an abutment on the expansion body, and spacers, such as a coiled spring or further sleeves, are provided between the anchor rod and the outer sleeve. The bolt provides improved shear resistance and anti-vibration efficiency.

Abstract: A vertically oriented dipole antenna system for filling in overhead radiation or reception coverage with equidirectional-linear polarization (a linearly polarized field vector which lies in the plane of the system's vertical and horizontal axes) having, in combination, a balanced vertically oriented cylindrical dipole the inner adjacent ends of the elements of which are connected to supplemental conductors at points near the inner end of one element substantially ninety degrees apart along the circumference of the element and each extending outward a distance of the order of 0.15 of the wavelength of the mean frequency with which the antenna is to be operated and at an acute angle of the order of 33.degree.

Abstract: A high power window for an evacuated electron beam generator and the like which comprises one or more pluralities of conductive successive fins parallelly and closely spaced arcuately extending transversely across the electron beam foil window and held by the vacuum pressure to the inner surface thereof, with the fin cross-section preferably tapering in thickness inwardly.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with real-time high-speed inspection of objects involving storing digital signal mask information of optical scans of objects at different magnifications, but with substantially the same field of view, and comparing digital mask information obtained by run scans of objects-to-be-inspected, at different magnifications, with the stored mask information to identify known or unknown portions of the objects, with adaptability for rapid "teaching" of large sets of objects for storage and subsequent comparison with real objects under inspection.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with novel techniques and circuit configurations for rendering high gain operational amplifiers and related differencing amplifiers adaptable for use with very low impedance signal sources to permit amplification of low-power signals with ultra-low noise, high D. C. stability, high gain, and wide frequency response, through development of the signal current as a very small increment on a much larger pre-existing current forced in opposite directions through an electronic switching device connected to such amplifier and producing minimal uncorrelated noise therein.

Abstract: Television or similar picture scrambling or the like wherein narrow trapping of the visual carrier is effected with one-direction FSK-FM modulated wobbulation of the visual carrier, preferably alternately at different multiples of the horizontal synchronizing frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and individually dispensing cans or other similarly shaped objects. The apparatus is of tubular construction with a resilient dispensing-type outlet in the form of a slot near the lower portion of the tube to allow a can to be removed. A stop member is provided in the tube interior opposite the slot to contact the can between the center of gravity and the edge of the can to tilt the can forward in the slot.

Abstract: A technique for voice or other similar communication signal storage (such as recording) and forwarding (such as playback) enables simultaneous access to multiple users through use of first-in-first-out memories (FIFO), microprocessor-controlled to fill intermediate memory RAMs at irregular intervals and to transfer the contents thereof to main memory RAMs for ultimate segmented disc recording, with playback therefrom also microprocessor-controlled at irregular intervals to transfer back recorded data in block form through the main memory RAMs and appropriate intermediate memory RAMs and FIFO memories associated with an appropriate playback channel or user. The various data transfers are controlled to avoid delays in the played back messages, succeeding segments of data being transferred to intermediate memory RAMs by the time the transfer of the previous segment is complete, thereby insuring continuity of communication.