Abstract: An improved apparatus and method is disclosed for use in a system for growing a hollow tubular body of crystalline material by growing the body from the end of a die member, whereby the hollow tubular body can be cut lengthwise along predetermined lines of the body to provide separate crystalline bodies. The apparatus comprises means (preferably in the form of notches provided in the die end of the die member from which the hollow body is grown) for concentrating stress in the hollow tubular body along the predetermined lines as the body is pulled from the die end. The method comprises the steps of (a) growing the tube from a die end of a die member so that stress is concentrated in the tube along predetermined lines as the tube is grown; and (b) cutting the tube along the predetermined lines so as to separate the hollow tube into the plurality of bodies of the crystalline material.

Abstract: An improved takeup spindle for automatic cassette loading machines is provided. The takeup spindle comprises a shaft having at least a pair of slots therein, a pair of dogs in the slots, means pivotally connecting the dogs to the shaft, and ring means establishing an outer limit position for the dogs.

Abstract: This invention describes a hand held paint sprayer that mixes paint products from at least two reservoirs, then combines the mixture with a pressurized gas source for propelling the mixed paint through a nozzle outlet. The spray gun incorporates a regulator for varying the amount of one product with respect to the other between 0% and 100%.

Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application an apparatus and method for initiating the winding of a magnetic tape cartridge or cassette which is largely closed except for a relatively small opening which is closed at the end of the winding operation by a leader block secured to the trailing end of the tape and snapped into the opening. The present apparatus includes a vertically reciprocable finger having two sets of perforations to which a vacuum source is connected for attracting the tape temporarily and holding a leading end of the tape to be wound. The upper set of perforations is switchable between a connection with a vacuum source and one with a source of pressurized air. The leading end of the tape is first adhered to the finger by vacuum and a small quantity of water, as small as a single drop, is deposited on the leading end portion of the tape while the finger lies outside the cassette.

Abstract: An interosseous wiring system comprising a wire having an enlargement formed on the leading end thereof and a threading tool, said threading tool having means for attaching said enlargement to the front tip of said tool, in order that said wire may be threaded through a hole by passing the front tip of said tool through said hole, attaching the wire to said tool, and thereinafter withdrawing said front tip of said tool back through said hole, thereby carrying the leading end of said wire back through said hole.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for actuating a suction workholder having a hollow piston slidably mounted in a hollow cylinder. A suction cup is mounted on a distal end of the piston and is in pneumatic communication with a proximal end of said piston via the interior of the piston. A housing defining a vacuum plenum is so attached to the cylinder as to permit pneumatic communication between the plenum and the proximal end of said piston. The improvement resides in a unique positioning of ports and apertures which create pneumatic pressure differentials causing movement of the piston. The use of a biasing spring is not required.

Abstract: An improved sputtering apparatus is provided in which the target assembly is a plurality of permanent magnets, e.g., samarium cobalt magnets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a track circuit for AC electrified railways, formed by the two rails (R.sub.1,R.sub.2) of a railway section and comprising a transmitter (E) connected to one end of the track circuit for generating therein an alternating signal of given frequency and a receiver (R) connected to the other end for controlling the operation of a track relay (RV). A number of capacitive impedances (Z.sub.1,Z.sub.2, . . . Z.sub.n) with parallel inductance and capacitor (each having a middle point (3) connected to the ground) are connected between the rails (R.sub.1,R.sub.2) while being spaced apart over the whole length of the track circuit with a given pitch (P), depending on the values of the impedances, so that the transmission attenuation of the circuit at the operating frequency is always less than the transmission attenuation of a circuit having the same length formed by a rail with ground return.

Abstract: An improved vibration-responsive device is provided for monitoring the condition of a selected apparatus. The improved device is adapted to be mounted to the selected apparatus and comprises a vibration-responsive transducer capable of generating an electrical output signal when the transducer is subjected to vibrations or shock, an auxiliary transducer capable of producing mechanical vibrations in response to an input electrical signal, and means mounting said auxiliary transducer in force-transmitting relation to the vibration-responsive transducer. The device is adapted to be connected to (1) a monitoring system for monitoring the electrical output of the vibration-responsive transducer (the "primary transducer") and (2) means for selectively energizing the auxiliary transducer with an externally generated test signal. When the auxiliary transducer is energized by the test signal, it will cause the associated primary transducer to vibrate.

Abstract: A method for electrically interconnecting a plurality of solar cells in series using a multi-faced drum, a first bus spool having an associated first bus strip, and a second bus spool having an associated second bus strip, wherein the method involves placing a solar cell on the then-current top face of the drum so that its top electrode underlies the first bus strip and its bottom electrode overlies the second bus strip, indexing the drum forward one face as the first bus spool is lowered and the second bus spool is raised, placing a new solar cell on the then-current top face of the drum so that its top electrode underlies the second bus strip and its bottom electrode overlies the first bus strip, indexing the drum forward another face as the first bus spool is raised and the second bus spool is lowered, and continuing the foregoing process as desired to interweave the first and second bus strips between additional solar cells.

Abstract: There is disclosed in the present application an apparatus for staking to a leader block the trailing end of a length of magnetic tape wound on a reel of a substantially closed cartridge. The leader block is sized and shaped to fit into and close an opening in the wall of the cartridge and later when the cartridge is in use to provide a means by which the tape may be grasped to be withdrawn from the cartridge. The present apparatus is mounted on a movable platform which permits its withdrawal to a retracted loading position out of the way of a cartridge loading or winding operation. In its retracted position, the apparatus is provided with a short length of rod to be used later for securing the trailing end to the block by staking the rod length with the tape end into an appropriately sized slot in the leader block.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for calibrating an adaptive ranging A/D converter wherein a noise having known statistical properties is deliberately superposed on the reference DC signals used to calibrate the gain-ranging amplifier. The amplitude of the noise is chosen to be greater than at least one, and preferably several, least significant digits of the A/D converter at the lowest anticipated gain, yet preferably less than half the counting range of the converter at the highest gain. The reference DC signal levels are chosen to be spaced from the minimum and maximum count of the A/D at the lowest and highest anticipated gains by better than half the noise amplitude. A time average of a series of measurements of the noisy reference signals as amplified and digitized by the system are obtained.

Abstract: A solar cell fabrication procedure is described which is characterized by (1) forming a front surface mask in the configuration of the front surface electrodes, (2) a passivation step which, inter alia, results in the formation of an altered silicon substrate surface layer in the areas not covered by the front surface mask, (3) removal of the front surface mask, and (4) the use of the altered surface layer as a plating mask for subsequent metallization steps.

Abstract: A constant velocity coupling characterized by a hub made of a rigid material, a plurality of torque transmitting elements made of a rigid material, and elastomeric sections connecting the hub and the torque transmitting elements. The coupling consists of a female half and a male half and offers the advantage that the two halves may be molded in a single cavity mold, with the mating portions characteristic of the male half being added after the molding has been accomplished.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for minimizing the transmission of vibrations from a vibratory source through a pair of shafts to a handle mounted transversely to the shafts. The handle is mounted to the shafts through resilient, elastomeric, hourglass-shaped shock absorbers. The mass of the handle and the spring stiffness of the shock absorbers are selected to provide the handle with a characteristic frequency (F.sub.c) such that F.sub.s >.sqroot.2 F.sub.c. To limit axial deflection of the shock absorbers when transverse forces are applied to the handle, each of the elastomeric elements is mounted between and inside a respective pair of nested cups having their open ends facing one another, one cup of each pair being connected to the handle and the other cup of each pair being connected to a shaft.

Abstract: A solar cell fabrication procedure is described which is characterized by (1) removal of the front surface electrode plating mask after preliminary metallization of the front surface electrodes, (2) a passivation step which, inter alia, results in the formation of an altered silicon substrate surface layer, and (3) use of the altered surface layer as a plating mask for subsequent metallization steps involving, for example, immersion plating of nickel and immersion plating or electroplating of copper.