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: 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: 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: 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 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 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 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.

Abstract: An adjustable height table comprising a telescoping table support assembly including stationary and movable posts interconnected in telescoping relationship to one another and positionable by a drive screw and a captive nut. The screw is mounted for rotation about its own axis, and is secured against translation along its axis, relative to one of the posts (preferably, the fixed post) such that its axis of rotation is roughly parallel the direction of the telescoping motion between the two posts. The nut is secured against rotation as the screw is rotated. The nut is provided with a female connection dimensioned to loosely captivate a pin secured to the other post (e.g., in the preferred embodiment, the movable post) so as to be roughly normal to the axis of rotation of the screw. Preferably, the bearing surface between the nut and the pin is minimized and restricted to a region of the nut proximate the surface of the screw.

Abstract: A novel winding or takeup mechanism is disclosed for use in a machine for automatically loading tape into empty cassettes containing leaders, i.e., C-zero cassettes. The novel winding or takeup mechanism, which provides extended machine life and faster machine operation, comprises an arrangement whereby an electric motor drive operates to rotate a takeup spindle adapted to drivingly engage a hub or spool of an empty cassette in loading position. The spindle is coupled to the output shaft of the takeup motor by a telescoping coupling arrangement whereby the spindle can be reciprocated axially into and out of driving engagement with a hub or spool of a cassette disposed in loading position without interfering with rotation of the spindle by the motor output shaft. A pneumatically operated yoke is employed to accomplish axial reciprocation of the spindle while a separate member transfers the rotational force of the electric motor output shaft to the spindle.

Abstract: An improved detector and monitor for use with the detector are disclosed for detecting and monitoring a physiological rhythmic signal. When detecting respiration the detector or the monitor is adapted to distinguish between airflow response to inhalation and airflow responsive to exhalation.

Abstract: An electro-acoustic transducer assembly includes a permanent magnet and a diaphragm having a voice coil bonded thereto. The assembly comprises a hollow casing having an opening formed in one surface thereof; a closure for covering the opening and comprising an aperture therein in which the diaphragm is mounted, and a cover mounted on one side of the closure for protecting the diaphragm, wherein the magnet is positioned on the opposite side of the closure in proximity to the voice coil on the diaphragm. The assembly also includes a latching assembly for releasably securing the closure across the opening in the casing in a latched position with the cover being positioned to the exterior of the assembly and the magnet being positioned in the casing, the latching assembly being operable by application of pressure at preselected locations on the periphery of said casing to release the closure from the latched position.

Abstract: A new drill-type cranial perforator is disclosed of the type which comprises a front drill head assembly made up of a leading inner drill and a trailing outer drill, and a rear support and drive assembly adapted to enable both drills so long as the leading inner drill is encountering a resistive surface and to disable both drills when the leading inner drill stops encountering the resistive surface.

Abstract: The invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for plasma etching a semiconductor workpiece so as to produce chamfering at the outer edges of depressions or grooves in the workpiece, e.g., depressions or grooves in a substrate or one or more layers on the substrate. The novel apparatus comprises a first gas feeder means for delivering an etchant gas at a right angle to the workpiece, and a second gas feeder means for delivering an etchant gas at an acute angle to the workpiece.