Abstract: The cross-sensitivity of a two-beam infrared gas analyzer is reduced by using two differently long cells for the sample gas in the two beam paths. The path with the short sample gas cell is intercepted by a detector cell having highly absorbing wall while the detector cell in the other path is highly reflective, e.g., made of gold. The two detector cells are interconnected by a differential pressure chamber with capacitive pickup.

Abstract: A motor-driven ball cutter is disposed in a guide member held in relation to the rotational drive axis and being suspended for pivoting on an axis traversing the rotational axis in the ball's center due to mounting of the suspension coaxially to the rotational axis by means of a handle. The guide member is provided, for example, with an arcuate, outwardly tapered slot against which bears the work. The cutting depth is adjustable.

Abstract: The switch is usable for switching currents of 40 kiloamperes at 250 kilovolts to produce current pulses a few nanoseconds in duration at kilohertz rates. In a preferred embodiment, the switch includes three independently-triggerable spark gaps which are fired in a desired predetermined sequence; for example, cyclically. The three spark gaps are cooled by parallel streams of fluid, which is supplied to the switch under pressure. Because the firing rate of each individual spark gap is limited by the time required for the fluid to sweep the ions produced by firing out of the spark gap, a threefold increase in firing rate is achieved by the preferred embodiment. In another aspect of the invention, a high-performance low-induction coaxial spark gap switch employs a hollow trigger electrode which has a hole in its wall so that the fluid can flow along both its inner and outer surfaces to cool and clean them.

Abstract: A continuous process for applying a solder coating to copper-coated holes and tracks on a printed circuit board. The upper surface of the circuit board having a flux thereon is contacted with a contact member and the circuit board and contact member are moved through a molten bath of solder. Solder is displaced by the circuit board to produce a buoyant force which presses the circuit board against the contact member. The speed of the contact member in moving through the molten solder is controlled to determine dwell time of the circuit board and maintain contact between the circuit board and the contact member.An apparatus for continuously applying a solder coating to copper-coated holes and tracks on a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes means to contain a bath of molten solder and means to contact the upper surface of a printed circuit board.

Abstract: Iron powder of high compressibility and low bulk density is made by atomizing a stream of molten steel by means of a conical jet of water at a rate in excess of 10 cubic meters water per metric ton of steel, the half cone angle is between 40.degree. and 60.degree., preferably 45.degree.; and air suction is provided in a region upstream from the cone, adjacent to the stream at a pressure of 0.02 to 0.20 bars below ambient, by means of a length adjustable tube extending down from the nozzle chamber. The powder is reduced at 1,000.degree. C. to 1,200.degree. C., and the resulting cake is broken up to obtain a powder having a particle size distribution with a higher content of larger particles than the powder immediately resulting from the atomization.

Abstract: An anchor of the butterfly type for selectively connecting a strap, rope, chain, cable, or other device to a slotted cargo track includes two identical halves unattached to each other. Each half includes a back plate from which a foot extends under a flange on the track. The back plate is thicker than the foot. In one embodiment, lateral motion of the anchor within the track is limited by the edges of the slot in the track, while in another embodiment lateral motion of the anchor within the track is limited by contact of the toe of the foot against an undercut portion of the track underlying one of the flanges of the track. A pedestal arising from the foot engages one of the concave portions of the edge of a flange of the track to limit movement of the anchor along the track.

Abstract: A separation device, comprising an assembly of substantially parallel corrugated plates arranged in a basin at an angle with the horizontal plane, defining therebetween separation passages through which the liquid to be treated is passed as a flow crossing the corrugation axes, so that the components separated from said flow will be removed between the corrugations and transversely to the liquid flow, and shielded from the latter by said corrugations, towards discharge passages at an extremity of said plates, in which passages guiding baffles are provided for suppressing short-circuit flows past the plate assembly. The improvement is that the plates extend up to the lateral walls of the basin, contacting the wall in question in alternating extreme points of the corrugations, the intermediate extreme points in which the separated components are being discharged remaining at a distance from said wall thus providing discharge passages, the guiding baffles being provided in at least a part of the latter.

Abstract: An articulator for interconnecting front and rear chassis portions of a vehicle including a horizontal coupling assembly permitting relative pivoting of the front and rear portions of the vehicle about a generally horizontal axis. The horizontal axis passes longitudinally through the center of a pair of cylindrical mounting sleeves. A pair of insert enclosures each extend about respective cylindrical mounting sleeves and are concentric therewith. The mounting sleeves are connected to one of the vehicle portions while the insert enclosures are connected to a frame member which, in turn, is connected to another of the vehicle portions. There is a resilient insert fitted between the cylindrical mounting sleeve and the pair of insert enclosures.

Abstract: A flexible concave reflector having a solar energy absorbing means at the focus is maintained in its concave shape by an inflatable cushion on the convex surface and by a donut shaped chamber about the periphery of the reflector. The donut shaped chamber is maintained at high pressure and makes the entire structure lighter-than-air so that it may float above ground. The cushion is maintained at a low pressure and may be formed of a plurality of chambers. Additional support structure can be provided as disclosed.

Abstract: A printer has a set of display wheels and print wheels on a common shaft for individual coupling to that shaft so that one display wheel and one print wheel at a time is rotationally adjusted, the selection of the wheel pair depends upon the axial disposition of the shaft. Particular structure is provided to hold wheels not to be turned in that fashion.

Abstract: A voice coil type linear motor controls the movement and positioning of a transducer which cooperates with a spinning disk. The motor is feedback controlled for separate speed (seek) and positioning modes in which respectively the transducer is moved across the disk towards a different track and is held centered above that track. In order to offset the effect of a tilted axis of carriage movement, the control condition in the positioning mode representing a correct transducer position in which it is held by the motor, is continuously sampled and held during a period when the transducer is moved to another track to be applied as correction for the control moving the transducer towards another track. This correction signal is also used in the initial phases of holding the transducer above the newly selected track, until sampling and positioning control proper takes over.

Abstract: An electronic system especially advantageous for use in a shooting gallery of the type in which the guns project beams of light instead of bullets employs an electronically gated target polling systems to enable each fired gun to be credited unambiguously with a score based on which target, if any, is struck by the gun fired. All the photosensors on the targets are polled during a particular very short time interval after any of the guns has been triggered; extraneous light occurring at other times is not registered. When a gun is fired, the system initiates generation of cosmetic action such as recoil, simulated explosion, and ricochet sound, and the system decrements a rounds remaining counter. When a target hit is registered, the system initiates target effects, and increments a score counter associated with the gun fired by a target-dependent amount. A large number of guns and targets can be accommodated.

Abstract: At the end of a downwardly slanted track, a duct of S-shaped cross section is provided to receive tubes and rods. The duct wall members are cushioned and can be tilted apart; belts are disposed across the bottom of the duct and are gradually released to form receiving loops which increase in size accordingly, for holding and bundling the tubes or rods.

Abstract: A process for producing a fruit preparation from a natural fruit juice, the process comprises removing water from the juice by flowing the juice on a heated, reciprocable, inclinable surface to reduce the water content to 10 to 25% by volume. A crystalline modifying agent is then added to the product. The modifying agent and the product are then blended while heating them. The heating and blending is continued until the water content of the product is in the range of 1 to 15% by volume. An apparatus for producing the preparation is described. The apparatus has a concentrator pivotably mounted at about its center. An end of the vessel can be raised and lowered to reciprocate the vessel about the pivotable mount. The vessel is heated and has a closable outlet at each end. Extractors for vapor produced from the fruit juice heated in the first vessel are provided and blender means to blend the material produced on the concentrator with an added material.

Abstract: A tubular cutter with flared end and circular edge is obliquely held and centered by resilient guide elements, one in line (axially) with the edge, the other one acting radially opposite and axially between the first one and the edge. The edge has a larger diameter than the cutter is long (axially), and the latter has its interior contoured for smooth burr removal.

Abstract: A device for obtaining a culture sample from a particular location in a body passage while avoiding contamination of the sample by materials located elsewhere in the body passage includes a stiff flexible tube. A sleeve of pliant waterproof material surrounds the tube and the distal end of the sleeve is tucked into the distal end of the tube. A bag of pliant waterproof material is bonded to the outside surface of the sleeve to form a waterproof seal extending all around the sleeve, the bag enclosing the distal end of the tube and the distal end of the sleeve. The bag has a limited burst strength and is broken after the distal end has been emplaced at a particular pre-sampling level to expose the sterile sleeve that was tucked into the tube. As the tube is inserted a short distance further, the portion of the sleeve that was tucked into the tube everts out of the distal end of the tube to form a sterile curtain surrounding the distal end of the tube and protecting it from contamination.

Abstract: A metalized plastic foil is demetalized along an edge by means of a rotating, narrow steel disk whose periphery has been roughened by means of sandblasting or electroerosion.

Abstract: A plug for female contacts is comprised of a control carrier member with hinged interlocking parts for sealingly gripping the inserted conductor ends of a cable. The interlocked parts and adjacent conductor portions are molded in a plastic body.

Abstract: A hook secured to the end of a rope for attaching that rope to a rod, a staple, or another rope includes the usual parts such as a shank portion by which the hook is pulled in a longitudinal direction, a reverse portion extending in the direction of pulling and terminating in a tip, and a mid portion extending laterally to one side of the reverse portion and connecting the shank and the reverse portion, and in accordance with the present invention the hook further includes a novel protrusion extending from the shank portion or from the mid portion, the protrusion being spaced from the reverse portion and extending longitudinally in a direction opposite the direction of pulling and terminating in an end portion located laterally on the opposite side of the reverse portion from the mid portion.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing hydrazine and hydrogen peroxide employing water, hydrogen, and nitrogen as reactants.