Abstract: A hub for use in and as part of a wheel support assembly adapted to bolt to the end plate of an axle of a vehicle for supporting a tire is disclosed herein along with the wheel support assembly itself. The hub is configured as a plurality of bars which are connected together to form a hub body. This hub body defines a common center point and a contact face. The contact face is where the hub is in contact with the axle end plate when the device is mounted to a vehicle. Each of the bars has on one side a contact surface, and a through hole for receiving an axle lug bolt. The contact surface on each of the bars has a curved shape on its outwardly most extending end, the curvature of which is defined by a radius less than the distance between the common center point of the hub body and the outwardly most extending end of the bars.

Abstract: A method of producing a comestible and associated apparatus are disclosed. A baking mixture is prepared having a moisture content. A mold arrangement is then provided having a mold cavity which is sealable from ambient pressure. The baking mixture is placed in the mold cavity and the mold cavity is then sealed. Thereafter, the mold arrangement is heated with the baking mixture therein such that pressure in the mold cavity rises above ambient pressure and a substantial portion of the moisture content in the baking mixture remains in the mold cavity as the baking mixture heats to form the comestible. In one aspect, the baking mixture is formulated to have a density which is approximately equal to the desired density of the comestible to be produced. Thereafter, the mold cavity of the mold arrangement is substantially filled with the density controlled baking mixture.

Abstract: Arrangements and associated methods are described for providing an isolated electrically conductive path in a system in which a boring tool is moved through the ground in a region. The system includes a drill rig and a drill string which is connected between a boring tool, or other in-ground device, and the drill. The drill string is made up of a plurality of electrically conductive drill pipe sections, each of which includes a section length and all of which are configured for removable attachment with one another to facilitate the extension and retraction of the drill string by one section length at a time.

Abstract: A system for producing modulated light is disclosed. The system comprises a spatial light modulator including a light modulating medium switchable between different states so as to act on light in ways which form overall patterns of modulated light. The system also includes an arrangement for switching the modulating medium between the different states in a controlled way and an illumination arrangement for producing a source of light. The system further includes an optics arrangement for directing light from the source of light into the spatial light modulator and for directing light from the spatial light modulator through a predetermined source imaging area. The optics arrangement cooperates with the illumination arrangement and the spatial light modulator so as to produce a real image of the source of light within the source imaging area such that an individual is able to view a virtual image of the overall patterns of modulated light from the source imaging area.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for tracking and/or guiding an underground boring tool are disclosed. Each system or arrangement uses one or more detectors to measure the intensity of an electromagnetic field which is transmitted from an underground boring tool. The measured intensities may then be used to determine the location of the boring tool. In a dead reckoning embodiment of the invention, one detector may be employed while, in a position determination embodiment, two or more detectors may be employed. In any embodiment, physically measurable parameters may be used in addition to measured magnetic intensities. A highly advantageous mapping tool instrument and a cubic antenna are disclosed. The former for use in the position determination embodiment and the latter for use in any magnetic field detector employed herein.

Abstract: A reflection mode, ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulating system, includes a light reflecting type spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator has a light reflecting surface cooperating with a layer of ferroelectric liquid crystal light modulating medium switchable between first and second states so as to act on light in different first and second ways, respectively. A switching arrangement switches the liquid crystal light modulating medium between the first and second states and an illumination arrangement produces a source of light.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a subsurface region by separating/enhancing a certain type of seismic event data of interest from an overall set of seismic event data which includes other, different types of seismic event data is disclosed herein. In accordance with one feature, a particular type of gather is generated from the seismic event data such that the gather includes at least a portion of the data which is of interest and at least a portion of the other data. A series of data discrimination lines are incorporated into the gather at positions and directions which are established in the gather in a predetermined way. Using the data discrimination lines, the data of interest which is present in the gather is separated/enhanced with respect to the other data within the gather. The separated data may be used for example in producing a map of the particular subterranean region.

Abstract: A method is disclosed as part of an overall process in which a boring tool is moved through the ground within a given region along a particular path in an orientation which includes pitch. A locating signal is transmitted from the boring tool which signal exhibits a field defined forward point within a reference surface which field defined forward point is vertically above an inground forward point on the particular path through which the boring tool is likely to pass. The method establishes a predicted depth of the boring tool at the inground forward point by first identifying the field defined forward point. The signal strength of the locating signal is then measured at the field defined forward point as being representative of the depth of the boring tool at an inground upstream point which is the current location of the boring tool. With the boring tool at the upstream inground point, the pitch of the boring tool is determined.

Abstract: An antenna member, associated orthogonal antenna arrangement and method are disclosed. The antenna member is configured such that an orthogonal antenna arrangement may utilize two or three identical ones of the disclosed antenna member. Accordingly, the antenna member includes a support member defining a through hole which includes a predetermined configuration. Furthermore, an arrangement of conductive members is supported by the support member and surrounds the through hole such that an antenna pattern is defined along an axis which extends through the through hole. The predetermined configuration of the through hole is such that a two orthogonal axis antenna subassembly may be formed by receiving a first one of the antenna members in the predetermined configuration of the through hole of a second one of the antenna members in a way which arranges the axes of the first and second antenna members orthogonally with respect to one another.

Abstract: A method for producing high vertical resolution seismic images from crosswell data is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a set of vertically spaced, generally horizontally extending continuous layers and associated nodes are defined within a region between two boreholes. The specific number of nodes is selected such that the value of a particular characteristic of the subterranean region at each of the nodes is one which can be determined from the seismic data. Once values are established at the nodes, values of the particular characteristic are assigned to positions between the node points of each layer based on the values at node within that layer and without regard to the values at node points within any other layer. A seismic map is produced using the node values and the assigned values therebetween. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an approximate model of the region is established using direct arrival traveltime data.

Abstract: A single mode laser implementation and associated method are disclosed. The laser may accommodate a frequency multiplying material to provide an intracavity doubled single frequency laser. The laser implementation includes an input mirror and an output mirror defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors. A lasant material is positioned in the light path for lasing at a desired fundamental wavelength and possibly other, unwanted wavelengths. A first birefringent member is also positioned in the light path for refracting in different directions the different wavelengths of light which are present along the path.

Abstract: A two-mode, amplitude-stable laser is disclosed which provides two-mode operation (i.e., two fundamental lasing modes of similar, but distinct frequencies), resulting in low noise output at harmonic frequencies of the fundamental mode frequencies. An associated method is also disclosed. A nonlinear material is positioned in the path of lasing light for converting light from fundamental frequencies to particular harmonic frequencies of those fundamental frequencies such that the fundamental frequencies incur a nonlinear loss. The nonlinear material establishes the nonlinear loss at a level which is greater than the linear loss within the cavity such that two of the fundamental frequencies lase while unwanted fundamental frequencies are extinguished. A two-mode criterion is introduced which ensures two-mode laser operation. A stability criterion is also introduced which cooperates with the two-mode criterion in a way which provides a high level of beam output intensity stability.

Abstract: An intracavity doubled single longitudinal mode laser is disclosed which provides stable (i.e., low amplitude variation in its output beam intensity), efficient operation. An associated method is also disclosed. The laser includes an input mirror and an output mirror defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors. The output mirror is configured to be substantially transparent to an output wavelength produced within the cavity. A lasant material is positioned in the light path for producing light at a desired fundamental wavelength and possibly other, unwanted wavelengths. Polarizing element and a type I doubling material are also positioned in the light path. During operation of the laser, the polarizing element polarizes the desired fundamental wavelength as well as the unwanted wavelengths of light produced by the lasant material. The type I doubling material then produces output wavelengths at twice the frequency of any wavelengths passing therethrough.

Abstract: A laser includes a pumping light source for producing a pumping beam and a laser resonator having an input mirror optically coupled to the pumping light source for receiving the pumping beam. The laser resonator also includes an output mirror, a lasant material, and a nonlinear optical material. The nonlinear optical material is placed inside the laser cavity and configured as a half-wave plate or a multiple of a half-wave plate at a first given fundamental lasing wavelength. The lasant material is placed against or near the input mirror of the laser resonator and oscillates in response to the pumping beam so as to generate a fundamental wave including (i) two substantially orthogonal linearly polarized modes at wavelengths at and/or about the first given wavelength, (ii) an additional mode at and/or about a second given wavelength that is relatively close to but different from the first given wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a locator/monitor capable of locating a boring tool and monitoring the progress of the tool for control purposes. The locator/monitor may be used in expedited locating methodology and straightforward calibration techniques of the present invention. A durable and cost effective pitch sensor is also provided by the present invention. In addition, the present invention provides a slotted transmitter housing formed of an electrically conductive material, where the magnetic field generated by the transmitter is capable of penetrating to the surface.

Abstract: A single mode laser implementation and associated method are disclosed. The laser may accommodate a frequency multiplying material to provide an intracavity doubled single frequency laser. The laser implementation includes an input mirror and an output mirror defining a resonant cavity and a light path within the resonant cavity and between the mirrors. A lasant material is positioned in the light path for lasing at a desired fundamental wavelength and possibly other, unwanted wavelengths. A first birefringent member is also positioned in the light path for refracting in different directions the different wavelengths of light which are present along the path.

Abstract: A device such as an electric motor, an electric generator, or a regenerative electric motor includes a rotor arrangement and a stator arrangement. The stator arrangement has a dielectric electromagnet housing and at least one energizable electromagnet assembly including an overall amorphous metal magnetic core. The overall amorphous metal magnetic core is made up of a plurality of individually formed amorphous metal core pieces. The dielectric electromagnet housing has core piece openings formed into the electromagnet housing for holding the individually formed amorphous metal core pieces in positions adjacent to one another so as to form the overall amorphous metal magnetic core. The device further includes a control arrangement that is able to variably control the activation and deactivation of the electromagnet using any combination of a plurality of activation and deactivation parameters in order to control the speed, efficiency, torque, and power of the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modulating light, wherein a light source provides light of a certain wavelength to be modulated. A light modulating device is placed in the optical path of the light source. The resulting optical pulses transmitted through the light modulating device are converted from the original wavelength to a lower wavelength by a frequency converting device.

Abstract: An arrangement and associated method for thermally protecting an electronic component assembly from heat at least to a limited extent is disclosed herein. The electronic component assembly includes a plurality of thermally sensitive electronic devices, each of which is constructed such that when the device is in a powered state there is a maximum operating temperature to which it may be subjected without causing thermal damage and such that when the device is in a non-powered state there is a higher maximum non-operating temperature to which the device may be subjected without causing thermal damage. During powered operation of the assembly, the temperature is sensed at a predetermined position in close proximity to the devices.