Abstract: A digital valve unit comprised of a plurality of valve orifice sections which have orifice sizes in a binary relationship. The orifice sections are detachable from the valve unit such that the unit may be modified to have different size orifices in different combinations. The unit also comprises a plurality of stackable air powered actuators. The valve actuators may each comprise a single or multiple stage, depending on the application required.

Abstract: A substantially horizontal pipe is supported within a U-shaped trough made of sheet metal. The trough has spaced sides interconnected by a curved bottom that define a width and a depth. A plurality of supports have curved surfaces for accommodating and supporting the curved bottom of the trough. The trough spans between spaced supports and has sufficient rigidity to support the pipe without allowing undue pipe deflection. The trough sides are tied to prevent splaying. The trough can be made in longitudinal sections having interfitting ends. These interfitting ends can be sealed so that the trough provides secondary containment for leakage from the pipe. A gap can be left between longitudinal sections of the trough to accommodate a branch pipe, and an adjustable bridge interconnects the sections for transferring stresses therebetween.

Abstract: A suction wheel is mounted laterally adjacent a horizontal conveyor and at an elevation slightly thereabove. The suction wheel is movable laterally between that position and an inward position partially overlapping the conveyor. A plurality of peripheral ports are provided in the suction wheel which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis at a peripheral speed correspond to the speed of the conveyor. A manifold rests upon the suction wheel, but is held stationary against rotation. The manifold has at least three ports disposed in the path of movement of the suction wheel ports. A vacuum source is operatively coupled to at least two ports in the manifold, and a pressurized fluid source is operatively coupled to at least one of the ports in the manifold. The suction wheel operates intermittently. Only when an article is to be removed from the conveyor, does the suction wheel move inwardly to remove the reject articles.

Abstract: The combination of a seven-port random access memory (RAM) unit, a funnel shifter, a mask generator, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a merge logic unit, a number of multiplexers, and three bi-directional data buses are configured to form a thirty-two bit, cascadable, microprogrammable, bit-slice suitable for executing complex operations such as those which require that several operands be read from the memory unit, be rotated in the funnel shifter, be operated upon by the arithmetic logic unit, be merged in the merge logic unit, and the result be written back into the memory unit all in a single cycle.

Abstract: A method for remotely controlling the mechanical functions of a coal cutting machine's electrohydraulic system which utilizes a medium frequency remote control communication system and a coal-rock interface sensor. The coal-rock interface sensor is a shielded resonant horizontal loop antenna.

Abstract: A GPS satellite receiver is disclosed in which the frequency of the received satellite signal is down converted in a single step by a balanced mixer driven by a half-frequency local oscillator and the down-converted satellite signal is converted from analog-to-digital form by a hard limiter.

Abstract: A programmable FIFO buffer is disclosed which including a (serial) input register, a control register, a (parallel-input parallel-output-type) FIFO buffer, a (serial) output register, and another control register. The input register is for receiving signals representing in serial format a word of data and for developing signals representing the data word converted to parallel format. The former control register is for controlling the serial-to-parallel conversion process. The (parallel-input parallel-output-type) FIFO buffer is for storing the data word. The output register is for receiving from the buffer, signals representing in parallel format a word of data stored in the buffer and for developing signals representing the stored data word converted to serial format. And, the latter control register is for controlling the parallel-to-serial conversion process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a number controlled, modulated, oscillator employing a modulation selector for receiving a digital number for use for frequency modulation or for phase modulation, a tuning network for receiving another digital number in a variety of forms, and a frequency modulator for adding the value of the modulation selector number to that of the tuning network number. Also, the oscillator employs a phase accumulator for adding the value of the frequency modulator sum to that of a number already stored in the phase accumulator and replacing the stored number with the phase accumulator sum at each of a series of times specified by a clocking signal. Further, the oscillator employs a phase modulator for adding the value of the number stored in the phase accumulator to that of the modulation selector number and an output selector developing the 1's compliment of the phase modulator sum and for selecting either the phase modulator sum or the complimented number.

Abstract: A device for developing and editing a computer program in an electronic memory which is utilized to control a physical item having momentum. The device includes first and second program memories and means for exchanging one memory for the other without interrupting operative control of the physical item so that one of the program memories can be edited while the other is interactively controlling the physical item.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting geological anomalies occuring in geological formations. The instrumentation comprises a medium frequency continuous wave narrowband FM transmitter and receiver pair. Two instrument configurations are downhole instruments for insertion into boreholes. Survey procedures are provided to detect anomalies through signal attenuation, path attenuation and signal phase shift. Continuity measurements at different depths in the drillholes provide data to determine the existence of anomalies. Tomographic techniques are employed to provide a visual image of the anomaly. Computer aided reconstruction techniques provide such visual images from the generated data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the recovery of bitumen oils from oil shale. The method comprises crushing the oil shale to a predetermined particle size and mixing with an organic solvent to form a slurry. The slurry is then subjected to supercritical temperatures and pressures whereby the kerogen materials break down into bitumen oils which solubilize in the solvent. The liquid and solids are separated and the solid components are further treated under supercritical temperatures and pressures to yield further bitumen oils. The extracted bitumen oils are separated from solvent by fractionation, and upgraded by removing an asphaltenes residue. Off-gases and asphaltenes residue from the system are burned in a limestone fluidized bed combustor, which results in environmentally acceptable emissions and supplies process heat and power. The apparatus includes a high pressure autoclave-type vessel with an internal venturi draft tube, and a plurality of high pressure decantation vessels with internal lamellae thickeners.

Abstract: An electrostatic color printer incorporating an array of imaging electrodes controlled by special purpose integrated circuits, and a color drum having a charged multilayered particle screen to sequentially present color toners to the imaging array. The special purpose integrated circuits include low voltage, logic and memory circuits, high voltage circuits to drive the imaging electrodes and provide a direct path for the particles to the receiving print medium. The electrodes are arrayed to form a staggered linear array. The printer is capable of printing multiple colors with variable color density in each pixel position and the color image is printed with a single pass of the receiving print medium past the imaging head.

Abstract: A servo system intermittently samples servo sectors from a data disk to obtain the position of the read/write head and to maintain an on-track alignment. A glass scale measures the movement of the transducer head and provides a velocity signal. An integrator integrates the velocity signal to produce a fill-in position signal. This fill-in position signal is added to the position signal from the last sampled servo sector to provide a position compensator with position information when the head is in between servo sectors. An on-track detector circuit and a damping circuit heavily damp movement of the transducer head when the head is in the on-track position. A gain circuit modifies the signal going to the position compensator in order to compensate for misclamping and imperfections in the data disk. The position compensator includes a tilt circuit which compensates for tilting of the disk drive from a non-horizontal position.

Abstract: A short-arc lamp of the type having an internally integral reflector including electrodes mounted to extend along a central axis of symmetry of the lamp and having distal ends of similar shape which are spaced apart to define a short-arc gap such that the lamp can be directly driven by alternating current.

Abstract: An interconnection assembly permits a Winchester-type rigid magnetic disk storage unit, inclusive of the disk drive mechanism, to be plug-in removable from a systems unit or an add-on peripheral data storage subsystems unit of a personal computer system.

Abstract: A diagnostic circuit is disclosed which employs a command register for receiving in serial format the command portion of a serial diagnostic signal and for developing in parallel format signals representing the command most recently received, a data register for receiving in serial format the data portion of the serial diagnostic signal, for receiving in parallel format signals representing data, for developing in parallel format signals representing the data most recently received and a multiplexer for combining the command portion and the data portion of the serial diagnostic signal after they have passed through the command and data registers.

Abstract: A short arc lamp includes a window assembly which can be fitted together and secured to a hollow cylindrical body member of the lamp in a single braze. The window assembly includes a transparent window, a tubular cowling member, a retaining ring and struts for supporting a cathode within the lamp. The lamp further includes a hollow concave reflecting shell which is held in place within the first body member by a second hollow cylindrical body member and a dielectric spacer ring.

Abstract: A method of formatting a drive system for a magnetic data storage disk which eliminates the need for track-zero sensors. According to the method, formatting is begun at a first crash stop and proceeds across the disk to the opposite crash stop, in incremental steps from track to track.

Abstract: A mobile transport unit for independently operating within an enclosed environment. The transport unit is adapted for carrying a robotic manipulator arm and cargo within the environment, and includes an infrared communications transmitter/receiver for communicating with an extra-vehicular central processing unit. The transport unit includes electric motors for driving and for steering the unit. A laser docking module precisely determines the vehicle's location relative to a fixed point within the environment. Ultrasonic sensors placed about the vehicle can detect objects within a preselected range for collision avoidance and safety purposes. The vehicle is controlled by a central computer which receives inputs from the infrared communications system and from on-board sensors including directional sensors, distance measuring sensors, a gyroscope, the ultrasonic sensors, and the docking module.

Abstract: Instrumentation and procedures for detecting geological anomalies occurring in layered coal formations. The instrumentation comprises a medium frequency continuous wave narrowband FM transmitter and receiver pair. Two instrument configurations are disclosed with one being a portable instrument for use with an existing mined area and another being a downhole instrument for insertion into boreholes in unmined areas. Survey procedures are provided to detect anomolies through signal attenuation, path attenuation and signal phase shift. Continuity measurements provide data to determine the existance of anomalies. Tomographic techniques are employed to provide a visual image of the anomaly. Computer aided reconstruction techniques provide such visual images from the generated data.