Abstract: Method and apparatus for sensing jaw position and movements and for converting the sensed data to dental articulator settings for simulating said movement are disclosed. Included are a pair of clutches which are fitted to the patient's maxillary and mandibular teeth. The respective clutch plates are removably secured to the housing of a jaw movement recording device and to a movable indicia-bearing arm. At least three indicia are mounted at the inner end of the arm in a manner such that they are viewable from three mutually orthogonal directions. Photoresponsive means are included for sensing and/or recording the indicia during and/or following displacement of the indicia-bearing arm during and/or following condyle movements of the patient's mandible. By this means, information as to the position and skew angle of the indicia in three dimensions is provided.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring particulate mass concentration of emissions, such as fly ash, from a stationary source are disclosed which employ a single-wavelength infrared transmissometer. Emissions from a source, such as a fossil fueled power plant, generally contain particles of known material of a wide range of sizes. Often the particle size distribution varies during emission. In accordance with the present invention a single-wavelength transmissometer is employed which operates at a wavelength at which the extinction-to-mass concentration ratio as a function of particle size is substantially constant. Consequently, the transmissometer output provides a measure of the mass concentration of particulate material emitted from the source independent of the size of the particles. Logarithmic amplification of the transmissometer detector output provides a direct measure of the mass concentration.

Abstract: Stock feeding method and means are disclosed for feeding bar stock to an automatic machine tool and in particular a computer numeric controlled machine tool. A collet chuck attached to the hollow machine spindle includes jaws for gripping stock and jaw actuating means to operate the jaws between closed and open conditions. Stock is loaded into an elongated feed and actuating tube mounted for both axial, and rotational movement at the same rate as the machine spindle. The forward end of the feed tube is adapted for operation of the jaw actuating means upon axial movement. A chuck actuator is located to the rear of the machine spindle for rotatable support of the feed tube extending therethrough, and for axial movement of the tube for chuck operation. A stationary protective and support tube coaxially surrounds the rearwardly extending portion of the feed tube.

Abstract: Visibility monitoring method and means are disclosed employing a video camera for monitoring an area which includes a low reflectance (substantially non-reflecting) target at known range from the camera and adjacent horizon sky. Window gating circuit means under control of a programmable digital computer are used to gate selected portions of the output from the video camera to integrating means for generating signals related to brightness of at least a portion of the target and adjacent horizon sky. The brightness related to signals are supplied to said digital computer for use in computing visual contrast, visibility, or the like. Preferably, a plurality of substantially non-reflecting targets at different ranges are employed for increased accuracy.

Abstract: A method of locating near-surface underground chambers, rooms, caves, pits, tubes, faults in surface rocks, and the like, using acoustic techniques is disclosed. For mapping large areas, a survey grid for transmitter transducer placement first is laid out over the area of interest.A transmitting transducer is coupled to the bedrock at one of the grid sites, and acoustic waves are generated in the earth by operation thereof. Portable acoustic receiving means, including a receiving transducer, are used to detect acoustic waves from the transmitter at a plurality of receiving sites surrounding the transmitting station. Transmitted acoustic waves from the transmitting site received by the receiving transducer are converted to electrical signals by the receiving transducer and recorded for subsequent use. Following operation of the receiving means at each receiving site surrounding the transmitter transducer, the received signals are compared to determine any differences in their magnitudes.

Abstract: A machine for mixing fireproofing material, concrete or the like includes a cylindrical shaped rotatable drum with a rotatably driven axial shaft having mixer blades attached to the shaft. The drum has an opening for loading and discharging material to be mixed and a pivotally mounted cover for closing the opening. The cover is provided with an aperture and a funnel-shaped member within the aperture for supporting a sack of material to be emptied into the drum. The funnel-shaped member is closed by the sack supported therein thus sealing the aperture during the sack emptying and material mixing processes. Liquid is supplied to the mixer drum through another opening in the cover, which opening is blocked in the mixing position of the drum to prevent the emission of dust particles therethrough. Latching means are provided for releasably securing the cover means in closed or partially open position, to facilitate cleaning of the mixing drum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for efficient operation of a brushless d-c motor are shown. A brushless d-c motor comprises, essentially, a motor drive source, such as a d-c to a-c converter, in combination with a conventional brushless a-c machine. Generally, the brushless a-c machine includes a polyphase stator for the production of a rotating electric field, and a rotor that produces mechanical power from the rotating field without the need for sliding electrical contacts. For induction motors, the rotor phases are short-circuited and rotor currents are produced by allowing the rotor to "slip" with respect to the rotating stator field, the resulting flux variations in the rotor thereby inducing rotor currents. Motor speed is controlled by frequency control of the a-c output from the motor drive source.

Abstract: A method of forming a microscopically texturized surface on a crystalline semiconductor material is disclosed which method includes the use of a radioactive source for uniformly irradiating the surface. The radioactive source includes a plane surface having a uniform distribution of radioactive material thereon In one arrangement the radioactive source surface area is at least the size of the polished crystalline semiconductor surface to be texturized, and the radioactive source is positioned closely adjacent the polished surface for a predetermined time period for uniform irradiation of the same. If desired, the radioactive source and crystalline surface may be relatively movable during irradiation of the surface, in which case the source may be in the form of an elongated strip of sufficient length to extend beyond opposite edges of the polished surface area to be texturized.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a funnel-shaped miniature electrode with thin walls and very sharp edges for use in a field ionization source for ionizing components of a fluid sample is disclosed, which method includes the use of a female mold, or matrix, formed with a stepped, generally frustoconical-shaped aperture therethrough. The aperture wall includes a plurality of different diameter generally tapered wall sections of decreasing size in going along the aperture axis, with the smallest diameter section at the one end being of short length and small diameter. It is convenient, but not necessary, to coat the aperture wall with a parting layer which aids in the separation of the subsequently-formed miniature funnel-shaped electrode from the female mold and facilitates cleaning of the mold for reuse.

Abstract: Pulsed real-time B-scan ultrasonic method and apparatus are disclosed together with pulsed Doppler Ulrasonic method and apparatus. The B-scan apparatus includes a pulse operated transmitter and receiver operating at a first frequency, and the Doppler apparatus includes a pulse operated transmitter and receiver operating at a second frequency sufficiently far removed from the B-scan frequency to avoid interference therebetween. A synchronous pulse operation of the B-scan and Doppler systems is provided. The sysem includes a visual display means to which the receiver outputs are connected through a multiplexer operated to pass the B-scan receiver output to the visual display means whenever such B-scan output is present. The Doppler apparatus includes means for temporarily storing the Doppler receiver output, which stored Doppler signals subsequently are read out through the multiplexer to the visual display means between select lines of B-scan display.

Abstract: Focused ultrasonic transducer means of the zone plate type are shown for producing a focused ultrasonic wave field without the need for lenses, reflectors, a curved transducer or the like, which transducer means are adapted for ultrasonic nondestructive testing and inspection, ultrasonic examination in diagnostic medicine, sonic heat generation, aerosol formation, and the like. Such transducer means, of course, may be used as a focused ultrasonic transducer receiver as well as a transmitting transducer. The transducer includes a uniformly poled cylindrical shaped body of electromechanically responsive material, such as a piezoelectric crystal, with electrodes formed at opposite parallel faces thereof. A pair of central axially aligned circular electrodes of different size are located on the opposite body faces, together with concentric different size annular electrodes which surround the central electrodes.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a stop watch and timing device which includes a dial train, escapement, time train, mainspring and barrel, and stop, start and reset means of novel design. The device is readily adapted for construction using inexpensive molded plastic components which are easily assembled with a minimum of time and effort.

Abstract: A microwave flaw detector system and method are disclosed which include the use of a pair of parallel strip transmission lines which are located a parallel spaced distance from the surface of the test, or work, piece. The strip transmission lines are capable of supporting first and second orthogonal transmission modes, and means are included for supplying the same with a signal of the first mode. The strip transmission lines are located adjacent the surface of an object to be tested for flaws, and may be moved relative thereto for scanning the surface thereof for flaws. The test piece constitutes one ground plane for the pair of current-carrying strips within which return currents flow in a direction opposite to the strip currents. When a surface flaw on the test piece perturbs the ground plane current in the test piece under one strip, some of the power in the test piece is converted to a second mode orthogonal to the incident-mode current.

Abstract: Combination Doppler and B-scan ultrasonic imaging apparatus is disclosed which includes visual display means for the simultaneous visual display of received ultrasonic Doppler and B-scan information. The apparatus includes first and second focused transducers associated with the Doppler and B-scan systems, which transducers are individually mounted for movement along parallel linear paths. The transducers each comprise a generally semi-cylindrical shaped body of piezoelectric material having opposite end faces upon which electrodes are disposed for connection to Doppler and B-scan transmitter and/or receiver units. The flat side walls of the piezoelectric bodies are positioned closely adjacent a mid-plane extending between the transducers, and means are provided for focusing the transducers at substantially the same depth for operation along a common focal region at, or adjacent, the mid-plane. One such focusing means includes acoustic lenses carried by the piezoelectric bodies.

Abstract: Organic transfer laser method and means are disclosed employing a gas mixture which includes an acceptor gas comprising an organic molecular vapor, and a donor gas comprising a noble gas or a group II B transition metal, such as mercury, in the vapor state. The donor gas atoms are excited to high energy metastable and/or excimer states by electron beam excitation or electron beam initiated-sustainer discharge type exciting means. Collisional transfer of electronic excitation from the excited donor gas to the lasing organic molecules takes place for excitation of organic molecules to excited singlet states in sufficient number to establish a population inversion in the electronic energy levels thereof for lasing. Depending upon the mixture employed, the laser is tunable over the visible and ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Operation at high peak power levels with high efficiency is possible.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are shown for feeding particulate material into a pressurized container. A rotor is located within the pressurized container, and the rotor hub is connected to a combination drive and material supply tube which extends through a wall of the container in fluid-tight engagement therewith. Particulate material from an unpressurized supply source outside the container is fed to the rotor through the supply tube, and is discharged through radially extending flow passages formed in the rotor. Means are provided for restricting the flow of particulate material at the discharge end of the flow passages such that material flowing therein is compacted by centrifugal acceleration to substantially prevent flow of fluid from the pressurized container through the supply pipe while continuously supplying particulate material to the container.

Abstract: A reamer for use with conduits comprising positioning means including engaging inclined surfaces for maintaining the reamer in relatively fixed relationship with the front or outer edge of the conduit being reamed, with the positioning means being capable of engaging conduits of various diameters and rotatable relative to the conduit being reamed. Reamer elements are provided including a front end for positionment adjacent the aperture in the conduit being reamed and a pair of inclined sections extending outwardly from said front end in opposing inclination to the engaging inclined surfaces, and being capable of engaging the inner edge of the conduit being reamed and rotated relative thereto.

Abstract: The structural combination flange gauge of my invention for laying out the flange of structural steel beams and girders with great ease, speed, and accuracy comprises a base member with tripod, or three point, supporting means for the support thereof upon the web of the structure steel beam to be laid out. An inverted generally U-shaped stem bar is adjustably secured to the base member, which stem bar includes inner and outer leg portions connected by an intermediate portion adapted to extend over the flange of the beam upon which the base member is supported. A gauge member for use in marking of the beam flange is adjustably secured to the outer leg portion of the stem bar, which gauge member is generally E-shaped and includes a straight edge section extending parallel with the outer leg portion of the stem bar and a plurality of parallel arm sections extending at right angles from one side of the straight edge section.

Abstract: Mechanical scanning apparatus is shown which includes a parallelogram linkage comprising a pair of parallel arms and parallel first and second connecting links adjacent opposite ends of the arms pivotally connected thereto. Transducer means, such as an ultrasonic transducer or transducer array, included in the ultrasonic imaging system, or the like, are attached to said first connecting link for movement therewith. First supporting means, adjacent the arm ends opposite the transducer means, support the parallelogram linkage thereat for movement along an arcuate path which closely approximates a portion of an ellipse adjacent a focus thereof. Constraining means, intermediate the first supporting means and transducer means, limit an intermediate portion of the parallelogram linkage to generally straight line movement along a path which extends substantially along a portion of the major axis of the ellipse.

Abstract: There are disclosed radiation deflection method and means for controlling the direction of travel of radiation which is subject to refraction, such as light and sound radiation. The deflection method and means, which are particularly adapted for effecting a scanning motion of the radiation in one direction, include first and second generally counterrotating refracting wedges through which the radiation passes. The second wedge is mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and the first wedge is mounted for rotation about an axis which nutates about the fixed axis of rotation of the second wedge. Means are provided for rotating the first and second wedges in opposite rotary directions at equal angular displacements while simultaneously nutating said first wedge.