Abstract: An optical bus for distributing a light wave signal to a plurality of receivers. The optical bus (10) includes a generally cylindrical form (12) having a helical groove (14) inscribed on its outer surface. At a plurality of nodes (30), an optical fiber (16) wound about the form within the helical groove is caused to bend through a radius of curvature (22) sufficiently small so that a portion of the light propagating along the fiber is transmitted outside the fiber. A plurality of light detectors (26) are disposed at each of the nodes and are operative to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the portion of the light wave signal that is transmitted outside the fiber. The electrical signals are input to an electronic cross-connect matrix (108) and are selectively connected to a plurality of LEDs (112, 116, 120, 124) which each produce a light wave signal corresponding to the electrical signal for distribution to a receiver through a network of distribution optical fibers (126, 128, 130, 132).

Abstract: Improved coating and method of forming a nondewettable coating in a reactive carbon monoxide atmosphere wherein a small portion of palladium, platinum or mixture thereof is added to the coating mixture before the mixture is applied to the substrate. Alternatively, in the case of electrolytic deposition, a thin layer of palladium, platinum or mixture thereof is, e.g. electrolessly or by sputtering or silkscreening, deposited on a substrate before a tin or tin alloy coating is deposited, such as by sputtering, silkscreening, etc. The reaction temperature required to form a nondewettable bond is reduced or increased depending on the tin alloy content, but it appears that if platinum or palladium is participating in the reaction for the same alloy, the temperature for achieving the bond appears to be reduced.

Abstract: The resulting product and a method of applying hard surfaces to gate valves and like generally planar metallic bodies which are subject to hard wear wherein a relatively thin generally planar facing plate is formed and applied to the face of the body to provide an assembly to be welded and a series of high power density welding beams of high energy electrons are directed at the face surface of the facing plate while moving the beams and assembly relatively in passes wherein the welds effected span the facing to secure the relatively thin plate to the body in a manner to avoid surface cracks, porosity and warpage to provide a hard wear-resistant facing for the body.

Abstract: This invention relates to nitrides, oxides, arsenides, borides, phosphides, tellurides, titanates, silicides, carbides, etc. of metals or metalloids, such as or in their compacted forms, as substrates or base elements. These can be readily joined with various other substrates employing as a coating, film, layer or interlayer former a tin, lead, indium, or alloys thereof, in an admixture with a carbide or carbonyl former and joining the substrate or base in a carbon monoxide atmosphere with the coating, etc. former.

Abstract: Highly adhesive composites with an active tin alloy are obtained as coating on beryllia by depositing tin with, e.g. vanadium on beryllia, and heating in a carbon monoxide atmosphere of up to 1000.degree. C.

Abstract: Substrates such as boron nitride and titanium diboride and the like joined to other metal or metal sandwiches useful as resistance elements.

Abstract: An adjustably positionable element having a curved end plate is located in proximity to the conventional rupturable curved disc in a pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders. The end plate serves as one plate of a capacitor and the curved disc serves as the other plate. Impedance variation responsive circuitry senses any change in impedance of the capacitor due to a change in flex of the curved disc brought about by a variation in pressure within the cylinder to which the relief valve is attached. The change in impedance is calibrated to provide an indication of the actual pressure within the cylinder.