Abstract: The prism light guide is a longitudinal hollow structure made of transparent dielectric material. The structure has substantially planar inner and outer surfaces which are in "octature". The hollow structure is formed of one or more longitudinal sections which may be bonded together with an adhesive having a refractive index similar to the refractive index of the sections. The cross-section of each section is preferably constant along the length of the section, and the surfaces in each section are flat and polished smooth. One preferred light guide includes a rectangular or square hollow structure made of four longitudinal wall sections bonded together. Each wall section has a planar inner surface and an outer surface having 90.degree. angle longitudinal corrugations. The dielectric material is acrylic plastic or optically clear glass and the light guide includes an outer jacket for protecting the outer surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating electric power directly from a supersonic gas flow. An obstacle is positioned in the supersonic gas flow to establish a standing shock wave having a potential gradient. A pair of electrodes, one located in the upstream direction from the shock wave and the other located in the downstream direction from the shock wave, are used to extract power from the potential gradient.

Abstract: Latent fingerprints can be detected and visualized by application to the suspected locale, of a solution, in a volatile organic solvent of selected silver salts soluble in said solvent. Suitable salts include silver perchlorate and silver trifluoroacetate. The solution is preferably applied as a spray. This non-aqueous solution minimizes smudging, "running", warping and other damage to water-sensitive material (usually inks, dyes and/or cellulosic substrates).

Abstract: An animal trap having an upstanding frame member mounted on a base, a metal anvil bar connected at one end to the frame and extending outwardly from the frame generally parallel to the base, a metal striker bar positioned above and generally parallel to the anvil bar, said bars being connected at their outer ends to a spring adapted to urge the striker bar forcibly towards the anvil bar, a trigger pan mounted below the two bars and connected to a trigger arm extending upwardly along the frame, a latch arm swivelly mounted on the upper portion of the frame and containing a notch or recess such that when the striker bar is moved upwards against the force of the spring away from the anvil bar, the bar fits into the notch, said latch having an extended arm contacting the upper end of said trigger bar such that the trigger bar is operative to trigger the latch arm from the set position on movement of the pan and allow the latch arm to swing free and the striker bar to move towards the anvil bar.

Abstract: A gas laser system which provides sequence lines of emission in addition to the regular lines. The system includes a discharge cavity having a discharge tube and a hot gas absorber cell. The lasing gas and the gas in absorber are identical and may be either CO.sub.2, N.sub.2 O or isotopes of this gas. The absorber cell is approximately 1/5 to 1/3 the length of the discharge cavity with the interior temperature of the absorber cell being greater than 200.degree. C. and the pressure within the cell being in the order of 20 torr.

Abstract: Wood can be hot-pressed into various composites using as adhesive subdivided plant foliage. Considerable bond strength is achieved, the bonds having water resistance adequate for many uses. The foliage is the primary adhesive i.e., is greater than 95% wt. of the active adhesive components present. The foliage can be used either in the form of a powder or as a dispersion in an aqueous liquid carrier. The foliage-wood system is hot-pressed to achieve the desired bonding, the pressing temperature being above the softening temperature of the foliage. The softening temperature of the foliage varies depending on the moisture content. The foliage proportions in the composite can range from about 1% to about 60% by wt. or more in some cases. Increased bond strengths have been achieved using formaldehyde crosslinking agents or alkaline additives.

Abstract: The aqueous slime waste product of a phosphate ore beneficiation process is dewatered by agglomerating the solids thereof using a conditioner and a hydrophobic bridging liquid.

Abstract: A sulfur-bituminous composite binder material consisting essentially of 60-75% by weight sulfur and 25-40% by weight bituminous material. Optionally a small amount of a fibrous or flake reinforcing material and usually a filler material can be added. The binder is suitable for use as a self-compacting road or pothole repair material. A feature of the composite binder is the presence of two continuous phases which is achieved by mixing solid particulate sulfur with a softened bituminous material at a temperature in the range 120.degree.-150.degree. C. or by mixing liquid sulfur with liquid asphalt with a sufficient shearing mixing action to produce an emulsion of the liquid sulfur in the asphalt which, on cooling produces a continuous, rigid, crystaline and porous sulfur skeleton in the composite.

Abstract: A method of obtaining on-line data useful in determining the center of area or centroid of a geometrical area of unspecified shape lying in a larger x-y scan field and having its existence indicated by a level discriminated amplitude or intensity or a parameter measurable in the z-dimension comprising; scanning the x-y field in a known raster pattern and obtaining a series of discrete output voltage pulses related to elemental x-y points in the scan field and having an amplitude related to the amplitude or intensity of the said parameter; generating a series of discrete clock pulses related to elemental x-y points in the scan field; obtaining a series of x and y synchronizing pulses from and related to the x-y scan field; establishing in relation to the clock pulses and the x and y synchronizing pulses a smaller x-y scan field in the form of a rectangular window around the geometrical area in the larger x-y scan field, the boundaries as x-y co-ordinates of the said window being known; identifying, from the se

Abstract: An implantable device for dispensing a medicament in two modes; a basal delivery rate and an augmented rate. The device includes a permeable elastic material adapted to be repeatedly compressed by a solenoid operated piston. The device delivers a basal rate when the piston is inoperative and an augmented rate when the permeable elastic material is compressed. The device is suitable for delivering insulin in an "artificial endocrine pancreas".

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring barometric pressure comprising a housing made of high thermal conductivity metal and defining a cavity therein, a diaphragm of flexible spring type material clamped in position across the cavity dividing it into upper and lower portions, a connecting passage leading from the lower portion of the cavity to the pressure to be measured, electrical means for measuring deflections of the diaphragm and providing a control signal to a power supply, a low boiling point liquid filling part of the upper portion of the cavity in the housing, with vapor from the liquid filing the remaining part, a heating coil positioned in relation to the housing and connected to the power supply controlled by the electrical means such as to bring the temperature of the liquid and thus its vapor pressure to a level to balance the pressures across the diaphragm, thermal insulation encompassing the housing and means for measuring the temperature of the housing and the liquid therein, this temperature being related

Abstract: The apparatus generates a train of pulse signals in real time which are fed to a Plan Position Indicator radar display video bright-up circuit. A line is formed on the display at a bearing .theta..sub.R , the direction of a VHF/DF fix, and passes through a point having the coordinates R.sub.o, .angle..theta..sub.o .degree., the position of the VHF/DF receiver, with respect to the center of the plan position indicator rotating radial scan. The radial scan operates at a radar trigger pulse repetition frequency F and rotates at a frequency f to subtend an angle .DELTA..theta.=360.degree..times.f/F per scan. The apparatus includes an up-counter for storing a count of R.sub.o sin (.theta..sub.R -.theta..sub.o), and a down-counter coupled to the up-counter and enabled at the pulse repetition frequency F to receive the count from the up-counter. The down-counter is adapted to provide an output pulse signal to the video bright-up circuit when its count reaches 0.

Abstract: A frequency controlled microwave oven having an oven cavity, a frequency agile microwave source for energizing the oven cavity, a detector for detecting the power absorption in a load at various source frequencies within a bandwidth and a control circuit for setting the microwave source at frequencies as determined by the power absorption levels. The frequencies at which the oven cavity is energized are selected by the control system to obtain high efficiency, i.e. low power reflection from the cavity, and to obtain improved heating uniformity by the superimposing of various heating patterns produced by the different operating frequencies.

Abstract: Fluidized particulate material in an elongated fluidizing bed is separated by means of paddles, on an endless chain running around sprockets, urging at least an upper portion of the fluidized bed towards one end of the bed to enrich that end with lighter particles and the other end with heavier particles. The particles thus separated are removed from the ends of the bed by, for example, flowing over weirs. In one embodiment only the paddles passing along the underside of the chain dip into the fluidized bed while in another embodiment the whole chain and all of the paddles are immersed in the fluidized bed.

Abstract: The scanning microwave detection apparatus provides a moisture profile along the width of a predetermined sample such as a sheet or web. The apparatus includes a number of moisture sensors spaced along the width of the sample, such that each sensor couples microwave energy with a finite area of the sample. Each sensor is preferably a pair of horns with one located on each side of the sample to provide a microwave path through the sample. A first filter is coupled to the input of each sensor and a second filter is coupled to the output of each sensor. The pair of filters associated with each sensor is tuned to the same frequency, and each of the pairs of filters are tuned to a different predetermined frequency within a selected frequency band such that the sensors operate at different frequencies, within substantially non-overlapping frequency band-passes. The filters are preferably directional.

Abstract: An improvement in torque characteristics is provided for a turboshaft engine of the type having a compressor rotor driven by a gas generator turbine that is mechanically independent of the power turbine. The improvement comprises a rotatable compressor stator casing which is interconnected with the power turbine rotor to allow rotation of the compressor casing in the same direction as the compressor rotor at a lower speed. At reduced output shaft speed, the relative speed between the compressor rotor blades and stator blades is increased for increased gas generator output and hence torque, for a predetermined compressor rotor speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching an infrared radiation signal laser beam in which a semiconductor, capable of transmitting the signal beam without damage, is provided and upon which the signal beam is incident at an angle which may preferably be Brewster's angle. The surface of the semiconductor is irradiated by a second laser beam which has a sufficiently high frequency to produce free carriers in the semiconductor and which has a sufficient radiation intensity and time duration to produce a free carrier density greater than the critical density for the signal beam resulting in substantially total reflection of the signal beam from the semiconductor surface. In particular, a pulsed CO.sub.2 laser beam which is incident on a polycrystalline n-type germanium semiconductor is reflected by irradiating the semiconductor with a pulsed ruby or Nd:glass laser beam.

Abstract: The quadrupole mass spectrometer has four conventional rod-shaped poles symmetrically located about the ion injection axis. Opposite pairs of rods are interconnected and connected to an rf voltage source. A shield having a circular aperture is located at the output end of the rods to assure the stoppage of low mass particles. In addition, a stopping element also preferably circular is located on the axis at the output to assure the stoppage of heavy particles. A pair of grids incorporating the stopping element, are sequentially located at the output, normal to the axis, the first is connected to a dc voltage source to accelerate the remaining particles through the fringing field of the quadrupole and the second is connected to a dc voltage source to subsequently decelerate the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting tubular polymeric membranes for reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration which includes a plurality of upwardly extending casting tubes, a manifold with branch outlets for mounting the casting tubes to extend upwardly therefrom, a casting bob assembly comprising a centering sleeve with a screw threaded bore and cylindrical extension, a casting bob screwed into the centering sleeve and having casting solution outlet ports to an annular gap between the casting bob and the casting sleeve, the annular gap being adjustable by screwing the casting bob into and out of the centering sleeve, and a transport sleeve which is pressed on to the casting bob and the cylindrical extension of the centering sleeve for transporting the assembly from one casting tube to another between casting operations and a flexible sleeve and a hose clamp for releasably securing the transport sleeve in a lower end of each casting and sealing the lower ends of each casting tube to a branch outlet.

Abstract: A radar altimeter system for measuring, from an aircraft flying above tropical forest areas, the height of the ground and the height of the forest canopy above the ground comprising a transmitter, a receiver for detecting return pulses from the ground and forest canopy, timing means for measuring the time of arrival at the beginning and end of each received pulse and averaging the said times, means for examining the received pulse duration and preventing pulses with a shorter time duration than a predetermined time from passing further in the system, and means for examining a selected number of pulses and coupling the voltage derived from the received pulse having the longest time of arrival to an output to give an indication of the ground level and the voltage derived from the received pulse having the shortest time of arrival to an output to give an indication of the forest canopy level.