Abstract: A digital accelerometer comprising a linear analog accelerometer and a digitizer. The analog accelerometer includes a housing and conductor means extending outside the housing, and is adapted to produce on the conductor means an analog signal representing linear acceleration along one axis. A casing is positioned against the housing so as to form a substantially enclosed space between the housing and the casing. The digitizer is located within such enclosed space and receives the analog signal and produces a corresponding digital signal. An interface circuit is positioned within the enclosed space for receiving the analog signal and producing a second analog signal that is input to the digitizer. The digital signal produced by the digitizer may be conveyed to a location outside the enclosed space and housing by a flexible strip of insulating material having a plurality of conductive strips embedded therein.

Abstract: A borehole survey instrument has a probe with a polarized light system for transmitting a signal representing the angular orientation of the probe to the surface. Light from a source in the probe is directed through a polarizing filter with an axis of polarization orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The polarized light beam is transmitted to the surface through an optical fiber light conduit. The angle of polarization is detected with a rotating polarizing filter and provides a measure of the probe orientation. In surveying a borehole, azimuth is determined from inclinometer measurements. The probe orientation in vertical sections of the borehole is measured by the polarized light system. Two measures of borehole azimuth are combined, providing an improved measure of azimuth in boreholes near vertical and near horizontal.

Abstract: Electronic weighing scale having a load bridge with torsion bars for transmitting a load from a platform to a load cell. The torsion bars flex torsionally to protect the load cell from overloading and shock loading. The platform rests loosely on the load bridge and is freely displaceable to protect the load cell from side loading or other impacts on the platform.

Abstract: A throttle control assembly for lawnmowers and similar power-operated equipment, such assembly consisting essentially of (1) a mounting member permanently affixed to the flexible casing for the throttle control wire and adapted to be secured to the handle of the power equipment, and (2) an elongated cover that may be easily connected to the end of the control wire and then snapped into operative position over the mounting member. When the parts are so coupled, the cover is readily slidable upon the mounting member (which it conceals and protects) to control engine speed but is securely locked against detachment from that mounting member. A speed indicator formed as an integral part of the mounting member projects through an elongated slot in the cover, and indicia upon the cover aligned with the indicator provide clear and accurate representations of throttle settings.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the installation of transducers such as accelerometers in a larger system, each transducer is provided with a memory circuit which is physically attached to the transducer and contains data reflecting the operating characteristics of that particular transducer. The data stored in the memory can be in the form of coefficients for polynomial equations that describe the operation of the transducer as the function of a variable such as temperature. Provision is made for transmitting this data along with the signal output from the transducer to the larger system.

Abstract: An automated workpiece handling system for use with a machine tool having a plurality of workstations spaced along a longitudinally movable, elongate worktable comprising a first cart for transporting workpieces to one end of the tooling machine, adjacent a first workstation, a first feeder mechanism on the machine tool for drawing workpieces from the first cart and delivering the workpieces onto the worktable, a mechanism on the worktable including the worktable itself for moving the workpieces along the worktable from a position adjacent the first workstation to a position adjacent a final workstation, a second cart for transporting workpieces from the other end of the machine tool, adjacent the final workstation, and a second feeder mechanism on the machine tool for drawing workpieces from the worktable and delivering the workpieces onto the second cart.

Abstract: In order to provide timely aircraft performance data from an aircraft flight data recorder in a useful format, a flight data display system is provided: with a data storage unit; an interface circuit for reformatting flight data from the flight data recorder; a central processor for converting selected portions of the reformatted data into engineering units and storing the converted data into the storage unit; and a video display unit including a keyboard for selecting the desired portions of the reformatted flight data for display on the video display unit. The video display unit provides for the multicolor display of flight data in either graphical form or in a cockpit instrument form on a cathode ray tube.

Abstract: A cascaded fluid heating for electrically heating to fluid, such as a gaseous fluid in a flameless torch, to a high temperature includes a pump to pump a relative constant stream of fluid through a pair of heating chambers arranged in series. A first electric heating element formed of a nickel-iron alloy having a substantially linear positive temperature coefficient of resistance up to 1100.degree. F. is disposed in the first chamber and heats the fluid stream to a first temperature. A second heating chamber receives the heated fluid from the first chamber and contains a second electric heating element of a material, such as Kanthal A, which does not oxide at temperature up to 2000.degree. F. for heating the fluid to a higher temperature. The first electric heating element acts as a sensor for a temperature controller for the first heating element whereby the current supplied by the controller to the first heating element responsive to the changes in resistance of thereof.

Abstract: An environmental chamber for testing objects, such as electronic components under climatic conditions, in the range of 80.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. and relative humidities in the range of 70% to 95%. The test chamber is pressurized and supplied with moisturized, heated air to obtain the desired climatic condition, the climatic condition being maintained by surrounding the test chamber with an insulated housing. A double door arrangement is provided to effect a pressure seal and for isolation of the test chamber from any appreciable heat loss.

Abstract: An aircraft flight data recorder housing comprising a titanium alloy having a nominal composition of 15 weight percent vanadium, 3 weight percent chromium, 3 weight percent tin, and 3 weight percent aluminum with the balance being titanium and, within limitations, certain trace elements. The alloy is simultaneously hot formed and solution heat treated at temperatures on the order of 1400.degree. F. to 1500.degree. F. to fabricate the recorder housing.

Abstract: A light-emitting indicator comprising: a housing having a longitudinal bore therethrough, a moveable member at least partially positioned within said bore, a light-emitting diode operable as a function of the position of the moveable member within the bore, a lens for displaying the light emitted from said light-emitting diode, and a bore provided in the upper portion of the moveable member for containing the light-emitting diode within the moveable member when the indicator is in its first operative position.

Abstract: A combined spool and rotary disc valve has a quick emergency exhausting means. In normal operation, the spool valve allows pressurized fluid to flow between an inlet and a choice of one or more outlets. When quick emergency exhausting of all of the outlets is desired, the spool valve is disposed such that all the outlets communicate through an exhaust slot in the rotary disc valve, through an interior passageway of the cylinder, further through a second part of the spool valve into a different interior passageway which leads to an annular channel which is exhausted by one or more exhaust openings through the barrel housing. The normal flow of pressurized fluid can also be reversed such that, with blockage of all exhaust openings in the barrel housing, the rotary control valve becomes a mixing valve.

Abstract: A cladding and sealing kit for use with a sliding door construction in which a plurality of cladding and sealing members are sealingly engaged with the various wooden frame members forming the door opening and forming the frame of the doors to readily clad the various exposed surfaces and provide sealing between the various sliding interfaces.

Abstract: A multiple-RF channel wireless security system has expanded monitoring and control capacity without a concomitant increase in the number of available RF channels. At least one primary condition-responsive monitoring and RF signaling device having a first range of values for the parameter being monitored has an associated secondary condition-responsive monitoring device having a second range of values for the same parameter connected in series with the primary device. The secondary device may operate in conjunction with or independently of the primary device. When operating in conjunction with the primary device, the secondary device supplements the primary device by providing a second range of parameter values, and may, for example, provide back-up or "fail safe" operation of the primary device. When operating independently of the primary device, the secondary device provides expanded monitoring and control capabilities of the security system while preserving the number of RF channels.

Abstract: Thermally induced stress between a quartz proof mass and the metal stators which constrain it are relieved by a suspension system employing pliant members. Contact points between the proof mass and the stators are formed by raised pads on the proof mass which contact beams formed in the stators. Each beam has an axis of pliancy, which axis extends through a fixed, stable contact point between the proof mass and the stators, the beam being otherwise rigid to applied forces along axes orthogonal to the axis of pliancy. The resulting suspension system exhibits compliance to thermally induced loads while providing rigidity in response to seismic loads.In alternative embodiments of the suspension system, the pliant beams are positioned to provide temperature compensation for compounds of the transducer.

Abstract: Inertial measurement of the angular rotation and translational motion of a structure can be provided by a pair of vibrating accelerometers aligned in a side-by-side arrangement with their force sensing axes in the same direction and vibrated to and away from each other along an axis normal to their force sensing axes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic impeller flowmeter for measuring fluid flow through a conduit includes a paddle wheel impeller rotatably mounted in a cylindrical protective housing which extends radially into the conduit through an aperture therein. A diametrical slot through the distal end of the housing admits fluid to rotate the paddle wheel. Ultrasonic transducers are embedded in the housing on opposite sides of the paddle wheel for establishing an ultrasonic carrier signal. Circumferentially spaced-apart openings in the paddle wheel modulate the ultrasonic signal to produce an output signal which is applied to detection and indicating circuitry. The depth of insertion of the housing and paddle wheel into the conduit is adjustable.

Abstract: A position angle transducer for voltage compensating tap changing transformers provides secondary tap number or tap position analog output signals which accurately reflect the secondary tap position even if a non-linear relationship obtains between the shaft angle and tap number. A shaft angle sensor generates shaft angle analog signals and an analog-to-digital converter converts the shaft angle analog signals to shaft angle digital words. A digital-to-digital converter receives the shaft angle digital words and provides at its output tap number digital words according to the transfer function or functional relationship of tap changing shaft angle to tap number for the particular transformer. A programmable read-only memory performs the digital-to-digital conversion and is flexibly programmed according to the transfer function of the transformer and in order to establish any desired transfer functional relationship.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring inertial specific force and angular rate of moving body by means of a plurality of accelerometers mounted on mutually perpendicular axes, each accelerometer being mounted for vibratory movement along its respective axis. The apparatus further includes a drive for vibrating each accelerometer to produce output signals and a signal processor for deriving from the accelerometer output signals the specific force and angular rate for the respective axes. Enhanced performance is achieved by utilizing pairs of accelerometers vibrating along each axis combined with a preseparation circuit that separates the components of the accelerometer output signal having specific force information from components having angular rate information.