Abstract: A modular fluid control module having a plug-in connector is provided for control of one or more functional load devices in response to fluid condition and demand input signals. The module includes a fluid circuit board having top and bottom plate members bonded to a common center plate. The top and bottom plates each have a plurality of parallel flow lines. The first and second parallel lines are substantially perpendicularly related to define an X-Y coordinate grid. The center plate has openings establishing preselected connection of the parallel flow lines in the top and bottom plates. The top plate includes a multiple input/output port connector which includes a plurality of ports connected to the parallel flow lines of the top plate. Each of the top and bottom plates includes a plurality of plug-in logic and control ports connected to select internal flow lines of the corresponding plate.

Abstract: A modular pneumatic control apparatus controls a mixed air handling units in an air conditioning system. The apparatus includes a single configured manifold module plate having a plurality of function module plug-in connectors and a plurality of input/output plug-in connectors. Function modules have complementary plug-in connectors for connection to the manifold module are designed with common opposite outer plates having surface passageways abutting a center plate with openings to define a particular circuit. The outer plates have all external ports for defining any function module used in any system. The manifold module is a constant architecture and acts as an interface between the system sensors and load devices and the function modules which create the desired complex control systems. Only a relatively small number of function modules are required.

Abstract: An improved plural axis motion controller (34) is disclosed for controlling servos (14, 16) to move an object (18) such as a flame cutter along a predetermined path. A microcomputer (42) periodically reads the location of the object from position counters (56, 58) and recalculates new velocity control signals for application to the servos in order to cause the object to follow the predetermined path. The improvement is wherein the controller automatically modifies the velocity control signals so as to reduce the spurious velocity variations which the object would otherwise experience due to the nonuniform rate responses of the servos. A table of modifiers, determined during a prior calibration procedure, is stored in a calibration memory (60). The microcomputer selects an appropriate modifier for each velocity control signal in accordance with the direction and magnitude of that control signal and the servo to which it is to be directed.

Abstract: An improved alarm system sensing and triggering apparatus for remote detection of interruptions or alterations in an otherwise closed electrical alarm circuit. Exposed electrodes are embedded together with a substantially deformable current conducting element in a recessed housing cavity. The conducting element is compressable or deformable, momentarily, to an altered shape to activate the alarm system without the need for partially or completely detaching the sensor itself from the article to which it is connected. The recessed cavity together with the exposed electrodes and deformable conducting means cooperate with the sensor housing and alarm system integration conductors and with sensor attachment devices to provide the improved security features.

Abstract: In order to provide for substantially reduced costs in acceptance testing of aircraft computers, the acceptance test system described herein includes: a group of input circuits for receiving the computer output data signals; an input circuit adapted to receive signals from the aircraft computer representing the computer input data signals; and a transmitter for transmitting the computer input data to the computer. In this automatic acceptance test system, the computer under test generates both serial and parallel input data signals for itself which are then retransmitted to the computer under test by the automatic test system.

Abstract: An overload-sensing circuit for an electric motor driven by an alternating signal comprises a supply line connecting the motor to a power source, a resistance in the supply line, and a first comparator for measuring the phase relationship between the power source voltage signal and the motor current signal. A variable resistor is employed to select a phase relationship which represents a load limit for the motor. A second comparator compares the measured phase relationship to the selected phase relationship and produces a signal representing an overload condition of the motor when the measured phase relationship generally equals the selected phase relationship.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low mass, flexible heat transfer member which is made of a suitable material to transfer heat, as well as a plurality of independent heat generating members to provide zoned heat along a portion of the length of said heat transfer member. The heat generating members are encased in an electrical insulation material which is secured to the heat transfer member. The consolidated structure, i.e. the heat transfer member and heat generating members constitute a flexible strip. The ends of said flexible strip are actually sections of the heat transfer member and these ends are respectively looped around two pins, or studs, and over the respective loops there is positioned an associated slotted hollow tube. The slotted hollow tube is formed to be located in a base of a machine with which the flexible heating means is used.

Abstract: A flexure in a transducer such as an inertial guidance accelerometer for suspending a force sensitive element to a mounting base includes a reduced thickness central portion and a pair of relatively thick ribs disposed on opposite sides of the central portion. An electrically conductive coating is disposed on at least one face of the central portion to provide electrical connections to components located on the element. The reduced thickness of the central portion minimizes errors caused by stresses in the interface between the conductive coating and the element and the relatively thick ribs provide a desired strength and spring rate for the element suspension.

Abstract: The present invention includes a heating element which is secured to a rigid member and which is located so that when a plastic like material is being formed into a package or bag, by effecting a seam along the side of the package, the inside of said side seam will be heated, in addition to said outside of said side seam to help provide a better sealed seam.

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: An anti-backlash nut assembly is disclosed for longitudinal movement along a screw which has an external thread thereon, in response to relative rotational movement between the nut assembly and the screw. The assembly includes a first nut part having an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw, and a second nut part also having an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw. A coil spring is interconnected between the first and second nut parts for applying torque thereto and rotatably biasing the nut parts together to eliminate backlash therebetween and improve the positional accuracy of the nut assembly along the screw. A cylindrical collar is sandwiched between a pair of opposed portions of the nut parts and surrounds the coil spring. With this structural combination, the anti-backlash nut assembly can be adjustably preloaded by relatively rotating the nut parts to selectively preload the coil spring to a desired torque.

Abstract: Motor vehicle wheel alignment measuring apparatus, which enables measurement of toe-in, lateral offset and out of square conditions with respect to any given set of tires, comprises pairs of frames adapted to be hung by hooks against the side walls of the exposed tires of a set of tires. Each frame includes a cross bar and a pair of upward and inward extending, short stub members. Each pair of frames includes clamps to secure the free ends of a pair of tape measures, and slots to secure the ends of a pair of elastic bands, so that the tape measures and the elastic bands may be disposed across the width of a vehicle.

Abstract: To increase the effectivity of warnings and to decrease nuisance warnings in a ground proximity warning system having several modes of operation, the switching from one mode to another is done as a function of radio altitude and time. In addition, in a ground proximity warning system where a warning signal is generated in accordance with a predetermined relationship between flight parameters, one or more of these parameters can be varied as a function of radio altitude and time in order to, for example, increase the altitude above ground as a function of radio altitude and time from take-off that a terrain clearance warning is generated or to decrease as a function of radio altitude and time, the radio altitude below which a negative climb after take-off warning is generated.

Abstract: Automatic selection of a directional antenna providing the best television reception is provided for in an antenna control circuit that includes a circuit for automatically sampling the video output for each directional antenna and connecting the directional antenna that produces the strongest video signal to the receiver. The antenna control circuit includes a timer circuit that responds to the horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses of the receiver to control the duration and timing of the sampling.

Abstract: Gain peaking and attenuation of audio signals above the peak gain frequency are provided in an audio frequency equalization preamplifier that includes an operational amplifier having a feedback network including first and second resistors and a feedback capacitor connected between the output and the second feedback resistor. Two or three low pass RC filter sections are connected between the audio signal source and the noninverting input of the operational amplifier with a circuit connecting a capacitor of the second RC section from the noninverting input to a node between the second feedback resistor and the feedback capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the voltage applied to a load in an AC system utilizes an autotransformer and a relay or equivalent switching device between the common winding and the series winding. In each of the AC lines, the common winding and relay are connected between the load and the AC common while the series winding is connected between the input and the output. The relay is normally open to pass substantially full input voltage to the load, but when closed the relay permits current flow in the common winding to reduce voltage to the load. The relay or equivalent switching is therefore not in the direct flow of load current and can be of lower current rating and smaller size and cost as compared to prior art voltage reduction systems.

Abstract: The invention contemplates a system of relatively wide-range solenoid control of pressure-fluid flow from a high-pressure upstream source to a downstream load. In a first range of relatively low rates of flow, the system utilizes the solenoid to actuate a pilot valve for controlled exclusive delivery of pressure fluid to the load, via a throttling orifice; in a second range of higher rates of flow, the pressure drop across the throttling orifice becomes sufficiently great to enable pilot-delivery pressure, upstream from the throttling orifice, to open a main-valve line from the source to the load. The arrangement is such that solenoid-actuating force variation within the first range produces a first characteristic of flow-rate delivery to the load, and is also such that solenoid-actuating force variation beyond the first range produces a second and steeper characteristic of flow-rate delivery to the load.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrohydraulic control, which includes both an electrohydraulic valve (36) and an electronic control (382). The electronic control includes an offsetting circuit (622) and is effective to produce an effective driving voltage, for an electrical force-motor (52) of the electrohydraulic valve, that is pulse-width-modulated and that is greater than a fixed proportionality to an input signal (410) by a manually adjustable offset voltage. The offset voltage may be adjusted to produce a null force that exactly balances a spring (129) which presses the valve spool (54) to an overlapped position; so that fluid flow is proportional to an input signal irrespective of the initial load of the spring.

Abstract: An improved mounting between a cylindrical package, containing a sensitive instrument, and a protective cylindrical housing disposed thereabout. Plugs at opposite ends of the housing each have a conical recess opening toward the other plug and between which the package is confined. O-rings at each end of the package engage the tapered wall of the adjacent recess and absorb longitudinal and radial shock and center the package within the housing. To restrain relative rotational movement between the housing and instrument package, a plurality of coil springs are disposed within aligned bores in an end of the package and the adjacent plug.

Abstract: A probe for the measurement of the level of conductive materials within a conductive vessel is disclosed which is particularly suitable for the measurement of the level of conductive granular materials such as coal or other minerals or plastics or vegetable matter which are conductive. In a preferred embodiment the probe comprises a conductive steel core covered with a layer of insulating plastic and covered further with a layer of a semi-conductive material which preferably comprises a plastic which has been partially filled with a conductive material such as carbon black. Other embodiments wherein the probe may comprise a conductive plate covered by insulation further covered by a similar semi-conductive layer are also disclosed. Reference is made to prior art disclosures of circuitry and theory which enable the use of the probe of the invention.