Abstract: A cylindrical glass blank (10) has one end received within a rotatable fixture (22) supporting the blank with its axis extending vertically. While rotating the fixture and glass blank at a given rate, a laser beam (54) is directed onto the upper blank end face (12) until the glass softens. The combination of the glass softening, glass surface tension and centrifugal force experienced from the rotation, the glass bank is formed into a convex lens (20).

Abstract: The present invention is a non-explosive separation nut for fastening and releasing a threaded bolt under remote control signals. A preferred embodiment of the separation nut includes a housing, a segmented nut, a locking sleeve, a rocker and two non-explosive actuator (NEA) assemblies. The segmented nut can split radially into three or more segments and has an exterior surface with raised ridges and alternate recessed grooves. The locking sleeve is biased by a spring and placed over the segmented nut. It has an interior surface with retaining pins which are engageable with the exterior surface of the segmented nut. The locking sleeve is engaged with the two NEA assemblies through a tiltable rocker. When neither NEA assemblies is actuated, the retaining pins of the locking sleeve are engaged with the ridges of the segmented nut, so that the segments of the segmented nut are compressed radially inwardly for fastening the threaded bolt.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) has first and second separable contacting electrodes (12, 14) which do not generate an arc on making or breaking. A member (44) interrelates one of the electrodes (14) via a spring-loaded drive cap (24) at ground potential, which member 44 is constructed of a material a wide range of electrical resistance (e.g., insulator to substantial short) inversely response to the magnitude of electric field across the member. On electrode preparation, the drive cap (24) establishes a relative movement of the member (44) with respect to the electrode (14) reducing the member material thickness to such a point that the electric field across the intervening member material reduces the electrical resistance to a desired low level (e.g., short to ground).

Abstract: An optical fiber feedthrough (20,24) for passing through a panel (10) and maintaining a sealed relationship between different fluid environments existing on opposite sides of the panel. A guide tube (25) secured within an opening (44) in the panel (10) by a glass seal (46). The end portions of two fibers (16, 18) to be interconnected through the panel are secured within individual termini (28,42) with the latter located within the guide tube (25) and sealed by O-rings (50,56) against fluid passage therethrough.

Abstract: An arrangement for protection of electrical equipment from electrical overstress pulses or transients using an electrical coupling to ground through a non-linear resistance having a high resistance at normal voltages and a very low resistance in response to an excessively high voltage pulse of transient, wherein the non-liner resistance is interposed between two contraposed faces of two electrodes, and at least one of said electrodes is a thin planar element whose said face is a thin edge of the planar element.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector part (20) has an outer metal sleeve (22) for sliding receipt within an alignment tube (24) and a spacer (26) constructed of a synthetic plastic wedged within the sleeve (22). An opening (28) within the spacer (26) receives a bare fiber end portion (30).

Abstract: An hermetic optical fiber feedthrough arrangement has a separable two-piece metal ferrule (10) with opposite endwall openings (18, 26) of a size slightly larger than the diameter of an optical fiber (12) which extends therethrough. Preliminarily, that part of the fiber within the ferrule cavity (16) and openings (18, 16) has a metal coating (30). The fiber is hermetically sealed within the ferrule pieces (14, 24) by a quantity of a sealant (32). The ferrule may also include an outer radial flange (22) which is hermetically secured within an opening (48) in wall, bulkhead or plate (44) by a further sealant (54).

Abstract: An axially oriented detent system interacting between a contact plug housing and a coaxial coupling ring. The coupling ring includes an inner peripheral rib that provides an axially outwardly facing shoulder. Detent springs or a detent washer with resilient detent elements engage the serrated face of a cover part. The cover part is secured to the sleeve so that the springs or elements move across the face during rotation of the coupling ring. The springs and elements have flexible arms that incline from a base apex to a distal free end. Movement of the serrations from the free end toward the apex creates a compression force that is absent when the serrations move in opposite direction. As such, the system creates a resistance to rotational decoupling that exceeds the resistance to coupling.

Abstract: A terminus for an optical fiber cable (10) has a ferrule (22) with an endwall portion (24) including an axial opening (26) for receiving a glass fiber core. A ferrule central portion (28) is larger in cross-section than endwall portion (24) and the opposite end portion (32) is still larger. In assembly, the fiber jacket (16) or strain relief is peeled back over an underlying sleeve (34) and crimped within the opposite end portion (32). The central ferrule portion (28) has an internal sleeve (40) fitted over a section of the optical fiber with buffer tubing (14) and the ferrule is crimped in place. The fiber outer end portion consists of just the bare glass core (12) received within endwall opening (26).

Abstract: A terminus for an end portion of an optical fiber has a ferrule with a relatively large passageway extending from an open end to a cylindrical endwall portion, the latter having an opening only slightly larger than fiber glass core with cladding diameter. An optical fiber to be terminated has an end portion stripped of buffer coating and located in the ferrule with the bare glass portion in the smaller opening. A first epoxy secures the fiber within the ferrule. With the fiber end faced-off and polished, the flat face of a plano-convex lens is secured to the ferrule endwall and fiber end by a second epoxy having optical characteristics closely watching those of the lens and fiber. A cylindrical hood fits over the lens and ferrule end. A pair of such terminations are slid into opposite ends of an alignment tube positioning for optical signal transmission.

Abstract: A fiber optic transmission line is passed uninterrupted through a hermetically sealed dielectric pressure barrier. This is accomplished by fusing glass or casting a resin about hollow upstanding sleeves within the bore of a connector housing. The glass forms a strong hermetically sealed barrier caused by strong compressive forces resulting from the different coefficients of thermal expansion between the metal bore walls and glass matrix. A fiber optic core is passed through a hollow sleeve and sealed to an aperture in a contact pin which is hermetically sealed to the end of the sleeve. The end of the pin is polished to provide an abutment joint with a corresponding contact surface on an associated connector. In the case of a resin matrix, the resin may be cast about the sleeves within the housing bore. During hardening, the resin will bond to the sleeves and walls of the bore to form a strong hermetically sealed pressure barrier.

Abstract: A narrow elongated housing is provided constructed of an inner ribbed conduit which is overlaid with two layers of high strength rods. Each layer is contra-helically wrapped with opposing end portions compression secured in a termination chamber. The chamber is formed between a sleeve, which is attached to opposing ends of the conduit, and an outer termination enclosure. With the ends of each layer of rods in the chamber, the enclosure is either held stationary, or slid over the upper layers of rod ends. Concurrently, a wedge is either manually placed in the annular space between the layers and held stationary, or it is forced into the annular space between the layers. Any of the above combination of actions will force the rods against the sleeve and enclosure and frictionally secure them. The wedge may be a malleable metal so that it will cold flow about a portion of the rods. A flexible polymer covering is placed over the assembly to complete the housing.

Abstract: First and second tube sections (12, 14) are dimensioned so as to enable telescoping receipt of an end portion of one within the other. A pair of parallel slots (36) in the end portion of the second tube section (14) is slidingly received onto a break pin (28) transversely secured within the first tube section (12). A further break pin (38) is transversely secured within the end portion of the second tube section (14). An optical fiber cable (17) passes through the tube sections and between the break pins (28,38) such that on the tube sections being axially separated, the fiber cable conforms about the break pins in relatively small radii severing the fiber cable.

Abstract: An electrical overstress composite of conductor/semiconductor particles including particles in the 100 micron range, micron range, and submicron range, distributed in a densely packed homogeneous manner, a minimum proportion of 100 angstrom range insulative particles separating the conductor/semiconductor particles, and a minimum proportion of insulative binder matrix sufficient to combine said particles into a stable coherent body.

Abstract: A drill bit and chuck for interconnection with the end of a flexible drive shaft which axially and rotationally restrains the drill bit against becoming separated from the chuck during an operation requiring bone drilling, for example. The drill bit drive end has an eccentrically mounted boss with an enlarged head. A collet has an internal wall with an eccentric opening for receiving and locking with the drill bit boss head. The opposite end of the collet is staked onto the flexible shaft.

Abstract: An EMI shielded connector is provided having an exterior receptacle shell, plug housing and coupling member constructed of plastic. Metallic sleeves line the shell and housing interiors and enclose insert assemblies. The sleeves are releasably engaged at a joint connection to provided electrical continuity through the connector for EMI protection. A junction means may be used to enhance electrical communication at the joint connection and a sealing member is used for environmental protection of the connector interior parts.

Abstract: An electrical connector having plug and receptacle parts which can be mated with the parts oriented over a wide angular range relative to one another. The male contacts each include a pair of spaced apart, elongated blades which are received with a similarly dimensioned V-shaped slot in a female contact. A pair of spring loaded latch plates releasably lock the plug and receptacle together on mating.

Abstract: A filter connector comprising a conductive housing containing a pin array traversing corresponding holes in a grommet, a dielectric body, a planar capacitor array, ferrite inductor beads mounted on at least some of the pins, a non-conductive body to insulate said beads from one another and from said capacitor, a non-conductive seal, a second capacitor array, a second grommet, a second interface seal a grounding cylinder surrounding said capacitor arrays and said beads in an electrical contact with a ring of contact fingers mounted in the interior of said housing. Optionally, a conductive O-ring encircles said shell, to improve shielding.

Abstract: A switching device having an open-ended hollow cylindrical housing with a number of slots in the sidewall. An insulative piston is slidably movable along the housing longitudinal axis and has a threaded central opening receiving a similarly threaded axle. A receptacle switch part fits onto a housing end and includes a central opening through which an unthreaded portion of the axle extends. Openings in the receptacle switch part each have a sleeve contact with outwardly extending tabs for electrical connection to cable wires, or the like. The piston has a plurality of pin contacts fixedly mounted thereto with portions extending from both sides of the piston for electrical connection to cable wires, for example, and which respectively align with a sleeve contact in the switch part. A further receptacle switch part is affixed to the housing other end. Rotative power drives the piston along the housing to effect connection between the contacts.

Abstract: A threat field sensor has a hollow metal enclosure with imperforate side walls except for a single aperture that is small as compared with the wavelength of interfering electromagnetic energy. A coaxial conductor is located in the enclosure cavity and has separate sets of leads interconnected to each conductor end. Electric signals induced in the coaxial conductor and present at the conductor ends by the external electromagnetic fields passing through the enclosure aperture are converted to two corresponding light signals. The light signals are transmitted to remotely located processing apparatus by an optical fiber link where the light signals are converted once again to electric signal counterparts. Summing and differencing these electric signals provides two final signals representative of the electric and magnetic field, respectively.