Abstract: A multi-channeled digital seismic field stacking system is disclosed for obtaining the composite response to a variable source array. A variable source array is synthesized by applying preselected weighting coefficients to the seismic signals produced in response to a selected number of surface energy impulses. The seismic signals produced by these impulses are amplified, multiplexed and digitized to obtain digital samples to which are applied the weighting coefficients. A digital multiplier is used to multiply each digital sample by a weighting coefficient to obtain a weighted digital sample. Each digital sample is multiplied by two weighting coefficients, a partial and a final. The partial weighted samples from each of the impulses are summed together to form a partial stack, while the final weighted samples are summed together to form a final stack. The variable source array which is synthesized covers two station intervals.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting a stream of articles and for ejecting unacceptably classified articles therefrom is characterized by an ejector dwell controller operative to control the duration of operation of an ejector element in accordance with the length of the article being ejected. The ejector is initiated when a predetermined lead-point on an article classified as unacceptable enters into an ejection zone proximal to the ejector and continues until a predetermined cut-off point thereon enters the ejection zone. An ejecting force is thus directed toward the same predetermined portion of each article being ejected without regard to the location of the defect causing the unacceptable classification.

Abstract: A sphere launching apparatus for use with a valve closure member for sequentially ejecting spheres in a pipeline, said apparatus having a releasing means pivotable about a first axis for engaging a valve closure member and a sphere catcher means pivotally secured about a second axis spaced from the first axis for releasably engaging spheres and having an adjustable actuating link connecting the releasing means and catching means for causing angular movement of the same to angularly pivot the catcher means into and out of engagement with successive spheres at a first rate upon angular pivoting of the releasing means at a second rate less than the first rate through opening and closing of the valve closure member to sequentially release spheres and to allow the valve closure member to substantially close before releasing the next sphere.

Abstract: A multiple fluid pump for providing multiple output fluid streams at varying pressures with high pressure reciprocating plungers of the pump having equal intervals between their compression strokes to minimize vibrations and shocks in the high pressure output fluid stream and low pressure reciprocating plungers of the pump having their compression strokes intermediate to the high pressure compression strokes.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting articles randomly disposed in an article stream includes a viewer for viewing a predetermined area through which the article stream is passed and for generating an electrical characteristic signal functionally related to the presence of a physical characteristic of the article passing within the viewed area. The electrical characteristic signal is compared to a range of signal values representative of a foreign object. The amount of time during which the characteristic signal falls within the range of signal values during a reference time interval is measured and compared with a time reference standard. An article reject signal is generated if the characteristic signal falls within the predetermined range of signal values for an amount of time exceeding the predetermined time reference standard.

Abstract: A high-resolution laser graphics plotter for plotting data on a recording medium as selectively positioned spots (pixels) of variable intensity is disclosed. The intensity of a collimated laser beam is modulated in response to plotting data to produce a modulated light beam. The modulated light beam produces a spot on a light-sensitive film positioned in a flat field image plane. A multi-facet rotating mirror scans the modulated beam across the image plane. A flat field scan lens is positioned between the rotating mirror and the image plane to provide correction for the non-linear velocity of the beam as it is scanned across the image plane, and to provide a constant diffraction limited spot size for each spot plotted. A spot placement means is provided to generate the spot placement signal which cooperates with the plot data to modulate the laser beam.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for determining the conformity of an energy pulse generated by a weight drop seismic source to a defined energy pulse characteristic in order that reflections associated with a non-conforming energy pulse can be rejected. The apparatus operates to compare the signature of a weight drop with a signature standard. Incoming seismic data is rejected and not recorded if the difference between the incoming signature pulse shape and the standard signature pulse shape is too great. The pulse shape of the incoming signature is analyzed by comparing a sample of the incoming signature amplitude to upper and lower rejection limits derived from a time correlated amplitude sample of the standard signature. The upper and lower rejection limits against which an incoming signature sample is compared are proportional to the amplitude of the time correlated standard signature sample.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus wherein a plurality of first and second electrical color signals from a predetermined number of viewer elements is utilized to generate classification signals functionally related to the ratio of the color signals from each viewer and an ejector associated with each viewer is actuated if a comparison of each ratio classification signal with predetermined references indicates an unacceptably colored product or foreign object is characterized by a foreign object ejector arrangement being operable if the ratio classification signal falls within a predetermined defined range of signal values. A threshold network actuates the foreign object ejector arrangement only if an article is detected within the field of view of the viewer elements. Circuitry to present a substitute classification signal within the predetermined range of signal values if the electrical color signals are of equal value is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for indicating unauthorized delivery of liquid product for use in connection with a Veeder-Root Counter-Printer is characterized by a timer arrangement adapted to measure the time duration of an interruption in liquid product flow and to prime the printer's sale sequence number for incrementation if the duration of the interruption exceeds a predetermined time interval. If flow is resumed before the same ticket is removed from the printer, a nonsequential sale sequence number is imprinted on the ticket when it is removed, thereby providing an indicia that flow has been interrupted for at least the predetermined interval.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a nulling arrangement which corrects for amplifier offset and drift as the sort occurs. The nulling arrangement samples the amplifier output during a predetermined sample time period to detect the lowest signal output from the amplifier during the sample period. An electrical signal representative of the difference between the lowest detected signal and a predetermined reference signal representative of the light reflected from the background is generated for application as a correction signal to the amplifier. A memory stores the largest correction signal detected during the previous sample period for application to the amplifier during the present sample period. The memory also stores the largest correction signal detected during the present sample period.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for performing an article sort based upon the intensity of light energy reflected from the article at predetermined first and second color wavelengths is characterized by an addressable memory element having a plurality of memory storage locations therein, each memory location being addressable by a different combination of the reflected light intensities at the first and second color wavelengths. Each memory location has stored therein a classification signal representative of the acceptability of an article exhibiting the reflected light intensities at the first and second color wavelengths corresponding to the address of the storage location.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a circuit arrangement responsive to first and second electrical signals representative of the light reflected from the same portion of the article to be sorted as detected against a first and a second background, the first background having a reflectivity characteristic greater than the reflectivity characteristic of the second background, to generate an electrical signal representation of the portion of the viewing zone occupied by the article. This signal is used to scale both the first and second signals to provide an electrical signal representation of the reflectivity of the article at the first and second color wavelengths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing liquid or drilling mud with solids is disclosed. The apparatus provides first and second concentric housings which are utilized as mixing chambers. An inlet passageway is tangentially connected to the inner housing for feeding a slurry material to be mixed with solids axially fed into the same housing. A discharge port is further provided and connected to an outer housing for tangentially discharging the homogeneous mixture of slurry and solid materials from the outer mixing chamber at high velocities to an elevation above the inlet. The method for mixing includes tangentially feeding the slurry into the mixing chamber, mixing the slurry with solid materials through the use of centrifugal force, shear forces and spill-over from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, and finally tangentially discharging the mixture from the outer chamber.

Abstract: A pipeline corrosion coupon holder apparatus for large diameter pipelines which has a coupon housing assembly mounted adjacent the pipeline with the coupon housing assembly allowing access to a coupon withdrawn from the pipeline for removal and replacement of the coupon through the coupon housing assembly without removal of the coupon through a shaft housing assembly which has a reciprocally mounted shaft for insertion and retrieval of the coupon from the large diameter pipeline.

Abstract: An improved seismic array is disclosed having a plurality of seismic detector connection points with a seismic detector at each seismic detector connection point. The output of each seismic detector in the array is weighted by providing first resistive weighting at each seismic detector connection point. The weighted output of all detectors in the array is provided to a first end of the array over a single pair of wires. An amplifier is additionally provided for connection to the pair of wires at the first end of the array, and the amplifier has feedback network, including a resistor. The ratio of the value of the resistance in the feedback network to the value of the weighting resistor at a seismic detector connection point determines the magnitude of the signal appearing at the output of the amplifier from the response from the seismic detector at that point.

Abstract: An improved instantaneous floating point amplifier is provided having a plurality of cascaded amplifier stages, wherein the gain of a given stage of the amplifier is the square of the gain of the immediately succeeding stage of the amplifier. The number of amplifier stages which are required to implement the amplifier is minimized, and the control logic which is required to decide if a given stage is needed to amplify the input signal to a level within preselected limits is simplified. The amplifier has an automatic nulling feature which permits nulling of the amplifier without loss of data.

Abstract: An improved seismic array and method of seismic exploration are provided which have the capability to supply data to separate recording stations simultaneously. The seismic array has a plurality of seismic detector connection points, and a seismic detector is located at each seismic detector connection point. The outputs of the seismic detectors are electrically isolated from each other, and weighting may be applied to the output of each seismic detector in the array. Two signal-carrying media are also provided in the array, and the weighted outputs of the seismic detectors are conveyed to the first end of the array over one signal-carrying medium and to the second end of the array over the second signal-carrying medium. A Chebychev weighted array is achieved by a proper selection of weighting.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting articles randomly disposed across a wide path is characterized by a plurality of side-by-side viewer elements each assigned a corresponding side-by-side sector of an illuminated viewed area through which the articles to be sorted pass. Electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous average value of light reflected from articles at two predetermined wavelengths as those articles pass through a sector of the viewed area are multiplexed and a classification signal functionally related to the ratio of the two signals is determined. The classification signal is compared to a reference signal indicative of an article having a predetermined physical characteristic, and a reject signal is generated if the compared signals differ by a predetermined amount. The reject signal is stored in an assigned memory location corresponding to the sector of the viewed area through which the article passed.

Abstract: A fluid valve apparatus having a stationary semicylindrical member through which a fluid port extends is characterized by a valve band which is flexibly movable from a first, closed, to a second, open, position in response to an actuating force. In the closed position, the flexible valve band is pulled taut about the surface of the cylindrical member and covers the fluid port. When closed, the valve band is subjected to a compressive force on the first surface thereof adjacent to the stationary cylindrical member and a tensile force on a second surface thereof. While in the open position, in which the fluid port is uncovered, the flexible valve band is subjected only to a tensile force tangentially directed relative to the surface of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: An improved instantaneous floating point amplifier is provided having a plurality of cascaded amplifier stages, wherein the gain of a given stage of the amplifier is the square of the gain of the immediately succeeding stage of the amplifier. The number of amplifier stages which are required to implement the amplifier is minimized, and the control logic which is required to decide if a given stage is needed to amplify the input signal to a level within preselected limits is simplified. The amplifier has an automatic nulling feature which permits nulling of the amplifier without loss of data.