Abstract: An electrical contact device, configured for electrical signals to be transmitted therethrough and for movable contact with an electrically conductive track, includes a composite carbon fiber material including plural carbon fiber elements aligned in substantially the same direction. At least a portion of the plural carbon fiber elements is bonded together in a semi-conductive (low-resistance) synthetic resin compound.

Abstract: An electrical contact device, configured for electrical signals to be transmitted therethrough and for movable contact with an electrically conductive track, includes a composite carbon fiber material including plural carbon fiber elements aligned in substantially the same direction. At least a portion of the plural carbon fiber elements is bonded together in a semi-conductive (low-resistance) synthetic resin compound.

Abstract: A nonmetallic electrical contact or wiper composed of a composite carbon fiber material through which an electrical signal is terminated. The carbon fibers are arranged in and bonded into a multi-layer structure used to conduct a primary electrical signal. A nonwoven carbon fiber mat is used as one or more of the layers structure, which also includes one or layers of carbon fiber, aligned substantially in the same direction, and encapsulated within a matrix of electrometric material. This mat also improves an off-axis conductivity of the material and provides increased mechanical stability required for the fabrication of electrical contacts or wipers produced using this material.

Abstract: A composite carbon fiber material is formed of one or more layers of carbon fiber material in which the carbon fibers are aligned all in the same direction and a mat of nonwoven, woven, or off-axis unidirectional carbon fibers are laminated together. Layers may be used individually or as a hybrid. The layers can be preimpregnated or impregnated during processing using thermoplastic or thermosetting resins. A layer of thermoplastic resin is applied either over the surface or within the composite structure, and the resin permeates the material so as to provide a more stable mechanical structure once the resin is processed. The material combines good mechanical strength with improved electrical current carrying properties when compared with the aligned carbon fiber layer alone. The layering sequence, layer type, and resin type can be specified to tailor electrical properties, mechanical properties, durability, and wear resistance.

Abstract: A sealed switch has two switch contacts arranged inside a cavity formed in a molded switch body and the terminal connection for each switch contact are also arranged in respective cavities in the switch body. The switch contacts are sealed by a rigid sheet material that is adhered to the bottom of the switch body and a flexible sheet material that is clamped to the top of the switch body by a spring-like metal element that includes an actuator arm arranged adjacent the moveable one of the two switch contacts. Upon depression of the actuator arm, the flexible sheet material is deformed and a moving force is applied to the moveable switch contact to make a switch connection. The cavities housing the terminal connections are covered by a pierceable insulating material, so that connection pins on a circuit board pass through the insulating material and engage with the terminal connections during mounting of the sealed switch.

Abstract: A nonmetallic electrical contact or wiper composed of material such as carbon fiber, in which an electrical signal is transmitted along a length of the carbon fibers. The carbon fibers can be fused or conductively bonded together. The carbon fibers can be affixed to a carrier using various bonding and fastening techniques. The carrier can be electrically conductive or not depending on the application and can be affixed to the carbon fibers by bonding, fusing, or mechanical fastening. Alternatively, the electrical contact can be formed entirely from the carbon fiber material, with any carrier being also formed of carbon fiber material.

Abstract: Electro-chemical polishing of fine wire contacts is facilitated by welding the wire contacts to a mounting element on a continuous, flexible, metal strip. The assembled contact strip is wound on a spool and transported to the electro-chemical polishing site where the contact strip is drawn into the polishing site at a constant rate under the control of a microprocessor. The progress of the assembled contact strip is monitored by metering rollers and pulse generators that inform the microprocessor of the drive speed of the assembled contact strip. The controller then provides signals to control the take-up and supply spools to ensure that a proper tip polishing operation is carried out.

Abstract: A waterproof switch has a single contact arranged in a sealed housing, with an actuator arm protruding from one end and electrical terminals protruding from an opposite end. The single contact is arranged close to a metal portion that is moved by the actuator into mechanical and electrical contact with the single contact. The sealed housing is formed of two pieces that are attached by a heat activated adhesive. The switch can be assembled by forming the metal switch parts on a long strip and subsequently, following the assembly of the housing, the small metal portions joining the switch parts are sheared away.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting preformed miniature precision metal stampings into a mold cavity for a subsequent plastic molding operation includes close tolerance positioning pins that accurately locate a die head assembly by fitting into respective holes in the mold base and pneumatic and electric motors for moving the die head vertically and horizontally, as well as forward and backward relative to the mold base. The metal stampings are preformed on a metal strip that is indexed in the insertion head by a pneumatically driven pilot pin and then pneumatic cylinders operate cutoff punches that detach the stampings from the strips and place them in the mold cavity. The entire insertion head assembly is permitted a small amount of movement necessary to align the positioning pins in the mold base holes by the provision of ball bearing mounting assemblies used to attach the insertion head apparatus to the base plate of the machine.

Abstract: There is disclosed a computerized automatic feeder system for feeding individualized prescribed rations to cattle confined in successive individual stalls aligned along a set path. The system comprises an apparatus capable of moving to each stall successively and having appropriate devices for preparing, at each stall, an individualized ratio for the cattle head in that stall and delivering it to the animal. A computer is mounted on the apparatus for controlling the operations of moving the apparatus to the stalls and preparing and delivering the rations.

Abstract: A disposable head adapted for one-time use as an attachment to an electric shaver for cutting hair of a patient close to the skin in preparation for surgery has a lower portion comprising a lower plastic member adapted for engagement with a portion of the body of a patient to be shaved and a lower thin metal blade insert-molded integrally with the lower plastic member at an upper region thereof and an upper portion comprising an upper plastic member and an upper thin metal blade insert-molded integrally with the upper plastic member at a lower region thereof. The blades are opposed to and in contact with each other when the head is assembled, and each of the blades has an edge formed with a row of cutting teeth. The rows are substantially parallel to each other, and the teeth of each row are relatively reciprocable with respect to the teeth of the other row so as to cut hair drawn between a tooth of one row and an adjacent tooth of the other row.