Abstract: An improved acoustic transducer, transducerized fastener and method of manufacture are presented wherein a piezoelectric crystal and a contact/retaining button assembly are permanently attached to a fastener. The contact/retaining button assembly has an insulator board sandwiched between upper and lower electrodes, with at least one plated thru-hole for electrical contact between the electrodes.

Abstract: An improved PC Card element, particularly a flash card unit, is presented in which the unit is hermetically sealed. The unit has a metallic frame, a metallic header with glass or ceramic encapsulated through pins, and opposed outer metallic covers, all of the metallic elements being of the same metal and being welded together to form a hermetically sealed unit.

Abstract: A capacitor exploding foil initiator device having a capacitor connected in parallel to a bleed resistor. The capacitor and resistor are connected across an exploding foil initiator by an over-voltage gap switch. When a voltage of the capacitor reaches a breakdown voltage of the switch, the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged through the switch to the exploding foil initiator.

Abstract: A perforating gun using an electrical safe arm device and a capacitor exploding foil initiator device. The capacitor exploding foil initiator device having a capacitor connected in parallel to a bleed resistor which are connected across an exploding foil initiator by an over-voltage gap switch. When a voltage of the capacitor reaches a breakdown voltage of the switch, the energy stored in the capacitor is discharged through the switch to the exploding foil initiator which initiates a detonator cord thereby detonating the shaped charges of the perforating gun.

Abstract: An integrated safety discharge module for providing a high voltage high current pulse to a load includes a capacitor and a bleed resistor, The capacitor is connected to the bleed resistor by such means as to form a structure which ensures that failure of either the capacitor or the bleed resistor will preclude charging of the capacitor and/or the delivery of energy to the load, The unit may also include a circuit for providing visual indication of a threshold charge on the capacitor.

Abstract: An omni-directional inertia switching device is presented. The inertia switching device comprises a housing having a conically shaped upper portion for retaining a ball member within the housing. The ball member is supported by a flat spring having a star shaped opening therethrough. The flat star spring is comprised of electrically conductive material. A lower contact member and the conductive flat star spring are separated by an insulator except for a central opening corresponding to the portion of the flat star spring where the ball member is located. Further, the flat star spring and the lower contact member have terminals which extend from the housing for connection with an external device. The device of the present invention is actuated when a preselected amount of inertia force causes the ball to overcome the biasing forces of the flat star spring bringing the flat star spring and the lower contact member into electrical contact.

Abstract: A fluid operated low profile wrench has a rack and gear drive system to provide an accurate lever arm. The gear is a gear segment which forms part of the output lever of the wrench. The wrench is capable of using a multiplicity of drive heads and/or a multiplicity of reaction elements.

Abstract: A system is presented for monitoring, measuring and controlling tie bars in, for example, a die casting machine. In this system, an ultrasonic device is used to monitor stress, strain, load, bending and temperature changes in each of the tie bars (typically four). This ultrasonic system will sound an alarm and/or shut down the die cast machine if bending in individual tie bars exceeds a predetermined limit, or if the variance in the combined tie bar loads exceeds a predetermined critical limit. The system of the present invention is comprised of an ultrasonic device that monitors changes in tie bar length with applied load, transducers that send and receive the ultrasonic signals to and from the tie bars, a microprocessor to select the proper transducer and log the data, and a multiplexer that switches the transducer signals on command from the controlling microprocesor. Preferably, the tie bars are instrumented with four equally spaced transducers.

Abstract: A secure coding device is presented that requires a multi-bit binary code to rotate a locking cam to an unlock position. The device is secure against unauthorized human intervention because it does not provide information to an attempted intervenor which can be used to further attempt to gain access to the system.

Abstract: A torque wrench is presented which has dual output/reaction modes, with the input and output operating in the same direction in both modes. In one mode, a stationary reaction adapter is outside of an inner rotating torque adapter; in the second mode, a stationary reaction adapter is inside of an outer rotation torque adapter. Torque levels are measured by strain gages mounted on a single reaction arm and are read out digitally.

Abstract: A torquing apparatus is presented having a split ring which engages a member to which a torque load is to be applied. The split ring is loaded into gripping engagement with the member during a forward (torque input) operation; and the split ring is released from the member during a return operation to achieve repeated operation without removing the apparatus from the member to be torqued.

Abstract: A disc drive assembly for a magnetic disc memory unit is presented. The disc drive assembly has a stationary spindle to which a motor stator assembly is fastened by a wedge ring structure. The motor rotor assembly is constituted by a rotary hub mounted around the stator, the hub having a motor magnet mounted therein. A plurality of magnetic discs may be mounted on the exterior of the hub.

Abstract: A torquing tool is provided which is adapted to tighten threaded connections located in hard to reach places to precise torque values. The torquing tool comprises a housing having a pair of spaced arms pivotably attached thereto. Each arm include a series of idler gears which terminate at a reversible output gear or drive shaft. The housing includes a gearing mechanism which drives a selector gear. The selector gear pivots between a first position which will actuate the idler gears and output gear in the first arm and a second position which will actuate the idler gears and output gear in a second arm. During use, the output gears of the torquing tool are mounted on a pair of spaced nuts; with the arms being pivoted to adjust for differing bolt centers. Next, a handle extending from the housing is actuated to move the selector gear between the first or second position to acutate the gears in either the first or second arms.

Abstract: A torquing apparatus is presented having a split ring which engages a member to which a torque load is to be applied. The split ring is initially loaded to establish a threshold friction load between the split ring and the member. The split ring is loaded into gripping engagement with the member during a forward (torque input) operation; and the split ring is released from the member during a return operation to achieve repeated operation without removing the apparatus from the member to be torqued.

Abstract: A magnetic disc memory unit is presented wherein a pair of read/write heads are on a pivot arm which is belt driven by a stepper motor. The read/write heads move in an arc, and they retract to a landing position fully off the disc when the unit is shut down. The unit incorporates several features to overcome or minimize vibration and temperature problems so that the unit is suitable for operation in extreme vibration and temperature environments and in all attitudes. These features include, but are not limited to, a rotary table and a rotary mounted spindle made from different materials and joined by a cryogenic joint; pre-loaded elastomeric "O" rings; an electrically conductive ball used for grounding the disc support to the housing; and a single continuous split belt connected between the output of the stepper motor and the pivot arm.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented for determining the torque load applied to a fastening element by a fluid powered wrench, and displaying a digital readout of the torque. The operating pressure of the wrench, after compensation for the temperature of the pressure transducer, is converted to a torque measurement by a programmed microprocessor and the torque value is displayed on a digital readout. The system is useable with and adjusts for wrenches of several sizes by an input selector switch connected to the microprocessor. Apparatus and method are also presented for automatic cycling of a ratcheting hydraulic powered wrench and automatic termination of the tightening process when a predetermined torque has been delivered to the fastening element.

Abstract: A purge erase apparatus is presented to erase information stored on a magnetic disc. A multiplicity of coils are connected in parallel and are arranged around the disc to create a magnetic field having a region of maximum field intensity. When an erase signal is given, the information on the disc will be erased in one or two revolutions of the rotating magnetic disc through the region of maximum field intensity.

Abstract: A wrench is presented which includes a power cylinder having a piston rod extending therethrough. An anchor or reaction assembly comprising an anchoring ring and attached anchor rod is adjustably attached to the piston rod to permit connection of the anchoring ring to a nut spaced from the nut to be turned. A wrench assembly comprising a preferably arcuate lever arm with a ratchet assembly is pivotably connected to the power cylinder. The wrench incorporates a ratchet pawl which engages a drive mechanism. A control lever can disengage the pawl from the drive mechanism, and a latch mechanism retains the control lever and pawl in a disengaged position until released.

Abstract: A tape transport cartridge is presented having a pair of brakes for the drive belt, the brakes being positioned to increase the angle of separation of the drive belt from the magnetic tape. This increased angle of separation results in improved drive of the tape, and the dual brake arrangement also establishes a more nearly constant instantaneous velocity differential for the tape packs, resulting in a lower and more constant tape tension.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented for determining the torque load applied to a fastening element by a fluid powered wrench, and displaying a digital readout of the torque. The operating pressure of the wrench, after compensation for the temperature of the pressure transducer, is converted to a torque measurement by programmed microprocessor and the torque value is displayed on a digital readout. The system is useable with and adjusts for wrenches of several sizes by an input selector switch connected to the microprocessor.