Abstract: A linear fire extinguisher, includes a high strength elongated tube containing a pressurized fire extinguishant such as HALON 1301. A shaped charge is placed along the exterior of the tube and when actuated provides a rupture line which causes a directed distribution of the fire extinguishant along the rupture line.

Abstract: Temperature is monitored along a linear path by utilizing a plurality of temperature sensitive diodes spaced along the path. These are connected at separate and spaced taps of a delay line, a pulse is propagated down the delay line and the effect of the temperature influenced conductivity of the diode on the pulse as it passes a respective diode is sensed.

Abstract: A servo type accelerometer including a main support base, a pendulum assembly and a servo arrangement is disclosed herein. The pendulum assembly includes a pendulum and means supporting the pendulum for limited rotational movement through a normal resting plane about a fixed axis within that plane and relative to the base in response to and as a result of the pendulum being subjected to acceleration forces normal to the resting plane. The servo arrangement cooperates with the pendulum for monitoring the presence and magnitude of these acceleration forces, if present. A particular feature of the accelerometer disclosed resides in specifically designed flexures for supporting the pendulum and a technique for preventing these flexures from being placed in a state of compression and possibly being damaged thereby.

Abstract: Servoed accelerometer with isolated voltage torquing having first and second grounds, a servoed accelerometer having a torque coil, and an amplifier for driving said torque coil. The amplifier has inverting and non-inverting junctions. The second ground is coupled to the non-inverting junction of the amplifier. A torque signal supply is coupled to the first ground. A transformer is provided for coupling the torque signal supply to the non-inverting junction of the amplifier and serves to isolate the torque signal supply from the non-inverting input of the amplifier so that the amplifier and polarity of the torque signal are preserved.

Abstract: A transmission line analyzer for automatically identifying the severities and locations of multiple mismatches generates a ripple waveform which is digitally analyzed by a fast fourier transform method. Foreign and harmonic signals are rejected, and return loss at each mismatch accurately determined.

Abstract: A stable, low noise voltage-to-current converter is provided to control the tuning current in YIG tuned devices such as YIG tuned transistor oscillators. The circuit provides stable tuning current which is substantially noise free.

Abstract: A passive mass-spring type of sensing device or other such device for monitoring a particular parameter, for example mechanical vibration, is disclosed herein. This device utilizes an electrically conductive coil having a given impedance disposed within a magnetic field in a way which results in relative movement between the coil and the field corresponding to the particular parameter being monitored, whereby to produce a monitoring signal in the form of a voltage which also corresponds to the parameter being monitored. The device includes a circuit arrangement for electronically damping the relative movement recited above in a substantial way while, at the same time, maintaining the monitoring signal at a measurable value.

Abstract: A fluid coupling component having a valve that functions in a conventional manner when the component is connected to a mating component, but functions as a pressure relief valve when the component is in a disconnected condition. The coupling component includes a poppet and a valve, both mounted for sliding movement within a housing, and urged into engagement by a valve spring, when in the disconnected condition. A shoulder inside the housing limits movement of the poppet in a direction out of the housing, and allows sufficient internal fluid pressure to move the valve out of engagement with the poppet.

Abstract: An improved fluid line connector in which an O ring seal (64) in a male portion (10) of the connector is better protected against failure in high-pressure or high-flow conditions. The seal is peripherally surrounded over more than half its thickness by a retainer (70) having an annular peripheral lip (72). In the sealed condition, reaction forces acting through the seal hold the lip (72) away from the valve seat structure while still permitting a perfect seal, and in the connected condition the retainer (70) provides maximum protection against washing out of the seal. In addition, a retainer securing ring (76) limits movement of the retainer (70) and further minimizes seal washout.

Abstract: An angular rate instrument adapted for mounting to a given object for measuring the rate of turn of the latter is disclosed herein. This instrument utilizes an angular accelerometer to sense angular acceleration to which the instrument is subjected and a circuit for integrating the difference between this signal and a reference signal to produce an integrated output signal corresponding to the rate of turn of the object. The angular rate instrument also utilizes a null circuit for producing the reference signal in response to and dependent on low frequency error signals which appear at the output of the signal integrating circuit. The null circuit uses a capacitor to provide the reference signal and means for maintaining the charge on the capacitor during power interruptions so as to prevent losing the reference signal as a result of such interruptions.

Abstract: A pendulous type of oil filled accelerometer is disclosed herein, specifically one which is sensitive to temperature changes sufficient to introduce a temperature related error into its output signal, if left uncorrected. A technique which compensates for these temperature changes in order to reduce the resultant error to an acceptable level is also disclosed herein. This technique uses the oil itself, specifically its sensitivity to changes in temperature resulting in changes in its density, in combination with an expandable/contractible bellows.

Abstract: A new microprocessor controlled digital multimeter offers significant advantages to the user. Automatic calibration allows a new reference IC board to be inserted and because of such calibration the multimeter is instantly ready for use.

Abstract: The technique for replacing certain components in a linear accelerometer with an arrangement compatible with all of the other components making up the accelerometer is disclosed herein. The components that are replaced include a potentiometer and mechanical acceleration sensing means which cooperate with one another and which operate on a DC excitation voltage for producing an initial voltage dependent on both the acceleration sensed and the excitation voltage. The arrangement replacing these latter components include acceleration sensing means operating on the same DC excitation voltage for producing an initial voltage which is dependent on the acceleration but which is independent of the excitation voltage and means for adding a percentage of the excitation voltage to this latter voltage for providing a voltage which is dependent on both the acceleration sensed and the excitation voltage, thereby making the arrangement compatible with those components in the accelerometer which have not been replaced.

Abstract: A dot connecting technique for the digital display of a spectrum analyzer generates vertical connecting lines between points by inhibiting the horizontal scan during such generation for a time period proportional to the vertical distance between dots to thereby provide connecting lines of constant intensity.

Abstract: A base line clipper for a spectrum analyzer display uses a five position momentary switch to move the base line in the up or down directions in either a fast or slow mode. This is especially useful in conjunction with the spectrum analyzer which has a variable scan time because of its dot connecting technique.

Abstract: A pendulous type of accelerometer is disclosed herein and includes a sealed housing defining an oil filled internal chamber, a pendulous member located within the housing chamber and a pair of bearing mechanisms for pivotally supporting the pendulous member. The accelerometer also includes an assembly associated with each of the bearing mechanisms for preloading the latter, each of which includes two preload arrangements, a first or inner arrangement and a second or outer arrangement. The inner arrangement is provided for applying and adjusting a preload force against its associated bearing mechanism before the housing is assembled and its chamber is filled with oil and sealed and the outer arrangement is provided for further adjusting the applied preload force from outside the housing after the latter is assembled and its inner chambers filled with oil and sealed.

Abstract: A microprocessor monitor or analyzer used as a test and troubleshooting tool for both the software and hardware of microprocessor based equipment. The analyzer is usable with all microprocessor families having accessible or reconstructible address and data busses up to 16 bits wide each. It has search modes that find and identify the first and last instruction in a program loop. A transfer mode permits stepping forward or backward through programs without setting addresses. It can be used as a passive real time address and data bus monitor or as an interactive break point generator. After a match address is encountered, strobing and storing of the address and data bus content can be delayed by a preset number of machine cycles, instruction cycles, loop cycles (loop being the repetitive execution of the same instruction) or combinations of these delays. After a halt or break, the processor can be stepped in single or multiple step increments according to the above cycles.

Abstract: A digitally programmable ramp generator produces a substantially linear ramp along with an equivalent digital code by use of a multiplying digital to analog converter which drives an integrator which produces a ramp voltage. This ramp voltage is compared in a feedback circuit with a stairstep ramp (produced by another DAC driven by a counter) and the summed signal is coupled to the reference input of the multiplying DAC so that if there is a difference between the stairstep and the analog ramp the first converter will tend to catch up to the stairstep ramp. Such stairstep ramp is incremented by a comparator which senses when the reference voltage to the multiplying DAC approaches zero; each time this occurs there is an incrementing of the counter. Thus, the digital counter value is equivalent to the value of the analog ramp at any point in time.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for fixedly supporting a tube is disclosed herein and includes a main body member, a secondary body member and a locking member, the latter maintaining the two body members in an interlocked tube supporting position. The locking member is integrally formed to include a shaft, an enlarged head at one end of the shaft and a crossbar at the other end of the shaft. This integral member is interlocked with the secondary body member of the clamp assembly regardless of its position with respect to the main body member, as provided by a special hand tool.

Abstract: Optical flame and explosion detection system having first and second channels with each of the channels being responsive to different combustion products and detecting radiation from the combustion products and converting the radiation into electrical signals. A filter is provided in each of the channels to limit the spectral response to a narrow band. The levels of the radiation are ascertained by level detectors which provide first and second signals when predetermined signal levels are reached in the first and second channels. A ratio of the two electrical signals from the first and second channels is ascertained. When a predetermined level is reached from the ratio of the electrical signals and also for the individual signals, an output signal is produced which can be utilized in actuating alarms and other devices.