Abstract: A thin film bridge initiator for initiation of explosives includes a thin film resistive element of a selected composition of Nichrome, alternately Tantalum Nitride either of which is evaporated upon (in the case of Nichrome) or sputtered upon (in the case of Tantalum Nitride) an alumina substrate. A prime explosive mix is contained against the initiator film elements by a positive retention contactor assembly.

Abstract: A multilayer rigid flex printed circuit board, wherein the board laminate comprises a double-sided basestock composite, formed by laminating two conducting sheets (12 and 14) to an insulating layer, said insulator layer contacting a flexible core (20), a second insulator layer (24 and 26) affixed to each side of the basestock, said insulator having a cutout region proximate to the flexible core of the basestock composite, a flexible layer (28 and 30) affixed to said cutout regions with an adhesive, wherein said flexible layer contacts the conducting layers and abuts and overlaps a portion of the second insulator layer such that upon stacking of the board laminate a hollow region (32) is produced as between the stacked laminate sections.

Abstract: High specific gravity, lead free shotshell pellets are produced by preparing an iron-tungsten alloy having a specific gravity of at least 8 g/cc, melting the alloy at a temperature of about 1550.degree.-1760.degree. C., pouring the melted alloy through at least one orifice of a sieve having a specific sized opening so as to produce a desired final product size, and allowing the melted alloy to fall by gravity through a gaseous medium to form drops of molten metal, and cooling the individual molten drops to form spherical metal pellets. A plurality of orifices of different sizes may be used in order to form a desired distribution of shot pellet sizes.

Abstract: A sensing surface for a sensing cathode electrode useful in electrochemical gas sensors for sensing active gases in a gas mixture. The gas sensors are utilized in sensing oxygen or exhaust gases from a motor vehicle, so that there is a potential for causing deposits on the sensing surface of the electrode of either lead oxide species or lead carbonate thereon. The sensing surface is plated with rhodium or platinum for rejecting or prolonging the formation of any of the deposits thereon leading to an increase in rated life for the gas sensor greater than heretofore thought possible.

Abstract: Heat is transferred from a first fluid to a cooler second fluid with a heat exchanger having heat exchanger tubes in which the cooler second fluid flows, preferably in a counterflow to the first fluid. The heat exchanger tubes are arranged in more than three rows of heat exchanger tubes. The first fluid proceeds successively downstream through such rows in heat-transfer relationship with the heat exchanger tubes. Each downstream row of heat exchanger tubes has less throughput area for the first fluid than an adjacent upstream row of heat exchanger tubes as among at least the first three rows of heat exchanger tubes in the direction of flow of the first fluid. Each downstream row of heat exchanger tubes may have less heat exchanger tubes than an adjacent upstream row of heat exchanger tubes as among at least the first three of the rows of heat exchanger tubes in the direction of flow of the first fluid.

Abstract: A brush-head assembly for a motor driven toothbrush including an elongated handle housing a motor with a primary drive shaft extending outwardly from one end of the handle, said assembly comprising a housing sleeve attachable at one end to said handle, said sleeve having a second end defining an inner cylindrical bearing surface and an annular end surface, a brush head including a shaft journaled in said second sleeve end and defining an outer cylindrical bearing surface juxtaposed with said inner cylindrical bearing surface and an annular shoulder juxtaposed with said annular end surface of said sleeve, and a soft resilient annular bushing positioned between said brush head shoulder and said sleeve end surface.

Abstract: An electrochemical, galvanic type, oxygen sensor including scavenging electrodes for continuously reacting any unreacted or partially reacted active gases, such as oxygen, to remove the active gases prior to being dissolved or have been dissolved in the electrolyte resulting in less than accurate output signals. The use of the scavenging electrodes permits the gas sensor to detect active gases in a gas mixture in sub-parts per billion level accurately and without the need for external sparging of the electrolyte with a pure inert gas. The liquid electrolyte may be stored in the a sol-gel medium formed in sensor container and holding the electrolyte in voids or pockets in the medium thereby rendering the oxygen sensor portable with the stored electrolyte and usable within a few minutes of operation.

Abstract: A system for detecting, in real time, the existence, depth, extent, and type of a defect in an above ambient temperature object which has been formed by working or other heat input. Such defect detection is performed by analyzing IR emissions from the product, and from a defect site in particular, in order to assess the characteristics of the detected defect. The defect observables are then compared with known defect training data in order to characterize the defect as to type, depth and extent.

Abstract: A method for producing a refractory metal foil from a workpiece fabricated of a refractory metal material includes the step of heat treating the workpiece for a first time period of approximately 1.5 hours at a first temperature of approximately 2,650.degree. Fahrenheit and subsequently for a second time period of approximately 2.0 hours at a second temperature of approximately 2,200.degree. Fahrenheit. The next step is forming the workpiece into a sheet of refractory metal material having a first sheet thickness of approximately one inch. The next step is heat treating the sheet of refractory metal material for a third time period of approximately 2 hours at a third temperature of approximately 2,200.degree. Fahrenheit. The next step is compressing the sheet of refractory metal material into a second sheet thickness of approximately 0.040 inches. The next step is annealing the sheet of refractory metal material for a first annealing time period for approximately 2.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and apparatus for mixing a secondary fluid with a primary fluid have utility in venturi and other fluid mixing systems in agriculture, fluid, fuel combustion and other fields where liquid or gaseous chemicals, liquid or gaseous fuels or other fluids are entrained in a stream of water, air or other gaseous or liquid primary fluid. One of these methods provides for the primary fluid (21) a first flow channel (65) deceasing in a direction of flow of primary fluid, utilizes dynamic energy of that primary fluid to induce secondary fluid (35) into that primary fluid, and provides for the primary fluid with induced secondary fluid a second flow channel (66) increasing in a direction of flow of that primary fluid with induced secondary fluid, while arranging corresponding sides 67 and 68 of these first and second flow channels along a plane common to said first and second channels.

Abstract: The invention is an improved cap for a collapsible tube, particularly a tube having tamper evident means as is used on tubes having eye medications. The cap has a flexible substantially cylindrical wall which can be squeezed into an elliptical shape to permit the user to exert substantial force, by means of a "thumb screw" effect, to unscrew the cap from the tube.

Abstract: A modular air-driven pump includes an air motor and various sized fluid pumps which are interchangeably mountable to the air motor. The air motor includes first and second bulkheads, a motor cylinder held between the first and second bulkheads, and a motor piston within the motor cylinder. An air control system supplies air from an air inlet to the motor cylinder alternately on each side of the motor piston while venting the motor cylinder on an opposite side of the motor piston to an air outlet to reciprocate the motor piston. The first bulkhead has an opening substantially coaxial with the motor cylinder and first and second cylindrically-shaped and coaxial recesses at an outward side of the first bulkhead which surround the opening The second recess has larger diameter and a smaller depth than the first recess so that they are stair stepped.

Abstract: Provision of an abnormality detection and suppression system for a valve apparatus, which is capable of detecting abnormal states such as leakage through valve seats or a gland/packing assembly and coping with the abnormality while ensuring protection for the valve apparatus by controlling a driving unit for a valve stem on the basis of information as detected, by means of a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor and a strain sensor are disposed internally of a valve stem 4 at a portion thereof which lies outside of a valve casing of the valve apparatus.

Abstract: An electric oscillating tool, having particular but not necessarily exclusive utility as an electric toothbrush, for driving a brush head assembly or end effector with a resonant mechanism at high frequencies. The electric toothbrush includes handle housing, an electromagnetic motor mounted in the housing, and a mechanical oscillator acted upon by the motor. One end of the mechanical oscillator extends outwardly through an opening in the handle housing while the other end is attached to the housing inside the chamber. The end effector/brush head assembly attaches to the extending end of the mechanical oscillator. A power source supplies an alternating current drive signal to the motor, in turn causing the armature and the mechanical oscillator to oscillate and drive the brush head assembly.

Abstract: A partially translucent mural decoy containing selective translucent panels representing horizontal and other areas of the simulated target that appear brighter than surrounding areas of the target under certain conditions. When frontlit, these translucent panels present the same relative brightness as the surrounding opaque areas of the target. When backlit, these translucent panels appear brighter than the surrounding opaque areas of the target simulation, and this brighter aspect increases as the sun approaches the horizon. Thus the presentation of horizontal and similar areas of the simulated target when the target is backlit is simulated.

Abstract: Multilayer rigid flex printed circuits are fabricated from a novel basestock composite comprising two copper conducting sheets, bonded to insulator layers comprised of fiberglass sheets impregnated with an adhesive such as epoxy, wherein the insulator layers are both affixed to Kapton layers wherein said Kapton layers are not coextensive with the borders of the insulator layers. The basestock composite can then be imaged and etched on the conductor layers to form conductor patterns, laminated or coated with a coverlay of dielectric material, and the basestock can be cut at a point internal to its borders and into the Kapton layers thereby separating two imaged and etched conductor layers.

Abstract: A portable water purification system has a prefiler, a pumping unit, a reverse osmosis unit, a microbial control unit and a post filter for removing nuclear, biological, chemical and other contaminants from a water source. The hand operated pumping unit has a feed water cylinder and a concentrate cylinder to control ratios between intake and concentrate volumes. The system further prolongs the life of components by reducing the level of contaminants in contact with parts of the system.