Abstract: A variable weight optical interconnector is disclosed to include a projecting device and an interconnection weighting device remote from the projecting device. The projecting device projects a distribution of interconnecting light beams when illuminated by a spatially-modulated light pattern. The weighting device includes a photosensitive screen provided in optical alignment with the projecting device to independently control the intensity of each projected interconnecting beam to thereby assign an interconnection weight to each such beam. Further in accordance with the present invention, a highly-interconnected optical neural network having learning capability is disclosed as including a spatial light modulator, a detecting device, an interconnector according to the present invention, and a device responsive to detection signals generated by the detecting device to modify the interconnection weights assigned by the photosensitive screen of the interconnector.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of metal carbides from ferroalloys and nickel alloys of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, and hydrides thereof is disclosed. The selected ferroalloy or nickel alloy is contacted with a hydrogen containing gas, subdivided, and carbided by contact with a hydrocarbon containing gas at a temperature above 500.degree. C. The carbided reaction product is then leached with an aqueous acid solution for recovery.

Abstract: A crucible for containing molten mixtures of magnesium and magnesium chloride comprises an outer relatively thick base layer of austenitic stainless steel covered inside with a relatively thin layer of mild carbon steel. The stainless layer provides strength and good creep resistance at 850.degree. C., and the mild steel layer protects the stainless layer from chemical attack by liquid magnesium. The carbon steel lining is applied by weld overlaying.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in cushioning movement of a member in a press includes a cushion assembly having a piston and cylinder which are movable relative to each other against the influence of fluid pressure to cushion movement of the member. A flexible diaphragm retains a body of lubricant between an inner side of the diaphragm and the piston. The body of lubricant lubricates a seal between the piston and the cylinder. Fluid pressure is applied against the outer side of the diaphragm to oppose movement of the piston during operation of the press from the open condition to the closed condition. The piston is movable relative to the cylinder, under the influence of the fluid pressure applied against the outer side of the diaphragm and transmitted to the piston, during operation of the press from the closed condition to the open condition. The piston and diaphragm are spaced apart with the body of lubricant filling the space between the piston and diaphragm.

Abstract: A device for aligning and supporting a nutplate against the workpiece to ch it is to be fastened during the entire fastening cycle of an automatic riveting machine. The device has a base that may be mounted on the lower ram of an automatic riveting machine. A nutplate elevator moves vertically within a sleeve extending upwardly from the base. The end of the sleeve supports the workpiece lower surface. A driver anvil has pins that may be forced against the rivet tails in response to motion of the lower ram driving pin.In operation, the lower ram rises, clamping the workpiece between the end of the sleeve and the upper pressure foot. The nutplate elevator is lowered by applying air pressure to the top of a piston, which is contained within the anvil. A nutplate is placed on the elevator. The nutplate is raised by applying air pressure to the bottom of the piston, forcing the nutplate against the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for nonlinearizing modulo 2 addition based encryption by block substitution techniques which allows use of the substitution scheme with relatively simple hardware and yet makes cryptanalysis more difficult. The basic block substitution, a one to one mapping of n bit binary numbers onto themselves, is based on the fact that certain permutations of the n bit binary numbers define a block substitution by modulo 2 addition of one permuted set of numbers to another, and that a subset of these define equations having an additive relationship when viewed as vectors. This allows the simple changing of the transformation on a frequent basis. Then the equations are nonlinearized, also in an orderly and readily variable manner, so that the remainder of the set equations may no longer be generated from a limited subset of the equations. Various properties of the transformations and methods of using the same are disclosed.

Abstract: A fluid valve has a valve housing defining a corner and having a valve housing cover opposite that corner. That valve housing and cover enclose a valve chamber therein. A fluid inlet or outlet is in the valve housing cover. First and second valve seats for further fluid inlets or outlets are in first and second sides, respectively, of the corner in the valve chamber. A flapper is in that chamber for selectively closing the first valve seat and alternatively the second valve seat. A flapper actuator is in the corner of the valve housing. There may be an expansible valve closing member for each valve seat. Such expansible valve closing member may have an aperture paralleling that valve seat. A pilot valve may be at the expansible valve closing member for closing its aperture. Opening of the valve is initiated by moving the pilot valve away from the aperture in the expansible valve closing member, and such opening of the valve is completed by pulling the expansible valve closing member away from its valve seat.

Abstract: A process for making metal oxides including niobium or tantalum oxides from ferro and nickel alloys containing these metals involving the multiple steps of hydriding the ferro or nickel alloy selected, under conditions of suitable temperature and pressure to render the alloys friable, subdividing the hydrided product into selected particle sizes, then nitriding with a nitrogen-containing gas at elevated temperatures above 500.degree. C. to form the alloy constituent nitrides, thereafter leaching the nitrides formed with aqueous acid to separate the formed ferro or nickel nitride from the acid soluble nitrides from the acid insoluble nitrides, calcining the acid insoluble nitrides with oxygen-containing gas under conditions suitable for the formation of the metal oxide of the acid soluble nitride.

Abstract: Apparatus for soldering, leveling and cooling printed circuit panels including a preheater, a fluxer, and soldering, leveling and cooling stations. The cooperation of the soldering, leveling and cooling stations provides for efficient processing of printed circuit panels. The soldering station, which includes a solder immersion chamber through which the panels are conveyed, provides an oil coating on the solder to minimize formation of dross. Automatic replenishment of oil through use of suitable flux on the panels to be soldered provide continuous cleaning of the soldering system to permit extended operation. A cooling table transports the soldered panels on a cushion of air to prevent marring.

Abstract: Lift weighing arrangements in which arms to lift supports carry strain gauges.

Abstract: A method of making a Titanium, Vanadium and Chromium alloy substantially free of Titanium-Chromium phases and inclusions of undissolved Vanadium including the steps of alloying preselected amounts of Vanadium and Chromium to produce a stable phase alloy substantially free of unalloyed Chromium or Vanadium and then mixing and melting the stable phase alloy together with a preselected amount of Titanium to produce the final alloy composition.

Abstract: The present invention is for a method of forming means to remove a seal that has been affixed to a collapsible tube in accordance with the method shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,818. A laminate removal tab is cut integral with the seal when the seal is cut, and then bent out of the way along the tube neck when the seal is welded to the tube mouth. The seal is easily lifted and grasped by the fingers to pull the seal off the mouth.

Abstract: A controlled acceleration platform which provides a horizontally quiet platform capable of accurate acceleration and angular control. An object at or near the center of percussion of the pendulum assembly experiences reduced seismic and cultural ground vibration, and experiences negligible hysteresis and stiction for minute adjustment in inclination. By rigidly attaching the device to a single pivot or flexure so as to isolate the accelerometer from seismic or cultural vibration, the small tilt associated with pendulus motion at the proper radius from the flexure completely cancels the inertial term. The suspended item is also isolated from small error producing effects such as earth tide, local ground swell from solar heating, and far field gravity changes as produced by the sun and the moon. The lateral acceleration sensed by the suspended item may be adjusted by controlling tilt of the platform. This can be done by adding weight at a distance from the center line.

Abstract: A piezoceramic valve includes a valve actuator sandwich assembly including a piezoceramic bending element flexibly bonded between two metal sheets. Flexible elastomeric sheets are bonded to outer surfaces of the metal sheets, respectively, to form the sandwich assembly. The valve includes a first supporting member which sealingly engages an outer surface of the first elastomeric sheet and a second supporting member which sealingly engages an outer surface of the second elastomeric sheet to flexibly support the valve actuator sandwich assembly between the two supporting members. The valve actuator is engageable with a valve seat to prevent flow through the valve and is deflectable away from the valve seat to allow flow through the valve. The piezoceramic bending element is isolated in the valve actuator sandwich assembly from the flow stream to prevent diffusion of low molecular weight gases through the porous ceramic and to isolate electrically active elements of the bending element from the flow stream.

Abstract: A hydrogen battery alloy is prepared which is substantially free of inclusions of chromium by preparing a first precursor alloy or master alloy containing vanadium, nickel, and chromium using relatively equal amounts of vanadium and nickel and then adding from 5% to 12% by weight of chromium. The alloy materials are introduced into an aluminothermic reaction as vanadium pentoxide, nickel powder and chromium powder with the aluminum metal being in slight excess of its stoichiometric amount. The first precursor alloy described further alloyed with preselected amounts of nickel, zirconium, titanium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and chromium to form an alloy suitable for use as an electrode material in rechargeable electrochemical hydrogen storage cells.

Abstract: A shocck compression jet gun with associated explosive charge assembly. The shock compression jet gun features a breech for storage of the explosive charge assembly, a projectile tube, and an expansion nozzle disposed between the breech and projectile tube. The expansion nozzle includes converging and diverging passageways. The explosive charge assembly includes a shock absorbing outer casing, a detonator, a shaped charged positioned within the casing and a compressible medium retained within a recess formed in the shaped charge. The compressible medium is maintained within the recess by way of a membrane sealing one end of the casing. In a preferred embodiment the compressible medium is a liquid such as ammonia, water or a mixture of liquid ammonia and water which dissociate(s) into a mixture of light gases upon detonation of the shaped charge.

Abstract: A process for preparing metal oxides from ferrometal and nickel metal alloys is disclosed comprising first providing a ferrometal or nickel metal alloy containing an oxide forming metal, hydriding the alloy to an effective temperature and pressure with hydrogen containing gas, subdividing then carbiding the hydrided product at a temperature above about 500.degree. C. to form carbides, then employing an aqueous acid leach to dissolve the iron or nickel carbide and separating the acid soluble from the acid insoluble carbides. The acid insoluble carbides are reacted with oxygen at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to form the metal oxides of said carbides.

Abstract: A process for separating a feed mixture of zirconium and petroleum coke containing traces amount of radioative materials by flotation process utilizing a plurality of flotation cells. The process comprises grinding the feed mixture, slurrying the ground feed mixture with water, treating the slurry with a flotation agent and a collector for the coke and subjecting the treated slurry to air sparging and agitation to create an overflow and an underflow. The overflow is then filtered to collect substantially zircon-free coke for further processing.

Abstract: An explosive-type cable cutter assembly which includes a breech housing having a central passageway formed in it and a first slot extending from the exterior surface of the breech housing and opening into the passageway and a second slot extending from the exterior surface of the breech housing and opening into the passageway. The slots are each elongated in the direction of the central axis of the breech and each include a forwardmost edge and a rearwardmost edge. The cable cutting assembly also incldues a threadable plug with an impact wall positioned forward of the slots and radial ports extending from the exterior surface of the breech housing into the passageway between the impact wall and the slots. The cable cutter assembly further includes a piston cutter assembly having a piston cutter adapted for travel within the passageway in the breech housing. The piston cutter assembly includes an explosive cartridge with attached piston cutter. The piston cutter includes a cutting edge and a base end.