Abstract: A food slicer for slicing a food product is provided. The slicer may have an adjustable surface and a stationary surface with a blade interposed therebetween. The food product may be sliced with a specific thickness via the blade by traversing the food product from the adjustable surface to the stationary surface. A trailing edge of the adjustable surface and an edge of the blade may define a gap distance which determines a slicing thickness of the food product. A cam may contact an underside of the adjustable surface to set the gap distance. The gap distance may be reset by rotating the cam. More particularly, the cam may have a plurality of cam surfaces. Each of the cam surfaces may have a different distance to a rotating axis of the cam. The gap distance may be changed by rotating the cam such that a different cam surface contacts the adjustable surface's underside.

Abstract: An automated drill bit sharpening and verification system employing one or more electronic optical assemblies for gathering orientation data of a drill bit to be sharpened. The drill bit is rotated and aligned to a grinding assembly based on the orientation data. The orientation data of the drill bit may be gathered by illuminating a cutting tip of the drill bit with an illumination ring. Additionally, the orientation data of the drill bit may be gathered by capturing two views (e.g., orthogonal views or front and side views) of the cutting tip of the drill bit.

Abstract: A peeler apparatus is provided having an ergonomic handle and a blade that can be rotated relative to the handle to accommodate different peeling styles. The blade can be rotated in order to position the blade in a variety of positions relative to the handle. Such positions include perpendicular, parallel left, parallel right, 45 degree left, and 45 degree right positions. Variations of the peeler can be provided which enable rotations of 180 degrees, 360 degrees, and/or other angles as desired. A user-operable knob cooperatively engaged with a yoke permits the yoke and a blade secured to the yoke to rotate relative to the handle in response to rotation of the knob. A peeler having a blade fixed at approximately 45 degrees relative to the handle is also provided.

Abstract: A completely automated apparatus for verifying the identity and geometry of drill bits, re-sharpening the cutting tip of a drill bit and re-positioning a locating ring upon the shank portion of the drill bit subsequent to the re-sharpening of the cutting tip thereof. The apparatus comprises a housing having a pair of cassette trays, a pair of grinding assemblies, a pair of optical assemblies, a pair of primary cleaning assemblies, a pair of secondary cleaning assemblies, a pair of inversion assemblies, a pair of workhead assemblies, a bumping assembly, and a loader assembly attached thereto. The workhead and loader assemblies are used to transport drill bits between the cassette trays and other assemblies in a selected sequence which is controlled and coordinated by a programmable control device. The control device is electrically interfaced to each of the assemblies and allows the cutting tip re-sharpening and locating ring re-positioning processes to be conducted simultaneously on at least two drill bits.

Abstract: A manhole assembly for below ground liquid storage tanks, such as fuel storage tanks, that includes securing the upper region of the below-grade manhole to the at-grade manhole so that lowering of the below-grade manhole bottom due to tank settling or stepping on the hatch cover will not lower the below-grade rim relative to the at-grade ring. Riser pipe extenders can be added without interfering with hatch cover closure and sealing of the below-grade manhole. One embodiment includes adjustable length bolts tying the at-grade ring to the below-grade ring. The assembly can be factory assembled, delivered to the site, and installed on the riser pipe then height adjusted before pea gravel, backfill, and concrete are poured. Bellows and bucket manholes can be used.

Abstract: A completely automated apparatus for verifying the identity and geometry of drill bits, re-sharpening the cutting tip of a drill bit and re-positioning a locating ring upon the shank portion of the drill bit subsequent to the re-sharpening of the cutting tip thereof. The apparatus comprises a housing having a pair of cassette trays, a pair of grinding assemblies, a pair of optical assemblies, a pair of primary cleaning assemblies, a pair of secondary cleaning assemblies, a pair of inversion assemblies, a pair of workhead assemblies, a bumping assembly, and a loader assembly attached thereto. The workhead and loader assemblies are used to transport drill bits between the cassette trays and other assemblies in a selected sequence which is controlled and coordinated by a programmable control device. The control device is electrically interfaced to each of the assemblies and allows the cutting tip re-sharpening and locating ring re-positioning processes to be conducted simultaneously on at least two drill bits.

Abstract: An undersea telecommunications cable comprises a buffer tube which protects a plurality of optical fibers disposed therein from externally applied forces. To this end, the buffer tube contains a thixotropic, water blocking gel that has a viscosity and a critical yield shear stress sufficient to couple, upon application of a tensile load capable of producing up to a 0.8% strain in the cable, tensile forces from the buffer tube to the optical fibers to thereby induce strain in the fibers that is proportional to that induced in the tube, without preventing the return of the optical fibers to a substantially unstrained condition upon the removal of such tensile load. Should it become necessary to repair a section of the undersea cable as by retrieving it from the sea bed and inserting a spliced segment, existing sections of the fiber will be sufficiently protected from any damage which might otherwise have been caused during the cable retreival and recovery operation.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice protector protects a splice between a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber includes a first fiber coating and the second optical fiber includes a second fiber coating where the second fiber coating has a larger diameter than the first fiber coating. The splice protector includes a sleeve that is applied around the first fiber coating. The sleeve has a similar diameter to the diameter of the second fiber coating. A splint is applied around the splice of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber and extends from the sleeve to the second fiber coating. Additionally, a method for applying a fiber optic splice protector is provided. The method includes the steps of positioning the splint around the splice, proof testing the splice, and heat curing the splint around the splice after proof testing of the splice.

Abstract: A method for designing an optical system is disclosed. The optical system launches optical signals modulated with data into a fiber link having a property of inducing nonlinear distortion of the optical signals as a function of signal power of the optical signals and distance traversed in the fiber link. A Q-factor curve for the fiber link is determined as a function of the signal power. A signal power is preselected based on the Q-factor curve. The preselected signal power is associated with a set of channels. A coding gain is preselected based on the preselected signal power and a desired channel spacing for the set of channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining and protecting spliced optical fibers that are part of cables that have ultra-high strength steel wires, in which the optical fibers are free to move within a sleeve inside of the wires. The apparatus includes ajoint box having opposing longitudinal cable termination ends. The high-strength steel wires of each cable are attached to a respective cable termination end. At least one optical fiber from each cable extends through its respective cable termination end and is spliced together to form a continuous optical fiber. The fiber or fibers are splinted and potted at locations longitudinally spaced from the splice to form ferrules. A central portion or shelf of the joint box includes fiber retaining devices which take the form of ferrule retainer assemblies. The ferrule retainer assemblies have a trough that contains and restrains a respective ferrule.

Abstract: A method of Raman amplification comprising the step of effecting a plurality of pump wavelengths on a Raman-active transmission medium transmitting counter-propagating signal wavelengths, wherein at least one of said pump wavelengths are interleaved between said signal wavelengths.

Abstract: A connector for a cable repeater includes a repeater including a joint having two mutually perpendicular and intersecting axes of rotation at one end thereof. A coupling includes a joint having two mutually perpendicular and intersecting axes of rotation. A first connecting link is pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the repeater joint and secured at a second end thereof to the coupling. A second connecting link is pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the coupling joint and secured at a second end thereof to a length of optical fiber cable. In preferred embodiments, a bend limiting device is provided at the end of the length of cable, with the second connecting link being secured at its second end to the bend limiting device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing broad band Raman amplification with reduced dependence on polarization state and wavelength. Pump beams of adjacent wavelength are perpendicularly polarized to each other. Further, the wavelength spacing between adjacent pump beams is chosen for the given fiber wavelength spectrum and distance between repeater stations such that adjacent pump beams experience the same polarization state evolution as they travel through the fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining the gain profile of a path through an optical amplifier disposed in a first optical transmission path of an optical transmission system supporting bi-directional communication between first and second terminals along the first optical transmission path and a second optical transmission path. The method begins by generating an optical tone at a given wavelength within the bandwidth of the optical amplifier. The wavelength of the optical tone is modulated about the given wavelength. The modulated optical tone is transmitted from the first terminal along the first optical transmission path and through the optical amplifier. A portion of the modulated optical tone is received after it traverses the optical amplifier and FM to AM conversion is performed on the received portion to form an amplitude modulated optical tone. The amplitude modulated optical tone is transmitted back to the first terminal along the second transmission path via an optical loop-back path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting an optical signal. The method includes the step of generating an optical signal that includes a plurality of optical channels, which are sequentially numbered from 1 to N from lowest to highest wavelength. Dispersion compensation is imparted to each of the plurality of optical channels without a change in polarization of the channels. A state-of-polarization of predetermined odd-numbered channels is oriented to be substantially orthogonal to a state of polarization of predetermined even-numbered channels by directing the predetermined odd-numbered channels and the predetermined even-numbered channels through orthogonally polarizing inputs of a polarization coupler. The odd-numbered channels and the even-numbered channels may be directed through first and second wavelength combiners, respectively, prior to orienting their states of polarization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting an optical signal through an optical fiber. The apparatus includes an optical signal source, which generates an optical signal having a plurality of optical channels onto which data is modulated. Each of the optical channels is defined by a different carrier wavelength. A phase modulator imparts phase modulation to the plurality of optical channels so that channels nearest a zero dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber are more closely spaced to one another than channels farthest in wavelength from the zero dispersion wavelength of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for transmitting an optical response signal from a repeater to a terminal requesting status information pertaining to the repeater. In accordance with the method, in response to a command signal, a bias current applied to a laser pump within the repeater is modulated such that the laser pump generates modulated optical output power. The said modulation reflects the status information that is requested. An average value of the bias current applied to the laser pump is reduced while the bias current is being modulated. The modulated optical output power is applied to a doped optical fiber located within the repeater to amplitude modulate a communication signal traversing the doped optical fiber. A portion of the amplitude modulated communication signal is directed to the requesting terminal. The portion of the amplitude modulated communication signal may be received to detect a response signal embodied in the amplitude modulation.

Abstract: A method for interconnecting at least one pair of optical fibers attached to an amp pair and devices used for transporting the amp pair including a splicing station and an apparatus for holding a plurality of optical fibers is diclosed. The method includes storing each of the optical fibers on a fiber transport attached to the amp pair, placing the amp pair into a splicing station, splicing at least two of the optical fibers and receiveing fiber transports on a holder attached to the amp pair. An apparatus for suppporting an amp pair having a plurality of fiber transports associated therewith includes a base defining a plurality of cavities adapted to hold the fiber transports and an aperture adapted to surround the amp pair. An apparatus for holding a plurality of optical fiber transports includes a fixture adapted to mount the optical fiber storage assembly and to separately receive each optical fiber transports from a plurality of optical fiber transports.