Abstract: A dual level terminal assembly for use in connecting closely packed leads to a circuit board. The assembly includes an elongated base support and a lower barrier terminal strip mounted on a from portion of the support, and an upper barrier terminal strip mounted on a rear portion of the support which faces the from portion and which is at a higher level that the front portion.

Abstract: A limited rotation assembly for an optical scanner. This assembly includes an input command unit and a signal generator and an electronic driver and a summing junction and a torquer connected in series. The torquer has a tachometer with a start-stop pulse feedback loop to the signal generator and with an angular velocity and position pulse feedback loop to the summing junction.

Abstract: This electrical resolver has an arcuate stator with a concave inner side concentric to a convex side of an angularly rotatable arcuate rotor limited to rotation within outer ends of the stator. The stator and rotor have arcuate magnetic cores with transverse slots in which are embedded windings made of insulated wire. Rotation of the rotor causes changes in voltages induced in the stator windings corresponding to the extent of angular position of the rotor. The stator windings include trimming coils which generate bucking voltages to reduce errors in determining angular position of the rotor. In an operating range of .+-.10.degree. from a centered position, magnitudes of rotor position can be determined with an accuracy of 5-10 arc seconds maximum, with a considerable savings in space, weight, cost, simplified installation, and increased stability over the operating temperature range.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has socket and plug connectors. Each connector comprises a block of dielectric plastic in which are tapered cavities containing pyramidal modules which have two sections forming a casing enclosing an electrical contact. The modules of the socket connector contain spring contacts located at socket openings in the module casings. Each module of the plug connector contains a rigid bar which extends as a prong out of the smaller end of each plug module to fit into a socket at the smaller end of a socket module in the socket connector. Other ends of the contacts in all modules extend out of larger ends of the modules and carry screws for attaching circuit wires. The dielectric casings of all modules may be thermally bonded to the walls of the cavities in the dielectric plastic blocks.

Abstract: A synchro power amplifier and control circuit for an inductive load has a plurality of synchro leg amplifiers connected to the load. Each amplifier has an interstage transformer for deriving samples of current drawn by the load. A multiplicity of capacitors are respectively connectable in parallel with the (load) upstream of the amplifiers by switches in a circuit 10 responsive to the voltage/current phase angle of the power driving the load, to compensate for the inductance of the load.

Abstract: A motor drive assembly includes a stationary housing, a shaft rotatably carried by the housing for driving a load, a gear box rotatably carried by the shaft, and an electric motor in the gear box having a rotor coupled by a gear train to the shaft. A switch in the housing near the gear box is operated when the gear box rotates against a spring bias in response to the rotor's exerting an increased predetermined torque. The motor may have an auxiliary winding in circuit with the switch to reduce power consumed by the motor when the switch is operated. Alternatively, a solenoid may be connected to the switch to hold the rotor stationary when the motor stops. The motor may have a main drive winding which is de-energized by the switch.

Abstract: A linear motion encoder which employs a potentiometer type motion detector. It includes an elongated rectangular or cylindrical housing in which are one or two rails for guiding an insulated block to move lengthwise of the housing while being moved by a shaft connected to the block via an anti-backlash spring means. The block carries wiper contacts which respectively contact a fixed resistance element and a fixed commutator strip mounted on one wall of the housing or on the rail. An analog to digital circuit may be disposed in the housing to apply a reference voltage to opposite ends of the resistance strip. The circuit takes a linearly variable analog voltage from the commutator strip when the block moves lengthwise inside the housing driven by the axially moving shaft.

Abstract: A door assembly for a sterilizer includes a rectangular door on which is a vertical rail assembly movable horizontally toward and away from the door on threaded posts. Nuts carried by the rail assembly are rotated on the posts by sprockets entraining a motor driven chain. The rail assembly carries spring mounted axially retractable horizontal pairs of locking bars. The bars are inserted into and removed from sockets in a doorway frame by turning angularly as the rail assembly moves horizontally. A pressure responsive locking mechanism engages the sprockets to prevent their turning when the sterilizer is above a predetermined pressure. Cables carried by the locking bars actuate a switch in an alarm circuit for indicating that any one or more bars is not engaged properly in its respective socket. Limit switches stop operation of the motor when the rail assembly reaches extremes of inward and outward movement.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for improving a steam sterilization cycle by shortening the time of the drying stage of the cycle. Sterilized articles in a sterilization chamber surrounded by a steam jacket chamber, are enveloped in water vapor which is quickly cooled and condensed by draining steam from the jacket. In addition, a heat exchanger comprising pipe coils mounted within the sterilization chamber completely below the articles to be sterilized with a cold coolant circulated therethrough may be used to further cool and condense the water vapor in the sterilization chamber, from which water and water vapor are quickly drawn off by an applied vacuum. The process involves the simultaneous steps of: withdrawing steam from the steam jacket to cool the walls of the sterilizing chamber; removing water and water vapor by vacuum from the sterilizing chamber; and circulating cold coolant in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An instrument for holding and chipping a bond has a pair of elongated curved handles spaced apart at one end, and pivotally connected at other ends to ends of flat elongated jaws. Central portions of the jaws are pivotally connected together. Outer ends of the jaws and handles normally flare outwardly and are held by outwardly biased leaf springs secured to the handles. The handles pivot on a free floating disk disposed in slots formed in facting edges of the handles. The outer ends of the jaws are formed with interfitting teeth and recessed having side walls formed with sharp cutting edges.

Abstract: A gas grill having a visible indicator for indicating ignition of the grill burner. The indicating device includes a sensing device mounted adjacent the burner on a common bracket with a burner igniter. The control for the igniter is mounted in a common housing with the ignition indicator. An encapsulated spark gap, neon bulb, or similar device is connected with the spark igniter for indicating that a spark has jumped an electrode gap.

Abstract: A closed sterilizer chamber in which a medium may be contained to be sterilized at a predetermined temperature below 212.degree. F., and has a vacuum system for continuously drawing a vacuum. When a particular vacuum is achieved, a steam source injects steam into the chamber under the control of a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor. After a predetermined temperature and pressure are reached, the injection of steam in the chamber is controlled by a second temperature sensor.

Abstract: Sealing means for maintaining a seal between a closed door of a sterilizer and a wall framing an opening into a sterilizer chamber, comprising an endless ring having elastic walls with an internal partition dividing the ring into two independently inflatable, expansible channels. A tube secured to a wall of the ring opens into each of the channels respectively, for independently inflating the channels. Elastic studs with enlarged heads are secured to one side of the ring for detachably engaging in holes in the open wall of the chamber. A pneumatic circuit including a source of compressed air may be connected to the two tubes and provided with a two-way valve for inflating either one of the two channels.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process for quietly injecting live, high pressure steam into water in a sterilizer chamber, wherein a minute quantity of air at higher pressure than the steam is quietly mixed with the steam prior to passing the stream of air mixed with steam into water in the chamber. The water can be drawn from the chamber by a recirculating pipe into a venturi ejector into which the stream of air mixed with steam is passed. The water quietly mixes with the stream of air and steam and the combined stream of air, steam and water is quietly recirculated back into the chamber.

Abstract: A spark igniter for gas grills includes a gas collector mountable on the grill housing adjacent a gas burner and having a collector inlet for receiving gas from the burner. An adjustable mounting device attached to the collector provides vertical adjustment of the collector for positioning the collector inlet at a proper elevation for receiving gas from the burner. The adjustable mounting device also serves to attach an electrode to the collector and position the electrode tip in a predetermined location for defining a spark gap.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor is provided comprised of a steel ring rotor on which rare-earth magnets are fastened and a segmented stator having a comb-like core for each segment that extends at each end beyond its support structure so phase windings in slots in those extended ends can be provided to the same extent as for all other slots in the comb-like segment, thereby producing substantially the same torque on the rotor over the extended ends as over the central portion of the stator segment. Due to their high coercivity, the rare-earth magnets can operate into air circuits between stator segments without demagnetization, returning to their high flux levels upon re-entering a stator segment.

Abstract: A spark igniter for gas burners includes a gas collector having a passage extending between open front and rear ends. The open front end is substantially larger than the open rear end, and is positionable adjacent a gas burner for receiving gas therefrom. Gas flows into the open front end of the collector and mixes with air to form a combustible mixture. A spark igniter mounted within the gas collector passage ignites the mixture to produce a flame for igniting the gas burner. The gas collector is metal and forms the ground electrode for the spark igniter, and has an integral mounting bracket thereon.