Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for extruding tubular jackets of uniform radial thicknesses about cables employing a diverter tube assembly 10 that provides a divergent flow path for a plastic fluid from diametrically opposite channel orifices 46 to a tubular confluence. The diverter tube circumference is between 22 and 50 times the prespread width of each channel orifice while the axial to lateral spread ratio of the divergent flow path is between 1:2 tangent 30.degree. and 1:2 tangent 40.degree..

Abstract: A polyvinyl chloride surface, such as plasticized polyvinyl chloride telephone cord jacket, is coated with a coating formulation comprising a medium molecular weight methyl methacrylate copolymer, cellulose acetate butyrate and a carbalkoxy benzyl phthalate plasticizer. The coating affords good adhesion, fast drying and stain resistance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for exhausting reaction products from an optical fiber preform tube and for choking off the preform tube during collapse wherein an exhaust tube (40) is provided with an entry end (41) located adjacent and in fluid communication with a downstream end (10') of a preform tube (10), suction applied to the exhaust tube (40), and a stream of reaction product agitating gas free of reaction products introduced into the exhaust tube (40) at a location adjacent the exhaust tube entry end (41).

Abstract: An electronic device such as an integrated circuit is encapsulated with a silicone resin formulation comprising a polysiloxane having a cryptate ether as part of the backbone of the polymer chain for preventing migration of cations, e.g., sodium and potassium.

Abstract: Workpieces (10; FIG. 7), differing from each other only in their color, are optically sorted by illuminating the workpieces with a light beam (13) of stable color temperature. The diffuse reflection from the workpieces is analyzed by three photo-detectors, each of which is filtered to respond to a different color. Two of the colors are primary colors, as defined by the Tristimulus Theory. The third color is not a true primary color but, when added to a percentage of one of the other two colors, effectively synthesizes the third primary color. A workpiece is identified by comparing the set of Tristimulus signals it generates with a look-up table stored in the memory (25) of a microprocessor (17).

Abstract: A tool for feeding telephone or other cable into a manhole comprises a pair of horizontally spaced wire rope lengths 121 grouped together to form part of a longitudinally elongated support frame resiliently warpable in the vertical plane into arcuate shapes. Coupled with and at opposite sides of such lengths are cable receiving and cable discharging sleeve units 30 and 31. Also coupled with such lengths between such units are a plurality of collar units 35 spaced from each other and units 30, 31. The units 30, 31, 35 form part of said frame and, when closed, extend around respective longitudinal passages for movement of a cable through the tool. All those units are selectively openable to permit sidewise insertion and removal of the cable from such passages. The unit 31 is further adapted to act as a lubricator for the cable.

Abstract: In the manufacture of cordage (25), at least two groups (28, 29) of individually insulated, flexible conductors (21--21) which comprise a planar array (40) are moved through a core tube (71) of an extruder (27) in adjacent paths. As the groups are moved out of an exit portion of the core tube where they are spaced apart a predetermined distance and along converging paths to a die, a first plastic material is flowed about the array to enclose it and to be formed into a jacket by the die. Portions of the first plastic material flow between the groups to achieve an equilibration of pressure in the plastic material about each group, which controls the direction and magnitude of lateral movement of each group within the plane of the array, and to form a web (41) which is integral with the jacket and which may vary in thickness along its length to compensate for changes in the outside diameter of the insulated conductors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for resetting a data set having a lamp for indicating the completion of a communication between a telephone and a computer or data terminal. The apparatus includes an integrated circuit and associated discrete electronic components that provide photodetection and multivibrator circuits. Signals from the photodetection and multivibrator circuits are transmitted through a logic gate to the data terminal ready lead of the data set so as to reset the data set whenever the lamp is energized.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the delivery of vapor from a bubbler containing a supply of liquid through which a carrier gas is bubbled and from which bubbler vapor is delivered in a vapor stream entrained with the carrier gas. The method comprises the steps of sensing the ratio of vapor to carrier gas in the vapor stream and applying heat to the liquid within the bubbler at rates relative to the sensed ratios of vapor to carrier gas being delivered from the bubbler in a vapor stream to hold the ratio constant.A vapor delivery control system is also disclosed which comprises a vaporizer, a heater thermally coupled with the vaporizer, and means for maintaining a supply of liquid in the vaporizer.

Abstract: A coiled section (16) of a plastic sheathed stub cable (10) is placed on a support (43) which is orbited about a longitudinal axis of a straight section (13) of the stub cable. The straight section of cable is positioned coaxially within an aperture formed in a casing part (12) which is mounted in a rotating nest (16). The juncture (70) between the apertured casing and the cable sheath is heated (81), whereafter a bead (91) of bonding material is extruded around the juncture. A molding die (106) is moved into the extruded bead to force portions of the bead into the juncture to form a homogeneous weld with the cable sheath and casing parts while uniformly shaping the remaining portions.

Abstract: A planar electrode (17) having a plurality of concentric channels (34--34) therein through which coolant fluid passes to cool the electrode during a plasma etching process. The coolant is directed through at least two of the adjacent channels in opposite directions with the inputs (31) and outputs (32) located in close spaced relation to one another to provide a substantially uniform temperature on the surface of the electrode proximate thereto.

Abstract: A workpiece (16), for example a magnetic bubble memory wafer, is held in place, and heat is removed from it by an expandable heat pipe (22) during a process performed in a vacuum as, for example, a sputter etch process. The expandable heat pipe (22) includes two plates (24, 26) joined by a bellows (28) to form a sealed chamber containing a vaporizable liquid such as water. During loading of the wafers the heat pipe (22) is compressed by atmospheric pressure and thereby facilitates easy assembly of the wafer (16) and heat pipe (22) into a holding fixture (10) which in turn is bolted to a cooling plate (30) situated inside a vacuum chamber. When the chamber is evacuated, the heat pipe (22) expands to hold the wafer (16) in place and form a good thermal path from the wafer (16) to the cooling plate (30).

Abstract: An electronic device having a silicone encapsulant includes a 12-crown or 15-crown ether in the encapsulant for preventing migration of sodium or potassium ions.

Abstract: A portable tool is provided to assemble washers (13) and nuts (14) on threaded studs (10) extending from a frame member (11,12). Pneumatically operated pushers (43,54) advance a polygonal-shaped nut and a round washer into a polygonal-shaped chamber (24) formed by a sleeve (26) and a polygonal-shaped driver rod (29). The end of the sleeve is placed over a threaded stud and forced against the frame member, whereupon a clutch (32) is disengaged and rotative power is applied to the driver rod and the sleeve while the driver rod is moved within the sleeve to push the washer and the rotating nut onto the threaded stud. The clutch in the engaged position is constructed so as to insure that slots (63 and 64) in the sleeve (26) are aligned with the pushers (43 and 54) to permit entry of the washers and the nuts into the chamber where they are magnetically held.

Abstract: A continuous strip (16) of metal with boxed discrete capacitors (10) assembled thereon is cyclically advanced to move a leading section of the strip into a positioned chamber (48) of a multi-chamber magazine (46). After a predetermined number of advancements of the strip, a cutter (76,83) is operated to sever the strip and then an auxiliary feed device (107-118) is rendered effective to advance the trailing extremity of the severed strip into the magazine chamber. Immediately thereafter the magazine is indexed to position another chamber to receive a subsequently advanced section of the strip. Upon loading of a magazine with a strip and assembled capacitors in each chamber, facilities (127-142) are rendered effective to advance a new magazine into position to receive additional sections of the strip with the assembled capacitors.

Abstract: A surface of a substrate 11 (FIG. 2) is uniformly coated with a liquid L by wetting the surface with the liquid and compressibly contacting the wetted surface with an applicator member 10 having an outer layer 14 of a compressible liquid absorbing material with inverse sponge characteristics and an inner layer 13 of compliant material. Preferably the member is a roller 10 having a silicone rubber or polyurethane inner layer and a chamois outer layer. A plurality of the rollers 10 are arranged to be in compressive contact with the surfaces of a plurality of substrates 11 as the substrates are being removed from the liquid L (arrow A), the movement of the substrates 11 causing rotation (arrow F) of the rollers to apply a uniform coating of the liquid on the contacted surfaces.

Abstract: A boxed and encapsulated rolled metallized film capacitor susceptible to facile machine insertion is fabricated by cyclically advancing a lead frame 32 through a number of stations (36,37) whereat pairs of leads (24,26) of the lead frame are bent downwardly and secured to end electrodes (22,23) formed on the capacitors, and then boxes (29) partially filled with encapsulant are moved over each capacitor secured to a pair of leads. Next, the lead frame is advanced to move each box and capacitor into position to receive additional encapsulant from a nozzle (38) which is projected through a feed hole (34) formed in the lead frame.

Abstract: A laminate (32), having holes of different sizes and shapes formed therein, is moved above successive scans of light from a light source (48). A light sensor (58), responsive to light passing through each of the holes, develops a light pulse for each hole during each scan having a level proportional to the amount of light sensed. The level of each light pulse is compared with a preset threshold level and a threshold pulse is developed when the light pulse level exceeds the threshold level. The threshold pulse facilitates the reduction of the preset threshold level so that, when the next subsequent light pulse from the same hole exceeds the reduced threshold level, an additional threshold pulse is produced. The threshold pulses are used within a system (46) to generate an indication of the number of holes formed in the laminate (32).

Abstract: A coupler (30) for electrically connecting ends of telephone cords which have been terminated with modular plugs (24--24) includes a first portion (31) made of a dielectric material and having a plurality of compartments (45--45) which extend from end to end and which are formed between partitions (41--41), each of which has a centrally disposed bifurcated stem (46). A contact element (42) in the form of a wire having a linear portion (51) and two retroflexed end portions (52--52) is mounted in each compartment with each retroflexed end portion extending between adjacent furcations of the stems. A second portion (32) made of a dielectric material is joined to the first portion and includes an abutment (71) which extends between the furcations (47--47) of the first portion to stabilize the partitions. The second portion cooperates with the first portion to form a pair of back-to-back externally communicating cavities (60--60).

Abstract: The method of depositing a metal on a surface especially suitable for the manufacture of printed circuit boards includes coating the surface with a sensitizing solution comprising an inaqueous solvent solution, a reducible salt of a non-noble metal, a salt of 2,7 anthraquinone disulfonic acid and a polyol type secondary reducing agent such as sorbitol. The coated surface is then dried and the dried surface may be stored for extended periods of time before further processing which consists of imaging the sensitized surface with ultraviolet light and electrolessly plating a metal over the imaged surface.