Abstract: A microwave buffer for use between transmitter modules and an impedance combiner. The buffer is comprised of a plurality of input segments, a plurality of output segments and an elongated transmission segment connecting the input segments to the output segments. The geometry of the buffer along with bridges located proximate to the transmitter modules eliminate the destructive effects of reflected waves set up by an unbalanced impedance combiner when one of the transmission modules becomes inoperative. The hourglass shape of the buffer causes the phases of the signals from each transmission module to be equal from any transmission port to any output. The bridges force the sum of the mutual couplings to be low in amplitude on any transmission module.

Abstract: A remotely positioned rotary operator handle for cooperating with a circuit breaker with a linearly movable handle. A housing is mounted over the circuit breaker handle. Within the housing a slide carrying a rack engages the circuit breaker handle which further engages a pinion gear sector mounted on a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft extends from the housing and has positioned thereon a motion translating device which translates between rotational motion and linear motion. The rotary handle extends from a housing which is flange mounted on a cabinet in which the circuit breaker is disposed. A corresponding motion translating device is attached to the flange mounted rotary handle which is in turn connected to the motion translating device attached to the rotatable shaft. The connection between the motion translators comprises a linearly moving link. The rotary handle has an extendable hasp which comprises part of the connection between the rotatory handle and the motion translating device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit incorporating an analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion subsystem having a current mode in which only negative analog currents are converted and a voltage mode in which only positive analog voltages are converted is adapted to produce bipolar digital current and voltage signals. An on-board microprocessor operates the A/D conversion subsystem to perform a conversion in the current mode. If the converted digital value is non-zero, this value is used as the negative digital value of analog input signal. If the result of the conversion in the current mode is zero, a second conversion is made in the voltage mode and used as digital value with a positive polarity. An input circuit having an output impedance substantially equal to the "full scale equivalent" input impedance of the IC defined as the full scale voltage of the IC divided by the full scale current, eliminates the need for special scale factors to correlate the positive and negative conversion values.

Abstract: Method of making a fuel assembly lattice member and the lattice member made by such method. The method includes placing a plurality of elongate metal straps on a computer controlled conveyor which successively conveys the straps into alignment with each of a plurality of computer controlled piercing and drawing dies belonging to a progressive die machine. The dies are selectively actuated by the computer to form such elements as curved deflector vanes and spring members on each strap member. After the piercing and drawing operations are completed, the straps are joined by welding to form a lattice member of hexagonal cross section, the lattice member defining a plurality of rhombic-shaped fuel rod cells and a plurality of generally rhombic-shaped guide tube thimble cells therethrough. The rod cells are capable of receiving respective ones of a plurality of fuel rods and the thimble cells are capable of receiving respective ones of a plurality of thimble tubes.

Abstract: A two-stage submersible propulsor unit comprises a shroud having a water inlet and a water outlet, a shaft assembly centrally mounted within the shroud, an upstream and a downstream propeller, each of which includes a separate hub rotatably mounted on the shaft assembly, first and second electric motors separately rotating the upstream and the downstream propellers. Each motor includes a rotor mounted around the outer periphery of one of the propellers and a stator mounted around the shroud, and first and second thrust bearing assemblies for absorbing the thrust load generated between the hubs of the first and second propellers and the shaft assembly. Both thrust bearing assemblies are contained within a housing located on the downstream end of the shaft assembly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the incineration and vitrification of radioactive waste materials. Waste materials are fed into a melter containing molten glass wherein the waste is incinerated and vitrified into the glass matrix. Gases produced are combusted in an extended plenum area preferably designed to provide a residence time of at least 3 seconds. A portion of the sulfur compounds in the combustion gases are incorporated into a solid matrix of gypsum by contacting the sulfur compounds with an aqueous solution and calcium hydroxide.

Abstract: Electrical insulation materials containing a synergistic mixture of either a metal acetylacetonate and a dicyclopentadienyl metal compound, a chromium salt and a dicyclopentadienyl compound, or a chromium salt and a metal acetylacetonate have unexpectedly high levels of corona resistance. The insulation materials preferably are prepared by dissolving the synergistic mixture in an organic resin such as an epoxy resin and then curing the resin.

Abstract: A serial multiplier for multiplying two n-bit numbers is provided in which a shift register having a total of n destructive read out cells contains a separate bit of a first multiplicand in each cell. A string of (2n-1) non-destructive read out cells is provided to receive the second multiplicand. Each of the first n cells of the string of non-destructive readout cells contain a separate bit of the second multiplicand. Each bit of the first multiplicand is serially multiplied with the series of bits of said second multiplicand. After each such multiplication, each bit of the second multiplicand is moved to the next adjacent cell. The partial product of the multiplication is stored in a string of 2n T flip-flop cells. Each of the T flip-flop cells has a carry path to the next adjacent T flip-flop cell. Timing means are provided to regulate and initiate the multiplication.

Abstract: Freestanding rotor blades are mixed tuned by varying the dimensions of the blades at two locations. First, a profiled tip includes a machined-out strip, having a height which can be varied to achieve the desired tuning effect. The longer or deeper the profile, the higher the frequency will become. This tuning technique is used in conjunction with a broadened base section. Blades having a shorter profile tip are machined beginning at the base section, so as to remove enough mass from between the base section and a next upper section to provide the desired tuning effect. The lower frequency blade has a thinner base section and a shorter profile tip.

Abstract: A sonar system wherein sum and difference beam patterns are generated utilizing a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a line array. Receiver apparatus including a receiver transducer also constituted as a line array perpendicular to the transmitter transducer is used to form sum and difference receiver beams and return signals are processed so as to accurately define the azimuth as well as elevational position of a target within a target area.

Abstract: Furniture comprises a strong, aesthetically appealing, woven lattice of interlocking slats made of wood laminate having indentations allowing fitting of the slats across one another so as to form a lattice. Advantageously, the furniture is manufactured of a single type of material, such as bent wood laminate slats. No other supporting structural material is needed to make the furniture simultaneously possess the advantages of being sturdy, aesthetically appealing, economical to manufacture, and light in structure and appearance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring an arc welding process are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention creates a digital representation of the arc created during welding and, using a neural network computer, determines if the arc is representative of normal or abnormal welding conditions. The neural network disclosed is trained to identify abnormal conditions and normal conditions and may be adaptively retrained to classify images that are not in the initial set of normal and abnormal images. In certain embodiments, other data, such as current, weld wire emission spectra, or shielding gas flow rate are also collected and the neural network is trained to monitor these data. Also, in certain embodiments, an audio signal is collected from the vicinity of the welding process and is used by the neural network computer to further classify the arc as normal or abnormal.

Abstract: A system for simulating a moving target, having an antenna that emits a steerable propagation pattern, a receiver and a target signal generator. Analog signals representing the azimuth position of the target and the azimuth position of the antenna propagation pattern are summed yielding analog azimuth position signals. The analog azimuth position signals are then converted to digital code. Analog signals representing the elevation position of the target and the elevation position of the propagation pattern are summed yielding analog elevation position signals. The analog elevation position signals are then converted to digital code. The azimuth position digital code and digital code representing the propagation pattern direction are input into a memory unit which outputs an azimuth attenuation digital code. The elevation position digital code and the propagation pattern direction digital code are likewise input into a memory to produce an elevation attenuation digital code.

Abstract: The invention comprises an interface for switching control of a memory management unit (MMU) between a central processing unit (CPU) having a register stack for storing data, and one or more coprocessors (COP) each having register stacks for storing data. The COP is operative when actuated to perform selected functions, not normally performed by the CPU, utilizing information in memory.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a packaged high power electronic switch in the form of a semiconductor chip having metalized planar cathode and anode terminals and a gate terminal. A refractory annular ring has planar open end faces and side walls having stepped portions. A pair of thermally and electrically conductive planar substrates is bonded to the opposite end faces of the annular ring and is maintained in spaced relation thereby, forming an enclosed space. At least one conductive strap within the space is supported by the stepped portion of the internal side wall and extends to one of the substrates forming an electrical and thermal path. One of said conductive substrates receives one of the planar terminals of the chip in intimate electrical and thermal contact. The strap is electrically coupled to the other of said terminals, for forming a high current path between the substrates via the strap.

Abstract: A seeker circuit for homing missile guidance comprising a velocity memory loop and an acceleration memory loop. During the presence of an adequate target data signal, the guidance computer uses a command line-of-sight rate based on velocity components of the actual line-of-sight computed by the velocity memory loop. But, during the absence of an adequate target data signal, estimated line-of-sight rate components of the last actual line-of-sight rate computed by the acceleration memory loop are input to the guidance computer. Further, when the target data signal is fading in and out, a stabilizing means effectively stabilizes both loops.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of sensing obstructions in a tubular nuclear fuel rod or the like is disclosed. A nozzle is positioned to engage one end of the fuel rod in an air tight sealed relationship. A first gas flows through the nozzle and then into and through the fuel rod. The pressure is sensed and compared with a standardized pressure to determine any excess back pressure in the nozzle indicating an obstruction present therein.