Abstract: An imaging device includes a hollow flexible shaft having a central longitudinal axis and an imaging window therein. An optical fiber extends within the hollow flexible shaft substantially along the central axis. A distal tip of the optical fiber is attached to the hollow flexible shaft and aligned with the imaging window so as to transfer an optical coherence tomography signal through the imaging window. A handle is attached to the hollow flexible shaft configured rotate the hollow flexible shaft at speeds of greater than 1,000 rpm.

Abstract: An apparatus for stowing and/or transporting rod-shaped structures such that the rods are easily insertable into, and removable from, the rod holder when it is located underneath an overhead obstruction that would otherwise prevent insertion or removal of rods into the rod holder. The rod holder rotates away from the receiving structure to which it is attached by operation of a rotatable attachment between the rod holder and a base. The base comprises a latching mechanism to prevent the rod holder from rotating unless it is released using a latch release lever. The rod holder allows insertion of longer rods into the rod holder than would otherwise be possible using rod holders of the prior art. The rod holder increases ease of access to rods stored in the rod holder. An exemplary use case is the storage of fishing rods under a T-top on a fishing boat.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating an electronic transfer of data including a compression connector housing with a clamping aperture, and a plurality of compression contacts mounted to the compression connector housing. The housing conforms to a right triangle dimensional relationship as follows: a line congruent with and substantially equal to the width of the connector housing forms a first leg of a right triangle, a line congruent with the length of the connector housing forms a second leg of the right triangle, a hypotenuse of the right triangle is formed by a line connecting the first leg to the second leg while bisecting the clamping aperture into two substantially equal portions to form the right triangle, wherein a maximum length of a second leg of the right triangle is a predetermined multiple of the length of the first leg of the right triangle.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector includes a housing made of a near insulative material. The near insulative material has a resistance to current flow in the presence of low voltage current and has a surface resistivity which allows sufficient current flow to dissipate static electrical charges. The housing has a surface resistivity level within the range of 104 to 1010 ohms per square, and preferably within the range of 105 to 108 ohms per square. The material used for the housing has negligible current flow in the presence of low voltage current such as when the conductor is conducting signals or electricity during normal operations. The current flow is in an amount sufficient to dissipate a static charge on the housing to a level where placing the jumper onto a set of pins will not produce a failure in a microchip electrically coupled to the jumper.

Abstract: A disc drive system includes a base or deck, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The disc stack includes a spindle, a hub attached to the spindle and discs attached to the hub. The spindle is attached to the base or deck using a fastener that passes into a threaded opening in the spindle. The spindle also includes several electrical contact pads. The base or deck has openings positioned near the electrical contact pads as well as an opening through which the fastener passes to mount the spindle to the base or deck. A printed circuit board is connected to the bottom of the base or deck. A connector is used to attach the electrical contact pads on the spindle to the electronics on the printed circuit board. The connector includes several contact elements. The contact elements extending through openings in the deck and contact a corresponding electrical contact pad on the spindle.

Abstract: A gate valve structured for the removal and replacement of the valve gate, seats and seals through the flowpath of the valve, a valve body constructed as a single piece of material without covers or valve bonnet to access the seats, gate or interior parts of the valve body, a pair of bolted flanged conduits on each side of the valve body for the attachment to a pipeline and removal of the valve body from the pipeline for access to the body interior for removal of the ring seals and valve seats fitted to the body ports forming the flowpath. The installation or removal of the gate from the valve stem is accomplished by orienting the gate in the valve flowpath, unbolting a split rectangular collar from the stem through a rectangular opening in the gate, and the reorientation of the gate for the removal of a thread protector bolt from the face of the gate, and replacing it by a threaded rod which provides assistance for inserting or extracting the gate through the valve body flowpath.

Abstract: A sealing glass composition suitable for bonding ceramic surfaces at low temperatures and which includes in weight percent 5-50% thallium oxide, 10-40% vanadium oxide, 5-30% tellurium oxide, 1.5-15% arsenic oxide and 1-5% phosphorous oxide. Other additives may be included, such as bismuth oxide. A paste formulated from said glass and a filler for the purpose of adjusting the fluidity and/or dielectric constant of the paste.

Abstract: A silver-glass paste comprising silver flake, lead vanadium telluride glass, resin, surfactant and a mixture of solvents, said mixture comprising at least two solvents selected from the group consisting of glycol ether, isoparaffin, and terpineol, each of said solvents having a boiling point of from about 170.degree. C. to about 230.degree. C. and a surface tension of from about 20 to about 30 dynes/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: Metal powder-oxide compositions are provided suitable for forming high strength composite products. The compositions comprise powdered flake-like metal alloys having a thickness between 0.5 and 2 microns wherein the oxide comprises between 0.5 and 5 weight percent of the composite compositions.

Abstract: A connector for interconnecting the ends of two optical fiber cables to provide accurate alignment of the optical fibers free of stress from the mechanical linkage of the respective cables. The sheath at the adjoining end of each cable is split in two and separated to expose the optical fiber. The split ends of the sheath are inserted in separate diverging holes in a mounting ferrule while the exposed optical fiber is inserted in a central bore between the diverging holes. The sheath ends are anchored by cementing the ends in the holes. Only the very outer end of the exposed optical fiber is anchored by cement in the ferrule to fix the alignment of the fiber. The rest of the exposed fiber between the anchored outer end and the point at which the sheath is split is bowed slightly to relieve any tension on the fiber. The ends of the cables are joined by mounting the ferrules in a common connector body with the outer ends of the fibers held in abutting axial alignment.