Abstract: The stud retention device has a top end, a base defining a bottom end and two diametrically opposed longitudinal members defining a shank. The shank has a longitudinal passage in which a ribbed stud or externally threaded bolt is insertable. Staggered along the length of the shank are one or more ribs, each rib having a finger projecting inwardly. One or more flexible arms project from the base toward the top end, where the angle between each arm and the shank is 45 degrees. When a stud or bolt is inserted into the passage, arms and fingers engage in the recesses between the ribs of the stud or threads of the bolt, thereby imparting a retention force which prevents retraction of the stud or bolt from the passage. A range of stud diameters and lengths may be coupled with the stud retention device.

Abstract: A plastic rivet is composed of a resilient material and has a drive pin and a body. Drive pin has a head and a shank. Distal end of shank has a pair of resilient legs, and proximal end of shank has a transverse hole forming deflectable walls. A first pair of protrusions project radially outwardly from the legs, and a second pair of protrusions project radially outwardly from the walls. Body has a head and elongated portion insertable into holes in members to be joined. The elongated portion is comprised of a pair of outwardly tapered longitudinal members projecting from the head and interconnected by an inwardly tapered nose. Shank of drive pin is insertable into a passage which extends through the head and elongated portion of the body. When drive pin is predriven into the body, the first pair of protrusions engages into slots in the passage, retaining the drive pin within the body. As drive pin is driven into the body, legs and walls deflect inwardly.

Abstract: In an adaptive delta modulation system, the delta modulated output signal is applied to a logic circuit which derives from such signal a pulse train used to develop the system's quantization step-size control voltage. The output pulse train of the logic circuit is applied to a circuit which serves the function of an integrator although digital in operation. The digital circuit develops a digital output signal whose value depends upon the number of pulses appearing per unit time in the logic circuit output pulse train. The digital circuit includes a forwards-backwards counter, whose forwards input receives the logic circuit output pulse train. An accumulator which accumulates the count on the counter produces carry pulses at its highest-place stage, the carry pulses having a repetition frequency corresponding to the count on the counter, the carry pulses being applied to the reverse input of the counter.

Abstract: A variable radius labyrinth seal arrangement for use in a steam turbine apparatus is characterized by a flexible strip member having mounted substantially perpendicular thereto a series of corrugated uprights. The strip is received within a circumferential groove provided in the turbine casing and is flexible to conform to the curvature of the groove, thus permitting seal use in a variety of turbine sizes. The amplitude of the corrugations, or waviness, of the uprights varies in accordance to the magnitude of the flexure of the strip necessary for the strip to conform to the groove curvature. The strip is movably biased within the groove and responds to forces generated by contacts between the uprights and rotating turbine elements by displacing radially outward from that contact.

Abstract: A seal arrangement for preventing leakage of a fluid from a high pressure region to a lower pressure region through a radial gap defined between a stationary member and a member rotating relative thereto. A stationary seal member is provided which substantially closes the radial gap but which defines a narrow radial clearance therebetween. Deflector seals are mounted on the rotating member and exhibit predetermined axial alignment with the stationary seal, the deflector seals extending radially outward from the rotating member for a distance less than the clearance defined between the stationary seal and the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A self-powered, portable, hand-held communicator and system provides a deaf user with a visual display of conversational information transmitted to him with a standard pushbutton telephone. A highly efficient and easily remembered encoding scheme is featured wherein the alphabetic character encoding utilizes the standard markings on the telephone pushbuttons and the relative positional location of the pushbuttons. Rapid tactile transmission of messages by a user is enhanced and user fatigue minimized by requiring only a single pushbutton stroke per hand to transmit any alphabetic character. User fatigue is additionally minimized by distributing pushbutton actuation requirements for normal conversation among a plurality of the fingers of each hand and by assigning control functions to pushbuttons having positions spatially and visually related to the encoding function they perform and to the user's finger positions during message transmission.