Abstract: A soft excavator (10, 90, 110, 130) is disclosed which utilizes a jet of high velocity fluid flow such as air or water flow, preferably supersonic, through a nozzle (48, 92, 112) to excavate a material, such as the ground. A second passage for air flow is provided which is directed by an evacuator skirt (52, 102) in a direction along the excavator generally opposite the direction of discharge of the high velocity excavating flow to entrain the material excavated for disposal.

Abstract: A soft excavator (10, 90, 110, 130) is disclosed which utilizes a jet of high velocity fluid flow such as air or water flow, preferably supersonic, through a nozzle (48, 92, 112) to excavate a material, such as the ground. A second passage for air flow is provided which is directed by an evacuator skirt (52, 102) in a direction along the excavator generally opposite the direction of discharge of the high velocity excavating flow to entrain the material excavated for disposal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a horizontal controlled borehole in the earth includes a drill frame, a drill string and a downhole tool. The drill frame includes a wrench attached to the frame for assisting in breaking and forming joints. The downhole tool includes removable blade assemblies having, for example, stepped or spade-like profiles and hard facing at areas of primary contact with the soil. When fluid is added for cooling, lubricating and flushing away cuttings, the downhole tool can include a nozzle parallel to the centerline of the longitudinal axis of the drill string, a check valve means for preventing downhole particles from entering the fluid passageway and/or a transmitter protecting waterproof plug for diverting fluid to a fluid passageway and for allowing an on-board downhole transmitter to be near the drill bit. Also, the blade assembly can be placed so as to divert fluid from the nozzle to an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.

Abstract: A full color liquid crystal flat panel display having a step waveplate providing one-quarter and three-quarter wave phase retardation to alternating rows which provide left and right views. The result of right and left are circular polarized in opposite directions which two a viewer wearing circularly polarized glasses provides the left and right views to the appropriate eye such that the viewer is able to see full color three-dimensional images.

Abstract: An adjustable davit arrangement is attachable to a pair of pier pilings for raising or lowering a vessel and comprises a first davit mounted on a first pier piling, a second davit mounted on a second pier piling, a rotatable drive pipe extending between respective distal ends of the first and second davits, pick-up flanges disposed near respective ends of the rotatable drive pipe for raising or lowering the vessel via respective cables as the drive pipe is rotated, and a winch motor mounted in proximity to one of the davits and operating with a gear reducing drive drum mounted on the drive pipe so as to cause the drive pipe to rotate, thereby raising or lowering the vessel. Simplicity in assembly and operation, and economy, are achieved by use of a single winch motor.

Abstract: A method of determining the stiffness and condition on a wooden structure. The method consists of initiating the natural vibration of the structure in a band of frequencies that cover at least two of the first five resonant modes of vibration. An electrical response equivalent to the vibration motion of the structure is generated and the electrical response is converted to a digital signal. The resonant frequency of the structure is calculated by analysing the digital signal. By comparing the results with the results obtained using a mathematical model the stiffness and condition of the structure is determined.

Abstract: A computer system has a system bus with several sockets or slots therein which receive memory modules. Each module can be used to implement at least one of a variety of functions. The functions include operating system programs, application programs, and random access memories (RAM). Each slot has a module select line coupled to it at the same location. A module select circuit is provided which enables the module select lines to select the appropriate module or modules. Modules implementing the same type of function, or different functions, can be plugged into the slots in any order. Each module implementing the same type of function is allocated the same address block and starts at the same address. In the cases of operating system modules and application program modules, the module which is enabled by the module select line acts as the program memory for the processor so that the program is instantaneously in memory from the time the module is selected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to determine the position, velocity and orientation of an object with respect to an observation point. It consists of placing a sensor spaced from the object and placed at the observation point which will emit two non-parallel beams of light toward the object. Retroreflectors on the object will reflect the light in opposite direction to generate pulses of reflected light caused by the angular relative motion between the incident beam of light and the retroreflectors. A processor can be used to provide an indication of the position, velocity and orientation of the object based on the time interval between reflected pulses.

Abstract: A hollow tubular cartridge (4) is tethered on an insulated electrical lead (10) connected to a hand held box (18) containing sensing circuitry. The cartridge (4) is lowered into a fuel tank (12) for sensing water in the tank (18) by a reduced electrical resistance path between probe electrodes (6 and 8) on the cartridge (4) which is sensed by circuitry within the box (18).

Abstract: Methods of electronically enhancing one or more color components (C, Y, M) which together represent the chromatic components of a pixel of an image are described. The methods comprise subtracting from each color component respective quantities which when combined correspond to a grey level (4) to generate reduced color components. These reduced color components are then multiplied by a factor and the modified reduced color components are then added back to the subtracted quantities or to the original color components to generate enhanced color components (13,14), whereby the factor is chosen such that the hue of the original pixel is not substantially changed after enhancement. In one method, the magnitude of the maximum reduced color component is determined and a factor is chosen which is related to the determined magnitude. In another method, the color components are ranked in order of magnitude and compared to derive two equivalent color component values.

Abstract: A mask cleanser for the hands and other skin surfaces composed of oatmeal, powdered milk, baking soda, honey and water. Two (2) cups of dried oatmeal are blended in a blender with 11/2 cups of powdered milk and 1/2 cup of baking soda until the mixture is powdery fine and smooth. Two thirds (2/3) cup of honey and 1/2 cup of water are added until the mixture forms a paste.

Abstract: Steel products having high strength or good drawing or magnetic or electrical properties, requiring levels of carbon or manganese, or both, that are too high to allow rimming action are produced to have the desired properties, in effect, but with a surface condition characteristic of rimmed steel. The method involves pouring an ingot mold 80 to 95% full of molten, rimming steel, then allowing the steel to stand and rim for several minutes while a shell freezes against the mold wall, and thereafter filling the mold while inserting into the molten steel stream additional carbon or manganese, plus any other elements such as P, Al, Cb, V, Cr, Ni, Si or others, so that the core of the ultimately solidified ingot is steel having the above-desired strength or other properties.

Abstract: For skelp to make pipe having a seam butt-joined as by electrical resistance or submerged arc welding, skelp is made by pouring a base melt of rimming steel into an ingot mold to about 80 to 95% full and then after a shell of rimmed steel has solidified against the mold wall, completing pouring of the same melt while adding further material to the molten core, e.g. more C or Mn, and Al or the like for killing, so that the solidified ingot has a core of desired high strength, killed or semi-killed steel. The ingot is processed to desired skelp by hot rolling, the top and bottom regions being suitably cropped, so that the skelp has a main body of the high strength steel, bordered lengthwise by integral edge zones, e.g. 1/2 inch or more wide, of the rimmed steel, free of unwanted inclusions. When rolled to pipe shape, with finished edges, the edge zones are electrically butt welded, such operation being effected with unusual facility.

Abstract: High strength, low alloy steel is produced, preferably as a hot rolled article (e.g. strip), to have a rimmed skin of essentially ferrite while having a main body or core which is aluminum-killed and comprises, for superior mechanical properties including yield strength, a suitable quantity of columbium and/or vanadium. The carbon, manganese and sulfur contents of the base metal, which provides the skin and plus the addition, the core, are preferably limited to provide special results as low alloy steel and also, by the same limitations, to provide auto sulfide shape control and thus to avoid unwanted directionality regarding toughness and bendability. The steel is made by pouring a mold 80-95% full of the base composition, then allowing the steel to rim for several minutes, and after a shell has solidified, continuing to pour while adding Al and Cb or V to the teemed stream, thereby providing an ingot with the above killed core, which can be hot reduced as desired.

Abstract: A rimmed steel product, in as-hot-rolled, or cold rolled and annealed form, is made essentially non-aging by inclusion of one or both of the aging-retardant elements vanadium and boron, while retaining an excellent, clear surface that is not adversely affected by the presence of such element or elements. To produce such articles, an ingot mold is poured 80 to 95% full of plain rimming steel, and the molten steel is allowed to rim, e.g. for several minutes, until a rimmed shell solidifies against the mold wall. Then pouring is completed with the same steel, while adding one or both of the aging-retardant elements to the teemed stream. Processed like rimmed steel, ultimate rolled (e.g. strip) products having a thin, truly rimmed skin over a main body of substantially non-aging steel, are found to exhibit no unwanted change of properties (e.g. as would be revealed by significant strain lines) such as usually characterizes the effect of aging in rimmed steel.

Abstract: Steel products having high strength or good drawing or magnetic or electrical properties, requiring levels of carbon or manganese, or both, that are too high to allow rimming action are produced to have the desired properties, in effect, but with a surface condition characteristic of rimmed steel. The method involves pouring an ingot mold 80 to 95% full of molten, rimming steel, then allowing the steel to stand and rim for several minutes while a shell freezes against the mold wall, and thereafter filling the mold while inserting into the molten steel stream additional carbon or manganese, plus any other elements such as P, Al, Cb, V, Cr, Ni, Si or others, so that the core of the ultimately solidified ingot is steel having the above-desired strength or other properties.

Abstract: An electrical resistance spot welding system and method is disclosed. The system has adjustable output power circuitry for applying electrical heating energy to a weld site by way of weld tips, in accordance with a welding operation. An energy monitor senses instantaneous accumulated energy applied during the welding operation, and terminates the operation when an adjustable predetermined total energy has been applied. Other circuitry monitors applied welding voltage, and derives therefrom a signal which is a function of the energy density per unit area applied at the weld site. Circuitry responds to the energy density sensing to control the energy monitor and the power circuitry to govern the total energy applied in the welding operation.

Abstract: A new and distinct apple variety is provided which is especially well adapted for growing in warmer apple growing areas because of its unusually good heat tolerance. The new variety possesses a medium large upright and spreading growth habit and abundantly forms attractive dessert-type fruit. Such fruit is tangy and richly flavored, and possesses a bright red skin coloration coupled with exceptionally good flesh firmness when compared to other early ripening apple varieties.