Abstract: The invention provides a manually operated or automated clamping means to seal a solid support substrate to a solid support cover creating a uniform environmental chamber above a specimen mounted to the support substrate. The clamping means may consist of several components that may act ad a system to provide a repeatable and uniform clamping load to the substrate and cover.

Abstract: An optical sensor, in particular for a scanning force microscope, measures the deflection of a cantilever (3) using an optical resonator between the cantilever (3) and an output surface (12b) of a lens assembly (10). In order to form the resonator, output surface (12b) is concave and parallel to the wavefronts of the light within the resonator. This design provides a resonator of high stability and allows to keep the distance between lens assembly (10) and cantilever (3) comparatively large.

Abstract: Disposal container structure for the disposal of waste radioactive materials includes inner structure comprising a cover member with an inlet port and an annular seal surface portion, and depending filter structure attached to the cover structure that includes circumferential side wall structure and bottom wall structure that defines an enclosed chamber volume in which waste materials are introduced for storage therein through the inlet port. The container structure further includes outer structure that has circumferential side wall structure corresponding in shape to the filter structure of the inner structure, bottom wall structure that defines a chamber for receiving the filter structure of the inner component, and annular seal surface structure formed on the side wall structure for mating with seal surface structure of the inner structure to seal the storage chamber volume defined by the filter structure.

Abstract: An operator controlled roof bolter with a flexible shaft drill and a roof bolt inserter for drilling and inserting a roof bolt into an unsupported roof of a mine while the operator is positioned at an outby station under a supported roof. The flexible shaft roof drill is constrained to a frame of the roof bolter for pivoting movement between a rest position and a working position. The roof bolt inserter is mounted on a slide for linear movement and limited rotational movement between a retracted position and an extended position for positioning a roof bolt held by the inserter into registration with a hole drilled by the roof drill.

Abstract: A torquer/thruster with a hydrostatically actuated chuck assembly configured to drivingly engage a flexible roofdrill for applying rotational torque and longitudinal thrust to the roofdrill shaft. The chuck assembly is mounted within a rotatable and longitudinally movable piston assembly, the chuck and piston assemblies fixed against relative movement with respect to one another. The piston assembly is mounted within a rotating barrel assembly, the piston and barrel assemblies being fixed against relative rotational movement and being constrained for limited longitudinal movement with respect to one another.