Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a perform (1) for a holey optical fibre including thermomechanically forming the preform from a unitary body of optically suitable material (20) so that one or more discrete optical elements (30), such as air holes, are formed therein. Each element (30) has a refractive index which is different from the refractive index of the optically suitable material (20). The thermomechanical formation is preferably conducted by extrusion or by injection molding. In a preferred embodiment, the unitary body is a fluid. The method is suitable for production of a preform for a polymer holey optical fibre or an inorganic glass holey optical fibre.

Abstract: The present invention is a seismometer/velocimeter, and can be also made to function as an accelerometer. The invention comprises an in-plane suspension geometry combined with a transverse periodic-sensing-array position transducer. The invention can incorporate a feedback actuator of magnetic design, incorporating fixed magnets and planar coils on the surface of the proof mass allowing for much lower noise than an equivalent electrostatic actuator without requiring high voltages. The invention may also have a dual-axis configuration by using two sets of springs. The nested suspensions allow the proof mass to move in two orthogonal directions. A three-axis configuration is possible by combining the dual-axis version with sensing and actuation of the proof mass motion out of the plane. The position sensing for the out-of-plane motion can be made using schemes common in existing state-of-the-art sensors. Actuation for the sensors may be electrostatic or electromagnetic in each of the axis.

Abstract: A method of terminating a polymer optical fibre (10) having a longitudinally extending light guiding cor region (11) and longitudinally extending channel-like light confining holes (13). The method comprises restricting a cross-sectional area of the some or all of the holes over a portion of their length adjacent and extending to a terminal end (14) of the optical fibre (10). The cross-sectional area of the holes is restricted, using the inherent properties of the polymeric material, in a manner effectively to increase the cross-sectional area of the light guiding region (11) of the optical fibre (10) adjacent its terminal end (14). Further, a method of splicing two of such polymer optical fibres (10) comprising terminating each of the optical fibres by the above-defined method, aligning them and conjoining their terminal ends (14).

Abstract: A piston-type infusion pump is provided having an improved method of occlusion detection. The infusion pump includes processing circuitry for controlling the drive mechanism to infuse medication to a patient, including a sensor to track the position of the syringe plunger, thereby metering the amount of medication dispensed to the patient. The processing circuitry also includes a force sensor for providing signals indicative of the presence of occlusions along the infusion path. The operation of the drive mechanism causes delivery of medication to the patient. The infusion pump is constructed to be watertight.

Abstract: The present invention is a seismometer/velocimeter, and can be also made to function as an accelerometer. The invention comprises an in-plane suspension geometry combined with a transverse periodic-sensing-array position transducer. The invention can incorporate a feedback actuator of magnetic design, incorporating fixed magnets and planar coils on the surface of the proof mass allowing for much lower noise than an equivalent electrostatic actuator without requiring high voltages. The invention may also have a dual-axis configuration by using two sets of springs. The nested suspensions allow the proof mass to move in two orthogonal directions. A three-axis configuration is possible by combining the dual-axis version with sensing and actuation of the proof mass motion out of the plane. The position sensing for the out-of-plane motion can be made using schemes common in existing state-of-the-art sensors. Actuation for the sensors may be electrostatic or electromagnetic in each of the axis.

Abstract: A piston-type infusion pump is provided having an improved method of occlusion detection. The infusion pump includes processing circuitry for controlling the drive mechanism to infuse medication to a patient, including a sensor to track the position of the syringe plunger, thereby metering the amount of medication dispensed to the patient. The processing circuitry also includes a force sensor for providing signals indicative of the presence of occlusions along the infusion path. The operation of the drive mechanism causes delivery of medication to the patient. The infusion pump is constructed to be watertight.

Abstract: A piston-type infusion pump is provided having an improved method of occlusion detection. The infusion pump includes processing circuitry for controlling the drive mechanism to infuse medication to a patient, including a sensor to track the position of the syringe plunger, thereby metering the amount of medication dispensed to the patient. The processing circuitry also includes a force sensor for providing signals indicative of the presence of occlusions along the infusion path. The operation of the drive mechanism causes delivery of medication to the patient. The infusion pump is constructed to be watertight.

Abstract: Means are provided for connecting at least one breathing gas cylinder to a face mask or like device in breathing equipment of the kind used by firemen and divers, for instance. The means includes a three-way coupling (5) in which at least one of the connections is comprised of a hose connector (10) which can be adjusted angularly in relation to the two remaining connections (9, 13). The coupling means can be used for different purposes and is relatively insensitive to external influences.

Abstract: A paint spray rig is disclosed for applying "high gain" reflective paints to a motion picture projection screen. The rig includes a tower which extends vertically of the screen and which can be indexed laterally across the screen. A paint spray head is carried by a carriage assembly that is vertically movable on a tower. The spray head can be moved towards and away from the screen under the control of ultrasonic sensors that measure the distance between the spray head and the screen, for maintaining the distance substantially constant. The spray head can also be moved progressively in the vertical direction with respect to the carriage so that it is at the bottom of the carriage for painting the bottom edge of the screen and at the top of the carriage for painting the top edge of the screen. The spray head can also be swapped from one side of the carriage to the other for painting opposite side edge portions of the screen.

Abstract: A reel unit for supply and take-up of film from at least one motion picture projector includes an upright support column and a plurality of film platter-support arms that extend generally horizontally from the column at vertically spaced positions. The arms are alternately offset laterally from one another to facilitate access to film on platters below the top arm. Each arm carries a platter drive hub provided with upwardly projecting drive pins that engage in openings in the platter so that the platter can be lifted off the arm. This allows the platters to be interchanged between different arms. Film take-up and pay-out cores can be interchangeably mounted on the platters so that any one platter can serve as a supply platter or a take-up platter irrespective of its position on the column. For the same reason, the column carries, in association with each arm, a set of rollers for guiding film being paid out from a platter on that arm or being wound onto the platter.

Abstract: A method for treating proteinaceous materials that contain disulfide or polysulfide bonds to improve their performance at high relative humidity and when wet. The method comprises annealing the fabric at a temperature in the range of from 70.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. at a regain of between 10% and 25% for a period greater than about 10 minutes wherein the fabric is annealed in the presence of a gas which enhances the disulfide interchange reaction. A further embodiment of the invention comprises annealing the fabric at a temperature in the range of from 70.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. to a regain of between 10% and 25% for a period greater than 10 minutes wherein the fabric has at least in part been treated with a liquid which enhances the disulfide interchange reaction. The present method is particularly applicable to keratinous materials such as for example wool, wool with reduced crystallinity, mohair, regenerated protein, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A theatre designed to provide an intimate environment for an audience, particularly for watching 3-D motion pictures. The theatre has an auditorium with a sloped seating deck and audience entry/exit points on opposite sides, generally at an intermediate level of the deck. The entry/exit points are generally at ground level with the portion of the deck below those points in an excavated pit. A ground level lobby connects to the access points by aisles outwardly of opposite sides of the auditorium and a projection room is provided above the lobby.

Abstract: A compact rolling loop motion picture projector has a rotor of significantly smaller diameter than a conventional such rotor. The radius of curvature of the rotor is selected to be significantly less than the radius of curvature of a film flattener element on which the film is located for projection, and the axis of rotation of the rotor is offset towards a film input sprocket of the projector so as to maintain a minimum film gap between the rotor and the field flattener upstream of the optical axis of the projector. The compact rotor is rotationally supported from above by a "spider" and a projection lamp is located below the rotor for compactness and efficiency of lamp operation.

Abstract: A projector having a rolling loop film transport mechanism is provided with a film decelerating cam unit that is located in advance of the aperture of the projector. Deceleration pins carried by a pair of vertically spaced arms that project from the cam unit engage in upper and lower marginal perforations in the film and travel with the film towards the aperture and decelerate the film as each frame is advanced. The cam unit includes two cams, one of which causes the decelerating motion of the pins, and a return motion in the reverse direction, while the other cam causes the pins to advance and retract into and from the film path respectively. By positively retracting the pins, their return movement against the direction of film travel can take place independent of the motion of the film. As compared with the prior art, acceleration forces and resultant stresses on the cam are reduced and the cam unit can operate at higher frame rates and/or with smaller rotor gaps.

Abstract: A film transport mechanism for an optical printer in which the film is positively clamped and laterally tensioned at the position of the aperture between each film advance step, so that the film lies absolutely flat in the focal plane of the lens system of the printer during exposure. This is achieved by providing registration pins and a pressure pad at one side of the film and a curved blade at the other side that move towards and clamp the film. The blade progressively tensions the film laterally against the pressure pad and registration pins.

Abstract: A rotary wheel member for use in a rotary, friction type, continuous extrusion apparatus is produced by(a) producing a rotary wheel having formed in its cylindrical peripheral portion a continuous groove, and secured in that groove for movement with the wheel a solid annular metal mass;(b) rotating the wheel about its rotary axis; and(c) applying to the periphery of the annular metal mass a tool of predetermined end shape, and progressively advancing the tool in a radial direction as the wheel continues to rotate, thus machining in the peripheral portion of the annular metal mass a working groove of predetermined transverse cross section.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion machine in which feedstock in particulate or comminuted form is admitted to a peripheral groove formed in a rotating wheel member, is enclosed in that groove by a cooperating shoe member, is frictionally dragged along the arcuate passageway formed by said groove and a projecting portion of said shoe member towards an abutment member carried by said shoe member, and is continuously extruded as a metal product through a die orifice disposed at the downstream end of that passageway. A cooling device is provided downstream of the abutment member.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion machine, in which feedstock is admitted (at 50) to a peripheral groove (12) in a rotating wheel (10), is enclosed in that groove by a cooperating shoe (24), and is frictionally dragged along an arcuate passageway (48) formed by said groove and a projecting portion (30) of said shoe towards an abutment (36) carried by the shoe. The abutment tip and adjacent wheel parts disposed downstream of the abutment are cooled directly by a jet of cooling fluid issuing from a nozzle (64) carried downstream on the shoe. An annular band (FIG. 2, 74) of a good thermally-conductive metal embedded concentrically in the wheel enhances the cooling obtained. The extrusion apparatus yields a metal product (FIG.

Abstract: A continuous extrusion product issuing from a continuous extrusion apparatus is threaded through a treatment die (to change its cross-section) and is continuously drawn therethrough by a tensioning device controlled by a system which (a) senses the temperature of the product as it leaves the extrusion apparatus, (b) converts (in a function generator) a temperature signal so produced into a tension reference signal, (c) compares a tension feedback signal (derived from a sensor adjacent the extrusion apparatus) with that tension reference signal, and (d) controls the tensioning device in accordance with the difference of the tension reference and feedback signals so as to prevent the sensed tension in the product (extending between the extrusion apparatus and the treatment die) from exceeding a safe value which is less than the yield stress tension of that product at the sensed temperature.

Abstract: In a continuous extrusion machine in which feedstock is admitted to a peripheral groove in a rotating wheel, is enclosed in that groove by a cooperating shoe, is frictionally dragged along an arcuate passageway formed by said groove and a projecting portion of said shoe towards an abutment carried by said shoe, and is continuously extruded as a metal product through a die, is flash extruded through clearance gaps between cooperating wheel and shoe surfaces, is intercepted and broken off periodically in short lengths by teeth which project radially or transversely from the wheel, the arcuate passageway has a radial depth which progressively decreases in the direction of wheel rotation in a zone extending upstream from the abutment.