Abstract: A conversion apparatus suitable for mounting a truck bed onto the chassis of a tractor equipped with a fifth wheel and primarily intended for hauling trailers. In one embodiment the conversion apparatus includes a pair of rails mounted on opposing sides of the trailer chassis in front of the fifth wheel and a frame, attached to the underside of the truck bed, which is configured to rest upon the rails, the fifth wheel and a portion of the tractor chassis behind the fifth wheel. The frame is also provided with a kingpin to engage the locking mechanism of the fifth wheel. Latching devices are provided at a forward end of the rails and a rearward end of the frame to secure the front of the frame to the rails and the rear of the frame to the rearward end of the tractor chassis, thus restricting relative motion between the truck bed and the trailer. In an alternative embodiment a dump-type truck bed may be mounted on a conventional tractor.

Abstract: A compact spray gun using a single air supply port to actuate two piston valves and act as an air refinement system. An externally adjustable cartridge type packaging assembly needle piston valve seals the resin. A spool valve portion of a catalyst piston valve having O-ring seals is separable external from the piston portion. Leak detection ports are provided so the operator can easily determine when to adjust or replace the packing or O-ring seals. The catalyst piston valve controls the mixing of the catalyst and air from a second air supply port. In a preferred embodiment, the resin piston valve controls a valve which provide air to the chopper system simultaneously with spraying of the resin.

Abstract: Near net shape metal articles are cast from powder feedstock using a focused high energy beam which melts successive layers of powder as it repetitively traces the shape of the article over a substrate without the necessity for refocusing. Powder is fed into a cavity in which the article is formed at a rate to maintain a depth which provides lateral support for, and therefore forms a mold for, a thick layer of powder which is melted by the energy beam to add each layer to the article. The high energy laser or electron beam has a power density sufficient to penetrate the melted layer of powder and melt the surface of the underlying substrate or layer just enough to provide a good metallurgical bond for the layer being added. A copper fixture which supports the substrate while the article is being formed, serves as a heat sink and forms the cavity which confines the powder to the vicinity of the article being formed.

Abstract: A compact spray gun using a single air supply port to actuate two piston valves and act as an air refinement system. An externally adjustable cartridge type packaging assembly needle piston valve seals the resin. A spool valve portion of a catalyst piston valve having O-ring seals is separable external from the piston portion. Leak detection ports are provided so the operator can easily determine when to adjust or replace the packing or O-ring seals. The catalyst piston valve controls the mixing of the catalyst and air from a second air supply port. In a preferred embodiment, the resin piston valve controls a valve which provide air to the chopper system simultaneously with spraying of the resin.

Abstract: A compact spray gun using a single air supply port to actuate two piston valves and act as an air refinement system. An externally adjustable cartridge type packaging assembly needle piston valve seals the resin. A spool valve portion of a catalyst piston valve having O-ring seals is separable external from the piston portion. Leak detection ports are provided so the operator can easily determine when to adjustment or replacement of the packing or O-ring seals. The catalyst piston valve controls the mixing of the catalyst and air from a second air supply port. In a preferred embodiment, the resin piston valve controls a valve which provide air to the chopper system simultaneously with spraying of the resin.

Abstract: An internal mixing chamber wherein a small amount of secondary fluid is introduced through a circumferential orifice having circumferential rotation and a large amount of primary fluid is introduced as an axial annulus to flow axially through the radially introduced secondary fluid to be mixed therein. The secondary fluid is introduced at lower pressure than the primary fluid and the system is self-balancing.

Abstract: A token and photo-detector circuitry in an electronic device used for supplying electrical power to an external appliance for an amount of time represented on the token. The token contains encoded information in a base numbering system in several regions of the token and this information is read by the circuitry to represent a time value whereby the circuit relays power to the appliance for an equivalent length of time. Several tokens may be deposited into the device in any orientation so as to accumulate time for use of the appliance. The device is programmable and can communicate with the user/operator with the appropriate hardware additions.

Abstract: In a digital computer system which employs a plurality of host processors, at least two system buses and a plurality of peripheral input/output ports, an input/output system is provided whereby ownership of the input/output channels is shared. The device controller employs a first port controller having a first ownership latch, a second port controller having a second ownership latch, a first bus, a dedicated microprocessor having control over the first bus (the MPU bus), a second, higher-speed bus, a multiple-channel direct memory access (DMA) controller which is a state machine which controls the second bus (the data buffer bus), a bus switch for exchanging data between buses, a multiple device peripheral device interface, namely a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), and at least provision for interface with data communication equipment (DCEs) or data terminal equipment (DTEs).

Abstract: A multi-chronal fluorescence imaging technique for spatial differentiation and correlation of a plurality of separate sample components tagged with site specific dyes is described. The dyes have decay times that are widely separated and vary by approximately a factor of ten from one dye to the next. These are added to the sample and are excited with a short pulse of ultraviolet light. Between the sample and a detector is placed an adjustable shutter or gate which is opened and closed at predetermined intervals so that the detector can see the approximate maximum intensity output of each dye in a shown ordered sequence without significant interference from the other dyes.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing virtual memory in a computer system, wherein a table containing entries indicative of the correlation of virtual memory addresses to physical memory addresses is maintained in main memory, and translation descriptors, derived from the translation table entries, for a variable group of virtual addresses, is maintained in a high speed memory. Portions of a virtual address to be translated are compared to the translation descriptors in the high speed memory. If a matching translation descriptor is found, the corresponding physical address is determined by combining a portion of the virtual address with a portion of the matching translation descriptor. If a matching descriptor is not found, a software algorithm is employed to generate a translation descriptor for the virtual address from the table in main memory. The generated translation descriptor is then installed in the high speed memory, the comparison repeated, and the corresponding physical address generated.

Abstract: Virgin metal and metal alloy components are welded with and without filler material using a laser without cleaning the surfaces to be joined of mill scale and/or surface oxides, paints grease and other forms of contamination, and without edge preparation. The uncleaned, unprepared surfaces are placed in contact with each other, and a 100% through the thickness laser keyhole weld without filler metal is made in one pass, full penetration is achieved by two laser keyhole welds without filler metal (one made from each side), or resistively heated filler wire is fed into the metal pool of a laser conduction weld in one or more passes along each side of the confronting surfaces to be joined. Quality welds are made despite gaps of varying size up to about 0.125 inches between the parts to be joined.

Abstract: Oscillatory motion apparatus has a first reciprocating rod oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to a second reciprocating rod. A first trammel gear is pivotally secured to the first and second rods. Reciprocation of the rods produces responsive rotation of the trammel gear. An output gear may be rotated responsive to rotation of the trammel gear. The invention may be embodied in an engine block and two or more pairs of opposed cylinders each containing pistons adapted for reciprocation therein is provided. The rods, which may be connecting rods, connect pairs of opposed pistons. The connecting rods are preferably oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to each other. The connecting rods are rotatably connected to the trammel gear. Reciprocation of the pistons results in rotation of the trammel gear which is operatively associated with an output gear to produce rotary output.

Abstract: Oscillatory motion apparatus has a first reciprocating rod oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to a second reciprocating rod. A first trammel gear is pivotally secured to the first and second rods. Reciprocation of the rods produces responsive rotation of the trammel gear. An output gear may be rotated responsive to rotation of the trammel gear. The invention may be embodied in an engine block and two or more pairs of opposed cylinders each containing pistons adapted for reciprocation therein is provided. The rods, which may be connecting rods, connect pairs of opposed pistons. The connecting rods are preferably oriented generally perpendicularly with respect to each other. The connecting rods are rotatably connected to the trammel gear. Reciprocation of the pistons results in rotation of the trammel gear which is operatively associated with an output gear to produce rotary output.

Abstract: A distributed packet switching system in which a centralized switch is not used and, instead, each transmitting port contains the intelligence required to derive and then insert the destination port and station addresses into the header of each packet to be transmitted by the port. The port circuitry that derives the destination addresses operates under control of a central controller which, prior to the setup of each call, receives information identifying the transmitting port and calling station as well as the destination station number dialed at the calling station. The controller processes this data to derive the destination port and station addresses. The derived addresses are sent to and stored in a RAM in the transmitting port. The RAM outputs the destination port and station addresses for each packet subsequently transmitted by the port on the call.

Abstract: The present invention provides a speed control system for use in maintaining the rotational speed of an output shaft of a power takeoff unit within a predetermined range. A central control unit receives signals indicative of the speed of the input gear and, in response to the received signals engages and disengages the output shaft of the power takeoff unit. The central control unit also disengages the output shaft if the system's voltage levels drop below a preset minimum.

Abstract: A driver return assembly for an electro-mechanical fastener driving tool. The tool is of the type provided with a driver which is frictionally moved through a working stroke by means of an electrically driven flywheel which presses the driver against a support element, such as a counter rotating flywheel, a low inertia roller, or the like. The driver return assembly comprises at least one elastomeric cord being attached at one of its ends to the driver and at the other of its ends to an anchor within the tool. The at least one elastomeric cord, between its ends, passes about at least two pulleys. One of the pulleys is mounted on a spring supported shaft to compensate for stretch of the at least one elastomeric cord to assure that the driver is returned to its normal, retracted position after each working stroke.

Abstract: A flow meter apparatus for measuring the mass flow rates of fluids passed through two essentially parallel, cantilever mounted U-shaped flow tubes where, instead of the fluid serially passing through one of the U-shaped flow tubes and then through the second U-shaped flow tube, the fluid is essentially evenly divided and half of the fluid is passed through one U-shaped flow tube and the other half of the fluid is passed through the other U-shaped flow tube. The two U-shaped flow tubes are sinusoidally driven as the tines of a tuning fork, and when a fluid is passed through the oscillating U-shaped flow tubes Coriolis forces are generated which torsionally deflect the U-shaped flow tubes. Such torsional deflections are a function of the mass flow rate of the fluid passing through the two U-shaped flow tubes.

Abstract: A flow meter apparatus for measuring the mass flow rates of fluids passed through a cantilever mounted oscillating sensing tube where the capability of the meter to measure low mass flow rates is enhanced by using a sensing tube which has a low torsional spring constant about its longitudinal axis. Mounted parallel to this sensing tube, also in a cantilever fashion, is a second tube which has essentially identical moments of inertia and spring constants. Connecting the two tubes at their free ends is a lightweight rigid structure. The two tubes with the connecting structure can be sinusoidally driven so that when a fluid is passed through the sensing tube generated Coriolis forces torsionally deflect the connecting structure about an axis located midway between the tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for making fluid mass flow rate measurements using a Coriolis flow meter equipped with sensors which measure acceleration, velocity, or position of each side leg of an oscillating U-shaped conduit through which the fluid is passed. The sensors are so constructed and located as to produce analog signal outputs which accurately correspond to the motion of the respective side legs of the U-shaped conduit. When fluid is flowing through the conduit, a change from coincidence in the time relationship of the sensor signals caused by the divergent oscillations of each side leg of the U-shaped conduit is measured in both directions of oscillation. The fluid mass flow rate is then determined as a function of such time separation of the signals. The separation of the two signals with respect to time is measured without reference to static structures affixed to a platform.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for mass flow measurement utilizing a substantially "U" shaped conduit mounted in a cantilever manner at the legs thereof, .[.means for oscillating the conduit, and means for measuring.]. .Iadd.so that, when the conduit is oscillated, sensors mounted on the conduit can measure .Iaddend.the Coriolis force by measurement of the force moment or the angular motion of the conduit around an axis substantially symmetrical to the legs of the conduit. The force moment is measured by sensing incipient movement around the axis, and generating and measuring a nulling force. In preferred embodiments, the oscillating means are mounted on a spring arm having a natural frequency substantially equal to that of the "U" shaped conduit, and in a particularly preferred .[.displacement.]. .Iadd.embodiment .Iaddend.the measuring .[.means are sensors.]. .Iadd.sensors are .Iaddend.