Abstract: A gas turbine engine article includes a silicon-containing ceramic wall that has an external combustion gaspath side and an internal side that borders a cooling air cavity. The external combustion gaspath side has an associated combustion gas flow direction there along. An array of cooling holes extends through the silicon-containing ceramic wall and connects the internal side with the external combustion gaspath side. The cooling holes are oriented to discharge cooling air to the external gaspath side in a direction counter to the combustion gas flow direction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the manufacture of reinforced composites. This method provides a process that allows for the direct mixing of discontinuous reinforcement such as wet chopped strands of glass fiber or continuous reinforcement such as glass strands, with an aqueous suspension of a solution polymerized polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride. The process results in a cost-effective means for reinforcing polymers such as PVC while simultaneously substantially improving properties such as impact strength, stiffness, and moldability without the need for a binder.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the manufacture of reinforced composites. This method provides a process that allows for the direct mixing of discontinuous reinforcement such as wet chopped strands of glass fiber or continuous reinforcement such as glass strands, with an aqueous suspension of a solution polymerized polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride. The process results in a cost-effective means for reinforcing polymers such as PVC while simultaneously substantially improving properties such as impact strength, stiffness, and moldability without the need for a binder.

Abstract: Video signal scrambling and descrambling methods and apparatus for a subscription TV system are provided which are compatible with other equipment operating in accordance with pre-existing modes of signal scrambling and descrambling. Coded indicator signals generated in accordance with the invention are inserted into selected lines of video signals before they are scrambled by a previously installed scrambler located at a central office. The scrambled video signals, with indicator signals inserted, are then sent to all subscriber locations within the TV system. At new subscriber locations, descrambling receivers, in accordance with the present invention, detect and decode the indicator signals and in accordance with a new mode of operation properly descramble the video signals. At old subscriber locations, previously installed descrambling receivers ignore the indicator signals and descramble the video signals in accordance with pre-existing modes of operation.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for switching traps in and out of a cable television signal path. A plurality of double pole double throw switches is connected in series with the signal path. Each switch has a first actuated position, a second actuated position, and an off position. The switches connect corresponding traps to the signal path in the first actuated positions. In the second actuated positions, the switches provide a through connection in series with the signal path. An open circuit is provided along the signal path when a switch is in the off postion. Actuation and disconnect signals transmitted over the cable television network selectively actuate the switches to the frist, second, or off positions. The switches are constructed of solid-state components such as diodes, and are actuated by unipolar biasing signals.

Abstract: Remote control of subscriber access to premium programs on a cable television system or the like is provided. A signal path carriers program signals received from a cable television system. A switchable port coupled to the signal path is identified by a logical channel number. First data are received and stored from the cable television system assigning a service code to the logical channel. Second data are received and stored from the cable television system identifying authorized service codes. The assigned logical channel service code is periodically compared to the stored authorized service codes to determine if the logical channel is authorized. The port is switched to provide or deny access to a program signal carried on the signal path, depending on whether the service code assigned to the logical channel identifying the port is authorized. A plurality of ports can be provided to enable subscriber access to different premium services.

Abstract: Frequency control of multiple oscillators using a single frequency locked loop is accomplished by a single frequency-control device that is time-shared with a plurality of voltage-controlled oscillators and selectively establishes a "desired" frequency for each oscillator. The output of each oscillator is, in turn, selectively routed to a frequency counter which measures the "actual" frequency of the oscillator. A comparison between the desired frequency and the actual measured frequency for each oscillator is made, and an error voltage developed. This error voltage is routed to the appropriate capacitor, which stores the voltage required to keep the selected oscillator on frequency until the next time it is measured.

Abstract: A cable television channel selector/descrambler enables the full capabilities of a cable-ready video appliance (e.g., television set or VCR) to be used in conjunction with a cable television system providing unscrambled channels and scrambled premium channels. A broadband cable signal containing a plurality of television signal channels having different frequencies is passed through a filter to produce a modified cable signal having one of the signal channels removed therefrom. The broadband cable signal is input to a tuner for selectively tuning only to scrambled signal channels contained in the broadband cable signal. The tuner is tuned to a scrambled signal channel to be viewed by stepping through the scrambled signal channels accessible by the tuner until the desired signal channel is reached. A scrambled signal tuned by the tuner is descrambled and remodulated to convert it to the frequency of the signal channel removed by the filter in producing the modified cable signal.

Abstract: A multiple converter system is provided for a remote user in a cable communications system. The converters at the user location are linked together via a splitter. One converter operates as a master converter transmitting a master control signal to the other converters, designated as slave converters. The slave converters are actuated only upon reception of the master control signal. The master control signal is interrupted by the master converter only when it transmits data upstream to the central office or when one of the slave converters is required to transmit data. A slave converter notifies the master converter of the need to transmit data by a slave signal. A transmitter unit is automatically activated for transmitting data upstream upon the absence of the master signal on the bus.

Abstract: A VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) is provided with a full set of tuning voltages from a reduced number of reference voltage sources, such as potentiometers. Logic controlled switch means delivers any of the reference voltages individually or predetermined combinations thereof as the tuning voltages to the VCO. A reference voltage source potentiometer is provided for each of the odd numbered tuning voltages, and a piecewise linear approximation is provided for the intermediate even numbered tuning voltages by generating the average of two adjacent odd voltages.

Abstract: A voltage dividing and reference circuit for creating a pseudoground from a unipolar power supply such that when used in combination with a digital voltmeter circuit a bipolar input signal can be measured for both polarities with respect to ground.

Abstract: An emergency locking retractor system for storing a length of safety belt incorporates a sensor which includes a multi-directional pendulum device displaceable from its rest position by acceleration. Displacement of the pendulum is utilized to change the strength of an energy field imposed upon an electrical signal means. The output signal of the signal means responds to the change in the energy field imposed thereon and the changed signal is employed to activate solenoid switches which lock the retractor. The energy field source may be a magnet or a light source and the signal means then may include, respectively, a Hall device or a phototransistor. Movement of the pendulum from its rest position is utilized to move the magnet closer to or further from the Hall device, or to interpose a shield between the light source and the phototransistor, or to change the position of a reflector used to reflect light from the light source onto the phototransistor.

Abstract: A digital speedometer, frequency or event counter with digital display. The speedometer conventionally receives speed pulses representative of the speed of the vehicle. Due to the lack of synchronization between speed pulses and clock pulses the last display digit exhibits undesirable jitter. This may also be caused by backlash in the drive train or the like. This jitter is minimized by the provision of a precounter between the counter and the gate transfer to a storage register. This will permit transfer of the number generated in the counter only if the precounter is in the zero state, thus minimizing the jitter due to random occurrences of the last pulse.