Abstract:
An electromagnetic shield structure (100) has an elongated conductive wall (102) that continuously or discontinuously defines a shielding perimeter and has a flange (104) laying over laterally to form a J-shaped hook (106) in cross section. A conductive cover or lid (108) engages over the standing wall (102) and has a depending side wall skirt (110) that has a flange (112) and forms a J-shaped hook (114) facing opposite from the hook (106) of the elongated wall (102). The cover (108) is pressed onto the wall (102) for assembly, causing the flanges (104) and (112) to deflect and snap over one another in the space between the overlapping skirt (110) and wall (102). The shield enclosure (122) can be disassembled without damage by applying a tool (116) through an opening (118) in the outer one of either the skirt (110) or wall (102), to deflect and disengage the flanges (104) and (112) in the space between the overlapped skirt (110) and wall (102).
Abstract:
An apparatus and method of recycling exhaust tubes used to manufacture optical fiber includes the automated use of 1) a machine vision system that signals a conveyor system when to stop so that a cutting machine will cut contaminates and discoloration from an exhaust tube at the correct place and provides an indication on whether the exhaust tube is reusable, 2) a conveyor system to transport reusable exhaust tubes to different stations, and 3) a robotic arm to load exhaust tubes onto the conveyor system, and unload exhaust tubes from the conveyor system.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are provided for detecting whether a vehicle has been altered to conceal contraband. The invention involves receiving a detected signature of sensors embedded in a vehicle, in which the detected signature is a function of i) a distinctive characteristic of the sensors embedded in areas of the vehicle, ii) a number of the sensors embedded in areas of the vehicle, and iii) locations of the sensors in the vehicle. Afterwards, the detected signature is compared to a stored reference signature to determine whether there exists at least one difference between the stored reference signature and the detected signature. If a difference exits, then an alert is produced to notify inspectors that a detailed search is required in a specific area of the vehicle.
Abstract:
Apparatus for inspecting a vehicle in order to determine whether portions of the vehicle have been altered to conceal contraband or explosives. The apparatus captures an image of an area of a vehicle that should not be altered from a known configuration and compares the image to a reference image of the area as it should appear if it is unaltered. If the captured image and the reference image match, the vehicle is considered unaltered, and hence safe to pass. If the captured image and the reference image do not match, the vehicle is identified as likely to have been altered, and hence a candidate for further inspection. An alert is produced if at least one such difference is found.
Abstract:
An electromagnetic shielding structure has conductive parts for blocking propagation of electromagnetic interference, whereof at least one has an appendage or an edge configuration that is shaped so as to bite into the edge of the other of the conductive parts, such as along a narrowing groove. The appendage or edge can have a structure resembling an insulation displacement connector, but is arranged to engage the edge of a sheet-like or planar shielding element, as opposed to biting into an insulated wire. The connection achieves both electrical and mechanical connection between the parts, preferably thereby completing at least part of a shielding enclosure.
Abstract:
An electromagnetic shielding structure has conductive parts for blocking propagation of electromagnetic interference, whereof at least one has an appendage or an edge configuration that is shaped so as to bite into the edge of the other of the conductive parts, such as along a narrowing groove. The appendage or edge can have a structure resembling an insulation displacement connector, but is arranged to engage the edge of a sheet-like or planar shielding element, as opposed to biting into an insulated wire. The connection achieves both electrical and mechanical connection between the parts, preferably thereby completing at least part of a shielding enclosure.
Abstract:
A cooling system that can be used, for example, for cooling electrical circuit boards housed in an equipment cabinet. The cooling system includes a flow-rate-amplifying pump configured to introduce ambient air into the cabinet. The flow-rate-amplifying pump is a passive device, which has a primary intake and a secondary intake and is designed to produce a large flow of relatively cool ambient air into the cabinet through the primary intake using a small volume of compressed air applied to the secondary intake. In one embodiment, the cooling system has an auxiliary pump driven by a windmill device. Rotation of a propeller in the windmill device is converted into piston oscillation in the auxiliary pump, which oscillation is used to compress air and apply it to the secondary intake of the flow-rate-amplifying pump. A cooling system of the invention can provide efficient cooling while being self-sustaining and generating less noise and/or electrical interference than prior art cooling systems.
Abstract:
A cutting tool that can be used to form a stepped cable end prior to the attachment of an electrical connector to a coaxial cable. The cutting tool has a blade assembly supported inside a housing on a pair of cams. A coaxial cable is inserted into the cutting tool and the housing is rotated about the cable to push the blade assembly along spiral tracks in the cams. According to one embodiment of the invention, the blade assembly has three blades, each blade sized and positioned to make a cut of the corresponding appropriate depth in the coaxial cable thereby forming the desired stepped cable end. Cutting tools of the invention may be adapted for preparation of large-diameter (e.g., over 1 inch) coaxial cables.
Abstract:
A jumper cable module for use, e.g., with optical and/or electrical equipment. The module provides proper tensioning for jumper cables and retains them in a protected manner. In one embodiment, the module includes a pulley and an eccentric cam pivotally connected to a base plate. A jumper cable is wrapped around grooves in the pulley and cam such that the connectorized ends of the cable extend out and attach to the specified connection points. The cam is turned about its axle to produce the desired tension of the cable. For maintaining the tension, the cam may incorporate a tensioning mechanism, e.g., a spring-loaded ball mechanism or serrated edge ratchet. When the cable needs to be removed from the module, the tensioning mechanism is disengaged and the cam is turned to create slack in the cable for ease of cable removal. A module that includes stacks of pulleys and cams may handle multiple jumper cables. Certain modules of the present invention reduce damage to and improve handling of fiber optic jumper cables during installation and maintenance of optical communication equipment.
Abstract:
A mold for shaping end portions of glass tubes has first and second mating members which define a contoured bore into which the heated tube fits. Each member has a longitudinal bore from which extend radial bores opening into the interior cavity of the mold containing the tube. Each member also has radial vent bores for venting gases and vapor to the outside. Each longitudinal bore is connected to a lubricant, such as water, supply, which is applied to the surface of the tube through the radial bores.