Other

Washington State University

David J Welker

Mark G Kuzyk

Orville V Welker

Angelo Torrillo

A bolt cutting tool comprises a bolt engaging portion and a cutting blade. The bolt engaging portion has at least one bolt-receiving bore, which is adapted for receiving a portion of a bolt to be cut. The cutting blade is rotatably connected to the tool generally adjacent the bolt engaging portion. The cutting blade has a cutting surface with an arcuate peripheral cutting edge. The cutting blade is adapted for rotation relative to the bolt-receiving bore from a pre-cut starting position toward a post-cut finishing position. The blade is adapted to rotate in a manner so that the arcuate peripheral cutting edge of the blade cuts the bolt as the cutting blade is rotated toward the post-cut finishing position. The blade is configured so that an angle of incidence between the cutting surface of the blade and a center axis of the bolt-receiving bore is less than 15 degrees when the blade is in its pre-cut starting position.

Bolt cutting tool

A novel photomechanical positioning method using optic fibers, and apparatuses that employ the method, is described. The method comprises providing an optic fiber that changes length in response to the transmission of a light beam through the fiber. The optic fiber may be attached to an object capable of movement in response to a change in the fiber's length. An illustrated embodiment of an apparatus employing such method is an interferometer that includes an optic fiber made from a polymeric organic material. A movable mirror forms one arm of the interferometer, and is attached to the optic fiber for movement in response to changes in the length of the fiber. A light source, such as a laser, generates a beam of light that is transmitted through the optic fiber. The system also generally includes a feedback path for transmitting a portion of the light beam into the end of the fiber opposite the end of the fiber to which the object is attached. The polymeric fibers typically have a plurality of fiber lengths corresponding to stable states of length between which the length of the fiber may be changed, either discretely or continuously, by the application of a force. A Fabry-Perot interferometer also is described. The fibers in combination with a light source also can function as tranducers and logic elements.

Photomechanical positioning and stabilization method and devices using

A novel photomechanical positioning method using optic fibers, and one embodiment of an apparatus that employs the method, is described. The method comprises providing an optic fiber that changes length in response to the transmission of a light beam through the fiber. The optic fiber is attached to an object capable of movement in response to a change in the fiber's length. An illustrated embodiment of an apparatus employing such method is an interferometer that includes an optic fiber made from a polymeric organic material. A movable mirror forms one arm of the interferometer, and is attached to the optic fiber for movement in response to changes in the length of the fiber. A light source, such as a laser, is used to generate a beam of light that is transmitted through the optic fiber. The system also generally includes a feedback path for transmitting a portion of the light beam into the end of the fiber opposite the end of the fiber to which the object is attached. This helps determine the position of the position of the mirror when its position changes in response to the application of an external force. The polymeric fibers typically have a plurality of fiber lengths corresponding to stable states of length between which the length of the fiber may be changed, either discretely or continuously, by the application of a force.

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Pullman, WA, United States of America

David J Welker