Abstract: In a material structure formed by a plurality of interconnected cells, each cell has a front section and a rear section. These sections are configured to form a V-shape or C-shape and are positioned so that the free edges are opposite one another. A section of swirled strands is connected between one free edge of the front section and one free edge of the rear section. If desired a second section of swirled strands can be connected between the second edge of the front section and the second edge of the rear section to form a closed cell. The cells are connected to one another by an adhesive. The front section and the rear section may be either a woven, non-woven or knit fabric or a film. The same fabric or different fabrics can be used for the front section and the rear section. Air guns can be used to direct the strands between the webs when the cells are being formed.

Abstract: A nickel-chromium-molybdenum-copper alloy that is resistant to sulfuric acid and wet process phosphoric acid contains in weight percent 30.0 to 35.0% chromium, 5.0 to 7.6% molybdenum, 1.6 to 2.9% copper, up to 1.0% manganese, up to 0.4% aluminum, up to 0.6% silicon, up to 0.06% carbon, up to 0.13% nitrogen, up to 5.1% iron, up to 5.0% cobalt, with the balance nickel plus impurities.

Abstract: A blood pump having rotor and/or stator touch down zones to prevent pump failure or hemolysis which can occur if the rotor comes into contact with the stator due to power failure or mechanical shock. The touch down zones can include forming, or coating, portions of adjacent surfaces of the stator and rotor which can come into contact if a rotor touch down occurs. The materials used to form or coat the touch down zones can have properties which ensure that no consequential damage to the contacting surfaces occurs.

Abstract: A control method and apparatus to reduce current through a DC capacitor linking two converters causes the value of the DC-side current output of the first converter to approach the value of the DC-side input current into the second converter, thus minimizing the DC capacitor current which is equal to the difference between the output current from the first converter and the input current into the second converter.

Abstract: A method for making an injection molded multilayer polymer pump diaphragm having one side resistant to chemicals. The method can include injecting molten polymer material of a first type having chemical resistance properties into a first pump diaphragm mold cavity to produce a first pump diaphragm layer; curing the first pump diaphragm layer; applying an adhesive to one side of the first pump diaphragm layer; placing the first pump diaphragm layer in a second pump diaphragm mold cavity sized to receive an amount of a second type of polymer material against the adhesive painted side of the first pump diaphragm layer; injecting molten polymer material of the second type into the second pump diaphragm mold cavity into contact with the adhesive to produce a second pump diaphragm layer adhered to first pump diaphragm layer; and curing the second pump diaphragm layer such that said first and second pump diaphragm layers adhere together to form a pump diaphragm having one side which is resistant to chemicals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an overload protection mechanism for a cable actuated feature on an office chair. The overload protection device allows a person seated in the chair to move a handle to actuate the particular feature of the chair, for example, a reclining backrest, even when the seated person's weight on the backrest prevents the backrest locking mechanism from engaging or disengaging. The movement of the handle causes the cable to move even when the locking mechanism connected to the opposite end of the cable is unable to engage or disengage. The mechanism stores the motion of the cable in a spring device connected to the movement actuators by a rack and pinion gear system. When the binding is released from the actuators, the mechanism moves as originally intended, motivated by the force of the decompressing springs.

Abstract: A nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy that is thermally stable and resistant to wet process phosphoric acid and chloride induced localized attack contains in weight percent 31.0 to 34.5% chromium, 7.0 to 10.0% molybdenum, up to 0.2% nitrogen, up to 3.0% iron, up to 1.0% manganese, up to 0.4% aluminum, up to 0.75% silicon, up to 0.1% carbon with the balance nickel plus impurities.

Abstract: An integral intermodal train is provided for carrying standard over-the-highway semi-trailers. The intermodal train can include a standard locomotive pulling one or more train segments. Each segment can have a plurality of platforms and may be loaded or unloaded independently of any other segment using a self contained, roll-on/roll-off system. At least one platform should be equipped with a standard knuckle coupler at standard height to permit the segments to be pulled by any existing locomotive. Each segment can consist of three platform types, articulated together, an adapter platform coupled behind the locomotive, an intermediate platform having a truck at only one end and the other end supported by the end of the adapter platform and a loading ramp platform also having a truck at only one with the other end supported by the truck end of the intermediate platform. The truck end of the ramp platform can have a hinged ramp assembly which can be raised or lowered to load the platforms.

Abstract: A three piece full port ball valve for use with a form for producing a cast concrete article is provided wherein the housing of the valve has been modified by creating openings through the valve housing to access the flow opening in the ball member for clearing concrete slurry therefrom after the form has been filled. Additional openings in the housing at other locations can be created for cleaning around the ball member and the inside of the housing.

Abstract: A chemical imaging system is provided which uses a near infrared radiation microscope. The system includes an illumination source which illuminates an area of a sample using light in the near infrared radiation wavelength and light in the visible wavelength. A multitude of spatially resolved spectra of transmitted, reflected, emitted or scattered near infrared wavelength radiation light from the illuminated area of the sample is collected and a collimated beam is produced therefrom. A near infrared imaging spectrometer is provided for selecting a near infrared radiation image of the collimated beam. The filtered images are collected by a detector for further processing. The visible wavelength light from the illuminated area of the sample is simultaneously detected providing for the simultaneous visible and near infrared chemical imaging analysis of the sample. Two efficient means for performing three dimensional near infrared chemical imaging microscopy are provided.

Abstract: A single pole magnetic recording head is provided according to the present invention for perpendicular magnetic recording on a recording medium. The magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole having a first end positionable adjacent the recording medium and a second end spaced from the first end. A coil is magnetically coupled to the main magnetic pole for producing a write flux. The magnetic recording head further includes a magnetic return pole forming first and second return paths for the magnetic flux. The magnetic return pole includes first and second return poles disposed on opposite sides of, and spaced from, the main magnetic pole, and a magnetic via connecting the first and second poles and extending over the main magnetic pole forming a back shield.

Abstract: In a coal preparation plant which receives a raw coal feed and separates the raw coal feed into a clean coal feed and a refuse feed, an apparatus is provided for receiving and mixing the raw coal feed with water. The inventive apparatus includes a deslime screen assembly including a feedbox, magnetic separator and a deslime screen. The feedbox receives the raw coal feed and directs the raw coal onto the deslime screen for separation into coarse and fine sized raw coal fractions. The magnetic separator is provided which is integrally formed with the feedbox. The magnetic separator receives an input slurry of magnetic solid particles and water from the coal preparation plant, and separates the magnetic solid particles from the input slurry. The overflow tailings slurry output by the magnetic separator from which magnetic solid particles have been removed is received directly by the feedbox and mixed with the raw coal feed particles received thereby.

Abstract: A ramp car rail vehicle can have a contoured deck portion to reduce the height above the rails of the deck at the ramp end of the car such that a smaller, shorter ramp can be utilized for loading freight, such as semi-trailers, onto the ramp car and any other rail cars which may be connected to the ramp car. The contoured end of the ramp car can further be provided with a movable draft arm and coupler arrangement such that the coupler can be lowered to provide clearance for loading the ramp car, and thereafter returned to a standard height for coupling with conventional couplers.