Abstract: A condensing gas boiler having a corrosion prevention structure of preventing corrosion caused by using heterogeneous metal is provided, which includes a casing provided with a combustion chamber therein; a present heat exchanger arranged in the casing, which includes a first tubular tube made of a copper material having a plurality first thermal pins formed by processing an outer circumferential surface; a latent heat exchanger disposed at a distance from the present heat exchanger, which includes a second tubular tube whose inner portion is made of a copper material and whose outer portion is made of aluminum, having a plurality second thermal pins formed by processing an outer circumferential surface; end plates contacting and engaged with each other while the present heat exchanger and the latent heat exchanger are fixedly arranged in respective rows and installed in the casing; and a plurality of connection tubes which are mutually connected through a connection portion so that water can circulate throug

Abstract: A wet and dry towel dispenser contains and dispenses both dry towels and wet towels (also referred to as towelettes or wipes). The dispenser includes coaxially located compartments for containing the dry towels and wet towels, preferably in a nested arrangement to use space most efficiently within the dispenser. One preferred embodiment of the dispenser has a substantially cylindrical shape and a removable cover on one end to allow the towels to be loaded into the respective compartments.

Abstract: The reed valve assembly of the present invention includes a reed cage, a retainer, and reed petals. The retainer is independently interlockable with the reed cage. As defined herein, independently interlockable is understood to mean that no additional parts are required to connect the retainer to the reed cage. As implied by the term interlockable, the retainer and reed cage are separable. The reed petals are removably secured to the reed cage. In one embodiment, the reed petals are secured to the reed cage with the retainer.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system implementing a useful algorithm as a tool for analyzing the use of profitability of an organization. The system calculates a relationship between profitability and the changes in the level of revenues, the operating leverage, and the equity financing of total assets, for a fiscal period, or a series of fiscal periods. The three calculations are then summed to result in a total profitability ratio. The system is both descriptive and prescriptive in that it can be used to analyze both past and future fiscal periods, as well as the current fiscal period.

Abstract: An air-proportionality type boiler is provided. Since the air-proportionality type boiler directly controls a current proportionality gas valve according to an amount of air by using a low-price AC air blower, a low-price current proportionality gas valve and a low-price airflow sensor, a gas supply amount can be adjusted with respect to all ranges of the airflow amount. Also, an appropriate calorie required for proportionally controlling a present circulation water temperature to a set temperature, can be supplied. The boiler can be safely ignited to perform a combustion operation under the optimal condition although abnormal weathers and conditions. Accordingly, since a combustion performance is enhanced, combustion efficiency is high and a fuel cost can be saved.

Abstract: The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optic signal. The amplifier includes a signal source transmitting the signal, which includes a signal portion in the L-band. The signal first passes into a first signal manipulator. The first signal manipulator is one or more collimators and/or concentrators and, in some embodiments, can include dichroics or optical manipulators known to those skilled in the art. An input pump is aligned to overlap the signal with pump light. From the first signal manipulator, the signal and the pump light intersects the erbium doped crystal, wherein the pump light excites the crystal and the signal impinges the crystal, amplifying the signal.

Abstract: The novel dump body enables a dump truck to carry large, packaged loads and large, loose loads. The dump body includes a containment base having a bottom and a plurality of sides. The dump body further includes a dumping mechanism formed in one of the plurality of sides for releasing loose materials when the containment base is tipped. Finally, the dump body includes at least one side door pivotably attached to the containment base and covering a first opening formed in at least a portion of one of the plurality of sides. The side door permits packaged loads to be loaded onto the dump truck, wherein the sides on the dump truck normally prohibit the carrying of this type of load.

Abstract: A coherent laser beam is divided into an illumination beam and a reference beam. A portion of the illumination beam is passed through, or reflected off of, a subject to create a subject distribution, and a portion of the reference beam is passed through a reference object, or reflected off a reference object reflector, to produce a reference distribution. An imaging system is used to form an aerial image of the subject distribution and the reference distribution. The resulting aerial image of the subject distribution exhibits improved resolution, depth of field and field size.

Abstract: The invention is an electrical connection system that releasably connects the circuit paths of a flexible conductive circuit to a printed circuit board having a corresponding row of contacts, without the need for soldering, crimping or welding operations, or extensive preparation of the flexible circuit before connection. One embodiment has a least one spring contact formed in a cover; at least one rotatable cam; and a base. The cover and base snap together to house the rotatable cam(s). The connection is made by feeding the circuit into a slot in the cam, then rotating the cam to bring the circuit into contact with the spring contact which has a tapered insulation plane that pierces and peels back the dielectric covering of the conductive circuit to make a direct metal to metal, gas tight contact between the deflectable contact and the conductors of the conductive circuit.

Abstract: Methods of selecting fish for breeding and optimum growth in conditions of various salinity are disclosed. Fish are selected for growth in specific salinity based on their prolactin 1 genotype. A simple sequence repeat polymorphism (microsatellite) in the tilapia prolactin (prl 1) promoter is associated with differences in prl 1 expression and differences in growth in “salt-challenged” or “salt-effected” fishes. This discovery suggests that dinucleotide microsatellites may represent an under-appreciated source of genetic variation for regulatory evolution, and belie the textbook interpretation that non-coding microsatellite length variation lacks functional consequences.

Abstract: The present invention uses a novel crystal host to minimize parasitic upconversion and lifetime quenching processes by increasing the distance between active dopant ions in the matrix. As a result, erbium that could previously only be useful at low levels may now be incorporated at much higher concentrations without adverse effects. In addition, this host has long excited-state-lifetimes, making it more effective as an energy storage device for pulsed laser applications.

Abstract: The logic analyzer interface assembly connects to a unit under test (UUT). The interface assembly includes an interface board having interface contact points matching the pattern of the UUT contact points. The interface board is mounted to a transfer interface including a probe plate and multiple spring loaded probes extending through the probe plate. The probes contact the UUT contact points at one end and the interface contact points at the other end. When assembled, the UUT and interface assembly form a sandwiched testing assembly that can be inserted into a chassis to aid in approaching an “at speed” observation opportunity.

Abstract: A condensing gas boiler, which recollects condensed latent heat by uptrend combustion, is provided. Latent heat exchangers are disposed in the same area as that of a combustion chamber, and perpendicular with the combustion chamber. An exhaust gas guiding member is installed so that the exhaust gas is collected into a place in the rear portion of a latent heat portion to then pass through the latent heat exchangers. The latent heat exchangers are installed slantly in such a manner that re-absorption of the condensed latent heat can be done in the latent heat exchangers under the optimal condition. Thus, the condensing gas boiler, which recollects condensed latent heat by uptrend combustion, can realize a product of a high efficiency, lightness and compactness.

Abstract: A twin sheet forming system and method is used to form a hollow article, such as an automotive fuel tank, from first and second sheets of thermoplastic material. The system includes first and second loading stations, first and second heating stations, and first and second thermoforming stations in an in-line arrangement. The in-line arrangement allows the sheets to be transferred independently between the stations and the separate thermoforming stations allows the sheets to be thermoformed independently. Each of the thermoforming stations includes an upper and lower platen generally in a side by side arrangement for supporting thermoforming tools and plug assists. After heating, the sheets are independently transferred to the thermoforming stations and formed using the thermoforming tools and plug assists. The thermoforming tool and thermoformed piece in one of the thermoforming stations is then transferred to the other station, and the thermoformed pieces are fused together.

Abstract: The present invention is a motor controller. An encoder manipulates the motor controller in a manner that is new and novel. The encoder tracks movement of a material along an assembly line and reports the results of the tracking through electronic signals. Those electronic signals are used to manipulate the motor controller to produce unique and responsive control signals to manipulate the motors, particularly during the acceleration and deceleration of the motors. Other motor control systems have used encoders as a part of a feedback loop, but none allow encoders to exert the level of control over the motors as accomplished in the present invention.

Abstract: An antimicrobial biocidic fiber-plastic composite is capable of killing bacteria on contact. The composite can be produced from a cellulose fiber material obtained from agricultural waste, a plastic material obtained from industrial waste, and one or more biocides that kill bacteria without being harmful to humans. Lignin is removed from the fiber material through a delignification process to allow the biocides to bind directly with the cellulose fibers. In one example, the biocides include Sodium Hypochlorite, N-chloro-p-toluenesulfonamide sodium salt-trihydrate, Vitamin E and Citric Acid. After adding the biocides, lignin is added back to the mixture to allow the cellulose fibers to bind with the plastic material. The fiber-plastic composition can then be extruded, pelletized, and molded into any shape or size.

Abstract: The computerized system and method represents judgments of a user and records the judgments and the judgment making process. In one embodiment, the computerized method displays multiple concept representations simultaneously, receives a user-manipulated adjustment to one or more of the concept representations to create a judgment representation, and records the judgment representation(s) and user-manipulated adjustment(s). The judgment representations and adjustments are preferably recorded continuously so that the judgment process can be reviewed and evaluated. The concept representations can be displayed relative to other concept representations and/or relative to a rating scale. In another embodiment, the computerized method displays a physical context representation and the judgments are represented and recorded as user designated locations in the physical context. One example of an application for the system and method is to record and evaluate a patient's judgments with respect to pain.

Abstract: The present invention is full-rotational freedom conductor assembly for conducting electricity between a pair of coaxial electrically conductive members. The conductive members are provided with complementary, planar tracks and are relatively rotatable about a common axis thereof. The invention includes a pair or pairs of opposing coupler halves having a planetary axis, with track-adapted profiles. The pairs of coupler halves are rotatably confined between the tracks enabling electrical contact between the tracks of the conductive members. The invention further includes a force source located at least partially between the coupler halves. The force source applies force to each of the coupling halves in a direction substantially parallel to the second common axis. The force is applied to the pairs of coupler halves in a manner that enables the coupler halves to be flexibly retained between the tracks.

Abstract: This invention results from the realization that a laser can remove the protective layer(s) from the glass or fused silica optical fiber core and cladding more effectively and more reliably than chemical or mechanical means. This invention teaches methods of using laser beams to remove the protective layers of fibers without significantly damaging the optical and mechanical properties of the fiber and without leaving an excessive amount of residual ablation debris on the fiber while providing careful control of the laser energy. This method thereby allows users to safely strip protective layers off sensitive fibers, such as fibers used for fiber Bragg gratings (FBG). This method allows stripping of the protective layers from single fibers and from multi-fiber ribbon cables. It also allows stripping of the protective layers at an end section of the cable or in a middle section (mid-span).

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for moving an excimer laser beam relative to a workpiece to control the wall profile of laser machined features, such as holes and grooves. An excimer laser beam is displaced relative to a workpiece in a substantially circular motion and the substantially circular motion is further displaced relative to the workpiece to correspond to a desired shape.