Abstract: The device of the present invention is for the collection of viscous fluids, e.g. motor oil, from a plurality of containers having open necks. The device includes: a trough-like member having an upper end and a lower end; a plurality of container holders, operably joined to the trough-like member, for receiving the necks of the containers in an inverted, fluid draining position; and an outlet adjacent to the lower end of the trough-like member. The viscous fluid remaining in the inverted containers flows by gravity through at least a portion of the trough-like member to the outlet and the fluid can be collected in any receiving container that is positioned below the outlet. The device is capable of easily supported by any one of a number of alternative support means.

Abstract: A clamp includes a first half and a second half, which are pivotally connected semi-cylindrical halves, said semi-cylindrical halves each having a first end and a second end, each of the second ends defining a ridge; and a jaw for engaging with said two ridges for assembling the first half and the second half into a cylindrical form, said jaw has a first distal end slidably linking to the second end of the first semi-cylindrical half and a second end for engaging with the ridge of the second end of the second semi-cylindrical half.

Abstract: A system including an internal combustion engine provides the motive power source to for charging batteries of an electric motor powered vehicle. The engine has a rotating annular cylinder which is rotated in a predetermined ratio to oscillation of a plurality of pairs of oscillating pistons in the cylinder, the pistons being so oscillated so that adjacent pistons are moved alternately apart from one another and toward one another for the respective strokes of the internal combustion engine and having intake ports, exhaust ports and ignition means on the rotating annular cylinder located by the rotation of the cylinder between adjacent pistons according to the firing order and cycle of the engine. The engine includes the use of unitary in place of articulated, oscillating crank arms to transmit power from the torque tubes to the crankshaft and the use of pistons having gabled surfaces that are rigidly connected to the torque discs.

Abstract: The system including an internal combustion engine provides the motive power source to a pumping system for the transference of fluids, e.g. water. The engine has a rotating annular cylinder which is rotated in a predetermined ratio to oscillation of a plurality of pairs of oscillating pistons in the cylinder, the pistons being so oscillated so that adjacent pistons are moved alternately apart from one another and toward one another for the respective strokes of the internal combustion engine and having intake ports, exhaust ports and ignition means on the rotating annular cylinder located by the rotation of the cylinder between adjacent pistons according to the firing order and cycle of the engine. The engine includes the use of unitary in place of articulated, oscillating crank arms to transmit power from the torque tubes to the crankshaft, and the use of pistons having gabled surfaces that are rigidly connected to the torque discs.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device is disclosed having first and second conducting layers, with the first layer having a shape which enhances field emission tunneling off of the surface thereof. A dual thickness dielectric layer separates the conducting layers. When a potential difference is applied between the conducting layers, field emission tunneling occurs primarily through the thinner portion of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A high temperature fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger is described wherein heat is transferred from a higher temperature fluid flow core region to a lower temperature fluid flow annulus. The wall separating the high and low temperature fluid flow regions is comprised of a material having high thermal absorptivity, conductivity and emissivity to provide a high rate of heat transfer between the two regions. A porous ceramic foam material occupies a substantial portion of the annular lower temperature fluid flow region, and is positioned to receive radiated heat from the wall. The porosity of the ceramic foam material is sufficient to permit a predetermined relatively unrestricted flow rate of fluid through the lower temperature fluid flow region.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell for generating a mixed oxidant that is rich in ozone is disclosed. The cell disassociates a brine solution to generate ozone and chlorine based oxidants. The improved cell design allows the ratio of ozone to the other oxidants to be optimized, thereby providing a more efficient sterilization solution. The ozone production is adjusted by adjusting the residence time of the brine solution in the cell and the orientation of the cell.

Abstract: A fastener is disclosed for attaching first and second members. The fastener includes a longitudinal shaft portion having first and second segments each having a cross-sectional shape substantially conforming to the peripheral shape of first and second openings formed in the respective members. The longitudinal length of each segment substantially conforms to the depth of said first and second openings. A cap member is formed at a first end of the shaft portion adjacent and outside the first segment. The cap member is larger than the periphery of the first opening. A spacer member is formed on the shaft portion between the first and second segments. This spacer member has an outer periphery larger than the first and second openings to inhibit passage therethrough so as to secure the first member on the first segment of the shaft portion between the cap member and the spacer member. The fastener also includes an abutment member positioned on the second end of the shaft portion outside of the second segment.

Abstract: A circuit for the fast turn off of a field effect transistor (FET) for use in circuits such as a power converter circuit. The FET turn off circuitry includes a gate current sink transistor and a capacitor linked between the base of the gate current sink transistor and the drain of the FET. This capacitor increases the current into the base of the gate current sink transistor, and enables an increased magnitude of current to flow from the FET, thereby increasing the speed with which the FET turns off. A diode is preferably also connected between the base and the emitter of the gate current sink transistor to provide a return path to discharge the capacitor.

Abstract: A dual active clamp (DAC) converter comprising two active-clamp, zero-voltage switching (ZVS) converters for converting electrical power from an input source to an output load is described. The two active-clamp ZVS converters are coupled in parallel to one another at their respective inputs and outputs, and are operated in a manner which reduces the overall input and output ripple currents of the DAC converter, which reduces the EMI emissions of the DAC converter. Each of the active-clamp ZVS converters achieves zero-voltage switching on its primary switch means, which also improves EMI emissions. Each active-clamp ZVS converter includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the secondary winding being coupled to the output load and the primary switch means being coupled between the primary winding and a voltage source, and an active clamp circuit comprising a series combination of a storage capacitor and a first switch means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for destroying organic compounds is described. The apparatus utilizes a mixture of oxidants to "burn" the organic compound. The oxidants can be generated in a separate apparatus and then added to the organic compound. If the organic compound is present in the form of an aqueous solution, the oxidants can be generated in the aqueous solution itself.

Abstract: A efficient circuit for driving two switching transistors of an electrical power transfer circuit in an anti-phase relationship is described. The drive circuit is applied to a power transfer circuit, such as a switching-type power converter, having a first switching transistor, a second switching transistor, and a magnetic storage element electrically coupled to the first switching transistor. The first switching transistor is coupled to the magnetic storage element and operates to vary the magnetic flux in the storage element. The present invention comprises a drive circuitry for operating the first switching transistor, the drive circuitry being responsive to a first control signal generated by the power transfer circuit. For driving the second switching transistor, the present invention comprises circuitry for generating a second control signal as a function of the magnetic flux in the magnetic storage element.

Abstract: A ductile brazing material containing gold, nickel, vanadium and, optionally chromium or molybdenum is disclosed for directly bonding ceramic to ceramic or ceramic to metal over an optimum temperature range.

Abstract: An improved motion picture coding scheme is described which provides the benefits of both sub-band coding and motion compensation thereby providing greater degrees of compression than would be obtained using either of these techniques separately. The system generates high and low frequency frames from each pair of frames in the original motion picture. The high frequency represents the difference between the first and second frames of the motion picture. The pixels of the low frequency frame are either the average of two corresponding pixels, one from each of the original frames, or a value derived from a single pixel in the first frame. In the later case, the derived value is chosen to minimize artifacts that could hamper further compression of the low-frequency frame based on sub-band coding.

Abstract: A method is described to reactivating contaminated particulate adsorbent material. A gas stream is passed through the adsorbent material. The gas stream comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide and steam, and is substantially free of unbound oxygen. The temperature and flow rate of the gas stream is selected to volatilize organic compounds adsorbed by the adsorbent material. Thereafter, the gas stream is reacted with steam at a temperature of at least 700.degree. F. The steam with which the gas stream is reacted is in excess of the stoichiometric amount required to react with substantially all of the organic compounds in the gas stream. Thereafter the gas stream is circulated back to the adsorbent material for further passing therethrough. The cycle is continued until the level of contamination of the adsorbent material is below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A microelectronic component comprising a crossover is provided comprising a substrate, a first high T.sub.c superconductor thin film, a second insulating thin film comprising SrTiO.sub.3 ; and a third high T.sub.c superconducting film which has strips which crossover one or more areas of the first superconductor film. An in situ method for depositing all three films on a substrate is provided which does not require annealing steps and which can be opened to the atmosphere between depositions.