Abstract: A high pressure rotary valve including a housing with inlet and outlet openings and a rotor and blade assembly within the housing for moving flowable solid material through the valve. The chamber containing the rotor assembly is defined between a pair of shrouds which move relative to a wall portion of the housing. The periphery of each shroud is ground and hard coated and this periphery is engaged by a first lip seal or multiple thereof supported by the housing. An end plate is located around the rotor shaft at each end of the housing and second lip seals engage ground and hard coated surfaces of the rotor shaft. Pockets defined between the shrouds and the end plates are adapted to be pressurized to create a back pressure resisting movement of material out of the housing chamber in the direction of the rotor shaft. Angular contact bearings support the rotating shaft with respect to the housing.

Abstract: In a microwave hybrid integrated circuit a metallized recess (8) is formed on the back or face side of a board (1) of the metallization of which recess serves as a bottom plate (6) of a capacitor (5), a remaining portion (9) of the board (1) under the recess (8) serves as the dielectric of the capacitor (5), and a top plate (7) thereof is situated on the face side of the board (1) and makes part of a topological metallization pattern (2), the remaining portion of the thickness of the board (1) in the recess (8) being of 1 to 400 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A water energizing device for shower bath comprising a far infrared rays emitting material that provides a means for enhancing the health conditions of human beings through a medium of water running through the far infrared irradiation zone formed by the device. The results are improved skin and hair condition, recovery from stress and fatigue, and enhanced blood circulation and metabolism of human body.

Abstract: A chemiluminescent assays for the determination of the presence or amount of a biopolymer in bound assays using 1,2-dioxetanes in connection with AttoPhos™ as chemiluminescent substrates for enzyme-labeled targets or probes is provided. Further disclosed is a kit for conducting a bioassay for the presence or concentration of a biopolymer comprising a) an enzyme complex; b) a 1,2-dioxetane; and c) AttoPhos™.

Abstract: A trunnion suspension arrangement for a vehicle featuring a pair of generally parallel frame rails, such as a transport trailer, includes, for each frame rail, a trailing beam with a leading portion and a trailing portion. A hanger is attached to the frame rail and the leading portion of the trailing beam is pivotally connected to the hanger by a spherical bearing. An air spring and a shock absorber are connected between the trailing portion of the trailing beam and the frame rail. An axle is connected to the trailing beam between the hanger and the air spring. A bumper featuring arcuate side members is attached to the trailing portion of the trailing beam so that it partially surrounds the air spring. A cage, which is connected to the frame rail, surrounds the bumper and features slide pads that are engaged by the arcuate side members of the bumper to limit transverse horizontal travel of the trailing portion of the trailing beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for significantly reducing the biological load on consumer products such as food products, botanicals, cosmetic ingredients and medical products is disclosed. The method involves applying a continuous stream of oxygen-containing, i.e., Ox, gas to a material in a sealed biological burden reduction chamber.

Abstract: A water softener and a method of operating the same are provided to allow for the efficient use of either NaCl or KCl as the regenerant salt. A user interface is provided to allow the user to indicate to the computer controlling the water softener whether NaCl or KCl is being used. The computer controller adjusts the fill time and brine time, depending on the type of regenerant salt used and on the temperature of the brine.

Abstract: This cylinder, which may be entirely pneumatic, has two working pistons 26 and 27 linked to a working rod 28, slidably mounted on which are two small auxiliary pistons 37 and 38 which can be displaced in an auxiliary chamber 35. The latter, being permanently supplied with a compressed gas, can cause the return, by means of the piston 38 or 37, of the fitting 26-27-28 to an intermediate position shown in the drawing, respectively from a fully extracted position (towards the right) of the rod 28 or a fully retracted position (to the left) of this rod.

Abstract: A rotatable handgrip twistshifter (10) mountable coaxially about a bicycle handlebar (20) that abruptly or discontinuously increases the mechanical advantage when shifting a front derailleur from a smaller to a larger chainring. A control cable (86) is slidably connected to the handgrip (12) such that during rotation of the handgrip (12) to effect gear shifts from the middle to larger chainrings of a triple chainring crankshaft (40, 41, 42), the cable (86) is abruptly dropped toward the handgrip axis of rotation thereby increasing the mechanical advantage or leverage of the shifter (10). Alternatively, the control cable (86) is slidably connected to the pivot arm (114) of a front derailleur such that during rotation of the handgrip (12) the cable (86) is deflected away from the derailleur pivot axis (207), likewise, increasing the mechanical advantage of the derailleur.

Abstract: The anti-vibration suspension device comprises at least three oblique bars, each articulated on the gearbox and on the structure by means of a rigid lever supporting an oscillating weight and in turn pivotally mounted by means of at least one pivot on this structure, and each lever is also joined to the gearbox by means of at least one torsion spring biassed about a torsion axis substantially perpendicular to the radial plane defined by the axes of the rotor and the corresponding oblique bar.

Abstract: The rotating plate of the system is fixed in rotation with the rotor by a driver with two rigid driving tracks extending axially and diametrically opposite in being fixed in rotation with the rotor. Each track engages with one of two driving fingers fixed in rotation with the rotating plate and diametrically opposite on this latter. Each track has two webs between which one finger is engaged with the result of following on this track a rectilinear trajectory, parallel to the rotor axis and a circular arc trajectory centerd on this axis, respectively in the case of change of collective and cyclic pitch.

Abstract: A control cable quick release device for use with cable-actuated brake arms that permits disengagement of the control cable from the brake arm without braking the seal between the quick release device and the deformable bellows thereby preventing premature corrosion of the control cable and permitting quick and easy removal of the bicycle wheel.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising (a) a resin represented by a copolymer of p-hydroxystyrene and t-butyl (meth)acrylate and a copolymer of p-hydroxystyrene and p-t-butoxystyrene, (b) a photoacid generator, and (c) a quaternary ammonium salt compound represented by tetramethylammonium adamantanecarboxylate, tetramethylammonium oxalate, tetraethylammonium pyruvate. The radiation-sensitive resin composition is capable of producing a rectangular resist pattern while preventing the top edge of the pattern from rounding, which is a big problem in microprocessing of design dimensions of about 0.20 &mgr;m with a thin film. The radiation-sensitive resin composition is highly sensitive to deep ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, and charged particle rays and exhibits excellent sensitivity, resolution, and the like.

Abstract: A water-tight fiberglass septic tank is strong enough to withstand live loads. The fiberglass septic tank is preferably designed with integral ribs to for structural strength. In one preferred embodiment, the tank is made in two unequal halves. The lower half comprises the major portion of the tank and includes a bottom, two endwalls and two sidewalls. The upper half comprises a cover. This arrangement allows the horizontal seam to be placed above the internal waterline, thereby protecting the seam from exposure to sewage. At least one of the endwalls includes a raised top portion that allows a pipe to be located near the top of the lower portion without passing through the seam between the upper and lower portions of the tank. The endwalls are also curved to allow for angled inlet and outlet pipe connections. The ribs are preferably internal and hollow. The lower portion of the tank is also preferably flat bottomed. A provision has been made for a self-locating baffle if required.

Abstract: A method of populating multiple data marts in a single operation from a set of transactional data held in a database in a single aggregation process, in which aggregate values are calculated only once, a determination is made as to which output data marts required the aggregate value, and the aggregate values are output to the appropriate data marts. Dimension data associated with the output aggregate records is also output to the appropriate data marts.

Abstract: The convertible aircraft with tilting rotors comprises two fixed wings with zero sweep on which an inter-connecting shaft is substantially rectilinear and parallel with the pivot axis but offset from this axis, substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the aircraft, the center of gravity of which, in helicopter mode, is substantially in a vertical plane passing through the pivot axis and, in aeroplane mode, is substantially contained in or is in proximity to another vertical plane passing through the straight line of the aerodynamic centers of the wings.

Abstract: A method for binding tumor emboli circulating in the blood of mammals is provided by oral or intravenous administration of a modified alginate, prepared from alginic acid by thermal degradation/hydrolysis or enzymatic degradation. The modified alginate has a molecular weight of no more than 40,000 daltons, and is water soluble.