Abstract: Methods for manufacturing reinforced, three-zone, microporous membrane having a plurality of different possible pore sizes from at least a single mother dope batch, including formulating at least a single mother dope batch, controllably formulating the dope in at least one vessel such that the dope temperature does not exceed a predetermined maximum mixing temperature and is maintained at a temperature lower than the mixing temperature, heating a small portion of the dope to a target temperature corresponding to a specific desired pore size to be formed in at least one zone of the microporous membrane in at least one thermal manipulation apparatus cooling the dope to about room temperature or a temperature which results in a suitable and/or optimal coating viscosity, operatively connecting at least one dope application apparatus is to the at least one thermal manipulation apparatus for transporting the manipulated dope to a dope processing site.

Abstract: An at least two layer, unsupported, continuous microporous membrane is disclosed. The at least two layer, unsupported, continuous microporous membrane may include at least two different membrane pore size layers or the pore sizes may have about the same pore size. Apparatus and processes for fabricating at least a two layer unsupported, continuous, microporous membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved combination non-luminescent microporous membrane and solid support for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications is disclosed. Specifically, composite microarray non-luminescent slides having a microporous membrane effectively attached by covalent bonding through a surface treatment to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently, covalently bond to the non-luminescent microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the porous non-luminescent nylon composite microarray slides are covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus and methods for fabricating lithe non-luminescent composite microarray slides are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filter sheet is provided which comprises a self-supporting fibrous matrix having immobilized therein particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin, wherein said particulate filter aid and particulate ion exchange resin are distributed substantially uniformly throughout a cross-section of said matrix. A process for removing ionic impurities from a photoresist solution is also provided which comprises passing the photoresist solution through said filter sheet to remove ionic impurities therefrom.

Abstract: A cell-type filter unit having two or more filter media layers and/or zones, at least one of the layers/zones having a different particle retention capability disposed on each side of a non-filtering separator element. The filter media are preferably positioned such that each succeedingly distal filter layer or zone from the separator has a decreased particle retention capability than each proceeding filter layer or zone. The filter media layer most proximal to the separator element may be separated from the separator by a support material for supporting such filter media element and preventing collapsing of the media into any separator conduit.

Abstract: An at least two zone, unsupported, continuous microporous membrane is disclosed. The at least two zone, unsupported, continuous microporous membrane may include at least two different membrane pore size zones or the pore sizes may have about the same pore size. Apparatus and processes for fabricating at least a two zone unsupported, continuous, microporous membrane are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasound/vibration detector array includes an electrically pumped vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array. The cavity length of each laser or pixel of the array is modulated by the acoustic field at the point where the acoustic field contacts the pixels. The resulting laser output is frequency modulated by the acoustic field. This modulation is converted to amplitude modulation at the detector head and then either detected with a charge-coupled-device (CCD) array with the information being electrically communicated to the signal processing assembly or sent directly by optical fiber to the signal processing assembly for processing. This ultrasound/vibration detector array provides high frequency bandwidth detection, fine spatial resolution, and minimal electric cabling.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem connection wherein at least about 40,000 x-ray scan-seconds are accomplished prior to tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance comprising a metallic target and a metal stem bonded to provide a composite rotating x-ray tube target is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum alloy, is placed between the target layer and the stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved coating for the x-ray tube rotor. The surface of the x-ray tube rotor is coated with a ductile, metal coating, preferably iron, having a thickness of about 0.2 to about 5.0 mils thick. The rotor coating has ductile properties with a strain to fail greater than 0.05% and thermal expansion properties which when placed on an x-ray tube rotor, provides at least about 40,000 x-ray scan-seconds prior to tube failure due to rotor spalling.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem assembly comprising a metallic target and a large bore, thin-walled tubular metal stem which, when connected to a rotor body assembly, provides a rotating x-ray tube anode assembly is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum alloy, is placed between the target layer and the large bore, thin-walled tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem assembly. The target/stem assembly is then connected to a rotor body assembly by fasteners, preferably threaded, applied through a plate connected to the tubular stem and preferably through a thermal washer to produce a rotating anode assembly having high bond strength that provides acceptable balance during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: Methods of making an improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein are available. The anode includes an improved target/stem connection which reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance. Methods of bonding a metallic target and a metal stem to form a composite rotating x-ray tube target are also available. In these procedures an insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum or its alloys , is placed between the target and the niobium-alloy stem and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for atomizing liquid metal are disclosed. A liquid metal supply is coupled to a nozzle for atomizing a stream of liquid metal in an atomizing zone extending from the nozzle. A viewing instrument provides a field of view extending to the atomization zone. A sensor coupled with the viewing instrument generates an image of the atomizing zone, and a control adjusts a flow rate of the stream responsive to the image.

Abstract: A method of transmitting the output signal from each pixel of an array of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL's) operatively positioned in an acoustic detector which minimizes the size of interconnects to the different pixels, which uses optical fibers to transport the output signal from each VCSEL pixel to the signal processing assembly. The VCSEL array is fabricated onto an acoustic matching layer which is designed to allow maximum acoustic coupling into the transducer assembly. An acoustic damping layer is employed after the array in order to extinguish the acoustic energy in order to avoid reflections within the transducer. Alternatively, an acoustic reflecting layer can be employed depending on the sensitivity and bandwidth requirements of the application. The frequency modulation of the laser output caused by the acoustic disturbance is then converted into amplitude modulation in a Fabry-Perot cavity array attached to the damping layer.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is disclosed having a metal bath, an enclosure extending over the bath, a mandrel extending into the bath, and a gas seal mounted on the enclosure in communication with the atmosphere therein. The gas seal has a frame with a slot extending therethrough, first and second rolls aligned with the first and second ends of the slot, and a door extending between the rolls and over the seal. The door being pivotally mounted on the frame to open inwardly at the first end and outwardly at the second end.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/stem connection and a coating, operatively positioned between the target and the stem, for enhancing the diffusion therebetween to reduce tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance comprising a metallic target and a metal stem bonded to provide a composite rotating x-ray tube target is disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, titanium alloy, is placed between the target layer, the stem and a coating, operatively positioned between the target and the stem, for enhancing the diffusion therebetween and then bonded thereto to produce a composite x-ray tube target/stem having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which retains its balance throughout the manufacturing process and during x-ray tube operations is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for viewing an industrial process in an obscuring environment, such as molten metal atomization, is disclosed. An enclosure defining a chamber for containing a particulate form from atomized liquid metal has a nozzle for atomizing liquid metal mounted thereon in communication with the chamber whereby particles recirculate throughout the chamber. The nozzle being comprised of a cylindrical plenum means and a melt guide tube extending axially therethrough to an exit orifice. The plenum means is configured to provide a jet of atomizing gas converging in an atomizing zone extending from the exit orifice. A viewing means extends through the enclosure to a viewing orifice adjacent the atomization zone, the viewing means being configured to extend a field of view through the chamber to the atomization zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for atomizing liquid metal are disclosed. A liquid metal supply is coupled to a nozzle for atomizing a stream of liquid metal in an atomizing zone extending from the nozzle. A viewing instrument provides a field of view extending to the atomization zone. A sensor coupled with the viewing instrument generates an image of the atomizing zone, and a control adjusts a flow rate of the stream responsive to the image.

Abstract: An improved method for forming fluid inflatable metal structures is taught. The improvement concerns the patterning of the portion of the structure to be inflated. Patterning is accomplished by first applying a strippable flexible mask coating and then scoring this coating so that a patterned portion may be removed therefrom. The parent portion is the portion of the sheet article to be inflated by subsequent processing. After the patterned portion has been removed, a stop-off is applied to the exposed surface of the first sheet. After the stop-off material has been applied, the remainder of the strippable mask is removed and washed with a detergent to remove the residue from the mask. The sheet having stop-off applied in the pattern to the first sheet is then superposed over a second sheet, and heat and pressure are applied to cause diffusion bonding between the exposed surfaces of the two sheets.

Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray system, having an improved cathode cup assembly which provides reduced tube manufacturing costs and reduces failures due to filament misalignment or sagging of the filament during both the manufacturing process and during operation, is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of making an improved high performance x-ray system having a rotating anode therein which includes an improved target/tubular stem combination which, when combined with a rotor body assembly, reduces tube failure due to anode assembly imbalance and methods of bonding a metallic target and a metal tubular stem and connecting the combination to a rotor body assembly to provide a rotating x-ray tube target are disclosed. An insert of an alloy, for example, tantalum or its alloys, is placed between the target and the niobium-alloy tubular stem and then bonded thereto to produce the x-ray tube target/tubular stem assembly having a high remelt temperature and bond strength which, when connected, such as by bolting to the rotor body assembly, the resulting anode assembly retains proper balance during x-ray tube operations.