Abstract: A novel ultrasonic pump system using a series of cylindrical ultrasonic transducers comprising an inner cylinder component that propagates ultrasound in an omni-directional pattern emanating from the outer surface of the inner transducer component. Further, it also comprises an outer cylinder component that propagates ultrasound in an omni-directional pattern emanating from the inner surface of the outer transducer component. The inner cylinder component is placed parallel within the outer cylinder component, the outer cylinder component having a hollow inner cylindrical diameter greater than the outer cylindrical diameter of the inner hollow cylinder component. This allows for and equi-distant hollow spacing parameter between the inner surface of the outer hollow cylinder, and the outer surface of the inner hollow cylinder component.

Abstract: A reclining backrest system for a person in a wheelchair having a seat and a wheelchair frame which includes a pair of substantially vertical members, comprising a backrest, brace members and a cushion. The backrest is substantially rigid and has longitudinal and lateral edges. The lateral edges include a lower edge. The brace members have a certain amount of flexibility and are affixed to the lower edges of the backrest to the pair of vertical frame members.An improved reclining backrest system comprises a hinge mechanism and a lengthened backrest, the hinge mechanism affixed to the frame, below the seat, and the backrest.

Abstract: A reclining backrest system for a person in a wheelchair having a wheelchair frame which includes a pair of substantially vertical members, comprising a backrest, brace members and a cushion. The backrest is substantially rigid and has longitudinal and lateral edges. The lateral edges include a lower edge. The brace members have a certain amount of flexibility and are affixed to the lower edges of the backrest the to the pair of vertical frame members. The cushion is supported against the front portion of the backrest, and provides a substantially vertical, cushioned, backrest. The cushion comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending pockets, each pocket have at least one opening, disposed against the front portion of the backrest, and a plurality of removable pads adapted for insertion within the pockets, and for providing individual cushioned back surfaces.

Abstract: A support system for maintaining a person in a substantially upright sitting position in a wheelchair, comprises a unitary frame and a unitary cushion. The unitary frame has front and back portions, and a generally rectangularly shaped central portion having upper and lower sections. A pair of upper lateral wing frame portions extend from the upper section of the central portion, and a pair of lower lateral wing frame portions extend from the lower section of the central portion. The unitary cushion is shaped to fit over the frame and comprises, a generally rectangularly shaped central cushioned portion having upper and lower sections, a pair of upper lateral cushioned wing portions extending from the upper section of the cushioned central portion and a pair of lower lateral cushioned wing portions extending from the lower section of the cushioned central portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inductance detector for detecting boundaries between and characteristics of at least two adjoining substances having different characteristics, such as impedance, wherein a coil assembly, which is energized by an alternating current, is electrically coupled to a detector for detecting at least changes in impedance of the coil assembly caused by the boundary proceeding into and through the coil assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing foreign matter, including debris and deposits and air bubbles from a flow cell of a particle study device. The apparatus includes a chamber with an aperture containing unit at one end and sample and sheath introduction mechanisms at the other end to supply respectively, a sample suspension of particles and a particle free liquid. The chamber has a waste orifice positionally disposed to provide a turbulent flow of particle free liquid within the chamber upon simultaneous injection and exhaustion of the particle free liquid into and out of, respectively, the sheath introduction mechanism and the waste orifice, to remove any air bubbles in the chamber and its adjacent aperture area.

Abstract: A stackable cassette or rack for supporting a plurality of sealed sample containers having different diameters and/or lengths and transporting the same to a testing station of a hematology analyzer device. The cassette comprises a body having a top and a bottom and a rear portion, and the body includes a base, front and intermediate walls and a biasing means, connected between the front and intermediate walls, both walls longitudinally extend across the base and each wall has a plurality of equidistantly spaced openings therein arranged in a row lengthwise of the cassette which openings extend from the base to the top of the body. Each of the openings in the front wall has an upper edge and the spaced apart holes of both walls are in alignment.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for handling a microsample comprising a probe for aspirating a sample and a cleaning mechanism having a passageway within which the probe is movable. The passageway has a cleaning chamber having opposite ends, one end being open to the atmosphere and proximate the sample. The cleaning mechanism further includes a fluid directing means and two vacuum applying means, the vacuum applying means being disposed at opposite ends of the chamber and the fluid directing means being disposed between them. During a cleaning mode the fluid directing means directs a wash fluid against the probe and the vacuum applying means removes the wash fluid, prevents exiting of the wash fluid and drys the probe, the later two by permitting gas from the atmosphere to flow into the cleaning chamber.

Abstract: A particle separator for sorting particles suspended in a liquid according to certain characteristics, including a method of and apparatus for detecting a change in the droplet breakoff point of a liquid jet stream which is subjected to vibrations. The vibrations produce amplitude undulations on the surface of the jet stream. The amplitude of the undulations is monitored or interrogated at a fixed point on the jet stream prior to the breakoff point. A change in amplitude of the undulations at that fixed point produces a signal voltage the value of which is proportional to the amplitude change. This signal voltage may be used (1) to alert the operator that a change has occurred in the point at which the jet stream is breaking up into droplets, (2) to automatically control the intensity of the vibrations for restoring the amplitude of undulation at that fixed point to its original state, or (3) to automatically disable the sorting portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit having an input circuit of resistance and capacitance which is a.c. coupled to a source of pulses, and a feedback circuit of resistance and capacitance. The RC time constants of the input and the feedback circuits are made to be approximately equal at the time of pulse input in order to insure an output pulse flat base line without undershoot or overshoot.

Abstract: A reed valve assembly is provided with a reed sandwiched between two base members, e.g. a valve plate and a cylinder head of a compressor. The reed is clamped between the two members at a central part whereby both free ends of the reed can flex. The base members are so structured that one free end of the reed forms an intake valve members and the other a discharge valve member, whereby a single reed serves both as an intake valve member and as a discharge valve member. The invention also avoids rivets or the like elements by securing the reed to the base solely by the clamping action of properly recessed faces of the two base members.

Abstract: A coal supply gun assembly for a fluidized bed combustor which includes heat exchange elements extending above the bed's distributor plate assembly and in which the gun's nozzles are disposed relative to the heat exchange elements to only discharge granular coal material between adjacent heat exchange elements and in a path which is substantially equidistant from adjacent heat exchange elements.

Abstract: A modular two-unit rotary piston mechanism, each unit having a rotor, and a common mainshaft having a pair of eccentrics which are rotatively offset by 120 degrees and which support the rotors; this module is especially useful in forming a triple engine by coupling a single unit rotor to the common mainshaft so that the eccentric of the single unit is rotatively offset 120 so degrees from both eccentrics of the two-unit module.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for burning low BTU fuel comprising a generally cylindrical casing having adjacent outer and inner annular spaces defined by outer, intermediate and inner walls, the spaces intercommunicating at the downstream end of the casing thereby providing a U-shaped flow path. The outer annular space traverses the entire length of the casing while the inner space extends to the approximate mid-point of the casing, thereby communicating with internally disposed combustion units. In operation, fuel as coolant is fed to the outer space at the upstream end, traverses the U-shaped flow-path thus making a double pass around the combustion zone of the combustion chamber and thence to the combustion units for ignition. Improved cooling is obtained.

Abstract: A delivery valve assembly, especially for a rotary mechanism, such as a compressor, disposed within a valve chamber of a peripheral wall of a housing, which includes a stop disposed within the chamber, a valve seat formed in an end-wall disposed across an outer end of the chamber, and a movable valve element having an open and closed position. The valve element is generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section and comprises a resilient plannar inner portion disposed against the valve seat when it is closed and against the stop when opened. Springs, in the form of a pair of strips are fixedly attached at one end to the peripheral wall and extend across the outer end of the chamber, are attached at their other ends to the inner portion via a pair of side portions. These side portions are resilient and are in substantially opposed relationship.

Abstract: A motor control circuit for disconnecting the motor's power supply when the motor is stalled but maintaining it connected when it is running comprising a power loop and control loop, the former including a signal sensing means which provides an output sensing signal whose magnitude is a function of the motor's state in series with an ON, OFF switching means' input-output terminals which is responsive to the magnitude of a control signal applied to its control terminal to control its state. The control loop comprises a counter which provides a control output signal in response to a predetermined count and whose input is fed by the output of a voltage controlled oscillator whose frequency is a function of the magnitude of the output sensing signal of the signal sensing means to which it is connected. A resetting means is coupled to the reset terminal of the counter for periodically resetting the counter. The output control signal from the counter is fed to the control terminal of the switching means.

Abstract: A method of prestressing the working surface of pressure chambers or cylinders comprising the steps of first shot peening their working surfaces to form compressive residual stresses, and then applying fluid pressure at a predetermined magnitude to cause tensile stresses in the working surfaces. The magnitude of compressive residual stresses established on their outer working surfaces is made substantially equal to the tensile stress applied to these surfaces during the pressure phase of the process.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing atmospheric pollutants are effectively removed from exit gas streams produced in a fluidized bed combustion system by providing a fluidized bed of particulate material, i.e. limestone and/or dolomite wherein a concentration gradient is maintained in the vertical direction. Countercurrent contacting between upwardly directed sulfur containing combustion gases and descending sorbent particulate material creates a concentration gradient across the vertical extent of the bed characterized in progressively decreasing concentration of sulfur, sulfur dioxide and like contaminants upwardly and decreasing concentration of e.g. calcium oxide, downwardly. In this manner, gases having progressively decreasing sulfur contents contact correspondingly atmospheres having progressively increasing concentrations of calcium oxide thus assuring optimum sulfur removal.

Abstract: Optical scanning apparatus for scanning and sensing information contained on a label-bearing article includes a light source, a rotatable member having a reflective surface, optical means for directing light from the source to the reflective surface and optical means for directing light reflected from the reflective surface to form a scanning pattern on a predetermined plane; the scanning pattern being comprised of a plurality of segments together forming at least one pair of overlapping X-shaped traces.

Abstract: A document imprinter, especially for labels, tickets, tags, and the like, having a rotary printing unit and an inking roller, with novel means for adjusting the position of the inking roller relative to the printing unit, said adjusting means including locating means in the form of a plurality of flat surfaces each located at a different distance from the roller's axis of rotation.