Abstract: A scroll fluid device includes meshing, involute scroll elements mounted for co-rotation in a support housing. One of the scroll elements is supported by a shaft extending through a bearing sleeve mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot center located transversely of the center line of the shaft. Radial compliance movement of the shaft and bearing sleeve is also enabled about the pivot center. This enables the scroll element to pivot slightly about three independent axes to follow the movement of the opposed cooperating scroll element while at the same time providing radial compliance enabling the scroll flanks to open slightly in the event of an over pressurization between the scroll wraps. The pivot center is provided by a circular ball pivot element located between the bearing sleeve and adjacent fixed support structure.

Abstract: A tip seal supporting structure for use in a scroll fluid device includes intermeshing involute scroll elements mounted for relative orbital movement. Each of the scroll elements includes an involute spiral wrap which is secured to a respective wrap support plate at one axial end thereof. Each involute spiral wrap is provided with a tip seal in the other axial end thereof which engages with the wrap support plate of the other scroll element. One of the wrap support plates includes a substantially, centrally located fluid passage into which the innermost end of the involute spiral wrap of the other scroll element extends during a predetermined portion of the relative orbital movement between the scroll elements.

Abstract: A method of immobilizing and stabilizing an active biological receptor in a polymeric film and receptor-based biosensors for determining an analyte of interest in a sample. The receptor-based biosensors include a polymeric film having a biological receptor capable of binding an analyte of interest immobilized therein according to the method of the present invention and an electrical means for determining the presence and quantity of the analyte. In particular, acetylcholine receptor and opiate receptor have been immobilized in a polymeric film made by combining the receptor, a material (e.g., bovine serum albumin, gelatin) capable of polymerizing and a polymerizing agent (e.g., glutaradehyde).

Abstract: An improved fluxgate instrument for measuring heading as well and pitch and roll angles is disclosed. A plurality of fluxgate sensors are continuously energized with a DC feedback signal derived from the reading of each sensor so as to minimize magnetic cross-coupling between the sensors. In addition while two sensors are gimbally mounted to sense the horizontal components of the earth's magnetic field, the vertical field is sensed by two sensors strapped down relative to the instrument casing for sensing the earth's vertical magnetic field in order to compensate for latitude. Finally, sine and cosine coils surround the gimbally mounted sensors and generate AC fields which are sensed by the gimbally mounted sensors and are used to calculate the pitch and roll angles.

Abstract: A gearing system includes a pair of gear support plates (5,10) arranged to rotate about parallel but offset axes (9,14) with the plates extending parallel to each other in parallel radially extending planes. Each plate includes axially extending teeth (40,45) having concave (43,45) and convex opposed surfaces. The teeth are interdigitated axially such that various pairs of interdigitated teeth will be in cooperating surface contact. Rotation of each support plate about its own axis causes the teeth to orbit relative to each other and engage in a driving relationship in a smooth manner, with the convex portion of certain teeth engaging smoothly with the concave portion of adjacent teeth. In one embodiment, the gear teeth take the form of section of lune shaped elements. In another embodiment, the gear teeth take the form of truncated involutes. In still a further embodiment, the teeth are constituted by multi-faceted polygons.

Abstract: An automated system for storing and cooking french fried potatoes includes a refrigeration and storage assembly and unique transport system which is easily used with fryers of a commercial type. The transport system includes a horizontal and vertical transport assembly for moving baskets of fries to and from the one or more fryers, with the vertical transport assembly being adapted to lower the basket into the fryer as well as support the basket above the fryer after cooking so as to allow the basket to drain. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the refrigeration system is such and the strips are oriented all in substantially the same direction before being loaded into a basket so as to enable the fries to be cooked with little or no sticking without requiring the operator to shake the potatoes during or following cooking.

Abstract: A gearing system includes a pair of gear support plates arranged to rotate about parallel but offset axes with the plates extending parallel to each other in parallel radially extending plates. Each plate includes axially extending teeth in the form of sections of lune shaped elements having concave and convex opposed surfaces. The teeth are interdigited axially such that various pairs of interdigited teeth will be in cooperating surface contact. Rotation of each support plate about its own axis causes the teeth to orbit relative to each other and engage in a driving relationship in a smooth manner, with the convex portion of certain teeth engaging smoothly with the concave portion of adjacent teeth. The gearing system provides a 1:1 speed ratio and has application as an Oldham coupling or synchronizer for a scroll fluid device.

Abstract: An improved closed-end manometer which overcomes the problems associated with prior U-tube manometer devices. The invention comprises a small bore tube which is transparent or translucent at least along the measuring portion and which may be of tapered or cylindrical bore, a permanent closure at one end of the tube, a relatively small indicating slug formed of a suitable liquid, a measuring scale to note the position of the liquid slug, and a measured quantity of a selected gas between the closure and the nearest end of the liquid slug. The open end of the tube is connected to the vessel or system whose pressure is to be measured or monitored. One feature of the present invention is its ability to provide quantitative pressure indications over a wide range of pressures, or the invention may be calibrated to provide increased sensitivity over a relatively short measuring range. Another feature of the invention is its ability to provide accurate pressure measurements regardless of the instrument's orientation.

Abstract: A system is described for sensing the relative angular orientation of two relatively movable joint segments of a living body joined together at a joint. The system comprises at least two links coupled together about a pivot axis so that the links are pivotable relative to one another about the axis so as to define a variable mechanical angle between the links about the axis. The two links are secured respectively to the joint segments so that the links pivot about the pivot axis when the joint segments pivot about said joint. A Hall effect sensor is used to accurate sense the mechanical angle. The mechanical angle sensed by the sensor is then correlated with the actual angle made by the joint segments. The arrangement is used with each finger and thumb joint of the hand to provide data representative of finger and thumb orientations of a hand.

Abstract: A scroll fluid device is provided with a synchronizer arrangement that prevents relative rotation between the involute scroll wraps defining fluid working chambers while permitting the wraps to orbit relative to each other to perform work on fluid moved through the device or to expend work through the reaction of fluid moving through the device. The synchronizer comprises axially extending teeth affixed to one of the scroll support end plates interdigited with grooves affixed to the other end plate. The grooves of the synchronizer each have a width that accommodates the orbital excursion of each tooth extending into the groove such that, during orbital movement of one scroll wrap relative to the other, the teeth engage the side walls of the groove to prevent rotation of the scroll wraps relative to each other in either direction.

Abstract: A scroll fluid device is provided with a toothed ring synchronizer coupled to sprocket teeth provided of each scroll wrap back plate. The coupling between the teeth does not restrict relative axial motion between the scroll wraps and evenly distributes torque loads resulting from forces tending to rotate one wrap relative to the other between the back plates. The ring synchronizer may include internal or external teeth cooperating with adjoining sprocket teeth provided on the scroll back plates.

Abstract: A compact scroll compressor capable of maintaining a high efficiency when driven at variable speeds and operating at variable gas pressures. The compressor incorporates a unique swing-link driving means and means to control the flow of high-pressure fluid from the central high-pressure zone defined by the scroll members. The compressor is particularly suited for operation off an automotive engine to provide compressed refrigerant in an automotive air conditioner.

Abstract: A method and system for storing and retrieving compressed data such as ZIP+4 add-on's for postal addresses, compresses source data records by defining a group of attributes which represent the characteristics of source data records and the relationships between source data records and between elements of source data records, each attribute having an associated predetermined set of rules which define specifically the characteristics or relationships represented by that attribute. Source data records are compressed by assigning to a record a tuple of attribute values and a set of modifier values. The attribute values each designate a particular one of the set of rules for its corresponding attribute, and the modifier values comprise values which are used by the rules to express the information content of the source data record. The compressed data records are stored in a memory having a hierarchical data organization along with memory address elements for accessing compressed data records.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for transporting coarse particles of coal in a dense liquid CO.sub.2 media. The dense media contains fine particles of densifying material such as coal or magnetite which form a suspension in the liquid CO.sub.2. The suspension is capable of supporting large particles of coal for transportation in a liquid CO.sub.2 slurry pipeline. Use of the dense media allows the pumping of the coarse coal particles at slower velocities than if the fine densifying particles were not present.

Abstract: The disclosed source of coherent radiation is of the type adapted to provide an inversion layer of electrons. The preferred embodiment comprises a grated MOSFET having gallium arsenide or indium antimonide substrate so as to provide a source which is (1) operable at room temperatures, and (2) self-exciting in response to predetermined, substantially constant DC current levels of gate voltage and source-drain voltage.

Abstract: A method for producing thin films of chalcogenides of the rare earths characterized by introducing a rare earth metal vapor into an atmosphere not containing oxygen, but containing a gaseous chalcogen as well as hydrogen, at a total pressure about 1.times.10.sup.-4, giving rise to a reaction which forms a gaseous rare earth chalcogenide. The gaseous rare earth chalcogenide is then deposited as a thin film on a substrate heated to 200.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A process as disclosed forming a non-agueous, free-flowing composition. The process involves treating a finely divided inorganic or organic material with liquid carbon dioxide to form a slurry. The treated material is separated from the slurry and shows suprising free-flowing, nonagglomerated behavior.

Abstract: An improved integral storage solar heating system is described which comprises an integral storage solar collector comprising an absorber means, a heat storage medium of large heat capacity and high thermal conductivity directly heated by the absorber means and a water flow path in heat exchange relationship with said heat storage medium such having a water inlet and water outlet; and a primary pressurized water supply line connected to the water inlet, where pressurized water from the supply line into the water inlet forces fresh water through the water flow path as heated water is removed through the water outlet. The improvement comprises covering the integral storage collector with a collector cover essentially transparent to solar radiation, the cover and storage collector are connected by at least one panel. Solar radiation passes through the transparent cover and is absorbed by the absorber means of the collector. The collector is oriented substantially parallel to the horizon.

Abstract: FSK demodulator apparatus in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is provided wherein the input signal to be demodulated is phase compared with a plurality of reference phases of the mark and space frequencies to be detected to bracket the input signal within a particular quadrant for the frequency involved. The results of each phase comparison are then integrated with respect to time and threshold compared in such a manner that one or more phase comparison outputs, each having a duty cycle not equal to 50%, will be produced for the frequency involved, resulting in an output from the threshold comparison. This output may then be employed to establish a logic condition indicative of the frequency then being received.

Abstract: Method for forming scroll members comprising an end plate having an involute wrap rigidly affixed thereto. The end plate and involute wrap are precision formed, e.g., by casting, either as an integral element or as two separate elements and then the scroll member is broached to the desired dimensional accuracy and finish. Push broaching is accomplished with an involute broaching tool which has a single terminating cutting edge on one or both sides of an involute blade cutter.