Abstract: A common mode choke may include a generally rectangular body including bottom and top ferrite portions, at least one pair of laterally spaced apart interior conductors between the bottom and top ferrite portions and extending between the first and second ends of the generally rectangular body, and a dielectric material layer between the bottom and top ferrite portions. Moreover, the dielectric material layer may also extend laterally between the at least one pair of interior conductors and may also at least partially encapsulate the at least one pair of interior conductors at portions thereof opposite at least one of the bottom and top ferrite portions. The choke may also include end conductors on the opposite ends of the generally rectangular body and connected to the interior conductors. A compact footprint is provided for the common mode choke while maintaining a high level of electrical performance.

Abstract: An adjustable static stabilizer used to ameliorate shock loading. The static stabilizer has a housing forming a chamber and an upwardly-open cylindrical carrier moveably mounted in the chamber. A plurality of spring washers are mounted in the carrier, and a shoe cap extends transverse to the carrier for engaging the spring washers therein. A tie rod interconnects the shoe cap and the carrier for displacement of the shoe cap relative to the housing, and a threaded means is disposed between the housing and the carrier for rotatably mounting the carrier in the housing which is operable upon rotation of the shoe cap relative to the housing to enable the overall height of the stabilizer to be adjusted.

Abstract: An adjustable static stabilizer for use in a bridge environment absorbs shock loads applied to bridge structure. Various mounting arrangements for the static stabilizers in combination with a bascule bridge are disclosed.

Abstract: A filter device may include a plurality of ferrite filters laminated together in vertically stacked relation, where each ferrite filter may include a pair of ferrite layers laminated together in vertically stacked relation and a lateral conductor extending therebetween. The filter device may also include at least one vertical conductor connecting the lateral conductors together in series. Moreover, at least some of the ferrite filters may have different operating characteristics. In particular, the different operating characteristics may be different impedance versus frequency characteristics to thereby broaden an attenuation frequency band of the filter device.

Abstract: A method for making a radiation absorbing material (RAM) coating may include providing an iron-silicon alloy powder, forming the iron-silicon alloy powder into flakes, and passivating the flakes. The method may further include selecting passivated flakes having a desired size, and combining the selected passivated flakes with a carrier to provide the RAM coating. The coating may be applied to a substrate to impart the radiation absorbing property thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve arrangement for surgical instruments, particularly trocars, such as those used for minimally invasive operations, e.g. operations involving laparoscopic techniques. The invention also relates to a valve cage (18) for accommodating the valve arrangement. The valve arrangement comprises a valve body (1) made of closed-cell, gas-tight foam material having at least one slot (7), which passes through the valve body and which is provided for introducing a surgical instrument guided inside the trocar. The valve cage is provided in the form of a housing whose shape and size are adapted to the outer dimensions of the valve body. The housing can be joined to a conventional trocar sleeve in a sealed and detachable manner.

Abstract: A span lock system for a double-leaf drawbridge. A guide housing mounted at the tip of one leaf includes an opening with vertically opposed cushioned shoes slidably supporting an elongate lock bar reciprocative lengthwise in a direction along the length of the drawbridge. A receiver housing mounted at the tip of the other leaf is positioned to interlock with the guide housing and includes a like opening slidably receiving the lock bar between vertically opposed cushioned shoes. A pair of vertical guide columns project from both side of the guide housing opening with the upper and lower edges of the distal sides beveled inwardly, and another pair of vertical guide columns project from both side of the receiver housing opening with the upper and lower edges of the proximal sides beveled outwardly.

Abstract: A filter device may include a plurality of ferrite filters laminated together in vertically stacked relation, where each ferrite filter may include a pair of ferrite layers laminated together in vertically stacked relation and a lateral conductor extending therebetween. The filter device may also include at least one vertical conductor connecting the lateral conductors together in series. Moreover, at least some of the ferrite filters may have different operating characteristics. In particular, the different operating characteristics may be different impedance versus frequency characteristics to thereby broaden an attenuation frequency band of the filter device.

Abstract: A method for making ferrite powder may include providing ferrite feed materials in a form of particles having different sizes and irregular shapes, and exposing the ferrite feed materials to a plasma to provide a more spherical shape to irregularly shaped particles to thereby make the ferrite powder. An apparatus for making ferrite powder may include a feeder for ferrite feed materials and a plasma generator for exposing the ferrite feed materials to a plasma.

Abstract: A drawbridge span lock system in which a locking bar longitudinally slides between wear shoes in each of guide and socket assemblies. The wear shoes are pre-loaded to a selected level by springs within the assemblies to maintain continuous contact of the shoes with the locking bar under no-load operating conditions of the bridge. Threaded adjusting carriers externally accessible in each assembly enable the springs to be precisely pre-loaded to any level within a design range.

Abstract: A method for making a radiation absorbing material (RAM) coating may include providing an iron-silicon alloy powder, forming the iron-silicon alloy powder into flakes, and passivating the flakes. The method may further include selecting passivated flakes having a desired size, and combining the selected passivated flakes with a carrier to provide the RAM coating. The coating may be applied to a substrate to impart the radiation absorbing property thereto.

Abstract: The method may include joining together a bottom layer, a top layer and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, with the bottom and top layers including a non-magnetic material, and the at least one intermediate layer including a non-magnetic material. The method may also include dividing the joined together layers into a plurality of closed-shape cores each having at least one magnetic flux gap therein provided by the non-magnetic material. The closed-shape cores may be toroidal, for example. The method may also include winding at least one conductor on each closed-shape core to form the inductors. In some embodiments the joined together layers may be divided into a plurality of strips. The method may also include punching each strip to form a plurality of closed shape cores, with toroidal core having at least one magnetic flux gap therein provided by the non-magnetic material.

Abstract: A toroidal inductor includes a toroidal core including magnetic material and having at least one magnetic flux gap therein, and at least one conductor wound on the core. The magnetic flux gap may include a non-magnetic material having a substantially uniform thickness between respective adjacent magnetic material portions. In some embodiments, the non-magnetic material may have a shrinkage factor during sintering substantially equal to a shrinkage factor of the magnetic material. For example, the magnetic material may include ferrite, and the non-magnetic material may include alumina or zinc ferrite. In some embodiments, the flux gap may be provided by an air gap. The substantially uniform thickness of the at least one magnetic flux gap is readily and accurately produced in accordance with associated manufacturing aspects of the invention.

Abstract: A common mode choke includes a plurality of joined together ferrite layers defining a generally rectangular body and comprising a bottom ferrite layer, a top ferrite layer, and at least one intermediate ferrite layer. The at least one intermediate ferrite layer preferably has an opening therein defining a cavity in the generally rectangular body extending from adjacent a first end thereof to adjacent a second end thereof. The choke also preferably includes at least one first pair of interior conductors extending on the at least one intermediate ferrite layer on opposite sides of the cavity. The choke may also include first and second pairs of end conductors on the first and second ends of the body that are connected to the interior conductors. The interior conductors may also have respective side edge portions exposed to the cavity in the body.

Abstract: An inductor, such as for electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression, comprises a plurality of ferrite layers arranged in stacked relation and joined together to define a ferrite body, and a first electrical conductor extending between a first pair of adjacent ferrite layers. The inductor includes first respective opposing portions of the first pair of adjacent ferrite layers being sintered together, and second respective opposing portions of the first pair of adjacent ferrite layers being in spaced apart relation to define at least one first gap therebetween. Moreover, the device includes a sintering blocking material associated with the at least one first gap. The sintering blocking material causes the gap to form in the ferrite body to selectively block the magnetic path to thereby retain a higher inductance than would otherwise be possible at relatively high currents. In a surface mounting embodiment of the inductor, the ferrite body has a generally rectangular shape.

Abstract: A flexible double-walled plastic tubing product includes a helically wound support bead between inner and outer walls, and an helically wrapped electrical resistance heating conductor is disposed adjacent to the inner wall in good heat transfer relation to fluid flow within the tubing product. Fluid flow within the tubing product is insulated against heat loss to ambient by the helical support bead and a trapped “dead-air” space between the walls of the tubing product. Apparatus and method for making the tubing product are disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference suppressor includes a plurality of ferrite layers arranged in stacked relation and defining a generally rectangular ferrite body. Each ferrite layer includes a laterally extending electrical conductor including an elongate portion and at least one enlarged width portion connected thereto. The enlarged width portion permits connection to an adjacent lateral conductor by one or more tubular vertical conductors which extend through respective via openings in a ferrite layer. The tubular vertical conductor and enlarged width portions permit high current carrying capability and permit greater manufacturing tolerance in the assembly of adjacent layers and in forming the tubular vertical conductors. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible double-walled plastic tubing product includes a helically wound support bead between inner and outer walls, and an helically wrapped electrical resistance heating conductor is disposed adjacent to the inner wall in good heat transfer relation to fluid flow within the tubing product. Fluid flow within the tubing product is insulated against heat loss to ambient by the helical support bead and a trapped "dead-air" space between the walls of the tubing product. Apparatus and method for making the tubing product are disclosed.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference suppressor includes a plurality of ferrite layers arranged in stacked relation and defining a generally rectangular ferrite body. Each ferrite layer includes a laterally extending electrical conductor including an elongate portion and at least one enlarged width portion connected thereto. The enlarged width portion permits connection to an adjacent lateral conductor by one or more tubular vertical conductors which extend through respective via openings in a ferrite layer. The tubular vertical conductor and enlarged width portions permit high current carrying capability and permit greater manufacturing tolerance in the assembly of adjacent layers and in forming the tubular vertical conductors. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A helically wound and helically ribbed plastic tubing incorporating an electrically conductive wire and an apparatus and method for making the tubing are disclosed. A plastic ribbon is wound about an axis into a tube with one edge of each lap overlapping and heat-bonded to an edge of the preceding lap as the tubing is rotated; a conductive wire is embedded in the ribbon; and a bead is applied and heat-sealed onto the tubing, encapsulating the conductive wire during rotation of the tubing, providing a unitary structure including a conductive wire integral to a flexible tubing having a corrugated crevice-free outside and a smooth inside. Coolant is applied to the tubing for cooling the unitary ribbon, wire and bead tubing and to assist in advancing the tubing along the axis.