Abstract: A fluid flow transducer module includes a fluid flow conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid, a transducer for measuring rate of flow of the fluid, an interface in communication with the transducer and adapted to receive rate of flow measurements from the transducer, the conduit having an outlet for flowing the fluid from the transducer to a reservoir, the outlet extending transversely of the conduit, a housing for the conduit, conduit inlet, conduit outlet, and transducer, the housing having opposed first and second walls, each wall having an opening for the outlet therein, and at least one of the walls being adapted for stacking engagement with a second transducer module of a same structure, such that the outlets of the modules are aligned to form a common conduit, and the interconnected modules form a flow transducer assembly having a plurality of fluid flow conduits and transducers.

Abstract: In a method for determining the flow rate of a fluid flowing in a channel (2), the fluid being constituted by a liquid or a gas, two pulse shaped, oscillating signals are sent through the medium with one signal directed against (14) and the other signal directed with (12) the flow direction (4) of the fluid. The transmitted signals are received and the flow rate is determined by means of the phase shift between the received, pulse shaped signals caused by the flow of the fluid. The phase shift (20) between the signals is determined while compensating for the dwell time of the pulse shaped oscillating signals in the fluid.

Abstract: An optical measurement assembly includes a processor for providing a light source, for receiving light from a sample, and for analyzing the received light for detecting and measuring a target substance, and an optical head including a housing, a source light mirror mounted in the housing for directing a light beam onto the sample, the beam having a central axis extending from the source light mirror, a collector mirror mounted in the housing and having a central axis coinciding with the light beam central axis, and configured to receive light reflected from the sample, and a return mirror disposed in the housing for receiving light from the collector mirror. A source light guide extends from the processor light source to adjacent the optical head source light mirror, and a return light guide extends from adjacent the optical head return mirror to the light receiving means in the processor.

Abstract: A method for forming composite articles, particularly ceramic articles, from particles or fibers mixed in a thermally activated reactant gas stream. The particles or fibers are codeposited with material produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) onto a heated substrate until the desired thickness of composite is obtained. Removal of the substrate yields a near-net shaped codeposited composite article having a chemical vapor deposition produced matrix with particles or fibers embedded therein in a generally uniform distribution. The method provides high deposition rates, and the composite articles produced may have enhanced strength, thermal shock resistance, and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming composite articles, particularly ceramic articles, from particles or fibers mixed in a thermally activated reactant gas stream. The particles or fibers are codeposited with material produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) onto a heated substrate until the desired thickness of composite is obtained. Removal of the substrate yields a near-net shaped codeposited composite article having a chemical vapor deposition produced matrix with particles or fibers embedded therein a generally uniform distribution. The method provides high deposition rates, and the composite articles produced may have enhanced strength, thermal shock resistance, and corrosion resistance at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for providing a stable, temporally controllable high current density electron beam from a photocathode has been developed. A low level of cesium and, possibly a stabilizing gas, is supplied to the photoemitting surface while the electron beam is being generated, thereby replenishing cesium and possibly other ions lost from the emitting surface on a continual basis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat pipe particularly suited for isothermal transfer of heat in high temperature, high pressure operation such as the growing of semiconductor crystals. The heat pipe has a stem communicating with its lower end, a cooler surrounding a portion of the stem, and an expansible bellows connected to the stem. The stem and the expansion chamber formed by the bellows accommodate displaced liquid working fluid to balance pressure within the heat pipe with ambient pressure outside the heat pipe. This avoids the need for complex, multi-layer structures or high strength materials in the heat pipe walls.

Abstract: An efficient, low cost, gas-fired convection oven is disclosed. The oven includes a burner, such as a ceramic induced draft/boosted burner with premixed pressurized air/fuel gas supply, which fires combustion products through an opening in a baffle directly into a convection blower. The blower assembly, protected by a shield/deflector structure, also draws gases from a cooking chamber around the burner to mix with combustion products in a blower chamber. Action of the blower directs the mixture through the blower to circulate through gaps formed by the top and bottom of the baffle and into the cooking chamber. The oven avoids complex, costly wall-type heat exchangers, has no combustion chamber, and provides efficient, uniform cooking in a unit of low manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high efficiency deep fat fryer from whose fry tank fat is continuously withdrawn for heating and filtration. A pump circulates part of this fat through a helical- or serpentine-shaped finned-tube heat exchanger positioned between a gas-fired burner and the bottom of the fry tank. The remaining portion of fat is directed through a filter located in the bottom zone of the fry tank. The fryer includes a control system with sensors such as pressure switches for preventing damage to the fat at low flow rates and devices for expelling moisture trapped in the pump. The filter has an element of material such as carbon-impregnated cloth which may be quickly replaced without draining fat from the tank.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat pipe which is protected from damage due to freezing by the addition of small amount of a liquid such as an alcohol to its working fluid. Ethanol/water mixtures having ethanol concentrations from about 1 to 7.5 percent by volume are found to produce a relatively weak crystal solid during freezing in a heat pipe so that the weak solid breaks up and expands without rupturing a wall or joint of the heat pipe. Heat transfer and operating characteristics of the heat pipe are not degraded due to the presence of specified amounts of the additive.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for monitoring and controlling movement of a hoist along a line of treatment tanks of an electroplating apparatus. Hoist-mounted optical sensing units of the system have pickups formed of opposed lines of infrared emitting diodes and phototransistors which interact with elements of plates fixed at work stations along the tanks to provide station identification and centering information relative to the hoist. A microprocessor-based controller on the hoist processes data from the sensing units and from a rotary encoder attached to a hoist drive motor and, under direction of an off-hoist main computer, rapidly and accurately positions the hoist at selected stations in a desired operating sequence.

Abstract: A gas-fired cooking range having a powered combustion air and gas input; proportional turndown burner control irrespective of the number of burners being used or the degree of turndown of any burner; light-weight jet impingement/radiation members being provided on each burner for efficient heat transfer to utensils and a simplified ignitor/sensor system for all burners operable by any individual burner control.

Abstract: This invention relates to a deep fat fryer of the external heat exchanger, pumped-recirculation type, and more specifically, discloses a control system for automatically heating and recirculating the fat either continuously or intermittently as needed to accommodate one or both of two conditions existing in such a fryer. First, during continuous circulation and frying vapor lock may occur at the pump impeller, inhibiting recirculation. Automatic shifting to intermittent operation is made to occur until the vapor "burps" itself from the pump. Additionally, when starting a fryer and using solid shortening, the pump and burner are operated intermittently until such time as the pump and heat exchanger are sufficiently full of melted shortening to permit continuous circulation. Upon sensing that full condition and our associated pressure, the system shifts automatically to continuous recirculation.

Abstract: A compact steam cooking unit includes a compartment for holding fresh or frozen food to be cooked by steam and an associated gas-fired generator of steam which are combined in a fully self-contained appliance which requires only conventional utility connections and can be mounted on a counter-top. The steam generator includes a powered burner firing into one or more fire tubes which are submerged in water which is maintained at a desired level in a water chamber. Steam derived from heating of the water passes from the water chamber through ports into the cooking compartment where it contacts the food to be cooked.

Abstract: A composite doctor blade with non-homogeneous stiffness properties and having a plurality of juxtaposed fibrous layers which are encapsulated in an epoxy resin. The composite blade has a fibrous core, intermediate uni-directional graphite fiber layers and outer fibrous layers. The uni-directional graphite fibers in the intermediate layers are oriented in the machine direction.

Abstract: An improved laser-based method of depositing a metal on an electrically insulated metallic substrate is disclosed. Selected areas of the insulated plate such as an anodized aluminum plate are irradiated with laser energy to fracture the anodized layer and expose underlying aluminum. The plate is immersed in a solution containing copper ions and negatively biased so that a thin layer of copper is electrolytically deposited in the selected areas to form copper features. The method is particularly suited to the rapid production of high quality, durable photographic printing plates with long shelf life.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage system is disclosed for heating a liquid and establishing and maintaining thermal stratification of the liquid in a storage tank. The tank, which may store hot water for domestic use, contains a vertical header assembly which functions to greatly reduce the momentum of incoming heated water and to transport the water up or down in the tank to a distribution level containing water of temperature equal to that of the incoming water. Positioned outside the tank is a heat pipe heat exchanger for heating storage liquid withdrawn from the tank. A solar-heated working fluid is circulated through one chamber of the heat exchanger to vaporize a heat pipe fluid. The heat pipe fluid in turn heats storage liquid pumped through a separate chamber of the heat exchanger from a lower part of the storage tank, after which the heated storage liquid is returned to the tank and distributed by means of the vertical header assembly.

Abstract: A broiler for cooking food products has an upper heating unit located in a spaced relationship from the food and a lower heating unit in a close heat transfer relationship with the food. The upper unit is preferably a U-shaped radiant fire tube with a gas-fired power burner mounted at one end as a heat source. Hot flue products exiting the radiant tube are directed to the lower heating unit which is preferably a heat pipe assembly with evaporator and condenser zones for a working fluid. In one form the condenser zone includes a generally flat wall portion with a cooking surface defining a set of upwardly facing grooves. In another form the condenser zone is a series of generally parallel pipes that extend under the food in a horizontal, mutually spaced relationship. A movable rack supports the food and moves it into and out of a cooking relationship with the condenser zone of the heat pipe assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a deep fat fryer with a filtration system to continuously filter liquid cooking fat circulated by a pump. A fryer filter with a filter element of material such as carbon-impregnated cloth is located in the bottom of a fry tank and is rotatable about a swivel joint between a horizontal operating position and a vertical servicing position. In the vertical position the upper end of the filter is above the surface of the fat in the fry tank and the filter element may readily be replaced without draining the tank and without risk of leakage of fat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vapor-jacketed cooking kettle having a compact, self-contained, gas-fired combustion system. The tiltable kettle includes a gas-fired cylindrical power burner which fires radially into a combustion chamber below a jet plate which in turn is closely spaced below the bottom wall of a water-containing jacket. Hot combustion gases produced by the burner heat and jet plate to temperatures at which it radiates large amounts of heat to the jacket wall. The hot gases also pass through holes in the plate to form high velocity jets which impinge on the jacket wall and transfer heat by convection. Heat transferred by the jet impingement and radiation vaporizes water in the jacket and the resulting steam cooks food products in the kettle. Thermal efficiencies of 70 percent or higher are achieved by the tilting kettle system.