Abstract: Method of filtering liquid using a vertical filter, which includes media, an airlift, a washbox, a reject box, a filtrate chamber, and an effluent box. The method of filtration and media cleaning is automatic. The filtered liquid is collected by multi-cartridge screens before entering a filtrate chamber. The filtrate flows from the filtrate chamber into an effluent weir box. The liquid level in the filter is controlled by an effluent weir in the effluent weir box. The reject line is below the water level in the filter, which provides the driving force for the reject flow. The reject rate is controlled by liquid level in the filter tank and a throttling valve on the reject discharge line. The washbox includes a filtration material shield, a filtration material/dirtied liquid separation zone, and a washbox skirt with a washbox isolator, which prevents the dirt in the washbox form entering the influent zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the neck of a blow molded plastic bottle in which a reverse punch is mounted on an end of a shaft. A knife is also mounted to the shaft adjacent to the reverse punch and includes a cutting edge recessed from the cutting edge of the reverse punch. A stripper arm is mounted on the shaft and axially moves with the shaft. The stripper arm's distal end is adjacent to the reverse punch and recessed from the cutting edge of the reverse punch. An actuator causes the distal end of the stripper arm to move to a position located radially outward from the cutting surface when a trimmer ring from the neck of a bottle is to be removed from the apparatus.

Abstract: A belt press having a frame with a first belt and a second belt rotatably mounted on the frame. A curved inlet guide is movably carried on the frame. The inlet guide has a decreasing radius of curvature from an inlet end to an exit end. A positioning assembly is mounted on the frame and is attached to the inlet end of the inlet guide to raise and lower the inlet end of the inlet guide.

Abstract: A belt press having a frame with a first belt and a second belt rotatably mounted on the frame. A curved inlet guide is movably carried on the frame. The inlet guide has a decreasing radius of curvature from an inlet end to an exit end. A positioning assembly is mounted on the frame and is attached to the inlet end of the inlet guide to raise and lower the inlet end of the inlet guide.

Abstract: Assembly of the combustor dome in a gas turbine engine is facilitated by providing a self-fixturing configuration. The combustor dome assembly is made up of a dome plate having a plurality of swirler assemblies mounted therein. Each swirler assembly is provided with a locating pin that extends between the dome plate and the swirler assembly for positioning the swirler assembly with respect to the dome plate without the use of fixturing tools. Preferably, the swirler assembly includes a swirl cup and an outlet sleeve mounted in the dome plate. The locating pin is pressed into a hole formed in the swirl cup. One end of the pin is received in a slot formed in the dome plate, and the other end of the pin is received in a slot formed in the outlet sleeve. Thus, the locating pin sets the circumferential orientation of the swirler assembly in relation to the dome plate.

Abstract: Multi-hole film cooling of combustor liners is enhanced by providing clustered groups of cooling holes in areas of the liners that would otherwise experience a loss of cooling film effectiveness. The combustor liner is made up of a shell having first and second groups of cooling holes formed therein. The cooling holes of the second group are more closely spaced than the cooling holes of the first group. The second group of cooling holes is located on an area of the shell where the cooling film effectiveness is degraded. Preferred locations include a region of the shell that is subjected to swirl impingement and a spot immediately downstream of a large opening in the shell such as a dilution hole, a borescope hole or an igniter port hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the neck of a blow molded plastic bottle in which a reverse punch is mounted on an end of a shaft. A knife is also mounted to the shaft adjacent to the reverse punch and includes a cutting edge recessed from the cutting edge of the reverse punch. A stripper arm is mounted on the shaft and axially moves with the shaft. The stripper arm's distal end is adjacent to the reverse punch and recessed from the cutting edge of the reverse punch. An actuator causes the distal end of the stripper arm to move to a position located radially outward from the cutting surface when a trimmer ring from the neck of a bottle is to be removed from the apparatus.

Abstract: A combustor liner includes a wall having an outboard surface and an opposite inboard surface. A plurality of first holes are inclined through the wall in a multihole pattern to channel cooling fluid therethrough to form a cooling film layer along the inboard surface. A second hole extends perpendicularly through the wall within the multihole pattern to form a shadow along the inboard surface devoid of the first holes. A transition hole extends through the wall in the shadow at a greater inclination than the first holes for cooling the wall at the shadow.

Abstract: A planar array antenna having radiating elements characterized by dual simultaneous polarization states and having substantially rotationally symmetric radiation patterns. A distribution network, which is connected to each dual polarized radiator, communicates the electromagnetic signals from and to each radiating element. A ground plane is positioned generally parallel to and spaced apart from the radiating elements by a predetermined distance. The conductive surface of the ground plane operates to image the radiating elements over a wide coverage area, thereby enabling a radiation pattern within an azimuth plane of the antenna to be independent of any quantity of radiating elements. Side walls, placed on each side of the array of radiators, can operate in tandem with the ground plane, to reduce the half-power beamwidth in the azimuth plane for a selected radiator design.

Abstract: The claimed invention is a driver circuit for transmitting data via an output node thereof to a transmission line. The driver circuit includes a first driving device coupled to the output node and a second driving device also coupled to the output node. The driver circuit also includes a clamping device coupled to the output node. The clamping device clamps the output node at a first predetermined voltage level. A termination device is coupled to the output node of the driver circuit. The termination device includes a triggering device and a termination path. The triggering device is coupled to the termination path such that the triggering device causes a current flow via the termination path when a voltage at the output node exceeds a second predetermined voltage level. The second predetermined voltage level is higher than the first predetermined voltage level.

Abstract: A driver circuit for transmitting data via an output node thereof to a transmission line includes a first driving device coupled to the output node and a second driving device coupled to the same output node. The driver circuit further includes a slew rate controller coupled to the first and second driving devices. The slew rate controller includes a first reference device coupled to the first driving device. The first reference device generates a first current. The slew rate controller also includes a second reference device coupled to the second driving device. The second reference device generates a second current. The slew rate controller further includes a summing device, coupled to the first and second reference devices. The summing node is also coupled to the output node, via an integrating device, to the output node. The summing device generates at the output node a slew rate proportional to the first current when the first driving device is substantially conducting.

Abstract: A rigidified suspension is provided for a load-carrying vehicle, such as a trailer for a dual use, belly-dumping and end-dumping trailer, of the type having a frame with left and right side beams connected together and to which frame wheels are mounted through a suspension. The rigidified suspension includes left and right suspension rails, which are provided having a forward end and a rearward end and are horizontally disposed inward from and below the left and right side beams of the frame. A rear plate is fastened to said left and right side beams of the frame and extends downward therefrom adjacent to the rearward end of the left and right suspension rails. A connector brace is rigidly fastened to the rear ends of the left and right rails and to the rear plate and thereby between each other and the frame. A forward suspension brace is provided, rigidly fastening the forward ends of the left and right suspension rails to the frame and to each other.

Abstract: A first connector (12, FIG. 2) is constructed so when it is unmated from a second connector (14), front contact devices (32) of the first connector are switched from connections to conductors (16) leading to circuit component (70) to connection to a ground plane (110). The first connector comprises a front insert assembly (22) that includes a plurality of front contact devices (32), and a rear insert assembly (50) that includes a plurality of rear contacts (62). When the second connector fully mates with the first one (FIG. 3), the second connector pushes the front insert assembly to a rearward position (22B), against the force of a spring (40), to cause the front contact devices to mate with the rear contacts. When the second connector unmates from the first one, the spring moves the front insert assembly to the forward position. During forward movement, the front contact devices engage the ground plane (110), to thereby ground the front contact devices when they are not mated to the rear contacts.

Abstract: A dual use belly-dumping and end-dumping vehicle includes a frame mounted on wheels for transport and a pivotable hopper carried in the frame. A lower pivot element is mounted to the frame with a corresponding lower pivot engaging element mounted on the hopper. An upper pivot element is also mounted on the frame with a corresponding upper pivot engaging element mounted on the hopper. Lifting cylinders are mounted between sides of the frame and sides of the hopper for pivoting the hopper at the lower pivot element between a horizontally held position and a first angled position at which the hopper is disengaged from the lower pivoted element and engaged at the upper pivot element so that it is pivoted to a second angled position for dumping materials from the end of the hopper.

Abstract: A dual use belly-dumping and end-dumping vehicle includes a frame mounted on wheels for transport and a pivotable hopper carried in the frame. The hopper is provided with angled side walls and end walls defining a top opening and a bottom opening. A pair of hopper bay doors are pivotably connected through a pair of pivot arms to the end walls of the hopper. The hopper bay doors have an inwardly pivoted position at which the hopper bay doors cover the bottom opening and an outwardly pivoted position at which the hopper doors pivot in opposite directions from each other to uncover at least part of the bottom opening. Each door of the pair of bay doors pivots about separated pivot points on the end walls, which pivot points are spaced apart from a center line of the hopper a predetermined distance which is less than one-half of the distance between the center line and each respective side wall.

Abstract: A communications station (10) couples a bidirectional input-output signal path (16') to two unidirectional signal paths; a transmit signal path (12') and a receive signal path (14'), using a controllable hybrid (20). A feedback control system in the station minimizes the amount of transmit signal appearing at the receive output port (24) of the hybrid (20). The control system spreads the spectrum of a pilot signal (40) by means of a biphase modulator (46) and a pseudorandom generator (42) to produce a spread-spectrum pilot, which is added, in a summer 30, to the transmit signal. The spread-spectrum pilot signal covers the bandwidth of the information signal, and is reflected in an amount and with a phase which depends upon the relative impedance presented to the hybrid (20) by the bidirectional signal path (16').

Abstract: Included is a liquid detergent composition comprising detersive surfactant, proteolytic enzyme, a detergent-compatible second enzyme, and an aryl boronic acid of the structure: ##STR1## where X is selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, amine, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkylated amine, amine derivative, halogen, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, acid salt, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate; each Y is independently selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, hydroxyl, hydroxyl derivative, halogen, amine, alkylated amine, amine derivative, nitro, thiol, thiol derivative, aldehyde, acid, ester, sulfonate or phosphonate; and n is 0 to 4.

Abstract: A method for controlling weeds and undergrowth and for treating plants in agricultural settings is disclosed. The method is characterized by first applying a spray of hot water to the plant, and then applying a foam blanket to the sprayed plants, whereby heat from the hot water spray is held against the plants.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling weeds and undergrowth by the application of hot water thereto. The apparatus is particularly characterized by its construction including an endless, ground-engaging belt, or apron, disposed immediately aft of the hot water spray. Thus, when hot water is sprayed on the weeds and undergrowth, the sprayed vegetation is not only compressed by the apron, but also heat from the water is retained therein, insulated from ambient conditions by the apron.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling vegetation, as well as insect infestation, as are typically encountered in agricultural environments is disclosed. The apparatus is characterized by its construction to include a high pressure pump liquid spray material may be applied to vegetation at a pressure from about 100 psi to as much as about 4,000 psi. The apparatus further includes a heater whereby the liquid spray material may be heated to a temperature of from about 100.degree. F. to about 240.degree. F. before it is sprayed. The apparatus is constructed so that it can be attached to a standard tractor for ease of use. The method of this invention is characterized by its utilization of a high pressure spray so that agricultural chemicals in amounts from virtually 0% to about 50% of their current recommended dose rates can be used with efficacy.