Abstract: A current pulse generator for generating current pulses on a conductor of controllable magnitude and duration based on a controlled pulse former. This pulse former is controlled by a controller in communication with a current sensor and operating a magnitude control signal generator as well as the pulse former, the magnitude signal generator also providing a selection signal to the pulse former.

Abstract: A railway car (10) is provided. Railway car (10) comprises hopper assemblies (18) having floor panels (22, 24, 26, and 28) that are angled at approximately 40.degree. or less. Floor panels (22, 24, 26, and 28) are fabricated from an aluminum material such that cargo may slide down floor panels (22, 24, 26, and 28) and exit hopper assembly (18) through an outlet (20) with relative ease while maximizing volume. Aerodynamic side posts (54) and improved side plates (58 and 60) which prevent water from entering hoppers (18) are also provided. An improved hatch (56), having first and second coaming portions (88 and 86) that are formed by a single extrusion process, is also presented.

Abstract: A crossbearer connection (32) and method of forming a crossbearer connection (32) are disclosed, including a support bracket (34) angled to rest against an interior surface of a vertical and horizontal flange (54, 56) of the side sill (20) of a railway car (12), a projecting member (70) formed integral to the support bracket (34) having a male portion (78) and female portion (80), and where in the projecting member (70) extends through an opening (72) in the side wall (28), an exterior support member (76) having a base portion (90) and a male portion (98) which is sized to mate with the female portion (80) of the projecting member (70) and with the base (90) portion disposed against a portion of the exterior surface of the vertical flange of the side sill (20), and the male portion (78) of the projecting member (70) mating with a portion of the side stake (30) of the railway car (12), and a plurality of fasteners (106-120) for securing the support bracket (34) to the side sill (20) and the exterior support me

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer chip comprising a plurality of transducer elements. At least one of the transducer elements is a multi-layer element which comprises a plurality of piezoelectric layers, each of which is separated from the adjacent piezoelectric layers by an electrode layer so that a plurality of capacitive elements is electrically connected in parallel. The plurality of piezoelectric layers are comprised of a plurality of piezoelectric members separated from adjacent members by a gap to form a composite piezoelectric layer. Also disclosed is a method of making a multilayer transducer of a composite piezoelectric material. Alternate embodiments include two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer arrays having multilayer elements formed of a composite piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A biomass management system using sunlight during the daytime for purifying water having impurities. The biomass management system of the present invention is adapted for use in an impoundment holding water which has an inlet for delivering impure water into the impoundment and an outlet for delivering purified water out of the impoundment. A first type of rooted bottom dwelling plant grows on the bottom of the impoundment and removes some of the impurities in the water. A plurality of elongated channels float on the surface of the water in the impoundment above the bottom dwelling plants. Each of the plurality of the elongated channels are secured in the impoundment in a substantially North-South orientation. Each of the plurality of elongate channels have a holding region with inwardly shaped sides. A second type of floating rootless plant grows in the holding region on the surface of the water in each of the channels and removes some of the impurities in the water.

Abstract: An improved automobile transport railway car that is constructed from noncorroding materials adjacent to load carrying areas and that is enclosed by doors on both ends of the car. In the case of the articulated cars, a bellows assembly encloses and spans the ends of adjacent units. The car may be provided with two or more decks and has walls and a roof preferably constructed from nested, pultruded sections that are light in weight and are non-corrodible.

Abstract: A portable computer includes a processor, processor associated memory and control circuitry, and a memory disk drive assembly for storing software programs to form an integral computer unit. The integral computer unit has a CPU module, a display module, a user control module with a user control interface, module connectors, environmental protective barriers for blocking entry of EMI and moisture into the computer unit and a vibration isolator for energy absorbingly mounting the unit to the drive assembly. The display module includes a display device that is separately housed and removably interconnected with the CPU module. The modules are connected by hinges along at least one interconnecting edge of each module. The module connectors are disposed along at least one interconnecting edge of each of the modules to permit separation of the modules at non-hinged edges and pivotal movement about the hinged edges for improved accessibility.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic diagnostic device which uses an optoelectronic transmitting circuit to trigger the voltage input to the 2-D array transducer elements located in the probe adjacent to the patient. The transmitting optoelectronic circuit disclosed comprises a plurality of light pulse generators, a plurality of fiber optic signal lines, and a plurality of light activated switching circuits that transmit the high voltage excitation input to the selected transducer transmit element(s).

Abstract: An improved automobile transport railway car that is constructed from noncorroding materials adjacent to load carrying areas and that is enclosed by doors on both ends of the car. In the case of the articulated cars, a bellows assembly encloses and spans the ends of adjacent units. The car may be provided with two or more decks and has walls and a roof preferably constructed from nested, pultruded sections that are light in weight and are non-corrodible.

Abstract: A rotary dump railway gondola car that includes troughs which extend downwardly from the midpoint of the car toward the trucks. End members for the troughs extend at an enlarged angle relative to the car's center sill to increase the carrying capacity of the car. The end members have been further modified to include a bracket which attaches each end member to the center sill. A chamfer is located near the lower portion of each end member to allow drainage from the associated trough. Sections of the floor in the car adjacent to the troughs have been modified to increase load carrying capacity. The troughs may also include a longitudinal radius to further increase the load carrying capacity of the car.

Abstract: A children's swing includes a rigid, upwardly curved seat which has a planar seating portion and side portions which extend generally perpendicular to the seating portion and define the opposite ends of the seat. A longitudinal channel is present in the underside of the seating portion and passages extend from the opposite ends of the channel to the opposite ends of the seat. A long chain of links extends into the passage at one end of the seat, along the channel and out the passage at the other end of the seat. Interferences are provided in the seat which interfere with the chain links to fix the position of the seat along the chain so that when the opposite ends of the chain are suspended from an overhead support, the seating portion of the seat remains horizontal when the swing is at rest.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic phased array imaging system which includes a normal mode and an adaptive mode of operation. The adaptive mode adjusts the delay associated with each element in the transducer such that the average image brightness of the region of interest is maximized. Also disclosed is a method of correcting for phase aberration using selected elements of an ultrasonic array specific to each element of the array to correct each element of the array. It is further disclosed that the use of corrected elements to correct subsequent elements in the array results in more accurate phase aberration correction. In a preferred embodiment, the determination of the maximum average image brightness is performed more accurately through the use of selectable transducer array elements and previously corrected data during adaptive processing.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer chip comprising a plurality of transducer elements arranged in a two-dimensional array is disclosed. At least one of the transducer elements is a multi-layer element which comprises a plurality of piezoelectric layers, each of which is separated from the adjacent piezoelectric layers by an electrode layer so that a plurality of capacitive elements is electrically connected in parallel. A first via connects a first set of alternating electrode layers, and a second via connects a second set of alternating electrode layers. The first via is insulated from the second set of alternating electrode layers, and the second via is insulated from the first set of alternating electrode layers. At least one of the plurality of multi-layer elements has an internal edge. At least one of the vias of a multi-layer element is an internal via. Also disclosed are an ultrasonic transducer which includes such a piezoelectric chip, and an ultrasonic scanner which includes such a transducer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ultrasonic transducer array comprising a ceramic connector having an array of connector pads, a mismatching layer of electrically conducting material connected to the upper surface of the ceramic connector, a piezoelectric transducer chip connected to the mismatching layer, separation means for dividing the piezoelectric chip into a plurality of transducer elements positioned in a two-dimensional array, wherein each one of the plurality of transducer elements is selectively connected to a corresponding one of the connector pads. Also disclosed in a two-dimensional ultrasound transducer array and transducer array for ultrasound imaging.

Abstract: A rotary dump gondola railway car that includes troughs which extend angularly from the centerline of the car toward the trucks and thereby lower the center of gravity of the car, increase the capacity of the car, or provide the same capacity with lowered overall height, thereby reducing the wind resistance or drag of the car and providing more efficient operation.