Abstract: A peristaltic pump has a sealed pumphead housing a and a pressure transducer 26 which is responsive to the pressure within the pumphead housing 8. The output 28 of the transducer 26 is processed to provide an indication of the condition of the hose 18 of the pump.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of a particulate fuel burning boiler, such as a coal fired boiler, having a plurality of burners each receiving pulverized coal, primary air and secondary air. The flow rate of the pulverized coal, primary air and secondary air is determined independently for each burner and is compared with a model. In the event that the comparison results in a determination that one or more of the flow rates depart from the desired rate by a predetermined amount, a control signal is emitted to adjust the air to flow ratio entering the specific burner. The control signal which alters the air to fuel ratio may result in alteration of the air or fuel flow rates. The method may be employed to reduce NOx emissions, loss on ignition and to optimize heat rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for remote interaction with an object of interest includes a remote station for obtaining information from the object of interest, a base station for transmitting energy in space to and communicating with the remote station and the remote station having a conversion device for energizing the remote station responsive to receipt of the transmitted energy. The energy may be of any suitable type including RF power, light, acoustic, magnetic energy or other form of space transmitted or “radiant” energy. The remote station does not have to contain a source of stored energy or a wired connection to a source of energy. The remote station receives the energy transmission and data transmission from the base station and transmits data to the base station. Microprocessor controllers may be provided for the base station and the remote station. The remote station may receive information from sensors and through one or more transponders sequentially communicate information to the base station.

Abstract: A coaxial cable which may be a magnetic resonance imaging coaxial cable is designed for enhanced safety so as to reduce the risk of excessive heating or burns to a user. The cable has an elongated axially oriented inner conductor and an axially oriented outer shield conductor in spaced relationship with respect thereto with a first dielectric material disposed therebetween. The outer shield conductor has an annular inner shield portion and segmented outer shield portions which are electrically connected to the inner shield portion. In certain preferred embodiments, a second dielectric material having a higher dielectric constant than the first dielectric material is disposed between the inner shield portion and the segmented outer shield portions. In one embodiment, an electrically conductive element extends between the segmented outer shield portions and the inner shield portion and terminates in spaced relationship therewith.

Abstract: A vehicle has a vehicle body with a tailgate rotatably secured to the vehicle body for rotation about a generally horizontal axis between a closed generally vertical position and an open generally horizontal position. A pair of relatively spaced first support members are secured to the vehicle body and the tailgate for supporting the tailgate in the open position. Two pairs of latches, each having a first latch element secured to the vehicle body and a second latch element secured to the tailgate, cooperate to have each first latch element engage the second latch element when the tailgate is in the closed position. A pair of removable elongated supplementary tailgate supports each have one portion removably secured to the first latch element and a second portion removably secured to the second latch element when the tailgate is in the open position. The supplementary tailgate supports are preferably substantially rigid and may be made of metal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring properties of certain analytes are provided. The apparatus includes a sensor capsule having a processing chamber defined by a wall which in one embodiment has a semi-permeable membrane permeable to the analyte as at least a portion thereof. Receptor material is disposed within the chamber and is capable of chemically interacting with the analyte. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the sensor is translucent. A light source, which may be an optical fiber, causes light to impinge on a translucent portion of the capsule and pass therethrough. Responsive fluorescent light is generated and emitted. This light may be received by detector means and processed in a conventional manner to determine concentration of the analyte. A dye-labelled analog-analyte may be provided within the chamber. Both the receptor material and analog-analyte are of such size that they will not pass through the semi-permeable membrane although the analyte can.

Abstract: An article intended to be contacted with a baby's mouth when sucking, or in form of a breast hood, the article comprises a wall at least part of a surface of it including a material which is able to be stretched at least twice in dimension under a tension corresponding to a suction force of at least 130 mm Hg. This article may be realized in the form of a combination of a baby's bottle and an assigned nipple. The baby's bottle may further comprise an outer surface to be gripped which is made at least in part from a second material having a predetermined elasticity and bulging out from the rigid material of the bottle.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of chronic volume dependent hypertension is provided wherein a determination is made as to whether there has been a substantial reduction in phosphorylation of the blood-derived protein or renal proximal brush border membrane protein and if such reduction exists concluding that chronic volume dependent hypertension exists in a patient. The method may advantageously be practiced by employing blood serum or blood plasma as the body specimen containing the protein in determining whether a patient has chronic volume dependent hypertension, a cellular component of the blood, such as a blood-derived protein coming from the plasma membrane of lymphocytes. The method may include subsequent therapeutic patient treatment. Related diagnostic apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A method of making anisotropic carbon foam material includes de-ashing and hydrogenating bituminous coal, separating asphaltenes from oils contained in the coke precursor, coking the material to create a carbon foam. In one embodiment of the invention, the carbon foam is subsequently graphitized. The pores within the foam material are preferably generally of equal size. The pore size and carbon foam material density may be controlled by (a) altering the percentage volatiles contained within the asphaltenes to be coked, (b) mixing the asphaltenes with different coking precursors which are isotropic in nature, or (c) modifying the pressure under which coking is effected. In another embodiment of the invention, solvent separation is employed on raw bituminous coal and an isotropic carbon foam is provided. A related carbon foam product is disclosed. The carbon foam materials of the present invention are characterized by having high compressive strength as compared with prior known carbon foam materials.

Abstract: A stand with a planar table top and an opening therethrough is provided. A plurality of leg members extend below the table top. The stand also includes a removable table top disposed within the opening such that the upper surface of the table top insert is generally planar with the upper surface of the table top. To convert the stand to a decorative container, the table top insert is removed and a container is lowered through the opening until it is positioned where the table top insert was located.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which includes a support device secured to a structure. The apparatus comprises first and second chambers containing first and second fluids wherein the resiliency of one of the chambers is lower than the resiliency of the other chamber. The chamber having the lower resiliency is positioned so as to be closer to the body of a user than the other chamber. The support device in the apparatus is secured to a structure which can include but is not limited to, back supports, automobile seats, helmets, casts, cervical collars, automobile air bags, and wrist supports for keyboards and mouse pads. The fluid media used in the support device includes air, liquids, and gels. An additional chamber may be employed between the first and second chambers in the support device to provide stability to the support device. A method for using the support device to support various user body portions is also disclosed.

Abstract: Pliers with self-adjustment capability for applying a grasping force to a workpiece and for augmenting the grasping force applied to the workpiece which include a first plier member, a second plier member, a first pivot, a second pivot and a first biasing spring. The first plier member includes a handle portion, a jaw portion, an intermediate portion, a coupling interconnecting the handle portion of the first plier member to the intermediate portion of the first plier member, and locking device. The second plier member includes a handle portion, a jaw portion, and an intermediate portion disposed therebetween. The first pivot includes a shifting slot portion, a transitional portion, and a positioning slot portion with a generally arcuate portion formed in said intermediate portion of the first plier member. The first pivot also includes at least one pivot member extending into, and movable within, the shifting slot portion, transitional portion, and positioning slot portion.

Abstract: A method of forming and using a metal I-beam includes hot rolling an elongated metal workpiece to establish a web and a pair of flanges on the edges thereof. The web is formed with elongated reinforcement of solid cross-section having a generally straight longitudinal axis oriented generally parallel to the flanges. The hot rolled I-beam is cooled without forming substantial waves in the web and the I-beam is subsequently secured in a building construction or other structural product. The method involves the longitudinally oriented reinforcing means which preferably are one or more elongated laterally projecting ribs having such mass that the average temperature of the web prior to cooling will be sufficiently close to the average temperature of the flanges prior to cooling that the formation of waves within the web during cooling will be resisted. The reinforcement is preferably coextensive with the I-beam. The web is preferably substantially continuous.

Abstract: This invention discloses compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, useful in therapeutically and/or prophylactically treating patients with an illness. Such illnesses include cancer, and secondary infections caused by Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasmosis gondii in immunocompromised patients. The compounds themselves, methods of making these compounds, and methods of using these compounds are all disclosed.

Abstract: Shot for shotgun cartridges is made form finely divided particles of dense metal such as a mixture of tungsten and molybdenum, bound by a matrix which may comprise ethylene propylene copolymer, or a blend of a terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic ester and maleic anhydride or an ionomer either alone or blended with such terpolymer or with a stock polymer material or a blend of polymers. Shot may be produced from such material by forming it into a strip, web or strand which is passed between aligned rollers with cooperating hemispherical indentations and thereafter punching the resulting shot from the resulting thin web.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of a solid waste slurry formed from solid waste particles mixed with a liquid includes delivering a solid waste slurry to a first solid-liquid separation means for separating a first amount of the solid waste particles from the slurry, followed by delivering the solid waste slurry from the first solid-liquid separation means to a tank where the solid waste slurry is stirred to maintain the solid waste particles in suspension. The solid waste slurry is then discharged from the tank with a portion of the solid waste slurry being recirculated back to the tank while a second portion of the solid waste slurry is delivered to a second solid-liquid separation means for separating a second amount of the particles from the slurry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for inspecting glass containers for checks. The container finish is illuminated from the exterior and light reflected from a check is detected by the apparatus. In one embodiment, the glass container finish is inspected for horizontal and related diagonal checks and, in another, the glass container finish is inspected for vertical and related diagonal checks. The checks redirect the normal beam of light and thereby permit the reflected light to be delivered to a detector which converts the received light into a corresponding electrical signal which is compared to a standard in order to determine whether the container should be rejected. The method eliminates incorrect inspection results due to reflection of light caused by threads, lugs, mold seams, takeout beads and the sealing surface of the container mouth. The vertical and horizontal embodiments may be combined into a single system which inspects for vertical, horizontal and diagonal checks.

Abstract: An idler roller assembly for a belt conveyor includes a fixed shaft, a roller mounted for rotation about the shaft, and a housing mounted in each end of the roller for rotation therewith. The shaft has a hub portion adjacent each end which hub portion is disposed adjacent the housing. A bearing has an inner race secured to the shaft and an outer race secured to the housing. A unitary co-injected annular seal having a first labyrinth seal portion and a contact seal portion composed of a different material than the first labyrinth seal portion is provided between the bearing and hub portions. The contact seal portion is preferably resiliently deformable and is less rigid than the first labyrinth seal portion. A second labyrinth seal portion cooperates with the first labyrinth seal portion to define a labyrinth passageway which is sealed by the contact seal.

Abstract: An antenna is disclosed that has windings that are contrawound in segments on a toroid form and that have opposed currents on selected segments. An antenna is disclosed that has one or more insulated conductor circuits with windings that are contrawound around and over a multiply connected surface, such as a toroidal surface. The insulated conductor circuits may form one or more endless conductive paths around and over the multiply connected surface. The windings may have a helical pattern, poloidal peripheral pattern or may be constructed from a slotted conductor on the toroid. Poloidal loop winds are disclosed with a toroid hub on a toroid that has two plates that provides a capacitive feed to the loops, which are selectively connected to one of the plates. Associated methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle frame has a front frame portion, a rear frame portion and an intermediate frame portion connecting the front frame portion and the rear frame portion. The front frame portion has a pair of relatively spaced front strut towers and the rear frame portion has a pair of relatively spaced rear strut towers. Each of the front strut towers and each of the rear strut towers may have a plurality of frame components connected thereto. Portions of the vehicle suspension system may be secured to the front strut towers and the rear strut towers. The strut towers may have vehicle shock absorbers secured thereto. Numerous other vehicle components may be secured to the strut towers. The strut towers are unitary metal castings.