Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system including a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-drier and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Such refrigerant reclaim system including means for evacuating gaseous refrigerant after the removal of all liquid refrigerant, means for accumulating residual oil in the gaseous refrigerant and returning it to the compressor motor, and means for controlling the inlet and outlet systems to prevent flow of refrigerant except when desired.

Abstract: An improved design and method of construction for spa or hot tub covers. The top panel and bottom panel of a first cover are each unitary and are heat sealed together to provide a superior moisture-proof cover. A second cover is constructed in the same manner and the two covers are hingedly attached together with a heat sealed flange integral with the top and bottom panels of each cover.

Abstract: Magnetically stabilized fluidized bed technology is utilized in conjunction with ion-exchange adsorption/desorption processes in a method and system for isolating proteins from cell lysate. The invention also includes a magnetizable, porous, ion-exchange particle, and a method for producing the same, for use with the stationary magnetically stabilized fluidized bed protein isolation process.

Abstract: A one-piece pulverizing mill roller assembly and method of rebuilding the same. The roller assembly comprises a body, an integral hub portion and an integral circumferential outside tread portion which mates with an annular groove in a grinding table. The roller assembly is composed of a relatively lower hardness steel which will accept hard surface weld beads to rebuild the circumferential outside tread portion as it wears. The rebuilding can be performed in-place in the pulverizing mill.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A method for rephasing one or more of the motion components of moving material in a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system, including velocity, acceleration, pulsatility and higher order motion components. Gradient pulses are applied in one or more of the read, phase encode and slice select directions, and subsequent gradients are then applied in one or more of such directions so that the total net phase in such direction is zero for the desired motion component and non-zero for static material.

Abstract: A one-piece pulverizing mill roller assembly and method of rebuilding the same. The roller assembly comprises a body, an integral hub portion and an integral circumferential outside tread portion which mates with an annular groove in a grinding table. The roller assembly is composed of a relatively lower hardness steel which will accept hard surface weld beads to rebuild the circumferential outside tread portion as it wears. The rebuilding can be performed in-place in the pulverizing mill.

Abstract: A compact refrigerant reclaim apparatus that is capable of removing refrigerant from a refrigeration system during repairs in order to remove oil and other impurities from said refrigerant and being capable of returning the refrigerant to the refrigeration system in a clean state. The apparatus includes an oil separator that includes oil separation and oil accumulator means.

Abstract: An improved rechargeable electrochemical cell having superior recharge and discharge capabilities characterized by the use of ultra-thin non-perforated negative and positive films of lead or nickel to be used in lead acid and nickel cadmium systems. Such electrochemical cells being further characterized by improved terminal connectors that provide a low-resistance low-heat producing connection for rapid discharge applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up and manipulating randomly oriented and randomly positioned objects moving on an object belt and transferring them to randomly oriented and randomly positioned destinations moving on a destination belt. An image processing unit using a vision system identifies and locates objects and destinations in successive overlapping vision windows up to a predetermined optimum number of objects. The locations of those objects and destinations are entered in an output queue which is transmitted to the object and destination location queues of a first robot motion controller. The first robot picks up and deposits to destinations all the objects it can in the time available while the objects and destinations pass, and enters the locations of the objects not picked up and destinations to which no object is placed in an output queue which is transmitted to the object and destination location queues of a second robot motion controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking up and manipulating randomly oriented and randomly positioned objects moving on a belt. An image processing unit using a vision system identifies and locates objects in successive overlapping vision windows up to a predetermined optimum number of objects. The locations of those objects is entered in an output queue which is transmitted to the object location queue of a first robot motion controller. The first robot picks up and deposits all the objects it can in the time available while the objects pass, and enters the locations of the objects not picked up in an output queue which is transmitted to the object location queue of a second robot motion controller. The robots can be arranged in a series of any number and the image processing units and vision systems can also be arranged in a series.

Abstract: A method and device for interpreting and processing medical ultrasound and other video images. The mix of reflection coefficients in pixel windows is measured by determining the range and distribution of pixel gray scale values to establish an "echoic texture," which can be scaled or used to color the image to facilitate identification of tissue characteristics. The image may also be processed by a variety of enhancement methods including processes for contour following, edge and contrast enhancement, smoothing and noise abatement. Processing times are reduced by limiting certain processes to pixels established by a line drawing in machine memory identifying pixel patterns characteristic of element edges. The results of processing from consecutive images may be compared and aberrant results may be corrected.

Abstract: A unitary one-quarter mile long railroad rail which is free of weld seams. The rail is produced via a process including continuous rolling and asymmetric cooling.

Abstract: A tap for aseptic packages of the type which contain solutions and, in particular, solutions for medical applications. The type has a body, a packaging penetrating tip extending from the body, a liquid passageway extending from the tip and through the body for dispensing liquid from the package and a fluid passageway extending from the tip and through the body for admitting make-up air to the package interior. A cylindrical member of resilient material is positioned between the tap body and its penetrating tip and is insertable through the package wall in trailing relation to the tip. The resilient member is selectively compressed along its cylindrical axis to expand within the package and engage the wall to seal the orifice formed by the tip on penetration of the package wall and to secure the tap to the package.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system including a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-drier and a cooling coil in the chill tank. An improvement relates to means for preventing the premature destruction of the compressor pump by supplying the compressor with a liquid injection system and an oil sight glass. Further improvements relate to means for monitoring the level of refrigerant in the storage tank and means for adopting the refrigerant reclaim system to accept several different refrigerants by including a plurality of expansion valves which can selectively be placed on line.

Abstract: A ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), particularly sciatic nerve CNTF(SN-CNFT) is claimed. The SN-CNTF described herein is a single protein species and has a specific activity that increased to greater than 25,000-fold from crude extract.Amino acid data for this SN-CNTF is also provided. In addition, methods for using this data for providing SN-CNTF probes and for screening cDNA and genomic libraries are also provided. Recombinant-DNA methods for the production of SN-CNTF are described.Nucleic acid sequences encoding rabbit and human CNTF are provided. A recombinant expression system is provided for producing biologically active CNTF.

Abstract: A one-piece pulverizing mill roller assembly and method of rebuilding the same. The roller assembly comprises a body, an integral hub portion and an integral circumferential outside tread portion which mates with an annular groove in a grinding table. The roller assembly is composed of a relatively lower hardness steel which will accept hard surface weld beads to rebuild the circumferential outside tread portion as it wears. The rebuilding can be performed in-place in the pulverizing mill.

Abstract: A process for producing corrosion resistant and wear resistant medical tools and instruments by coating high strength low-carbon martensitic stainless steels with a thin, hard layer of refractory metal compound, preferably via cathodic arc plasma deposition technology. The invention also covers the coated medical tools produced via such process.

Abstract: A refrigerant reclaim system includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an oil separator, a condenser, a chill tank, a filter-dryer and a cooling coil in the chill tank. Refrigerant to be reclaimed is drawn through the cold side of the heat exchanger, converted to a gas which is discharged into the oil separator where the gas is directed upwardly in an expanding stream. The flow of the stream is abruptly interrupted to separate oil from refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is passed from the oil separator through the compressor, the hot side of the heat exchanger, a condenser and into the chill tank in a liquid state. Liquid refrigerant flows from the bottom of the chill tank through a filter-dryer, an expansion device, converting it to gas, through a cooling coil, submerged in liquid refrigerant in the chill tank, into the stream exiting the oil separator and back to the compressor.

Abstract: A method for locating hydrocarbon reservoirs or other geological anomalies by determining lithological parameters including Poisson's ratio, density and seismic wave velocity. Such parameters are determined by quantitatively relating reflection wave amplitude to corrected source-detector offset data.