Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed comprising a vessel suitable for containing a plasma at a pressure of at least about 100 mtorr, a plasma gas in the vessel at a pressure of at least 100 mtorr, an antenna with a substantially planar face positioned adjacent a portion of the vessel for applying an electromagnetic field to the plasma gas to thereby generate and maintain a plasma, and means for applying an external magnetic field to the plasma gas other than the field generated by the antenna, and having a component in a direction substantially perpendicular to the planar face of the antenna.

Abstract: The description relates to a plant and process for incinerating explosives. In the process, the explosives are burned in a incineration reactor (1) in which the gaseous reaction products (flue gases) thus produced are mixed with fresh or make-up air (5), cooled by this mixing process and then discharged from the incineration reactor (1). In order to improve the thermo-energetic efficiency of the above process, the gas mixture (2) discharged from the incineration reactor is taken to the combustion chamber (3) of a fuel (4) burning plant (11). To this end, the plant for incinerating explosives of the invention comprises an incineration reactor (1) in which the explosives (13) are burned with the generation of flue gas which, as described above, is mixed with fresh or make-up air (5) and then discharged from the incineration reactor (1) via gas pipes.

Abstract: A machine tool is provided having a spindle mounted for movement in a direction parallel to the spindle axis, the Z direction, and a direction perpendicular to the spindle axis, the X direction. The machine tool includes a machine bed and has means mounted to the machine bed for supporting at least one tool. At least one spindle is rotatably supported on the machine bed and includes a chuck for supporting a workpiece. The machine tool includes means mounting the spindle to the machine bed for movement in the Z direction and for independent movement in the X direction. Accordingly, the workpiece supporting means may be moved proximate to the tool supporting means and the workpiece may be engaged by a tool. The machine tool may further include feeder means for feeding bar stock to the workpiece supporting means so that the bar stock may be engaged by a tool. The machine tool may also include workpiece transfer means for facilitating the transfer of workpieces to and from the workpiece supporting means.

Abstract: A yarn false twist crimping machine which comprises a processing frame which mounts the yarn processing components, a creel for mounting the yarn packages, and a take-up frame which is laterally spaced from the processing frame on the side thereof opposite the creel so as to define an operator aisle therebetween. An elongate heater is mounted to the take-up frame and an elongate cooling plate is mounted to the processing frame, and a false twist unit is mounted to the processing frame below the outlet end of the cooling plate. The yarn is guided from the creel in a generally planar arrangement across the operator aisle and to a first yarn feed system which is mounted on the take-up frame. The yarn then advances through the heater and cooling plate to the false twist unit and so as to loop back through the plane defined by the yarns being fed from the creel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for increasing the dyeability of polyester yarn and comprises heating the partially oriented yarn to a temperature between its crystallization temperature and its melting point while preventing the partially oriented yarn from shrinking, and immediately thereafter draw texturizing the partially oriented yarn to a desired draw ratio and texturization.

Abstract: A nonwoven disposable face mask includes a filtration layer formed of a plurality of thermoplastic microfine meltblown microfibers having an average fiber diameter of less than 1.5 microns. The filtration layer also has a basis weight of less than ten grams per square meter. The resultant face mask provides improved wearer comfort and barrier and filtration properties.

Abstract: The microstrip antenna includes a conductive ground plane and a number of conductive broken loops which extend from a first end to an opposed second end. The first ends of each of the broken loops are connected to a feedline conductor for transmitting and receiving signals. In addition, the second end of each broken loop is spaced apart from the respective first end of the broken loop to define the broken loop. Further, a layer of dielectric material, such as a printed circuit board, can be disposed between the ground plane and a plurality of broken loops. Thus, by appropriately selecting the respective lengths of the broken loops, the frequency range over which the microstrip antenna transmits and receives signals can be tuned. In addition, the microstrip antenna is relatively thin so as to be disposed flush with the surface of a mounting platform within a relatively shallow cavity.

Abstract: An audible turn signal indicator system includes a turn signal selector for indicating an anticipated change in the direction of travel of a vehicle to a first direction and a second direction. The audible turn signal indicator system also includes audible directional indicator means for emitting first and second predetermined audible signals in response to an indication of an anticipated change in travel to the first and second directions, respectively. The first and second signals are audibly different in a predetermined manner such that the operator can determine the direction of the anticipated change in travel based upon the audible signals. In addition, the operator can determine which, if any, of the turn signals have been activated by monitoring the audibly different signals. The audible directional indicator means generally includes one or more speakers and an audible directional indicator controller for driving the speakers such that first and second audibly different signals are emitted thereby.

Abstract: A drainage system includes a conduit connector which is integrally molded within a precast drainage system component in order to provide for the interconnection of a variety of drainage system components, such as drainage channel sections and catch basins. The conduit connector can include a connector body which defines an aperture of a predetermined shape and size which are selected to match and snugly engage the conduit. The connector body further includes at least one locking anchor to secure the connector body against movement relative to the precast component. The locking anchor can include a longitudinal movement resisting anchor and/or a rotational movement resisting anchor. In order to further secure the conduit connector within the precast component, the wall of the precast component is substantially continuous about the conduit connector. In addition, the connector body preferably has a predetermined thickness which is no greater than the thickness of the precast component walls.

Abstract: A securing and tensioning device for a towing cable that is secured to a percussion boring machine and connects a pipe that is to be pulled in to the boring machine, comprising a thrust member bearing on the free end of the pipe that is to be pulled in, a clamping unit that is adjacent to the thrust member and clamps when a force acts on the towing cable in the direction of the pipe that is to be pulled in, and a tensioning unit arranged coaxially with the clamping unit that clamps when a force acts in the direction of the pipe that is to be pulled in and is movable in the direction opposite to that of the pipe that is to be pulled in.

Abstract: A method of forming thermal insulation comprising forming recycled cotton fibers into a relatively loose mass, impregnating the cotton fibers with a liquid fire retardant, drying the impregnated cotton fibers, mixing the impregnated cotton fibers with the dry granules of fire retardant while causing the granules to adhere to the cotton fibers, blending the cotton fibers with synthetic springy fibers and with bi-component bonding fibers having core components and sheath components, forming the blended fibers into a composite web of predetermined thickness to provide a desired insulation value, heating the composite web to soften the sheath components of the bi-component fibers to cause the same to bond the fibers together into a bonded composite web, slitting the bonded composite web longitudinally into narrower strips of a predetermined width corresponding to the widths of individual batts of insulation, severing the strips into predetermined lengths to form individual batts, and packaging the individual batt

Abstract: A personal watercraft having a pair of pedal-driven impellers. The watercraft includes an inflatable frame having substantially planar fore and aft portions which are slightly offset from each other. The fore frame portion includes a substantially planar support receiving the upper body of a user thereon. A drive shaft is mounted on the aft frame portion and has offset portions on which pedals are mounted for receiving the feet of the user. The impellers for generating thrust are rotatably connected to the drive shaft and are mounted on the aft portion of the frame. Accordingly, pedaled rotation of the drive shaft causes the impellers to generate thrust for pedalling the watercraft in the desired direction.

Abstract: A paper sheet feeding apparatus which includes a gate forming member positioned above the upper run of the sheet feeding belts and so as to define a nip therebetween. The gate forming member comprises a cylindrical roll having a plurality of annular grooves extending about the circumference thereof, and an elastomeric ring disposed in each of the grooves. The outer peripheral surface of the roll also includes a relief extending axially along the length thereof and positioned so as to oppose the nip, and the rings are sized so as to be exposed on the portion of the outer peripheral surface defined by the relief. In operation, the lowermost sheet is fed by the sheet feeding belts through the nip without engaging the exposed rings, and without significant frictional resistance, while the sheet immediately above the lowermost sheet engages the exposed rings and is retarded in its advance by its engagement with the rings.

Abstract: A foldable bed is movable between an unfolded position, in which interconnected seat, cavity, and body sections are substantially horizontally aligned and of substantially uniform depth, and a folded position, in which the body section is horizontally disposed, the seat section is horizontally disposed and overlies said body section, the cavity section is generally upright and extends between the body and seat sections. In the folded position, the seat section of the mattress is collapsible, and the cavity section of the mattress is noncollapsible. The bed frame can include a leg that is a space away from the frame in the folded position that compresses a mattress head section, thereby forming spaced within which collapsible springs of the seat section can reside. The bed can include springs having upper, intermediate, and lower runs, wherein the upper and lower runs include offset portions extending in opposite directions that are generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the spring intermediate run.

Abstract: Toothed perforating rules upon the die roll of the rotary die apparatus form tear strips, punchouts, reverse fold lines, nicking connections and similar weakened or frangible sections in corrugated paperboard sheets during passage thereof through the nip between the die and anvil rolls of the apparatus. The teeth of the die rules are tapered and sharpened, and produce perforations in the paperboard panel that decrease in size with increasing distance from the inner liner of the paperboard sheet. The teeth produce an array of relatively long slits in the inner liner of the sheet, and underlying shorter slits within at least one other ply of the panel. The toothed die members may extend at any desired angle or angles relative to the machine direction of the apparatus and/or relative to the direction of the corrugations within the paperboard panel.

Abstract: A display package having one or more media items retained therein. The display package is convertible between a collapsed position which is used for shipment and storage of the media item, an open display position for displaying the media item on a generally flat surface, and a compact display position which allows the media item to be displayed in a number of positions, such as in receiving groove on a store shelf to operate as a shelf talker. The display package has a base having opposing halves each formed of a pair of spaced apart upper and lower panels which are hingedly connected together along their respective outer ends. The upper panels also hingedly connected together along their inner ends. Central portions of the inner ends of the upper panels are spaced part from each other to define therebetween an elongate slot. An upright body connected to the base selectively extends upwardly through the slot when in one of the display positions.

Abstract: A papermaker's forming fabric comprising a fabric layer including cross machine direction fabric yarns and machine direction fabric yarns interwoven to form a papermaking surface with alternating single knuckles thereon and to define top, bottom, left, and right saddles between adjacent ones of the cross machine direction fabric yarns. According to one embodiment of the invention, first and second additional cross machine direction yarns are interwoven with the base fabric between adjacent cross machine direction fabric yarns and positioned oppositely in top and bottom saddles. According to another embodiment, single additional cross machine direction fabric yarns are interwoven with the base fabric between adjacent ones of the cross machine direction fabric yarns. The single additional cross machine direction yarns are positioned successively and repeatedly in right, top, left, and then top saddle positions.