Abstract: A process for the energy efficient conduct of a multi-stage water gas shift reaction includes furnishing a carbon monoxide-containing feed gas stream at an inlet temperature of at least 600.degree. F. and water to a high-temperature shift reactor stage to produce a carbon dioxide and hydrogen enriched exhaust gas stream and introducing the exhaust gas stream to a low-temperature shift reactor stage at an inlet temperature of about 300.degree.-500.degree. F. to produce a product gas stream further enriched in carbon dioxide and hydrogen. A heat exchange fluid is passed in heat exchange relationship with at least the feed and exhaust gas streams to recover thermal energy therefrom by concurrently cooling the gas streams and heating the heat exchange fluid.

Abstract: A receiver for recovering digital data from a phase-shift modulated carrier in a data communications system employs a matched filter within the servo loop controlling the local oscillator frequency to increase the signal to noise ratio of the receiver. Thus signals having an amplitude less than the amplitude of harmonics of the carrier can be detected. In the preferred embodiment, the matched filter comprises an integrate and dump filter which integrates at the received data baud rate.

Abstract: Structured boiling surfaces for increasing the critical heat flux of immersed surfaces are disclosed. The structures comprise holes or cavities in the boiling surface which constrain vapor jets to be less than the natural spacing thereof, which satisfy the vapor-liquid flooding criteria and which supply added surface area. A configuration having an arcuate surface in order to facilitate vapor removal therefrom when operated in a downwardly facing direction is disclosed.

Abstract: Temperature indicating apparatus for sensing overheating at a pair of terminals on an electrical power line comprises a pair of thermocouples, each thermally coupled to and electrically isolated from a different one of the terminals, and a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the output of the thermocouples through a conditioning circuit. An excessive temperature rise at either terminal causes the output voltage of the thermocouple coupled thereto to increase, thus causing the LED +o to be lit and to provide a visual indication of overheating. A meter display may be provided to show the actual temperature of the terminals in response to thermocouple voltage output. A method for determining heating at a termination without physical intervention comprises determining the rate of temperature rise of the termination for a known current therethrough and comparing the rate to a predetermined rate threshold.

Abstract: An arrangement of controls for a vapor compression open cycle industrial process heat pump permits the level of liquid and fluid pressure in a flash tank to be simultaneously and independently monitored and regulated to assure efficient operation of the system and to prevent equipment failure. Liquid level sensing means send a signal to a modulatable valve associated with a liquid discharge pump to maintain the liquid in the flash tank at an optimum level. At the same time, fluid pressure sensing means send a signal to a modulatable inlet throttle valve to regulate fluid pressure in the tank by regulating fluid as required, to maintain tank fluid pressure at the desired level.

Abstract: A bus accessing system for permitting a plurality of bus information units (BIUs) to sequentially gain access to an information bus utilizes a bidirectional token flow process in which the right to transmit a packet of information on the bus is transmitted from BIU to BIU by the passing of a virtual token. No two BIUs receive a token at the same time, whereby only one BIU will have the right to place its information packet on the bus at any given instant. Each BIU calculates a token time interval, unique to each respective BIU, beginning at receipt of a start-up packet, as a function of its logical position on the bus.

Abstract: A receiver for recovering digital data from a phase-shift modulated carrier in a data communications system, wherein the length of the message preamble is insufficient to permit synchronous detection, divides the received signal into two channels. The channels having the larger and smaller signals are selected as the data and the servo channel, respectively. The output of the servo channel is utilized to control the local oscillator frequency in order to provide for synchronous detection during at least a part of the message data.

Abstract: Material comprising particulate matter is atomized and coated on a surface of an object by delivering the material to a surface of a spinning atomizer from a non-rotating delivery means preferably situated within the volume defined by the atomizer. The material is atomized by being thrust from the atomizer surface and at least a portion of the atomized material impacts the surface being coated. The method is particularly applicable to coating surfaces wherein abrasive material is atomized, since a seal between the non-rotating delivery means and atomizer is not needed, and wherein space limitations are imposed on the configuration of the atomizer. Further, a potential difference may be established between the atomized material and surface to be coated whereby an axial flow of material from the surface of the atomizer may be effected.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for an induction heating apparatus which monitors the position of a cooking utensil on a work surface and disables an inverter circuit powering a work coil if the utensil is located at an off-center position with respect to the coil, or if no utensil is present upon the cooking surface. The sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of sets of sensors at successively larger distances from the center of the work surface. Each set comprises a plurality of sensors arranged on an imaginary circle substantially equidistant from each other. Each sensor operates to provide an indication of the presence or absence of a utensil directly above the sensor. The sensors are monitored by a logic arrangement which indicates whether a utensil is properly centered, based on the fullness or degree of activation of the various sets. If the utensil is not properly positioned, the inverter is disabled and a signal advises the user of this condition.

Abstract: A microwave oven including a resonant cavity humidity sensor operated by microwave energy sampled from the power produced for the cooking operation. The arrangement provides for a flow of moist air from the cooking cavity through an active resonant chamber and a flow of dry air from the atmosphere through a passive resonant chamber. Control circuitry governs the microwave energy flow into the cooking cavity in response to moisture conditions in the cavity so indicated by the sensor.

Abstract: A mode stirrer drive assembly in which the mode stirrer blades are rotated by the force of air against a drive fan. The blades of the drive fan are curved to form convex surfaces which are arranged to face into the flow of air across the drive fan. During rotation an upward force is thereby exerted on the assembly which lifts the assembly off of a thrust bearing and thereby reduces frictional losses and noise and improves performance and efficiency.

Abstract: A user touch input and output display system which combines elements of a capacitive attenuator type touch switch and a display into a single system. In one embodiment type, one of the electrodes of the display performs double duty as a rear pad, for example a transmitter pad, of a capacitive attenuator type touch switch. The other rear pad necessary for operation of a capacitive attenuator touch switch may either be within the same chamber or envelope as the display electrodes, or may be outside the chamber. The display may for example be a gas discharge display, and the shared electrode does double duty as the display anode and a touch switch transmitter pad. Alternatively, the display may be a liquid crystal display. In embodiments where the other rear pad is within the chamber, to avoid noise interference to the touch switch caused by the gaseous discharge, it is preferable to operate the system in a display mode and in a touch switch mode at different times.

Abstract: A method for making a combination heater and temperature sensor comprising the steps of forming a heater element pattern in a thin sheet of resistive material and concurrently forming a temperature sensor in a non-interfering portion of the same sheet of resistive material, the forming of the heater and sensor element patterns being carried out by a photoetching process.

Abstract: A power control system is disclosed which controls the power output of one or more resistive heating elements in response to operator selected power level settings. Control of power to the elements is accomplished by generating a multi-bit binary word representing a selected power level, each bit being operative to control the application of power to the element during a different control interval. A control word is generated for each element and is updated once during every associated control period, a period comprising a number of intervals equal to the number of heating elements. The heating elements are of a type which draw a relatively high current during a transient heat-up period. The application of power to other elements is inhibited when one of the elements is having power applied thereto during its transient period. Power control for each element is staggered by testing a bit of different positional value in each word during any given interval.

Abstract: A composite structure for a microwave oven housing having a main frame defined by top, rear and bottom surfaces and being open along the front thereof is disclosed. A partition wall is disposed in the main frame intermediate the side edges thereof for providing and separating a cooking chamber and a control compartment. A rectangular door frame is connected to front edge portions of the top and bottom surfaces of the main frame in front of the chamber for connecting an oven door thereto, the door frame defining an opening for access to the chamber. An additional feature includes a mode stirrer housing and a waveguide mounted on the top surface of the main frame above the chamber and compartment with the top surface defining openings which communicate between the compartment and waveguide and between the mode stirrer housing and chamber for transmitting a microwave signal generated in the compartment through the waveguide to the housing, and from the housing into the chamber.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer frequency self-calibration system interrogates the transducer by driving it with various frequencies within a specified range while monitoring the transducer output power level. Two threshold frequency points are identified at which the output power level is at a predetermined threshold level less than the expected maximum output level, and the average of these two threshold frequencies is taken to be the optimum frequency.

Abstract: A missed commutation detection circuit for use with a power inverter circuit which employs optically isolated gates to provide signals indicative of the state of a pair of SCR power switching devices. The gates are connected to combine the signals via a NOR logic arrangement to generate a missed commutation control signal whenever both of the SCR's are concurrently in a conductive or unblocked condition. The commutation control signal thus generated feeds a one-shot multivibrator which generates an isolation signal for a preselected time period. The isolation signal opens a normally closed current isolation switch connected intermediate the DC input bus and the inverter SCR's which cuts off current to the SCR's permitting them to return to their blocking state. After the duration of the isolation signal from the one shot, the isolation switch is again closed and the circuit is permitted to attempt normal operation.

Abstract: A microwave oven for cooking food by means of both microwave energy and convective heating which includes within it, a substantially closed microwave transparent container into which food to be cooked is placed, a heating element for convectively heating air, and means for blowing air past the heating element and into the container.

Abstract: A lamp mounting assembly for a microwave oven which permits easy replacement of the illuminating lamps including a lamp housing which attaches to the top wall of a microwave oven structure and is located in a space between the top wall of the oven structure and the top wall of a support assembly. The lamp housing is accessible through a removable grille which closes the space at the front of the microwave oven. The top wall of the oven cavity has a series of openings through which light from the bulb is directed to illuminate the oven cavity. The assembly includes supporting sidewalls having elongated channels sloping downwardly from front to rear. The lamp mounting member is supported for reciprocal movement along the channels, the member being accessible through the removable grille.

Abstract: An automatic cleaning arrangement for a glass-ceramic cooking surface which is adapted to remove baked-on soils from the surface regions surrounding the individual cooking areas by the process of oxidation. Additional thin film heaters are located under the regions to be cleaned and are activated by a timer controlled power supply circuit. An interlock switch in the cook heater line disables the cook heater when the cleaning operation is in progress. The power supply circuit for the thin film heaters is arranged to disable automatically the cooking heaters when a break occurs in the glass-ceramic surface in the region of the thin film heaters.