Abstract: A refractory castable composition is disclosed comprising one hundred weight percent of a refractory composition comprising from about 60 to 90 weight percent of a refractory aggregate, from about 2 to 25 weight percent of an ultrafine refractory material having an average particle diameter size less than or equal to about 3 microns, from about 0.5 to 15 weight percent of a binder, and from about 0.05 to 2.0 weight percent of a dispersant, wherein all or a portion of the ultrafine refractory material comprises a thermal black such that the refractory composition comprises from about 2 to 15 weight percent of the thermal black, and from about 3 to 10 weight percent water based upon 100 weight percent of the refractory composition, and wherein the water is present in an amount sufficient to achieve a castable consistency. A method of installing the refractory castable composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric drive apparatus and method for controlling AC motors wherein the motor output is a function of the AC input power to the electric drive. Means are provided for detecting the voltage being supplied by the source of AC power to a drive circuit, and for controlling the output to the multi-phase AC load based on the detected power level. A controller monitors the motor voltage, current, and speed or frequency while also receiving a command for torque or torque-producing current. The method provides for the operation of the drive circuit in the event of either a partial or complete loss of AC input power. During such an occurrence, the controller will cause the circuit to generate sufficient negative torque to cause a power flow from the motor to the drive circuit to substantially equal the inherent losses in the drive and motor to avoid loss of energy from the DC filter of the drive circuit. Motor torque and speed can be quickly restored when the input power is re-established.

Abstract: An essentially non-slumping sprayable refractory castable composition that is applied without forms is disclosed comprising (a) a tempered, pumpable first component comprising (i) one hundred weight percent of a refractory composition comprising from about 60 to 90 weight percent of a refractory aggregate, from about 2 to 25 weight percent of an ultrafine refractory material having an average particle diameter size less than or equal to about 3 microns, from about 0.5 to 15 weight percent of a binder, and from about 0.05 to 2.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a bottomrail, a headrail positioned above the bottomrail, a pivot slat positioned between the headrail and the bottomrail and a tilt slat located immediately below the pivot slat. A set of upper ladders extends from the headrail to the pivot slat and carries a set of upper slats. A set of lower ladders extends from the bottomrail to the tilt slat with each lower ladder being connected to a pivot member on the pivot slat. The lower ladders carry a set of lower slats. At least one pivot cord connects the pivot slat to the tilt slat. This arrangement allows the lower slats to be separately tilted to a different position from the upper slats.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a length adjustable bottomrail to fit windows of different lengths. The bottomrail has a channel at each ladder location through which the lift cords and the cord rails pass. A separate channel can also provided for the lift cord. An opening is provided in the underside of the bottomrail at each ladder location and an insert is disposed therein. The lift cord passes through the channel and attaches to the insert. The cord rails pass through the channel and out through the opening. The insert has a head portion with a bore therein. A threaded plug is installed in the bore. The head portion preferably has a rim portion with apertures through which the cord rails can pass. The threaded plug preferably has a cap portion and a pocket therein for storing the ends of the cord rails. Alternatively, the threaded plug is inserted into the opening itself.

Abstract: A blood pump for assisting a heart is provided by a stator and a rotor. The rotor is magnetically supported creating a suspension gap between the stator and the rotor. The rotor can be supported axially by a Lorentz force bearing and can be magnetically rotated. The stator can have a volute pump chamber and the rotor can have an impeller portion for pumping blood. The rotor can have a center bore as a primary blood flowpath. The suspension gap can be a first retrograde blood flowpath. An axial gap between the impeller and the volute housing can be a second retrograde blood flowpath. The blood pump can also have an axial position controller. The axial position controller can cause the axial bearing to adjust the position of the rotor. The axial position of the rotor. The axial position of the magnetic suspension components can be adjusted to compensate for changes in the magnetic fields of the magnetic suspension components. The blood pump can also have a flow rate controller.

Abstract: A packaging machine for enclosing items in a package delivers individual items, such as medicine, through a feeder that disposes the item between two strips of packaging material which are then joined together around the item by a closure member thus sealing the item in an individual package. The packaging machine demarcates upper and lower boundaries about the item such that the enclosed item may be separated from a continuously produced strand of packages. The packaging machine includes a selectively operable hole punch portion disposed adjacent the strand of packages for providing a hole in a portion of each package. The hole punch portion includes a punch driving member which is disengable responsive to unexpected resistance encountered by the punch. A cutter/stacker portion adjacent the strand of separable packages separates the strand into individual packages and stacks the packages in a removable magazine.

Abstract: A rail vehicle for transporting a long load over a railway route can have a depressed portion of the car body and a lift and shift apparatus mounted in the depressed portion which can vertically and horizontally adjust the long load on the rail vehicle. Generally, two such vehicles can be employed to support portions of the long load. The lift and shift apparatus can have a lifter/shifter mechanism provided in the depressed portion and can have hydraulic cylinders connected between the car body and the lifter/shifter for vertically adjusting the long load. An adapter receiver can be provided adjacent and slideable relative to the lifter/shifter. A saddle adapter can be provided adjacent to the adapter receiver. The saddle adapter can be rotatable relative to the adapter receiver. A saddle can be provided intermediate the saddle adapter and the long load.

Abstract: A friction dampener can include a housing having one end slidably surrounding one end of a shaft movable relative thereto. Opposing ends of the housing and shaft can each having a connecting eye member for connection to separate independently movable elements. One or more friction elements can be carried by the shaft which frictionally engage inner surfaces of the housing. The friction elements can have inner and outer portions having different material properties. The housing can be adapted to generally maintain the pressure between the friction elements and the housing within a range of desirable pressures.

Abstract: The C-type nickel base alloys of the type containing significant amounts of chromium (about 16 to 25%) and molybdenum (about 12 to 18%) may be improved by adding small but critical amounts of copper (about 1 to 3.5%) which their general corrosion resistance to a wide range of both oxidizing and non-oxidizing industrial media.

Abstract: A patient-worn energy delivery apparatus for imparting electrical therapy to the body of a patient responsive to an occurrence of a treatable condition includes a voltage converter for converting electrical energy from an initial voltage to a final voltage, and a defibrillator electrically coupled between the converter and the patient and having an energy reservoir for receiving the electrical energy. The defibrillator produces preshaped electrical pulses such as defibrillation pulses and cardioversion pulses. The apparatus additionally includes an energy delivery controller electrically coupled to the patient and the converter and the defibrillator. The controller causes the converter to provide the electrical energy to the defibrillator at a specific charging rate in response to an energy level in the reservoir. The apparatus may include a plurality of electrodes interposed between the defibrillator and the patient and each electrode preferably has an impedance reducing means contained therein.

Abstract: An improved venetian type blind has slats having a pair of slots disposed on an outside edge or inside edge of the slats. The slots in each pair are laterally spaced apart. A first ladder having opposite cord type rails and rungs extends therebetween, is positioned with the rails outside of the slots and is connected to the bottomrail. One rail of each ladder is adjacent to a lift cord running through slots in the inside edge or outside edge of the slats.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a headrail that can be cut down along cut lines very close to the outermost ladder locations. The cradle and spool in the headrail are sized and configured so that the cord lock and tilter can be positioned between a cradle and one side of the headrail.