Abstract: A vortex detector comprises a generally cylindrical housing or body that defines a flow passage extending from an upstream end to a downstream end. A vortex generator disposed diametrically across the cylindrical housing near the upstream end of the cylindrical housing and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of the flow passage generates a vortex street in a fluid flowing in the flow passage. The vortex street created by the vortex generator impacts a vane located downstream of the vortex generator and connected at one end to the cylindrical housing substantially spans the flow passage diametrically and substantially parallel to the vortex generator such that vibrations or motion are generated in the vane. The end of the vane connected to the housing includes an area of reduced thickness that acts as a resilient, elastic hinged joint for the motion of the vane.

Abstract: A TEOS trap for controlling TEOS polymerization from reaction furnace effluent in a vacuum pump line a SiO2 CVD process includes a molecular species-selective flow impeding medium that adsorbs and retains TEOS and water molecules from the effluent long enough to consume substantially all the water molecules in TEOS hydrolysis reactions while allowing non-hydrolyzed TEOS, ethylene, and other gaseous byproducts to pass through the trap and retaining solid and liquid phase SiO2-rich TEOS polymers formed by the hydrolysis reactions in the trap for subsequent removal and disposal. The molecular species-selective flow impeding medium has a plurality of adsorption surfaces to make a surface density that performs the TEOS and water flow impeding fuction and solid and liquid phase TEOS polymer trapping function.

Abstract: A power supply for supplying energy to a load includes an energy supply source for generating energy, an energy storage device that is charged from the energy generated by the energy supply source, an optional regulator for improving the energy matching of the energy supply source and the energy storage device, an energy converter for delivering energy from the energy storage device and/or the energy supply source to a load, a detector for monitoring the energy level of the energy storage device and for determining when to activate the energy converter to allow energy delivery to the load from the energy storage device and/or the energy supply source, an optional energy discharge controller that allows the energy storage device to discharge over time, and an optional switch controller for controlling a switch, valve, relay, etc.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring vehicle wheel alignment characteristics, and in particular measuring wheel camber and toe, uses a rotating vision sensor such as a laser sensor to map a portion of the vehicle tire and/or rim, allowing for the determination of wheel camber and toe without rotating the wheel. The sensor may be repositioned between the rear and front vehicle wheels. A separate sensor may be used for the left and the right vehicle wheels. The invention has particular utility for auditing of the alignment of vehicles in production lines. The devices and methods may also be used for more general imaging purposes.

Abstract: A raised floor panel is strengthened with a grated core. The working surface of the floor panel may be either solid or perforated. The floor panel is supported by a center pedestal that extends from a sub-floor. The angle of the panel can be varied by pivoting the platform of the pedestal that supports the floor panel. Two ventilation damping panels, surrounding the column of the pedestal, are connected together and may be positioned in several configurations to change the ventilation characteristics of the raised floor.

Abstract: A method and associated structures for dynamically reformatting messages in a distributed computing environment based upon message content as represented by a description of the input message format and the output message format. An input message received by the formatter of the present invention is decomposed into a canonical format stored by the formatter for further use in a rapidly searchable data structure (FGA). The input message data is decomposed in accordance with an input message format description which describes the content of the input message in terms of atomic data types and structures. An output message is then generated in response to a user request and in accordance with a user provided output message format description. The output message format description describes the content of the output format in terms of atomic data types and attributes as well as functional operations performed to derive the output field value.

Abstract: Embodiments of a multi-purpose shower/tub filter unit are shown and described, the filter unit containing a chlorine-removal media and a scale-inhibiting media. The housing of the filter unit is adapted to attach universally to various water sources, such as a pipe or faucet and to a showerhead or hand-held spray unit. The filter unit preferably has an arm extending out from the main body of the filter unit, and the filter unit preferably extends upward and outward from the attachment point on the pipe or faucet. This way, a single filter unit may either be positioned a) substantially above a shower pipe to place the showerhead generally at a similar level as it would be without the filter unit in place, as in a United States shower configuration; or b) to fit under but extend out from a tub faucet, as in a European shower configuration. The filter unit has a replaceable cartridge that includes a carbon block and scale-deposit-inhibiting phosphate spheres contained in a space inside the carbon block.

Abstract: A micro-mass flow controller (10) has a sonic choked flow restriction (28) with an oscillatable valve (26) for repetitiously opening and closing the sonic choked flow restriction (28) in a time-modulated sequence to set or vary mass flow rate of gas through the sonic choked flow restriction (28) over a period of time to something between no flow and maximum mass flow rate. A bimorph piezoelectric actuator (40) is coated in a sputtered dielectric layer (78) and then encapsulated in stainless steel or other metal cladding (80). A closure member (46) on the actuator (40) is registered to a valve seat (70) by actuating the actuator (40) to force the closure member (46) in a puddle of adhesive (86) against the valve seat (70) until the adhesive (86) cures.

Abstract: A system for delivering power to a battery and to a load includes a power source that supplies energy to the battery and the load. The battery can be charged by the power source and used to supply energy or power to the load when the power source is unable to provide sufficient energy and power to the load. The system reduces injection of DC current into the load and, as a result, extends the operation life of the load, particularly if the load is an AC lighting or lamp system. The system operates the load in an optimal manner such that battery storage is maintained at near full charge, yet the lighting load operates for a maximum number of hours per night. The benefit of the system is to prevent early failure of either the lighting load or the battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying agriculture seed/fertilizer mix and the like to the ground. A receptacle having an agitator and rotating blades are affixed to a housing containing a blowing motor. Agriculture seed/fertilizer mix is poured into the receptacle and blown out through a hose attached to an outlet port on the housing. A nozzle is attached to the end of the hose for effective and uniform application of the materials. A pressurized liquid supply is attached to the nozzle in order to moisten the material as it passes through the nozzle and out over the ground.

Abstract: A micro mass flow controller is provided to accurately and reliably control or meter a mass flow rate of gas flowing at very low rates. The flow controller includes a sonic choked flow restriction with an oscillateable valve that is operable to repetitiously open and close the flow restriction in a time-modulated manner. The flow controller takes measurements of gas inlet pressures and temperatures in an inlet plenum and, at least partially, based on these measurements imposes a duty cycle on the valve by sequentially starting and stopping the sonic choked flow through the flow restriction. The duty cycle of the valve in one embodiment is the ratio of open time to the sum of the open time and the closed time for the valve.

Abstract: A mounting for cutter wheels on rotary rock drill bits includes a spindle with two annular axial load bearing surfaces, one of which interfaces in a rotational relationship with a cylindrical segmented bushing affixed to the inside surface of a cavity in the cutter wheel and the other of which interfaces through a top hat bushing flange in a rotational relationship with an annular end bearing surface in the cavity of the cutting wheel. A compressive silver coating on the cylindrical bushing before it is split, leaving uncoated edges for precise registration and bit onto a cylindrical race surface machined into the spindle, provides lubrication in addition to compressing under load to distribute axial loading forces from the cutter wheel in proportion to the two axial load bearing surfaces on the spindle.

Abstract: A modified zeolite or molecular sieve membrane for separation of materials on a molecular scale. The modified membrane is fabricated to wholly or partially block regions between zeolite crystals to inhibit transfer of larger molecules through the membrane, but without blocking or substantially inhibiting transfer of small molecules through pores in the crystalline structure. The modified membrane has a monomolecular layer deposited on the zeolite surface which has coordinated groups of atoms that include (i) a metal atom bonded to oxygen atoms that are bonded to the zeolite substrate atoms (e.g., silicon atoms) and (ii) either hydroxyl groups bonded to the metal atoms or additional oxygen atoms bonded to the metal atoms.