Abstract: The invention is a disposable liner for an AFO/contracture foot splint that is sufficiently soft and flexible so as to comfortably conform to body surfaces and provide a substantially close fit to prevent leakage. The liner has a fluid permeable layer, an absorbent layer, and a moisture-proof layer which is a liquid impervious back sheet disposed on the outer surface of the liner. The liner has a toe end, a foot region, a leg end, a leg region and a heel region. The foot region has winged extensions terminated with fastening elements for securing the foot region. The leg end of the liner has tabular extensions terminated with re-closable fastening elements for securing the leg region of the disposable liner to the leg. The heel region of the liner has an opening, which enables a portion of the wearer's heel to project through the heel region into heel “well” of a splint.

Abstract: A repeater system for receiving a modulated input signal and for transmitting a modulated output signal comprising a clock oscillator for providing a repeater system clock, a demodulator for demodulating an input signal and a modulator for modulating the demodulated signal to obtain a modulated signal. The demodulator comprises a first mixer, a first controllable oscillator and a feedback circuit, the first controllable oscillator being controlled by a first control value such that the frequency of the demodulated signal approaches a desired value. The modulator comprises a second mixer and a second controllable oscillator, the second controllable oscillator being controlled by a second control value such that the modulated output signal has a predetermined output frequency. A controller derives the second control value.

Abstract: A water treatment device for purifying process water by filtration comprising a housing containing a filter media, having a bottom gravel bed and an upper silica bed, and a fluidizer for backwashing the filter media. Process water is tangentially introduced and caused to swirl in the housing above a filter media, before passing downwards through silica and gravel beds. The swirling increases the through capacity of the treatment device and reduces the amount of particles that would otherwise become imbedded in the filter media. Backwashing is accomplished by forcing fluid, through first and second components of the fluidizer, into the filter media. The first component is a channel formed in the manifold which provides backwash fluid to the bottom of the gravel bed. The second component provides backwash fluid at the gravel bed—silica bed interface by a series of radially spaced fluidizer arms.

Abstract: The device for positioning a tool (1) in relation to a workpiece (6) controls drives (2, 3, 4) in relation to three spatial axes (x, y, z) through two cameras (10, 11), the first (1) of which takes an image essentially along a spatial axis (y), the other (11) being oriented essentially vertically with respect to a surface (8) of the workpiece.

Abstract: A metal backed printing blanket for mounting on a blanket cylinder that includes a gap, the printing blanket having a thin metal base plate with top and bottom surfaces and ends which include leading and trailing edges adapted for engaging the gap in the cylinder; a compressible, elastomeric printing blanket secured to the top surface of the base plate but not the ends and having an upper face adapted for contact transfer of ink to a printable substrate; and a specialized coating applied to the bottom surface to prevent deformation of the printing blanket and to prevent delamination of the printing blanket from a blanket cylinder. The method for making a metal backed printing blanket for mounting on such a cylinder is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mountable cylindrical printing blanket apparatus for use with an off-set printing press is provided. The printing blanket has an inner carrier sleeve layer; a printing blanket affixed to the sleeve with at least one compressible layer having a first porosity, at least one printing face layer, a gap extending axially along the mountable printing blanket and having between about 0.2 millimeters and about 2 millimeters in width and a depth substantially extending through at least one layer; and a compressible sealant therein in an amount sufficient to substantially fill the gap. The compressible sealant has a second porosity and a compressibility in both the radial and the tangential direction such that the compressible sealant has a compressibility greater than the compressibility of the compressible layer.

Abstract: A printing blanket is constructed by electrostatically spraying one or more solvated elastomers onto a sleeve structure. A printing blanket can therefore having a sleeve and at least one layer, said layer comprising first and second compositions that are distinct from one another, wherein the boundary between the compositions is a gradient extending at least 0.002 inches. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of electrostatically spraying elastomeric material onto printing blankets.

Abstract: A composition of a compounded PVC substrate that is suitable as an extrudate in very wide extruders. The composition is for use as a coating on scrim in the manufacture of billboards, wherein the composition does not yellow or burn, even in extruders having a die 215 inches wide (5,486 mm) with a 1.5 to 2.0 mm lip opening average. The composition has excellent printability, weather resistance and a price point that is low enough to meet competition. The composition has minimal quantities of lubricants and other processing aids, and utilizes a PVC suspension resin having high porosity. The invention enables the fabrication of printable billboard sheeting that is seamless.

Abstract: A flexible apparatus for metering agricultural chemicals in a wet blade chemical distribution system consists of a modular peristaltic pump delivery apparatus (24) having an impeller (38) and a mounting bore (30) in a computer-controlled servomechanism that meters the correct amount of a wide variety of agricultural chemical regardless of equipment speed. It is especially well suited for easy field chemical change over and maintenance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the direct reduction of iron oxide utilizes a hearth furnace having a vitreous hearth layer of conditioning materials, with the vitreous hearth layer introduced onto a refractory surface of the furnace. The vitreous hearth layer may have upper layers of coating compounds including carbonaceous materials, onto which iron oxide feed material is placed with the carbonaceous materials assisting with segregating the reduced molten iron nuggets from the vitreous hearth layer. The conditioning materials may include compounds such as silicon oxide, magnesium oxide, iron oxides, and aluminum oxide. The conditioning materials are placed in solid or liquid form on the refractory surface, which allows the conditioning materials to raise the melting temperature of the vitreous hearth layer onto which the coating compounds and iron oxide materials are placed.