Abstract: A chuck having two distinct portions mounts a substrate within a vacuum processing chamber. A first sealing stage confines a gas within a heat-transfer interface between one portion of the chuck and the substrate. A second sealing stage collects gas escaping from the heat-transfer interface within an intermediate space bounded by the two portions of the chuck and the substrate. Pressure in the intermediate space is reduced with respect to pressure at the heat-transfer interface to inhibit leakage of gas from the heat-transfer interface into the vacuum processing chamber.

Abstract: An electromagnet that produces a uniaxial magnetic field for magnetically orienting thin films on a substrate in a low-pressure processing environment is arranged with a plate-shaped core having a circular periphery and an electromagnetic coil having windings that are arranged in a pattern across a front side of the core for reducing skew of the uniaxial magnetic field. The individual windings include lengths divided in different proportions between straight center sections and two bent end sections. The straight sections of the windings, which extend normal to a winding axis, incrementally decrease in length from the center towards the periphery of the core along the winding axis. Spacing between adjacent center sections of the windings is greater than a spacing between adjacent end sections of the front winding portions along the core periphery. The end sections are increasingly bent at the core periphery as a function of cumulative differences in spacing between the center and end sections.

Abstract: A floating biological contactor confining aerobic bacterial growth media in a container submerged in a wastewater lagoon provides fluid flow for bacteria growth by bubbling fine air bubbles upward through the media from diffusers arranged near the container bottom, which has openings allowing lagoon liquid to rise upward through the media with the air bubbles in a gentle circulational flow. Coarse bubble dispensers, also arranged under the media, deliver coarse bubbles during cleaning cycles for agitating the media to dislodge solid particles that settle downward though the bottom openings in the container.

Abstract: A pivot pin (5) is pivotably provided on a door B through a support member (2). A basal end portion of a pivotal lever (3) is nonpivotably connected to the pivot pin (5). By sandwichingly holding the pivot pin (5) from its both sides by means of a plate spring (4), the pivotal lever (3) is restrained in a lock position and in a release position. The plate spring (4) biases the pivotal lever (3) towards the lock position side through the pivot pin (5), when said pivotal lever (3) is within a range where said pivotal lever (3) is offset a predetermined return angle from the lock position. The pivotal lever (3), which has been forcibly pivoted from the lock position towards the release position side by the forced pivoting portion (11a), is pivoted towards the lock position side by the biasing force of the plate spring (4) and a connecting portion (32) of the pivotal lever (3) is retained between an engagement pin (12) of a retaining member (1) and the forced pivoting portion (11a).

Abstract: This invention relates to the aeration of relatively large volumes of wastewater using an improved high-capacity aeration system to stimulate enhanced bio-activity. An air delivery system is provided to deliver oxygen to a body of wastewater beneath a large main processing float and a plurality of smaller bio-block floats positioned in proximity to the large main float to sustain biological media submerged beneath the floats. The bio-block floats are positioned relative to the main float so that the treatment capacity of the system can be increased without using additional, more costly, large processing floats. Moreover, the bio-block floats are made smaller relative to the main float so that the system can be easily and inexpensively transported using readily available standard-sized trucks.

Abstract: A steer-drive interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission and the respective propulsion axles associated with each side of the vehicle. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at least one orbiting cluster gear that is supported in a rotating housing and also meshes only with the input and output gears. The orbital units are designed so that (a) when rotation of the housing is prevented, driving torque is transferred at speed ratios selected to be as close to 1:1 as is practical, and (b) when steering torque causes rotation of the housing, the steering torque is added or subtracted from the driving torque. Steering torque is applied simultaneously in equal and opposite directions to the orbital units, causing the drive on one side of the vehicle to speed up and the drive on the other side of the vehicle to slow down at the same rate.

Abstract: A metal layer cleared by contact with a chemical clearing agent to reveal an underlying graphics layer is at least partially covered by a buffer material that delays contact with the clearing agent. The buffer material can be applied in a pattern that forms a temporary image in the metal layer prior to more completely revealing the underlying graphics layer.

Abstract: A variable optical amplifier mounts a fiber coupler within a flexure that provides for deflecting one section of the coupler with respect to another about a tapered intermediate section for controlling transmissions through the coupler. The flexure has a free portion suspended by a pair of resilient arms for relatively deflecting the coupler sections while minimizing friction and maintaining a fixed angular orientation with an actuator. A kinematic link between the flexure and the actuator is thermally compensated not only at a given deflection position but throughout the entire intended range of operation.

Abstract: An interference filter (10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, 150, or 190) filters selected wavelengths by dividing an input beam into two or more intermediate beams having different optical path lengths and by recombining the intermediate beams into an output beam that is modified by interference between the intermediate beams. An optical path length difference generator (20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, or 200) varies the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams by changing the physical lengths of their paths or the refractive indices of the mediums in which they are conveyed. The optical path length generator (20) of one exemplary embodiment (10) includes a spacer plate (20) that is divided into elements (22 and 24) having different refractive indices for varying the optical path lengths of the intermediate beams.

Abstract: A square sell 1 has a first port (5) and a second port (6) formed in its opposing first and second edge portions, respectively and third and fourth ports (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) formed in its third and fourth edge portions respectively. An evacuating operation is performed at the second port (6). A liquid crystal injecting operation is performed at the first port (5) when a predetermined degree of vacuum is reached. At the third and fourth ports (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b), first, an evacuating operation is performed. Then, the evacuating operation is switched over to the liquid crystal injecting operation at the third and fourth ports (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) by means of a switch-over operation of electromagnetic switch valves (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b).

Abstract: This invention relates to the resin encapsulation of solenoids to achieve water resistance at pressure depth. When a compatible and bondable resin is used to form a solenoid bobbin, to insulate the lead-in wires and to encapsulate the solenoid, the resulting encapsulation is effective in resisting water penetration. The formation of bonds between the encapsulation and the solenoid bobbin flanges and insulated lead-in wires allows the encapsulated solenoid to resist water penetration and to operate efficiently in underwater environments.

Abstract: A human power amplifier includes an end-effector which is grasped by a human operator and applied to a load. The end-effector is suspended, via a rope, from a take-up pulley, winch or drum which is driven by an actuator to lift or lower the load. The end-effector includes a force sensor which measures the vertical force imposed on the end-effector by the operator and delivers a signal to a controller. The controller and actuator are structured in such a way that a predetermined percentage of the force necessary to lift or lower the load is applied by the actuator, with the remaining force being supplied by the operator. The load thus feels lighter to the operator, but the operator does not lose the sense of lifting against both the gravitation and inertial forces originating in the load. The operator has direct contact with the load (through the end-effector) there need be no switches, valves, keyboards, teach pendents, or pushbuttons in the human power amplifier to control the lifting speed of the load.

Abstract: Electrochemical displays have electronic or ionic pathways between electrodes interrupted to control activation. Electrochemical erosion of one of the electrodes reveals an underlying graphic image. Game assemblies are constructed by dividing electrochemical components between a main substrate and one or more mounting pieces that can be assembled on the main substrate to activate the display cells.

Abstract: A batch liquid purifier uses a detachable container for a batch of liquid to be purified and flows the liquid from the container to a purified liquid dispenser while contacting the liquid with an ozone-containing gas. To ensure that a leading volume of the liquid flow is adequately contacted with ozone, the gas and liquid flow is mixed and directed to an upflow chamber in which gas bubbles overtake the leading liquid flow. Bubbles rising in the liquid flow are also displayed and illuminated to show that the purifier is operating.

Abstract: Wavelength dispersion and spatial light modulation are combined having regard for polarization management within a feedback control system for dynamically adjusting spectral power distributions among different wavelength channels. Micro-optic, hybrid, and planar implementations are proposed along with coupling schemes to larger fiber optic systems. Utility is found throughout multi-channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission systems.

Abstract: A beam extruded of aluminum alloy for use in cranes and conveyors is formed with a channel having runs that straddle an open bottom and are strengthened by pin receivers formed in C-shapes with material integrally extruded under the runs. An upper region of the channel is formed with upright parallel fins that serve as a mounting element. T-shaped strengthening upper beam elements can be secured to the channel by sliding them between the parallel fins where they are held in place by fasteners. The upright fins also accommodate a variety of mounting arrangements.

Abstract: Display information is revealed from behind a metal film that can be cleared upon effective contact with a clearing agent. The metal film, while opaque, is generally less than 1000 Angstroms thick and can be cleared by exposure to innocuous agents including food or other household products.

Abstract: Projections and mating recesses for a hinge interconnecting a blow-molded double-walled container and lid are formed to be snap fit together while the recesses are warm from molding. The hinge projections and recesses are blow molded without forming any opening through a hinge wall into an interwall space. After the hinge projections and recesses are assembled, interwall spaces of the body and lid are each filled with a pourable insulation material that sets to make the assembled hinge strong and durable.

Abstract: This invention relates to a closable loop keeper strap for securing, storing, and transporting household, garden, and industrial items. By forming a strap from an elongated length of material having a flexible, openable, and closable keeper at one end and a hanger element at the opposite end, one can produce an improved, low-cost, re-useable load-securing strap. By folding the end of the elongated length of material, having the flexible keeper attached thereto, around a load to be secured, a user can form an adjustable and releasable noose around the load. The adjustable and releasable noose is formed when the user wraps the flexible keeper around the unfolded portion of the length of material and fastens the keeper to form a closed keeper loop. The user can then slidably position the keeper loop along the length of the elongated length of material to tighten and loosen the noose. The closable loop keeper strap can accommodate loads of varying size, shape, and weight.