Abstract: Apparatus for filtering a suspension having a chamber containing a cylindrical filter cartridge. At least one suction box is rotatably mounted inside the cartridge containing a scraper blade for riding in contact with the inside face of the cartridge. The blade is arranged to direct material removed from the cartridge into an opening formed in the box wherein the material is removed from the chamber.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an oil-sealed vacuum pump (1) with a pump chamber (8, 9), with a rotor 3 rotatively mounted therein, with a bearing piece (13) delimiting the pump chamber on the drive side and with a passage (35) in the bearing piece (13) which contains a coupling piece (37) used to interlock the rotor (3) with the shaft (36) of the drive motor (4) and a sealing ring (55) to seal off the coupling piece from the passage (35) in the bearing piece (13). To simplify manufacture of the pump, the invention proposes that the interlocking connections between rotor (3) and coupling piece (37) as well as coupling piece (37) and shaft (36) are effected from the faces, and that the coupling piece (37) is a support for a rotor (46) for an oil pump (45, 46), the pump chamber (45) of which is formed in the end plate (13).

Abstract: A shoe for use in snowboarding includes an upper section having a bottom and opposed sides which enclose a wearer's foot and lower leg, and a sole that is secured to the bottom of the upper section. The upper section is made from a thermoformed plastic material which is more flexible than the material forming the sole. The sole includes a plurality of pairs of lateral extensions extending upwardly along each of the opposed sides for engaging with corresponding hollowed sections provided in the upper section of the shoe to allow securement thereof. Preferably, the lateral extensions further include hooks or the like at their ends for allowing the passage of laces or straps to tighten the shoe to the lower leg and foot of the wearer.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for post-operative use with a transtibial residuum including post-operative adjustable preparatory socket for a patient that has undergone a transtibial amputation. The socket is formed of a single piece of semi-rigid plastic and includes a cup shaped base, a semi-circular rear shell and a semi-circular front shell that are vertically extended from the base. The rear shell has two opposed circumferential cuffs that surround the wearer's leg above the knee. The front shell extends upwardly to a height just below the cuffs. Wide elastic bands surround the upper and lower sections of the device to press the shells into secure contact against the residual limb. A support strap also surrounds the device in the region of the wearer's patella tendon to help absorb some of the impact in the event of a fall. A supra patellar socket formed of a single piece of semi-rigid plastic for use in placer of the post-operative socket after some healing has occurred.

Abstract: A composite socket member for use with a prosthetic appliance for a residual limb which comprises an outer socket which defines an inner cavity generally conforming to the outer surface of a residual limb, an inner socket which defines an inner cavity and being adapted to receive said residual limb, with said inner socket conforming to the shape of said outer socket and when nested within the cavity of said outer socket defines an air space between the inner surface of said outer socket and the outer surface of said inner socket and an inflatable bladder being disposed between the inner surface of said outer socket and the outer surface of said inner socket. The inner socket contains at least one flex area in its side wall at a preselected weight-bearing location whereby upon inflation of said bladder, pressure is applied by said bladder against said side wall at said preselected weight-bearing location of the residual limb to control the movement and rotation stability of said prosthetic appliance.

Abstract: A web of non woven textile fabric is fed on a porous belt into the nip between the belt and a rotating porous drum to compress the web within the nip. A curtain of water is passed through the web while it is in the nip into the drum and a vacuum is drawn on the drum to remove the water. The web, after passing the nip remains upon the drum and is subject to one or more high pressure jets of water to entangle the web fibers.

Abstract: A leak detector (1) suitable for detecting leakage with a test gas connection (2), a test gas detector (3), a gas pump (4) and a test gas line (5) extending between the test gas connection (2) and the gas pump (4) and connected to the inlet (6) of the test gas detector (3) via a blockable branch; in order to shorten the response time, it is proposed that the line (7, 8) connecting the test gas line (5) to the inlet region (6) of the test gas detector be such that, during measurement, all of the gas flowing in the test gas line (5) essentially enters the inlet region (6) of the test gas detector (3).

Abstract: A single mode optical fiber suitable for use in an amplified fiber optic system which includes an inner glass core doped with a rare earth element and an outer transparent glass cladding. The fiber exhibits a plurality of mode coupling sites formed at regular intervals along the length of the fiber which provides for a reduced DOP. The sites are formed by a twist at regular intervals along the fiber length by applying a torque to the fiber. The method of forming the fiber is also disclosed.

Abstract: For treating a fluid sample for introduction to a mass spectrometer or other appropriate use, a composite membrane and support assembly allows analytes from a sample flow to permeate through a membrane free from the undesired background matrix. The composite membrane and support assembly comprises a semipermeable membrane, a fiber member for supporting the membrane, and a rigid perforated member for supporting the membrane and the fiber support.

Abstract: A system for automatically rapidly chilling liquids and semisolids which includes a frame which supports a drive motor which contains a substantially vertical drive shaft having a connecting member at one end. A sealed, hollow chilling utensil which contains a refrigerant, and which has a neck portion which contains a connecting member which is adapted for fixed engagement with the connecting member of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A plug-in module for a video probe has a housing which contains video processing circuitry to receive a video output from a miniature video imager and produces a video signal suitable to apply, without further processing, to a video monitor. The module plugs into a mating socket of a power and illumination unit. A fiber optic bundle extends into a sleeve protruding from a proximal face of the module, and is positioned at the focus of a small, high efficacy lamp assembly. The housing of the plug-in module environmentally seals the electronic circuitry.

Abstract: A support structure for the ankle having three parts that are hinged together that include a rigid member that bears against the lower leg, a pedal shell that surrounds the planar arch and a sub astragalar shell that are brought together to provide a support for the ankle joint and can be used preventatively and curatively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum pump (1) with an oil separator (42) connected downstream of its outlet (33) and with a duct (45, 46) through which the oil separated in the oil separator (42) is returned to the vacuum pump (1); to feed back the oil in a simple manner, the oil feed duct (45, 46) opens into a duct (47) that supplies gas ballast to the pump (1).

Abstract: A device for implanting a radially expandable stent that includes a balloon catheter having a balloon formed of a material having a memory so that when inflated to a first pressure the two end sections of the balloon expand to a first diameter as the waist therebetween expands to a lesser diameter. The stent is mounted over the waist section of the balloon and is thus locked between the two end sections during initial inflation to the first pressure. Once locked in place, the pressure inside the balloon is raised to a second higher level whereby the entire balloon expands to a larger diameter thus radially expanding the stent.

Abstract: A friction vacuum pump (1) is provided with pump sections of different designs, of which the pump section on the inlet side consists of turbomolecular pump stages (14, 15) and a further pump section of Siegbahn stages (16, 17) with spiral grooves (19), whereby the active pumping surfaces of the Siegbahn stages are formed by facing surfaces of an annular rotor disc and an annular stator disc (16, 17). To simplify the production of such a pump, it is proposed that the annular stator discs (16) have spiral grooves (19).

Abstract: A tank assembly which includes an inner storage tank and a surrounding outer containment tank with said tanks defining a substantially uniform space therebetween. The space is filled with a cured light weight porous monolithic insulating material having a porosity sufficient to allow liquid and vapors to migrate through said insulating material to a monitoring point, or points contained within said space. Means are provided for monitoring liquid and vapors located at said monitoring point or points, with the insulating material freely permitting vapors to migrate to an emergency vent port without over pressurization build-up within said space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a controlled heat conductance vacuum gauge with a measuring cell (18) comprising a Wheatstone bridge (1) with supply voltage (12, 13) and measurement voltage terminals (14, 15), a power supply and measuring instrument (21) and a connecting cable (19) containing several conductors and to a circuit therefor; in order to prevent errors of measurement caused by connecting cables (19) of different lengths and to automate cable length equalization it is proposed that the voltage of a power supply terminal (12, 13) of the Wheatstone bridge (1) in the measuring cell (18) be recorded without current via one (26) of the conductors of the connecting cable (19) and taken into account in the formation of the measurement value.

Abstract: A data storage process which includes an erasable high speed, high density, storage medium having a transition metal oxide layer where said oxide layer is capable of undergoing an optically readable chemical change when simultaneously exposed to heat and to light of a selected wavelength. An optically readable image is formed in selected regions of the oxide layer under ambient conditions which include O.sub.2 by simultaneously exposing said layer to heat and to radiation in the blue-green or shorter wavelength spectrum. The image is erased by heating the entire medium using a furnace or by heating selected portions with IR radiation.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical loop mirror device having a distributed directional asymmetry. A dispersion decreasing optical fiber is formed into a loop by an optical coupler which divides input pulses into two component pulses that propagate around the loop in opposite directions, and which transmits and/or reflects returning component pulses in accordance with their relative phases. The parameters of the loop, such as its length, effective area, rate of change of dispersion, etc. are selected so that input pulses may be switched or transmitted in accordance with whether their widths or amplitudes are above or below predetermined threshold values.