Abstract: A method and apparatus for brewing tea is shown which utilizes heated water from a boiler 7 of an espresso machine 10. A porta-filter 20 having a brewing chamber 40 therein is attachable to a group head 12 of the espresso machine 10 such that heated water is directed out of the espresso machine 10 and into the brewing chamber 40. A drain 38 from the brewing chamber 40 leads to an outlet tube 100 which has a lower end 110 discharging a brewed beverage V, such as tea, therefrom. An outlet valve 120 restricts outflow from the brewing chamber to a rate less than inflow of heated water from the boiler 7 so that the heated water is provided with residence time within the brewing chamber 40. This residence time facilitates infusion of the heated water with soluble flavor particles from a brewable substance such as tea leaves T before the heated water is discharged from the brewing chamber 40 in the form of a brewed beverage V.

Abstract: An automatic feed system 10 is provided for advancing a hydraulically powered work head into a workpiece being cut. A hydraulic fluid powered work head motor 40 drives a diamond drill cutting tool 46 or other cutting tool to cut the workpiece, such as concrete G. Hydraulic pressure in an inlet line 42 feeding hydraulic fluid to the work head motor 40 is monitored to detect when high torque and hence high wearing forces are experienced by the diamond cutting tool 46. A feed motor 30 or other advance is provided to feed the diamond cutting tool 46 into the workpiece. A valve 50 is provided which is pressure sensitive and controls the feed rate of the feed motor 30 in response to pressure in the inlet line 42 delivering hydraulic fluid to the work head motor 40. In this way, a feed rate of the bit 46 or other cutting tool into the workpiece is reduced when high stress conditions exist on the cutting surface of the diamond drill cutting tool 46 or other cutting tool.

Abstract: A stent-graft is provided which includes a smooth continuous inside surface for efficient fluid flow therethrough. The stent-graft can be implanted intraluminally by radially expanding the stent-graft adjacent an area within the body lumen to be treated, or can be implanted utilizing direct surgical techniques. A cylindrical support structure is preferably provided which is at least partially embedded along with portions of the film. The cylindrical support structure can facilitate radial expansion and provide additional structural strength to the stent-graft. A woven fabric support structure can also be embedded within the film of solid material forming the stent-graft to provide additional support to the stent-graft and allow suturing of the stent-graft to walls of the body lumen. Various different geometric configurations can be provided for the stent-graft. To form the stent-graft a mandrel is placed within a vacuum and a film of material, such as parylene, is deposited upon the mandrel.

Abstract: A jaw is provided for a vise which includes a sloping surface for supporting a work piece at a particular angle. The jaw includes a primary mass and a secondary mass which are either formed together as a single unitary mass or formed separately and coupleable together. The primary mass includes a front surface which extends vertically and acts as a surface to hold the work piece within the vise. The secondary mass includes at least one sloping surface which is oriented perpendicular to the front surface of the primary mass. The sloping surface has an angle matching that desired for the work piece. A set of different jaws are provided with each jaw having a secondary mass with a sloping surface of a different angle. The work piece has a surface thereof resting against the sloping surface of the secondary mass of the jaw so that the work piece is held at the desired angle within the vise.

Abstract: A swinging screen door and associated frame are provided for coupling to a doorway of a structure such as a house. Hinges are provided which pivotably connect the doors to the frame in a fashion allowing the doors to pivot inward through the doorway and outward away from the doorway. The hinge includes a knuckle joint between the frame and a bottom of each door. A knuckle and recess of the knuckle joint are provided with a complemental form to cause the knuckle joint to bias the door toward a closed position. A ramp and wing combination in the knuckle joint cause the door to be elevated when moved away from the closed position so that the door can more easily clear obstacles on the floor adjacent the doorway. A recoil joint axially aligned with the knuckle joint holds a top of the door relative to the frame.

Abstract: A combined cycle power system is provided which can convert an open combined cycle gas turbine into a reduced or zero emissions power system. The system includes a compressor which compresses air and combusts the air with a hydrocarbon fuel. The products of combustion and the remaining portions of the air form the exhaust which is expanded through a turbine. The turbine drives the compressor and outputs power. The exhaust exits the turbine and then is routed through a heat recovery steam generator. A bottoming cycle portion of the system includes a gas generator which combusts a hydrocarbon fuel with oxygen. Water is also entered into the gas generator where it is heated and combined with the products of combustion, before entering a bottoming turbine. The water is then separated and routed back to the gas generator after preheating within the heat recovery steam generator.

Abstract: A semi-closed combined cycle power system is provided which can also convert an open combined cycle gas turbine into a non-polluting zero emissions power system. The exhaust is not emitted into the atmosphere as with typical open combined cycles, but rather is routed to a divider. The divider splits the exhaust into either a return duct or a separation duct. The return duct routes a portion of the exhaust back to the compressor. Before reaching the compressor, an oxygen duct adds additional oxygen to the exhaust to form a gas mixture which includes and steam from the exhaust and oxygen from the oxygen duct. This gas mixture has characteristics which mimic those of air, so that the compressor need not be modified to effectively compress the gas mixture.

Abstract: A system 10 is provided for automatically evacuating a water trap 50 of a ventilator 20. The ventilator 20 delivers air through a humidifying water heater 30 and along an air supply line 40 to a patient requiring breathing assistance. A dip 44 in the air supply line 40 is configured with a water trap 50 for collecting condensate within the air supply line 40. A suction line 60 is located within the water trap 50 at a tip 62 and has an end 68 outside of the water trap 50 which is coupled to a canister 70. The canister 70 is also coupled to a vacuum source 100 through a valve 80. When the valve 80 is in a first open position, the vacuum source 100 provides suction along the suction line 60 so that liquids collecting within the water trap 50 are evacuated out of the water trap 50 and delivered into the canister 70. A controller 90 controls the frequency with which the valve 80 is opened and a duration for which the valve 80 remains in the opened position.

Abstract: A guide block is provided for supporting a blade within a saw, such as a band saw, the guide block being formed from a ceramic material. A ceramic material is provided in powder form initially and is pressed into a billet of compressed ceramic powder. This billet of compressed ceramic powder is machined into a desired shape for the guide block but oversized in all of its dimensions by an oversized percent similar to an amount of shrinkage experienced by that ceramic material upon firing into a final hardened state. The machined compressed powder billet forms a pre-firing guide block which is fired at sufficient temperature and for sufficient duration so that it achieves its final hardened state as a ceramic guide block having dimensions precisely matching those of a prior non-ceramic guide block being replaced. The ceramic guide block can then be substituted into the saw for use in supporting the saw blade.

Abstract: A low or no pollution engine is provided for delivering power for vehicles or other power applications. The engine has an air inlet which collects air from a surrounding environment. At least a portion of the nitrogen in the air is removed using a technique such as liquefaction, pressure swing adsorption or membrane based air separation. The remaining gas is primarily oxygen, which is then compressed and routed to a gas generator. The gas generator has an igniter and inputs for the high pressure oxygen and a high pressure hydrogen-containing fuel, such as hydrogen, methane or a light alcohol. The fuel and oxygen are combusted within the gas generator, forming water and carbon dioxide with carbon containing fuels. Water is also delivered into the gas generator to control the temperature of the combustion products. The combustion products are then expanded through a power generating device, such as a turbine or piston expander to deliver output power for operation of a vehicle or other power uses.

Abstract: A nozzle is provided which includes a nozzle body having a proximal end and an insertion end and defining an inlet orifice at the proximal end thereof and an outlet orifice at the insertion end thereof. The nozzle body is adapted to be attached at the proximal end thereof to an opening of a container and to be inserted at the insertion end thereof into an opening of a receiving vessel for dispensing a first fluid from the container into the receiving vessel from the inlet orifice to the outlet orifice thereof. The nozzle further includes a venting device connected to the nozzle body and defining a vent discharge opening for venting a second fluid from the receiving vessel into the container through the vent discharge opening such that the second fluid is vented through the vent discharge opening of the venting device without traversing the first fluid in the container substantially during an entire time for a dispensing of the first fluid from the container into the receiving vessel.

Abstract: A vehicle wash ramp is provided which is constructed from a lattice framework of support rails and cross members that are connected to form a base and a wash platform above the base. The base and wash platform are equipped with a pair of parallel running wheel tracks which roughly correspond in their width and relative position to accommodate the passage of vehicles to be washed. Additionally, access to the wash platform is facilitated by the use of fixed and folding platform ramps which angle up to the upper surface of the wash platform. The washing operation is accomplished by the use of an engine and pump combination that draws water from one or both of two storage tanks located on either side of the wash ramp base outside of each of the wheel tracks. The pump assembly pressurizes the water and sends it to the spray wand which allows the operator not only to control the flow of water or cleaning solution, but also allows the operator to direct this flow to specific areas and components of the vehicle.

Abstract: A differential pressure based flow rate measurement device is provided which is coupled to surfaces of a blade 30 within a damper assembly 10, such as that provided within a variable air volume (VAV) box or within a liquid valve assembly. A blade 30 which includes a leading surface 32 opposite a trailing surface 34 is fitted with a sensing structure 50. The sensing structure 50 includes portions 52, 54 which extend away from the leading surface 32. Sensing holes 56 pass into a hollow interior of the sensing structure 50 and pass on to a pressure sensor 60. A similar sensing structure 50 is also provided extending from the trailing surface 34 which also has sensing holes 56 located therein. The sensing holes 56 coupled to the trailing surface 34 also lead to the pressure sensor 60 so that a differential pressure between the sensing holes 56 on either sides of the blade 30 can be measured.

Abstract: A rack 10 is provided which is removably attachable to a vehicle V through a hitch receiver and can support multiple golf bags G thereon. The rack 10 includes a tongue 30 which can pass directly into a hitch receiver on the vehicle V or through an intervening adapter 20. A mast 40 extends up from the tongue 30. A cross bar 50 extends horizontally from an upper end 42 of the mast 40. The mast 40 and cross bar 50 are configured to support an upper portion of golf bags G which are carried upon the rack 10. The cross bar 50 preferably can be extended or collapsed as necessary to provide support for a varying number of golf bags G upon the rack 10. A beam 70 is pivotably attached to the mast 40 adjacent the tongue 30. The beam 70 pivots between two orientations including a substantially horizontal orientation and a substantially vertical orientation. A central platform 90 is supported upon the beam 70. Two side platforms 100 are slidably supported relative to the beam 70.

Abstract: A windshield lift acting between the floor of a vehicle and the inside surface of the windshield with the aid of suction cups to apply an outward force to place the seal which bonds the windshield to the vehicle frame under tension. The peripheral seal can then be easily cut with a knife.