Abstract: A computer-based system and method detects and specifies valve and ring leaks in reciprocating compressors of the type used in natural gas transmission networks. The system employs a method comprising the following steps. The cylinder pressure is measured as a function of cylinder volume to obtain a measured PV card. A predictive model then calculates a predicted PV card for the subject compressor cylinder without including effects of simulated leaks. The predicted PV card is them compared to the measured PV card. The nature and character of the differences between the measured and predicted PV cards indicates whether a leak in the subject compressor cylinder is a suction valve leak, a discharge valve leak, or a piston ring leak. The predictive model is then iterated with simulations of the indicated leak included until the resulting predicted PV card matches the actual measured PV card for the compressor cylinder.

Abstract: A disc hog for reducing timbers to wood chips and shards of a predetermined maximum size comprises a housing defining a disc-shaped interior cavity and a heavy metal disc disposed in the cavity and mounted for rapid rotation about its central axis. A feeder opening is formed in the housing and a chute is positioned to facilitate the feeding of timbers through the opening for presentation to the front surface of the rotating disc. Both the front surface and the rear surface of the rotating disc is studded with hammer blocks that protrude outwardly from the surface. The hammer blocks on the front surface are sized and configured to impact, tear apart, and shred a timber fed to the disc into wood chips and shards. The hammer blocks on the rear surface of the disc are sized and configured to reduce wood shards and chips to shards of smaller size.

Abstract: The fire hydrant locking device has a cap (20) enclosing the operating nut (12) of the fire hydrant (6). The cap is secured in place on the top surface of the fire hydrant bonnet (10) by at least one arm (22) extending downwardly over and about the bonnet and extending beyond the fire hydrant barrel mounting flange (9). The lower end of the arm (22) is attached to the flanges (9 and 10') of the barrel (8) and bonnet (10) by bracket (26) and its pad lock (25) so that the cap, arm, and bonnet of the fire hydrant cannot be removed without first removing the fire hydrant locking device. Another locking bracket (80) is received on the outlet cap (17), of the fire hydrant hose outlets (16). Chain (86) is passed through each locking bracket encircling the fire hydrant, whereupon the ends of the chain are pad locked together.

Abstract: A poultry house controller (14) situated within a poultry house (12) regulates the relative humidity and temperature within the poultry house (12) via actuation of fans (22) and heaters (24) in response to temperature and humidity feedback signals from temperature sensors (16) and humidity sensors (18), respectively. The controller (14) can communicate with a host computer (16) and other controllers (14) situated at other houses (12). The controller (14) comprises an integrity check means (234) for checking temperature and humidity values detected by these sensors (16, 18). The integrity check means (234) ensures the accuracy of values by eliminating a value from consideration if it falls outside predefined range of the average of the other values received from other sensors. Additionally, the controller (14) utilizes watchdog timing signals (100) for ensuring continuous operation. The watchdog timing signals (100) are generated by a control program (108) and are sent to an alarm system (92).

Abstract: A shower PUVA apparatus has a reservoir within which a medicinal solution may be placed. The medicinal solution is pumped to a plurality of water jets which are positioned to uniformly coat the body with the medicinal solution. After coating the body, the medicinal solution is returned to the reservoir and recirculated throughout the apparatus. A water heater maintains the temperature of the medicinal solution at a constant temperature and a drape protects the head of the body from the spray of medicinal solution. The apparatus may be used for the treatment of psoriasis by uniformly coating the body with a psoralen solution. The treatment of psoriasis with the shower apparatus involves spraying a psoralen solution uniformly over the body of the patient for five minutes. The patient is then exposed to ultraviolet A light at an exposure determined by the skin type and a previous exposure to light.

Abstract: Processes (30, 40) have been developed for forming nitride films (35, 45, 37, 47) at low temperatures and at near atmospheric pressure on sample materials 12, including metals, for example, Co, Cr, Fe, Mo, Si, Ta, Ti, V, and W, and including group IV and group III-V semiconductors, for example, Si and GaAs, respectively. The processes (30, 40) are performed using a reaction system (10) which comprises a reactor (11) enclosed within a dry box (13), a hydrazine bubbler (18), gas sources (14a-14e), and an optional gas disposal system (22) for disposing of exhaust from the reactor (11). The surface of the sample material (12) is initially cleaned to remove any oxides and carbon compounds. The surface is then maintained at a temperature between 0.degree. and 400.degree. C. and at a pressure between 0.001 and 10,000 Torr. The surface is treated with hydrazine by introducing the hydrazine in a gaseous phase over the surface.

Abstract: A valance assembly designed for attachment to existing, in-store display fixtures is disclosed. The valance assembly is completely assembled prior to in-store delivery, and requires only the unfolding of hinged mounting brackets for installation. The valance assembly is intended to carry graphics displays or headers such as advertisements or merchandise promotional information.

Abstract: Novel processes and apparatus permit lift-off, alignment, and bonding of materials and devices. The processes involve first depositing a device layer on a sacrifical layer situated on a growth substrate. A device may be defined in the device layer. The device layer or the device is coated with a carrier layer. The sacrificial layer and/or the growth substrate are then etched away to release the combination of the device layer and the carrier layer from the growth substrate. The device layer or device can then be aligned and selectively bonded to a host substrate. Other processes and apparatus are set forth for facilitating lift-off, bonding, handling, and patterning of he device layer or device.

Abstract: A method for filtering and backwashing solid particles out of liquids is illustrated, with a filter drum (5) positioned completely below the liquid level (6) having a cylindrical surface (7) coated with a filter medium (8), the liquid flown through the outside of the filter drum to the inside. A backwashing device for removal of the filter cake from the filter medium is provided. At the beginning of each cycle of backwashing an air cushion (15) is introduced in the filter drum (5) and liquid in the filter drum (5) is displaced in such a manner so that liquid jets from an ejetion apparatus (19) containing a spraying head (17) and being arranged in the interior of the filter drum without being sealed on the filter drum penetrate through the air cushion (15) to the backside of the cylindrical surface (7) of the filter drum (5). The filter cake so removed from the filter drum is withrawn at the outside of filter drum (5) in a stream of liquid.

Abstract: An improved flexible multi-duct conduit system for housing and protecting subterranean fiber-optic cable comprises matable sections each having an outer casing and a plurality of inner ducts for carrying the cable. An rubberized inner duct coupler is provided at one end of each section for aligning and sealing the inner ducts of adjacent sections when the sections are joined together end-to-end. An outer casing coupler for coupling and sealing the outer casings of adjacent joined sections comprises a cylindrical collar that extends around the ends of two adjacent sections. Sealing gaskets disposed between the outer casing ends and the collar insure against ingress of moisture and other corrosive subterranean elements into the outer casings. The inner ducts are bendable and the outer casings are formed with corrugated exterior surfaces so that the entire system, when assembled in the field, can be bent about an arc to accommodate turns and the like.

Abstract: A process for producing a composite material including at least two layers, of which at least one layer (1) is composed of ceramic material, by moistening the raw materials and aggregates for the layer (1) of ceramic material, mixing them and pressing them to form a green layer. Weak contact surfaces are formed on the green layer and the layers are pressed together to form a composite material. This is followed by drying and firing the composite material. The green layer is compacted by rollers to form the weak contact surfaces. The layers are pressed together to form the composite material by a further rolling operation.

Abstract: Photographic images may be produced on a backing such as paper and polyester sheets, from photographic negatives which encompass line rendering, design comps, copy, complex color separation or the like with water-based varnishes and pigments, the resulting images closely resembling, if not exactly, the same image in its commercially printed form. Thus all aspects of color proofs produced by this invention provide greatly improved predictability as to the appearance of the final printed job, with a further improvement of cost savings over conventional techniques of preparing color proofs. Also, said proofing method can be used to provide a "transfer" so that one may transfer the colored image or images to a more suitable or required backing.

Abstract: A sound decoupling connecting element (1) for two parts (27, 28) with a gasket (29) inserted inbetween has a screw (2) with a head (4) and a shaft (8) with a threaded section (10, 11) and a radially extending support area (14) resting on a counter surface in the end-mounted position. The connecting element (1) has a sound decoupling sleeve-like formed body 3 made of an elastomer material. The formed body (3) has limited axial movement on the screw (2) in the mounted state of the connecting element (1), but is held in an unlosable fashion. The formed body (3) has such an axial length that it protrudes the first part (27) with a continuation (19) in the direction of the gasket (29) in the state of being inserted in the first part (27). The continuation (19) of the formed body (3) has a recess (20) for taking up in an unlosable fashion the gasket (29).

Abstract: A self-contained medical procedure kit and stand having a tray and receptacles for medical instruments is provided in such a way as to safely and easily allow a health care worker to remove sterile medical instruments from the kit, replace and retrieve the instruments for reuse during a procedure, and dispose of the medical instruments after use. The stand facilitates the medical procedure and is designed to greatly reduce the possibility of needle-stick injuries because it maintains the medical instruments in an angled, accessible position and encases the sharp ends of instruments, syringes and the like.

Abstract: A spinning rod assembly comprises an elongated rod having a handle from which a reel shank laterally extends. A pair of finger supports extend from the handle and straddle the reel shank. The finger supports are configured to bear against the fingers of an angler grasping the rod as the angler casts and retrieves to distribute attendant pressure among the angler's fingers and relieve pain and discomfort previously associated with casting and retrieving.

Abstract: A new process has been developed to achieve a very low SiO.sub.x /Si interface state density D.sub.it, low recombination velocity S (<2 cm/s), and high effective carrier lifetime T.sub.eff (>5 ms) for oxides deposited on silicon substrates at low temperature. The technique involves direct plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), with appropriate growth conditions, followed by a photo-assisted rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process. Approximately 500-A-thick SiO.sub.x layers are deposited on Si by PECVD at 250.degree. C. with 0.02 W/cm.sup.-2 rf power, then covered with SiN or an evaporated thin aluminum layer, and subjected to a photo-assisted anneal in forming gas ambient at 350.degree. C., resulting in an interface state density D.sub.it in the range of about 1-4.times.10.sup.10 cm.sup.-2 eV.sup.-1, which sets a record for the lowest interface state density D.sub.it for PECVD oxides fabricated to date.

Abstract: A cookie flipping apparatus (23) for conveying a series of cookies (31,33) along a processing path from an upper level surface conveyor (51) to a main lower level surface conveyor (24), and for inverting, or flipping, selected cookies of the series with a flip plate (54) as they drop from the upper level surface conveyor to the lower level surface conveyor, so that a predetermined quantity of cookies can be packaged in an edge-standing upright stacked relationship with the top surface of the endmost cookies facing outwardly from the quantity of cookies.

Abstract: The system (10) for collecting and disposing of contaminated waste products such as medical sharps and other medical wastes includes a housing (11) and its telescopic cover (9) which are fabricated of biodegradable and combustible material such as natural cellulose and non-natural cellulose. An absorbent biodegradable and combustible absorption package (30) or insert (35) can be placed in the bottom of the holding chamber (12) for absorbing any liquids emitted from the sharps and other wastes, and for enhancing the combustion of the medical sharps and other wastes when the housing is placed in a furnace. When the housing is burned it evolves no more than trace levels of sulfur or chlorine and yields substantially only biodegradable ash.