Abstract: An apparatus and a method of use for removing specified dialyzable components from a complex reference fluid such as, for example, blood. The invention includes a semi-permeable tubular dialysis membrane, which is inserted into the reference fluid. An equilibration fluid is injected into the tubular membrane and allowed to equilibrate with the outside reference fluid. The equilibrated fluid is then removed for analysis.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transducer for use in precision remote movement of an object in an ultra-high vacuum environment is disclosed which includes an elongated central shaft with proximal end and distal end, a distal stop fixed to the distal end of the shaft with connection means for connecting the distal stop to the object to be moved, a plurality of piezoelectric disks entrained on the shaft, a plurality of electrically conductive plates entrained on the shaft and arranged interspersed alternately with the piezoelectric disks, each plate including an annular portion entrained on the shaft and an arm extending radially outward from the annular portion. The plates are arranged into two groups with each alternate plate being in the alternate group, so that all of the plates of each group have their arms extending radially in parallel.

Abstract: A disk drive testing apparatus (20) is disclosed which provides substantially automatic cycling through various tests of disk drive units. A graphical display is provided on a screen (25) to the operator to allow the operator to determine whether the disk drive is performing in or out of specifications which may be read into the apparatus from an EEPROM memory module (26). By pressing a single TEST switch (22) on the tester, the operator can cycle through a preselected series of tests on the drive unit. The tester 20 is controlled by a microcomputer central processing unit (42) to cycle through the tests and to provide a display on the screen (25) for selected tests which includes a graphics field defining a performance reference frame including a geometric target specification position, a geometric pass range, and a geometric fail range.

Abstract: To determine the flux in the air gap of an electrical machine having distributed stator windings, the voltages across two coils of a phase belt in certain phases of the stator are measured and the voltage across one coil in each phase belt is subtracted from the voltage in the other coil. The voltage differences are integrated to provide a measure of the air gap flux. Measurement of the entire air gap flux about the machine can be obtained utilizing two coils in a phase belt per phase of the machine. The instantaneous electromagnetic torque in the machine can be calculated directly as a function of the calculated air gap flux and of the currents in the stator windings. Such flux and torque measurements are obtained utilizing electrical connections to the existing coils of the machine, without the need to modify the machine by adding further windings or sensors. The flux and torque signals so obtained may be utilized in motor controllers, and are particularly useful for control of AC induction motors.

Abstract: A rack which may be used for holding conventional paper grocery bags with foldable sidewalls or plastic bags having an open mouth and integral upwardly extendable handle loops located on opposite sides of the mouth, in an upright, open, supported position, the rack including a skeletal frame which has a pair of spaced side members, a back member, a bottom support member, and at least one front member where the members form a confinement boundary for the bag. The rack also includes an engagement rail at the top of each side member, where each engagement rail includes two inverted U-shaped portions which each have an outer arm, the two outer arms on each of the two side members for securely retaining one of the plastic bag handle loops so that the two pairs of outer arms on both side members support the suspended plastic bag and hold the mouth of the bag open.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stimulating evoked potentials in a human subject maintains the common mode voltage at the stimulation electrodes substantially constant both before and during application of a stimulus pulse of constant current. A pair of resistors are connected between the stimulation electrodes and are joined at a reference node. One stimulation electrode (e.g., the anode) is connected through a field effect transistor to the power supply voltage and the other electrode (e.g., the cathode) is connected to the supply common return through a transistor which, when turned on, is controlled to conduct a constant current. The voltage at the reference node is supplied to the gate of a second field effect transistor which has its source clamped to a reference voltage. The voltage at the drain of the second field effect transistor is suppled back to the gate of the first field effect transistor.

Abstract: An improved auger is used for conveying flowable materials, such as liquid and semi-solid manure, through a bed of a container such as a manure spreader and out through a discharge opening. The auger has a shaft with a back end and a front end, a continuous blade, and paddles for discharging the manure. The continuous blade extends radially outwardly from the shaft and includes helical portions and at least one plate portion which is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the auger. The plate portions extend between the helical portions of the blade to make the blade substantially continuous. The rotation of the auger causes helical portions of the blade to accelerate the manure in a direction of the front end wall and causes the plate portions to slow the movement of manure so that the rate of flow of manure is controlled and boiling action of manure against the front end wall of the container is inhibited.

Abstract: An expanded low calorie dairy snack food product and method of manufacture is disclosed. The product which consists of water and a dairy product will expand or puff with excellent structural integrity without the use of farinaceous or carbohydrate ingredients or other binder.

Abstract: A dispenser for elongated articles that is especially adapted for convenient assembly. The dispenser has a generally rectangular storage bin having an inner chamber and an article discharge slot that extends substantially from side to side across the front of the chamber. A chamber floor inclines downwardly toward the article discharge slot, and a lever arm is hingedly attached to the chamber floor to form therewith a lever arm-floor assemblage that includes substantially all of those moving parts the dispenser whose function directly relates to dispensing articles therefrom. The lever arm extends forwardly through the article discharge slot and has a depressed dispensing position and an elevated closed position.

Abstract: A templet (10) is provided having a lower plate (11) which receives a carrier sheet having antigens immobilized thereon as transferred from an electrophoresis gel. An upper plate (12) having a plurality of parallel channels (22) formed therein, is placed over the lower plate such that the channels lie over the carrier sheet. The two plates (11, 12) are then pressed tightly together, as by engagement with screws (16) at the periphery of the plates. A bridge bar (28) extends over the central portion of the plate and pressure screws (30) are mounted to the bridge bar in position to engage and apply pressure to the top surface of the upper plate (12). Various antibody containing liquids are introduced into the various channels through holes (25) extending to the ends of the channels; the solutions are allowed to remain in contact with the antigens on the carrier sheet for a period of time, after which the liquid is withdrawn from the channels, and the plates separated.

Abstract: A locking device which may be used in locking two objects together, includes a stud having a threaded axial hole extending rearwardly from the forward end thereof and a keyed portion having at least one key, and a knob which locks over a forward portion of the stud and includes a casing with an inner surface including at least one keyway each of which receives the corresponding key on the stud to prevent rotation of the casing with respect to the stud. The knob also includes a tumbler housing which is mounted in an axially fixed position within the casing to rotate freely when a key is inserted into the tumbler housing, and to remain locked in a fixed position when the key is withdrawn. Connected to a rear end of the tumbler housing is a threaded stud which engages the threaded axial hole of the stud when the tumbler housing is turned by a key to thereby pull a forward portion of the stud into the casing hole.

Abstract: A microtiter plate reader is disclosed which allows visual examination of the contents of the wells of a microtiter plate having an array of wells. The microtiter plate reader includes supporting means for supporting the microtiter plate with the wells opening generally upwardly and a light emitting surface is adapted to extend under a microtiter plate so held. Regions of reduced light emission on the light emitting surface are arranged in an array corresponding in relative position to a selected portion of the array of microtiter plate wells. Locator means are provided for locating the microtiter plate with respect to the array of regions of reduced light emission to allow selective alignment of the wells with the dark regions, providing a dark background to the bottom of the wells which are then illuminated indirectly. The wells can be illuminated directly when the dark regions are out of alignment with the wells.

Abstract: A dish antenna structure (10) is formed from a plurality of ribs (14) which extend from near the center of the dish to its periphery, and which support antenna panels (18) between them. Each rib has an outer flexible plastic sheath having grooves (44,45) in its side edges which receive the edges of antenna panels (18) and a hollow longitudinal channel (40) within which a rigid support member (42) is fixed. The support ribs (14) and the antenna panels (18) are curved such that the anterior surface of the dish defined thereby is parabolic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable diameter catheter which is folded in a longitudinal manner in order to reduce the diameter for convenient and less traumatic insertion into a body orifice. The fold in the catheter is maintained by a slidably removable external sheath which aids in insertion of the catheter and in dispersion of an anti-infective medication. Once the catheter is placed in the body orifice, the external sheath is removed. The present invention is also directed to the external sheath.

Abstract: A process for preparing L-carnitine which comprises exposing .gamma.-substituted acetoacetic acid esters or amides to the fermentative enzymatic action of a microorganism which elaborates L-.beta.-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.35] , recovering the resulting, optically active corresponding .gamma.-substituted-.beta.-hydroxybutyric acid derivative and converting said derivative to L-carnitine. An improvement in the process is also disclosed which comprises reacting a 4-chloro-3(R)-hydroxybutyrate with sodium iodide or bromide to produce the corresponding 4-iodo- or 4-bromo-3(R)-hydroxybutyrate, converting the 4-iodo- or 4-bromo-3(R)-hydroxybutyrate to the trimethylamino-3(R)-hydroxybutyrate salt, then converting the trimethylamino-3(R)-hydroxybutyrate salt into L-carnitine. Novel chemical intermediates prepared in the processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanical pencil for automatic drawing machines is disclosed which feeds lead segments to the writing surface as the pencil is alternately pressed against and lifted from the writing surface. The pencil includes a housing having a reserve lead containment chamber and a main internal cavity. A collet split into two portions is mounted within the internal cavity beneath an opening between the main cavity and the containment chamber and has outer cone-shaped camming surfaces and first and second axially spaced, cylindrical inner clamping surfaces. A friction tube with an inner bore adapted to frictionally engage a lead segment is mounted beneath the collet and holds a lead segment to support it against the writing surface.