Abstract: A flowmeter and flow measurement method employing the determination of convection speed of turbulent spots. A plurality of sensors is employed, preferably thin-film gauges operating in constant temperature, constant current, or constant voltage mode. Airspeed (or fluid speed) is determined from the convection speed, preferably via dividing the streamwise sensor spacing by the product of the time lag to the peak of a crosscorrelation function and a calibration constant. Turbulence may be artificially induced, such as by intermittent jets, electrical sparks, or protuberances.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod, in which one or more riders sit and are restrained, and which spins under power about a horizontal axis according to the passenger's active control. The riders control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod. The modularized pod may be used in conjunction with many different types of amusement devices, including, but not limited to roller coasters, carousels, Ferris wheels, virtual reality units, centrifugal tumblers. The modularized pod may also be used in conjunction with flight and space training and simulation units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cryogenic rheological modification of tree nuts and other shelled foodstuffs wherein brief cryogenic exposure facilitates further processing, particular shell removal. Nuts from a bin (12) of conditioned nuts are transported by a conveyor (14) to a cryogenic dip (16). The nuts are then conveyed by a conveyor (18) to a cracker feeder chain (20) to a cracker unit (22).

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical phantom that is suitable for simulating the optical properties of biological material and to a method of producing said phantom. The phantom is comprised of a matrix of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and spherical particles whose refractive index differs from that of the PVA. Preferably the PVA has a level of hydrolysis of >98%. Preferably the spherical particles are hollow polystyrene particles. In addition, light-absorbing and light-scattering substances may be added to the matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining wave characteristics from wave phenomena. The apparatus and method employ eigenvectors to yield a variety of wave characteristics from wave phenomena data.

Abstract: A safety device for an airbag-system which has not been triggered by an accident, comprising a fabric which is suitable for surrounding a steering wheel of a motorcar which is provided with the airbag-system. The fabric is suitable for tightening at the side of the steering column on which the steering wheel is mounted, such that if the airbag-system is activated during a rescue operation, inflation of the airbag is hindered by the fabric.

Abstract: The invention relates to a capillary filtration membrane module, comprising a filter housing provided with an inlet, an outlet and a membrane compartment accommodating a bundle of capillary filtration membranes, the filtration membranes being cased at both ends of the membrane module in membrane holders, and the membrane compartment being provided with discharge conduits coupled to the outlet for the conveyance of the permeate. The discharge conduits comprise at least one discharge lamella and provided in the membrane compartment extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the capillary filtration membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reflex zone massage stimulator, particularly for the hand or the foot, comprising a rotatable rod-like element provided with projections, the ends of which define an active surface to be brought into contact with the skin of the user, the active surface being curved such that, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rod-like element, the distance from said surface to the rotation axis of the element varies. A plurality of projections is farmed as electrode projection for electro-neuro stimulator pulses and is preferably connected with an electrode strip or is formed as one part with said electrode strip. For an effective stimulation of the reflex zones of the foot, the active surface of the relex zone massage stimulator may comprise at least one substantially convex portion and/or at least one substantially concave portion.

Abstract: A military range scoring system with a plurality of imagers capable of viewing reference points and impact points for ordinance aimed at the reference points, imager position controllers, and data processors and video monitors for processing and viewing data received from said imagers; and communication links between the components. The imagers are preferably infrared or near-infrared, and the system manually and/or automatically scores impacts by digital signal processing of imager data.

Abstract: A portable roaster having a drum that is rotated either by hand or by a motor and able to roast a variety of items including fruits and vegetables, nuts, meats and seafood depending on the type of roaster drum or drum attachment used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for carrying out a treatment in the presence of centrifugal force. The treatment may be a physical or a chemical treatment. For this purpose the first and second phase are brought into contact with each other. The second phase comprises a phase soluble in the first phase and a third phase dispersed in the soluble phase. According to the invention at least one liquid phase is supplied continuously to a chamber for treatment (2) with a course of treatment while the third phase, which is a non-aggregating phase, is dispersed finely over the breadth of the course of treatment by the first phase.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a bearing ring (1) for a bearing such as a ball bearing or cylindrical roller bearing, wherein the bearing ring (1) is rotated around an axis (6) and the amount of material removed is controlled by the choice of the cross section of an electrode (3) parallel to the surface of the raceway under the electrode (3). Thus the radius of the groove (2) is kept constant. An electrode with a suitably adapted convex cross section allows for the manufacture of bearing rings within a very narrow specification range. Thus the invention also relates to a bearing comprising an electrochemically machined bearing ring (1) according to the invention having excellent operational life and characteristics.

Abstract: A counting device that detects intensity differences in reflections coming from stacked thin objects. The device comprises a radiation source generating a radiation beam and a photoelectric detector detecting the intensity differences in the radiation reflected by the objects, and is provided with an optical pathway placed between the objects and the photoelectric detector. The optical pathway comprises a diaphragm having a diaphragm opening which, in relation to the dimension of the beam of reflected radiation reaching the diaphragm, is smaller.

Abstract: A programmable Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) chip and method for the analog solution of a family of partial differential equations commonly encountered in engineering and scientific computing: The Laplace equation, the diffusion or conduction equation, the wave equation, the Poission equation, the modified diffusion equation, the modified wave equation, and the wave equation with damping.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure transformer for the conversion of a hydraulic power from a first fluid flow having a first pressure into the hydraulic power of a second fluid flow having a second pressure. In the housing (3) a rotor (26) is mounted, able to rotate around a rotation shaft (4) due to the effect of the pressure differences between the three pipe connections (16). Around the rotation shaft chambers (24) are distributed comprising displacement means (27, 29) such as pistons (27) which, when the rotor (26) in the housing (3) rotates, vary the volume in the chambers (24) between a minimum and a maximum value, and channels (19, 22) provided with valves (20, 21) activated by the rotation of the rotor (26) and connecting each chamber (24) alternately with the first, the second and the third pipe connection (16).

Abstract: A remote targeting apparatus and method comprising surrounding a projectile target with a sensor array, computing projectile impact data, transmitting the data receiving the data at a controller; and displaying information corresponding to the data. RF transmission/reception is performed, most preferably at a frequency of between approximately 902 and 928 MHz, with the controller having RF Faraday cage shielding and collision avoidance being employed to permit multiple sensor arrays to operate in a vicinity of one another. Projectile impact locations within twelve inches of the center of the projectile target are calculated to an average RMS accuracy of less than approximately fifty thousandths of an inch, directly in an orthogonal Cartesian coordinate system. Velocity is also determined via an additional sensor at a predetermined distance from the sensor array which measures a difference in time between the projectile passing the additional sensor and the sensor array.

Abstract: A chemical (coating and reduction)/mechanical/electrical treatment of ion-exchange materials (preferably ion-exchange membranes) to convert them to artificial muscles. The figure is a perspective view of an actuator of the invention showing the treated membrane actuator (A) with electrodes (25 and 26) placed at one end of the membrane, the electrodes being further attached to a power source (35). Artificial muscles created by the inventive method are capable of undergoing electrically-controllable large deformations resembling the behavior of biological muscles. A typical flap muscle of 0.2-0.4 mm thickness, 2-5 mm width and 20 mm length manufactured by the inventive process can achieve a completely reversible maximum deflection of 12-15 mm under a maximum voltage of 2.0-2.5 volts.

Abstract: A ship's window with inner and outer profiles that is clamped to the sides of an opening in the ship. The window contains insulators between the outer profile and the outer side of the ship, the glazing, and the inner profile.

Abstract: Interferometric auto-correlation is obtained using third-order (.chi..sup.(3)) nonlinearities. The nonlinear signal is separated from the linear interferometric response in order to extract information about the amplitude and the chirp of the ultrashort pulses. In one technique, cross-polarized beams are provided to eliminate the linear response. In another technique, electronic filtering is used. Electronic filtering provides substantial reduction of cost, size and complexity over conventional second harmonic generator crystals.

Abstract: An instrumentation amplifier for absolute voltage amplification having a balanced voltage inlet and a balanced voltage outlet. The voltage inlet is coupled to first amplification units having a very high open-loop gain, and which is further coupled with a feedback network provided between the outputs and second inputs of the amplification units.